Class 7 History Chapter 7 Question Answers - The Making of Regional Cultures

Q1. Describe climate of the prairies.
Ans: 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.

Q2. Which cattle are reared in the prairies?
Ans: Prairies are suitable for cattle rearing. Bison or the American buffalo is the most important and protected animal of this region. The other animals found in this region are rabbits, coyotes, gophers and Prairie dog.

Q3. What is the most important occupation of the people in the velds region?
Ans: In the velds regions, sheep rearing is the most important occupation of the people. Sheep has given rise to the wool industry in the velds. Merino sheep is a popular species and its wool is very warm.

Q4. Why do the velds have rich reserve of minerals? Describe.
Ans: The velds have rich reserve of minerals. Iron and steel industry has developed where coal and iron are present. Gold and diamond mining are major occupations of people of this region. Johannesburg is known for being the gold capital of the world. Kimberley is famous for its diamond mines. The mineral-rich area has a well-developed network of transport.

Q5. Which are the suitable places for farming and name the major crops which are grown in that region.
Ans: Places that receive rainfall of over 50 cm, are suitable for farming as the soil is fertile. The major crop of this area is maize, other crops including potatoes, soybean, cotton and alfa-alfa are also grown.

Q6. What do you understand about the velds? Describe briefly.
Ans: The temperate grasslands of South Africa are called the velds. Velds are rolling plateaus with varying heights ranging from 600 m to 1100 m. It is bound by the Drakensburg Mountains on the east. To its west lies the Kalahari Desert. On the northeastern part, ‘high velds’ are located that attain a height of more than 1600 m, in some places.

Q7. Which dairy products are famous in the velds region?
Ans: Dairy farming is the next important occupation. Cattle are reared in the warmer and wetter regions and the dairy products like butter, cheese are produced for both domestic supply and also for export.

Q8. Describe Chinook.
Ans: Chinook is a hot wind that blows in winter and therefore raises the temperature in a short time. This increase in temperature results in the melting of snow and making pasture land available for grazing of animals.

Q9. Describe the major features of the prairies.
Ans: The major features of the prairies are:

• These are the grasslands (temperate) of North America.
• These regions having flat, gently sloping or hilly land.
• These regions are almost treeless, but woodlands can be found near the low lying plains, flanking river valleys.
• Areas with 50cm rainfall with fertile soil grow maize, potatoes, soybeans, cotton and alfa-alfa.
• American buffalo is the most important animal of this region.

Q10. Write a brief note on the climate of velds.
Ans: The velds have a mild climate due to the influence of the Indian Ocean. Winters are cold and dry Temperatures vary between 5°C and 10°C and July is the coldest month. Summers are short and warm. The velds receive rainfall mainly in the summer months from November to February. In the velds region the main crops are maize, wheat, barley, oats and potato. Cash crops like tobacco, sugar cane and cotton are also grown.

Q11. What do understand about Prairies? Describe briefly.
Ans: 

• The temperate grasslands of North America are known as the Prairies. It is a region of flat, gently sloping or hilly land. Tall grass, up to two metres high dominates the landscape. Most part of prairies is treeless. The prairies are bound by the Rocky Mountains in the West and the great lakes in the East. Prairies cover parts of the United States of America and parts of Canada.
• In the USA, the area is drained by the tributaries of Mississippi and the Canadian prairies are drained by the tributaries of Saskatchewan Rivers. 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.
• A local wind “Chinook” blows here. 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 suitable for farming as the soil is fertile. The major crop of this area is maize, other crops including potatoes, soybean, cotton and alfa-alfa are also grown.