Short Questions
1. What is a nucleated settlement in India?
Answer : A nucleated settlement is a compact, closely packed settlement found in fertile plains.
2. Where are nucleated settlements commonly found in India?
Answer : Nucleated settlements are found in the Narmada Valley and northern plains.
3. What is a dispersed settlement in India?
Answer : A dispersed settlement has houses spread out, often in hilly or forested areas.
4. Where are dispersed settlements found in India?
Answer : Dispersed settlements are found in the Himalayas, Rajasthan, and central India.
5. Why are settlements sparse in the Himalayas?
Answer : Settlements are sparse in the Himalayas due to rugged terrain and cold climate.
6. What is the main reason for nucleated settlements in the Narmada Valley?
Answer : Fertile, cultivable land supports nucleated settlements in the Narmada Valley.
7. What type of settlement is Sao Paulo in Brazil?
Answer : Sao Paulo is a nucleated settlement.
8. Why are settlements sparse in Brazil’s Amazon Basin?
Answer : Dense forests and heavy rainfall make settlements sparse in the Amazon Basin.
9. What is the percentage of urbanization in India (2011)?
Answer : The level of urbanization in India in 2011 was 31.16%.
10. Which Indian state is the most urbanized?
Answer : Goa is the most urbanized state with 62% urban population.
11. Which Indian state has high urbanization besides Goa?
Answer : Delhi has over 80% urban population.
12. What was the percentage of urbanization in India in 1961?
Answer : The percentage of urbanization in India in 1961 was around 18%.
13. In which decade was India’s urbanization the highest?
Answer : The 2001-2011 decade had the highest urbanization in India.
14. What is the percentage of urban population in Brazil today?
Answer : About 86% of Brazil’s population lives in urban areas.
15. Which Brazilian state is highly urbanized?
Answer : Sao Paulo is a highly urbanized state in Brazil.
16. Which Brazilian state has the least urbanization?
Answer : Amapa has the least urbanization in Brazil.
17. What is Brazil’s “Go West” policy?
Answer : The “Go West” policy promotes settlement in less populated western Brazil.
18. What type of settlement pattern is found in northeastern Brazil?
Answer : Dispersed settlements are found in northeastern Brazil.
Long Questions
1. Why are nucleated settlements common in India’s northern plains?
Answer : Nucleated settlements are common in India’s northern plains because the flat, fertile land supports agriculture, attracting dense populations. The availability of water from rivers like the Ganga also encourages compact settlements.
2. What causes dispersed settlements in India’s Himalayan region?
Answer : Dispersed settlements in the Himalayas are caused by rugged, uneven terrain and cold climate, which make farming and living difficult. These conditions force people to live in scattered homes across slopes and valleys.
3. Why are settlements in Brazil’s Amazon Basin sparse?
Answer : Settlements in Brazil’s Amazon Basin are sparse due to thick equatorial rainforests, heavy rainfall, and poor transport links. The unhealthy climate and limited access to resources also discourage human settlements.
4. How has Sao Paulo become a nucleated settlement in Brazil?
Answer : Sao Paulo’s nucleated settlement developed due to its fertile soil for coffee farming, rich mineral resources, and reliable energy supply. A well-connected transport system and coastal proximity further support its dense population.
5. Why is urbanization higher in Brazil than in India?
Answer : Brazil’s urbanization (86%) is higher than India’s (31.16%) because of rapid industrial growth in states like Sao Paulo and better urban infrastructure. India’s slower urbanization is due to a larger rural population and uneven development.
6. What role does physiography play in settlement patterns in India?
Answer : In India, flat plains like the Ganga Basin support nucleated settlements due to fertile land and water availability. Hilly areas like the Himalayas and deserts like Rajasthan have dispersed settlements due to tough terrain and limited resources.
7. How does climate affect settlement patterns in Brazil?
Answer : Brazil’s coastal areas with moderate climates and good water supply support dense, nucleated settlements like Sao Paulo. The Amazon Basin’s hot, humid climate and heavy rainfall lead to sparse, dispersed settlements.
8. Why is urbanization more significant in southern India than northern India?
Answer : Southern India has higher urbanization due to industrial growth and better infrastructure in states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Northern states like Bihar and Rajasthan have lower urbanization due to reliance on agriculture and fewer urban centers.
9. What is the significance of Brazil’s “Go West” policy?
Answer : Brazil’s “Go West” policy aims to reduce population pressure in crowded southeastern states by promoting settlements in the less populated west. It seeks to balance regional development and utilize resources in the interior.
10. How do settlement patterns in India and Brazil differ based on density?
Answer : India has high-density nucleated settlements in fertile plains and urban centers, while dispersed settlements dominate in hilly and desert areas. Brazil has dense nucleated settlements in coastal areas like Sao Paulo, but sparse, dispersed settlements in the Amazon and highlands.
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