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CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
CBSE-i
Class VIII
Geography
UNIT X
NATURAL REGIONS OF THE WORLD PART-II
STUDENTS’ MANUAL
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
Preface
Education plays the most important role in acquiring professional and social skills and a positive attitude to face the
challenges of life. Curriculum is a comprehensive plan of any educational programme. It is also one of the means of
bringing about qualitative improvement in an educational system. The Curriculum initiated by Central Board of
Secondary Education-International (CBSE-i) is a progressive step in making the educational content responsive to
global needs. It signifies the emergence of a fresh thought process in imparting a curriculum, which would restore
the independence of the learner to pursue the learning process in harmony with the existing personal, social and
cultural ethos.
The CBSE introduced the CBSE-i curriculum as a pilot project in few schools situated outside India in 2010 in
classes I and IX and extended the programme to classes II, VI and X in the session 2011-12. It is going to be
introduced in classes III, VII and for Senior Secondary classes with class XI in the session 2012-13.
The Senior Secondary stage of education decides the course of life of any student. At this stage, it becomes extremely
important for students to develop the right attitude, a willingness to learn and an understanding of the world around
them to be able to take right decisions for their future. The senior secondary curriculum is expected to provide
necessary base for the growth of knowledge and skills and thereby enhance a student’s potential to face the
challenges of global competitiveness. The CBSE-i Senior Secondary Curriculum aims at developing desired
professional, managerial and communication skills as per the requirement of the world of work. CBSE-i is for the
current session offering curriculum in ten subjects i.e. Physics Chemistry, Biology, Accountancy, Business-Studies,
Economics, Geography, ICT, English, Mathematics I and Mathematics II. Mathematics at two levels caters to the
differing needs of students of pure sciences or commerce.
The Curriculum has been designed to nurture multiple intelligences like linguistic or verbal intelligence, logical
mathematical intelligence, spatial intelligence, sports intelligence, musical intelligence, inter-personal intelligence
and intra-personal intelligence.
The Core skills are the most significant aspects of a learner’s holistic growth and learning curve. The objective of
this part of the core of curriculum is to scaffold the learning experiences and to relate tacit knowledge with formal
knowledge. This involves trans-disciplinary linkages that would form the core of the learning process. Perspectives,
SEWA (Social Empowerment through Work and Action), Life Skills and Research would be the constituents of this
‘Core’.
The CBSE-i Curriculum evolves by building on learning experiences inside the classroom over a period of time. The
Board while addressing the issues of empowerment with the help of the schools’ administering this system strongly
recommends that practicing teachers become skillful and lifelong learners and also transfer their learning
experiences to their peers through the interactive platforms provided by the Board.
The success of this curriculum depends upon its effective implementation and it is expected that the teachers will
make efforts to create better facilities, develop linkages with the world of work and foster conducive environment as
per recommendations made in the curriculum document.
I appreciate the effort of Dr. Sadhana Parashar, Director (Training), CBSE and her team involved in the
development of this document. I specially appreciate the efforts of (Late) Dr. Srijata Das for working tirelessly
towards meeting deadlines.
The CBSE-i website enables all stakeholders to participate in this initiative through the discussion forums. Any
further suggestions on improving the portal are always welcome.
Vineet Joshi
Chairman, CBSE
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
Acknowledgements
Advisory
Shri Vineet Joshi, Chairman, CBSE
Dr. Sadhana Parashar, Director (A&T),CBSE
Conceptual Framework
Shri G. Balasubramanian, Former Director (Acad), CBSE
Ms. Abha Adams, Consultant, Step-by-Step School, Noida
Dr. Sadhana Parashar, Director (A&T),CBSE
Ideators VI-VIII
Ms. Aditi Mishra
Ms. Avanita Bir
Ms. Guneet Ohri
Mr. Maneesh Jaryal
Ms. Neerada Suresh
Ms. Preeti Hans
Ms. Sonali Sinha
Ms. Uma Sharma
Ms. Anuradha Joshi
Ms. Charu Maini
Dr. G.P. Bagoria
Mr. Manish Jaryat
Ms. Neera Chopra
Dr. Rajesh Hassija
Ms. Sudha Ravi
Dr. Usha Sharma
Mr. Albert Abraham
Prof. Chand Kiran Saluja
Ms. Gayatri Khanna
Ms. Mallika Preman
Ms. Neelima Sharma
Ms. Rita Bokil
Ms. Sunita Tanwar
Ms. Vijay Laxmi Raman
Ms. Asha Sharma
Ms. Deepa Shukla
Ms. Himani Asija
Ms. Monika Mehan
Prof. Om Vikas
Ms. Seema Rawat
Ms. Urmila Guliani
Material Production Groups: Classes VI-VIII
English
Ms. Dipinder Kaur
Ms. Gayatri Khanna
Ms. Neerada Suresh
Ms. Neha Sharma
Ms. Preeti Hans
Ms. Rachna Pandit
Ms. Renu Anand
Ms. Ritu BadiaVashisth
Ms. Sarita Ahuja
Ms. Sheena Chhabra
Ms. Sudha Ravi
Ms. Trishya Mukherjee
Ms. Veena Bhasin
Ms. Vijay Laxmi Raman
Core- Research
Ms. Anita Sharma
Ms. Gayatri Khanna
Dr. K L Chopra
Ms. Manjushtha Bose
Ms. Neha Sharma
Ms. Neeta Rastogi
Dr. N K Sehgal
Ms. Rashmi Kathuria
