VII CLASS - SOCIAL STUDIES (NON IAS)

Class : VII Sub : Geography

UNIT – I ATMOSPHERE AND HYDROSPHERE

1. THE ATMOSPHERE – THE COMPOSITION AND LAYERS

I. Questions and Answers

1. What are the important gases of the atmosphere?

Ans. The atmosphere is a mixture of several gases. Nitrogen, Oxygen and carbondioxide are the important gases of the atmosphere.

2. Name the different layers of the atmosphere. Explain.

Ans. The different layers of the atmosphere are (1) Troposphere
(2) Stratosphere and (3) Ionosphere.

1) Troposphere:-
(i) It lies above the earth’s surface and is the densest part of the atmosphere.
(ii) Its height varies between 8 to 18 Kms. from the Earth’s surface.
(iii) All the changes in the weather take place only in this layer. Hence this layer is very important for human, plant and animals life.
(iv) This layer protects us from the sun’s heat during day and keeps the earth’s surface warm at night.
(v) Clouds and precipitation form only in this layer.

2. Stratosphere :- (i) This layer lies above the troposphere
(ii) It extends up to a height of about 80 Kms.
(iii) Aeroplanes fly in this layer.

3. Ionosphere :- (i) The layer above the stratosphere is called Ionosphere.
(ii) It extends to a height of above 1050 Kms.
(iii) This layer reflects the radio waves back to the surface of the earth.

3. Why is oxygen regarded as “the breath of life” ?

Ans. Oxygen is regarded as “the breath of life” because without it life would not be possible.


II. Fill in the blanks

1. The atmosphere is a mixture of several gases.
2. Oxygen is regarded as “ the breath of life”.
3. The troposphere is the densest part of the atmosphere
4. The layer above the stratosphere is called the ionosphere.




1.2 ATMOSPHERE – TEMPERATURE

1. Question and Answers :-

1. What is insolation?

Ans. (i) Insolation means the ‘incoming solar radiation’.
(ii) The small fraction of heat received by the earth is known as insolation.

2. What are the factors that “influence the distribution of temperature?

Ans. The factors that influence the distribution of temperature are :-
1) Latitude 2) Altitude and 3) Distance from the sea.
1) Latitudes :-
(i) Latitudes influence temperature.
(i) The temperature decreases from the equator to the poles.
(ii) So, torrid zone is too hot and the frizid zone is too cool.
2) Altitude :-
(i) The temperature decreases with the increase in altitude
ii) Temperature drops approximately 10c for every 165 meters of ascent
iii) For example Shimla is cooler than Ludhiana though they are located on the same latitude.
3) Distance from the Sea:-
(i) Land absorbs and radiates heat more rapidly than the water.
(ii) The sea breezes reduce the temperature on the coastal regions (iii) So, the coastal regions are cooler than the interior regions.

3. Why is Visakhapatnam cooler than Guntur?

Ans. (i) Land absorbs and radiates heat more rapidly than the water.
(ii) The sea breezes reduce the temperature on the coastal regions.
(iii) So, the coastal regions are cooler than the interior regions.
(iv) Visakhapatnam which is on the sea coast, is cooler than Guntur which is in interior region.

Fill in the blanks:

1] Insolation means ‘incoming solar radiation’.
2) Frigid zone is very cold.

3) The sun is the main source of heat.
4) The heat given out by the sun is called solar radiation.
5) The small fraction of the heat received by the earth from the sun is known as insolation.

6) The temperature decreases from the equator to the poles
7) Torrid zone is very hot.
8) Temperature drops approximately at the rate of 10 c for every 165 metres of ascent.
9) Shimla is cooler than Ludhiana.
10) Land absorbs heat and radiates heat more rapidly than water.

1.3 ATMOSPHERE – PRESSURE AND WINDS
1. What is Atmospheric pressure ?

Ans. (i) Atmosphere pressure is the weight of vertical column of the air at a certain
place.
[ii] It is measured by an instrument called Barometer.
[iii] Atmospheric pressure is high at sea level when compared to higher altitudes.

2. What is wind ? Write a brief note about the wind .

Ans. Air moves from high pressure to low pressure areas. Air moving horizontally along the earth’s surface from a high pressure area to a low pressure area is called wind.

A movement of air upwards and downwards is often called air current. Winds are named after the direction from which they blow. Wind blowing from the South is called South wind. The speed of the wind is expressed in kilometers per hour. It is measured by an instrument called “ Anemometer”.

The direction of the wind is shown by an instrument called wind vane. The direction of wind in both the hemispheres is affected by the rotation of the earth.

3. What are the important types of winds ? Discuss briefly about them.
Ans. The main types of winds are :- (i) Planetary winds or prevailing
Winds. ii) Periodic winds iii) Local winds.

Planetary winds : Winds which blow constantly in a particular direction from high pressure areas to low pressure areas are known as planetary winds. The trade winds, the westerlies and the polar winds, are the three kinds of planetary winds, blowing in their respective belts through out the year.

Periodic winds : There are some winds which blow during a particular period of a day or year. They also blow in a specific direction. Such winds are known as periodic winds. The sea and land breezes and monsoons are periodic winds.

Local winds : Local winds blow over small areas. These winds last for a short period of time. Most of them are seasonal and have local names.


1.4 ATMOSPHERE – HUMIDITY AND PRECIPITATION

1. What is humidity ?
Ans. The amount of invisible water vapour present in the atmosphere is known as humidity.

2. What is sultry weather ?
Ans. When temperature and humidity are high, we feel uncomfortable , we perspire
and the sweat does not evaporate quickly. We feel sticky and such weather is called sultry weather.

3. What is precipitation ?
Ans. When droplets of water grow in size and weight, air becomes weak to hold them. It begins to throw down moisture. This fall of moisture is known as precipitation. Precipitation may take place in the form of rain, dew, snow, hail or fog.

4. How many types of rains are there ? What are they ? Explain about each
one of them.
Ans. Rainfall is of three kinds. They are relief rain, conventional rain and cyclonic
rain.

Relief Rain :-

The mountain ranges in the path of a rain bearing winds causes the wind to rise. Rising air expands and cools down and gets saturated. Further ascent leads to rainfall. This type of rainfall is known as relief rainfall. It is also known as orographic rain fall.

Conventional Rain :-

When land is heated by the sun, the air close to it begins to rise. This produces a conventional air current. If the rising air is moist, it produces clouds followed by heavy showers. This kind of rain is known as conventional rain.

Cyclonic Rain :-
Rain caused by whirling storm is called cyclone rain. In a cyclone, winds blow in from every side towards the center of it. This whirling air rises up and causes rain called cyclonic rain.

1.5 HYDROSPHERE – OCEAN WATERS

1. What is Hydrosphere ?
Ans. The water bodies present on the earth’s surface are collectively known as
Hydrosphere.

2. On what factors the salinity of an ocean depend ?
Ans. The factors on which the salinity of an ocean depend are : -
Temperature and Precipitation.

3. What is an ocean ?
Ans. A large salt water body which separates continents on the earth is called an
ocean. The ocean water is saline.

4. How are oceans useful to man ?
Ans. Oceans are useful to man in many ways.
(i) They are the main source of rainfall.
[ii] They are the store houses of fish and marine food.
[iii]They provide natural highway for international trade.
[iv] They are the main source of several mineral salts.


1.6 HYDROSPHERE – OCEAN CURRENTS

1. How are the ocean current caused ?
Ans. The oceans currents are mainly caused by :-
1) Prevailing winds.
2) Differences in temperatures and salinity of the ocean waters.

2. Mention the names of some important ocean currents.
Ans. Some of the important ocean currents are :-
1) North and South equational currents.
2) The Gulf Streams
3) The Labrador currents.

3. What are ocean currents ?
Ans. The streams which flow constantly in a definite direction on the
surface of the ocean are called ocean currents.

4. How many kinds of oceans current are there ? What are they?
Ans. There are two types of oceans currents. They are :-
1) The warm ocean currents and the,
2) Cold current.

The warm currents :- They flow from the lower latitudes towards the higher latitudes.

The cold currents :- They flow from the higher latitudes towards the lower latitudes.


1.7 HYDROSPHERE – TIDES

1. What is a tide ?
Ans. The alternate rise and fall of the sea water occurs generally twice a
day. This is known as the tide.
The rise of sea level is called high tide and its fall is called low tide.

2. When do the spring tides occur ?
Ans. Spring tides are intensive tides. On a new moon day and a full moon day the moon, the earth and the sun are in a straight line. The gravitational pull of the sun and the moon on these days causes very high tides known as “spring tides”.
3. What is a ‘neap tide’ ? When do the neap tides occur ?
Ans. If water rises to lesser height causing weak or low tides, such tides are called neap tides. At the end of the first and third quarters of the moon, the pull
of the moon and the sun act at right angles and weaken each other. On such days low tides or “neap tides occur”.


4. What are the uses of tides ?
Ans. The tides help in fishing, trade and navigation. Tides take away the mud brought down by rivers and prevent silting.


