NCERT English Class 7 | Chapter 3 | The Desert | Question Answer |

COMPREHENSION CHECK I                                                       PAGE 16

1. From the first paragraph

 (i) pick out two phrases that describe the desert as most people believe it is;

Answer- an endless stretch of land, no rain falls

(ii) pick out two phrases which describe the desert as specialists see it.

Answer- beautiful place, home of a variety of people, animals, and plants

(iii) Which do you think is an apt description, and why?

Answer- According to me,  the description of the desert by the people who have studied it is an appropriate description because of much more knowledge about the desert ecosystem. This knowledge is backed up by proof and pieces of evidence too.

2. The phrases on the left in the following box occur in the text. Match each of them with a phrase on the right.

Answer: (i) an endless stretch of sand  - nothing but sand as far as one can see

               (ii) waterless and without shelter- no water and no shade

               (iii) an oasis-  fertile place with water and plants in a desert

               (iv) hidden by a cover of grass - not visible because the grass is thick

 

COMPREHENSION CHECK II                                                     PAGE 19

1. A camel can do without water for days together. What is the reason given in the text?

Answer- A camel can do without water for days, the reason being that they sweat very little. Camels can stand high body temperature and do not need to sweat unlike us. Thus they do not lose water in the form of sweat and retain the water they drink for long periods of time.

2. How do the smaller desert animals fulfill their need for water?

Answer- Smaller desert animals do not require water. They dig burrows and go underground to protect themselves from the hot sun. Some of them eat other animals and get the water they need from the moisture in the meat. Others eat plants and seeds and get the water they need from plant juices.

3. In a desert the temperature rises during the day and falls rapidly at night. Why?

Answer- In humid places, the moisture acts as a blanket. This blanket of moisture is absent in desert areas because of its aridity. Thus, it does not protect it from the direct rays of the sun and hence temperature rises during the day and falls rapidly at night.

 

EXERCISE                                                                                      PAGE 19

Do the following activities in groups.

1. Describe a desert in your own way. Write a paragraph and read it aloud to your classmates.

Answer- A desert is a hot and arid place. It has extreme conditions. In the day it becomes really hot and at night the temperature falls quickly. Deserts can be of different types. There are two types of deserts, hot deserts, and cold deserts. An example of a hot desert is the Thar Desert of India. Gobi desert is a cold desert, it is located in China. A desert may also contain an oasis, sand dunes, and other features depending upon its aridity and availability of water.

2. Go to the library and collect information about the lifestyle of people in desert areas— their food, clothes, work, social customs, etc. Share this information with the group.

Answer- People living in desert areas are often known as nomads. They have a unique lifestyle and can survive with the help of minimum resources.

Try and find out more about nomads and their lifestyles. Be creative with your answers.