Category: Class 7 Social Science Questions

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 Geography Social Science Chapter 9 Life in the Temperate Grasslands

1. Answer the following Questions briefly.
(a) What are the Temperate Grasslands of North America called?
(b) What are the cattle farms in the North American Grasslands known as?
(c) Name the rivers that drain the velds.
(d) When is the rainy season in the Velds.
(e) What is the major occupation of the people of the South African grasslands?
Answer: (a)The temperate Grasslands of North America are called Prairies.
(b) The cattle farms in the North American Grasslands are called ranches.
(c) The tributaries of rivers Orange and Limpopo.
(d) The velds enjoy rainy season mainly in the summer months from November to February.
(e) The major occupation of the people of the South African grasslands in sheep rearing.

2. Tick the correct answer:
(a) River Mississippi drains
(i) Canada(ii) Africa(iii) USA.
(b) Drakensberg Mountainsare to the west of 
(i) Prairies(ii) Velds(iii) Pampas.
(c) Merino is a species of
(i) Fish(ii) Elephant(iii) Sheep.
(d) Kimberley is famous for
(i) diamonds     (ii)silver  (iii) platinum.
Answer: (a)—(iii), (b)—(ii), (c)—(iii),(d)—(i)

3. Match the following:
(i) Comboys  (a)Iron and Steel
(ii) Gold    (b)Prairies
(iii) Kudu    (c)Hot wind
(iv) Chinook   (d)Velds
(v) Coal           (e)Johannesberg   (f)Animal
Answer: (i)—(b), (ii)—(e), (iii)—(f), (iv)—(c), (v)—a

4. Give reasons:
(i) The Prairies are known as the ‘Granaries of the world’.
(ii) Rise of wool industry in the Velds.
Answer: (i) The Prairies are known as the ‘Granaries of the World’ because of the huge surplus of wheat production.
(ii) Sheep rearing is the most important occupation in the Velds. Merino Sheep is a popular spaces and their wool is very warm. People of this region are mostly engaged in this activity. This has given rise to wood industry there.

5. Map skills:
On an outline map of North America, mark the Rocky mountains, the Great Lakes, River Mississippi, River Saskatchewan, the cities—Chicago and Winnipeg.
Answer:

SHORT ANSWER TYPE Questions

1. Enumerate the major features of the prairies. [Imp.]
Answer: The major features of the prairies are:

• These are the temperate grasslands of North America.
• It is a region of flat, gently sloping or hilly land.
• Prairies are almost treeless for the most part, but near the low lying plains, flanking river valleys, woodlands can be found.
• The landscape is dominated by tall grass, upto two metres high. It looks like a ‘sea of grass’.

2. Write a brief note on the climate of the prairies.
Answer: Prairies are located in the middle of the continent (North America). It is therefore, we find there continental type of climate, characterised by extreme temperatures. The summers are warm with temperatures of around 20°C, while in winter-20°C has been recorded in Winnipeg and Canada, the important cities of the American prairies. In winters a think blanket of snow covers this region. The annual rainfall is moderate. A local wind called Chinook blows here.

3. Write some effects of Chinook? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Chinook is a hot wind that blows in winter. Being hot it raises the temperature within a short time. This increase in temperature results in the melting of snow, making the pasturelands available for grazing of animals.

4. Describe the climate of the velds.
Answer: The velds are under the influence of the Indian Ocean. Therefore they have a mild climate. Winters are cold and dry. Temperatures vary between 5°C and 10°C and July is the coldest month. Summers are short and warm Rainfall occurs in the summer months from November to February. Drought may occur if the rainfall is poor in the winter months from June to August.

5. Describe the flora and fauna of the prairies.                                                   [V. Imp.]
Answer: Flora. Prairies don’t have many trees. A few trees such as willows, alders and poplars grow where water is available. Fertile soil is found in the places that receive rainfall of over 50 cm. The crops grown here are maize, potatoes, soyabean, cotton and alfa-alfa. In the areas receiving poor rainfall, short grasses can be found.

Fauna. Cattle rearing is suitable in these areas. Large cattle farms called ranches are found here. Bison or the American buffalo is the important animal of this region. Other animals are rabbits, coyotes, gophers and Prairie dog.

6. Describe the flora and fauna of the velds.
Answer: Flora. Velds are not rich in vegetation. Grasses dominate the landscape. Red grass grows in bush velds. High velds are characterised by grasses like acacia and maroola.
Fauna. The animals found in the velds are lions, leopards, Cheetah and Kudu.

LONG ANSWER TYPE Questions

1. What are the major occupations of the people in the prairies? What factors contributed to the industrialisation of this region. [V. Imp.]
Answer: The people living in the praries are hardworking. Their main occupations are cultivations and dairy fanning. People use scientific methods in cultivation. They use tractors, harvesters and combines and produce surplus food. The prairies are known as the ‘Granaries of the world’ due to the huge surplus of wheat production.              .