UNIT II NORTH AMERICA
1. LOCATION AND EXTENT

1. Location :-
Location : 70 N – 830 N
Longitudes : 200 W – 1200 W
2. North America and South America are separated by Baring Strait.
3. Third largest continent in area.
4. There are three different kinds of physical features :-
Western Cordilleras. The Eastern High lands. The Great Central Plains
5. The important rivers of North America : Mississippi and St. Lawrence.
6. The important fresh water lakes of North America are :-
Lake Superior Lake Michigan Lake Erie Lake Huran and Lake Ontario.
7. The world famous Niagara water falls are located in between lake Erie and Lake
Ontario.
8. The word’s largest fresh water lake is Lake Superior in North America.
9. North America extends from Tropical zone in the South to the Polar region in the North.
10. On the West coast between 30 and 40 degrees Mediterranean type of climate is
found.
11. Winter temperatures are very low, summer temperatures are moderate.
12. In North America rainfall is abundant.
13. Northern region of this continent has Tundra type of vegetation with dwarf trees.
14. The animals of Tundra region are polar bear, caribou, musk, ox and reindeer.
15. We can find wide range of coniferous forests in the South of Tundra region.
16. Important trees of this region are Spruce, pine and fir.
17. Important animals of this region are caribou, beaver and mink.
18. On the South of coniferous forests mixed forests belt is seen.
19. Important trees of this region are oak, birch, maple and soft wood trees.


UNIT II NORTH AMERICA
2.1 LOCATION AND EXTENT

1. Mention the names of the oceans on the two coasts of the continent.

Ans. Names of the oceans on the two coasts of the continent of North America are :

1) The Atlantic ocean which is on the East coast.
2) The Pacific ocean which is on the west coast.







2.2 PHYSICAL FEATURES

1. What are the five great lakes of North America ?
Ans. The important five great lakes of North America are :-
(i) Lake Superior
(ii) Lake Michigan
(iii) Lake Huron
(iv) Lake Ontario
(v) Lake Erie

2. What are the physical divisions of North America ? Explain.
Ans. The major physical divisions of North America are :-
(i) The Western Cordilleras :- The Western Cordilleras is otherwise called as Western Mountainous region. Most of the rivers of North America rise in the Western Cordilleras. The highest peak is Mount McKinley. The coast range, the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Neveda are the three important ranges of the Western Cordilleras.
(ii) The Eastern Highlands :- The Eastern Highlands include the Appalachian Mountains and their extension into Labrador and New Foundland. These mountains are far older than Western Mountains.
(iii) The Great Central Plains :- The Great Central Plains lie between the Western Cordilleras and the Eastern Highlands. The great five lakes of North America lie on this plain. The important rivers of this region are the Mississippi and St. Lawrence. The world famous Niagara waterfalls are located in this region.

2.3 CLIMATE

1. Why are the winters very cool in North America ?
Ans. In North America , the Rockies and the Eastern Highlands extend in north south direction. So the cold northern winds blow without any obstacle far down south. Therefore the Central Plain is open to the influence of cold winds. Hence the winters are very cool in North America. The temperature is many degrees below the freezing point.

2. Name the areas of heavy rainfall in North America.
Ans. Rainfall is abundant in many parts of the continent. The west
coast of Canada, Eastern part of Mexico, Central America, Eastern part of the United States and Eastern Canada are the areas which have abundant rainfall.
2.4 FORESTS AND WILD LIFE

1. What is a Tundra ?
Ans. A Tundra is a region where the climate is very cold and the ground remains frozen for the greater part of the year. The vegetation contains dwarf trees. The Tundra region lies in the extreme north of North America.

2. What is a Prairie ?
Ans. A Prairie is an extensive and continuous treeless mat of grassland. It is found in the Central Lowlands and the interior plains of North America.

2.5 POPULATION

1. Why are the Eastern coastal lands of North America thickly populated ?
Ans. The Eastern coastal lands of North America are thickly populated because :
1) Many big cities are situated in these parts.
2) This region has a cool climate.
3) It has rich coal deposits.
4) There are adequate power sources.
5) There are many industries.
6) There are excellent transport facilities.
7) This area was first settled in by the Europeans.
8) Further the Europeans have exploited and developed this region industrially and commercially.


2.6 AGRICULTURE

1. What are the crops grown in North America ?
Ans. The important crops of North America are corn, wheat, cotton,
tobacco, oats, barley and soyabeans.

2. How is corn used in United States ?
Ans. In United States much of the corn is used for feeding pigs and cattle and little of corn is used in food material.

3. Why does cotton grow well in the Mississippi region ?
Ans. Cotton grows well in the Mississippi region because :
1) The soil is fertile in that region.
2) The summers are warm and have moderate rainfall.
3) The climate is free from frost.
4) The clear skies with abundant sunshine help the cotton balls to ripen quickly.


2.7 MINERALS

1. What are the important minerals found in North America ?
Ans. The important minerals found in North America are Iron ore,
coal, nickel, silver, platinum, zinc, lead, gold, copper, uranium and mineral oil.

2. Write about the distribution of mineral deposits in North America .
Ans. North America is rich in mineral wealth. The distribution of mineral
deposits in North America is as follows :-
(i) The Canadian shield – has large deposits of nickel, Platinum, Zinc, Lead, Gold, Silver and Copper.
(ii) The Rockies - are known for Copper, Uranium, Gold, Zinc and lead deposits.
(iii) The Appalachian region - is noted for coal fields.
(iv) The Central plains and The Gulf Coast - are rich in deposits of mineral oil and natural gas.
(v) The United States has vast deposits of iron around Lake Superior.


2.8 INDUSTRIES

1. What are the factors favourable for industrialization in North America ?
Ans. North America is one of the highly industrialized continent of the world. The factors favourable for industrialization in North America are :-

(i) The continent has rich farmlands.
(ii) It has abundant mineral wealth.
(iii) It has huge power sources.
(iv) It has a dense network of most modern means of transport.
(v) It has ample capital.
(vi) It has skilled labour.
(vii) There is high degree of urbanisation.

2. What are the important industries of North America ?
Ans. Iron and steel is the foremost industry of North America. The
other important industries are heavy Machinery, Textiles, Paper, Food processing, Locomotives, Railway wagons, Aeroplanes and automobiles.


2.9 TRANSPORTATION
1. What are the advantages of Panama canal ?
Ans. The advantages of Panama canal are:
1. It connects the Atlantic ocean and the Pacific ocean. Thereby it connects the east and the west coasts of America.
2. It acts as a link and is of great importance as a shipping canal to the east and west coasts of North America.
3. It has a great commercial and strategic importance in connection with the world’s shipping routes.
4. A ship which travels from New York to San Francisco through Panama canal saves distance of about 12,640 Kms.

2. Explain the importance of waterways in North America.
Ans. Waterways play a greater role in the transportation in North America.
1. Many ports are situated on the Atlantic coast.

2. Much of the continents trade is carried by waterways.

3. The Mississippi, the St. Lawrence and five great lakes form the largest and the busiest inland waterways in the world.

4. Big ocean ships can travel from the Atlantic, right through, to the ports on the great lakes such as Toronto and Chicago.

5. The Panama Canal has great commercial and strategic importance connecting the Atlantic and the Pacific.

2.10 EXPORTS AND IMPORTS

1. What are the imports and exports of Canada ?
Ans. News print is the chief export of Canada. The other exports of
Canada are wood pulp, timber, wheat, nickel, iron ore, copper, alluminium, petroleum and asbestos. The main imports are machinery , motorcars and their parts, refined petroleum , electrical goods etc.

2. What are the chief items of exports and imports of the United States ?
Ans. United States is the leading country of the world in trade. The important exports of U.S. are Machinery, Motor cars, Railway engines, Aeroplanes, Military equipment, Electrical goods, Electronic goods, Cotton, Woollen and synthetic products.

The important imports are Petroleum products, Mineral ores, Coffee, Wood pulp, Paper, Sugar and Rubber.

UNIT III - SOUTH AMERICA
3.1 LOCATION AND EXTENT

1. Explain the position of South America.
Ans. South America is one of the three Southern continents. It is situated between the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans. The major portion of South America lies in the Southern hemisphere. About two thirds of the continent lies in the tropical zone. The equator passes through the northern part of South America.

2. What is Latin America? Why is it called so?
Ans. South America along with Central America and Mexico is called Latin America. This is because the main languages of these lands are derived from Latin.

3. Write about the shape and extent of South America.
Ans. South America is a triangular shaped continent. It is broader in the North and becomes narrower towards the South. But on map South America looks like a leaf. The continent stretches from about 120 N to 550 S latitude and 350 W to 810 W longitudes. It is situated between the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans.







3.2 LAND FORMS AND RIVERS

1. What are the main physical divisions of South America?
Ans. South America is divided into four major physical divisions. They are :-
(i) The Western Coastal strip :- It is a narrow coastal strip of low lands stretching along the West coast of South America from North to South.
(ii) The Western mountains :- The Western mountains of South America are known as Andes. They stretch for thousands of kilometers parallel to the West coast.
(iii) The Central plains :- The central plains lie between the Andes and the Highlands.
(iv) The Eastern Highlands :- They are old mountains older than the Andes.

