Important Questions Class 8 Chapter 4 English MP Board

Trees: Our Saviours

Short Questions

1. What do trees provide to the people of Uttarakhand?

• They provide fodder, fuelwood, fruits, and herbs for medicine.

2. What problems were caused by deforestation in the Himalayan region?

• Deforestation led to soil erosion, landslides, and floods.

3. Why did people have to walk longer distances?

• They had to go far to collect firewood, plants, and to graze cattle.

4. When did deforestation begin in Uttarakhand?

• Deforestation began during the 1970s.

5. What did the factory workers come to Gopeshwar for?

• They came to cut ash trees for making railway sleepers.

6. How did the villagers protest against tree cutting?

• They hugged the trees to stop the axemen from cutting them.

7. What name was given to this non-violent movement?

• The movement was called the Chipko Movement.

8. What slogans did the villagers shout during the protest?

• They shouted, “Chop me – not the tree” and “Kill us first, before you cut a single tree.”

9. Who took the lead in organising forest protection efforts later?

• Women and villagers formed groups like Dasohli Gram Swarajya Mandal.

10. What did the Chipko Movement teach people?

• It taught the importance of forest conservation.

Long Questions

1. How did the forests help the people of Uttarakhand?

• The forests gave them essential resources like fuel, food, and medicine. They also protected the land from soil erosion and floods during the monsoon.

2. What was the impact of deforestation on the region?

• With trees gone, there was no protection for the soil. This caused landslides and floods, and people struggled to meet their basic needs.

3. Why were the villagers angry and helpless?

• They were angry because forests were being destroyed by contractors. But they felt helpless as they were simple villagers without power.

4. What happened in March 1973 at Gopeshwar?

• Factory workers came to cut ash trees for railway sleepers. The villagers protested by hugging the trees to protect them.

5. What did the villagers shout while protesting?

• They shouted slogans like “Chipko Chipko” and “Chop me – not the tree.” These emotional words showed their love for nature.

6. What did the axemen do after the villagers’ protest?

• They were frightened by the villagers’ unity and ran away. The protest successfully saved the trees.

7. How did the Chipko Movement spread across the region?

• After its success, the idea of hugging trees to save them spread. People in other areas began using the same method to stop tree cutting.

8. What role did women play in the movement?

• Women took a strong part in protecting forests and formed groups. Organisations like Dasohli Gram Swarajya Mandal helped regenerate forests.

9. Why is the Chipko Movement important in environmental history?

• It showed the power of peaceful protest to protect nature. It became a symbol of forest conservation both in India and abroad.

10. What lesson does the Chipko Movement teach us?

• It teaches us that saving forests means saving our future. When people unite for nature, great change is possible.