ITL Public School

Social Science Hand Out (2016-17)

Class VII
Subject: GEOGRAPHY
Instructions
For each questions value points are given from the content frame the sentences of your own
Highlighted points are value points

G-L5:WATER
Water Cycle

• The sun’s heat causes evaporation of water vapour.

• When the water vapour cools down, it condenses and forms clouds.
• From there it may fall on the land or sea in the form of rain, snow or sleet.
• The process by which water continually changes its form and circulates between oceans,
atmosphere and land is known as the water cycle.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Q Explain the process of water cycle with the help of diagram.
Waves

• When the water on the surface of the ocean rises and falls alternately, they are called waves.
Waves are formed when gentle winds scrape across the ocean surface. The stronger the wind
blows, the bigger the wave becomes.
• Tsunami is a Japanese word that means harbor waves. The wave was the result of the
earthquake that had its epicenter close to western boundary of Sumatra.
• The after affects of Tsunami wave that struck the Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004. The Indira
point in the Andaman and Nicobar islands that marked the southernmost point of India got
completely submerged.
• Tsunami waves travelled up to a depth of 3 km from the coast killing many people.
• The worst affected were the coastal areas of A.P, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry and Andaman
and Nicobar Islands.
• It affected property and more than lakh of houses. Instead of going to high ground people started
assembling at the coast to view the miracle.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Q What are waves? How are they formed?
Q What do you mean by the term Tsunami?
Q Discuss the after affects of Tsunami which struck the Indian Ocean on 26 December, 2004.
Value Points
• Indira point got submerged
• Tsunami at a depth of 3 km killed many people
• Loss of property
• Worst affected were coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Kerala etc
• People assembled at the coast to view the miracle

Tides

• The rhythmic rise and fall of ocean water twice in a day is called tide.
 • The strong gravitational pull exerted by the sun and the moon on the earth’s surface causes the
tides. There are two types of tides:Spring Tides and Neap Tides.
• During the full moon and new moon days, the sun, the moon and the earth are in the same line
and the tides are highest. These tides are called spring tides.
• When the moon is in its first and last quarter , the ocean water gets drawn in diagonally
opposite direction by the gravitational pull of the sun and earth resulting in low tides. These
tides are called neap tides.
• High tides help in navigation. The high tides also help in fishing. The rise and fall of water due to
tides is being used to generate electricity.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Q What are tides?

Q What causes tides on the earth’s surface?
Q Illustrate the occurrence of Neap tides with the help of a diagram.
Q Illustrate the occurrence of Spring tides with the help of a diagram.
Q How are tides useful?
Value Points
• Help in navigation
• Help in fishing
• Used to generate electricity.

Ocean Currents

• Ocean currents are streams of water flowing constantly on the ocean surface in definite
directions. Ocean currents can be cold or warm.
• Generally the warm ocean currents originate near the equator and move towards the poles.
• The cold current carry water from polar or higher latitudes to tropical or lower latitudes.The
Labrador Ocean Current is cold current while the Gulf stream is a warm current.
• Warm currents bring about warm temperature over land surface.
• Cold currents decrease the temperature over land surface.
• The areas where warm and cold currents meet provide best fishing grounds.
• The areas where warm and cold current meet experience foggy weather making it difficult for
navigation.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Q Explain Ocean Currents. Discuss the influence of ocean currents.

G- L6: NATURAL VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE

Natural Vegetation

• With the change in height, the climate changes and that changes natural vegetation.
• The growth of vegetation depends on temperature and moisture.
• It also depends on factors like slope and thickness of soil.
• Natural vegetation is generally classified in to three broad categories:
a) Forests- which grow where temperature and rainfall are plentiful to support a tree cover.
b) Grasslands-which grow in region of moderate rain.
c) Shrubs- Thorny shrubs and scrubs grow in dry region.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Q List down the factors on which the types of vegetation of a place depends.
Q Name and explain the broad classification of natural vegetation.
Value Points
• Forests grow in region of plentiful rainfall
• Grasslands grow in region of moderate rain
• Shrubs Thorny shrubs and scrubs grow in dry region.

