Year 10 -H&G - 15.5.14

Thai Sikh International School

Year10, History Notes. [The Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe]

1.      How did Soviet Union take control of Eastern Europe? Or how did Soviet Union take control of the following countries?

1.      The take-over of Poland: Stalin’s first priority was control of Poland. In June 1945 few London poles were included in the polish government. However the Lublin group dominated. The communist power was strengthened even further in January 1947 when rigged elections were held in Poland. After the elections, the leader of the London poles, Mikolaczyk, fled from the country and Poland came under USSR.

2.      The take-over of Romania and Bulgaria: After Poland, Stalin turned to Romania and Bulgaria. In 1944 coalition governments dominated by communists were set up in these countries. In 1945, a Soviet politician ordered the king of Romania to appoint a new prime minister chosen by Stalin. Though the king refused, later he had to yield to the demand. Stalin got his prime minister. By the middle of 1945 communists were in firm control in Romania.

Elections took place in Bulgaria in November. Rigged elections were held in September 1946 and the communist government in Bulgaria abolished the monarchy and communist government came into being.

3.      The take-over of Hungary and Czechoslovakia: In Hungary Stalin allowed free elections to take place and non-communist party became successful. In 1947 rigged elections were held and an exclusively communist government took power. And in November all non-communist parties were banned.

Before 1948, Czechoslovakia was ruled by a coalition of communists and non communists. In 1947 there was an economic crisis in the country. The harvest was bad and industry was in trouble. Communists were afraid that they would do badly. So the communists used armed force to seize power. Many non-communists were arrested and Jan Masaryk, the foreign minister was murdered. Rigged elections were held afterwards and communists won a huge majority. Thus the soviet take-over in Eastern Europe was complete.

2.      After 1945 the Soviet Union took control of much of Eastern Europe. Was it a defensive move or a step towards a take-over of the whole of Europe? Explain your answer in detail.

OR

It has been argued that Stalin took over Eastern Europe as the first stage towards a communist take-over of the world. Explain your answer in detail.

After the Second World War, the Soviet leaders believed that their country had largely won the war, so they had a right to shape the future of Europe. Stalin saw the war as proof that communism worked and had triumphed. This gave confidence and determination to the soviet government.

  In the war Soviet Union suffered much more than the other allies. This made a difference to attitudes after the war. As many as 25 million Soviet citizens have died because of the war. Stalin was determined that this should never be allowed to happen again.

In 1914 and 1941 Germany had attacked Russia through Poland. In 1945 Stalin thought that sooner or later there could be another attack through Poland. To stop this he was determined to control Poland and other European states.

By 1945, The Soviet government was convinced that the American business leaders were planning to spread their power by buying up companies in other countries and selling American goods wherever they could. In this way the USA was trying to build up a new kind of World Empire. The Soviet Union wanted to stop this. So they determined to set up a group of friendly communist countries in Europe.

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The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall plan.

1.      What was the Truman Doctrine? How was the doctrine different to the traditional American policy of isolationism?

After 1945 the USA moved away from isolationism and became active throughout the world. American policy took shape in the crucial year of 1947. At the beginning of the year there was an economic crisis in Western Europe. The harvest in 1946 was poor and there was food shortage in many countries. In Britain unemployment was severe. In Germany people were close to starvation. In France and Italy there was real possibility that the communists could come to power.

In February 1947 the British government sent a message to Washington – Britain could no longer afford to pay for troops in Greece and Turkey. Unless America replaced Britain in Greece and Turkey these countries could easily come under Soviet control. Truman decided to offer American financial help to Greece and Turkey. He further added that American support was available for any people who wanted to fight communism. This became known as Truman Doctrine. According to this Doctrine, America will support free people who are resisting subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures. It was based on the idea of containment- the USA would use its wealth and power to stop or contain the spread of communism.

2.      What was the Marshall plan? How did the Soviet Union react to the Truman doctrine and the Marshall plan?

In 1947, like Truman Doctrine, there was another strand of American policy emerged. In Washington there was a belief that communism could only be stopped if Western Europe became wealthy. By 1947 it was clear that without American help there was little chance of

 economic recovery. Therefore USA decided to offer massive economic aid to Western Europe. The project was organized by the American secretary of state, General George Marshall, and was known as known as the Marshall plan.

As per the plan, American money was made available to those European countries which made an application. Since Stalin saw this plan as an attempt to impose capitalist ideas, he refused it and did not allow Poland and Czechoslovakia to join the plan. Marshall Plan was based on a belief that communism would be less attractive to ordinary people of they had good Job and were well paid.

