NCERT Class 7 Social Studies Chapter 3 and 4 QA

Class 7 Social Studies

NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond Part-I. 

Chapter 3 is “Climates of India” and Chapter 4 is “New Beginnings: Cities and States.” 

Chapter 3 – Climates of India

A. 20 Short Question Answers

1. What is climate?
   Answer: Climate is the long-term pattern of weather conditions of a place.

2. What type of climate does India mainly have?
   Answer: India mainly has a tropical monsoon climate.

3. What is a monsoon?
   Answer: A monsoon is a seasonal reversal of winds that brings changes in rainfall.

4. What is the southwest monsoon?
   Answer: It is the main rainy-season wind system that brings moisture from the Indian Ocean to India.

5. When does the southwest monsoon generally reach India?
   Answer: It generally reaches Kerala in early June and then advances across the country.

6. What is monsoon rainfall?
   Answer: It is rainfall received mainly from the seasonal monsoon winds.

7. Why is rainfall important for India?
   Answer: Rainfall provides water for agriculture, rivers, reservoirs and daily needs.

8. Why does India have different climates?
   Answer: India has different climates because of differences in latitude, altitude, distance from the sea, relief and winds.

9. Why are coastal areas generally moderate in temperature?
   Answer: The sea reduces extreme variations in temperature.

10. Why do interior areas experience greater temperature variations?
    Answer: They are farther from the moderating influence of the sea.

11. What is a rain shadow region?
    Answer: It is an area receiving less rainfall because mountains block moisture-bearing winds.

12. Which mountain range strongly affects India's climate?
    Answer: The Himalayas strongly influence India's climate.

13. What are the main seasons of India?
    Answer: Winter, summer, southwest monsoon and post-monsoon are the broad seasonal divisions.

14. What happens during the summer season?
    Answer: Temperatures rise considerably over much of India.

15. What happens during the monsoon season?
    Answer: Moist winds bring widespread rainfall to many parts of India.

16. What is regional variation in climate?
    Answer: It means that different regions of India experience different temperature and rainfall patterns.

17. Why is the Northeast generally very rainy?
    Answer: Moist monsoon winds and the region's relief contribute to heavy rainfall.

18. Why is Rajasthan comparatively dry?
    Answer: Its location and physical features result in relatively low rainfall.

19. How does climate affect agriculture?
    Answer: Climate influences the crops that can be grown, the growing season and farming practices.

20. How does the monsoon affect people's lives?
    Answer: It affects agriculture, water supply, transport and many other daily activities.

B. Fill in the Blanks – 10

1. India mainly experiences a ________ monsoon climate.
   Answer: tropical

2. The seasonal reversal of winds is called the ________.
   Answer: monsoon

3. The southwest monsoon brings most of India's ________ rainfall.
   Answer: annual

4. Coastal areas have a more ________ climate.
   Answer: moderate

5. The ________ have a major influence on India's climate.
   Answer: Himalayas

6. Areas receiving little rainfall are generally called ________ regions.
   Answer: dry

7. Mountains can create a ________ effect on the leeward side.
   Answer: rain-shadow

8. Climate has an important influence on ________.
   Answer: agriculture

9. The southwest monsoon generally reaches ________ first.
   Answer: Kerala

10. The monsoon winds carry large amounts of ________ from the sea.
    Answer: moisture

C. True or False – 10

1. Climate describes long-term weather patterns. — True

2. India has exactly the same climate everywhere. — False

3. The monsoon is important for Indian agriculture. — True

4. Coastal areas usually experience extreme temperatures throughout the year. — False

5. The Himalayas influence India's climate. — True

6. The southwest monsoon brings moisture from the sea. — True

7. Rajasthan is one of the wettest regions of India. — False

8. Mountains can influence the distribution of rainfall. — True

9. Climate has no effect on agriculture. — False

10. Different parts of India can have different climatic conditions. — True

D. 6 Medium Question Answers

1. Explain the main factors that influence India's climate.
   Answer: India's climate is influenced by latitude, altitude, distance from the sea, relief features and seasonal winds. The Himalayas affect cold winds and rainfall, while the surrounding seas moderate temperatures in coastal regions.

2. Why is the monsoon important for India?
   Answer: The monsoon provides a large part of India's annual rainfall. It is important for agriculture, water resources, rivers and reservoirs. A good monsoon can support farming, while insufficient or irregular rainfall can create difficulties.

3. Why does India have regional variations in climate?
   Answer: India is a large country with varied physical features. Mountains, plateaus, deserts and coastal areas affect temperature and rainfall differently. Distance from the sea and altitude also create regional differences.

4. How do the Himalayas affect India's climate?
   Answer: The Himalayas act as a barrier to very cold winds from the north. They also influence the movement of moisture-bearing monsoon winds and contribute to rainfall in several parts of India.

5. How does climate influence agriculture?
   Answer: Climate determines the availability of water, temperature and the length of the growing season. Different crops require different climatic conditions, so farmers select crops according to local climate and rainfall.

6. Why do coastal and interior regions have different climates?
   Answer: The sea heats and cools more slowly than land. Therefore, coastal areas have smaller temperature variations. Interior regions are farther from the sea and generally experience greater differences between summer and winter temperatures.