Ms. Renu Anand
Ms. Varsha Manku
Theatre
Ms. Archana Sharma
Ms. Bindia Rajpal
Ms. Shruti Sharma
Chemistry
Ms. Kavita Kapoor
Ms. Poonam Kumar Mendiratta
Ms. Rashmi Sharma
Physics
Ms. Mukta Kaushik
Ms. Neelam Malik
Ms. Patarlekha Sarkar
Ms. Vidhu Narayanan
Biology
Ms. Deepti Sharma
Ms. Deepa Shukla
Ms. Monika Munjal Gandhi
Ms. Sarika Attri
Ms. Varsha Parikh
Ms. Yamini Bisht
Dance and Music
Ms. Amrita Shiv Kumar
Ms. Deepti Sharma
Ms. Manisha Goel
Ms. Priya Srinivasan
Economics
Mr. A. Manoharan
Ms. Anita Yadav
Ms. Leela Garewal
CORE-Perspectives
Ms. Madhuchhanda,
Ms. Neha Sharma
Mathematics
Ms. Chhavi Raheja
Ms. Deepa Gupta
Ms. Gayatri Chowhan
Mr. Mahendra Shankar
Ms. Mamta Goyal
Ms. N Vidya
Dr. Ram Avtar
Hindi
Mr. Akshay Kumar Dixit
Ms. Veena Sharma
Ms. Nishi Dhanjal
Ms. Kiran Soni
CORE-SEWA
Ms. Neha Sharma
Ms. Nishtha Bharati
Ms. Reema Arora
Ms. Seema Bhandari
Ms. Seema Chopra
Ms. Vandna
ICT
Ms. Babita Mahajan
Ms. Chanchal Chandna
Ms. Nancy Sehgal
Ms. Purvi Srivastava
Ms. Ritu Arora
Ms. Swati Panhani
Mr. Yogesh Kumar
Geography
Ms. Aditi Babbar
Ms. Mallika Preman
Ms. Neena Phogat
Ms. Nisheeth Kumar
Ms. Suparna Sharma
Ms. Sharda Hans
Ms. Sushila Pandey
Ms. Sunita Bajpai
Ms. Tundra Reddy
History
Ms. Dalia Haldar
Ms. Dolly Haryal
Ms Kalpana Pant
Ms Leeza Dutta
Ms. Nasreen Rekhange
Ms. N. Saroj
Ms. Navita Gayla
Ms. Ruchi Mahajan
Ms. YachanaVillaitrari
Political Science
Ms. Kanu Chopra
Ms. Manisha Anthwal
Ms. Mamta Talwar
Ms. Rashmi Mishra
Ms. Saudamini Tipra
Ms. Shilpi Anand
Visual Arts
Ms. Anjali Anand
Ms. Minakshi
Ms. Rani Bhatnagar
Ms. Renu Gupta
Mr. Subroto Mallick
Chief Co-ordinator: Ms. Kshipra Verma, E.O.
Co-ordinators:
(Late) Dr. Srijata Das E.O
Shri R. P. Sharma,
Consultant (Science)
Mr. Navin Maini,
RO(Tech)
Ms. Neha Sharma
D.D.
Ms. Neelima Sharma,
Consultant (English)
Shri Al Hilal Ahmed,
AEO
Ms. S. Radha Mahalakshmi, E. O.
Ms. Reema Arora,
Consultant (Chemistry)
Mr. R P Singh,
AEO
Ms. P Rajeswary E.O.
Ms. Deepa Shukla,
Consultant (Biology)
Mr. Sanjay Sachdeva,
D. O.
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
UNIT-X
NATURAL REGIONS OF THE WORLD PART-II
Contents
 Major Natural Regions Part-II
 Mediterranean Region
 Temperate Grasslands
 Temperate Deserts
 Location
 Climate
 Natural vegetation
 Animal life
 Human response
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
INTRODUCTION – MID LATITUDE REGIONS OF THE WORLD
This region extends from 30 degrees to 60 degrees of latitude in both the hemispheres. Climate
of this region is marked by two distinct seasons of summers and winter. Summers are warm
while winters are mild in the regions upto 40 degrees latitude but beyond this even the winters
are severe. The major divisions of this region are the mediterranean region, temperate deserts and
temperate grasslands. Let us study about these regions.
MEDITERRANEAN REGION
Take a world map and mark the regions between 30 to 60 degrees latitude in both the
hemispheres. Now take pictures of animals found in these regions and paste it on the map.
Ask students the following questions:1. How are these animals different from the ones found in the equatorial region?
2. What is the habitat of these animals?
3. Does the climatic condition of these regions affect the flora and fauna of the region ?
Let us study more about the mid latitude region.
Put up all these information on a soft board and consult it whenever needed while proceeding
with the topic.
Location
As the name refers it is the region found near the mediterranean sea in southern Europe and
coastal strip of northern Africa. In Europe the countries included in this region are Portugal,
Spain, Southern France, Italy, Coastal strips of Balkan Countries while in Asia it includes
Turkey and Syria. The other areas of mediterranean region includes California in North America,
Central Chile in South America and Cape Province of South Africa, Perth and Great Australian
Blight in Australia.
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Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
( Teachers are required to mark / show these countries and region on the outline wall map of
world and ask students to mark it in their map files as per the teacher’s instruction.)
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI08Xmvjtj0
Climate – Introduction of mediterranean climate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxn38LwIl6I
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Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
Temperature
Most of the Mediterranean regions are located near large water bodies, the region has almost
moderate temperature without much variation in the summer and the winter temperatures. It
means that the annual range of temperature remains low for the region. However, winter and
summer temperatures can vary greatly between different regions with a Mediterranean climate.
For instance, Lisbon in Portugal experiences very mild winters, while Thessaloniki in Greece has
colder winters with frost and snowfall as common features of the season. During summers,
Athens in Greece experiences rather high temperatures in the summer (48° C), in contrast, San
Francisco in the USA has mild summers.
Although there is not much variation in the annual range of temperature but the daily range of
temperature during the summer is large due to dry and clear conditions, except along the
immediate coasts. Temperatures during winter only occasionally fall below the freezing point
