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Find Solutions for NCERT Class 7 Geography Our Environment Chapter 1 – “Environment” here.
1. Answer the following questions.
(i) What is an ecosystem?
Answer:
An ecosystem is defined by the interactions between all living organisms with each other and the physical and chemical factors of their environment. These interactions include the exchange of energy and material, and are vital for keeping nature in harmony.
(ii) What do you mean by natural environment?
Answer:
Natural environment refers to the components of the earth that exist without human intervention. It includes all living organisms, such as plants and animals (biotic elements), as well as non-living elements like air, water, and soil (non-biotic elements).
(iii) Which are the major components of the environment?
Answer:
The major components of the environment include:
Natural Components: Air, water, soil, plants and animals
Human made components: those created by human beings by using and modifying natural resources
Human components: individual, family, community, religion, educational, economic, etc.
(iv) Give four examples of a human-made environment.
Answer:
Four examples of the human-made environment are:
Buildings
Bridges
Industries
Roads
(v) What is lithosphere?
Answer:
Lithosphere is the hard top layer or the solid crust of the earth. It is made up of rocks and minerals and covered by a thin layer of soil. Its surface is irregular with different landforms like mountains, plateaus, plains, valleys etc.
(vi) Which are the two major components of the biotic environment?
Answer:
The two major components of the biotic environment are plants and animals.
(vii) What is biosphere?
Answer:
Biosphere is a narrow zone of the earth where land, water and air interact with each other to support life. It comprises both the plant and animal kingdoms, collectively known as the living world.
2. Tick the correct answer.
(i) Which is not a natural ecosystem?
(a) Desert
(b) Aquarium
(c) Forest
Answer: (b) Aquarium
(ii) Which is not a component of the human environment?
(a) Land
(b) Religion
(c) Community
Answer: (a) Land
(iii) Which is a human-made environment?
(a) Mountain
(b) Sea
(c) Road
Answer: (c) Road
(iv) Which is a threat to the environment?
(a) Growing plant
(b) Growing population
(c) Growing crops
Answer: (b) Growing population
3. Match the following.
| (i) Biosphere | (a) blanket of air which surrounds the earth |
| (ii) Atmosphere | (b) domain of water |
| (iii) Hydrosphere | (c) gravitational force of the earth |
| (iv) Environment | (d) our surroundings |
| (e) narrow zone where the land water and the air interact | |
| (f) relation between the organisms and their surroundings |
Answer:
| (i) Biosphere | (e) narrow zone where the land water and the air interact |
| (ii) Atmosphere | (a) blanket of air which surrounds the earth |
| (iii) Hydrosphere | (b) domain of water |
| (iv) Environment | (d) our surroundings |
| (c) gravitational force of the earth | |
| (f) relation between the organisms and their surroundings |
4. Give reasons.
(i) Man modifies his environment.
Answer:
Man interacts with the environment and modifies it to fulfil his needs. He extracts resources like minerals, fossil fuels, water, clears forests for agriculture, constructs houses for shelter, factories to produce necessary goods, and roads, bridges, railways, for ease of movement and trade. His actions often upset the ecological balance. Proper management can minimise environmental damage.
(ii) Plants and animals depend on each other.
Answer:
Plants and animals depend on each other for mutual benefit. Plants provide food, oxygen, habitat for animals. In return, animals provide carbon dioxide which is essential in photosynthesis, help in pollination, seed dispersal, and nutrient cycling. This interdependence is vital for the survival and functioning of ecosystems, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all living organisms in nature.
5. Activity
Imagine an ideal environment where you would love to live. Draw a picture of your ideal environment.
Answer:
Students need to do this themselves.
In-Text Questions and Answers for NCERT Class 7 Geography Our Environment Chapter 1 – “Environment”
Page no 3
Let’s do it
1. Look at your surroundings. Make a list of uses that the land in your neighbourhood is being put to.
Answer:
The land in our neighbourhood is being put to use for building multi-storied buildings, shopping malls, a nursing home, a kindergarten school and a very small park.
2. Where does the water you use in your home and school come from? Make a list of different uses of water in our daily life. Have you seen anyone wasting water? How?
Answer:
The water we use is supplied by the Municipal Corporation. We also have a deep tube well installed in our multi-storied building complex to supplement the municipal water supply.