Another main occupation of the people of the prairies is dairy farming. The daily belt extends from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic coast in the east. Daily farming and extensive agriculture both promote setting up of food processing industries. The factors that led to the industrialisation of this region are:

• Large mineral deposits such as coal and iron.
• A good network of roads, railways and canals.

2. What various activities are performed by the people living in the velds?
Answer: Cattle rearing and mining are the two major activities of the people living in the velds. However, some people are engaged in agriculture also, though it is not a main occupation of this region. The soils are not very fertile in the velds. Where the land is fertile enough to grow crops, maize, wheat, barley, oats and potato are cultivated. Cash crops like tobacco, sugercane and cotton are also grown. People of the velds are mostly engaged in sheep rearing. Sheep is bred mainly for wool and has given rise to the wool industry in the velds. Dairy farming is next important occupation. Cattle are reared in warmer and wetter regions and the dairy products such as butter, cheese are produced for both domestic supply and also for export.

As velds are very rich in mineral reserves, gold and diamond mining are also the c
hief occupations of the people of this region. Johannesburg is know for being the gold capital of the world. Kimberley is famous for its diamond mines.

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 Civics Social Science Chapter 6 Understanding Media

1. In what ways does media play an important role in a democracy?
Answer: Media plays an important role in a democracy. It provides news and discusses events taking place in the country and the world. It is on the basis of this information that we learn how the government works.

• Media also criticises the unpopular policies and programmes that the government takes.
• Media forms public opinion.
• Media acknowledges us with several current issues.
• Media provides awareness among masses.

2. Can you give this diagram a title? What do you understand about the link between media and big business from this diagram?

Answer:  A title to the above diagram may be given like this—Media and Big Business Houses. Big Business Houses attract people to promote their products through media. It is the best and the cheapest means to reach people at large.

3. You have read about the ways in which the media ‘sets the agenda’. What kind of effect does this have in a democracy? Provide two examples to support your point of view.
Answer: Media creates public opinion an a democracy. It can build up public opinion in favour of or against any issue. Today, it has diverted from its real agenda. Instead of highlighting public issues, it is now concentrating upon cheap agendas like fashion shows, child falling in pit, etc.

4. As a class project, decide to focus on a particular news topic and cut out stories from different newspapers on this. Also watch the coverage of this topic on TV news, compare two newspapers and write down the similarity—and differences in their reports. It might help to ask the following Questions
(a) What information is this article providing?
(b) What information is it leaving out?
(c) From whose point of view is the article being written?
(d) Whose point of view is being left out and why?
Answer: Students are suggested to do this project themselves.

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE Questions

1. Name various forms of communication.
Answer: Radio, television, newspapers, Internet.

2. What does the word ‘media’ mean?
Answer: Radio, television, newspapers, Internet and several other forms of communication are collectively known as media.

3. Mention any one positive aspect of television.
Answer: Television has enabled us to think of ourselves as members of a larger global world.

4. Mention one way in which the mass media earns money.
Answer: The mass media earns money by advertising different things like cars, clothes, tea, etc.

5.Why are some advertisements shown repeatedly on the television screen?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: Same advertisements are shown repeatedly on the television screen just to make people’s mind to go out and buy what is advertised.

6. What are the various ways through which people express their dissatisfaction to any of the government’s decision which does not go in their favour?
Answer: They do so by writing letters to the concerned minister, organising a public protest, starting a signature campaigns and asking the government to rethink its programme, etc.

7. What do you mean by a balanced report? [V. Imp.]
Answer: A balanced report is one that discusses all points of view of a particular story and then leaves it to the readers to make up their minds.

8. Why is it necessary for media to be independent?
Answer: Only then media can write a balanced report.

9. Why does media sometimes focus on a particular aspect of a story?
Answer: It is because media believes that this will make the story interesting.

10. What does media’s close relationship with business often mean?
Answer: It means that media will fail to give a balanced report.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE Questions

1. How has television brought the world closer to us?
Answer: Television images travel huge distances through satellites and cables. This allows us to view news and entertainment channels from other parts of the world. We see cartoons on our television set which are mostly from Japan and the United States. We can be sitting in Delhi and can see images of Barak Obama’s oath ceremony in the United States. Thus, television has enabled us to think of ourselves as members of a larger global world.

2. Most television channels and newspapers are part of big business houses. Why?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: The technologies that mass media use keep changing and so a lot of money is spent on getting the latest technology. The TV studio in which the newsreader sits has lights, cameras, sound recorders, transmission satellites etc. All of these cost a lot of money. One thing more, it is not only the newsreader who needs to be paid but also a number of other people who help put the broadcast together. Due to these costs mass media needs a great deal of money to do its various works. As a result, most television channels and newspapers are part of big business houses.

3. What do you mean by an independent media? Why is it important for the media to be independent?  [V. Imp.]
Answer:  An independent media means that no one should control and influence its coverage of news. No one should tell the media what can be included and what should not be included in a news story. It means that media should not be under any one’s pressure. It will be totally independent. An independent media is very important because it is on the basis of the information that the media provides that we take action as citizens. Hence, it essential that this information is reliable. It should be biased at all.