especially in the highland areas and snow generally is seldom seen. In the summer, the
temperatures range from mild to very hot, depending on distance from a large body of water,
elevation, and latitude.
Precipitation
The rainfall pattern of Mediterranean region is very different from that of the world. Due to the
presence of large water bodies in the vicinity during summer, regions of Mediterranean climate
are dominated by subtropical high-pressure belts resulting in flow of wind from land to sea. This
results in no rainfall during summers while during winters as the region comes under low
pressure belt, there is inflow of wind from the Mediterranean sea to the land bringing rain, with
snow at higher elevations. As a result, areas with this climate receive almost all of their
yearly rainfall during their winter season, and may go anywhere from 4 to 6 months during the
summer without having any significant precipitation.
Some local winds like Mistral and Bora which are cold winds and Sirocco (warm wind) bring
about sudden change in the temperature in the areas adjoining Mediterranean sea.
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Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
Natural Vegetation and Animal life
Mediterranean region does not have a luxuriant growth of vegetation as the region experiences
dry climate for almost six months. These regions are home to a variety of habitats and species
which ranges from forests to woodlands, savannas, shrub lands and grasslands. Thus the
vegetation of the region is often referred as the mosaic habitat. Owing to the difference in soil,
topography, exposure to wind and sun, there are varying types of vegetation found in the region.
Trees are well adapted to the draught in summers. Trees have small broad leaves and are widely
spaced. Most of the plant species here have xerophytic characteristics such as thick bark, small
stiff and shiny leaves, thorns and other devices to prevent against excessive transpiration. The
most common type consists of low evergreen shrubs and brush thickets known as chaparral in
California, maquis in southern France and macchia in Italy. The borad leaf trees such as olive,
mystle, laurel, holly and cork oak have large trunks and tropical branches.
Conifer forests grow on higher and wetter mountain slopes. Climate in the Mediterranean regions
does not favour the growth of grass due to summer drought, even if grasses do survive they are
wiry and bunchy and cannot support large animal population. Cattle rearing are therefore not
very important in Mediterranean regions.
The region is famous for growing citrus fruits. The fruits grown in the region include oranges,
lemons. grapes, apricots, pomegranates, peaches, pears, figs, almonds, etc.
Most common animals found in the Mediterranean region are lynx, wild boar, rabbits, vulture
and eagles. Besides these animals many small mammals, reptiles and insects also inhabit this
region. Domestication of animals is very common and these includes sheep, cattle, donkeys,
horses and goats.
Flower and fruit orchards of Mediterranean region
Hardy Fan palm characteristic of
Mediterranean region
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Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
European wild Sheep
Fallow dear – native of
Mediterranean region
Human Response
Mediterranean region is famous for the cultivation of fruits and cereals. Based on these
agricultural product has developed many agro based industries like wine making, fruits and
cereals processing units, etc. The cultivation of grapes or viticulture is by tradition a
Mediterranean occupation. Wine making is the most important industry in this region. Other
crops grown in this region are wheat, barley and beans. Rearing of milch cattle is an important
activity in the uplands of the region.
As the main occupation of the region is agriculture, most of the industries in the Mediterranean
region is agro based like fruit preservation, canning, bottling of fresh juice, etc. Other industries
include engineering, automobile and leather industry. Tourism is also developing in the region
and helping in developing the economy of the region.
Wine yards of California
Wine barrels
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CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS
Location
The mid latitude grasslands are found in two different locations – in the northern hemisphere it is
found in the deep interiors of large continents which are away from oceanic influence while in
the southern hemisphere it is found in the rain shadow regions of the high coastal mountains.
They are very extensive in the northern hemisphere and are called by different names. In Eurasia,
they are called the Steppes and extend from the shores of the Black sea to the plains of
Manchuria. In North America, the grasslands are called Prairies which extend between the
foothills of the Rockies in the west and the Great lakes in the east. In the
southern hemisphere, it is known as Pampas in Argentina and Uruguay, and Veldt in South
Africa which extends from Drakensberg Mountains to the Kalahari Desert. These are not very
extensive but still form an important part of the ecosystem. In Australia, the grasslands are
known as Downs and are spread between Murray-Darling basins of southern Australia.
Take a political map of the world and locate all the mid latitude grasslands on it. Check the
following points and write down what type of climate is expected in the region.