2. What are the important rivers of South America ?
Ans. The important rivers of South America are the Amazon, the Orinoco, the Parana, the Paraguay and the Uruguay.

3.3 CLIMATE

1. What are the important deserts of South America and where are they?
Ans. The important deserts of South America and their locations are as follows :-

Desert Location
(i) Atakama desert - Southern Peru and Northern Chile.
(ii) Patagonia desert - To East side of the Andes.

2. In South America “Rain follows the sun”. Discus.
Ans. The saying that “ Rain follows the sun” is true for the continent because when the sun is in the South, there is heavy rainfall over the South and when the sun is in the North, there is heavy rainfall over the North.

3.4 FORESTS AND WILD LIFE

1. Write about the forest wealth of South America .
Ans. 1] South America is rich in forest wealth. It has extensive forests.
2]The forests of the Amazon basin is the home of hardwood in the world.
3]This basin is known for rubber trees.
4] Carnauba palm and Parana pine trees of Brazil yield wax and wood pulp.
5] Yerba leaves are brewed like tea.
6] Quebracho trees are the source for tanning material.

2. Describe the wild life of South America.
Ans. 1. There is a variety of wild life in South America.
2. There are about 1500 species of colourful birds and so is called as “Bird”
continent.
3. Various types of monkeys such as the spider monkey, wooly monkey, the
squirrel monkey and the owl monkey are found.
4. Reptiles like pythons, snakes and boas are common.
5. Wild animals like Armadillo and Puma are found here.
6. Llamas, the long necked animals are also found in South America. They are used
as the beasts of burden in the mountainous regions.


3.5 POPULATION

1. Name the three important races of South America
Ans. The three important races of South America are :-
The American Indians. (ii) The Negroes and (iii) The Europeans.

2. Which are the densely populated areas of South America ?
Ans. The densely populated areas of South America are port towns capital cities and coastal areas.

3.6 AGRICULTURE

1. Name the main cash crops of South America.
Ans. Coffee and Sugar cane are the main cash crops of South America. Cotton is also grown in some parts of this continent.

2. What are the important cereal crops of South America ?
Ans. The important cereal crops of South America are maize and wheat.


3.7 MINERALS

1. What are the important minerals of South America ?
Ans. The important minerals of South America are Iron ore, Petroleum, Copper, Tin, Nitrates, Mineral oil, bauxite, Manganese, Silver and Antimony.

2. Write about the distribution of mineral deposits of South America.
Ans. South America is rich in minerals.
(a) Veneguela has rich deposits of mineral oil.
Brazil has large iron ore deposits.
Chile produces one fifth of the world’s total copper.
Bolivia produces tin. It is world’s second largest producer of tin.
Atakama desert possesses rich deposits of nitrates.







3.8 INDUSTRIES

1. What are the important industries of Argentina ?
Ans. The important industries of Argentina are :-
1. Meat packing, food processing and leather tanning.
2. Cotton and Wool are also the other important industries.
3. It has manufacturing units of chemicals and medicines.
4. It has cement plants and oil refineries.

2. Name the important industries of Brazil.
Ans. Textile industry is the most important industry of Brazil. The other important industries are Iron and steel, motor vehicles and tractors.

3.9 TRANSPORTATION

1. Why is transport system under developed in South America ?
Ans. Transport system is not well developed in South America because the extensive forests and the high mountain ranges have stood in the way of a good transport network.

2. Which is the important means of transport in South America ?
Ans. Rivers are the important means of transport in South America.


3.10 TRADE, EXPORT AND IMPORTS

1. What are the important exports of South America ?
Ans. The important exports of South America are raw materials for agriculture, forests, minerals, cotton, iron ore, wood, sugar and wool.



2. What are the important imports of South America ?
Ans. The main items of imports to South America are finished products. The other imports are machinery and vehicles, iron and steel, chemical and lubricating oil, coal and petroleum.











UNIT – IV ASIA
4.1 LOCATION AND EXTENT

1. What are the boundaries of Asia?
Ans. The boundaries of Asia are :-
(i) The Indian ocean on the South.
(ii) The Pacific ocean of the East.
(iii) The Arctic ocean of the North.
(iv) The Caspian sea on the West.

2. Write the important latitudes and longitudes passing through the continent .
Ans. The Equator passes through South east Asia. The Arctic circle
and the Tropic of Cancer cut across the Continent. The 900 E longitude passes through the center of the continent.

4.2 PHYSICAL FEATURES, LAND FORMS AND RIVERS

1. What are the main physical divisions of Asia ?
Ans. The main physical divisions of Asia are :-
(i) The Northern Low lands
(ii) Central mountain belt
(iii) Southern plateaus
(iv) Great river valley and
(v) Island groups.

2. Name the important rivers of Asia.
Ans. The important rivers of Asia are
The Indus, Ganges, The Tigris, The Euphrates, The Irrawady, The Makong, The Hwang Ho, The Yangtze Kiang and The Sikiang.

3. Which is the highest plateau in Asia ?
Ans. The plateau of Tibet is the highest plateau in Asia.

4.3 CLIMATE - TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL

1. Why has Asia great variation in climate ?
Ans. Asia is a huge continent. It extends from the Equator to the
North pole.There are differences in elevation. So, there are great variations in the climate of Asia.


2. In which season are the rains plentiful in Asia ?
Ans. In summer season, the rains are plentiful in Asia.



4.4 FORESTS AND WILD LIFE

1. Write about the forests and wild life of Taiga region.
Ans. The forests and wild life of Taiga region :
South of Tundra is known as Taiga region with coniferous forests. This region is famous for coniferous forests and softwood trees.
The timber of there trees is used in making paper pulp and
rayon. It is the home of fur bearing animals such as fox, sable and mink.

2. Write about the Tundra region.
Ans. The Tundra region is lying in the Northern coast of Asia. It is mostly covered with snow and ice. The vegetation in this region is called Tundra vegetation. The reindeer is the chief animal of this region.

4.5 POPULATION DISTRIBUTION AND IMPORTANT CITIES

1. Which regions are densely populated in Asia ?
Ans. Asia containing 65% of the world’s population. The densely populated areas are fertile river valleys, coastal plains, deltas and cities.

2. What are the sparsely populated areas of Asia ?
Ans. The sparsely populated areas of Asia are the Northern and eastern parts of Siberia, the deserts and highlands of central Asia.

4.6 AGRICULTURE

1. What are the cereal crops of Asia ?
Ans. The cereal crops of Asia are rice, wheat, millets, pulses and oil seeds.

2. What are the cash crops of Asia ?
Ans. Cotton, jute, sugarcane, tea and coffee are the important cash crops of Asia.

3. Describe the agricultural practices of Asia.
Ans. The important agricultural practices of Asia are :-
1) Shifting agriculture :- It is practiced in mountainous and forest areas. A patch of forest is cleared by burning the trees. This patch is cultivated for a few years and later, when it loses fertility it is left.
2) Intensive agriculture :- It is common in many parts of Asia. It involves a lot of manual labour for sowing, transplanting, weeding, man-uring and harvesting.
3) Extensive agriculture :- It is practised mostly in central Asia and West Siberia. The farms are large and machines are used for all agricultural operations.





4.7 MINERALS

1. Name the important minerals of Asia.
Ans. The important minerals of Asia are iron, manganese, tungston, bauxite, mica, tin, coal and oil.

2. Which countries produce oil and coal.
Ans. Coal :- The important coal producing countries are China,
Russia and India.

Oil :- South West Asian countries posses large deposits of
oil. Leading produces of oil are Kuwait, Bahrin, Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia. A good deal of oil is produced in China, Russia, Myanmar, Indonesia and India.

4.8 INDUSTRIES

1. Which are the important industries of Asia ?
Ans. The important industries of Asia are textiles, sugar, vegetable oil tobacco, paper, rubber, iron steel, ship building, electronics and oil refining.

2. Why has Japan become an important industrial nation ?
Ans. Japan is a highly industrialized country in Asia. The important industries of Japan are iron and steel, ship building, automobiles, aircraft, fertilizers, cement, textiles, chemicals, toys electronics and paper, T.V. sets, radios, tape-recorders, cameras and optical instruments.
Japanese goods are of good quality and cheaper than those of other countries.

4.9 TRANSPORTATION
1. What is an international highway ?
Ans. Roads connecting distant countries are called International highways.
2. Name four major sea posts of Asia.
Ans. The major sea seaports of Asia are Calcutta, Mumbai, Singapore, Hongkong and Vladivostok.

4.10 TRADE – EXPORT AND IMPORTS

1. What are the main exports of Japan ?
Ans. The main exports of Japan are television sets, cameras, optical instruments and synthetic fibres.
2. What are the important exports and imports of India ?
Ans. The important exports of India are sugar, leather, yarn, precious stones, crude minerals, coffee etc.
The important imports are machinery petroleum products, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilisers etc.

Class : VII Sub : History
UNIT – I MEDIEVAL PERIOD

UNIT - II INDIA 800 A.D. TO 1300 A.D.