LONG ANSWER TYPE Questions
1. Write a brief note on ‘local media’.
Answer: Local media covers small Issues that involve prdinary people, and their daily lives. It is usually started by local groups. Several people use community radio to tell farmers about the prices of different crops and advise them on the use of seeds ‘ and fertilisers. Others make documentary films with fairly cheap and easily
available video cameras on real life conditions faced by different poor communities and, at times, have even given the poor these video cameras to make films on their own lives.
Khabar Lahriya is also a local newspaper. It is a fortnightly that is run by eight Dalit women in Chitrakoot district in Uttar Pradesh. It is written in the local j     language, Bundeli. This eight page newspaper covers the Dalit issues and cases of violence against women and political corruption. This newspaper is popular among farmers, shopkeepers, panchayat mem
bers, school teachers and women who have recently become literate.

2. How can you say that media is far from freedom? Or why do most newspapers still fail to provide a balanced story?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: It is said that media is often controlled by business houses. Media does what these business houses wish. At times, it is in the interest of these businesses to focus on only one side of the story. Media is in the constant need of money.
Hence, it is essential for media to get linked, it is with advertising groups. In such a situation it is difficult for media to report against people who give them advertisements. Its close links to big business houses snatches its independence. It has to do as per the wishes of these business houses, Media also tends to focus on a particular aspect of a story because they believe this makes the story interesting. One thing more, if they want to increase public support for an issue, they often do this by focusing on one side of a story. Thus,it is difficult to say that media is independent.

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 Geography Social Science Chapter 8 Human Environment Interactions (The Tropical and the Subtropical Region)

1. Answer the following Questions briefly:
(a) Name the continent in which the Amazon Basin in located.
(b) What are the crops grown by the people of the Amazon Basin?
(c) Name the birds that you are likely to find in the rain forests of the Amazon.
(d) What are the major cities located on the river Ganga?
(e) Where is the one-homed rhinoceros found?
Answer: (a) South America.
(b) The people of the Amazon Basin grow tapioca, pine apple and sweet potato. Cash crops such as coffee, maize and cocoa are also grown.
(c) Name the birds that you are likely to find in the rain forests of the Amazon.
(d) The major cities located on the river Ganga are Allahabad, Kanpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Patna and Kolkata.
(e) The one-homed rhinoceros is found in the Brahmaputra plain.

2. Tick the correct answer:
(a) Toucans are a type of
(i) birds                              (ii) animals     (iii) crops.
(b) Manioc is the staple food of
(i)  Ganga Basin                 (ii) Africa   (iii) Amazon.
(c) Kolkata is located on the river
(i)  Orange                          (ii) Hooghly   (iii) Bhagirathi.
(d) Deodars and firs are a type of
(i)  Coniferous trees            (ii) Deciduous trees   (iii) Shrubs.
(e) Bengal tiger is found in
(i)   Mountains                     (ii) Delta area   (iii) Amazon.
Answer: (a)-(i), (b)—(iii), (c)-(ii), (d)—(i), (e)—(ii).

3. Match the following:
(i) Cotton textile   (a) Assam
(ii) Maloca             (b) Terrace farming
(iii) Piranha           (c) Sericulture
(iv) Silk worm        (d) Slanting roof
(v) Kaziranga         (e) Ganga plain     (f) Varanasi  (g)Fish
Answer: (i)—(f), (ii)—(d), (iii)—(g), (iv)—(c),(v)—(a)

4. Give reasons:
(i) The rainforests are depleting.
(ii) Paddy is grown in the Ganga-Brahmaputra plains.
Answer: (i) The rainforests are depleting because of the developmental activities that are going on at fast speed. The biologically diverse rainforests are being destroyed day by day. It is estimated that a large area of the rainforest has been disappearing annually in the Amazon basin. As a result the topsoil is washed away when the rains fall and the lush green forest turns into a barren landscape.
(ii)The cultivation of paddy requires sufficient water. The Ganga-Brahmaputra plains fulfil this condition because they receive high rainfall.

5. For fun:
Make a collage to show places of attractions in India You can divide the class in different groups to show attractions based on mountain landscapes, coastal beaches, wildlife sanctuaries and places of historical importance.
Ans. Attempt yourself.

6. Activity
Collect under mentioned material and observe how destruction of trees effect the soil cover.
Material
(i) Three small flowerpots or food cans (e.g,, cold drinks tin cans),
(ii)One big can with holes punched in the bottom (this will act as a sprinkling can),
(iii)twelve coins or bottle caps
(iv)Soil.
Steps
Take three small cans or pots. Fill them with soil till the top. Press the soil to make it level with the top of the can. Now put four coins or bottle caps on the soil of each can. Take the big can that has been punched with holes and fill it with water. You can also take the sprinkling can from your garden. Now, sprinkle water on the three cans. On the first can sprinkle water veiy slowly so that no soil splashes out. Let moderate amount of water be sprinkled on the second can. On the third can, sprinkle the water heavily. You will observe that unprotected soil splashes out. Where the ‘rain’ is heavy the amount of soil that splashes out is the maximum and least in case of the first can. The coins or caps represent the tree covers. It is clear that if the land is cleared completely of the vegetation, the soil cover will quickly disappear.
Answer: Students are suggested to do this activity themselves under the guidance of their parents/guardians.

