Life in the Deserts - Solutions

 CBSE Class –VII Social Science

NCERT Solutions
Geography Chapter 10
Life in the Deserts

Q1. Answer the following questions.

  1. What are the two types of deserts found in the world?
  2. In which continent is the Sahara desert located?
  3. What are the climatic conditions of the Ladakh desert?
  4. What mainly attracts tourists to Ladakh?
  5. What type of clothes do the people of the Sahara desert wear?
  6. Name the trees that grow in Ladakh.

Answers:

  1. Depending on the temperature there are two types of deserts-Cold Deserts and Hot Deserts.
  2. The Sahara desert is located on the African continent. It is situated on the Northern side of Africa.
  3. Following are the climatic conditions of Ladakh:
    • The altitude in Ladakh varies from about 3000m in Kargil to 8000 m in the Karakoram.
    • Due to its high altitude, the climate is extremely cold and dry.
    • Moreover, the air at this altitude is so thin that the heat of the sun can be felt intensely.
    • The day temperatures in summers are just above zero degree and the night temperatures are well below -30°C.
    • It is freezing cold in the winters, with the temperatures mostly remaining below -40°C.
    • As it lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas, there is little rainfall, as low as 10 cm every year.
    • The area experiences freezing winds and burning hot sunlight.
  4. Tourism in Ladakh:
    • Tourism is a major activity with several tourists streaming in within India and abroad.
    • The Buddhist monasteries with their traditional gompas, the meadows and glaciers, and the ceremonies and festivities of the local people are some of the features that attract tourists to Ladakh
    • The beautiful Pangong Tso lake on the Indo-China border, Baima, whose villagers trace their descent to the early Aryan settlers and Nubra Valley which is situated near the strategic Siachen glacier on the Indo-Pak border are also some features that attract tourists to Ladakh.
  5. The people of the Sahara desert has to face harsh dry climatic conditions. They wear long, loose-fitting, heavy robes, and head wrappings. These types of clothes keep them cool and protect them from hot winds and dust storms in the desert.
  6. Willows, poplars, and fruit trees such as apples, apricots and walnuts are some of the trees that grow in Ladakh.

Q2. Tick the correct answer.
(i) Sahara is located in which part of Africa
(a) eastern
(b) northern
(c) western
Ans: (b) northern

(ii) Sahara is what type of desert
(a) cold
(b) hot
(c) mild
Ans: (b) hot

(iii) The Ladakh desert is mainly inhabited by
(a) Christians and Muslims
(b) Buddhists and Muslims
(c) Christians and Buddhists
Ans: (b) Buddhists and Muslims

(iv) Deserts are characterized by
(a) scanty vegetation
(b) heavy precipitation
(c) low evaporation
Ans: (a) scanty vegetation

(v) Hemis in the Ladakh is a famous
(a) temple
(b) church
(c) monastery
Ans: (c) monastery

(vi) Egypt is famous for growing
(a) wheat
(b) maize
(c) cotton
Ans: (c) cotton

Q3. Match the following.

(i) Oasis(a) Libya
(ii) Bedouins(b) Monastery
(iii) Oil(c) Glacier
(iv) Gangri(d) Depressions with water
(v) Lamayuru(e) Cold desert
-(f) Sahara

Ans:

(i) Oasis(d) Depressions with water
(ii) Bedouins(f) Sahara
(iii) Oil(a) Libya
(iv) Gangri(c) Glacier
(v) Lamayuru(b) Monastery

Q4. Give reasons.
(i) There is scanty vegetation in the deserts.
(ii) People of the Sahara desert wear heavy robes.
Ans:
(i) Reasons for Scanty vegetation in deserts:

  • There is scanty vegetation in the deserts due to unfavourable climatic conditions for the growth of vegetation.
  • A desert is defined as an arid region characterized by extremely high or low temperatures, and very low rainfall.
  • These extreme climatic conditions are not suitable for flora to grow.

(ii) People of the Sahara desert wear heavy robes due to the following reasons:

  • The people of the Sahara desert wear long, loose-fitting, heavy robes, and head wrappings.
  • These clothes protect them from the direct heat of the sun and keep them cool.
  • These clothes also protect people from dust storms and hot winds
  • The loose-fitting clothes allow air to circulate, prevent sweat from evaporating quickly and hence help the body retain fluids.