Extra Questions – Class 7 Geography Chapter 9 Life in the Temperate Grasslands

Extra Questions – Life in the Temperate Grasslands

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Prelude

Question 1.
Define forests and grasslands.
Answer:
Forests:
Forests are areas where trees are the predominant form of flora.

Grasslands:
Grasslands are areas where grasses are the most common sort of plant life.

 

Question 2.
Give the main features of Grasslands.
Answer:

Grasslands have the following characteristics:

• Grasslands cover over a quarter of the entire land surface.
• The types of plants that grow in grasslands are largely determined by the climate and soil conditions.
• The creation of grasslands is influenced by the climate.
• As a result, it is commonly used to divide the world’s grasslands.
• They can be divided into two categories:
• Temperate Grasslands are found in temperate climates.
• Tropical Grasslands are found in tropical areas.

 

Question 3.
Name various grasslands along with their areas.
Answer:
Tropical grasslands:

• Savannah – East Africa
• Campos – Brazil
• Linos – Venezuela

Temperate grasslands:

• Pampas – Argentina
• Prairie – North America
• Veld – South Africa
• Steppe – Central Asia
• Down – Australia.

 

The Prairies

Question 1.
Explain the main features of Prairie Grasslands.
Answer:

• Prairies are the name given to North America’s temperate grasslands.
• It is a region of flat, moderately sloping, or hilly ground with grasses covering the majority of the land.
• Prairies are devoid of trees, however, forests can be found adjacent to low-lying plains with river basins on each side.
• There aren’t many trees in this area.
• They’re actually a “grassy sea.”

 

Question 2.
Where are the Prairies situated? Which rivers drain them?
Answer:

• The Rocky Mountains in the west and the Great Lakes in the east divide the grasslands.
• Parts of the United States of America and parts of Canada are covered.
• The Mississippi River’s tributaries drain the area in the United States.
• The Saskatchewan River’s tributaries drain the Canadian Prairies.

 

Question 3.
Name the various tribes living in the prairies.
Answer:
Native Americans known as ‘Red Indians,’ as well as other tribes such as the Apache, Crow, Cree, and Pawnee—live in the grasslands.

 

Climate

Question 1.
Describe the climate of the Prairies.
Answer:

• The prairies are found in the centre of the continent of North America.
• The climate is continental in nature, with temperature extremes.
• Summers are hot, with temperatures hovering about 20 degrees Celsius.
• Winnipeg, Canada, has had temperatures as low as -20°C in the winter. During this time of year, the region is blanketed in snow.
• The amount of rain that falls each year is moderate.
• It is perfect for grass growth.
• A local wind “chinook” blows here due to the lack of the north-south barter. It is heated and quickly elevates the temperature in the cold.

Question 2.
What is “Chinook”?
Answer:
Chinook is a hot breeze that blows throughout the winter and quickly boosts the temperature. As the weather rises, the snow melts, making pasture Jiand available for grazing.

 

Flora and Fauna

Question 1.
Give an account of the flora and fauna of the Prairie Grasslands.
Answer:

The Prairie Grasslands Flora and Fauna:

• Prairies are devoid of trees.
• Willows, alders, and poplars flourish here and there due to the availability of winter.

Because of the fertile soil, places that receive more than 50 cm of rain are good for farming.

• Maize is the main crop in this region.
• This area also grows potatoes, soybean, cotton, and alfa-alfa.

The grass is short and sparse in areas when rainfall is scarce or unpredictable.

• These locations are ideal for raising livestock.
• Ranches, which are large cattle farms, are managed by tough men known as cowboys.
• The American buffalo, often known as bison, is the most significant animal in this region.
• Due to uncontrolled hunting, bison were on the verge of extinction.
• It has now been designated as a protected species.

 

People

Question 1.
Describe the life of the people in the Prairie Grasslands.
Answer:

• Prairie grassland residents are extremely hardworking.
• They’ve successfully harnessed technology to make the most of their abundant natural resources.
• The world’s two most developed countries are China and the United States.
• They are the United States of America and Canada.
• Prairies can be found in both nations.
• North America has become a surplus food provider thanks to scientific farming methods and the usage of tractors, harvesters, and combines.
• Due to the massive abundance of wheat production, the prairies are often nicknamed as the “Granaries of the World.”
• Another important industry is dairy farming.
• The dairy belt stretches eastward from the Great Lakes region to the Atlantic coast.
• The establishment of food processing enterprises in this region is aided by dairy farming and large agriculture. A significant number of people are involved in their activities.
• Large mineral deposits particularly coal and iron ore found in abundance here.
• There is a good network of roads, railways and canals in this region.
• Both these have made it the most industrialised region in the world.

 

Question 2.
Mention the important cities of the U.SA and Canada Prairies.
Answer:
Important cities in the U.S.A. :

• Chicago
• Minneapolis
• Indianapolis
• Kansas
• Denver

Important cities in Canadian Prairies the are:

• Edmonton
• Saskatoon
• Calgary
• Winnipeg

 

Question 3.
Write the uses of machine ‘combine’.
Answer:
A combine is a single machine that can combine the tasks of sowing, ploughing and threshing.

 

The Velds

Question 1.
Explain the topography of the Velds Grasslands?
Answer:

• South Africa’s temperate grasslands are known as velds.
• They are rolling plateaus that range in height from 600 to 1100 metres.
• The Drakensburg Mountains on the east, the Kalahari Desert on the west, and the “high Velds” on the north-eastern border define the region.
• In certain spots, the terrain reaches a height of more than 1600 metres in the north-eastern section.
• Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, and Lesotho are among the countries covered by the Velds.
• The region is drained by the tributaries of the Orange and Limpopo rivers.

 

Climate

Question 1.
Explain the climate of Velds Grasslands.
Answer:
The Indian Ocean has an influence on the Velds. As a result, their climate is mild.