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Year 9 - Geography(2) - 8.5.14

Thai Sikh International School

Year 9 Geo Notes Topic 13 [Rivers from Source to Mouth.]

1.      Explain how the water cycle works.

The water from the sea escapes in the form of evaporation and returns to the same sea. This is called water cycle. Water cycle undergoes five stages. They are:

a.       Evaporation: The high temperature and warm winds change the sea water into gas (water vapor) which rises into the atmosphere.

b.      Evapotranspiration: The vegetation absorbs the rain water through the roots and is eventually returned to the atmosphere by transpiration leaves.

c.       Condensation: As water vapor is blown towards mountains by the winds; it is forced to rise, cools and condenses into water droplets. These form clouds and falls as rain.

d.      Interception: Some rainfall is intercepted by plants and trees before reaching the ground. Some falls on the ground and flows as small flowing streams.

e.       Overland flow: Upland streams flow downhill and join at confluences to form wider rivers which finally join the sea or lake.

2.      Differentiate between vertical and lateral erosion.

In the upper course the stream flows over steep ground. The main process is vertical erosion. The water running fast through the mountain cuts deep and flows. This is vertical erosion.

In the lower course the river flows over flatter ground. The water cuts the side and widens the river. This side cutting is called lateral erosion.

3.      Explain different types of river erosion?

a.       Hydraulic action: In this the erosion takes place due to the impact of moving water.

b.      Corrasion. (Abrasion) : The wearing away of the bed and banks of a river by the load being carried is corrasion.

c.       Attrition: The wearing away of the load as the particles bumb against each other while being carried in the river.

d.      Solution (Corrosion): It is the dissolving of material by the river water.

4.      Mention the different land forms formed due to erosion.

a.       Waterfalls and rapids.

b.      V shaped valleys and

c.       Potholes in river beds.

5.      Name the different landforms formed by river deposition.

a.       Meanders and ox-bow lakes.

b.      Flood plains and

c.       Deltas. 

6.      How do Meanders and Ox-bow lakes are formed?

Erosion on the outside of bends and deposition in the inside of bends leads the river ‘swinging’ along the valley. This creates Meanders.

Ox-bow lakes form when a meander is cut off from the main river.

7.      Explain how flood plains and deltas are formed?

When the river floods; it deposits material forming a wide flat valley floor. These are flood plains.

When the river slows on entering sea or lake it deposits more material than can be removed. These are the Deltas.

13a, b. [Niagara Falls, the Ganges delta.]

8.      Give a description about the formation of Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls consists of two waterfalls on the Niagara River which marks the border between New York State, USA (the American Falls) and Ontario, Canada (the Canadian or Horseshoe Falls).

The formation of the falls began at the end of the ice Age in North America around 18000 years ago. Torrents of water were released into the great lakes as ice melted into what is now the Niagara River.

9.      Give a brief description about Bangladesh and its location.

Bangladesh lies north of the Bay of Bengal and shares borders with India and Myanmar (Burma). It is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, yet most of the country is part of a huge low-lying delta. This has been formed by deposition from some of the longest rivers in the world-The Ganges and its tributary, Brahmaputra- and the Meghna River. Monsoon rains, Cyclones and floods regularly cause natural disasters.

10.  Why Bangladesh is called ‘the drain of the Himalayas’?

Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan until1971) is an LEDC. Over two- thirds of the country is made up of the Ganges delta. The Ganges River is over 2500km long, having its source in snowmelt and rainfall in the Himalayan Mountains north of India. It flows eastwards and empties into the Bay of Bengal after being joined by the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers from the east.

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Year 9 - Geography - 8.5.14

Thai Sikh International School

Year 9,Geo Notes[ Topic 12,Weathering]

     1.      How is weathering different from erosion?

Weathering is the breakdown of rock by mechanical, physical and biological forces that do not remove it. No transport of material is involved apart from the weathered material slipping or falling down wards under the influence of gravity.

Erosion is the breakdown of rock by moving water, ice and to a small extent, wind which then transport the eroded material away.

      2.      What is the difference between Mechanical and chemical weathering?

Mechanical (physical) weathering involves disintegration of rocks into smaller pieces with no chemical change in their composition. It takes place in all regions where there are changes in temperature and is seen in hot tropical desert areas where there is a large daily temperature range.

