Category: Class 7 Social Science Questions

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 History Social Science Chapter 9 The Making Of Regional Cultures

1.  Match the following :
Anantavarnam         – Kerala 
Jagannatha               – Bengal
Mahodayapurma     – Orissa
Lilatilakam              – Kangra
Mangalakavya        – Puri
Miniature                 –  Kerala
Answer:
Anantavarnam         –       Orissa
Jagannatha              –        Kangra
Mahodayapurma   –        Kerala
Lilatilakam             –        Kerala
Mangalakavya       –        Bengal
Miniature              –         Kangra

2. What is Manipravalam? Name abook written in that language.
Answer:  Maftipravalam is a language. The name of a book written in this language is Lilatilakam.

3. Who were the major patrons of Kathak?
Answer: The Mughals were the major patrons of Kathak.

4. What are the Important architectural features of the temples of Bengal?
Answer: Important architectural features of the temples of Bengal are:

• Temples began to copy the double-roofed or four-roofed structure of the thatched huts.
• In the comparatively more complex four-roofed structure, four triangular roofs placed on the four walls move up to converge on a curved line or a point.
• Temples were usually built on a square platform.
• The interior was relatively plain but the outer walls of many temples were decorated with paintings, ornamental tiles or terracotta tablets.

5. Why did minstrels proclaim the achievements of heroes?
Answer: Minstrels used to recite poems and songs which depicted the stories of the ” Rajputs’ heroic deeds. By reciting such poems and songs these minstrels inspired others to follow the examples of Rajputs. Ordinary people were also attracted by these stories.

6. Why do we know much more about the cultural practices of rulers than about those of ordinary people?
Answer: The cultural practices of rulers were carefully preserved in palaces for centuries. Hence we know much more about them. Ordinary men and women also painted on pots, walls, floors, cloth. But they did not survive for long.

7. Why did conquerors try to control the temple of Jagannatha at Puri?
Answer: The temple of Jagannatha at Puri gained importance as a centre of pilgrimage. Its authority in social and political matters also increased. Hence, conquerors tried to establish control over the temple. They felt that this would make their rule acceptable to the local people.

8. Why were temples built in Bengal?
Answer: Temple building in Bengal from the late 15th century gained momentum in the 19th century. Individuals or groups built temples to demonstrate their power and affluence. Some of the temples got constructed with the support of several low social groups. Some families belonging to these social groups availed of the new economic opportunities with the arrival of the European trading companies with the improvement in their social and economic position they also built temples to show their status. The local deities once worshipped in thatched huts in villages were now gained recognition of the Brahmanas. This recognition shifted them from the thatched huts to brick-built temples.

9. Describe the most important features of the culture of your region, focussing on buildings, performing arts and painting.
Answer: I live in Delhi. Right from the beginning it has been a land of mixed cultures. In old days, it was invaded by a number of foreign rulers. Some of them stayed here for sometime and some settledown permanently. They all affected its culture, language, religion, society, architecture, art and painting. Still we have buildings and monuments built by Mughal emperors, slave emperors, Rajput rulers and many more. We have temples, mosques and many other such places constructed by different rulers. Differences of cultures can still be seen in the areas of old Delhi and new Delhi.

10. Do you use different languages for (a) speaking, (b) reading, (c) writing? Find out about one major composition in language that you use and discuss why you find it interesting.
Answer: (a) For speaking I use Hindi and Punjabi.
(b) For reading I use Hindi and English.
(c) For writing I use Hindi and English.
Thus, I use different languages for speaking, reading and writing.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Who was Anantavarman?
Answer: Anantavarman was one of the most important rulers of the Ganga dynasty in the 12th century.

2. Whom did King Anangabhima III dedicate his kingdom to? What did he proclaim himself?
Answer: King Anangabhima III dedicated his kingdom to Purushottama Jagannath and proclaimed himself as the deputy of the god.

3. What was called Rajputana by the British?          [V. Imp.]
Answer: In the 19th century, the region that constitutes most of the present-day Rajasthan was called Rajputana by the British.

4. How were the Rajput rulers most distinctive?
Ans. The Rajput rulers were the apostles of bravery. They fought valiantly and often chose death on the battlefield rather than face defeat.

5. Define the term Kathak.
Answer: The term Kathaks is derived from katha, a word used in Sanskrit and other languages for the story.

6. Who were the Kathaks?
Answer: The kathaks were originally a caste of story-tellers in temples of north India who beautified their performances with gestures and songs.

7. Where did Kathak develop?
Answer: Kathak developed in the courts of Rajasthan (Jaipur) and Lucknow.

8. Under whose patronage did kathak grow into a major art form?
Answer: Kathak grew into a major art form under the patronage of Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh.

9. What are miniatures?           [Imp.]</ strong>
Answer: Miniatures are small-sized paintings, generally done in water colour on cloth or paper.

