AP SCERT Class 7 Social Studies – Chapter 3: Climates of India | Questions, Activities and Projects – Answers (Page 136–138)
This unit, "Climates of India," from the AP SCERT Class 7 Social Science textbook (Semester 1), helps students understand the difference between weather and climate, the factors that determine India's climate such as latitude, altitude, proximity to the sea, winds and topography, and the working of the southwest and northeast monsoons. It also covers climate-related disasters like cyclones, floods, landslides and forest fires, the role of the NDRF, and the causes and effects of climate change. Below are complete, easy-to-understand answers for all the questions, activities and projects given on pages 136 to 138, useful for AP TET, CBT practice and Class 7 Social Studies exam preparation on apteachers.in.
Questions, Activities and Projects (Page 136 – 138)
Q1. Identify the type of disaster shown in the picture
Answer: A) Flood
Q2. Match the climatic factors with their effects
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1) Latitude | b) Creates different climates in the north and south |
| 2) Altitude | c) Keeps higher places cooler |
| 3) Proximity to the ocean | d) Moderates the temperature |
| 4) Monsoon winds | a) Brings wet air to India during summer |
Q3. Answer the following questions
i. What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is what we experience every day or every hour — it can be sunny, rainy, windy or hot, and it keeps changing. Climate is the pattern of weather that a region experiences over a very long period of time, usually several decades.
ii. Why do places near the ocean have milder temperatures than places far away from it?
The sea absorbs and loses heat much more slowly than land. So in coastal areas, the sea cools the land in summer and warms it in winter, acting like a natural temperature moderator. This is why coastal places have milder summers and winters, while places far from the sea have hotter summers and colder winters.
iii. What role do monsoon winds play in affecting India's climate?
Monsoon winds bring most of India's rainfall. The southwest monsoon blows from the sea towards the land in summer, bringing heavy rains from June to September. The northeast monsoon blows from the land towards the sea in winter, bringing dry weather to most of India, though winds passing over the Bay of Bengal bring some rain to parts of east and south India.
Q4. Why is Chennai warm or hot throughout the year, while Leh is cold?
Chennai is located on the coast at a low latitude, close to the sea, which keeps it warm throughout the year. Leh, on the other hand, is located at a very high altitude in the Himalayas, and since temperature decreases as altitude increases, Leh remains cold for most of the year.
Q5. Imagine India did not have different seasons. How would this change the lives of farmers, students, and travellers? Give two examples.
- Farmers: Without seasons, farmers would not know when to sow or harvest crops, since crop cycles depend on seasonal rainfall and temperature. This could lead to poor harvests and food shortages.
- Students: There would be no seasonal holidays like summer vacation or winter break, and festivals linked to seasons (like Sankranti or Onam) would lose their meaning.
- Travellers: People would not be able to plan trips to hill stations in summer or plan travel around monsoon rains, making travel planning more difficult and less predictable.
Q6. A city experiences frequent heatwaves due to rising temperatures. Suggest two steps the local government can take to reduce the impact.
- Plant more trees and increase green cover across the city to reduce the urban heat island effect and cool the surroundings.
- Set up public cooling centres and ensure free drinking water facilities, along with issuing heatwave warnings so people can take precautions.
Q7. Identify the climate for Leh, Visakhapatnam, Delhi, Panaji and Jaipur
| City | Location Type | Climate |
|---|---|---|
| Leh | High in the mountains (Himalayas) | Alpine – very cold, snowy winters, cool summers (high altitude reduces temperature) |
| Visakhapatnam | Near the sea (eastern coast) | Tropical – mild winter, hot and humid, with distinct wet and dry periods due to nearness to sea |
| Delhi | Northern plains, away from the sea | Subtropical – very hot summers and cold winters, since it is far from the moderating effect of the sea |
| Panaji | Near the sea (western coast) | Tropical wet – heavy monsoon rainfall, mild temperatures due to coastal location |
| Jaipur | Near the desert (Thar Desert region) | Arid – extremely hot days, cool nights, very little rainfall due to desert topography |
Q8. Draw the monsoon cycle in summers and winters on a map of India
- Summer (Southwest Monsoon): Draw arrows starting from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal pointing towards India (from southwest to northeast). Label this "Southwest Monsoon."
- Winter (Northeast Monsoon): Draw arrows starting from the land (north India) pointing towards the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal (from northeast to southwest). Label this "Northeast Monsoon."
- Mark the direction of winds clearly with arrows and label "Summer" and "Winter" maps separately, similar to Fig. 3.9 in the textbook.
Q9. Write a short essay on a natural disaster including causes, impacts and preventive actions
A flood occurs when water overflows onto normally dry land, often because of heavy rainfall that the land cannot absorb, or because rivers and lakes overflow their banks. Floods are common during the monsoon season, and states like Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala and Assam are especially vulnerable. In hilly regions, floods can also happen due to glacial bursts, when melting glacier water breaks through natural barriers.
Floods cause great damage — they destroy crops and homes, damage roads and bridges, displace families, and can even cause loss of life. They also disturb the local economy, as farmers lose their harvest and daily life is disrupted.
To reduce the impact of floods, individuals should avoid building homes too close to riverbanks, communities should keep drains and waterways clear of blockages, and governments should build proper drainage systems, construct flood-control dams, and issue early warnings so people can move to safety in time. The NDRF also plays an important role in rescue and relief operations during floods.
Q10. Make a colourful poster showing festivals in India linked to farming and weather
Q11. Imagine you are a farmer in India. Write a short diary entry about how you would prepare for the rainy season
Date: 1st June
Today I checked the sky for signs of the monsoon clouds, as the southwest monsoon usually reaches our region by this time. I ploughed my field and cleared the channels around it so that excess rainwater can drain away easily and not damage my crops. I have stored good quality seeds of paddy and repaired the bunds around my field to hold the rainwater needed for sowing. I also checked my farming tools and made sure my house roof does not leak. I feel hopeful that this year's monsoon will be timely and bring a good harvest for my family.
