SMT.

SANDRABEN SHROFF GNYAN DHAM SCHOOL

SOCIAL SCIENCE (STD - VII)
GEOGRAPHY
LESSON 10- LIFE IN THE DESERTS.
TEXTUAL QUESTIONS-
1. Answer the following questions.-
(a) What are the two types of deserts found in the world? (---------are hot deserts and cold deserts.)
(b) In which continent is the Sahara desert located? (--------Africa)
(c) What are the climatic conditions of the Ladakh desert?
ANS- The climate of the Ladakh desert is extremely cold and dry due to its high attitude which
varies from about 3,000 m in Kargil to more than 8,000 m in the Karakoram. The air at this attitude
is so then that the heat of the sun can be felt intensely. The day temperatures in summer are just
above zero degree and the night temperatures are below -30°C. Winters are extremely cold with
temperatures below -40°C for most of the time. There is very little rainfall in this region. It is as low
as 10 cm every year. The area experiences freezing winds and burning hot sunlight. There is always
a chance of sunstroke and frostbite at the same time.
(d) What mainly attracts tourists to Ladakh?
ANS- Ladakh is a famous tourist place. The tourists from within the country and abroad enjoy
visiting Buddhist monasteries that dot the Ladakhi landscape with their traditional gompas.
The meadows and glaciers in Ladakh also attract these tourists. The ceremonies and festivities in
which the local people keep themselves engaged during winter months are great attractions to the
tourists.
(e) What type of clothes the people of the Sahara desert wear?
ANS- The people of Sahara Desert wear heavy robes as protection against dust storms and hot
winds.
(f) Name the trees that grow in Ladakh.
ANS- Scanty patches of grasses and shrubs, groves of willows and poplars, fruit trees such as
apples, apricots and walnuts.
4. Give reasons.
(i) There is scanty vegetation in the deserts.
ANS- Vegetation depends on two factors: climate and soil.
a. The climate in the deserts is either very hot and dry or very cold and dry.
★ Such a climate does not allow the growth of vegetation.
★ Rainfall is scanty. Hence vegetation does not grow in dry conditions.
Soil is either sandy (in hot deserts) or covered with snow (cold deserts) for most of the year. Both
types of soil do not encourage vegetation to grow.
(ii) People of the Sahara desert wear heavy robes.
ANS- Robes of the people of Sahara Desert are made of hides (of animals) or hair of animals.
● These robes are heavy:
They protect the people from the scorching sun and extreme heat (dust storms and
hot winds).
They protect the people from dust storms and hot winds.
EXTRA QUESTIONS-
1. Name the nomadic tribes living in the Sahara. (Tuaregs and Bedouins.)
2. What is a desert? (It is an arid region characterized by extremely high or low
temperatures and has scarce vegetation.)
3. What is the meaning of Ladakh? What is its other name? (Ladakh is made up of two
words-La- meaning mountain pass and Dak meaning country) (Other name is Khapa-
chan means snowland)
4. Name the capital of Ladakh. (Leh)
5. Which religions are followed in Ladakh? (Islam and Buddhism)
6. Name the countries whose borders are touched by the Sahara desert. (Algeria, Chad,
Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan,Tunisia and Western Sahara)
7. What is an oasis? Give an example. (In the depressions where the underground water
reaches the surface, an oasis is formed. Ex.Tafilalet oasis)
8. Name the countries associated with the discovery of oil. (Algeria, Libya and Egypt.)
9. Why is there little rainfall in the Ladakh desert? (It is because the Ladakh desert lies in
the rain shadow of the Himalayas.)
10. Name the birds which are common in the Ladakh desert. (Robias, redstarts, Tibetan
snow cock, raven and hoopoe. )
11. Why do people hunt Chiru or the Tibetan antelope? (People hunt the Chiru or the
Tibetan antelope for its wool known as Shahtoosh which is light in weight and
extremely warm.)
