About This Section
This section collects previous-year Board examination questions (CBSE and State Boards) from Chapter 7, with model answers, to show the pattern and depth expected in the exam.
Board PYQ — Very Short Answer (1 mark)
Q1. Which two extreme locations are connected by the East–West corridor? Ans. Silchar (Assam) and Porbandar (Gujarat).
Q2. Which is the most important mode of transportation in India? Ans. Railways.
Q3. Name the deepest landlocked and well-protected port along the east coast. Ans. Vishakhapatnam.
Board PYQ — Short Answer (3 marks)
Q4. Where and why is rail transport the most convenient means of transportation? Ans. Rail transport is most convenient in the northern plains, which have level land, dense population and rich agriculture. These give heavy traffic of passengers and goods and make it easy and economical to lay and operate railway lines.
Q5. Distinguish between metalled and unmetalled roads. Ans. Metalled roads are made of cement, concrete or bitumen and are all-weather roads. Unmetalled roads are kutcha roads that go out of use in the rainy season.
Board PYQ — Short Answer (3 marks)
Q6. What is meant by trade? What is the difference between international and local trade? Ans. Trade is the exchange of goods among people, states and countries at a market. Local trade is carried on within cities, towns and villages; international trade is trade between two countries, through sea, air or land routes, and is an index of a country's prosperity.
Q7. State any three merits of roadways. Ans. (1) Lower construction cost than railways; (2) can cross undulating terrain and steep gradients; and (3) door-to-door service with lower loading/unloading cost, acting as a feeder to other modes.
Board PYQ — Long Answer (5 marks)
Q8. Why are the means of transport and communication called the lifelines of a nation and its economy? Ans. They connect supply and demand regions, carrying goods, people and information. Transport (road, rail, pipeline, water, air) moves goods and passengers; communication moves information; trade depends on both. Together they support industry and agriculture, earn foreign exchange, promote national integration and speed up development — hence they are the lifelines of the nation.
Q9. Explain the three major pipeline networks of India. Ans. (1) From upper Assam to Kanpur via Guwahati, Barauni and Prayagraj (branches to Haldia and Siliguri); (2) from Salaya (Gujarat) to Jalandhar (Punjab) via Viramgam, Mathura, Delhi and Sonipat; and (3) the HVJ gas pipeline linking Mumbai High and Bassein gas fields with fertiliser, power and industrial complexes in western and northern India.