Class 7 Geography Chapter 1 Question Answers - Environment

Q1: What is gravitational force?
Ans: The gravitational force holds the atmosphere around the earth. It protects us from the harmful rays and scorching heat of the sun. It consist of a number of gases, dust and water vapour.

Q2: What do you mean by the atmosphere? Describe in brief.
Ans: The atmosphere is the thin layer of air that surrounds the earth. The gravitational force of the earth holds the atmosphere around it. It protects us from the harmful rays and scorching heat of the sun. It consists of a number of gases, dust and water vapour. The changes in the atmosphere produce changes in the weather and climate.

Q3: Why was the environment quite well during the early period?
Ans: There were very limited needs of early men. There were no industries, transport or other means which could produce harmful gases. The early man did not have the use of chemical products such as pesticides and fertilizers etc. The quantum of garbage was very limited. All these things affect the environment and thus in the early period our environment was quite well.

Q4: What do you understand about hydrosphere?
Ans: The domain of water is referred to as hydrosphere. It comprises various sources of water and different type of water bodies like rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, etc., which are essential for all living organisms.

Q5: What do you understand by the term ‘Lithosphere*? Describe in brief.
Ans: Lithosphere is the solid crust or the hard top layer of the earth. It is made up of rocks and minerals and covered by a thin layer of soil. Lithosphere is an irregular surface with various landforms such as mountains, plateaus, plains, valleys, etc. Lithosphere is the domain that provides us forests, grasslands, agricultural land and human settlements. It is also a source of mineral wealth.

Q6: What do you understand about Barter System?
Ans: It is a trade in which goods are exchanged without the use of money. In this system, the goods are exchanged with the goods or you can say that goods are exchanged between the two needy people.

Q7: Describe the various causes which affect our environment.
Ans: Human activities on earth affect whole environment. The causes which affect our environment can be listed as follows:

• Industries and means of transports which release smoke;
• Use of fertilizers and pesticides;
• Un-cleaned surrounding;
•  Polluted water and air;
• Unsettled domestic as well as electronic garbage etc.

Q8: Describe Describe about Lithosphere.
Ans: Lithosphere is the solid crust or the hard top layer of the earth. It is made up of rocks and minerals and covered by a thin layer of soil. It is an irregular surface with various landforms such as mountains, plateaus, plains, valleys, etc. Landforms are found over the continents and also on the ocean floors. Lithosphere is the domain that provides us forests, grasslands for grazing, land for agriculture and human settlements. It is also a source of mineral wealth.

Q9: How can the environment impact living beings?

Q10: Describe briefly about environment.
Ans: 

• Environment is our basic life support system. It provides the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the land where we live. The place, people, things and nature that surround any living organism is called the environment.
• It is a combination of natural and human-made phenomena. While the natural environment refers to both biotic and abiotic conditions existing on earth, human environment reveals the activities, creations and interactions among human being. There are three components of environment:- Natural, Human-made and Human.

Q11: How does human being use environment to fulfil their needs?
Ans: 

• Human beings interact with the environment and modify it according to their needs. Early humans adapted themselves to the natural surroundings. They led a simple life and fulfilled their requirements from the nature around them. Human learnt new ways to use and change environment as times and need grew and became more varied.
• They learnt to grow crops, domesticate animals and lead a settled life. The wheel was invented, surplus food was produced, barter system emerged, trade started and commerce developed. Industrial revolution enabled large scale production. Transportation became faster. Information revolution made communication easier and speedy across the world.