10. What distinguished Kangra painting from the paintings?
Answer: Soft colours including cool blues and greens, and a lyrical treatment of themes distinguished Kangra painting from other paintings.

11. On what objects do we fiend paintings of ordinary people?
Answer: We find paintings of ordinary people on pots, walls, floors and cloth.

12. Who were the Naths? .
Answer: The Naths were the ascetics who engaged in a variety of yogic practices.

13. Why was the second category of the early Bengali literature not written down?
Answer: The second category of the early Bengali literature was circulated orally and therefore it was not written down.

14. What are the chief food items of the Bengalis?
Answer: Rice and fish are the chief food items of the Bengalis.

15. What do terracotta plaques on the walls of temples and viharas depict?[V. Imp.]
Answer: They depict scenes of fish being dressed and taken to the market in baskets.

16. Why were the Bengal Brahmanas allowed to eat fish?
Answer: The Bengal Brahmanas were allowed to eat fish because fish was the main item in the local diet.

17. What is the Brihaddharma Parana?
Answer: It is a thirteenth-century Sanskrit text from Bengal.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE Questions

1.  Mention the role of the Chercis in the development of Malayalam.            [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Chera kingdom of Mahodayapuram was established in the ninth century in the south-western part of the peninsula, part of present-day Kerala. It is likely that Malayalam was spoken in this area. The rulers introduced the Malayalam language and script in their inscriptions.

2.  How did the Cheras draw upon Sanskritic traditions?
Answer: The temple theatre of Kerala borrowed stories from the Sanskrit epics. The first literary works in Malayalam, dated to about the 12t.h century, are directly indebted to Sanskrit. The Lilatilakam, a fourteenth century text, dealt with grammar and poetics and was composed in Manipravalam – literally, ‘diamonds and corals’ referring to the two languages namely Sanskrit and the regional language.

3.  How did regional cultures evolve?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: Regional cultures today are often the product of complex processes of intermixing of local traditions with ideas from other parts of the sub-continent. Some traditions appear specific to some regions, others seem to be similar across regions and yet others derive from older practices in a particular area, but take a new form in other regions.

4.  How are women depicted in the stories about Rajput heroes?
Answer: Sometimes these stories depict women as the cause for conflict, as men fought with one another to either win or protect them (women). Women are also depicted as following their heroic husbands in both life and death. We are familiar with the stories about the practice of sati or the immolation of widows on the funeral pyre of their husbands. So. those who followed the heroic ideal often had to pay for it with their lives.

5. Mention all the six dance forms that are recognised as classical.
Answer: Six classical dances are :

• Kathak (North India)
• Bharatnatyam (Tamil Nadu)
• Kathakali (Kerala)
• Odissi (Orissa)
• Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh)
• Manipuri (Manipur).

6. How did miniature painting develop under the Mughal patronage? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Miniatures are small-sized paintings, generally done in water colour on cloth or paper. The earliest miniatures were on palm leaves or wood. The Mughal emperors especially Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan patronised highly skilled painters. These painters primarily illustrated manuscripts containing historical accounts and poetry. These were generally painted in brilliant colours and portrayed court scenes, scenes of battle or hunting and other aspects of social life. They were often exchanged as gifts and were viewed only by the emperor and his close associates.

7. Write a brief note on early Bengali literature.
Answer: There are two categories of early Bengali literature:

• The first includes translations of the Sanskrit epics, the Mangalakavyas, auspicious poems, dealing with local deities, and Bhakti literature such as the biographies of Chaitanyadeva, the leader of the Vaishnava Bhakti movement.
• The second includes Nath literature such as the songs of Maynamati and Gopichandra, stories concerning the worship of Dharma Thakur, and fairy tales, Folk tales and ballads. The texts belonging to the first category are written while those belonging to the second category circulated orally.

8. Who were the pirs? What was their position in the society?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: Pirs were spiritual leaders having supernatural powers. They also functioned as teachers and adjudicators. When early settlers in Bengal sought some order and assurance in the unstable conditions of the new settlements pirs favoured them and gave them full moral support. People viewed them as respectful figures. The cult of pirs became very popular and their shrines can be found everywhere in Bengal.

9. What is the significance of fish in Bengal? [Imp.]
Answer: Bengal is a riverine plain which produces abundant rice and fish. These two items are important foods of the Bengalis. Fishing has always been an important occupation and Bengali literature contains several references to fish. What is more, terracotta plaques on the walls of temples and viharas depict scenes of fish being dressed and taken to the market in baskets.
Due to the popularity of fish in the local diet the Bengal Brahmanas also started eating fish. The Brihaddharma Purana, a thirteenth-century Sanskrit text from Bengal, permitted them to eat certain varieties of fish.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. What do you know about Rajput tradition of heroism? Write in brief [V. Imp.]
Answer: Rajputs are closely associated with the culture of Rajasthan. It is they who made this culture distinctive. The cultural traditions of Rajasthan were linked with the ideals and aspirations of rulers. From about the eighth century, most of the present-day Rajasthan was ruled by various Rajput families. The name of Prithviraj is worth-mentioning because he was one of the ablest Rajput rulers. These Rajput rulers ares known for their bravery and sense of sacrifice. They cherished the ideal of the hero who fought valiantly, often choosing death on the battlefield rather than face defeat. Stories about Rajput heroes were recorded in poems and songs, which were recited by specially trained minstrels. These preserved the memories of heroes and were expected to inspire others to follow their examples. Ordinary people also liked these stories which often depicted dramatic situations and a range of strong emotions in the forms of loyalty, friendship, love, valour, anger etc.