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Chapter 4 – New Beginnings: Cities and States

This chapter deals with the emergence of janapadas and mahājanapadas, early cities, trade, agriculture and new forms of states and administration in ancient India.

A. 20 Short Question Answers

1. What is a janapada?
   Answer: A janapada was an early territorial state or settlement associated with a people or community.

2. What are mahājanapadas?
   Answer: Mahājanapadas were large and powerful states that emerged in ancient India.

3. How did janapadas develop?
   Answer: They developed as communities settled in territories and established organised political systems.

4. Who was the ruler of a kingdom?
   Answer: The ruler was generally called a rājā.

5. What was the role of assemblies?
   Answer: Assemblies provided a forum for discussion and advice in some early states.

6. What is a kingdom?
   Answer: A kingdom is a state ruled by a king or rājā.

7. What is a gana or sangha?
   Answer: It was a form of political organisation in which power was shared among a group rather than being held by a single hereditary king.

8. Why did cities begin to grow?
   Answer: Cities grew because of agricultural surplus, trade, crafts and administrative activities.

9. What is an agricultural surplus?
   Answer: It is the amount of agricultural produce left after the needs of the farmers and their communities are met.

10. Why was agricultural surplus important for cities?
    Answer: It supported people who worked as craftsmen, traders, soldiers and administrators instead of farming.

11. What was the importance of trade?
    Answer: Trade connected different regions and allowed goods, ideas and skills to move from one place to another.

12. Why were rivers important for early settlements?
    Answer: Rivers provided water, fertile soil and routes for transport and trade.

13. Name one important ancient city.
    Answer: Pataliputra was an important ancient city.

14. Why was Pataliputra important?
    Answer: It became an important political and administrative centre because of its strategic location.

15. What were artisans?
    Answer: Artisans were skilled people who made goods such as pottery, metal objects, textiles and other crafts.

16. What was the Northern Black Polished Ware?
    Answer: It was a fine, glossy type of pottery associated with the early historic period.

17. How did iron technology help agriculture?
    Answer: Iron tools helped people clear land and cultivate soil more effectively.

18. Why did rulers need administration?
    Answer: Administration helped rulers manage territories, collect resources, maintain order and organise public activities.

19. What helped early states become powerful?
    Answer: Agriculture, trade, resources, armies and organised administration helped states become powerful.

20. How did cities and states influence one another?
    Answer: Cities provided centres for trade, crafts and administration, while states provided protection and organised systems for their development.

B. Fill in the Blanks – 10

1. Early territorial states were known as ________.
   Answer: janapadas

2. Larger and more powerful states were called ________.
   Answer: mahājanapadas

3. A king was commonly called a ________.
   Answer: rājā

4. The growth of agriculture produced an agricultural ________.
   Answer: surplus

5. Skilled craft workers were known as ________.
   Answer: artisans

6. ________ tools helped in clearing forests and cultivating land.
   Answer: Iron

7. ________ became an important ancient city and political centre.
   Answer: Pataliputra

8. Rivers provided water and ________ soil for agriculture.
   Answer: fertile

9. Trade helped connect different ________.
   Answer: regions

10. A ________ is a political organisation in which power is shared among a group.
    Answer: gana/sangha

C. True or False – 10

1. Janapadas were early territorial states. — True

2. Mahājanapadas were smaller than all janapadas. — False

3. Agricultural surplus helped the growth of cities. — True

4. Rivers had no importance for early settlements. — False

5. Artisans were skilled craft workers. — True

6. Trade helped connect different regions. — True

7. Pataliputra became an important ancient city. — True

8. Iron tools had no effect on agriculture. — False

9. All ancient states were governed in exactly the same way. — False

10. Administration was important for managing large territories. — True

D. 6 Medium Question Answers

1. How did agriculture contribute to the growth of cities and states?
   Answer: Improvements in agriculture increased food production and created a surplus. This surplus supported people who were not directly involved in farming, such as artisans, traders, soldiers and administrators. As these activities grew, towns and cities developed.

2. What were janapadas and mahājanapadas?
   Answer: Janapadas were early territorial states that developed as communities settled in particular regions. Some states grew larger and more powerful and came to be known as mahājanapadas. They had organised political systems and controlled larger territories.

3. Why did early cities develop near rivers and trade routes?
   Answer: Rivers provided water and fertile land for agriculture. They could also support transport and communication. Trade routes brought traders and goods, helping markets and crafts to develop. These advantages encouraged the growth of cities.

4. How did iron technology help the development of early states?
   Answer: Iron tools were useful for clearing forests and cultivating land. Better agricultural tools could increase production and support larger populations. Increased production also helped provide resources needed by growing settlements and states.

5. What was the importance of trade and artisans in early cities?
   Answer: Artisans produced useful and valuable goods, while traders carried goods between different regions. Their activities created markets and connected cities and villages. Trade also helped ideas, technologies and cultural practices spread.

6. How did the emergence of cities change society?
   Answer: The growth of cities created new occupations such as trading, craft-making, administration and specialised services. People became involved in different economic activities. Cities also became important centres of political power, trade and culture.