Chemical weathering involves the decomposition of rocks by changing their chemical composition. It takes place in all regions where there is rain but is seen mostly in humid tropical areas with high temperatures.

      3.      In what ways do plants and animals contribute to mechanical and chemical weathering?

Plants contribute to mechanical weathering by using their roots to force apart rocks along bedding planes, joints or cracks. Burrowing animals contribute to the breaking up and loosening of rocks. Both plants and animals contribute to chemical weathering by releasing acids and other chemicals in their life cycle, including during their own decomposition.

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Year 8 - History - 8.5.14

Thai Sikh International School

Year 8 Hist Notes[ World war II, Causes and effects]

1.      Give a short description about World War II.

World War II was the most devastating war in the human history. It began on 1939 and ended in 1945. At the end of the war USA and USSR emerged as super powers. Two new weapons were introduced during the war. They were the long range rocket and the atomic bomb. The greatest advances were in Air craft and tanks.

2.      What were the important causes of the Second World War?

1.      The failure of peace efforts:

During 1920s attempts were made to achieve a stable peace. The League of Nations established in 1920 could not settle the disputes between countries. Other peace treaties like Washington conference of 1921-22, Locarno conference of 1925, and Paris peace pact (1928) were all failed to achieve its goal.

2.      The rise of Fascism:

In 1920, a new form of rule was adopted in Italy by Benito Mussolini. It was based on Militaristic totalitarianism (dictorship). The Italian name for this rule was called ‘Fascism’. It promised the Italian people that the new form of rule was more effective than democracy to meet the demand of the people.

3.      Formation of Axis coalition:

In 1933, Hitler became the German chancellor. He established himself as dictator and was known as Fuhrer (the Leader). Hitler violated the treaty of Versailles and created a new air force. He also made treaties with Italy and Japan and became to be known as Rome- Berlin- Tokyo Axis. This collective term began to be known as Axis – which led to the war.

3. How did the Second World War begin?

In September 1, 1939, Germany attacked Poland. On September 3 the British and French the initial course of the war, Hitler dominated the war. USSR under Stalin was in no mood to challenge Hitler. USA did not interfere in the war in the beginning.

4.      Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor?

In 1941 the US demanded Japan to withdraw from China and Indochina. Against this the Japanese Army and Navy devised a plan to counter attack USA. Japan knew that the US pacific fleet was based at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. On December 7,1941, Japanese carrier based airplanes struck Pearl Harbor. In the attack, Japan sank and damaged eight battleships and 13 other naval vessels of US. The Japanese attack brought the US into the war on December 8. 

5.      Give a brief description about the US attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Throughout the Second World War, the US government had maintained a massive scientific industrial project to develop an atom bomb. The first bomb was exploded in a test at Alamogordo, New Mexico, on July 16, 1945. Two more bombs had been built. Against the Pearl Harbor attack, president, Harry S.Truman decided to allow the bombs to dropped one over Hiroshima on August 6, and other over Nagasaki on August 9.US puts the number killed or missing as a result of the bomb in Hiroshima at 60,000-70,000 and Nagasaki at 40,000.

Objective type Questions.

  1.      Who established the first Fascist dictatorship in Italy? [Benito Mussolini]

  2.      Who is known as Fuhrer (The Leader)  [Adolf Hitler.]

  3.      Name the countries involved in Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis. [Italy, Germany and Japan.]

  4.      When did Japan attack Pearl Harbor? (Give day date and Year) [December 7, 1941, Sunday 8am.]

  5.      When did US declare war on Japan? [December 8,1941.]

  6.      When did Germany and Italy declare war on US? [December 11,1941.]

  7.      When did Hitler commit suicide? [April30,1945.]

  8.      Whom did Hitler appoint to be chief of the state before he committed suicide?

[Grand Admiral ‘Karl Doenitz ]

  9.      When did US and Britain declare victory in Europe? [May 8,1945.]

  10.  How many estimated Military and civilian died during the Second World War in USSR?

[20 million]

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Year 9 - H&G Notes - 6.5.14

Thai Sikh International School

Year 9, Geo Notes. Topic 11. [Plate Tectonics]

1.      Explain how the movements along plate boundaries give rise to earth quakes and volcanoes?

The earth’s surface, called as crust, is a collection of solid tectonic (moving) plates. Around the solid core at the centre of the earth is the layer of the molten magma. This is called the mantle. Through this layer flow convection currents. The plates float on the mantle. The convection currents move these plates away or towards each other. These movements along plate boundaries give rise to earth quakes and volcanoes.