Question and Answers :

1. Explain the social conditions prevailing in medieval period.
Ans. (i) In the medieval period the society was divided into a number
of castes and sub castes. It was believed that there were 64 varnas.
(ii) There were occupational changes in the society.
(iii) The position of women in the society deteriorated.
(iv) The concept of Empire and Emperor slowly vanished.
(v) The age of feudalism started.
(vi) Worshipping of a number of Gods came into existence.
(vii) Revival of Hinduism took place.
(viii) Islam influenced the Indian Culture.

2. What was the contribution of Rajputs to Indian culture ?
Ans. Rajputs were Hindu rulers. Their contribution to the Indian culture is as follows:
[i] Religious revival : As the Rajputs were the followers of Hinduism , they
revived Hinduism.

[ii] Patronage to literature: They patronized men of letters (poets). Historical
writings began during this period, Kalhana’s ‘Rajatarangini’ was considered as historical work. At that time Nalanda, Benaras etc were learning centers. Sanskrit received Royal Patronage.

[iii] Art and Architecture: The Rajputs built the temples at Konark, Puri,
Bhuvaneswar and Khajuraho. They encouraged learning of fine arts.

3. Write about the greatness of Rashtrakutas.
Ans. Rashtrakuras were one of the greatest rulers of South India. The factors that contribute to the greatness of Rashtrakutas are:

Welfare of the people: They never neglected the welfare of their people
even when they were engaged in continuous wars.

Religious tolerance: They were tolerant in religious matters and
permitted the Muslims to construct mosques in their kingdom.
Economic Position: They encouraged trade with Arabs to improve the
economic position of their kingdom.

Construction of temples: They constructed the temples at Ellora and
Elephanta to encourage art and architecture.

Patronage: They patronized Sanskrit and Kannada literature.
Amoghavarsha, being a poet wrote ‘Kavirajamarga’ in Kannada literature.


4. Write about the greatness of Raja Raja I and Rajendra Chola.
Ans. I. The greatness of Raja Raja I :-
He was one of the greatest rulers of Chola kingdom.
The brought the entire Tamil region under his control.
He subdued the Pandya and Kerala kings.
He led a naval expedition against Ceylon and secured half of the Ceylon.
He led another expedition against the present Mysore and defeated its ruler.
The Kingdom of Vengi became his protectorate.
The Western Chalukyas sued for peace with him by paying huge amounts.
He utilized that money for constructing Brihadiswara temple at Tanjore.
He maintained friendly relations with the ruler of Sri Vijaya.

II. The greatness of Rajendra Chola :-
(i) Rajendra Chola was the son of Raja Raja Chola.
(ii) He also had an equally glorious career as his father.
(iii) He conquered Ceylon totally and imprisoned its ruler Mahendra.
(iv) His conquests were extended upto the Valley of Ganges and he got the title “Gangai Konda”.
(v) He constructed a new town known as Gangai Konda Cholapuram.
(vi) He conquered greater India by defeating its ruler.
(vii) He brought Java, Sumathra, Borneo, Malay under his control and increased commercial activities.

5. Write briefly about Chola administration.
Ans. Chola administration was unique because of the following reasons:

1) The King : The king had all the powers. He took the advice from the ministers and officials.
2) Division of Empire: The empire was divided into a number of Mandalams
which were again divided into Valanadus. The Valanadus were again divided into Nadus. Each Nadu consisted of 50 villages.

3) Local Self Government: The Chola administration was well known for their local self government.

(a) Each village was having village committees and assemblies.

(b) Thirty members were elected to the village committee.

(c) They looked after different aspects of village administration like gardens,
tanks, fields agriculture etc.

4) Revenue: Land revenue was the main source of income. Land was surveyed and 1/3 of the crop was collected as revenue.

5) Army: The army consisted of infantry, cavalry, elephantry and also navy.

6) Judicial administration: Jury system was also in vogue. Punishments were severe.

6. Give an account of the invasion of Mohammed of Ghori ? What were its effects ?
Ans. Invasions of Mohammed Ghori :-
He started his invasions in 1175 A.D. and occupied Sindh, Multan and Punjab.
In 1192 A.D. he defeated Pruthviraj, the chauhan ruler and occupied Delhi, with the help of Jayachandra the ruler of Kanuj.
He seized many fortress and made Qutubuddin Aibak as the viceroy.
In 1193 once again he came to India and defeated Jayachandra of Kanuj who helped him against Prithviraj.

The Effects:
1) His invasions helped Qutubuddin Ibaq to establish the Delhi Sultanate after the death of Muhammad of Ghori .
2) Thus Mohammed Ghori was able to spread Islam and established Turkish kingdom in India.
3) Due to his invasions the military strength and economy of Rajputs was totally spoilt.

7. What do you know about Kakatiya art and architecture ?
Ans. Kakatiyas gave importance to art and architecture. The thousand pillared temple and Ramappa temple are the master pieces of their art and architecture.

8. What was the role of the temples in the Medieval period ?
Ans. During the Medieval period temples played a very important role
They were not only the spiritual centers but also educational institutions.
Important local issues were discussed in the temples.
They were the centers of art and culture.
They took a number of welfare activities with their incomes which were granted by the rulers, the rich in the society and the officials.

9. Write a note a trade guilds.
Ans. (i) Trade guilds were the merchants associations.
They played a prominent role in the country’s economy.
The entire commercial activity was regulated by them only.
There were guilds for each variety of trade.
They performed the functions like selling and purchasing, giving loans, accepting deposits, extending charities and other welfare activities.

Fill in the blanks :-

1. Period between 800 A.D. to 1800 A.D. in the history of India can be termed as medieval period.
2. The Arabs occupied Sindh in in 712 A.D.
3. Prithviraj Raso was written by Chandbaradai.
4. Rajputs mere known for their Chivalry and courage in the History of India.
5. Rajputs were Hindu rulers.
6. Rajatarangini was written by Kalahana.
7. Danti Durga was the founder of Rashtrakuta Kingdom.
8. Danti Durga defeated Kirti Varman the Chalukyan king.
9. Amoghavarsha built a new capital Manya Kheta.
10. Kavirajamarga was writtenby Amoghavarsha.
11. The temples of Ellora and Elephanta were constructed by Rashtrakutas.
12. Pampa was the first poet in Kannada language.
13. The Arab traveler Sulaiman praised Amoghavarsha
14. Last ruler of Rashtra kutas was Karka – II
15. The founder of Chola kingdom was Vijayalaya.
16. Brihadeshwara temple at Tanjore was constructed by Raja Raja Chola.
17. The title of Rajendra Chola was “Gangai Konda”.
18. Rajendra Chola constructed a new town known as Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
19. The ruler of greater India was Sailendra who was depeated by Rajendra Chola.
20. Cholas lost Ceylon during the time of Kulottunga Chola.
21. The present coastal Andhra was ruled by the Eastern Chalukyas from 700 A.D. to 1200 A.D.
22. The capital of Eastern Chalukyas was Vengi.
23. The famous literary figure Nannaya was in the court of Raja Raja Narendra.
24. Nannaya wrote Andhra Bhashanusasanam, a book of Telugu grammar.
25. Turks invaded Sindh in 712 A.D. and occupied it by defeating its ruler, Dahir.
26. The Arabs collected jijiya tax from Hindus.
27. From1000 A.D. onwards Mohammed of Ghazni invaded India 17 times.
28. The invasions of Mohammed of Ghori started form 1175 A.D.
29. Mohammed of Ghori defeated Prithviraj in the battle of Tarain in 1192 A.D.
30. Mohammed of Ghori appointed Qutbuddin Aibak as the Viceroy of his Indian conquests.
31. Jayachandra the ruler of Kanauj, was defeated in 1193 A.D by Ghori.
32. Ghori was killed in 1206 A.D.
33. Kalyani was the capital of later Chalukyas.
34. Devagiri was the capital of Yadavas.
35. Dwara Samudra was the capital of Hoyasalas.
36. Warangal was the capital of Kakatiyas.
37. Madurai was the capital of Pandyas,.
38. Ranna, the poet got the title of Kavichakravarthi.
39. The Hindu educational institutions in the medieval period were called Ghatikas.
40. Singhana was the famous king of Yadavas.
41. Malik Kafur was the commander of Alauddin Khilji.
42. The Kakatiyas derived their name by worshipping Goddess Kakati.
43. Marcopolo a Venition traveller visited Kakatiya kingdom during Rudrama Devi’s period.
44. Jayapa wrote Nrithya Rathnavali
45. Tikkana was the court poet of Kakatiyas.
46. The Hoyasalas originally belonged to Mysore.
47. The first novel in Kannada was written by Nemi Chandra.
48. The temples at Srirangam, Chidambaram, Rameswaram etc. were built by Pandyas.
49. Chola administration was unique especially for their local self government.
50. Vaishnaivism was popularized by Alwars.
51. Saivism was popularized by Nayanars.
52. Tirutakkadevara was a famous Jain poet.
53. Motupalli was the important sea port of Kakatiyas.
54. Quayal was the seaport of Pandyas.
55. Bilhana wrote Vikramankacharita





UNIT – III
INDIA – 1206 A.D. TO 1526 A.D.
DELHI SULTANS

I. Answer the following:-

1. Briefly explain the greatness of Balban.
Ans. 1. Balban was the most famous sultan among the Delhi Slaves.
2. The Turkish nobles called ‘Forty’, tried to influence him but he kept them at
distance.
3. He appointed ‘spies’ to inform him about their activities.
4. He believed in ‘Divine Right of king ship’.
5. He took measures to protect the kingdom from Mongol invasions.
6. He converted a vast forest area into agricultural land.
7. He repaired the old forts and built new ones.
8. He suppressed the provincial governors and punished them severely when they opposed him.
Thus Balban created awe and respect to sultanate.

