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“Climate is extreme, rainfall is scanty and the people used to be nomadic herders.” The above statement best describes which of the following regions?

  1. African Savannah
  2. Central Asian Steppe
  3. North American Prairie
  4. Siberian Tundra

Explanation

Option (b) is correct
  • This region is characterized by extreme climatic conditions, with hot summers and cold winters.
  • Rainfall is scanty, making it suitable for grassland vegetation.
  • Historically, the people in this region were primarily nomadic herders. The herders were wandering tribes e.g. the Kirghiz, and the Kazakhs.

World map highlighting major grassland agricultural regions with green shading, including Great Plains, Prairies, Pampas, and Steppes across North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. Labels identify specific grasslands such as Kazakh Steppe, Pontic Steppe, and Asiatic Steppe, showing global distribution of key agricultural zones.

Temperate Grassland Region
Steppe From the shores of the Black Sea to the foothills of the Altai Mountains
Pustaz Hungary and the surrounding regions
Prairies North America (between the foothills of the Rockies and the Great Lakes)
Pampas Argentina and Uruguay (Rain-shadow effect)
Bush-veld (more tropical) Northern South Africa
High Veld (more temperate) Southern South Africa
Downs Murray-Darling basin of southern Australia
Canterbury New Zealand (rain shadow effect of Southern Alps)
Option (a) is incorrect
  • The African Savanna includes West African Sudan, and then curves southwards into East Africa and southern Africa north of the Tropic of Capricorn.
Option (c) is incorrect
  • The North American Prairie region is a temperate grassland with more stable climatic conditions compared to the Central Asian Steppe.
Option (d) is incorrect
  • The Siberian Tundra is an extreme cold climate, not conducive to nomadic herding.
Answer: (b) Central Asian Steppe; Difficulty Level: Medium
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