Different uses of water in our daily life are for drinking, cooking, bathing, brushing teeth, shaving, washing clothes and utensils, watering plants, for flushing the toilet. Besides, water is also used in water coolers.
Yes, I have seen many people wasting water in various ways. They leave the tap water running while they brush their teeth or shave instead of turning it on only to rinse their mouths and wash their faces. While scrubbing utensils also they leave the tap running when they really only need water to rinse the utensils after the scrubbing is done. Often, I see tanks overflow because people are not alert enough to turn off their pumps when their overhead tanks are full. Moreover, there is a lot of wastage from leaky taps which should be repaired immediately.
3. Observe the sky while coming to school. Make a note whether the day is cloudy, rainy, sunny, foggy etc.
Answer:
Observations at 10am on April 19th:
The sky is clear today and the sun is shining brightly. The heat is intense, with temperatures already reaching 34°C. There is no breeze, and the air feels dry and hot. The sunlight is harsh, creating strong shadows. It is a typical hot summer day, and precautions need to be taken like staying hydrated and seeking shade. It is advisable to carry an umbrella while going outdoors.
Page no 4
4. Sketch or bring photographs of your place like the students in the story.
Answer:
Do it yourself. Make a sketch if you can, or else bring photographs of your place.
Page no 5
5. Talk to some elderly person in your neighbourhood and collect information about-
- The trees in his/ her neighbourhood when he/ she was your age.
- The indoor games he/she played.
- His/her favourite fruit at your age.
- How did they make themselves comfortable during hot summers and cold winters? Display your answers on a wall/ bulletin board.
Answer:
I talked to an elderly gentleman who was born and brought up in our neighbourhood. His responses are recorded below:
- There used to be plenty of fruit trees like guava, mango, papaya, and banana in the backyards of many houses which the neighbourhood children climbed to pluck the tempting fruit.
- The indoor games they played were mostly carrom, ludo, Chinese checkers, Monopoly, Bagatelle.
- His favourite fruit was mangoes followed by guavas.
- In summer he swam in the nearby pond (which has long since been filled up for constructing a shopping mall) to keep cool.
- In winter they sat in the afternoon sun and ate oranges and nuts. In the evening, they sat around the heater and sipped hot chocolate.
Extra Questions for NCERT Class 7 Geography Our Environment Chapter 1 – “Environment”
A. Multiple Choice type Questions (MCQ)
1.What is an ecosystem?
