Grade-7 Social Science, Life in Desert Regions

 

Glossary

 

Oasis - A fertile spot in a desert, where water is found 

Beast of burden - An animal, such as the yak, that is used for carrying loads 

Nomads - People who move from place to place in search of food and water 

Glacier - A slowly moving mass or river of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow on mountains or near the poles

Monastery- A large Buddhist temple or place of worship

 

Key Points

• Deserts receive less than 25 cm rainfall annually.

• Life in hot deserts thrives only along rivers or oases where there is some cultivation possible.

• People in hot desert regions are nomadic as they move in search of food and water.

• Ladakh, a cold desert, is a high plateau region in the northernmost part of India.

• Ladakh is a popular tourist destination.

 

Exercises from Textbook

 

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

(a) Lake Chad is a large fresh water lake in the Sahara.

(b) Bedouins and Tuareg are two important tribes of the Sahara Desert.

(c) Egypt, Algeria, and Libya are oil-rich countries.

(d) Ladakh became a union territory on 31 October 2019.

(e) Yak is the most useful animal in the Ladakh region.

 

Choose the correct answer.

 

(a) One of these is not a hot desert.

(i) Ladakh

(ii) Kalahari

(iii) Thar

(iv) Sahara

Answer- (i) Ladakh

(b) The country that is called the 'Gift of the Nile' is

(i) Morocco.

(ii) Egypt.

(iii) Libya.

(iv) Algeria.

Answer- (ii) Egypt.

(c) People who move about from place to place in search of shelter and food are known as (i) nomads.

(ii) hunters.

(iii) miners.

(iv) herders.

Answer- (i) nomads.

(d) Only one of these ranges is situated in Ladakh.

(i) Karakoram

(ii) Shiwalik

(iii) Aravalli

(iv) Atlas

Answer- (i) Karakoram

 

(e) The animal that is an endangered species in Ladakh.

(i) camel

(ii) yak

(iii) chiru antelope

(iv) snow leopard

Answer- (iii) chiru antelope

 

Match the column

(a) Sahara Desert (b) date palms (c) pashmina (d) oasis (e) monastery

(i) Sahara (ii) water and plant (iii) Buddhist (iv) Ladakh (v) northern Africa

 

Answer- (a) Sahara Desert - (i) Sahara

(b) date palms - (ii) water and plant

(c) pashmina - (iv) Ladakh

(d) oasis - (ii) water and plant

(e) monastery - (iii) Buddhist

 

Write true or false. Correct the false sentences in your notebook.

(a)  K2 is the highest peak of Karakoram.

True

(b)  The chiru antelope is native to the Sahara Desert.  

False (The chiru antelope is native to Ladakh, not the Sahara Desert.)

(c)  Pashmina shawls are made from the wool of the yak. 

False (Pashmina shawls are made from the wool of the chiru antelope, not the yak.)

(d)  River Niger is the main river of western Sahara.

 False (The main river of western Sahara is the Niger River.)

(e)  Willow is an important tree found in Ladakh.

    True

 

Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.

 

(a) Where is the Sahara Desert-Hocated?

Answer- The Sahara Desert is located in northern Africa.

(b) What is a typical activity that is seen around an oasis in Sahara?

Answer- Cultivation is a typical activity seen around an oasis in the Sahara.

(c) When did Ladakh become a union territory?

Answer-  Ladakh became a union territory on 31 October 2019.

(d) Why does Ladakh get very little rain?

Answer- Ladakh gets very little rain because it is in the rain shadow of high mountain ranges.

(e) Which religion is widely practised in Ladakh

Answer- Buddhism is widely practiced in Ladakh.

 

Answer the following questions in four or five sentences.

 

(a) Describe the location of the Sahara Desert.

Answer- The Sahara Desert is located in the northern half of Africa, stretching from the Atlantic Coast in the west to the Red Sea in the east.

It covers a vast area, with the Tropic of Cancer passing through its middle.

To the south, the desert gradually merges into the Sahel savanna grasslands.

The landscape of the Sahara consists of large stretches of sandy and rocky patches interspersed with high plateaus and depressions.

(b) Describe life in the Sahara Desert.

Answer- Life in the Sahara Desert is challenging due to its extreme climatic conditions, with scorching daytime temperatures exceeding 50°C and freezing nights.