Winters are bitterly cold and arid.

• Temperatures range from 5 to 10 degrees Celsius.
• July is the coolest month of the year.
• During the winter months of June to August, rainfall is scarce.
• Drought may occur during this time.

Summers are brief and hot.

• In the summer, the temperature in Johannesburg averages around 20°C.
• Rainfall in the Velds occurs primarily throughout the summer months of November to February.
• This is primarily due to the warm back currents that wash the Velds’ coastlines.

 

Flora and Fauna

Question 1.
Give an account of the flora and fauna found in the Velds Grasslands.
Answer:

• The vegetation in the Velds grasslands is scant.
• The area is dominated by grasses.
• Bush Velds have red grass.
• Acacia and maroola thrive in the upper Velds.
• Lions, leopards, cheetahs, and kudu are the most common creatures found in the Velds.

 

People

Question 1.
Describe the life of the people inhabiting the Velds Grasslands.
Answer:

People who live in the Velds Grasslands:

• People in the Velds work in cattle ranching and mining.
• Due to the presence of discontinuous grasses exposing barren surfaces, the soils of the Velds are not especially fruitful.

Crops are grown in regions where the soil is fertile.

• Maize, wheat, barley, oats, and potatoes are the region’s main crops.
• Tobacco, sugarcane, and cotton are among the cash crops farmed.

Sheep farming is the people’s primary source of income.

• Sheep are bred primarily for their wool.
• The Velds’ woollen industry sprang from the easy availability of wool.
  Merino sheep are a popular breed of sheep.

The people’s other major occupation is dairy farming.

• Cattle are reared in the warmer and wetter regions.
• Major dairy products like butter, cheese are produced for both domestic supply and also for export.

 

Question 2.
Describe mining as another occupation of the people of the Veld region.
Answer:

• Another main occupation of the people is mining.
• Mineral deposits abound in the Velds.
• Where coal and iron are mined, an iron and steel industry has evolved.
• The residents of this region make a living from gold and diamond mining.
• Johannesburg is famed for being the world’s gold capital.
• The diamond mines in Kimberley are well-known.
• South Africa’s diamond and gold mining led to the formation of trading relations with the United Kingdom.
• South Africa became a British colony over time.
• This mineral-rich region has a well-developed transportation and communication network.

 

Objective Type Questions

Question 1.
Fill in the blanks with appropriate words:
1. Areas with little rainfall have short ……………
2. Velds are drained by the rivers ……………… and …………………..
3. A machine called …………………. can do the tasks of threshing, sowing and ploughing.
4. Prairies have large mineral deposits of coal and ………………….
5. Temperate grasslands of South Africa are called ……………………
Answer:
1. grasses
2. orange, Limpopo
3. combine
4. iron
5. Velds.

 

Question 2.
State whether the given statements are true or false.
1. Prairies have a variety of trees.
2. Prairies are known as “granaries of the world” due to the huge surplus of milk products.
3. Velds are bound by Drakensburg on the east.
4. Acacia is a species of sheep known for its wool.
5. Prairies in Canada is drained by the River Saskatchewan.
Ans.
1. False
2. False
3. True
4. False
5. True.

 

Question 3.
Match the contents of Column A with that of Column B

Answer:
1. (d)
2. (a)
3. (e)
4. (b)
5. (c).

 

Multiple Choice Questions

Prelude

Question 1.
Approximately how much area of the earth is covered with grasslands?
(a) 40%
(b) 25%
(c) 10%
(d) 33%
Answer:
25%

 

The Prairies

Question 1.
What are the Temperate Grasslands of North America called?
(a) Prairies
(b) Sahara
(c) the Nile
(d) Tropical region
Answer:
Prairies

 

Question 2.
Which is the Latin word that means meadow?
(a) Priata
(b) Susu
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of these
Answer:
Priata

 

Question 3.
Which country does the river Mississippi drain?
(a) Africa
(b) USA
(c) Amazon
(d) Canada
Answer:
USA

 

Question 4.
Rocky mountains are bounded by which of the grasslands on their east?
(a) Pampas
(b) Prairies
(c) Velds
(d) Sheep
Answer:
Prairies

 

Climate

Question 1.
Due to the absence of the north-south barriers, a local wind blows in the USA which is called ;
(a) loo
(b) cool breeze
(c) chinook
(d) none of these
Answer:
chinook

 

Question 2.
How much lowest temperature has been recorded during winter in North America?
(a) 20°C
(b) – 20°C
(c) 10°C
(d) – 10°C
Answer:
– 20°C

 

Flora and Fauna

Question 1.
What are the cattle farms in North America called?
(a) Velds
(b) Arches
(c) Sheds
(d) Ranches
Answer:
Ranches

People

Question 1.
What is the second major industry of Canada?
(a) Dairy farming
(b) Coal mining
(c) Gold mining
(d) None of these
Answer:
Dairy farming

 

Question 2.
The important cities in American Prairies are
(a) Chicago,
(b) Minneapolis
(c) Kansas
(d) All of these
Answer:
All of these

 

The Velds

Question 1.
What lies to the west of veld grasslands?
(a) Drakensburg
(b) River Orange
(c) Kalahari desert
(d) Nothing
Answer:
Kalahari desert

 

Climate

Question 1.
Which is the coldest month in the Veld grasslands?
(a) January
(b) July
(c) June
(d) October
Answer:
July

 

Flora and Fauna

Question 1.
Which of these animals is not found in the Velds?
(a) Leopard
(b) Cheetah
(c) Kudu
(d) Dodo
Answer:
Dodo

 

People

Question 1.
What is Kimberley famous for?
(a) Gold
(b) Diamonds
(c) Silver
(d) Platinum
Answer:
Diamonds