Grade-7 Social Science, Life in Temperate Regions
Glossary
Chernozem- A fertile black soil rich in humus and
with a lighter lime-rich layer beneath, typically occurring in the temperate
grasslands of the Russian steppes and North American prairies
Chinook- A warm local wind that raises the
temperature of the prairies
Silo- A tall steel tower on a farm used to store
grain
Ranch- A large cattle farm where cattle are reared
and looked after
Mixed farming- A farming practice in which crop
cultivation and cattle rearing takes place on the same land
Key Points
• The prairies are grasslands situated in USA and Canada.
• Being in the interior of the continent, the prairies have
a continental climate.
• The area is famous for wheat cultivation.
• The grasslands in South Africa are called veld.
• The veld is known for mining and cattle rearing.
Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.
(a) The bison is the main wild animal found in the prairies.
(b) Cowboys manage cattle rearing in the prairies.
(c) Rivers Limpopo and Orange are the major rivers of the veld.
(d) Gold is the main mineral mined at Kimberley and
Pretoria.
(e) The veld gradually slopes westwards.
Choose the correct answer.
(a) The river that drains the prairies is
(i) Mississippi.
(ii) Limpopo.
(iii) Orange.
(iv) Vaal.
Answer: (i) Mississippi.
(b) The temperate grasslands of South Africa are called the
(i) steppes.
(ii) pampas.
(iii) prairies.
(iv) veld.
Answer: (iv) veld.
(c) The Drakensberg Mountains lie to the of the veld.
(i) east.
(ii) west.
(iii) north.
(iv) south.
Answer: (i) east.
(d) The crop that is not grown in prairies is
(i) maize.
(ii) cocoa.
(iii) wheat.
(iv) potato.
Answer: (ii) cocoa.
(e) Johannesburg is a major mining town for
(i) coal.
(ii) iron ore.
(iii) gold.
(iv) copper.
Answer: (iii) gold.
Match the rows.
|
(a) chinooks (b) Orange (c) silo (d) hot desert (e) cowboy |
(i) river (ii) Kalahari (iii) ranch (iv) storage structure (v) Canadian prairies |
Answer:
(a) chinooks - (v) Canadian prairies
(b) Orange - (i) river
(c) silo - (iv) storage structure
(d) hot desert - (ii) Kalahari
(e) cowboy - (iii) ranch
Write true or false. Correct the false sentences in your
notebook.
(a) Rivers Limpopo and Orange are the major rivers of the
prairies.
False - Corrected: Rivers Limpopo and Orange are the major
rivers of the veld.
(b) The bison is the main wild animal found in the prairies.
True
(c) Cowboys manage cattle rearing in the prairies.
True
(d) Gold is the main mineral mined at Kimberley and
Pretoria.
True
(e) The veld slopes gradually from east to west.
False - Corrected: The veld slopes gradually from west to
east.
Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.
(a) Where are the prairies located?
Answer: The prairies are located between the Rocky Mountains
in the west and the Great Lakes region of Canada and the USA in the east.
(b) Why are the prairies called the 'granaries of the
world'?
Answer: The prairies are called the 'granaries of the world'
because they yield large quantities of wheat due to their fertile soil.
(c) What is a ranch?
Answer: A ranch is a large farm where livestock, such as
cattle, are raised for meat or other products.
(d) What do you know about the 'Witwatersrand'?
Answer: The Witwatersrand is a high ridge in South Africa
with rich deposits of gold, coal, and manganese.
(e) Why is the climate of veld mild?
Answer: The climate of the veld is mild due to its high
altitude and proximity to the sea.
Answer the following questions in four or five sentences.
(a) Describe the prairies.
Answer: The prairies are vast, treeless plains located
between the Rocky Mountains in the west and the Great Lakes region in the east
of Canada and the USA. They are extremely fertile due to the presence of
chernozem soil, making them ideal for cultivation, especially of wheat. The
region is characterized by rivers, including the Mississippi, and experiences a
continental climate with severe winters and warm summers.
(b) Compare the climate of the prairies with that of the
veld.
Answer: The prairies have a continental climate with severe
winters and warm summers, characterized by chinook winds that melt snow
rapidly. In contrast, the veld in South Africa has a mild climate due to its
high altitude and nearness to the sea, with warm and wet summers and cold and
dry winters.
(c) What do you know about the economic activities of the
people of the prairies?
Answer: The economic activities of the people of the
prairies primarily revolve around agriculture, with a large population engaged
in wheat cultivation using scientific farming techniques. Cattle rearing, dairy
farming, and mining of coal and iron ore are also important occupations. The
prairies are known as the 'granaries of the world' due to their large yields of
wheat.
(d) Describe the flora and fauna of the prairies.
Answer: The flora of the prairies primarily consists of
grasses, with few significant trees except in areas with water. Bison, or
American buffalo, are the main protected wildlife species, along with smaller
animals like prairie dogs, rabbits, and coyotes.
(e) Describe the physical features of the veld.
Answer: The veld in South Africa is characterized by
temperate grasslands lying between the Drakensberg Mountains in the east and
the Kalahari Desert in the west. It slopes gradually westwards into the
Kalahari and includes the highveld in the northeast, which has rich mineral
deposits like gold and coal. The vegetation is sparse due to poor rainfall,
consisting mainly of grasses and clumps of acacia trees, while wildlife
includes lions, leopards, cheetahs, and the kudu antelope.
Additional Questions from Text
1.