2.      Mention the different plates that form boundaries with the plate you live on.

1. Pacific plate 2. North American plate 3. South American plate 4. African plate 5. Eurasian plate. 6. Indo Australian plate. 7. Antarctic plate. And8. Nazca plate. Thailand is in Eurasian plate.

3. What evidence suggests that the plates are moving apart?

The Red Sea is parting and creating a new ocean basin. The African and Arabian plates are pulling Apart, creating cracks in the earth’s crust. In six weeks an 8 meter crack appeared along a 60 km stretch of desert. The widening is about 30 mm per year but the rate of sea floor spreading is more rapid than that.

4...Explain how Fold Mountains are formed? Give an example for it.

Fold Mountain consists of folded sedimentary rock which can be up to 12000 meters thick. Originally the rocks were deposited beneath the sea or lake in horizontal layers. Converging plates squeezed together and raised these beds up to form Fold Mountains.

Mount Everest, in Himalayas, is the highest mountain above sea level at 8848 meters, is an example of Fold Mountain.

5. Why is Mt Everest still rising?

  Mt Everest was formed about 60 million years ago. It is still rising by a few millimeters each year as the Indian plate continues to move towards the Eurasian plate.

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Topic 11a –A volcano in Chile

  1.      Describe Chile’s location.

Chile is situated in Southern America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean and a small part of the South Atlantic Ocean. The country extends from latitude of 17degree south to Cape Horn at 56 degree. From north to south, Chile extends 4270 km and 177 km east to west.

Chile’s northern neighbors are Peru and Bolivia, and its border with Argentina to the east.

  2.      Chile is called a country of contrasts. Why?

Chile is a country of enormous contrasts. Among the Andes Mountain there are more than 2000 ash and lava volcanoes, of which 500 are active. On 2^nd May 2008, the Chaiten volcano- which was thought to be dormant –surprised everybody by suddenly erupting for the first time in over 9000 years.

  3.      How do ash and lava volcanoes erupt?

These volcanoes form at convergent plate boundaries.  The subduction plate melts and heat and pressure build up due to friction between the plates. The eruption is explosive. Hot lava flows out and lighter ash clouds settle on the lava in layers.

   4.      What is Caldera? How are they formed?

Caldera is the depression or crater found on the top of volcanic mountain. It is usually formed when the top of a volcano is blown off.

   5.      List the damages caused by the Chaiten volcanic eruption.

More than 4000 people had to flee their homes after a huge cloud of ash and lava was thrown into the sky by a long dormant volcano in southern Chile. The ash rose to a height of 20km and was still settling in Chile and Argentina five days later. Cars, houses and trees were coated with ash up to 15 cm thick. Forests were set on fire. Getting people out has been difficult due the terrain. Because the mountains rise immediately from the coast people had to queue to be evacuated by naval ships.

Topic11b- An earthquake in China.

   1.      No country has suffered natural disasters on the scale of China. Explain.

In china tens of millions died from famine, floods and earthquakes in the 20^th century alone. Just ten days after Chaiten volcano erupted, on Monday 12 May 2008 China’s most devastating earthquake in 30 year took place. The epicenter of 7.9 magnitude earthquake was in a mountainous region of Sichuan province. This earthquake killed over 87,000 people.

   2.      How do we measure earthquake energy?

Earthquake energy is measured on the Richter scale. Most are felt between 3.5 and 8 magnitudes. The higher the number the more energy is released and more damage caused. The great Chilean earthquake of 22 May 1960 was measured 9.5.

   3.      The area west of Chengdu, is vulnerable to earthquakes. Why?

The Sichuan area, west of Chengdu, is vulnerable to earthquakes because it is close to the boundary of two converging plates. These have also created many surface cracks or Faults.

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Year 9 - H&G Notes - 6.5.14

Thai Sikh International School

History Notes-For Year 9

[The conquest of Abyssinia]

1. What happened at the Battle of Adowa?

In 1896 the Abyssinians destroyed an Italian Army at Adowa. The battle stopped Italy for a While but after Adowa many Italians wanted to take revenge.

2.  Why was Mussolini keen to Conquer Abyssinia?

After the Depression in 1930 Mussolini decided to strengthen his position by a successful war. When he saw Hitler planning to dominate in central Europe, Mussolini decided to took south to make Italy a great Mediterranean power. This led him to think about an Italian return to Abyssinia.