2. Write about the Southern Conquests of Alauddin Khilji.
Ans. The Southern Conquests of Alauddin Khlji :- Alauddin Khilji sent
his commander, Malik Kafur,against the southern kingdom. He defeated the Yadavas, Hoyasalas and Pandyas who agreed to pay tribute to the Sultan. Thus Alauddin khilji extended his kingdom to North and South.

3. Why did Mohammed-bin-Tughluq change his capital ? What were its effects ?
Ans. Muhammad-bin-Tughluq’s kingdom consisted of a vast area stretching from the Himalayas to Madhurai in the South. He thought of having a capital in the middle of the kingdom. So he shifted it from Delhi to Devagiri (or) Daulatabad : but again he transferred it back to Delhi.
Effects :- By shifting his capital Tughlaq forced even ordinary citizens to shift their houses to new capital; thus putting them to hardship. In this process much wastage was caused to men and material.

4. Mention the causes for the fall of Delhi Sultanate.
Ans. 1.The fall of Delhi Sultanate started with Tughlaq.
2. He wasted a lot of money for his unsuccessful schemes.
3. The sultans could not establish a permanent centralized administration.
4. It was only military oriented.
5. When ever the opportunity come to Jagirdars, they declared independence. 6. So a number of Independent kingdoms were setup after Tughlaq.
7. Due to repeated Mongol invasions the economic and military strength of
Delhi Sultans totally collapsed.
8. Finally Timur’s invasions totally weakened the Sultanate.
9. The Sayyids and Lodis who became Sultans were not competent.
10. Babur invaded India and defeated the last Lodi Sultan. Thus the Delhi Sultanate fell down.

5. What is Iqta system ?
Ans. 1. Iqta system was a system of administration present during the time of Delhi
Sultanate.
2. The Sultans divided their kingdom into a number of ‘Iqtas’.
3. It was headed by a military officer known as ‘Mukti’.
4. Out of the income from Iqta, the military officer had to maintain the army,
meet general expenditure and remit the balance to the Sultan.
5. The Iqtas were divided into ‘shiqs’. Shiqs were also divided into ‘paraganas’.
6. The traditional village administration through Panchayats was continued.

6. Write about the military organization of Alauddin Khilji ?
Ans. 1. Alauddin Khilji built a big army.
2. He kept some army at the disposal of “Diwani Ariz”.
3. He abolished the Jagirdari system and maintained standing army.
4. He recruited some army at the time of wars.
5. He allowed some Muslims to voluntarily join the military when there was a
religious war.
6. He gave the army not only salaries but also descriptive ranks.
7. The Sultan’s army consisted of cavalry, elephantry and Infantry.

7. How was the society under Delhi Sultanate ?
Ans. During Delhi Sultanate period the Hindus were in majority and Muslims were the minorities in the society. There were Shias and Sunnis among the Muslims. Except Alauddin Khilji, the other Sultans were puppets in the hands of Ulemas. Women were looked down in the society. Purdah system prevailed among Muslims. Even Hindu women of the royal and noble families followed the custom. ‘Sati’ was practiced by certain communities.

8. When was the kingdom of Vijayanagara established ? Who were its founders ?
Ans. (1) The kingdom of Vijayanagara was established in the year 1336.
(2) It’s founders were Harihararaya and Bukkaraya.

9. Explain the greatness of Srikrishnadevaraya.
Ans. (i) Srikrishnadevaraya was very famous among the Vijayanagara rulers.
2. As soon as he came to the throne in 1509 A.D. he supressed the chieftains of Ummattur and Shivasamudram.
3. He had a treaty with Portuguese in 1510 and got better quality horses from them.
4. He led a number of expeditions and defeated the Gajapatis of Orissa and the Sultans of Bijapur.
5. He occupied the farts of Udayagiri, Kondavidu, Kondapalli, Bezwada, Rajahmundry etc., and erected a pillar of victory at Simhalachalam.
6. The whole area to the South of the river Tungabhadra came under his sway.
7. He appointed efficient governors and officials and thus showed his ability to rule.
8. He maintained a huge army and also established peace and order.
9. He provided irrigation facilities with the help of the Portugese.
10. He was a great Patron of letters. Eight poets known as the Ashtadiggagas flourised in his court. Among them Allasani Peddana, Dhurjati, Tenali Ramakrishna were very famous.
11. He patronized even Tamil and Kannada poets.
12. He himself was a poet and wrote ‘Amuktamalyada.
13. He built many temples. Among them the Hajara Rama temple was very famous.



10. Write about Muhamood Gawan briefly.
Ans. 1. Muhamood Gawan was the Prime Minister of Bahmani rulers.
2. He brought stability to the kingdom.
3. He took up many welfare activities.
4. He was not only a warrior but also an able administrator.
5. He established many educational institutions which were called Madrasas. Among them the Madarasa at Bidar was a noted one.
6. He himself was a scholar in Persian language.

11. What was the contribution of the rulers of Vijayanagara religion ?
Ans. Protection of Hinduism was the main aim of Vijayanagara rulers. Saivism and Vaishnavism were popular. Tirupati, Srirangam, Ahobilam etc., were the Vaishnava centers at that time. They established Mathas which did religious and social service. They respected the Brahmins. They built a number of temples like Vithal Swamy temple, Hazara Rama temple. The Vijayanagara rulers were tolerant.

12. What is Bhakti movement ?
Ans. The religious movement of the medieval period was known as ‘Bhakti movement’. Religious reforms gave importance to Bhakti. Many attempts were made to bring Hindus and Muslims together.

13. Write a short note on Sufis.
Ans. Sufism believed in love towards God, patience, non-violence, penance, simplicity etc. The important sufi saints were Moinuddin Chisti, Baba Fardduddin, Nizamuddin Auliya Malik Muhammad Jayasee etc. The ‘Chisti’ order was popular in suffism in India.

14. What were the effects of Bhakti movement ?
Ans. The Bhakti Movement helped the Hindus and Muslims come close to some extent. Development of regional languages like, Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Punjabi etc. had taken place. It also helped in the development of Sufism among the Muslims.

15. Write about the administration of Srikrishnadevaraya.
Ans. Srikrishnadevaraya was a great ruler. His administration was a centralized monarchy. The king was assisted by a council of ministers. The Prime Minister was the chief adviser to the king. The empire consisted of not only its provinces, but also other vassal states. The provinces were under the in-charge of Governors. Their army consisted of cavalry, infantry and elephantry. They used canons also. Land revenue was their main source of income. It was fixed at 1/3rd of the produce. Land was surveyed. Trade with foreign countries like Persia, Egypt, Arabia, Italy, Portugal, Ceylon, China and Burma was carried on.










Short answers:
1. What are the five kingdoms of Bhamani Empire ?
Ans. The five kingdoms of Bahmani empire were :-
Ahmadnagar.
Bijapur.
Golkonda.
Bidar
Berar
2. What were the five important South Indian kingdoms ?
Ans. The five South Indian kingdoms were :-
Chalukyas – Kalyani
Yadavas – Devagiri.
Kakatiyas – Warangal
Hoyasalas – Dwarasamudra
Pandyas – Madurai

3. What were the dynasties which ruled over Vijayanagara Empire ?
Ans. Four dynasties that ruled over the Vijayanagara Empire were :-
Sangama.
Salva
Tulva
Aravidu
Fill in the blanks
1. The kingdom of Vijayanagara was established in 1336, by Hari Hara and Bukka on
the banks of river Tungabadra with the support of Vidyaranaya.
2. In 1347 the kingdom of the Bahmani was established.
3. Devaraya II was the important king of the Sangama dynasty.
4. The Persian ambassador Abdur Razak visited the Vijayanagara kingdom in 1443
during the period of Devaraya II.
5. Srikrishna Devaraya was the most famous ruler of Tuluva dynasty.
6. Srikrishna Devaraya entered the throne in 1509.
7. Krishna Devaraya had a treaty with the Portuguese in 1510.
8. The Portuguese supplied better quality horses to Srikrishna Devaraya.
9. A pillar of victory was erected at Simhachalam by Krishna Devaraya.
10 Krishna Devarya died in 1529.
11. Domingo Paes, a portuguese merchant visited Vijayanagara kingdom during the
period of Krishna Devaraya.
12. Amuktamalyada was written by Srikrishna Devaraya.
13. Ashtadiggajas flourished in the court of Krishnadevaraya.
14. Krishna Devaraya’s ‘Bhuvanavijayam’ was a congregation of scholars and poets.
15. The story of Ramayana was engraved on the walls of Hajare Rama temple.
16.The battle of Talli Kota took place between Vijayanagara and Deccan sultans in
1565.
17.The kingdom of Vijayanagara was very famous among the South Indian kingdoms
during the medieval period.
18. Foreigners like Abdur Razzaq Nuniz Paes etc., paid rich tributes to the kingdom of
Vijayanagara.
19. Advaita was propagated by Madhwacharya.
20. The temples at Tirupati, Sri Rangam, Ahobilam etc., were the Vaishanava centers.
21. The Bahmani kingdom was established in 1347 during the time of Mohammed-
bin-Tuglaq.
22. Daulatabad was the capital of Bahamani kingdom.
23. Ala - uddin Hasan Bahman Shah was the founder of Bahmani kingdom.
24. Advaita philosophy was preached by Sankaracharya.
25. Kabir was the disciple of Ramananda.
26. Sufis followed the popular order known as ‘chisti’
27. Sufis used Urdu language.
28. Hajare Rama Swamy temple was very famous in the time of Vijayanagara rulers.
UNIT - IV ADVENT OF THE MUGHALS