How far are these located from the sea?
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CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
What is the latitude of these regions?

Are there any mountains in the vicinity of these regions?
Based on these answers, explain the possible climatic conditions found in these regions.
Share your information with the class and display it on the bulletin board and refer to it as the
climate of the region is explained. Address any anomaly found as per students explanation.
Climate
Video on Climate of prairies :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvJcBBTxQ7g
Temperature
The temperature of the temperate grasslands depends on its location. In northern hemisphere
since the location is interior hence have a temperate continental climate. It is characterised by
warm, humid summers with an average temperature of 18° C and cool, dry winters with an
average temperature of 10° C. In some parts of the Eurasian steppes the temperature remains
below the freezing point for a number of months.
In the southern hemisphere since the
grasslands have a coastal location it is influenced by maritime climate with reduced annual range
of temperature.
Winter temperature in the prairies is often modified by the warm and dry winds called Chinook.
These winds result in increasing the temperature of the region by as much as 10°C in a few
hours.
Rainfall
Temperate grasslands of the northern hemisphere do not receive much rainfall owing to its
continental location. It lies in the region of westerly winds and thus receives less rainfall due to
great distance from the sea. The annual rainfall in the region varies between 30 cm to 60 cm
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Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
during summers. In the southern hemisphere as the continent is narrow and closer to the sea
maritime influence receives rainfall more than 60 cm annually.
Vegetation and Animal Life
As the name suggests, the region has extensive grasslands. Growth of trees is restricted due to
low precipitation in the region. Trees appear only on the slopes of the mountains, as these are the
regions with comparatively high rainfall. The height of the grass varies from place to place as the
amount of precipitation also varies from region to region. Another factor on which the growth of
grass depends is the fertility of the soil. Also the appearance of grass changes from season to
season. For example in the spring season, grass begins to appear green and fresh with small
colorful flowers. During summers as the temperature is high, the grass turns yellow and brown.
With the arrival of autumn, the grass withers and dies but the roots remain alive and lie dormant
throughout the cold winter season. With springs, the whole cycle is repeated and again the region
looks green and fresh.
Grassland in all its form supports a vast variety of mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects. Typical
large mammals include the Blue Wildebeest, American Bison and Giant Anteater. As the
grasslands do not provide any hiding place for predators, the African savanna has a much diverse
wildlife than the other temperate grasslands. Burrowing animals inhabit deep soil in the
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Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
undisturbed grasslands making the soils very fertile in the region. The most common animals of
the region are antelopes, wild asses, horses, wolves, kangaroo, emu and the dingo or wild dog.
Video on wild bison of America :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bS6Dz4YVqQ
Prairies
Steppes
Blue Wildebeest
American Bison
Human Response
Main occupation of people in the temperate region was nomadic herding. The tribal groups of
Khirgiz, the Kazaks, the Kalmuks used to travel long distance with their animals in search of
water for animals. These ethnic groups were totally dependent on these animals for their
livelihood but in recent years the situation has changed dramatically and people have started
practicing extensive agriculture. Wheat is the main crop grown in these regions. Suitable climatic
conditions of cool moist spring and light showers in the ripening period ensure a good yield of
the crop. Agriculture in the region is also supported by the availability of vast levelled surface
making ploughing and harvesting easy. Wheat cultivation is highly mechanised due to less
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Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
population and is mainly grown in the region of Prairies of North America and Steppes of
Russia. These regions have emerged as the largest wheat exporters with highest quantity of
wheat production per capita in the world. Maize is another important crop grown in the warm
and moist regions of the grasslands.
