Chapter 5: Pastoralists in the Modern World30 Questions
Before You Practice
Try each question on your own first. Use the Show Answer button only after you have selected your option, then read the explanation and revise the related concept from your chapter notes.
1. Who are the 'Gujjars' in India?
A. A pastoralist community
B. A warrior clan
C. A farming community
D. A fishing tribe
Answer: A. A pastoralist community
Explanation: Gujjars are a traditional pastoralist community in north-western India who migrate seasonally with their cattle and buffaloes.
2. What is the term for the seasonal movement of pastoralists?
A. Nomadic immigration
B. Transhumance
C. Sedentary pastoralism
D. Urban drift
Answer: B. Transhumance
Explanation: Transhumance is the practice of moving herds of livestock from one grazing ground to another in a seasonal cycle.
3. The 'Gaddis' are a pastoral tribe found in which Indian state?
A. Rajasthan
B. Himachal Pradesh
C. Gujarat
D. Maharashtra
Answer: B. Himachal Pradesh
Explanation: The Gaddis are a prominent pastoral tribe living in the mountainous regions of Himachal Pradesh.
4. Which pastoral community is known for herding buffaloes in the Himalayas?
A. Dhangars
B. Gujjars
C. Gaddis
D. Bakarwals
Answer: B. Gujjars
Explanation: The Gujjars are predominantly water-buffalo herders who migrate between the hills and the plains of North India.
5. The 'Dhangars' are pastoralists from which region of India?
A. Jammu and Kashmir
B. Maharashtra
C. Karnataka
D. Madhya Pradesh
Answer: B. Maharashtra
Explanation: The Dhangars are an important pastoralist community from Maharashtra, known for herding sheep and cattle.
6. Which African tribe is known as the famous pastoralists of the savannah?
A. Zulu
B. Maasai
C. Ashanti
D. Berber
Answer: B. Maasai
Explanation: The Maasai are a semi-nomadic pastoralist tribe from the East African savannah, known for herding cattle.
7. What was the main cause of conflict between the British and the pastoralists in India?
A. Tax on cattle
B. Grazing taxes and forest acts
C. Cattle slaughter bans
D. Land acquisition
Answer: B. Grazing taxes and forest acts
Explanation: The British imposed heavy grazing taxes and enacted forest laws that severely restricted the movement and grazing lands of pastoralists.
8. How did pastoralists adapt to the monsoon patterns in India?
A. Staying permanently in villages
B. Moving herds to dry zones during rains
C. Leaving the country
D. Stopping animal husbandry
Answer: B. Moving herds to dry zones during rains
Explanation: During monsoon rains, pastoralists moved their herds to dry zones to avoid waterlogging and diseases, and to find fresh pasture.
9. Who are the 'Bakarwals'?
A. Goat herders of Jammu and Kashmir
B. Cow herders of Punjab
C. Camel herders of Rajasthan
D. Yak herders of Sikkim
Answer: A. Goat herders of Jammu and Kashmir
Explanation: The Bakarwals are a nomadic pastoralist community in Jammu and Kashmir, primarily herding goats and sheep.
10. What was the 'Wasteland' rule imposed by the British?
A. Converting forests to farms
B. Declaring unoccupied lands as state property
C. Building roads on hills
D. Taxing barren land
Answer: B. Declaring unoccupied lands as state property
Explanation: The British declared all uncultivated lands, which were used by pastoralists for grazing, as 'wastelands' owned by the state.
11. Which crop did the Dhangar herders primarily graze their cattle on after harvest?
A. Paddy
B. Sugarcane
C. Cotton
D. Millet
Answer: D. Millet
Explanation: Dhangars moved their herds to the Deccan plateau to graze on the stubble of harvested millet crops during the dry season.
12. The Maasai tribe is primarily located in which two countries?
A. Kenya and Tanzania
B. Sudan and Egypt
C. Nigeria and Ghana
D. South Africa and Botswana
Answer: A. Kenya and Tanzania
Explanation: The traditional Maasai lands span across the borders of modern-day Kenya and Tanzania.
13. What was the main restriction imposed on Gujjars by the British?
A. Ban on dairy products
B. Entry fee into forests
C. Ban on moving livestock
D. Animal slaughter ban
Answer: B. Entry fee into forests
Explanation: The British levied a grazing tax on Gujjars and restricted them from entering reserved forests with their buffaloes.
14. How did the pastoralists challenge the colonial grazing tax?
A. By migrating to British colonies
B. By staging protests and refusing to pay
C. By paying double taxes
D. By becoming farmers
Answer: B. By staging protests and refusing to pay
Explanation: Pastoralists frequently engaged in protests, refused to pay the excessive grazing taxes, and often moved illegally to continue their livelihoods.
15. Why did pastoralists move to mountains in summer?
A. To escape the heat
B. To find fresh pastures
C. To avoid predators
D. To trade wool
Answer: B. To find fresh pastures
Explanation: During the hot summer months, pastoralists moved their herds to high mountain pastures where fresh green grass was available.