UNIT - V ADVENT OF THE EUROPEANS

UNIT - VI FALL OF THE MUGHAL EMPIRE


Q1: Where did the Mughals come from? How did Babar establish the kingdom?
A. The Mughals come from Central Asia. The founder of Mughal empire was Babar. He lost his kingdom in central Asia and came to Kabul and established new kingdom. Babar proceeded to India from Kabul.
He defeated Ibrahim Lodi who was the ruler of Delhi in the first battle of Panipat in 1526 and Established Mughal empire. After occupying Delhi he turned his attention towards Rajputs. At first Babar established a new kingdom in Kabul. He then invaded India and fought the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 A.D. He defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last Delhi Sultan. Thus he established the Mughal rule by occupying the throne of Delhi.

Q2: Give an account of Akbar’s military conquests.
A: Military conquests of Akbar : He ascended the throne in 1556 A.D. after defeating Hemu in the Battle of Panipat. After re-establishing the Mughal rule he led a number of military conquests.
He led a number of expeditions, against Rajputs. Afghans, and Deccan between 1561 and 1590.
His conquests were Malwa, Chunar, Godwana, Rajastna, Gujarat, Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Kabul, Kashmir, Sind and Kandahar.
He waged a war with Maharana Pratap, the Mewad ruler and was successful in it.
He made a military campaign against Ahmadnagar in the Deccan He could conquer Khandesh, Asirgarh and a few fortresses in Ahmadnagar. Thus he was able to establish a mighty empire.

Q3. What were the Deccan kingdoms conquered by Shah Jahan?
A. Shah Jahan conquered two Deccan kingdoms. They were the kingdoms of Bijapur and Golkonda. They became feudatories of the Mughals.

Q4: Write a note on the religious policy of Aurangzeb.
A. Aurangzeb was a Sunni. He was a bigot and so he followed a policy of religious bias and intolerance. So the non-Muslims like the Jats, Satnamis, Sikhs etc. revolted against him. The Rajputs turned against him under the leadership of Durgadas. The Sikhs became militant because he executed Guru Tej Bahadur of the Sikhs. The Hindus turned against him.

Q5: What is meant by Subahdari system?
A: Akbar introduced Subahdari system. According to it he divided his vast empire into a number of Subhas. Each Subah was entrusted to a Subehdar. This system was also followed by other Mughal rulers.

Q6: Write about the land revenue systems of Sher Shah and Akbar.
A: 1. She Shah’s land revenue system:
2. His system was followed by Akbar
3. He surveyed the land.
4. He fixed the land revenue as 1/3 % and ¼ according to the yield.
5. He gave Pattas to Ryots
6. He granted loans.
7. He exempted the payment of land revenue when the crops failed.

Akbar’s land revenue system:
1. He followed Sher Shah’s land revenue system to a great extent.
2. He too surveyed the land.
3. He collected 1/3 of the produce towards land revenue.
4. He granted loans to the farmers.
5. He exempted land revenue when the crops failed.
6. He was assisted by Raj thodarmal in introducing the revenue system.

Q7. Write a note on the Mansabdari system of Akbar.
1) The Mansabdari system was introduced by Akbar in the army.
2) The Mansabdari were military officers.
3) Each of them was given a rank and assigned 10 to 10,000 cavalry.
4) There were Rajputs and Hindus among them.
5) The feudatory kings were also appointed as Mansabdars.

Q8. What do you know about the society during the time of the Mughals?
A. 1. Society during the time of the Mughals.
2. Hindus formed the majority in the Society.
3. Casteism with its sub-divisions was deep rooted in the society.
4. Intercaste and community dining were forbidden.
5. The people forming the lower strata were called untouchables.
6. Among the people in the society there were Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Jains,
Sikkhs, Parsis and Christians.
7. There were Arabs, Persians, Turks, Mongols, Armenians, Uzbegs etc., among the
Muslims. A number of sects among the foreign and native Muslims existed then.
8. The converts into Islam were looked down.
9. Better understanding existed between the Hindus and Muslims.
10. Peace and wealth existed in the society.
11. Social evils like ‘Sati’ existed.
12. Moral degeneration among the people began to start slowly. Hence even rulers
like Aurangzeb appointed religious officers to improve the moral standard of the
people.

Q9. Who introduced the religion of Din-i-IIahi? Explain.
a) Din-i –IIahi :
Akbar, the greatest among the Mughal rulers introduced the new religion Din-i-IIahi in 1582 A.D.

b) Features :
He constructed a prayer hall known as Ibadat Khan in 1575 A.D. at Fatehpur Sikri.
He acted as the spiritual guide to those who followed his religion Din-i-IIahi.
He kept it open to everybody.
Only a limited number followed his religion. Except Raja Birbal, no Hindu joined this religion.

Q10. How did trade and commerce develop during the time of the Mughals?
Ans. Trade and commerce developed due to the following reasons:
1. Akbar brought political stability to his empire. So the country was rich in
general.
2. Such as sugar industry, iron industry, ship building, textile industry etc.,
flourished in the empire.
3. Opium, indigo, handloom, textiles, spices etc., were produced in a great extent
and there was need for export.
4. Those items were exported to West Asia and Europe.
5. There were parts in Gujarat. Bengal and Delhi which helped to carry on foreign
trade.
6. Sher Shah abolished a number of taxes on the traders. This factor increased
the commercial activity.
7. Grand Trunk Roads were laid.
8. Saris (choultries) were constructed on the way. They served as Post Offices
also.

Q11. What are the important monuments of the Mughals?
Ans. The important monuments of the Mughals are :
Akbar’s Fatehpur Skiri, Ibadat Khana, Panchmahal and Jodhabai’s palace.
Sha Jahan’s world famous Taj Mahal, Jama Masjid, Moti Masjid, Red fort etc.
The Peacock throne of Shah Jahan was another artifact.

Q12. What were the favourable conditions that helped Shivaji to establish and
independent kingdom?
A. An independent Hindu Maratha State was established in the 17th century by
Shivaji. The following condition helped him to establish the Maratha kingdom.
1. The propagators of the Bhakti movement like Eknath, Tukaram, Pandit, Namdev
and Samartha Ramdas united the Maratha speaking people.
2. The deccna platue helped Marathas not only to build hill fortresses but also to
carry on Guerilla war-fare.
3. The Marathas received the much needed political and military training in courts of
Ahmadnagar and Bijapur.
4. Under these circumstances, Shivaji successfully established the Maratha kingdom.

Q13. Write about Shivaji’s administration.
A. Shivaji’s administration:
1. Shivaji was a good administrator. His administrative system was a centralised one
like that of any other medieval ruler. It had these features.
2. The king was the final authority in all administrative matters. But Shivaji what not
a dictator. He ruled following the Dharmasastras.
3. The king was assisted by eight ministers in his administration. They were known as the Ashtapradhans. The Prime Minister was the Peshwa.
4. Shivaji divided his kingdom into three provinces. Each province was administered by a Viceroy.
5. land was surveyed. He fixed 2/5 of its income as land revenue. He extended loans
to the farmers for bringing more and more land under cultivation.
6. He collected two taxes known as Chauth andSardeshmukhi. They were collected
from the areas outside Swaraj.
7. He maintained a standing army. He paid monthly salaries to the soldiers . He
maintained strict discipline in the army.
8. He was tolerant in religious matters and respected Quran and Mosques. He treated
honourably even the Muslim women and children of the enemy.
9. The Shivaji, on account of his able administration occupied a unique place in
History.


14. During whose region did the English came to India for trade to begin with?
What was the name of their company?
A. During the region of Jahngir the English came to India for trading. The name of
their company was English East India company.

15. Where did the French establish their factories?
A. The French established their factories of surat, Machilipatnam Ponodichery,
Chanranagar.


CIVICS

UNIT – I
OUR CONSTITUTION

Q1: What is meant by constitution ?
Ans. Constitution is a special act specifying how Government should be
formed and how it should carry on its work for the welfare of the citizens. It helps the Government of State to function collectively, harmoniously and systematically.