Where are the prairies located, and what
geographical features surround them?
Answer: The prairies are located
between the Rocky Mountains in the west and the Great Lakes region of Canada
and the USA in the east.
2.
What type of climate do the prairies
experience, and what is a significant feature of their winter weather?
Answer: The prairies have a
continental climate with severe winters and warm summers. A significant feature
of their winter weather is the chinook winds that blow over the Rockies,
melting snow rapidly.
3.
What is the primary vegetation found in
the prairies, and what is the primary wildlife species protected there?
Answer: The primary vegetation is
grass, and the primary protected wildlife species is the bison or American
buffalo.
4.
What are some key occupations of the
people living in the prairies, and what scientific techniques do farmers use
for wheat cultivation?
Answer: Key occupations include
agriculture, cattle rearing, dairy farming, and mining. Farmers use scientific
techniques for wheat cultivation, and equipment like combine harvesters and
tractors are widely used.
5.
Where are the veld grasslands located,
and what geographical features surround them?
Answer: The veld grasslands are
located in South Africa between the high Drakensberg Mountains in the east and
the Kalahari Desert in the west.
6.
Describe the climate of the veld
grasslands and the seasonal variations.
Answer: The veld grasslands have
a mild climate with warm and wet summers and cold and dry winters. Most of the
rainfall occurs in summer.
7.
What is the primary vegetation found in
the veld, and what are some key wildlife species?
Answer: The primary vegetation is
grass and clumps of acacia trees. Key wildlife species include lions, leopards,
cheetahs, and the kudu antelope.
8.
What are some important economic
activities in the veld, and why is Johannesburg known as the 'gold capital'?
Answer: Important economic
activities include mining (gold and diamonds), cattle and dairy farming, and
cultivation of various crops. Johannesburg is known as the 'gold capital'
because it has a large number of gold mines.
9.
What types of farming are practiced in
the veld, and what are some main export items?
Answer: Cattle and dairy farming,
as well as cultivation of wheat, barley, maize, potato, tobacco, sugar cane,
and cotton, are practiced. Main export items include cheese, butter, meat, and
wool.
Values and Life Skills
Both the prairies and the veld are very productive regions.
• What does it tell about the people there?
Answer: The productivity of both the prairies and the veld
speaks volumes about the resilience, adaptability, and industriousness of the
people who inhabit these regions. Despite facing challenges such as harsh
climates, limited natural resources, and geographical constraints, the people
of these areas have utilized their land efficiently to cultivate crops, raise
livestock, and engage in other economic activities. Their ability to harness
the potential of their environment for sustenance and prosperity demonstrates
their ingenuity and determination to thrive in adverse conditions.
• What lessons can we learn from them?
Answer: From the people of the prairies and the veld, we can
learn valuable lessons about resilience, resourcefulness, and the importance of
hard work. Their ability to make the most out of their surroundings teaches us
the significance of adapting to challenges and finding innovative solutions to
overcome obstacles. Additionally, their focus on productivity and
sustainability serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible
stewardship of natural resources for the well-being of present and future
generations. Overall, the people of these productive regions inspire us to
persevere in the face of adversity and to strive for productivity and
prosperity through hard work and determination.
Application Skills
Summarize the life in the two regions by preparing a
comparative table for display in your class with following headings: location,
climate, flora and fauna and occupations of people.
|
Aspect |
Prairies |
Veld |
|
Location |
Between Rocky Mountains and Great Lakes |
Between Drakensberg Mountains and Kalahari Desert |
|
Climate |
Continental; severe winters, warm summers |
Mild; warm and wet summers, cold and dry winters |
|
Flora and Fauna |
Grasslands, few trees; Bison, smaller animals |
Sparse vegetation, grasses, acacia trees; Lions, leopards,
kudu |
|
Occupations |
Agriculture (wheat cultivation), cattle rearing, mining |
Mining (gold, diamonds), agriculture (wheat, barley,
maize), cattle and dairy farming |
Remembering Skills
(i) Name the dry wind that helps to melt snow in the
Canadian prairies.
Answer: The dry wind that helps to melt snow in the Canadian
prairies is called chinook.
(ii) Which rivers drain the veld?
Answer: The rivers that drain the veld are the Limpopo,
Orange, and Vaal rivers.
Thinking Hat
HOTS-Application Skills
Why is the summer and winter months in the veld opposite
to those in India?
The reversal of summer and winter months in the veld
compared to India is primarily due to differences in hemispheric seasons and
geographical location.
1.
Hemispheric Seasons: India is located in the
Northern Hemisphere, while the veld is situated in the Southern Hemisphere. In
the Northern Hemisphere, summer occurs from June to August, while winter occurs
from December to February. However, in the Southern Hemisphere, seasons are
opposite, so when it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is winter in the
Southern Hemisphere, and vice versa.
2.
Geographical Location: The veld's opposite
seasons are also influenced by its location relative to the Equator and its
distance from the Tropic of Capricorn. The veld is farther south of the Equator
compared to India, resulting in a reversal of seasons. During India's summer
months, the veld experiences winter, and during India's winter months, the veld
experiences summer.
Application Skills.
Look at the map of the prairies and answer these questions:
(i) Name the mountain range to the west of prairies.
Answer: The mountain range to the west of the prairies is
the Rocky Mountains.
(ii) Name a few rivers draining the prairies.
Answer: Some of the rivers draining the prairies include the
Missouri River, Saskatchewan River, Red River, and South Saskatchewan River.
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