NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Geography Social Science Chapter 10 - Life in the Deserts

(a) There are two types of deserts in the world

1. Hot Desert

2. Cold Desert

(b) The Sahara Desert is located in the continent of Africa. It covers a large part of North Africa.

(c) Ladakh is a cold desert that lies in the Great Himalayas. The altitude of Ladakh varies from 3000m to 8000m, because of which the climate is very cold and dry. The air at this altitude is very thin, and it intensifies the heat from the sun. The temperature in winter is less than –40°C, and the day temperature in summer is just above zero degrees.

(d) Tourism is a major activity, as plenty of tourists from India and abroad visit Ladakh every year. One of the main attractions is the Buddhist monasteries and gompas. Tourists also enjoy trekking to see the meadows and glaciers and witnessing the important ceremonies and festivities of Ladakh.

(e) The people of the Sahara Desert wear heavy robes as protection against dust storms and wind.

(f) Trees like apple, apricot and walnut grow during the summer season in Ladakh. Other than that, there are scanty patches of shrubs and grass for animals to graze. Due to the cold climate, there is not much fauna in this region.

(i) b

(ii) b

(iii) b

(iv) a

(v) c

(vi) c

(i) A desert is an area characterised by low rainfall, scanty vegetation and extreme temperature. These climatic conditions are not suitable for the growth of plants. This is why there is scanty vegetation in the deserts.

(ii) The climate in the Sahara Desert is scorching hot, and the wind is dry. This is why the people of the Sahara Desert wear heavy robes to protect themselves from dust storms and dry wind.