Vegetation is scarce, primarily consisting of scattered cacti, stunted trees, and thorny bushes.

Oases, where water is available, support some cultivation, and nomadic tribes like the Tuareg and Bedouins move in search of food and water.

Settled tribes near oases trade their agricultural produce and handicrafts for necessities.

(c) Compare the flora and fauna of the Sahara with those of Ladakh.

Answer- The Sahara Desert has sparse vegetation, including scattered cacti, stunted trees, and thorny bushes. Oases support some cultivation, including date palms, vegetables, and wheat. Fauna in the Sahara includes animals adapted to desert conditions like camels, jackals, hyenas, snakes, and lizards.

 In contrast, Ladakh has patches of grasses and shrubs that provide limited pastures for animals like yaks, goats, and sheep. Willow and poplar trees flourish, and in summer, fruits like apples, apricots, and walnuts bloom in the valleys.

(d) Describe the location of Ladakh.

Answer- Ladakh is located in the northernmost part of India, enclosed between the Karakoram and Zaskar ranges of the Greater Himalayas. The region is characterized by high plateaus and valleys, with the world's second-highest peak, Mount Godwin Austen (K2), situated in the Karakoram Range. Leh, the main commercial center of Ladakh, is situated on the banks of the Indus River.

(e) Give an account of the economic activities of the people in the Sahara Desert and Ladakh

Answer- Economic Activities in Sahara Desert-

In the Sahara Desert, economic activities revolve around nomadic herding, agriculture near oases, and trade.

Nomadic tribes like the Tuareg and Bedouins move with their livestock in search of grazing grounds and water sources.

Settled tribes near oases cultivate crops like date palms, vegetables, and wheat, and engage in trading goods like rugs and handicrafts.

Economic Activities in Ladakh –

In Ladakh, economic activities include agriculture, animal husbandry, and handicrafts.

People cultivate crops like potatoes and barley in the valleys, rear animals like yaks, goats, and sheep, and produce handicrafts like pashmina shawls and rugs for trade.

Additionally, tourism has become a significant source of income in Ladakh, with its unique landscape and cultural heritage attracting visitors from around the world.

 

Additional Questions from text

1.   What defines a desert according to the text?

Ans- Deserts are places that receive less than 25 cm of rainfall annually.

2.   Name two hot deserts and two cold deserts mentioned in the text.

Ans- Hot deserts: Sahara and Kalahari; Cold deserts: Ladakh and Tibet.

3.   Describe the climate of the Sahara Desert.

Ans- The Sahara Desert has extreme climatic conditions with daytime temperatures exceeding 50°C and nighttime temperatures dropping below freezing.

4.   What type of vegetation is found in the Sahara Desert? Where does agriculture primarily occur?

Ans- The Sahara Desert has scattered cacti, stunted trees, and thorny bushes. Agriculture primarily occurs near oases, where date palms, vegetables, and wheat are cultivated.

5.   Name two important rivers that flow through the Sahara Desert.

Ans- Rivers Nile and Niger flow through the eastern and western parts of the Sahara Desert, respectively.

6.   How do people adapt to the harsh conditions of the Sahara Desert?

Ans- People adapt to the Sahara Desert by leading nomadic lifestyles and trading goods with settled tribes near oases.

7.   Which nomadic tribes are mentioned in the Sahara Desert case study?

Ans- The Tuareg and the Bedouins are two prominent nomadic tribes mentioned in the Sahara Desert case study.

8.   What has contributed to the wealth and modernization of certain countries in the Sahara Desert region?

Ans- The discovery of oil has contributed to the wealth and modernization of countries like Egypt, Libya, and Algeria in the Sahara Desert region.

9.   Where is Ladakh located geographically?

Ans- Ladakh is located in the northernmost part of India.

10.   Describe the climate of Ladakh.

Ans- Ladakh has a cold desert climate with less than 10 cm of rainfall annually. Winters are extremely cold, with temperatures dropping as low as -30°C to -40°C.

11.   What flora and fauna are found in Ladakh?

Ans- Patches of grasses and shrubs provide limited pastures for animals in Ladakh. Willow and poplar trees also flourish. Common animals include yaks, goats, and sheep.