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE Questions

1. What type of vegetation grows in the Amazon forest?
Answer: Only shade tolerant vegetation grow here.
2. Name the animals Found in the Amazon forest.
Answer: Monkeys, sloth and ant-eating tapirs.
3. What do men and women of the rainforest do?
Answer: Men hunt and fish along the rivers and women take care of the crops.
4. What do the people of the rainforest grow?
Answer: They grow tapioca, pineapple and sweet potato.
5. Name the cash crops that people of the rainforest grow.
Answer: Coffee, maize and cocoa.
6. What is the population density of West Bengal and Bihar? .
Answer: The populations density of west Bengal is 904 and that of Bihar is 880.
7. What is susu? What does its presence indicate?
Answer: In the fresh water of River Ganga and River Brahmaputra, a variety of dolphin is found which is locally known as susu. Its presence indicates the health of the river.
8. How and why are terraces built?              [V. Imp.]
Answer: Tarraces are built on steep slopes to create flat surfaces on which crops are grown.
9. By what names is the river Brahmaputra known in different places.
Answer: Meghna, Padma, Dehang, Debang, Yamuna, etc.
10. What leads to the pollution of the rivers?           [V. Imp.]
Answer: The wastewater from these towns and industries is discharged into the rivers. This leads to the pollution of the rivers.
11. Name the river on which Tcy Mahal is situated?
Answer: River Yamuna.
12. Name the cash crops grown in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin.
Answer: Sugarcane and jute.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE Questions

1. Write a short note on the climate of the Amazon Basin.
Answer: The climate of the Amazon Basin is characterised by hot and wet climate throughout the year. Both day and nights and almost equally hot and humid. It rains almost everyday. The day temperatures are high with very high humidity. At night the temperature goes down but the humidity remains high.
2. What do you know about the location of the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin? Mention the climate of this Basin.
Answer: The Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin lies in the sub-tropical region that is situated between 10°N to 30°N latitudes. The tributaries of river Ganga such as the Ghaghra, the son, the Chambal, the Gandak, the Kosi and the tributaries of Brahmaputra drain it.The area of the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin is dominated by monsoon climate. The monsoon brings rains from mid-June to mid-September. The summers are hot and the winters are cool.
3. The Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin has varied topography. How does it affect the distribution of population there?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: The basin area has varied topography. As a result, the distribution of population is not even everywhere in the area. The mountain areas with steep slopes have inhospitable terrain. Therefore less number of people live in the mountain area of the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin. The plain area provides the most suitable land for human habitation. Therefore, the density of population of the plains is very high.
4. What is the main activity of the people of the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin? Give an account of it.
Answer: The main activity of the people of the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin is agriculture. Paddy is the main crop here. Other crops grown here are wheat, maize, sorgham gram and millets. Cash crops like sugarcane and jute are also grown. Banana plantations are seen in some areas in the plain. In the West Bengal and Assam tea is grown in plantations. Silk is produced through the cultivation of silk worms in parts of Bihar and Assam. In the mountains and hills, where the slopes are gentle crops are grown on terraces.
5. How can you say that the life of the people of the Amazon basin is changing?[Imp.]
Answer: Time is moving ahead very fast. This has resulted in the change of the life style of the people everywhere. The life of the people of the Amazon basin is also changing, though not at fast speed. In the old days it was difficult to reach the heart of the forest. In 1970 the Trans Amazon highway made all parts of the rain forest accessible. Aircrafts and helicopters are also used for reaching various places. The indigenous populations was pushed out from the area and forced to settle in new areas.
6. What do you know about the wildlife of the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin?     [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin is rich in wildlife. A_ variety oi animals are found here. Elephants, tigers, deer and monkeys are common. The one-horned rhinoceros is found in the Brahmaputra plain. In the delta region, Bengal tiger, crocodiles and alligator are found. Acquatic life abounds in the fresh river waters, the lakes and the Bay of Bengal Sea. Popular varieties to fish such as catla, rohu and hilsa can be found here.
7. How is tourism an important activity in the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin?
Answer: The Ganga-Brahmaputra plain has several big towns and cities, such as Allahabad, Kanpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Patna and Kolkata. All these places are important from tourism point of view. Taj Mahal on the bank of river yamuna in Agra is a famous tourist place. Allahabad is situated on the confluence of the river Ganga and Yamuna. Several people visit this place everyday to have a holy dip in it. Buddhist stupas in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Lucknow with its Imambara, Assam with Kaziranga and Manas with wildlife sanctuaries are some other places in the basin where people from different parts of the country and abroad go with great enthusiasm.

