Life in the Temperate Grasslands Class 7 Worksheet Geography

Q.1. In which hemisphere do the Velds lie?

Velds lie in the Southern hemisphere.

Q.2. What are the Temperate Grasslands of North America called?

The temperate grasslands of North America are known as the Prairies.

Q.3. Name the rivers that drain the Velds.

The tributaries of rivers Orange and Limpopo drain the Velds.

Q.4. Name some animals found in the prairie region.

Bison or American buffalo, rabbits, coyotes, gophers and Prairie dog are found in the prairie region.

Q.5. From where does the word prairie originate?

The word Prairie originated from Latin word priata which means meadow.

Q.6. Name some tribes of prairies.

Some tribes of prairies are the Apache, the Crow, the Cree and the Pawnee.

Q.7. Name the important cities in the American prairies.

Important cities in the American prairies are Chicago, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Kansas and Denver.

Q.8. What is combine?

Combine is a single machine which can combine the tasks of sowing, ploughing and threshing i.e. a three -in-one.

Q.9. Who are called Red Indians?

The grasslands of Prairies were the home of native Americans often called “Red Indians”. They were the actual habitant of the continent.

Q.10. What are the two types of grasslands?

The two broad categories of grasslands are: those that occur in the temperate region and those that occur in the tropical regions.

Q.11. Why is there a rise of wool industry in the velds?

Sheep rearing is the most important occupation of the people. Sheep is bred mainly for wool and has given rise to the wool industry in the velds.

Q.12. Describe the flora and fauna of the prairies.

Prairies are practically tree-less. Where water is available, trees such as willows, alders and poplars grow. Places that receive rainfall of over 50 cm, are fertile. Crops grown in this area are maize, other crops including potatoes, soybean, cotton and alfa-alfa. Areas where rainfall is very little or unreliable, grasses are short and sparse. These areas are suitable for cattle rearing. Bison or the American buffalo is the most important animal of this region. The other animals found in this region are rabbits, coyotes, gophers and Prairie dog.

Q.13. Write a brief note on the climate of the prairies?

Being located in the heart of a continent; the climate is of continental type with extreme temperatures. The summers are warm with temperatures of around 20°C, while in winter -20°C has been recorded in Winnipeg, Canada. In winters a thick blanket of snow covers this region. The annual rainfall is moderate and is ideal for the growth of grass. Due to the absence of the north-south barrier, a local wind “Chinook” blows here.

Q.14. What are chinook winds and what are its effects?

Chinook is a hot wind that blows in winter and therefore raises the temperature within a short time. This increase in temperature results in the melting of snow, making pasture land available for grazing of animals.

Q.15. Which is the two most developed countries in the world which located in prairies region?

Two of the most developed countries in the world - the USA and Canada are located in prairies region.