2.  Give a detailed description ofKathak, a popular classical dance form of north India. [V. Imp.]
Answer: The term Kathak is derived from Katha, a word used in Sanskrit and other languages for story. The Kathaks were originally a caste of story-tellers
in temples :of north India, who beautified their performances with gestures and songs. Kathak began evolving into a distinct mode of dance in the 15th and 16th centuries with the spread of the Bhakti movement. The legends of Radha-Krishna were enacted in folk plays known as rasa lila, which combined folk dance with the basic gestures of the Kathak story-tellers. Kathak was performed in the Mughal court. Here, it acquired its present features and developed into a form of dance with a distinctive style. Afterwards, it developed in two traditions known as gharanas—one in the courts of Rajasthan, Jaipur and the other in Lucknow. Kathak grew into a major art form only under the patronage of Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh. By the third quarter of the 19th century it was firmly established as a dance form not only in these two regions but also in the adjoining areas of present-day Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Emphasis was laid on intricate and rapid footwork, elaborate costumes as well as on the enactment of stories. Although most British administrators never favoured Kathak, it survived and continued to be performed by courtesans. It was recognised as a classical dance form after the country got independence.

Q.3How did Bengali develop as a regional language?                                        [Imp.]
Ans:Bengali is said to have been derived from Sanskrit but early Sanskrit texts derived it. Now the Question arises how did this language develop. From the fourth-third centuries BCE, commercial ties developed between Bengal and Magadha which may have led to the growing influence of Sanskrit. During the fourth century the Gupta rulers established political control over north Bengal and began to settle Brahmanas in this area. Thus, the linguistic and cultural influence from the mid-Ganga valley became stronger. In the seventh century the Chinese traveller Xuan Zang observed that languages related to Sanskrit were in use all over Bengal. From the eighth century, Bengal became the centre of a regional kingdom under the Palas. Between the 14th and 15th centuries Bengal was ruled by Sultans. In 1586, when Akbar conquered Bengal, it formed the nucleus of the Bengal Suba, While Persian was the language of administration, Bengali developed as a regional language.

By the 15th century the Bengali group of dialects came to be united by a common literary language based on the spoken language of the western part of the region, now known as West Bengal. Thus, although Bengali is derived from Sanskrit, it passed through several stages of evolution. A wide range of non-Sanskrit words, derived from tribal languages, Persian and European language, have become part of modem Bengali.

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 Geography Social Science Chapter 2 Inside Our Earth

Question 1. Answer the following Questions briefly.
(i)  What are the three layers of the earth?
(ii) What is a rock?
(iii) Name three types of rocks.
(iv) How are extrusive and intrusive rocks formed?
(v) What do you mean by a rock cycle?
(vi) What are the uses of rocks?
(vii) What are metamorphic rocks?
Answer: (i) The three layers of the earth are:

(ii) A rock is a natural mass of mineral matter that makes up the earth’s crust.
Rocks can be of different colour, size and texture.
(iii) Three types of rocks are:

• Igneous rocks also known as primary rocks.
• Sedimentary rocks.
• Metamorphic rocks.

(iv) When the molten lava comes on the earth’s surface, it rapidly cools down and becomes solid. Rocks formed in this way on the crust are extrusive igneous rocks.
Sometimes the molten magma cools down deep inside the earth’s crust. Solid rocks so formed are actually intrusive igneous rocks.
(v) One type of rock changes to another type under certain conditions in a cyclic manner. This process of transformation of the rock from one to another is known as the rock cycle. Let’s understand it through example—Igneous rocks change into sedimentary rocks. When the igneous and sedimentary rocks are subjected to heat and pressure, they change into metamorphic rocks. The metamorphic rocks which are still under great heat and pressure meet down to form molten magma. This molten magma again can cool down and solidify into igneous rocks.
(vi)  Hard rocks are used for making roads, houses and buildings. Stones are used in many games, such as seven stones (pitthoo), hopscotch (stapu/kitkit), Five stones (gitti).
(vii) When the igneous and sedimentary rocks are subjected to heat and pressure they change into metamorphic rocks. For example, clay changes into slate and limestone into marble.