LONG ANSWER TYPE Questions

1. How is the rainforest of the Amazon basin rich infauna?
Answer: The rainforest of the Amazon basin is very rich in fauna. A variety of birds such  as toucans, humming birds, bird of paradise with their brilliantly coloured. Plumage and oversized bills for eating are found here.
These birds also make loud sounds in the forests. Animals like monkeys, sloth and ant-eating tapirs are found here. Various species of reptiles and snakes also thrive in these jungles. A number of crocodiles, snakes and pythous are also found here. Anaconda and boa constrictor are some of the species. The basin is also the home to thousands of species of insects. Several species of fishes including the flesh-eating Piranha fish is also found in the river.
2. What do you know about the people of the rainforest?   [V- Imp.]
Answer: The people of the Amazon basin practise slash and bum agriculture. They grow most of their food in small areas after clearing some trees in the forest. Men hunt and fish along the rivers and women take care of the crops. They mainly grow tapioca, pineapple and sweet potato. As hunting and fishing are uncertain it is the women who support the family. They feed them the vegetables that they grow. Their staple food is manioc, also known as cassava that grows under the ground like potato. They also eat queen ants and egg sacs. Cash crops like coffee, maize and cocoa are also grown.
People get wood for their houses from the rainforests. They build thatched houses shaped like beehives. There are also malocas there which are large apartment­like houses with a steeply slanting roof.
The Amazon basin is developing day by day. In 1970 the trans Amazon highway made all parts of the rainforest accessible. With the change of time the people’s life style is also changing gradually.

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 Geography Social Science Chapter 7 Human Environment–Settlement, Transport and Communication

1. Answer the following Questions briefly.
(a) What are the four means of transport?
(b) What do you understand by the term ‘settlement’?
(c) Which are the activities practised by the rural people?
(d) Mention any two merits of railways.
(e) What do you understand by communication?
(f) What is mass media?
Answer:
(a)The four means of transport are:

1. Roadways
2. Railways
3. Waterways
4. Airways

(b) The term ‘settlement’ refers to a place where people build their homes to live in.
(c) The activities practised by the rural people are farming, fishing, forestry, trading and craftwork, etc.
(d) Two merits of railways are:

1. They carry people over long distances quickly and cheaply.
2. They carry heavy goods in bulk.

(e) Communication is a process by which we convey our messages to other.
(f) Newspapers, radio and television are called mass media because we can communicate with a large number of people through them.

2. Tick the correct answer:
(a) Which is not a means of communication?
(i) telephone                       (ii)   books                               (iii)    table.
(b) Which type of road is constructed under the ground?
(i) flyover                          (ii)    express ways                     (iii)    subways.
(c) Which mode of transport is most suitable to reach an island?
(i) ship                              (ii)   train                                 (iii)   car.
(d) Which vehicle does not pollute the environment?
(i) cycle                             (ii)    bus                                  (iii)    aeroplane.
Answer: (a)—(iii), (b)—(iii), (c)—(i), (d)—(i).

3.Match the following:
(i) Internet                                        (a) areas where people are engaged in manufacturing,                                                                         trade and services
(ii) Canal route                                    (b) closely built area of houses
(iii) Urban areas                                 (c) houses on stilts
(iv) Compact settlement                   (d) inland waterways
                                                               (e)a means of communication
Ans. (i)—(e), (ii)—(d), (iii)—(a), (iv)—(b).

4. Give reasons:
(a) Today’s world is shrinking.
Answer: (a) Modern technology has traped the whole world in its fist. With the advancement of communication and information technology the world has contracted. We can get the news of a far off land just with a blink of our eyes. England or America or even Moon or Mars are not now far from us. Newspapers, radio and television have brought a revolution in communication. The satellites have made them even faster. Wireless telephonic communications through cellular phones have become more popular today. The use of internet has made everything available in our plates. So, it is not exaggerating to say that today’s world is shrinking.

5. For Fun:
(i) Conduct a survey in your locality and find out how people commute to their respective workplaces using:
(a) more than two modes of transport
(b) more than three modes of transport
(c) stay within walking distance.
(ii) Mention which mode of communication you will prefer most in the following situations:
(a) your grandfather has suddenly fallen ill How will you inform the doctor?
(b) your mother wants to sell the old house. How will she spread this news?
(c) you are going to attend the marriage of your cousin for which you will be absent from the school for the next two days. How will you inform the teacher?
(d) your friend has moved out with his/her family to New York. How will you keep in touch on a daily basis?
Answer:
(i) (a)on foot, metro and auto-rickshaw
(b) on foot, bus, metro and rickshaw
(c) on foot.

(ii) (a) I will inform the doctor through telephone.
(b) She will spread this news through newspapers.
(c) I will send a leave application to the teacher.
(d) I will keep in touch through telephone or internet.

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE Questions

1. Why did settlements grow near the river valleys? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Settlements grew near the river valleys because plenty of water was available there and land was fertile.

