Read the following passage and answer the question:
Nomadic herding or pastoral nomadism is a primitive subsistence activity, in which the herders rely on animals for food, clothing, shelter, tools and transport. They move from one place to another along with their livestock, depending on the amount and quality of pastures and water. Each nomadic community occupies a well-identified territory as a matter of tradition. A wide variety of animals is kept in different regions. In tropical Africa, cattle are the most important livestock, while in Sahara and Asiatic deserts, sheep, goats and camel are reared. In the mountainous areas of Tibet and Andes, yak and llamas and in the Arctic and sub Arctic areas, reindeer are the most important animals.
Pastoral nomadism is associated with three important regions. The core region extends from the Atlantic shores of North Africa eastwards across the Arabian peninsula into Mongolia and Central China. The second region extends over the Tundra region of Eurasia. In the southern hemisphere there are small areas in South-west Africa and on the island of Madagascar.
Movement in search of pastures is undertaken either over vast horizontal distances or vertically from one elevation to another in the mountainous regions. The process of migration from plain areas to pastures on mountain during Summer and again from Mountain pastures to plain areas during winters is known as Transhumance. In mountain regions such as Himalayas, Gujjars, Bakarwals, Gaddis and Bhotiyas migrate from plains to the mountains in summers and to the plains from the high altitude pastures in winters. Similarly, in the Tundra regions, the nomadic herders move from south to north in summers and from north to south in winters.
The number of pastoral nomads has been decreasing and the areas operated by them shrinking. This is due to: (a) imposition of political boundaries (b) new settlement plans by different countries.
Which one is NOT an important region of pastoral nomadism in the world?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → United States of America and Canada
The passage states: “The core region extends from the Atlantic shores of North Africa eastwards across the Arabian peninsula into Mongolia and Central China. The second region extends over the Tundra region of Eurasia. In the southern hemisphere there are small areas in South-west Africa and on the island of Madagascar.”
Option (1) Western part of North African Continent to Mongolia — An important region. This is the core region, from the Atlantic shores of North Africa to Mongolia.
Option (2) Tundra region of Asia and Europe — An important region. Eurasia means Asia and Europe together, so this is the second region.
Option (3) South West Africa and Island of Madagascar — An important region. These are the small areas of the southern hemisphere.
Option (4) United States of America and Canada — Not an important region. North America is not one of the three regions of pastoral nomadism.