Question 2. Tick the correct answer.
(i) The rock which is made up of molten magma is
(a) Igneous    (b) Sedimentary
(c) Metamorphic.
(ii) The innermost layer of the earth is
(a) Crust                                            (b)    Core
(c) Mantle.
(iii) Gold, petroleum and coal are example of
(a) Rocks                                          (b)    Minerals
(c) Fossils.
(iv)    Rocks which contain fossils are
(a) Sedimentary rocks                        (b)    Metamorphic  rocks
(c) Igneons rocks.
(v) The thinnest layer of the earth is
(a) Crust                                            (b)    Mantle
(c) Core.
Answer:  (i)—(a), (ii)—(b), (iii)—(b), (iv)—(a), (v)—(a).

Question 4. Give reasons:
(i) We cannot go to the centre of the earth.
(ii)  Sedimentary rocks are formed from sediments.
(iii) Limestone is changed into marble.
Answer:  (i) To reach the centre of the earth one will have to dig a hole 6000 km. deep on the ocean floor. This is quite impossible and therefore we cannot go to the centre of the earth.
(ii) Rocks break down into small fragments known as sediments. These sediments are transported and deposited by wind, water, etc. These loose sediments are compressed and hardened to form layers of rocks known as sedimentary rocks.
(iii) Limestone is changed into marble because igneous and sedimentary rocks change into metamorphic rocks under a great heat and pressure.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. What is called the uppermost layer of the earth? [Imp.]
Answer: It is called the crust.

Question 2. What is the special feature of this layer? {Imp.]
Answer. It is the thinnest of all the layers

Question 3. Name the main mineral constituent of the continental mass.
Answer: Silica and alumina

Question 4. Name the constituents of the oceanic crust. [V. Imp.]
Answer: Silica and magnesium.

Question 5. What is the radius of the core?
Answer: The radius of the core is about 3500 km.

Question 6. What are the main constituents of the core?
Answer: The main constituents of the core are nickel and iron. It is usually known as nife.

Question 7. What is the earth’s crust made of?       [V.Imp.]
Answer: It is made up of different types of rocks.

Question 8. What are called igneous rocks?
Answer:  When the molten magma cools, it becomes solid. Rocks formed in this way are called igneous rocks.

Question 9. What are fossils?
Answer: The remains of the dead plant and animals trapped in the layers of rocks are called fossils.

Question 10. What happens when igneous and sedimentary rocks go under great heat and pressure?
Answer: They change into metamorphic rocks.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. What are minerals? How are they useful for mankind?                       [V. Imp.]
Answer:  Minerals are naturally occurring substances which have certain physical properties and definite chemical composition.
Minerals are very useful for mankind. Some minerals like coal, natural gas and petroleum are used as fuels. They are also used in industries. Iron, aluminium, gold, uranium etc. are used in medicine, in Fertilizers etc.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Mention various types of rocks IV. Imp.]
Answer:  Rocks are of the three types:

1. Igneous rocks
   • Sedimentary rocks
   • Metamorphic rocks
   • Igneous rocks. When the molten magma cools, it becomes solid. Rocks formed in this way are called igneous rocks. They are also called primary rocks. They are of two types—intrusive rocks and e
     xtrusive rocks.
2. Extrusive rocks.When molten lava comes on the earth’s surface, it rapidly cools down and becomes solid. Rocks formed in this way on the crust Eire called extrusive igneous rocks. For example, basalt.
3. Intrusive rocks. Sometimes the molten magma cools down deep inside the earth’s crust. Solid rocks so formed are called intrusive igneous rocks. Since they cool down slowly they form large grains. For example, granite.
4. Sedimentary rocks. Small fragments of rocks are called sediments. These sediments are transported and deposited by wind, water, etc.These loose sediments are compressed and hardened to form sedimentary rocks. For example, sandstone is made from grains of sand.
5. Metamorphic rocks. When igneous and sedimentary rocks Eire subjected to great heat and pressure they chsmge into metamorphic rocks. For example, clay changes into slate and limestone into marble.

Question 2. What do you know about the interior of the earth? [V. Imp.]
Answer:  Our earth is made up of several concentric layers with one inside another. These layers are three in number—crust, mantle smd core.
Crust. It is the uppermost layer over the earth’s surface. It is the thinnest of all the layers. It is about 35 km on the continential masses and only 5 km on the ocean floors.
The continental masses are made up of silica and alumina. It is thus called sial (si-silica and al-alumina). The oceanic crust mainly consists of silica and magnesium. It is thus called sima (si-silica and ma-magnesium).
Mantle:It is just beneath the crust.It extends up to a depth of 2900 km below the crust
Core:It is the innermost layer. Its radius is about 3500 km. It is mainly made up of nickel and iron and is known as nife (ni-nickel and fe-ferrous, Le., iron). The central core has very high temperature and pressure.