Livestock farming is also well developed in these regions. Dairy farming and cattle ranching are
possible because there are sufficient and suitable grasses for herbivores. Dairy farming is also
highly mechanised in the region with machines used for various operations like milking of dairy
cows, sheering of sheep for wool, slaughtering of animals and packing of meat. Grassland
regions of Argentina grow nutritious alfalfa grass which is good for animals reared for meat
production.
Industries of the region are mostly based on primary products, including processing of meat,
leather, flour milling, sugar refining, etc. Some other industries of the region include iron and
steel, chemicals, cement and textile.
Khirgis
Livestock rearing
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CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
Mid Latitude Deserts
Location
As the name shows this region lies in the temperate zone between 35° to 50° North and South.
All the mid latitude deserts of northern hemisphere are found in the low basin that are in the deep
interiors of the continents, surrounded by high lands.
In Asia the regions of temperate grasslands are Tarim basin, Gobi Desert and Dzungaria in
China, Russian Turkistan and Central Iran. In USA great basin area of Colorado and Arizona and
in South America , Patagonian Desert are part of the temperate desert.
Climate
Temperature
Temperature in temperate deserts is extreme with very high annual range of temperature. In
some places it varies from 0 in winters to over 15°C in summers, especially in higher altitudes.
On an average the lowest temperature recorded is -25°C while the highest temperature recorded
in the region is over 40°C. Owing to altitude and lack of cloud cover even the daily range of
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Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
temperature is very high with maximum temperature going to 45°C while the minimum falling
below freezing point.
Rainfall
Like the hot deserts, the temperate deserts are characterized by their low rainfall – less than 60
cm in a year. There are three main reasons which account for these deserts. They are
1. In central Asia the deserts has an interior location. Moisture bearing winds originating from
the oceans shed all its moisture on the way before reaching these regions and hence does not
result in any rainfall.
2. In south west Asia these regions lie in the region of hot and dry trade winds which originates
from the land. Thus doesn’t receive much of the rainfall. During winters too it comes under
the influence of cold dry high pressure system which develops in the interior of the Asian
continent.
3. In North and South America the temperate deserts are arid as they are located in the rain
shadow areas of western Cordillera and the Andes which stop the moisture bearing winds
from reaching this region.
Natural Vegetation and Animal Life
Video on Mongolian desert :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGlYWceb7RY&feature=related
The true deserts in this region may be rocky or sandy with absolute no vegetation but the semi
deserts are a transitional zone between the grasslands and the true deserts. They are mainly
regions of poor grasslands or dry steppe with low drought resisting vegetation such as sage, salt
and thorn bushes. In more sheltered basins and valleys long the more permanent watercourses
and in the oasis area you will find coarse grass and scrubs. Animals found in the region are
mostly the burrowing animals.
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Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
Human Response
The region is inhabited by many ethnic groups like the Mongols, Tartars, Kazaks and Kirgiz.
Their main occupation is nomadic herding. They keep roaming in the dry steppes in search of
pastures to support their herds of horses, mules, camels, sheep and goats. These people are
totally dependent on these animals for their daily life. Even the clothing is also made from the
wool and skin of the animals.
In the Russian territories there has been some development with people changing from their
traditional way of life and settling for doing permanent agriculture. An industrial area has been
developed in Russian Turkistan in the region around Tashkent where copper, lead, zinc and coal
are mined.
The dry temperate plateau of North America are especially important for their mineral wealth –
copper, gold , zinc and manganese are amongst the many minerals mined. Grazing lands are vast
due to lack of vegetation and farming is practiced in the sheltered valleys.
In South America, Patagonia is a region of poor grassland and scrubs and main occupation of
people here is sheep and cattle rearing.
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Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
Glossary:

