Class 7 Social Science Our Environment Chapter 7 Questions and Answers - Free PDF Download
FAQs on NCERT Solutions For Class 7 Social Science Our Environment Chapter 7 Life In The Deserts - 2025-26
1. What are the two main types of deserts detailed in NCERT Class 7 Social Science Chapter 7?
As per the NCERT solutions for Class 7 Social Science Chapter 7, 'Life In The Deserts', the textbook describes two principal types of deserts based on their climatic conditions:
- Hot Deserts: These are regions characterised by extremely high temperatures during the day and very low rainfall. The Sahara desert in Africa is the primary example discussed.
- Cold Deserts: These are regions defined by extreme cold and arid conditions, with freezing temperatures for most of the year. The chapter provides Ladakh in India as a key example.
2. How does the NCERT solution for Class 7 Geography Chapter 7 describe the climate of the Sahara desert?
The NCERT solutions explain that the climate of the Sahara desert is one of harsh extremes. The key features as per the CBSE 2025-26 syllabus are:
- Extreme Temperatures: The days are scorchingly hot, with temperatures reaching up to 50°C, while nights can be freezing cold, dropping near 0°C.
- Low Rainfall: The region experiences a very short rainy season, making it extremely arid.
- High Evaporation: The sky is typically cloudless and clear, leading to a rate of moisture evaporation that is faster than its accumulation.
3. According to the NCERT textbook, what main crops are cultivated by people in the Sahara desert?
The NCERT textbook for Class 7 states that agriculture in the Sahara is concentrated in fertile areas where water is available, such as an oasis or the Nile Valley. The main crops that people successfully cultivate in these areas include rice, wheat, barley, and beans. Additionally, date palms are a very common and important crop found in these regions.
4. Why is Ladakh referred to as a 'cold desert' in the NCERT solutions?
Ladakh is called a cold desert due to two primary geographical reasons explained in the NCERT textbook. Firstly, it lies in the rain shadow of the great Himalayas, which blocks rain-bearing monsoon clouds, leading to very little precipitation and making the land arid. Secondly, its high altitude results in extremely low temperatures, often falling below -30°C in winter. This unique combination of aridity (dryness) and freezing cold temperatures gives it the characteristics of a desert.
5. What does Chapter 7 of the NCERT Class 7 textbook teach us about the flora and fauna of Ladakh?
The NCERT solution details that due to the high aridity and cold climate of Ladakh, the flora and fauna are sparse and well-adapted.
- Flora: Vegetation is limited to patches of grasses and shrubs. In the valleys, one can find groves of willows and poplars. Fruit trees like apples, apricots, and walnuts bloom during the brief summer.
- Fauna: The region is home to animals like wild goats, wild sheep, and the yak. Several species of birds, such as robins and the Tibetan snowcock, are also found here.
6. How do the lifestyles of people in the Sahara desert and Ladakh desert contrast, based on their environments?
The NCERT chapter highlights how human life adapts to the environment. In the Sahara (hot desert), tribes like the Bedouins are nomadic, constantly moving with their livestock (camels, goats) to find scarce water and pastures. They wear heavy robes to protect against the sun and wind. In contrast, in Ladakh (cold desert), people are mostly settled agriculturalists in valleys. They cultivate crops in the short summer and rely heavily on animals like the yak for milk, wool, and meat to survive the long, harsh winters.
7. What is the significance of an 'oasis' in a hot desert, as per the concepts in Chapter 7?
An oasis is a critically important feature in a hot desert like the Sahara. It is a fertile area where underground water comes to the surface. Its significance is immense because it supports:
- Human Settlement: It allows for the establishment of permanent villages and towns in an otherwise uninhabitable landscape.
- Agriculture: The availability of water makes it possible to grow vital crops, primarily date palms, wheat, and barley.
- Trade and Life: Oases serve as essential hubs for population centres and trade routes, acting as lifelines for desert dwellers and travellers.
8. Where can I find the correct, step-by-step NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science Chapter 7?
For accurate and easy-to-understand solutions for every question in the Class 7 Social Science textbook Chapter 7, 'Life In The Deserts', students can refer to Vedantu. The solutions are crafted by subject matter experts to provide a step-by-step methodology, ensuring they are fully aligned with the latest CBSE 2025-26 guidelines and help clarify all core concepts for exams.