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 History Social Science Chapter 5 Rulers And Buildings

1. How is the ‘trabeate’ principle of architecture different from the arcuate?
Answer: In trabeate principle of architecture roofs, doors and windows were made by placing a horizontal beam across two vertical columns.
In arcuate principle of architecture the weight of the superstructure above the doors and windows was carried by arches.

2. What is a shikhara?
Answer: A shikhara is the top most pointed portion of a temple.

3. What is pietra dura?
Answer: Pietra dura refers to the coloured, hard stones placed in depressions carved into marble or sandstone which create beautiful ornate patterns.

4. What are the elements of a Mughal chahar bagh garden?
Answer: Mughal chahar bagh consists of four gardens. These gardens are placed within rectangular walled enclosures and divided into four quarters by artificial channels.

5. How did a temple communicate the importance of a king?
Answer: Kings usually constructed temples to demonstrate their devotion to God and their power and wealth. Here we can mention the Rajarajeshvara temple which was built by King Rajarajadeva for the worship of his god, Rajarajeshvaram. It is noticeable that the names of the ruler and the god are very similar. The king took the god’s name because it was auspicious and he wanted to appear like a god. Through the rituals of worship in the temples one god le. Rajarajadeva honoured another le., Rajarajeshvaram.
Kings usually constructed the largest temples. The other, lesser deities in the temple were gods and goddesses of the allies and subordinates of the ruler. The temple was a miniature model of the world ruled by the king and his allies. As they worshipped their deities together in the royal temples, it seemed as if they brought the just rule of the gods on earth.

6. An inscription in Shah Johan’s diwan-i khas in Delhi stated, “If there is Paradise on Earth it is here, it is here, it is here”. How was this image created?
Answer: Shah Jahan’s diwan-i khas was designed in such a way that it fused together in a grand harmonious synthesis. It was carefully planned. It was placed within a large courtyard. Behind the emperor’s throne there were a series of pietra-dura inlays. It depicted the legendiy god Orpheus playing the lute. The diwan-e khas was aimed to communicate that the king’s justice would treat the high and the low as equals, creating a world where all could live together in harmony. The diwon-i khas reflected the image of a paradise in itself.

7. How did the Mughal court suggest that everyone—the rich and the poor, the powerjul and the weak—received justice equally from the emperor?
Answer: The Diwan-i am of the Mughal court suggested that justice was made for all in an equal way. The construction of Shah Jahan’s audience hall was designed to communicate that the king’s justice was equal for the high and the low. Its aim was to create a world where all could live together in harmony. There was no difference between the rich and poor in the emperor’s court.

8. What role did the Yamuna play in the layout of the new Mughal city at Shahjahanabad?
Answer: The river Yamuna had a very significant role in the layout of the new Mughal city at Shahjahanabad. Shah Jahan preferred the river-front garden in the layout of the Taj Mahal. He developed the same architectural form as a means to control the access that the nobles had to the river. In the new city of Shahjahanabad the imperial palace also commanded the river-front. Only the most favoured nobles were given access to the river. Other than those had to construct their homes in the city away from the river Yamuna. It expanded the layout of the city.

9. The rich and powerful construct large houses today. In what ways were the constructions of kings and their courtiers different in the past?
Answer: The rich and powerful construct large houses today. But these houses are not the same as those of the kings and their courtiers in the past. The houses of the kings and their courtiers were big structures with big courtyard, thick walls, domed-roofs, huge pillars, big gardens and well-decorated halls. But today houses have no courtyards nbr gardens nor thick walls nor domed-roofs. In many ways these are inferior to those of the kings and their courtiers houses.

10. Look at Figure 4. How could that building be constructed faster today?
Answer: Such buildings were usually constructed as a matter of pride in old days. It was very difficult to construct them but they were made possible with the help of skilled masons and labourers. Such buildings took a very long time and a number of labourers to be constructed. But now as technologies have advanced, we have many facilities, equipments, tools which can construct huge buildings very easily and in less time.

11. Find out whether there is a statue of or a memorial to a great person in your village or town. Why was it placed there? What purpose does it serve?
Answer: There is a very busy chowk in my village. We find there a statue of Subhash Chandra Bose and hence this chowk is known as Subhash Chowk. Subhash Chandra Bose was such a great person that he dared to challenge the British empire by forming his own army. He is now no more but his statue is there to inspire us. Its purpose is to encourage the youth to do something different and challenging.

12. Visit and describe any park or garden in your neighbourhood. In what ways is it similar to or different from the gardens of the Mughals?
Answer:The gardens of Mughals gardens were spread over a very large area. There were a large variety of flowers. They were well-decorated and protected. But the garden in my neighbourhood is not so large. Everyone has easy access to this garden. So the flowers are not safe. Thus, we don’t find any similarity.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Why was limestone cement used in construction of large structures? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Limestone cement was very high-quality cement, which, when mixed with stonechips hardened into concrete. This made construction of large structures easier and faster.