A) A system of interacting computers
B) A community of living organisms and their environment
C) A network of underground tunnels
D) A group of islands in the ocean
2. Which of the following is not a component of the natural environment?
A) Air
B) Airport
C) Lake
D)Hills
3. What is the lithosphere?
A) The layer of gases surrounding the Earth
B) The solid crust or top layer of the Earth
C) The domain of water
D) The living world
4. Which component of the environment provides us with forests and land for agriculture?
A) Hydrosphere
B) Atmosphere
C) Lithosphere
D) Biosphere
5. Which of the following is a component of human-made environment?
A) Mountains
B) Rivers
C) Roads
D) Forests
6. What is the biosphere?
A) The layer of air surrounding the Earth
B) The domain of water
C) The living world
D) The solid crust of the Earth
7. Which component of the environment provides us various sources of water?
A) Hydrosphere
B) Lithosphere
C) Biosphere
D) Atmosphere
8. Why are plants and animals mutually dependent?
A) For entertainment
B) For survival
C) For transportation
D) For communication
9. What is the atmosphere?
A) The layer of rocks surrounding the Earth
B) The layer of air surrounding the Earth
C) The layer of soil surrounding the Earth
D) The layer of plants surrounding the Earth
10. Which of the following is a threat to the environment?
A) Growing plants
B) untreated industrial effluents
C) Growing crops
D) Growing forests
11. Which component of the environment protects us from the harmful rays of the sun?
A) Hydrosphere
B) Lithosphere
C) Biosphere
D) Atmosphere
12. What is the main reason why humans bring about changes to their environment?
A) For entertainment
B) For survival
C) For learning
D) For competition
13. Which force is responsible for holding the atmosphere round the earth?
A) Magnetic force
B) Force of winds
C) Gravitational force
D) All of the above
14. Which of the following is not a major component of the earth?
A) Lithosphere
B) Stratosphere
C) Hydrosphere
D) Atmosphere
15. Which of the following are not man-made?
A) Aquarium
B) buses
C) irrigation canals
D) mountain streams
Answer:
1.B) A community of living organisms and their environment
2. B) Airport
3. B) The solid crust or top layer of the Earth
4. C) Lithosphere
5. C) Roads
6. C) The living world
7. A) Hydrosphere
8. B) For survival
9. B) The layer of air surrounding the Earth
10. B) untreated industrial effluents
11. D) Atmosphere
12. B) For survival
13. C) Gravitational force
14. B) Stratosphere
15. D) mountain streams
B. Fill in the blanks with suitable words from the box to complete the following sentences:
| 5th June | information | Lithosphere | adapted | Environment |
| crust | animal | natural | communication | biosphere |
1. ________ is the solid ________ or hard top layer of the earth.
2. _________ revolution made ____________ speedy across the world.
3. On _________ every year World _______ Day is celebrated.
4. Plant and __________ kingdom together make the ________.
5. Early humans _______ themelves to their ________ surroundings.
Answer:
1. Lithosphere is the solid crust or hard top layer of the earth.
2. Information revolution made communication speedy across the world.
3. On 5th June every year World Environment Day is celebrated.
4. Plant and animal kingdom together make the biosphere .
5. Early humans adapted themselves to their natural surroundings.
C. Match the words in column A with those in column B
| A | B |
| Jaisalmer | Heavy rains |
| Kerala | Living beings |
| Natural component of environment | monuments |
| Human component of environment | camel |
| Human made component of environment | religion |
Answer:
| A | B |
| Jaisalmer | camel |
| Kerala | Heavy rains |
| Natural component of environment | Living beings |
| Human component of environment | religion |
| Human made component of environment | monuments |
D. State whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE:
1. The biosphere is a narrow zone of Earth where land, water, and air interact to support life.
2. The lithosphere is the layer of gases surrounding the Earth.
3. The hydrosphere comprises various sources of water and different types of water bodies.
4. The natural environment includes all living organisms and non-living elements like air, water, and soil.
5. The atmosphere consists of a number of gases, dust, and water vapor.
Answer:
1. True
2. False – The lithosphere is the solid crust or hard top of the earth.
3. True
4. True
5. True
E. Very Short Answer type Questions:
1. What do you understand by the environment?
Answer:
The environment is everything that we see in our surroundings. It is our basic life support system. It provides us the basic needs of life like air, water, food and land to live on.
2. What are the major components of the environment?
Answer:
The major components of the environment are water (Hydrosphere), air (Atmosphere), land (Lithosphere), and living things (Biosphere).
3. Why is our the environment changing?
Answer:
The environment is changing because human needs are evolving. To fulfil human needs, we learn new ways to use and change the environment.
4. What does the lithosphere provide us?
Answer:
The lithosphere is the domain that provides us forests, grasslands for grazing, land for agriculture and human settlements as well as minerals.
5. What is hydrosphere?
Answer:
Hydrosphere is the domain of water.
6. Why is the hydrosphere essential for all living organisms?
Answer:
The hydrosphere comprises various sources of water and different types of water bodies, making it essential for all living organisms because life cannot exist without water.
7. Give names of a few different types of waterbodies.
Answer:
A few types of waterbodies are lakes, rivers, seas, oceans, etc.
8. What is the importance of the atmosphere?
Answer:
The atmosphere protects us from the harmful rays and intense heat of the sun.
9. What does the atmosphere consist of?
Answer:
The atmosphere consists of a number of gases, dust and water vapour.
10. What causes changes in weather and climate?
Answer:
The changes in the atmosphere produce changes in the weather and climate.
11. How do humans modify the natural environment for agriculture?
Answer:
Humans modify the natural environment for agriculture by clearing forests and creating fields for growing crops and raising livestock.
12. Why is a perfect balance essential between the natural and human environment?
Answer:
A perfect balance is necessary between the natural and human environment to ensure sustainable development and the well-being of all living organisms.
13. How did early humans interact with the environment?
Answer:
Early humans led a simple life and fulfilled their requirements by adapting themselves to their natural surroundings.
14. Which kind of animals do you find in desert?
Answer:
The kind of animals we find in deserts are camels, lizards, snakes and different types of insects.
15. What is the barter system?
Answer:
It is a system of trade in which goods are exchanged without the use of money.