Q2: Is constitution necessary for a country ? why ?
Ans. Yes, Constitution is quite necessary for a country as -
It helps in the formation of the Government.
It helps the Government to function according to it and for the welfare of the citizens.


Q3: Why did people reject the constitution introduced by the British ?
Ans. The constitution introduced by the British was rejected as it did
not reflect our people’s aims, ideals and aspirations.

Q4: How is our constitution framed ?
Ans.1) To prepare constitution to our country a constituent Assembly
was set up in 1946 under the president-ship of Dr. Babu Rajendra Prasad.
2) It studied the constitutions of various countries for about 3 years to prepare
our constitution.
3) Finally the constitution Drafting committee was appointed with Dr. B.R.
Ambedkar as its chairman.
4. The Drafting committee proposed the Draft constitution by February 1948.
5. After a country wide discussion over the Draft constitution, it was approved
on 26th November 1949 with many changes.
6. Finally it came into force from 26th January 1950.

Q5. What is the total number of members in our constituent Assembly ?
Ans. Our Constituent Assembly was a body set up in 1946 to prepare
our constitution. It consisted of 292 members elected by the Provincial Legislative Assembly and 93 nominated members from the Native States. So the total number of members in our Constituent Assembly was 385.

Q6. What is meant by Draft constitution ?
Ans. The draft constitution was a rough copy of the Constitution
prepared by the Constitution Drafting Committee.
Dr. B.R.Amedkar was its Chairman.


Q7. When was the Draft constitution kept ready for adoption in the constituent Assembly ?
Ans. Draft constitution was kept ready for adoption by 26th November
1948 in the Constituent Assembly.

Q8. Explain briefly some of the goals of our state mentioned in the preamble of our constitution.
Ans. The preamble of our constitution contains some important goals of our state. They are :
1. All the people should receive equal justice in their social, economic and
political life.
2. They should have liberty in thinking, expression, belief and worship.
3. All the people should get equal opportunities to acquire suitable status.
4. All should get equal opportunities for education and employment without
any barriers of caste, religion, sex, language, region and race.

Q9. How do you say that there is Democracy in our country ?
Ans. India is a democratic state. The following factors tell that there is democracy in our country.
1. People elect the members of parliament and legislative Assemblies for every five years.
2. By this manner people get an opportunity for every five years to set up
an efficient government in the place of an inefficient and corrupt govt.
3. People themselves set up their government to protect their interests.
4. The right to vote is given to people irrespective of caste, creed, religion,
race, sex, language and region.
5. People can put new political parties into power in the place of existing
parties.

Q10. What are the objectives of socialism ?
Ans. The objectives of socialism are :
1. To reduce the economic inequalities between the haves and have nots.
2. To eliminate poverty
3. To provide a comfortable life to people
4. To create socialistic pattern of society.
5. To distribute the country’s wealth among all people without being
concentrated in the hands of a few.


Q11. What is meant by secularism ?
Ans. Secularism means that a state should not be guided by any particular religion in the performance of its functions. There should be no state religion. All religions should be treated alike. The state should not encourage or discourage any religion in the state.


Q12. What are fundamental Rights ?
Ans. The rights provided to the individual in the constitution to develop one’s individuality and to have freedom are called fundamental rights. The constitution provided six fundamental rights.

They are :
Right to equality
Right to freedom
Right against exploitation.
Right to religious freedom.
Cultural and educational rights and right to constitutional remedies.

Q13. What are your duties as a citizen ?
Ans. The duties of a citizen are :-
1. To abide by the constitution and to respect National Flag and National
Anthem.
2. To protect India’s national integrity.
3. To defend our country.
4. To cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national
struggle for freedom.
5. To protect Indian culture.
6. To respect women and promote harmony among all people transcending
religious, linguistic and regional diversities.
7. To save forests, lakes, rivers and forest wealth.
8. To protect public properties and eschew violence.
9. To develop scientific temper and enthusiasm for gathering information.
10. To endeavour individually and collectively for the development of our country.

Q14. Is India a Unitary State or a federal state ? Explain briefly.
Ans. Our country is a Federation because our constitution declared it as a “Union of
States”. Further this union is called “Indian Union”. The characteristics of a
Federation. are :-
1) Distribution of powers between the Centre and the States.
2. Establishment of an independent Supreme Court and a written Constitution.
3. India is also a Unitary state on account of the following features :
4. The Centre has Residuary powers.
5. There is one single citizenship.
6. Residential powers are given to the Center over States.

Q15. What are called Directive principles ? What are they ?
Ans. Directive principles are the guidelines formulated in our Constitution for the guidance of the Government to take up activities for the welfare of the people. If they are violated or not followed, the matter cannot be taken to the court of law.
The Directive principles are :-
1. The government should see that the wealth is not concentrated in the hands of a few. It should be distributed among all people on the basis of equality.
2. To improve the living conditions of people.
3. To provide facilities for free and compulsory education for the children of 6 to 14 years.
4. To promote the interests of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and the
other weaker sections.
5. To develop cottage Industries.
6. To establish village panchayats.
7. To work for international peace.
8. To secure the social , economic and political justice.
9. To introduce prohibition.

Q16. What is meant by Unity in Diversities ? How can you say the there is
Unity in diversity in India ?

Ans. India being a sub continent has a lot of diversity in its features.
Unity in diversity is the special feature of India.
1. It has different types of geographical conditions.
2. It contains people of different religions and there appears wide differences in people’s dress, language and customs.
3. Inspite of this diversity, all people feel that they are all Indians. They
possess strong nationalistic feelings.
4. People are integrated by nationalism which binds them to provide
formational integration.
5. Our National Anthem and National Flag are the symbols of Unity.

Thus we find Unity in Diversity in India.


UNIT – II
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

Q1. State the powers of Lok Sabha.

Ans. Lok Sabha is the Lower House of the Parliament. The powers of
Lok Sabha are :
1. It makes laws on the items in the Union List and Concurrent List.
2. It has the power to give its approval for a bill to become an act.
3. It has power to take part in the election of the President and Vice
President and in their removal.
4. Financial bills are to be introduced only in this house.

Q2. Why is the Lower House more powerful than the Upper House ?
Ans. The Lower House is Loksabha and the Upper House is Rajyasabha in the Parliament. The Lower House is more powerful than the Upper House because the members of it are elected by the people directly. Hence it is the House of People’s representatives. The members of Rajya Sabha are elected indirectly. So the Lower House is more powerful than the Upper House

Q3: What is the role of the President in Legislation ?
Ans. President plays an important role in the process of Legislation. After the bill is
passed by both the houses of the parliament, it is sent to the President for his
assent. He may grant it or return it for reconsideration. If the parliament passes
it again and sends it to him, he shall grant it his assent. Then the bill becomes
an act. No bill will become an act without the assent of him.

Q4. State the procedure for passing a bill into an act.
Ans. An elaborate procedure is adopted to make a new act. It involves four stages.
They are :
1. If a new act is necessary, it is introduced as a bill in one house. Any
member may introduce it. Generally government introduces financial bills
in Lok Sabha. The same procedure is followed in the Vidhan Sabha in the
State also.
2. In the second stage the bill is read in the house. It is published in gazette
if it is approved by majority of its members. This is called the first
reading. In the second reading every clause is read only in the house and
for a detailed study, it may be referred to a select committee. After the
committee gives its report, the House discusses it vividly clause wise.
Finally the bill as a whole is considered in the house. This is called the
third reading. It is put to final voting.
3. Later the bill is sent to the other house for consideration. The same
procedure adopted in the first house is followed. Any differences are
resolved at the joint meeting.
4. Bills passed by the Parliament become Central acts only after the
approval of the President. Bills passed by the State Legislature become
Acts only after the approval of the Governor.


Q5. When is the joint session of the Parliament held? or Why is a joint meeting
of the two houses held ?
Ans. The joint session of the Parliament is held when different opinions arise between the two Houses while approving the bill. The meeting is held to resolve the issue. The speaker presides over it.
CIVICS
UNIT – III - EXECUTING THE LAWS

Short Answer Questions

Q1. How is the appointment of Governor made?
A. 1) The Governor is appointed by the President of India on the advice of the
Prime Minister.
2) The Chief Minister of the state concerned is also consulted.
3) At times one Governor may be appointed for two or more States.
4) He is the agent of the centre.
5) Like the President, he is only a nominal authority.

Q2. How is the State Council of Ministers formed?
A. 1) The State Council of Ministers consists of the Chief Minister and the Ministers.
They have been elected directly by the people, either to the Vidhana Sabha or
the Vidhana Parishat in the state.
2) They are the people’s representatives.
3) They belong to the majority party in the Vidhana Sabha.
4) The leader of the majority party is appointed as the Chief Minister by the
Governor.
5) The members of the Council of Ministers are appointed by the Governor with
the advice of the Chef Minister.

Q3. Under whose leadership does the Union Council of Ministers function?
A. 1) The Union Council of Minister functions under the leadership of the
Prime Minister.
2) It is very important part of the Executive Council in Union Government.
3) All its decisions are informed to the President, only through the Prime
Minister.