Tropical Evergreen Forests

• These forests are also called tropical rainforests.These thick forests occur in areas near the
equator and close to the tropics.
• As there is no particular dry season, the trees do not shed their leaves altogether.
• The thick canopies of the closely spaced trees do not allow the sunlight to penetrate inside the
forest even in the day time.
• Hardwood trees like rosewood, ebony and mahogany are common here .
• Tropical evergreen forests in Brazil is so enormous that it is like the lungs of the earth.
Anaconda, one of the world’s largest snakes is found in the tropical rainforest.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Q Discuss any five features of Tropical Evergreen forests.

Tropical Deciduous Forests

• These forests are also called the monsoon forests. Trees shed their leaves in the dry season to
conserve water.
• The hardwood trees found in these forests are sal, teak, neem and shisham.
• Hardwood trees are extremely useful for making furniture, transport and construction
materials.
• Tigers, lions, elephants, langoors and monkeys are the common animals of these regions.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Q Give the other name for Tropical Deciduous forest.
Q Why do tropical deciduous trees shed their leaves in the dry season?
Q Describe the features of Tropical Deciduous forests.
Value Points
• Tropical Deciduous Forests shed leaves in dry season
• Hardwood trees like sal, neem, shisham
• Hardwood trees useful for making furniture
• Useful in transport and construction materials

Mediterranean Vegetation

• Mediterranean vegetation is mostly found in the areas around the Mediterranean Sea in Europe,
Africa and Asia.
• This kind of vegetation is also found outside the actual Mediterranean region in California in the
USA, south West Africa, South Western South America and South west Australia.
• Mediterranean trees adapt themselves to dry summers with the help of their thick bark and wax
coated leaves which help them reduce transpiration.
• Mediterranean regions are known as the Orchards of the world for their fruit cultivation.
• Citrus fruits such as oranges, figs, olives and grapes are commonly cultivated here.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Q How do the Mediterranean trees have adapted themselves according to the climate?
Q Discuss the characteristics of Mediterranean Vegetation.
Value Points

• Mediterranean vegetation found in areas around the Mediterranean sea

• They are also found outside the actual Mediterranean region
• Mediterranean trees adapt to dry summers help of thick bark and wax coated leaves
• Known as Orchards of the world for fruit cultivation
• Citrus fruits such commonly cultivated

Coniferous Forests

• Coniferous Forests also known as Taiga Forests are found in higher latitudes of Northern
Hemisphere. Taiga means pure or untouched in the Russian language.
• They are tall, softwood evergreen trees.
• The wood of these trees are useful for making pulp used for manufacturing paper and
newsprint.
• Match boxes and packing boxes are also made from softwood.
• Chir, pine, cedar are important variety of trees in these forests.
• They are found in abundance in Himalayas.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Q Mention the uses of coniferous forest.
Q What does Taiga mean in Russian language?
Q Discuss the features of Coniferous Forests.
Value Points

• Coniferous Forests found in higher latitudes of Northern Hemisphere

• They are tall, softwood evergreen trees
• Wood useful for making pulp used for manufacturing paper and newsprint
• Match boxes and packing boxes are also made
• Chir ,Pine, cedar are important variety of trees
• Found in abundance in Himalayas.

Tundra Region

• The growth of natural vegetation is very limited in the polar region.

• Only mosses, lichens and small shrubs are found here.
• The animals in the polar region have thick fur and skin to protect themselves from the cold
climatic conditions.
• Seal, walruses, musk oxen, Arctic owl, Polar Bear and snow foxes are some of the animals found
here.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS

Q Name few animals found in Tundra region.

Q Why do animals in the tundra region have thick fur and skin?

Q Discuss the flora and fauna found in the polar region.

Value Points
• Growth of natural vegetation is limited in polar region
• Only mosses, lichens and small shrubs are found
• Animals in the polar region have thick fur and skin to protect themselves from cold climatic
conditions
• Seal, walruses, musk oxen etc are some of the animals found
G- L7: HUMAN ENVIRONMENT-SETTLEMENT, TRANSPORT AND
COMMUNICATION
Settlements and its types: Temporary and Permanent Settlements

• Settlements are places where people build their homes. The settlements grew near the river
valleys as water was available and land was fertile.
• Settlements can be permanent or temporary. In Permanent settlements people build homes to live
in. Settlements big or small are developed as permanent settlements.
• Permanent Settlements have a definite lay out plan. Permanent settlements are occupied for a long
time.
• Temporary settlements are found in forests, hot and cold deserts, mountains etc.
• Temporary settlements do not have a definite layout plan. Temporary settlements are occupied for
a short period of time.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Q What do you understand by the term settlements?
Q Differentiate between permanent settlement and temporary settlements.
Value Points

• Permanent settlements people build homes to live in

• Have a definite lay out plan
• Occupied for a long time
• Temporary settlements are found in forests, hot and cold deserts etc
• Do not have a definite layout plan
• Occupied for a short period of time.