16. What are the three components of the environment required to support life on earth ?
Answer:
Land, water and earth are collectively required to support life on earth.
17. Which gas is essential to sustain plants and animals?
Answer:
Oxygen is essential to sustain plants and animals.
F. Short Answer Type Questions:
1. What is the difference between a natural ecosystem and a manmade ecosystem?
Answer:
A natural ecosystem is a biological environment that occurs naturally without any human intervention. Deserts, woods, meadows, lakes, mountains, ponds, rivers, and oceans are all examples of natural ecosystems.
A man-made ecosystem is one that is created and maintained by humans. Examples of man-made ecosystems are aquariums, farms, gardens, parks, zoos among other things.
2. Write a note on the lithosphere?
Answer:
The lithosphere is Earth’s solid outer crust. It is made up of rocks and minerals and covered by a thin layer of soil. It is an irregular surface which includes various landforms like mountains, plateaus, and plains, providing habitats for plants, animals, and humans. It also contains valuable mineral resources.
3. Describe the hydrosphere.
Answer:
The hydrosphere is the domain of water. It comprises all the water sources on Earth, including seas, oceans, rivers, streams, lakes, and groundwater. It plays a crucial role in supporting life because it is essential for all living organisms.
4. What do you know about the atmosphere?
Answer:
The atmosphere is the thin layer of gases surrounding Earth, held in place by gravity. It protects life on Earth by absorbing harmful solar radiation and regulating temperature. It consists mainly of nitrogen and oxygen, with traces of other gases, dust and water vapour. The changes in the atmosphere affect the weather and climate on earth.
5. What is the biosphere?
Answer:
The biosphere or the living world is comprised of the plant and animal kingdom. It is a narrow zone of the Earth where the land, water, and air converge and interact to support life. It encompasses all living organisms and their interactions with each other and their environment.
6. How do human beings modify the natural environment?
Answer:
The needs of human beings are increasing and growing more varied day and day. So, they modify their natural environment to fulfil these needs. Sometimes their actions harm the environment. For instance, human beings have made cars for their convenience, but these cars release fumes which pollute the air. They have also established factories on land and again these factories, which manufacture various items such as containers, also pollute the air. This is how human activities modify the natural environment.
G. Long answer Type Questions
1. Do we need to protect our environment? Justify your answer.
Answer:
Yes, protecting our environment is imperative for a number of reasons.
Firstly, it acts as our basic life support system, providing us with fresh air, potable water, food and habitable land.
Secondly, it provides us natural resources such as minerals, timber, and fuel that are crucial for our survival and development.
Thirdly, indiscriminate human activities, such as rampant deforestation, pollution, and overexploitation of resources, have already impacted the environment negatively, leading to climate change, loss of biodiversity, and degradation of ecosystems.
If we do not take immediate and decisive action to prevent further degradation of our environment and initiate firm measures to protect and preserve our environment, we could face devastating consequences, including frequent and catastrophic natural disasters, water scarcity, and food shortages.
Therefore, it is imperative that we prioritize the protection of our environment to ensure a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.
2. How have human beings adapted to the environment to fulfil their needs?
Answer:
Since ancient times, humans have been interacting with the environment and modifying it to meet their needs. Early humans lived simply. They adapted themselves to their natural surroundings. They derived their necessities from the nature around them. But over time their needs multiplied and grew diverse. So, humans had to learn new skills. They learned to farm, to domesticate animals and settle in one place. They produced extra food, and developed trade and commerce. They invented the wheel which made transportation faster and more convenient. The Industrial revolution made possible large-scale production. The information revolution enabled speedy communication across the world. In this manner, humans have evolved new ways to derive their needs from the environment.
Frequently asked Questions (FAQs) on NCERT Class 7 Geography Our Environment Chapter 1 – “Environment”
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The topics discussed in this chapter are as follows:
Environment
Components of EnvironmentNatural Environment
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere
What is Ecosystem?
Human Environment
What is environment?
Why is our environment changing?
What are the basic components of the natural environment?
What does the lithosphere provide us?
How is the atmosphere important for us?
Distinguish between the biotic and abiotic environments with examples.
How is the environment important for us?
Write a short note on the Lithosphere.
Give an account of the atmosphere.
How do human beings modify the natural environment?
How have human beings adapted to the environment to fulfill their needs?
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