Q4. To which house is Union Council of Ministers responsible?
A. 1) The Union Council of Ministers are responsible to the Lok Sabha.
2) Its members are appointed from among the Members of Parliament.
3) They are also the representatives of people of India.

Q5. What is the term of President’s office?
A. 1) The term of President’s office is five years.
2) He is the representative of all the people of India.
3) He is the head of our State-Indian Union.

Q6. Who is the present Governor of Andhra Pradesh?
A. 1) The present Governor of Andhra Pradesh is Mr. N.D. Tiwari.
2) Governor is the head of a state.
3) He is appointed by the President.

Q7. In whose name is the Central rule carried on?
A. 1) The Central rule carried in the country on the name of President.
2) He performs all the functions of his office on the advice of Union Council of
Ministers.
3) He takes responsibility for rule in any state of our country under extra-ordinary
circumstances.

Q8. Who implements the decisions of State Government?
A. 1) The decisions of State Government are implemented by the State Council
of Minister.
2) They have been elected directly by the people in the state.
3) They are also people’s representatives.

Q9. Which of the following departments co-ordinates the activities of the
Various administrative departments? Which one implements the Social
policies? Which one has taken up Crime detection? (1) Revenue
department, (2) Social Welfare department, (3) Police department
A. 1) The Revenue Department co-ordinates the activities of the various
administrative departments.
2) The Social Welfare department implements the Social Policies.
3) The Police department has taken up crime detection.

Long Answer Questions

Q10. Why is the President called a nominal authority in our country?
A. 1) In the Parliamentary form of Government the President of India cannot
assume dictatorial powers.
2) The powers linked with him are exercised by the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers who came from the Parliament.
3) The President is bound by the advices given from the Council of Minister.
4) The central rule that goes on daily in the country, takes place in his name only.
5) The bill which is returned to the Parliament by the President for re-
consideration, may or may not reconsider it.
6) If the Parliament passes it again than he shall grant his assent.
7) According to the constitution, he has to carry over his duties only with the
decisions of the Union Council of Ministers.
8) Thus, we can say, the President is called a nominal authority in our country.
Q11. What are the powers of Prime Minister?
A. The powers of the Prime Minister are
1. Prime Minister is the leader of the Union Council of Ministers.
2. It is he who chooses the Minister of his team and allocates portfolios to them.
3. He presides over the meeting of the cabinet.
4. He is the main link between the President and the Cabinet.
5. He informs the President of the decisions of the Council of Ministers.
6. He is the leader of the house.
7. He shapes the domestic and foreign policies of the country.
8. He is the leader of the nation and takes all the important decisions for the sake
of the nation.

Q12. What are the powers of the Chief Minister?
A. The powers of the Chief Minister are:
1. The Ministers are appointed by the state Governor with the recommendation of the Chief Minister.
2. The Chief Minister distributes the portfolios among the ministers and
supervise their work. He has the right to reshuffle the portfolios as well.
3. He can remove any minister if he is not satisfied with his work.
4. He summons the meetings of the Council and presides over them. He also
decides the agenda of the meetings.
5. He is the major link between the Council and the Governor. It is his
constitutional obligation to communicate all decisions of the Council of
Ministers to the Governor.
6. He is the chief spokesman of the Government and wields an authority to
make authoritative statements on state policy.
7. He is the chief advisor of the Governor on matters of State administration.
8. As a Chief co-ordinator, he co-ordinates the work of all the departments of
the state administration.

Q13. What is the role played by public services in a democracy?
A. 1) The public services assist the Government not only in carrying out the
central and state acts, but also in fulfilling the people’s common needs in public
administration.
2) The officials manning these public services are called Government servants.
3) They maintain law and order and also look after the facilities provided by
Government for the welfare of the people.
4) For better performance of these functions, administrative services are divided
into various departments.
5) The officials are appointed in these departments and they are supervised by the
concerned heads of departments.
6) Besides in modern states, many officials work in public sector undertaking for
the benefit of people.
7) All the members of public services should work hard to assist the government in
their administrative activities.
8) The departments of Revenue, Police and Social Welfare occupy an important
place among the various departments in state administration.


















UNIT - IV
Interpretation of Laws

Q1. Which of the following safe guards the constitution in India? Why?
A. In India the power of safe guarding the constitution is given to the judiciary .
Judiciary means all the …….in the country. The judiciary interprets the provisions
of the constitution. ‘

Q2. Why do disputes wise? Who disposes them legally?
A. 1. Generally all the citizens do not behave according to the Act. So disputes arise.
Some of the causes for the arise of disputes
2. Disputes arise while clearing the borrowed money or partitioning properties or
in their sale.
3. Some people have disputes with the state or central Government when their
fundamental rights are violated by them.

COURTS:

Q1.Who has the power to interpret laws?
A. The high courts, the highest in a state and the Supreme Court the highest in the
country interpret the laws.

Q2. What is Supreme Court?
A. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the Judiciary in the whole country. It is
situated in Delhi . The chief justice of India and other Judges work in it. It acts as
the guardian to the Constitution of India.

Q3. How does president of India modify the punishment imposed by Supreme Court?
A: The president of India is the Head of the State – India Union . Under certain extraordinary circumstances, he can modify the death sentence imposed over a citizen by the Supreme Court into life imprisonment or let off.

Q4: Who appoints the Judge of High Court?
A: The judge of a High Court is appointed by the President of India in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court.
The Chief Judge of the High Court is appointed by the president in consultation with the Chief Justice of India and the state Governor
Functions: Each court has certain limits in imposing punishments after due Inquiry according to the proper procedure.
Some of them deal with civil cases while some deal with criminal cases. Some
taken up both the cases.

In this procedure each court at the first stage hears the petitioner, the
respondent and then witness . After the proper enquiry it imposes punishments
when the offence is proved.
Each court has certain limits while imposing punishments . The district
sessions court has the power to impose the death penalty. The lower courts
cannot have such power. Appeal over the judgement of a lower court can be
made to the net higher court.



Q5: What is meant by independence of judiciary? How is it significant in Indian
Courts?
A: We have the courts of law in the country –Judiciary. Constitution has conferred
an independent status on judiciary in order to enable it to provide justice to
the people Impartially and independent without depending upon ……. . it is
known as independence of judiciary.
The significance of judiciary an independent status to the judiciary.
1. The constitution provided an independent status to the judiciary.
2. The judges of the president
3. Their Salaries are paid from the consolidated fund .
4. They cannot be removed by the Executive
5. The president only can remove the judges of Supreme Court and High Court
when they are impeached by the parliament.
6. The courts Gave autonomy in functioning.

9. Explain briefly the statement All are equal before the judiciary.
A. The two basic principles of democracy are liberty and equality . The survival of democracy depends upon the protection of these rights . The constitution of India entrusted the responsibility of the protection of thee ideals to the Judiciary the Judiciary treats all the people equally before it for justice . It applies the principles of Equality of Law to every individual. So all are equal before the judiciary

Q10: What are Lok adalats and consumer former?
A. Lok Adalats: These are peoples courts
2. They are special courts
3. They are created to settle certain cases which can be disposed
of, easily through arbitration as per law.
4. They provide justice to the poor freely as judges for the Lok
Adalats.
5. Judges working in some of the general courts serve as judges fo the Lok Adalts.
6. This method reduces the delay in the disposal of cases.
7. If a party is not satisfied with the judgement of a Lok Adalat, there is a provision to go to the ordinary courts.

Consumer’s Forums:
Consumers forums are also special courts.
They settle disputes arising between consumers and sellers
Their main aim is to provide justice to people quickly
They carryout their functions like Lok Adalats.
If any of the rights of the consumers are violated, these forums settle the disputes.
These courts have become more popular as peoples courts.
Peoples Coperation is necessary for the development and proper functioning of these courts.









UNIT – V
TRAFFIC EDUCATION (Deleted)

1. What are the parts of a Road?
The part of a road are:
i) Foot paths for pedestrians
ii) Central parts for vehicles
iii) Katcha parts in villages and hamlets.

2. Which of them should be used by pedestrians? Why?
A. The foot paths should be used by pedestrians.
They are a bit higher than the road levels.
They are separated from the road by pavements.
No vehicle passes along that foot path.
Hence the foot paths are free from any collision with motor vehicles.
So they should be used by the pedestrians.


3. What is Zebra crossing?
A. Zebra crossing is the place where some lines are painted across certain roads to indicate that the pedestrians should cross the roads only at these places. Vehicles should go slowly and carefully at these places. These markings are intended to regulate the speed of the vehicles and move without accidents.

4. Why are the markings painted on the road at a road junction?
A. The markings painted on the road at a road junction are intended to regulate the speed of the vehicles.

5. State briefly the road patterns and the marking on road.
A. Road patterns and the makings on the road are
1. Foot path. It is meant for pedestrians
2. Road divider or Central Dividing line: It divides the road into two equal parts.
3. Zebra crossings : These are the stripes marked across the roads to provide safety to the pedestrians to cross the road from one side to another side.

6. Why should roads be maintained properly?
A. Roads should be properly maintained. They should not be dug up as it spoils
the road surface and reduces its life.