Antelope: It is a term referring to many even-toed ungulate species found all over the world
in places such as Africa, Asia and North America.

Balkan countries : The countries lying on the Balkan Peninsula are often called the Balkan
States. These include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece,
Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, and Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro).

Buffalo grass: A mat-forming perennial grass (Buchloe dactyloides) native to the plains of
central North America, important as a forage grass and sometimes used for lawns.

Coniferous forests: Trees with needle shaped found in the higher altitudes make the
coniferous forests. The leaves are needle shaped to adapt to the heavy snowfall in the region.
Examples are Chir, Deodar, etc.

Citrus fruit: Citrus fruit is acid fruit. The acid fruits are the most detoxifying fruits and
excellent foods like lemon, grape, orange, etc.

Ethnic groups: An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each
other through a common heritage, consisting of a common culture, including a
shared language or dialect.

Extensive
agriculture:
Extensive
farming or Extensive
agriculture (as
opposed
to Intensive farming) is an agricultural production system that uses small inputs of labour,
fertilizers, and capital, relative to the land area being farmed.

Falcon: A diurnal bird of prey with long pointed wings and a notched beak, typically
catching prey by diving on it from above.

Fynbos :(or anglicised as , meaning "fine bush" in Afrikaans) is the natural shrub land or
heathland vegetation occurring in a small belt of the Western Cape of South Africa, mainly in
winter rainfall coastal and mountainous areas with a Mediterranean climate.

Goldenrods: A plant (genus Solidago) of the daisy family that bears tall spikes of small
bright yellow flowers.

Hawthorn: A thorny shrub or tree of the rose family, with white, pink, or red blossoms and
small dark red fruits (haws). Native to north temperate regions, it is commonly used for
hedges .
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Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
Ibex: A wild goat (genus Capra, esp. C. ibex) with long, thick ridged horns that curve back,
found in the mountains of the Alps.

Maquis: Dense scrub vegetation consisting of hardy evergreen shrubs and small trees,
characteristic of coastal regions in the Mediterranean.

Matorral: is a Spanish word for shrub land, thicket or bushes. Matorral originally referred to
the Matorral shrub lands of Spain.

Milch cattle: are cattle cows (adult females) bred for the ability to produce large quantities
of milk, from which dairy products are made.

Maritime climate: Climate of a region which is influenced by nearness to oceans / seas is
called as maritime climate. This climate generally features warm, but not hot summers and
cool, but not cold winters, with a narrow annual temperature range. It typically lacks a dry
season, as precipitation is more evenly dispersed throughout the year.

Natural vegetation: It is the vegetation that occurs spontaneously without regular
management, maintenance or species introductions / removals, and that generally has a
strong component of native species; where anthropogenic impacts are apparent, the resulting
physiognomic and floristic patterns.

Nomad: A member of a group of people who have no fixed home and move according to the
seasons from place to place in search of food, water, and grazing land.

Prairies: A large open area of grassland, esp. in the Mississippi River valley.

Prickly pear: A cactus (genus Opuntia) with jointed stems and oval flattened segments,
having barbed bristles and large pear-shaped, prickly fruits.

Rainshadow region: A rain shadow is an area of dry land that lies on the leeward (or
downwind) side of a mountain. Winds carry air masses up and over the mountain range and
as the air is driven upward over the mountain, falling temperatures cause the air to lose much
of its moisture as precipitation. Upon reaching the leeward side of the mountain, the dry air
descends and picks up any available moisture from the landscape below. The resulting profile
of precipitation across the mountain is such that rainfall and moist air prevails on the
windward side of a mountain range while arid, moisture-poor air prevails on the leeward side
of the mountain range.

Ryegrass: A Eurasian grass (genus Lolium) that is widely grown as forage.
19

CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
Savanna: A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being
sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close.

Scrub oak: A low evergreen shrub (Quercus dumosa) of the California chaparral valuable
for its resistance to and recovery from fire and intense drought.