2. What are called temporary settlements? [Imp.]
Answer: Settlements which are occupied for a short time are called temporary settlements.

3. What do people living in temporary settlements practise?
Answer: They practise hunting, gathering, shifting cultivation and transhumance.

4. Why do people who rear animals move from place to place?
Answer: They move from place to place in search of new pastures according to changes in seasons.

5. Differentiate a compact settlement from a scattered settlement.
Answer: A compact settlement is a closely built area of dwellings wherever flat land is available. In a scattered settlement dwellings are spaced over an extensive area.

6. Where are scattered settlements found? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Scattered settlements are found in hilly tracts, thick forests and regions of extreme climate.

7. Name the materials used in building houses in rural areas?
Answer: Stones, mud, clay, straw, etc

8. Name some animals used for carrying goods in India ,
Answer: Donkeys, mules, bullocks and camels,

9. Where do you find a dense network of roads?
Answer: In plains

10. What have replaced the steam engine? [Imp.]
Answer: Diesel and electric engines have replaced the steam engines.

11. Name any two important ports of the world.
Answer: Singapore and Rio de Janerio.

12. When are helicopters proved to be very useful?
Answer: Helicopters are proved to be very useful in the time of calamities for rescuing people and distributing food, water, clothes and medicines,

13. How have satellites proved themselves helpful?        [V. Imp.]
Answer: Satellites have helped in oil exploration, survey of forest, underground water, mineral wealth, weather forecast and disaster warning,

14. Why is air travel very expensive?
Answer:
Air travel is very expensive due to high cost of fuel.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE Questions

1. What do you mean by a site? Mention the natural conditions for selection of an ideal site?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: The place where a building or a settlement develops is called its site. The natural conditions of an ideal site are:

• Favourable climate
• Availability of water
• Suitable land
• Fertile soil.

2. Write down the features of houses built in rural areas.
Answer: The houses built in rural areas suit to the environment. In regions of heavy rainfall, people build houses with slanting roofs. Places where water accumulates in the rainy season the houses are constructed on a raised platforms or slits,

3. How did people in the early days travel long distances? What changes came with the passage of time?     [V. Imp.]
Answer: In the early days people have no means of transport. Whenever they had to go somewhere they walked on foot. They used animals to carry their goods. It took a great deal to time. The invention of the wheel proved to be a boon for the people. It made transport easier. By and by different means of transport such as railways, airways etc. developed. Aeroplanes have made travel faster. Now, we can cover a long distance within hours,

4. Write a short note on airways.
Answer: Airways is the fastest mode of transport today. It is very expensive due to high cost of fuels. It is the only mode of transport to reach the most remote and distant areas especially where there are no roads and railways. Helicopters are useful in most inaccessible areas and in time of calamities of rescuing people and distributing essential. Some important airports are Delhi, Mumbai, New York, London, Paris, Frankfurt and Cairo.

5. How has Internet made our lives more comfortable?   [V. Imp.]
Answer: Internet is the latest development in the field of information technology. It not only provides us with worldwide information and interaction but has also made our lives very comfortable. In this age of internet we can reserve tickets for railways, airways and even cinemas and hotels silting at home. We can chat with our friends and relatives living far off places.

LONG ANSWER TYPE Question

1. How settlements become a necessity? What are its different types? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Settlements are places where people build their homes to live in. Early human beings did not need to develop settlements because they lived on trees and in caves. When they started to grow crops, it became essential to have a permanent home. Thus, settlements began to grow near the river valleys as water was available and land was fertile. By and by settlements became larger because trade, commerce and manufacturing developed.
Settlements can be permanent or temporary.

• Temporary Settlement. Settlements which are occupied for a short time Eire called temporary settlements. The people living in deep forests, hot and cold deserts and mountains often dwell in such settlements. These people are engaged in hunting, gathering, shifting cultivation and transhumance.
• Permanent Settlement. Under permanent settlements people build homes to live in.

2. Give a detailed description of waterways.
Answer: Waterways are the cheapest mode of transport. They carry heavy and bulky goods over long distances. They are mainly of two types—inland waterways and sea routes.

• Inland Waterways. Navigable rivers and lakes are used as inland waterways. Some important inland waterways are the Ganga-Brahmaputra river system, the Great Lakes in North America and the river Nile in Africa.
• Sea routes. Sea routes and oceanic routes are mostly used for transporting merchandise and goods from one country to another. These routes are connected with the ports. Some important ports are Singapore, Mumbai, Rio de Janerio, Sydney etc.

3. What are the major means of transport? Explain each of them [Imp.]
Answer: There are four major means of transport:

1. Roadways
2. Railways
3. Waterways
4. Airways
5. Roads the most commonly used means of transport. Roads are of two types—metalled roads also known as pucca roads and unmetalled roads also known as Kutcha roads. The plsiins have a dense network of roads.

Roads built underground are called subways or underpaths. Flyovers are built over raised structures.