2. How did the Persian court chronicles describe the Sultan?
Answer: Persian court chronicles described the Sultan as the ‘Shadow of God’.

3. Name the ruler who won universal respect for constructing a large reservoir just – outside Delhi-i kuhna?
Answer: Sultan Iltutmish.

4. What are the special features of Humagun’s tomb?
Answer: (a) It has a central towering dome.
(b)It has a tall gateway (pishtaq).

5. What was mahamandapa?
Answer: It was the main hall in the temple where dances were performed.

6. Name the temple built by king Rajarajadeva.
Answer: Rajarajeshvara temple.

7. When was the tomb of Hanumaun built?
Answer: It was built between 1562 and 1571.

8. Who constructed the Kandariya Mahadeva temple?
Answer: King Dhangadeva of the Chandela dynasty constructed the Kandariya Mahadeva temple.

9. Where was Shah Jahan’s capital in the early years of his reign?
Answer: It was at Agra

1o. What is the special feature of Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar’s capital?

Answer:Many of the buildings show the influence of the architectural styles of Gujarat and Malwa.

11. Name the king who invaded Sri Lanka? Whom did he defeat?
Answer: King Shrimara Shrivallabha. He defeated the king, Sena I.

12. What were havellis?
Answer: They were large mansions of the merchants.

13. How did kings win the praise of their subjects? [V. Imp.]
Answer: They won the praise of their subjects by buildings structures meant for public activity such as temples, mosques, tanks, wells, caravanserais and bazaars.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What type of structures were built by kings and their officers between the eighth and the eighteenth centuries? 
Answer: During this period kings and their officers built two kinds of structur
(A)Forts, palaces, garden residences and tombs
(B)Structures meant for public activity including temples, mosques, tanks, wells, caravanserais and bazaars.

2. Write a short note on the Kandariya Mahadeva temple.
Answer: The Kandariya Mahadeva temple dedicated to Shiva was constructed in 999 by the king Dhangadeva of the Chandela dynasty. The temple had an ornamented gateway that led to an entrance. It had a main hall known as mahamandapa where dances were performed. The image of the chief deity was kept in the main Shrine known as garbhagriha. This was the place for ritual worship where only the king and his kith and kin gathered.

3. Throw light on how the construction of the Rqjarqjeshvara temple was a very difficult task.                           [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Raj araj eshvara temple was built in the early 11th century. It had the tallest shikhara amongst temples of its time. Its construction was a veiy difficult task. There were no cranes in those days. The 90 tonne stone for the top of the shikhara was too heavy to lift manually. Hence, the architects built an inclined path to the top of the temple, placed the boulder on rollers and rolled it all the way to the top. The path started more than 4 km away so that it would not be too steep. This was dismantled after the temple was built.

4. In what ways do you think the policies of Rajendra I and Mahmud of Ghazni were a product of their time? How were the actions of the two rulers different? [Imp.]
Answer: King Rajendra I looted the temples of the defeated rulers and seized prized statues from them. He these statues in decoration of the Shiva temple, that he built in his capital in the early 11th century.
Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni was a contemporary of Rajendra I. He destroyed and looted the temples of defeated kings in order to win credit as a great hero of Islam.Thus, King Rajendra I constructed temple while Mahmud of Ghazni destroyed it. In this way, their actions were very much different.

5. Write a brief note on the chahar bagh built by the Mughal rulers.
Answer: The Mughal emperors were very much interested in literature, art and architecture. Babur, in his autobiography, described his interest in planning and laying out formal gardens, placed within rectangular walled enclosures and divided into four quarters by artificial channels. These gardens were called chahar bagh, four gardens, because of their symmetrical division into quarters. Beginning with Akbar, some of the most beautiful chahar baghs were constructed by Jahangir and Shah Jahan in Kashmir, Agra and Delhi.

6. When was Humayun’s tomb built? What are its special features?
Answer:  Humayun’s tomb was, built between 1562 and 1571. Its main features are:

• The central towering dome and the tall gateway known as pishtaqbecame important aspects of Mughal architecture. This tomb architecture was first visible in Humayun’s tomb.
• The tomb was placed in the centre of a huge formal chahar baghand built in the tradition known as ‘eight paradises’ or hasht bihisht—a central hall surrounded by eight rooms.
• The building was constructed with red sandstone, edge with white marble.

7. Give an account of Shah Johan’s audience halls.       [Imp.]

Answer: Shah Jahan’s audience halls were specially constructed to resemble a mosque.
The pedestal on which his throne was placed was frequently described as the qibla, the direction faced by Muslims at prayer, since everybody faced that direction when court was in session. The idea of the king as a representative of God on earth was suggested by these architectural features.
The construction of Shah Jahan’s audience hall aimed to communicate that the king’s justice would treat the high and the low as equals creating a world where all could live together in harmony.

