NCERT Class 6 Social Science Chapter 2 MCQs – Oceans and Continents

The Earth looks mostly blue because oceans and other water bodies cover nearly three-fourths of its surface. Land occupies a smaller part. This large covering of water gives the planet its blue appearance from space.

Oceans are the largest bodies of water on our planet. They cover much of the Earth’s surface and surround large landmasses. Seas, bays and gulfs are smaller water bodies connected with the oceans.

Freshwater occurs in glaciers, rivers, lakes, the atmosphere and underground. It forms a small share of all water on Earth. Ocean water is salty and is not suitable for direct consumption by people.

The Northern Hemisphere contains more land than the Southern Hemisphere. Water occupies a greater share of the Southern Hemisphere. This uneven distribution becomes clear when we compare views of the Earth centred on its poles.

The chapter names five oceans: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic. Their names help us describe different parts of the world’s water. However, these oceans are connected, and water moves between them continuously.

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the five oceans. The Atlantic comes next, followed by the Indian Ocean. Comparing their sizes helps us understand how a great part of the Earth’s surface is covered by water.

The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the five oceans described in the chapter. It lies in the northern polar region. The Southern Ocean surrounds Antarctica in the southern part of the Earth.

Asia lies to the north of the Indian Ocean, while Africa lies to its west and Australia to its east. These surrounding landmasses help us identify the ocean’s position on the Earth accurately.

The Arabian Sea lies to the west of India, and the Bay of Bengal lies to its east. Both are connected to the Indian Ocean. Their locations are useful for understanding India’s coastal geography.

The word marine refers to seas and oceans. Marine plants and animals live in these watery environments. The chapter uses the term when discussing the rich variety of life found in ocean waters.

Flora means the plant life found in a particular region or environment. Fauna refers to animal life. Oceans contain both, including plant life such as seaweeds and animal life such as fish and whales.

A tsunami is a series of very powerful sea waves generally caused by an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption. Such waves can travel long distances and flood coastal land, causing serious damage to communities.

A tsunami is a series of very powerful sea waves generally caused by an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption. Such waves can travel long distances and flood coastal land, causing serious damage to communities.

Europe and Asia belong to one continuous landmass, often called Eurasia. They are commonly treated as separate continents for historical and cultural reasons. This helps explain why different ways of counting continents are possible.

Asia is the largest continent in the seven-continent arrangement used in the chapter. Australia is the smallest. Comparing continents by their land area helps us understand the unequal sizes of the world’s major landmasses.

Greenland is the world’s largest island. An island is a smaller landmass surrounded by water on all sides. Continents are much larger landmasses and are treated as a separate category in this geographical classification.

The Lakshadweep Islands are located in the Arabian Sea, west of India’s mainland. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie in the Bay of Bengal. These are the two major island groups mentioned in the chapter.

India established its first scientific base in Antarctica in 1983 and named it Dakshin Gangotri. The chapter links this effort with scientific research, especially the study of climate and the environment in the icy continent.

World Oceans Day is observed on 8 June. The chapter explains that this occasion reminds people of the oceans’ importance in everyday life and encourages collective efforts to protect their waters and living organisms.

Overfishing means catching fish in excessive numbers. It contributes to the decline of marine life and disturbs ocean environments. The chapter identifies overfishing and pollution as problems that require people to protect the oceans together.

Large amounts of water do not mean that all of it can be used for drinking. Most of the Earth’s water is salty ocean water. The freshwater available in rivers, lakes and other sources is limited.

The boundaries between named oceans do not form physical walls. Their waters are connected and keep moving. Therefore, pollution released in one place can affect other marine areas, making ocean protection a shared responsibility.

A warning system cannot prevent an undersea earthquake, but it can alert people to dangerous waves. Timely information helps coastal communities respond and move away from threatened areas before a tsunami reaches them.

Continent counts can differ because large landmasses are grouped in different ways. One arrangement treats Europe and Asia together as Eurasia, while another separates them. The chapter explains that these are different conventions for classification.

The Olympic rings symbolise the coming together of sportspeople from five inhabited continental regions. This is a particular grouping used for the Games. It does not claim that all geographical classifications must count exactly five continents.

India’s western coastline faces the Arabian Sea, while its eastern coastline faces the Bay of Bengal. Following a journey from west to east therefore gives this order. Both water bodies form parts of the Indian Ocean region.

The chapter explains that ocean flora produces more than half of the world’s oxygen. This is one reason oceans are sometimes called the planet’s lungs. Protecting marine environments therefore also supports life beyond the sea.

The chapter describes cyclones as violent ocean storms associated with strong winds and heavy rain. They can damage coastal areas. A tsunami is different because its powerful waves generally begin with an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption.

The chapter identifies plastic pollution as a serious threat to ocean life. Reducing waste and keeping it out of water are practical ways to help. Such actions support the collective responsibility to protect marine environments.

The chapter explains that people have used oceans to migrate, trade and travel between regions. A project about sea routes and exchanged goods shows this historical role. Oceans have connected human communities as well as supporting marine life.