2. The railways carry people and bulky goods. They cover long distances quickly and cheaply. The railway network is well developed over the plain areas. With the development of advanced technological skills we have now railway lines laid in difficult mountain terrains also. The Indian railway network is well developed and the largest in Asia.
3. Waterways are the cheapest means of transport. They carry heavy and bulky goods over long distances. They are of two types—inland waterways and sea routes. Navigable rivers and lakes are used as inland waterways— for example, Ganga-Brahmaputra river system. Sea routes and oceanic routes are mostly used for transporting merchandise and goods from one country to another.
4. Airways are the most expensive means of transport. It is the only mode of transport to reach the most remote and distant areas especially where there are no roads and railways. Helicopters are useful in most inaccessible areas and in times of calamities.

NCERT Solutions For Class 7 Civics Social Science Chapter 4 Growing up as Boys and Girls

1. Are the statements given below true or false? Support your answer with the use of an example :
(a) All societies do not think similarly about the roles that boys and girls play.
(b) Our society does not make distinctions between boys and girls when they are growing up.
(c) Women who stay at home do not work.
(d) The work that women do is less valued than that of men.
Answer: (a) It is a true statement. In most societies, the work boys do is given more importance than the work girls do.
(b) It is a false statement. Our society makes distinctions between boys and girls even while they are in growing phase. From the very early age, boys are taught to be tough and serious, while girls are taught to be mild and soft. Boys are given toys like cars, guns to play with while girls are given dolls.
(c) It is a false statement. Women who stay at home, do a lot of household chores.
They cook food, wash clothes, sweep floor, and numerous other works; some of which are very strenuous.
(d) It is true statement. Women do a lot of work. The main responsibility for housework and care-giving tasks lies with women. Yet, the work that they do with the home is not recognised as work. It is assumed that this is something that comes naturally to women. It, therefore, does not have to be paid for. This is the main reason why our society devalues women’s work.

2. Housework is invisible and unpaid work.
Housework is physically demanding.
Housework is time consuming.
Write in your own words what is meant by the terms ‘invisible’, ‘physically demanding’ and ‘time consuming’? Give one example of each based on the household tasks undertaken by women in your home.
Answer:

1. 1. Invisible. It means the work that is not seen from our eyes. For example, the main responsibility for housework and care-giving tasks, like looking after the family, especially children, the elderly and sick members, lies with women. There are such works or tasks which are often not recognised as works and therefore remain invisible.
   2. Physically demanding. Very tough and difficult tasks. For example, women do a lot of work inside the home. Some of these works such as carrying heavy headloads of firewood, fetching water from a far-off place, washing clothes of the entire family members etc. are very tough and difficult. Still women do them regularly without making any complaints.

1. Time-cosuming. Household works that take much time. For example, women’s routine begins from early morning and continues upto late night. During this period they are seen busy in fulfilling the needs and wishes of their family member. They often sit with their children and help them in completing their homework. This is a good example of time-consuming work.

3. Make a list of toys and games that boys typically play and another for girls. If there is a difference between the two lists, can you think of some reasons why this is so? Does this have any relationship to the roles children have to play as adults?
Answer: List of toys and games that boys play with: cars, guns, swords, buses, railway trains, lions, etc. (toys), cricket, kabaddi, hockey, football etc. (games).
List of toys and games that girls play with: dolls, cooking items, etc. (toys)’, badminton, table-tennis, hide and seek, etc. (games).
These games are also played by the boys. From the above description we can infer that there is a difference between the toys with which boys play and the toys with which girls play.
The reason behind this is that our society makes clear distinctions between boys and girls. Boys are taught to be tough while girls are taught to be mild. Boys are expected to do works which highlight their manly features but girls are expected to remain in limit with all feminine virtues. All these are ways of telling children that they have specific roles to play when they grow up to be men and women. Later in life this affects even the subjects they can study or the careers they can choose.

4. If you have someone working as a domestic help in your house or locality talk to her and find out a little bit more about her life – Who are her family members? Where is her home? How many hours does she work? How much does she get paid? Write a small story based on these details.
Answer: Sharda has been working in my house for several years as a domestic help. She hails from a small village in West Bengal. She lives here in Delhi with her husband and one daughter who is in her teens. She comes to my house in the early morning at 5.30 and gets retire from the days work in the night at 8 p.m. In between she goes to her house for tw hours. She does every work very efficiently and skilfully. She never gives a moment of complains. Due to this fact we have developed a very cordial relations with her and her family. We regard her as our family member. We also pay her handsome amount. She gets Rs. 3000/- per month with all other facilities like foods, clothes, medicines, etc. Her husband is a rickshaw puller who also manages to earn a good amount everyday. Thus, Sharda leads a very happy life with us and her family members.

VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE Questions

1. What was a very important activity on the Samoan islands in the 1920s?
Answer: Fishing was a very important activity on the Samoan islands in the 1920s.