8. Who were involved in the building of the Qutb Minor?
Answer: The Qutb Minar is five storeys high. The first floor was constructed by Qutbuddin Aybak and the rest by Iltutmish around 1229. Over the years it was damaged by lightning and earthquakes and repaired by Alauddin Khalji, Muhammad Tughluq, Firuz Shah Tughluq and Ibrahim Lodi.

9. How can you say that Mughal rulers adapted regional architectural styles in the construction of their buildings? Explain with examples.
Answer: Mughal rulers were skilled in adapting regional architectural styles in the construction of their buildings. For example :

• In Bengal, the local rulers had developed a roof that was designed to resemble a thatched hut. The Mughals liked this ‘Bangla dome’ and used it their architecture.

In Akbar’s capital at Fatehpur Sikri many of the buildings show the influence of the architectural styles of Gujarat and Malwa.

10. Describe how Shah Jahan adapted the riverfront garden in the layout of the Teg Mahal.

Answer: The Taj Mahal is the grandest architectural accomplishment of Shah Jahan’s reign. He adapted the river-front garden in the its layout. Here, the white marble mansoleum was placed on a terrace by the edge of the river and the garden was to its south. Shah Jahan developed this architectural form as a means to control the access that nobles had to the river.

11.  What is the main feature of Shah Jahan’s new city of Shahjahanabad? [Imp.]
Answer: Shah Jahan constructed a new city namely Shahjahanabad in Delhi. In this city, the imperial palace commanded the river-front. Only specially favoured nobles like his oldest son Dara Shukoh were given access to the river. All others had to construct their homes in the city away from the River Yamuna.

    LONG ANSWER TYPE Questions

1 Compare the reasons why temples were built and destroyed?                             [V. Imp.]
Answer: Kings built temples to show their devotion to God and their power and wealth. King Rajarajeshvara built Rajarajeshvara temple for the worship of his god, Rajarajeshvaram. Here, the names of the king and the god appear to be similar. The king took the god’s name because it was auspicious and he wanted to appear like a god. The largest temples were usually built by kings while the other, lesser deities in the temples were gods and goddesses of the allies and subordinates of the ruler. The temple was a miniature model of the world ruled by the king and his allies. As they worshipped the deities together in the royal temples, it seemed as if they brought the just rule of the gods on earth. Kings built temples but when they attacked one another’s kingdoms they often targeted these
buildings. In the early 9th century when the Pandyan King Shrimara Shrivallabha invaded Sri Lanka and defeated the King Sena I he seized all the valuables such as the statue of the Buddha made entirely of gold and other golden images from various monasteries. King Sena II took revenge of this. He invaded Madurai, the capital of the Pandyas in order to restore the gold statue of the Buddha. In the same way when in the early 11th century the Chola King Rajendra I built a Shiva temple in his capital. He filled it with prized statues seized from defeated rulers. Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni not only seized the valuables from the temples but . also destroyed them. He did it in order to win credit as a great hero of Islam Thus, rulers displayed their political might and military success by attacking and looting the places of worship of defeated rulers.

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 Geography Social Science Chapter 1 Environment

Question 1.Answer the following Questions briefly.

1. What is an ecosystem?
2. What do you mean by natural environment?
3. Which are the major components of the environment?
4. Give four examples of human-made environment.
5. What is lithosphere?
6. Which are the two major components of biotic environment?
7. What is biosphere?

Answer:

1. All plants, animals and human beings depend on their immediate surroundings. They are also interdependent on each other. This relation between the living organisms as well as the relation between the organism and their surroundings form an ecosystem.
2. Natural environment consists of land, water, air, plants and animals. Thus, natural environment refers to both biotic (plants and animals) and abiotic (land) conditions that exist on the earth.
3. The major components of the environment are—natural (land, air, water, living things), human made (buildings, parks, bridges, roads, industries, monuments, etc.) and human (individual, family, community, religion, educational, economic, etc).
4. Four examples of human-made environment—buildings, parks, bridges and roads.
5. Lithosphere is the solid crust or the hard top layer of the earth. It is made up of rocks and minerals and covered by a thin layer of soil. It is an irregular surface with various land forms such as mountains, plateaus, plains, valleys, etc.
6. Plants and animals are the two major components of biotic environment,
7. Biosphere is a narrow zone of the earth where land, water and air interact with each other to support life. Thus, plant and animal kingdom together make biosphere, ie., the living world.

Question 2. Tick the correct answer.

1. Which is not a natural ecosystem?
   (a) Desert
   (b) Aquarium
   (c) Forest.
2. Which is not a component of human environment?
   (a) Land
   (b) Religion
   (c) Community.
3. Which is a human made environment?
   (a) Mountain
   (b) Sea
   (c) Road.
4. Which is a threat to environment?
   (a) Growing plant              (b) Growing population
   (c) Growing crops.

Answer:    (i)—(b), (ii)—(a), (iii)—(c), (iv)—(b).