Subtropical high pressure belt: The subtropical belt of high pressure is situated around the
latitudes of 30° N in the Northern Hemisphere and 30° S in the Southern Hemisphere. The
subtropical highs are areas of sinking and settling air from higher altitudes which tend to
build up atmospheric pressure.

Xerophytes: A plant that needs very little water mostly found in regions with less rainfall.
The plants have adapted to the conditions of water scarcity.
20
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
WORKSHEET 1
I. Read the given paragraph and answer questions based on it:
In the Mediterranean region the mineral wealth is not extensive with the result that farming is the
main occupation despite the period of drought. During the summer irrigation is essential for
arable farming. The industries which have been developed are based mainly upon the agricultural
products. In California, however it was the discovery of gold that originally attracted people to
the area and this led to the subsequent agricultural development. The region is especially notable
for fruits such as melons, peaches, apricots, citrus fruits, grapes, etc. Generally, wine making is
an important industry. Other important crops of the region are wheat, barley, maize and oats.
1. Which type of industry is developed in the region and why?
___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. Why is irrigation a necessity in the summer season?
___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. Name the cereal crops grown in the region.
_______________________________________________________________________
4. Why does the region has more of fruit orchards as compared to grain cultivation?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
5. What do you infer about the climate of the Mediterranean region from the given passage?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
6. Taking hint from the passage, name the country and continent which may have a mineral
based industry.
________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
21
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
II. Following is the table showing the climatic details of Algiers. Study the table carefully
and answer the questions that follow.
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
April May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Temp°F 53
55
57
59
65
69
74
76
74
67
61
56
Rain in 4
3.5
3.5
2.25
1.5
0.5
0
0.25
1
3
4.5
5.5
inches
a. Which is the hottest month and what is the temperature of this month?
____________________________________________________________
b. Which are the rainy months of the region?
____________________________________________________________
c. Calculate the annual range of temperature from the given data.
____________________________________________________________
d. Calculate the mean annual rainfall of the region from the given data.
____________________________________________________________
e. Explain the rainfall regime of the region.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
22
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
WORKSHEET 2
MCQ
1. Which of the following country experiences Mediterranean climate?
a. China
b. England
c. Italy
d. Brazil
2. In which season does the Mediterranean region get rainfall?
a. Summers
b. Winters
c. Autumn
d. Spring
3. What is Mistral?
a. Animal found in the region
b. Occupation of people in the region
c. Ocean currents influencing the climate
d. Local Cold winds prevalent in the region
4. Which of the following is the most common crop of the Mediterranean region?
a. Vine yards
b. Wheat crop
c. Rice crop
d. Cotton crop
5. Which of the following is the most common industry of the Mediterranean region?
a. Mineral based industry
b. Forest based industry
c. Agro based industry
d. Pastoral based industry
23
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
WORKSHEET 3
Answer the following questions:1. What are the areas included in Mediterranean vegetation?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. What are the various local names given to the Mediterranean region in different parts of the
world?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
3. What is the temperature range in Mediterranean region? In which season does it rain in the
Mediterranean region?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. What are the characters of natural vegetation of Mediterranean region? Give some examples.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. Name a few animals associated with Mediterranean vegetation?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
24
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
WORKSHEET 4
I. Study the given climatic data of the Canadian prairies and answer the questions that
follow:Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
April May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Temp°F -3
-1
15
39
51
62
66
63
53
41
22
6
Rain in 0.75
1
1
1.25
2.5
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
1
inches
a. Which is the hottest month and what is the temperature of this month?
_______________________________________________________________
b. Which are the rainy months of the region?
__________________________________________________________________
c. Calculate the annual range of temperature from the given data.
________________________________________________________________________
d. Calculate the mean annual rainfall of the region from the given data.
________________________________________________________________________
e. Explain the rainfall regime of the region.
__________________________________________________________________________
II. Fill in the blanks using the words given in the box:
Kirgiz , extensive agriculture , nomadic herding, mechanised, Wheat, Prairies of North America,
ripening, levelled surface, Maize
Main occupation of people in the temperate region was __________________. The tribal groups
of _______________, the Kazaks, the Kalmuks used to travel long distance with their animals in
search of water for animals. These ethnic groups were totally dependent on these animals for
their livelihood but in recent years the situation has changed dramatically and people have started
practicing _______________________________. _______________ is the main crop grown in
these regions. Suitable climatic conditions of cool moist spring and light showers in the
