NCERT Solutions for Class 4 EVS Chapter 9: Different Lands, Different Lives – Free PDF Download

Chapter 9 of the Class 4 EVS textbook Our Wondrous World is Different Lands, Different Lives. It introduces children to how people in deserts, plains, coastal areas, and mountains live differently based on their surroundings, through the journeys of Chandni and Nayan.

Last Updated: September 23, 2026

NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers – Chapter 9: Different Lands, Different Lives

Activity 1 (Page 131)

Q: Write the name of the places and something special about them. Ask two or three friends about the places they have visited and fill the table given below.
A: Sample answer: I visited Jaipur — special for its forts and palaces; my friend visited Goa — special for its beaches; another friend visited Manali — special for its mountains and snow. Similarities: all are popular tourist places; Differences: they have very different landscapes and climates.

Write (Pages 132–133)

Q1: What kind of land do you see in the picture?
A: The picture shows a desert — dry, sandy land with sand dunes and very little vegetation.

Q2: List the activities that people are engaged in.
A: Sample answer: people are shown herding camels and goats, trading goods at a market, and travelling on camelback across the sand.

Q3: Which animals do you see in the picture?
A: Camels, and hardy desert animals like goats, are shown, since they can survive with little water.

Q4: Do you notice anything unique about the clothing of the people?
A: Yes — people wear long, loose, brightly coloured clothes and turbans, which protect them from the strong sun and blowing sand while keeping them cool.

Write (Page 133)

Q: What is the most popular food in your region? Can you list the main ingredients used in its preparation?
A: Sample answer: Dal Baati Churma is popular in Rajasthan — made using wheat flour, ghee, lentils (dal), and jaggery.

Find Out (Page 137)

Q: Ask your family members about the folk songs and dances from your region, and note them down in the table below.
A: Sample answer: Rajasthan — Ghoomar dance and folk songs sung during festivals and weddings, often accompanied by instruments like the dholak and sarangi.

Discuss (Page 138)

Q: Why do you think water is scarce in the desert?
A: Deserts receive very little rainfall throughout the year, the sandy soil cannot hold water well, and high temperatures cause whatever water there is to evaporate quickly.

On the Seashore, with Chandni (Page 139)

Q1: List the different kinds of activities that the people are doing.
A: Sample answer: fishing, selling fish and seafood at the market, making and repairing boats, and drying fish in the sun.

Q2: What kinds of trees are found near the sea, and how are they different from those in the deserts and plains?
A: Coconut and palm trees are common near the sea; unlike desert plants, they need more water and humidity, and unlike many plains trees, they grow tall and thin with a cluster of leaves at the top to withstand strong sea winds.

Q3: List the activities you would like to do on a beach.
A: Sample answer: building sandcastles, collecting shells, swimming, and watching the sunset.

Q4: What is special about the dresses people wear in the coastal regions?
A: People often wear light, breathable cotton clothes suited to the hot and humid coastal climate.

Activity 2 (Page 141)

Q: Use one coastal item to create a fun decor object like a photo frame, a necklace, a painted pebble, a mini basket, or a sand art jar.
A: Students use shells, pebbles, or sand collected from a coastal trip (or provided samples) to make a simple decorative craft item.

Discuss: Write your observations on how life around a coastal region differs from life in a desert. Why is it important to keep our beaches clean?
A: Coastal life revolves around fishing and the sea, with a humid climate and boat-based transport, while desert life revolves around herding and trade, with a dry climate and camel transport. Beaches must be kept clean because litter harms marine animals, pollutes the water, and spoils the natural beauty that tourists and local communities depend on.

Activity 3 (Page 142)

Q: Can you identify these creatures?
A: Sample answer: based on the coastal pictures shown, the creatures include a crab, a starfish, a fish, and a seagull.

Discuss (Page 143)

Q1: What are the adverse effects of a cyclone?
A: Cyclones can damage homes and crops, uproot trees, cause flooding, disrupt electricity and water supply, and put lives at risk in coastal areas.

Q2: How can communities be better prepared for such situations?
A: By following cyclone warnings, building strong and wind-resistant shelters, keeping emergency supplies ready, and having a clear evacuation plan.