3. What was the Stresa Front? What Was the Anglo German Naval agreement?

In april1935 Mussolini met the French and British prime minister in the Italian town of Stresa. They condemned German breaches of the Treaty of Versailles. People began to talk about the Stresa front: An anti German grouping of Italy, Britain and France.

After the stresa Front, Britain signed a treaty with Germany over the strength of their Navies. It fixed the size of the German Navy at 35%of the British Navy and allowed Germany to have Submarines. France and Italy were annoyed by this agreement. This is called the Anglo Naval agreement.

3. What Was the Hoare-Laval Pact? Did it succeed?

In December 1935 the British Foreign secretary, Hoare had secret talks with Laval, the prime minister of France. They designed a compromise, known as Hoare –Laval Pact, which Abyssinia would have been divided into two, with Italy given the richer part. However the Pact were leaked to the press and finally Hoare was forced to resign.

4. Why do you think the sale of oil and petrol was important to the Italian army in Abyssinia?

In order to continue the war in Abyssinia, Italy wanted to have more oil and petrol for using in war ships and vehicles. Although the League of Nations imposed a trade ban; it did not include the trade in oil and petrol. Therefore Italy could continue the war.

5. Explain in your own words the consequence of the Italian conquest0f Abyssinia? In your answer  you should mention :

a:The reputation of the League.

b. The advantages of the crisis of Hitler.

Mussolini attacked Abyssinia on 3^rd October 1935 and bombed the town of Adowa. Britain and France were caught in a dilemma. They did not want to annoy Mussolini, but they wanted to support the League of Nations with the idea of collective security.Abyssinia was the member of League of Nations .The League condemned Italian action and imposed a trade ban except on oil and petrol. Therefore Italy could continue the war and eventually Abyssinia was defeated.

             The League of Nations was broken by the Abyssinian crisis. Afterwards no one took it seriously. The failure of League of Nations was highlighted by Haile Selassie, the Abyssinian emperor. Thus the reputation of the League was affected.

                The Abyssinian attack was an advantage to Hitler. This crisis provided Hitler with an opportunity for his first act of aggression-the sending of German troops into the Rhine land area. Moreover Rome Berlin Axis and the Anti –Comintern pact strengthened the position of Hitler.

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Year 10 - H&G Notes - 5.5.14

Thai Sikh International School

Year 10, Geo Notes[Topic 26,a,b.Tourism]

1.      Give a description about Tourism industry and say why the industry is growing fast?

Tourism is the fastest growing industry in the world. It’s the world’s largest employer with over  250 million jobs. It is the main source of income for 80 % of the world’s countries. World tourism is increasing so much because of: 1. rising income. 2. Improved transport.3. escapism/adventure. 4. Education. 5. Advertising.

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2.       Write a note on Seychelles and show that the country relies on tourists.

  The Seychelles is made up of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, 1500km east of mainland Africa. Traditionally the economy was growing coconut palm and tea plantations. Since independence in 1976 the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to build hotels and other tourist amenities. Now the tourist industry provides the islands with 70 % of their income and it employs about 30% of the labor force.

3.      Describe the location of Dubai.

Dubai is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the Arabian Peninsula. It is located on the southern shore of the Arabian Gulf. The city is a busy urban area but outside the city is a sparsely populated area.

4.      What do you know about the climate of Dubai?

Dubai has a sub-tropical arid climate. Rain fall is infrequent and irregular, falling only on about five days per year. The mean daily temperature maximum is 30degree c in January rising to over 40degree c in July.

5.      Describe the different tourist attractions of Dubai.

In a short period of time tourism has transformed Dubai, an area of desert, into one of the world’s top tourist destinations of the 21^st century. The different tourist attractions are:

1.      Wild Wadi Water Park: It is a water theme park that covers an area of 5 hectares. This water park was designed like an Arabian Wadi (oasis) with characters from Arabian folk lore.  Once we enter the wild wadi water theme park, we will be given access to all the water rides. The rides suite people of all ages.

2.      Dubai desert safari: It is the most exiting tour in sand dunes and enjoys a great dinner and live belly dance in a desert camp outside Dubai. Desert safari in Dubai begins with a drive in a 4 by 4 vehicle driven by an expert driver.

3.      Ski Dubai: It is the first indoor ski resort in the east and offers an amazing snow setting to enjoy skiing, snowboarding or just playing in the snow. Ski Dubai is a unique mountain themed attraction that offers the opportunity to enjoy real snow in Dubai all year round. This monumental indoor snow dome has a capacity of 1500 guests and is one of the largest in the world.

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