16. What was the primary resource of pastoralists?
A. Gold
B. Animal products
C. Agricultural seeds
D. Coal
Answer: B. Animal products
Explanation: Pastoralists heavily relied on their herds for milk, meat, wool, and leather, which were traded for grain and other necessities.
17. Which industry expanded in Africa leading to the shrinking of Maasai lands?
A. Tea plantations
B. Game reserves and tourism
C. Oil drilling
D. Diamond mining
Answer: B. Game reserves and tourism
Explanation: The colonial expansion of game reserves and wildlife tourism in Africa heavily restricted the grazing lands of the Maasai.
18. Why were pastoralists considered 'criminals' by the British?
A. They stole animals
B. They refused to pay grazing taxes
C. They attacked British officers
D. They concealed weapons
Answer: B. They refused to pay grazing taxes
Explanation: Pastoralists who refused to pay the heavy grazing tax or who migrated without passes were heavily penalized and labeled as criminals.
19. Which tribe is the 'Gaddis' associated with?
A. The Shepherds of the Himalayas
B. The fishermen of Kerala
C. The farmers of Punjab
D. The traders of Rajasthan
Answer: A. The Shepherds of the Himalayas
Explanation: The Gaddi community in Himachal Pradesh is well-known for shepherding sheep and goats in the high-altitude Himalayan pastures.
20. The colonial government reserved most grazing lands for what purpose?
A. Cattle fairs
B. Farming and plantations
C. Wildlife sanctuaries
D. Urban development
Answer: B. Farming and plantations
Explanation: The British took over large tracts of traditional grazing lands to set up extensive farming systems and cash crop plantations.
21. What was the primary animal herded by the Dhangars?
A. Goats
B. Sheep
C. Yaks
D. Camels
Answer: B. Sheep
Explanation: The Dhangars specialized in herding sheep, which they moved across the Deccan plateau in search of forage.
22. The term 'pastoralism' refers to what type of lifestyle?
A. City dwelling
B. Herding livestock
C. Manufacturing goods
D. Mining minerals
Answer: B. Herding livestock
Explanation: Pastoralism is the lifestyle of raising livestock on natural pastures, often involving seasonal migration to find grazing grounds.
23. The Maasai were forced to migrate due to what in the modern world?
A. Droughts
B. National parks and borders
C. Urbanization
D. Industrial factories
Answer: B. National parks and borders
Explanation: The creation of national parks, game reserves, and international borders in East Africa severely curtailed the Maasai's traditional routes.
24. How did the expansion of railways affect pastoralists?
A. Increased their mobility
B. Blocked their traditional migration routes
C. Provided them jobs
D. Helped them trade animals
Answer: B. Blocked their traditional migration routes
Explanation: The expansion of railway lines and fencing effectively blocked the traditional migration routes that pastoralists had used for centuries.
25. What did the pastoralists mostly trade with farmers?
A. Gold and silver
B. Wool and ghee
C. Wood and stone
D. Spices and textiles
Answer: B. Wool and ghee
Explanation: Pastoralists exchanged animal products like wool, ghee, and meat with settled farmers in exchange for grains and cereals.
26. What was the effect of the grazing tax on the pastoralist economy?
A. It strengthened them
B. It destroyed their economic independence
C. It increased their income
D. It ended migration
Answer: B. It destroyed their economic independence
Explanation: The heavy grazing taxes imposed by the British crippled the pastoralist economy and pushed many into severe poverty.
27. Who are the 'Banjara' pastoralists?
A. Camel traders
B. Cattle herders and traders
C. Sheep shearers
D. Horse breeders
Answer: B. Cattle herders and traders
Explanation: The Banjaras were traditional cattle herders and transporters, who moved huge herds of cattle across Central India.
28. In Africa, the Maasai were displaced by whom?
A. European colonizers
B. Asian immigrants
C. Arab traders
D. African kingdoms
Answer: A. European colonizers
Explanation: European colonial powers in East Africa displaced the Maasai to make way for their own agricultural settlements and game reserves.
29. Pastoralists are still an important part of the modern economy, primarily in which sector?
A. High-tech industries
B. Dairy and meat production
C. Banking
D. Construction
Answer: B. Dairy and meat production
Explanation: Even today, traditional pastoralists contribute significantly to the dairy and meat production sectors of developing nations.
30. The British often labelled pastoralists as what in their official records?
A. Noble savages
B. Criminals and vagrants
C. Royal herdsmen
D. Civilized farmers
Answer: B. Criminals and vagrants
Explanation: British colonial officials frequently stigmatized pastoralists as vagrants and criminals to justify restricting their movements and taxing them.
This page contains a chapter-wise objective practice set. Try the questions without checking the answer first, then use the explanation to understand the point you missed. The current page contains 30 questions, so you can practise in smaller sets when you are revising.
Quick revision tip
After the practice set, write down the question numbers you missed and revise only those concepts once more. This makes MCQ practice more useful than repeatedly attempting the same questions without reviewing mistakes.