In the Mountains, with Nayan (Pages 144–145)

Q1: What type of animals do you see in the picture?
A: Sample answer: yaks, mountain goats, and sheep, which are suited to cold, high-altitude regions.

Q2: How are the dresses worn by people living in the mountains different from those worn in your region?
A: Mountain people wear thick, woollen clothes to stay warm in the cold, unlike the lighter cotton clothes worn in warmer regions.

Q3: Describe the trees found in the mountains.
A: Mountain trees like pine and oak are usually tall, with needle-like or tough leaves, and are adapted to withstand cold temperatures and heavy snow.

Discuss (Page 147)

Q1: How does the cold climate in mountain regions affect the way people live and dress?
A: People wear thick woollen clothes, build homes with sloping roofs and wooden walls to keep out cold and snow, and rely on activities suited to the terrain like herding and terrace farming.

Q2: What traditional clothes are worn in your region? How do they match with the local climate?
A: Sample answer: in hot regions, people wear light cotton clothes to stay cool; students should describe their own region’s traditional dress and its fit with the local weather.

Q3: Why do you think certain trees, like pine and oak, grow better in the mountains?
A: Their shape and leaf type help them survive cold temperatures, heavy snow, and steep, rocky ground better than plains trees can.

Q4: How do animals like yak survive in the cold climate of Sikkim?
A: Yaks have thick, long fur that keeps them warm, and their strong bodies and hooves help them move easily on steep, snowy mountain terrain.

Discuss (Page 148)

Q1: Why do you think traditional houses in Sikkim are built with wood and have slanting roofs?
A: Wood is locally available and keeps homes warmer, and slanting roofs let heavy snow slide off easily instead of collecting and damaging the roof.

Q2: Does your house have any feature that is similar to the houses in the mountains?
A: Sample answer: varies by student — for example, a sloped roof for rain in some regions.

Q3: Why are landslides common in mountains during the rainy season?
A: Heavy rain loosens soil and rocks on steep slopes, and when there isn’t enough vegetation to hold the soil together, it can slide down suddenly.

Q4: What do you think can be done to keep people safe during landslides?
A: Planting trees to hold the soil, avoiding building homes on unstable slopes, setting up warning systems, and following evacuation instructions during heavy rain.

Q5: What can communities do to help people who lose their homes or get affected by natural disasters?
A: Provide temporary shelter, food, and clothing, help rebuild homes, and offer emotional and financial support to affected families.

Life in My Landform (Page 149)

Q: Draw the landform around you. Name the area, the type of landform, and some interesting features of the people, their professions, food, houses, plants and animals.
A: Students draw their own local landform (plains, coast, desert, or mountain) and describe its typical houses, food, work, plants, and animals.

Let Us Reflect (Pages 150–151)

(Exact page wording should be cross-checked against your physical copy.)

Q1: Compare life in the mountains and plains by capturing the differences in trees, animals, houses, clothes, food, festivals and art forms.
A: Mountains have pine/oak trees, animals like yak and mountain goat, wooden sloped-roof houses, thick woollen clothes, and food like maize and buckwheat, with festivals suited to the cold. Plains have crop fields and shady trees, animals like cattle, brick/concrete houses, cotton clothes, and food based on wheat/rice, with festivals tied to the farming season.

Q2: Design and draw a landform by combining your favourite features from mountains, plains, coasts, and deserts. What made you choose different features? How does each feature benefit people, animals or plants? What difficulties might people face living in your landform?
A: Sample answer: a student might combine a mountain’s forests, a coast’s beach, and a plain’s farmland — choosing features they find beautiful or useful; each benefits people through resources like water, food, or building material; challenges could include unpredictable weather or difficulty travelling between very different terrains.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do people in different regions eat different kinds of food?
Because the crops and food that can be grown or found depend on the local climate and land, so diets naturally reflect what is available in that region.

What is one thing people across different lands often have in common despite their different lifestyles?
Despite different surroundings and ways of life, people everywhere share basic needs like food, shelter, family, and community.

Written by Satish

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