Question 3. Match the following:

1. Biosphere              (a)    blanket of air which surrounds the earth
2. Atmosphere          (b)   domain of water
3. Hydrosphere       (c)    gravitational force of the earth
4. Environment      (d)    our surroundings
   (e) narrow zone where land, water and air interact

Answer: 

1. —(e)
2. —(a)
3. —(b)
4. —(d)

Question 4. Give reasons:
(a) Man modifies his environment
(b) Plants and animals depend on each other.
Answer: (a) Man modifies his environment to fulfil his needs and make his life comfortable. He also modified his environment to adopt himself to the natural surroundings.
(b) Plants and animals depend on each other for their own sake. Plants release oxygen that animals breathe and absorb carbon dioxide that animals release.

Question 5. Activity
Imagine an ideal environment where you would love to live. Draw the picture of your ideal environment.
Answer: Students are expected to do this activity themselves. However, a sample is given below:

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. What is environment? [Imp.]
Answer: Everything that we see in our surroundings forms environment. It is our basic life support system. It provides us air, water, food and land—the basic needs of our life.

Question 2. Why is our environment changing?[V. Imp.]
Answer: Our environment is changing because our needs are increasing day by day. To fulfil these needs we often don’t think about the environment and start modifying it.

Question 3. What are the basic components of natural environment?
Answer: The basic components of natural environment are—land, water, air, plants and animals.

Question 4. What does lithosphere provide us? [Imp.]
Answer: Lithosphere provide us forests, grasslands for grazing land for agriculture and human settlements. It is a rich source of minerals.

Question 5. Name different types of water bodies.
Answer: Rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, etc.

Question 6. How is atmosphere important for us? [Imp.]
Answer: Atmosphere protects us from the harmful rays and scorching heat of the sun.

Question 7. What do you see in the deserts? Name some animals.
Answer: We see camels, snakes, lizards and insects.

Question 8. What is barter system?
Answer:  Barter system is a method of trade in which goods are exchanged without the use of money.

Question 9. Distinguish between biotic and abiotic environment with examples.
Answer: The world of living organisms is known as biotic environment. Example: plants and animals.
The world of non-living element is known as abiotic environment. Example: land.

Question 10. How is environment important for us?
Answer: It is important for us because it is the provider of air, water, food and land— the basic necessities of life.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Write a note on lithosphere. [Imp.]
Answer:  Lithosphere is the solid crust or the hard top layer of the earth. It is made up of rocks and minerals. It is covered by a thin layer of soil. It is an irregular surface with various landforms such as mountains, plateaus, desert, plains, valleys etc. Lithosphere plays an important role in our life. It provides us forests, grassland for grazing , land for agriculture and human settlements. It is also a treasure of various minerals.

Question 2. Give an account of atmosphere.
Answer:  Atmosphere is the thin layer of air that surrounds the earth. It is made up of various gases
such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbondioxids, dust particles and water vapour. The gravitational force of the earth holds the atmosphere around it. It protects us from harmful rays and scorching heat of the sun. The changes in atmosphere produce changes in the weather and climate.

Question 3. How do human beings modify natural environment?            [V. Imp.].
Answer:  The needs of human beings are increasing day and day. Hence, they modify natural environment to fulfil these needs. Sometimes they even destroy their environment
Human beings have made cars for their convenience. These cars release fumeswhich pollute the air. They have established factories on land. These factoriesmanufacture various items such as containers. This is how they modify naturalenvironment.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Give an account of various domains of the environment.
Answer:  Various domains of the environment are:

1. Lithosphere
2. Atmosphere
3. Hydrosphere
4. Biosphere
5. It is the solid crust or the hard top layer of the earth. It is made up of rocks and minerals and covered by a thin layer of soil. It provides us forests, grasslands and land. It is a source of mineral wealth.
6. It is the thin layer of air that surrounds the earth. The gravitational force of the earth holds the atmosphere around it. It protects us from harmful rays and scorching heat of the sun. It consists of various gases, dust and water vapour.
7. It refers to various water bodies such as rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, etc. that exist on the earth.
8. Biosphere or the living world is comprised of plant and animal kingdom. It is a narrow zone of the earth where land, water and air interact with each other to support life.

Question 2. How have human beings adapted to the environment to fulfil their needs?
Answer:  Human beings from the early times have been interacting with the environment and modifying it according to their needs. Early humans adapted themselves to the natural surroundings. They led a simple life and fulfilled their requirements from the nature around them. But their needs kept on increasing. They became varied also. To fulfil these varied needs, humans learnt to grow crops, tamed animals and began a settled life. The wheel was invented, surplus food was produced, barter system emerged, trade started and commerce developed. Industrial revolution made possible large scale production. By and by transportation became faster. Information revolution made communication easier and speedy across the world. In this way human beings adapted to the environment in order to fulfil their needs.