12. Name some famous monasteries of Ladakh. (Hemis, Thiksey, Shey and Lamayuru.)
13. Which National Highway connects Leh to Kashmir valley and through which pass? (The
National Highway A connects Leh to Kashmir valley through the Zojila pass.)
14. Name the four passes which Manali-Leh highway crosses. (Rohtang La, Lungalacha La,
Baralacha La and Tanglang La.)
15. What type of flora and fauna are found in the Sahara and Ladakh?
ANS- Flora and fauna of Sahara- Vegetation in the Sahara desert includes cactus,
date palms and acacia. In some places there are oasis – green islands with date
palms surrounding them. Camels, hyenas, jackals, foxes, scorpions, many varieties
of snakes and lizards are the prominent animal species living there.
Flora and fauna of Ladakh- Due to high aridity, the vegetation is sparse. There are
scanty patches of grasses and shrubs for animals to graze. Groves of willows and
poplars are seen in the valleys.
During the summers, fruit trees such as apples, apricots and walnuts bloom.
Several species of birds are sighted in Ladakh. Robins, redstarts, Tibetan
snowcock, raven and hoopoe are common.
The animals of Ladakh are wild goats, wild sheep, yak and special kinds of dogs.
16. Describe the climate of the Sahara desert and Ladakh.
ANS- Climate of Sahara- The climate of the Sahara desert is scorching hot and parch
dry. It has a short rainy season. The temperatures during the day may soar as high
 as 50°C and the nights may be freezing cold with temperatures nearing zero
degrees.
Climate of Ladakh- The altitude in Ladakh varies from about 3000m in Kargil to
more than 8,000m in the Karakoram. Due to its high altitude, the climate is
extremely cold and dry. The air at this altitude is so thin that the heat of the sun
can be felt intensely.
The day temperatures in summer are just above zero degree and the night
temperatures well below –30°C. It is freezing cold in the winters when the
temperatures may remain below –40°C for most of the time.
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.
17. Describe the location of Sahara desert and Ladakh.
ANS- Location of Sahara desert- Sahara desert covers large part of North Africa.
● It is the largest desert of the world.
● It has an area of around 85.4 lakh square kilometre.
● It is almost 2.5 times larger than the total geographical area of India (32 lakh sq. km.)
Location of Ladakh- Ladakh is a cold desert. It lies in the great Himalayas, on the eastern
portion of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Karakoram Range in the north and the Zanskar Mountains in the south surround it.
Several rivers flow through Ladakh. Indus is the main river. The rivers form deep valleys and
gorges. Several glaciers are found in Ladakh. Example: Gangri glacier
18. Describe the human life of the Sahara desert and Ladakh.
ANS- Human life of Sahara desert- (i) The Sahara desert despite its harsh climate
has been inhabited by various groups of people, who pursue different activities.
(ii) Among them are the Bedouins and Tuaregs. These groups are nomadic tribes
rearing livestock such as goats, sheep, camels and horses. They wear heavy robes
as protection against dust storms and hot winds.
(iii) The oasis in the Sahara and the Nile Valley in Egypt supports a settled
population. Since water is available, the people grow date palms. Crops such as
rice, wheat, barley and beans are also grown. Egyptian cotton, famous worldwide,
is grown in Egypt.
(iv) The cultural landscape of the Sahara is undergoing change. Tuaregs are seen
acting as guides to foreign tourists. More and more nomadic herdsmen are taking
to city life finding jobs in oil and gas operations.
Human life of Ladakh- In the summer season the people are busy cultivating barley,
potatoes, peas, beans and turnip. The climate in winter months is so harsh that
people keep themselves engaged in festivities and ceremonies. The women are
very hard working. They work not only in the house and fields, but also manage
small business and shops. Tourism is a major activity. The people of Ladakh have
 over the centuries learnt to live in balance and harmony with nature. Due to scarcity of
resources like water and fuel, they are used with reverence and care.
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