Rural and Urban Settlements

• The villages are rural settlements.

• In rural settlements people are engaged in activities like agriculture, fishing, forestry.
• In rural settlements people build homes using local materials like stones, mud, clay, straw etc.
• Urban settlements are found in towns and cities.
• In urban areas the people are engaged in manufacturing, trading and services. In urban
settlements there are pucca houses made up of cement and bricks.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Q Give three points of difference between Rural and Urban settlements.
Value Points
• Villages are rural settlements
• People are engaged in activities like agriculture, fishing, forestry
• People build homes using local materials like stones, mud, clay, straw etc
• Urban settlements are found in towns and cities
• People are engaged in manufacturing, trading and services
 • Urban settlements have houses made up of cement and bricks

Roadways

The most commonly used means of transport especially for short distances are roads.

• Roads have also been build in terrains like deserts, forests and even high mountains.They can be
metalled and Unmetalled.
• There are several National and State highways in India.
• The latest development in India is the construction of Express Ways.
• The Golden Quadrilateral connects Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.
• Roads built underground are called subways. Flyovers over raised structures

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Q Name the highway that connects Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.
Q Describe the pattern of roadways in India.
Value Points

• Roads can be metalled and Unmetalled

• Several National and State highways in India
• Latest development construction of Express Ways
• Golden Quadrilateral connects Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata
• Roads built underground called subways, flyovers over raised structures

Railways

• The railways carry heavy goods and people over long distances quickly and cheaply.
• In places super fast trains have been introduced to make the journey faster.
• Advanced technological skills have enabled laying of railway lines in difficult mountain terrains
also.
• The Trans Siberian Railway is the longest railway system connecting St Petersburg in Western
Russia to Vladivostok on the Pacific coast.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Q Name the longest railway system connecting St Petersburg to Vladivostok
Q ‘Roadways are an important means of transport’. Explain.
Value Points
• Railways carry heavy goods and people over long distances
• Super fast trains introduced to make journey faster
• Laying of railway lines in difficult mountain Terrains

Waterways

• Waterways are the cheapest for carrying heavy and bulky goods over long distances. They are
mainly of two types-inland waterways and sea routes.
• Navigable rivers and lakes are used as inland waterways. Some of the most important inland
waterways are the Ganga Brahmaputra river system, the Great Lakes in North America and the
river Nile in Africa.
• 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. Singapore and Mumbai in Asia,
Los Angeles in North America.
 POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Q Which is the cheapest means of transport for carrying heavy and bulky goods?
Q Explain the types of waterways with the help of examples.
Value Points

• Waterways of two types-inland waterways and sea routes

• Navigable rivers and lakes used as inland waterways eg Ganga Brahmaputra river system etc
• Sea routes and oceanic routes for transporting merchandise and goods from one country to another
• Sea Routes connected with ports eg Singapore and Mumbai in Asia.

Airways

• This is the fastest means of transport developed in the early twentieth century.
• 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 extremely useful in most inaccessible areas and in time of calamities for rescuing
people and distributing food, water, clothes and medicines.
• It is also the most expensive due to high cost of fuels.
• Air traffic is adversely affected by bad weather like fog and storms.
POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Q Discuss the merits and demerits of airways.

Communication

• Different modes of communication are used to provide information to educate as well as to

entertain.
• Through newspapers, radio and television we can communicate with a large number of people.
They are therefore called mass media.
• The satellites have made communication even faster. Satellites have helped in oil exploration,
survey of forest, weather forecast etc.
• Now we can send e mails through Internet.
• Wireless telephonic communications through cellular phones have become popular today.
Internet provides us world wide information and interaction but has also made our life
comfortable.
• Now we can reserve tickets sitting at home. With this kind of inter connectivity of people,
services and institutions across the world we are a global society.

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
Q Explain the term ‘mass media’ with the help of examples.
Q ‘The satellites have made communication faster’. Analyse the statement.
Value Points

• Satellites help in oil exploration, survey of forest etc

• We can send e mails through Internet
• Wireless telephonic communications have become popular today
• Internet provides us world wide information
• We can reserve tickets sitting at home.