12.   What is the staple diet of the people in Ladakh?

Ans- Potatoes, rice, and yak meat are staple foods in Ladakh.

13.   What are some popular trade products in Ladakh?

     Ans- Pashmina shawls woven from the wool of the chiru antelope and rugs and carpets made from sheep and yak hair are popular trade products in Ladakh.

 

14.   How do people adapt to life in Ladakh?

     Ans- People in Ladakh adapt to life by practicing Buddhism, relying on yaks for transportation and resources, and engaging in occupations like weaving and herding.

15.   What is the highest recorded temperature on earth, and where was it recorded?

Ans- The highest recorded temperature on earth is 58°C, recorded at Al Azizia in northwest Libya in 1922.

16.   Which place in Ladakh holds the record for being the coldest place in India?

Ans- Drass, situated in Ladakh, holds the record for being the coldest place in India.

 

Analytical Skills

Read and answer:

People travelling through a desert can suffer sunbums, sandstorms, dehydration, snake bites and much more. They should carry as much water as they can. If they are ever stuck in the desert without water, they can use the water that some cactuses, such as the barrel or compass cactus, have inside them.

 

(1) What problems could people travelling through a desert face?

Answer- People traveling through a desert could face several challenges, including sunburns, sandstorms, dehydration, and snake bites. These environmental hazards can pose serious risks to their health and safety, making desert travel potentially dangerous without proper preparation and precautions.

(ii) How can some cactuses be useful in a desert

Answer- Some cactuses, such as the barrel or compass cactus, can store water inside them, which can be a lifesaving resource for travelers stranded in the desert without access to water. In desperate situations, individuals can carefully extract the water from these cactuses to hydrate themselves and potentially survive until they find help or a water source. Therefore, these cactuses serve as natural reservoirs of water in the harsh desert environment and can provide a crucial source of hydration in emergencies.

 

Remembering Skills

Name the capital of Ladakh. Which river is it situated on?

Answer- The capital of Ladakh is Leh, and it is situated on the banks of the Indus River.

 

Analytical Skills

Compare the life of the people of the Sahara with those of the nomadic tribes of the Thar Desert of Rajasthan. Do you see any similarity?

Answer- The life of the people in the Sahara Desert and the nomadic tribes of the Thar Desert in Rajasthan share some similarities, primarily due to the harsh desert environment they inhabit. Both populations face challenges related to extreme temperatures, scarcity of water, and limited vegetation. They have adapted their lifestyles to survive in these arid regions, often relying on nomadic or semi-nomadic practices to follow water sources and grazing grounds for their livestock.

 

Similarities between the two groups include:

Nomadic Lifestyle: Both the people of the Sahara Desert and the nomadic tribes of the Thar Desert are often nomadic or semi-nomadic, moving with their livestock in search of water and grazing areas. This lifestyle allows them to adapt to the variable conditions of the desert environment.

Reliance on Livestock: Livestock, such as camels, goats, and sheep, play a crucial role in the lives of both populations. They provide food, milk, transportation, and materials like wool and leather for various purposes.

Traditional Practices: Both groups have developed traditional practices and knowledge passed down through generations to cope with the challenges of desert living. This includes techniques for finding water sources, navigating the desert terrain, and preserving food and resources.

Trade and Exchange: Both the Sahara Desert and the Thar Desert have historically been important trade routes, facilitating the exchange of goods, ideas, and cultures between different regions. Nomadic tribes often engage in trade with settled communities for goods that they cannot produce themselves.

 

HOTS-Analytical Skills

Egypt is called the 'Gift of the Nile'. Do you think it is correct?

Answer- The statement "Egypt is called the 'Gift of the Nile'" is a widely recognized characterization of Egypt's significance and reliance on the Nile River throughout its history. It highlights the critical role that the Nile River has played in shaping Egypt's civilization, economy, and culture.

From ancient times to the present day, the Nile River has been Egypt's lifeblood, providing water for agriculture, transportation, and other essential needs. The annual flooding of the Nile brought fertile silt to the land, allowing for bountiful harvests and supporting the growth of a prosperous agricultural society.

Therefore, it can be considered correct to refer to Egypt as the 'Gift of the Nile' due to the vital role that the river has played in sustaining and shaping the civilization of ancient and modern Egypt.