Europe

A and D are correct.

Reason — The Low Countries lie in the low-lying European plains in the north, where much of the land is either below sea level or slightly above it, so they often face the danger of floods. Among the given options, Luxembourg (A) and Netherlands (D) are Low Countries. Portugal and Greece are not among the Low Countries.

Iceland, Finland, Norway

Reason — Nordic countries is a term used collectively for five countries in northern Europe — Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland.

Maintaining the pristine environment and reducing the pressure of tourists.

Reason — Ecotourism is a specialised form of tourism in which tourists help maintain the serenity and sanctity of the environment. It is an effective way of maintaining a pristine environment and reducing the pressure of tourists on ecologically sensitive areas.

the Isthmus of Suez

Reason — The Isthmus of Suez connects Africa to Eurasia, joining the two landmasses into one large stretch of land.

the Atlantic Ocean

Reason — Europe is like an elongated peninsula surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The Arctic Ocean lies to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the south of Europe, while the Pacific Ocean does not border Europe at all.

Helsinki

Reason — Berlin is the capital of Germany, so the analogy requires the capital of Finland, which is Helsinki.

Low Countries

Reason — The Low Countries, also known as the Benelux Countries, include Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. As they lie in the low-lying European plains, they often face the danger of floods.

Norway

Reason — Fjords are very common in Norway. They are deep, narrow inlets of the sea with steep slopes, formed from submerged glaciated valleys.

the Po River

Reason — The Po River is a major river of Italy.

Ireland

Reason — Ireland lies in the Atlantic Ocean. Sicily, Sardinia and Crete are located in the Mediterranean Sea.

Geneva

Reason — Geneva is the headquarters of Europe's United Nations and the Red Cross.

Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation — Europe has a highly indented coastline with a long coastline and a number of natural harbours. This has given its people a tradition of seafaring and fishing and has placed European nations in the forefront of fishing and trade. Hence, R correctly explains A.

Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation — Europe has a highly indented coastline with a long coastline and many natural harbours, which gave its people a tradition of seafaring. This enabled European explorers to discover and settle new lands and placed European nations at the forefront of international shipping and trade. Hence, R correctly explains A.

Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.

Explanation — The north-western highlands are indeed drained by small and swift flowing rivers because the surface of the highlands is undulating, and there are also narrow estuaries along the coast — so both statements are true. However, the estuaries are funnel-shaped openings formed by the drowning of river mouths due to sea-level rise; they do not cause the rivers to be small and swift. Hence, R does not explain A.

Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation — Climate change and less snowfall have started affecting the number of tourists who visit Switzerland for skiing. Due to snow-deficient winters, skiing has been withdrawn from some glacial fields. Hence, R correctly explains A.

a. The Isthmus of Suez

b. Russia

c. Nordic countries

d. Podgorica

e. Sognefjord

Spain is called a Mediterranean country because it borders the Mediterranean Sea and forms part of Mediterranean Europe.

The North European Plains have received deposits laid down by rivers as well as material brought in by glaciers. These deposits form much of the plains.

Tourism operates in a world of limited resources and a fragile environment that needs protection. Ecotourism helps maintain the serenity and sanctity of the environment and reduces the pressure of tourists on ecologically sensitive areas. Therefore, it is gaining popularity in Switzerland.

a. Indented coastline — A coastline that is broken by several inlets or creeks.

b. Natural harbours — A part of the sea, which is protected by land on three sides and deep enough to allow ships to anchor.

c. Nordic countries — A term used collectively for five countries in northern Europe, namely Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland.

d. Estuaries — Funnel-shaped openings formed by the drowning of the mouths of rivers, usually due to a rise in sea level.

Europe is like an elongated peninsula. It is surrounded by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. In the east, it is joined to Asia, and the two continents together form a large, continuous stretch of land known as Eurasia.

The Balkan States comprise the countries lying to the south-east, near the coast of the Black Sea. Two countries which belong to the Balkan States are Serbia and Montenegro.

The North European Plains extend from the southern United Kingdom in the west to Russia in the east. The shallow North Sea, the Baltic Sea and the White Sea represent portions of the plains that have been submerged.

The major north-flowing rivers of Europe are the Seine, the Rhine, the Elbe, the Oder and the Vistula.

The Central Uplands lie to the south of the North European Plain. They consist of old mountains that have been eroded to form small plateaus. These include the Meseta Central in Spain, the Massif Central in France and the Bohemian Plateau in the Czech Republic. The Vosges, Black Forest and Harz are some of the low mountains found in this region.

The Alpine system of young fold mountains lies to the south of the plateaus and low mountains of the Central Uplands. These young fold mountains include the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Carpathians and the Balkans. They extend in a general east-west direction and are continued across the Black Sea by the Caucasus Mountains. The Sierra Nevada in Spain, the Apennines in Italy, the Dinaric Alps spread across Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, Croatia, Kosovo and Albania, and the Pindus Mountain in Greece are also a part of the Alpine system. These mountain ranges have high peaks, steep slopes, glacial valleys and narrow river valleys. Mount Elbrus (5,642 m) lies in the Caucasus Mountains, while Mont Blanc (4,807 m) lies in the Alps.

Tourism is a dominating service sector economy in the world. It helps in developing a country's economy in the following ways:

1. It helps in creating jobs and entrepreneurship.
2. It helps in protecting the heritage and cultural values of a nation.
3. It collects huge foreign exchange and therefore contributes to the economic development of a country.

Eco-tourism — Ecotourism is a specialised form of tourism in which tourists help maintain the serenity and sanctity of the environment. It is an effective way of reducing the pressure of tourists on ecologically sensitive areas.

Some of the major tourist destinations of Switzerland are Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lucerne and Zurich.

a. This city is Basel, which is located in north-western Switzerland.

b. It lies along the Rhine River.

c. The Basel Minster, which is built of red sandstone, is a major tourist attraction of this city.

i. The scenic beauty of the landscape, especially that offered by the Swiss Alps and the numerous lakes, makes Switzerland an attractive tourist destination.

ii. Switzerland is known for skiing.

iii. Climate change and less snowfall have reduced opportunities for skiing. Skiing has been withdrawn from some glacial fields due to snow-deficient winters, so fewer tourists are visiting the country for skiing.