__________________ period ensure a good yield of the crop. Agriculture in the region is also
supported by the availability of vast ____________________making ploughing and harvesting
25
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
easy. Wheat cultivation is highly _________________ due to less population and is mainly
grown in the region of _______________________and Steppes of Russia. These regions have
emerged as the largest wheat exporters with highest quantity of wheat production per capita in
the world. _______________ is another important crop grown in the warm and moist regions of
the grasslands.
26
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
WORKSHEET 5
MCQ
1. The grasslands are commonly called as Prairies in which of the following country?
a. Australia
b. Argentina
c. North America
d. Brazil
2. In which season does the temperate grassland region get most of the rainfall?
a. Summers
b. Winters
c. Autumn
d. Spring
3. Which of the following is a common animal found in the grasslands?
a. Tiger
b. Lion
c. Elephant
d. Antelope
4. Who/What are Khirgiz?
a. Animal found in the region
b. Tribal group of the region
c. Local wind of the region
d. Occupation of people in the region
27
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
5. Which is the main crop grown in the temperate grassland region?
a. Rice
b. Barley
c. Cotton
d. Wheat
6. Which region is famous for growing alfalfa grass?
a. Brazil
b. North America
c. Argentina
d. Chili
28
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
WORKSHEET 6
1. Name the various grasslands that are a part of the temperate grasslands also name the
countries in which they are located?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the climatic range of the temperate grasslands? Explain.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. What are the various plants and animals that are included in the temperate grasslands?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. What factors have led to reduction in grasslands? Explain.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
29
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
WORKSHEET -7
I. Complete the following notes by filling in the missing words:Drought, extreme, temperate , South America, snowfall, zero, true deserts, vegetation
The temperate deserts lie within the _______________ zone and are located in the Patagonian
region of _______________. Temperatures are ___________ and may range from below
__________ in winters to over 60° F in summers. In general rainfall is under 10 inches yearly
and falls mainly during winters and spring. In the coldest areas precipitation is mostly in the
form of _____________. The true desert region may be rocky or sandy, almost completely
without vegetation. The semi deserts are the transitional zone between the temperate grasslands
and the ______________________ and are regions of poor _______________ with low
________________ resisting bushes.
II. Study the given climatic details of Tehran in Iran and answer the questions that follow:-
Month
Jan
Feb
Mar
April May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Temp°F 34
42
49
60
70
80
85
83
77
65
52
42
Rain in 1.5
1
2
1
0.5
0
0.5
0
0
1.25
1
1.5
inches
a. Which is the hottest month and what is the temperature of this month?
__________________________________________________________________
b. Which are the rainy months of the region?
________________________________________________________________________
c. Calculate the annual range of temperature from the given data.
_______________________________________________________________________
d. Calculate the mean annual rainfall of the region from the given data.
______________________________________________________________________
30
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
e. Explain the rainfall regime of the region.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
f. Compare the climatic data of Worksheets 2, 5 and 8 and draw inferences.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
31
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
WORKSHEET 8
MCQ
1. What is the specific reason for the temperate deserts of North and South America to be arid?
a. Location in trade wind belt
b. Distance from the sea
c. Located in Rain shadow region
d. Flow of wind from the land
2. Which one of the following is a region of temperate desert in Asia?
a. Thar desert
b. Great Indian Desert
c. Tarim basin
d. Gobi desert in Mongolia
3. What is the main occupation of people in the temperate desert region?
a. Nomadic pastoralism
b. Manufacturing
c. Agriculture
d. Mining
4. In which of the temperate desert region will you find mineral wealth?
a. Mongolia
b. North America
c. Russia
d. Central Asia
5. In which zone does the Patagonian region of south America locate?
a. Tropical region
b. Sub tropical region
c. Temperate region
d. Polar region
32
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
6. Why does the central Asian region extending from Iran in the west to Mongolia in the east
receive rainfall less than 10 inches yearly?
a. These areas are located away from the water bodies.
b. They lie in the belt of dry trade winds.
c. They lie in the rain shadow region of the mountains.
d. They have winds blowing from sea to land.
33
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
WORKSHEET 9
1. What is the latitudinal location of temperate deserts?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Name the various deserts that are a part of temperate deserts?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. Analyse the reason for occurrence of temperate desert climate in three distinct belts of the
world.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. Explain how the occupation of people in the temperate region of Russia has changed.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
34
CBSE-i
Class VIII Geography
Students’ Manual
Unit X- Natural Regions of the World - II
References and Websites

https://php.radford.edu/~swoodwar/biomes/

http://http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/deserts.php.

http://http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/biologypages/b/biomes.html.

http://http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/biomes/desert.htm

http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/ecology/ecoindex.html
35