 2. How was the girls’ school in Madhya Pradesh in the 1960s designed differently from the boys’ school?
Answer: Girls’ school had a central courtyard where girls played in total seclusion and safety from the outside world. The boys school had no such courtyard.

3. As these girls walked on the streets, they looked so purposejul’. What does the word ‘purposeful’ refer to?
Answer: Their only intention was to get home safe and as soon as possible.

4. Why do we give boys and girls different toys to play with? [V. Imp.]
Answer: We want to tell them that they will have different futures when they become men and women.

5. What do we teach boys and girls in their early childhood? [Imp.]
Answer: We teach boys that they need to be tough and masculine. On the contrary we , teach girls that they need to be soft and mild.

6. Why did Harmeet develop a notion that her mother did not work?
Answer: In our societies, the work that women do within the home is not recognised as work. It is assumed that this is something that comes naturally to women. It is therefore, Harmeet developed such notions and said that her mother did not work

7. Why are the wages of domestic workers usually low? [V. Imp.]
Answer: It is because the work that domestic workers do, does not have much value.

8. What is the daily schedule of a domestic worker?
Answer: A domestic worker’s day usually begins at five in the morning and ends at twelve in the night.

9. How are domestic workers treated by their employers?  [V. Imp.]
Answer: Domestic workers are often not treated well by their employers. Despite the hard work they do, their employers often do not show them much respect.

10. What do you mean by the term ‘double burden’?  [Imp.]
Answer: Several women today work both inside and outside the home. This is often
referred to as ‘double burden’.

11. Housework commonly involves many different tasks. Name some of them.
Answer: Washing clothes, cleaning, sweeping, cooking etc.

12. Why do girls like to go to school together in groups?
Answer: Girls like to go to school together in groups because in group they feel secured.

SHORT ANSWER TYPE Questions

1. What did boys do every evening, once the school was over?
Answer: Every evening, once the school was over, boys watched as hundreds of school girls crowded the narrow streets. The girls walked on the streets in groups and their only intention was to get straight home. On the contrary the boys used the streets as a place to stand around idling, to play, to try out tricks with their bicycles. They never reached home in time.

2. Why does our society devalue the work women do inside the home? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Women discharge a lot of responsibilities inside their home. They look after the family, especially children, the elderly and sick members. They manage the entire activities so efficiently. They cook food by standing for hours in front of hot stoves, wash clothes, maintain cleanliness, etc. In rural areas women and girls carry heavy headloads of firewood. These works are not considered as real works in our families and societies. The work that women do within the home is not recognised as work. It is assumed that this is something that comes naturally to women. Due to this fact, it does not have to be paid for. Our society devalues such work.

3. Our constitution does not discriminate between male and female. But inequality between the sexes exists. What does the government do to remedy the situation? [Imp.]
Answer: The government recognises that burden of childcare and housework falls on women and girls. This naturally has an impact on whether girls can attend school. It determines whether women can work outside the house and what kind of jobs and careers they can have. The government has set up Anganwadis or child­care centres in several villages in the country. It has passed laws that make it mandatory for organisations that have more than 30 women employees to provide creche facilities. The provision of creches helps many women to take up employment outside the home. Girls have also been benefited through this provision. More and more girls now have started attending schools.

LONG ANSWER TYPE Questions

1. Give an account of growing up in Samoa in the 1920s.
Answer: A research took place on Samoan society in 1920s. According to the reports of the research, Samoan children did not go to school. They engaged themselves in many different activities. They learnt from their elders how to take care of children or do housework. Fishing was an important activity on the Samoan islands. Young people learnt to undertake long fishing expeditions.
Both boys and girls used to look after their younger siblings. But, by the time a boy was about nine years old, he joined the older boys in to learn outdoor jobs like fishing and planting coconuts. Girls had to continue looking after small children or do errands for adults till they were teenagers. They enjoyed much freedom during teenage. After the age of fourteen or so, girls also went on fishing trips, worked in the plantations, learnt how to weave baskets. Boys had to do most of the work associated with cooking. After they prepared the meal, girls helped them.

2. Write a brief note on the lives of domestic workers with an example.  [V. Imp.]
Answer: The lives of domestic workers are full of hardships. They do a lot of work in then- employer’s house. They sweep and clean, wash clothes and dishes, cook different varieties of food, look after young children or the elderly. Their day usually begins at five in the early morning and ends at twelve in the night. During this span they do not sit even for a while. Most domestic workers are women. Sometimes, even young boys and girls are employed to do all these works. Despite the hard work they do, their employers often do not show them much respect. They are often scolded by them even at a minor mistake. So far their wages are concerned, they are veiy low. The reason behind this is that domestic work does not have much value.
Melani is a domestic worker who leads a very hard life inspite of her hard labour. Her employer is not at all sympathetic to her. She shouts at her every now and then. She does not give her sufficient food to eat. Even during severe winters she does not allow her to wear chappals in the house. Melani feels very humiliated. As she has no other option, she has to bear all the hardships. But she, like her employer, also wishes to be respected.