INDIAN SCHOOL MUSCAT
MIDDLE SECTION
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCE
LIFE IN THE DESERT REGIONS
NAME: _______________________ CLASS VII SEC: __ ROLL NO:__DATE: ___.02.2016
I.
FILL IN THE BLANKS
1. The Sahara Desert extends from the __________________coast in the west, to the __________
in the east.
2. Rivers _______________ and_______________ are the two important rivers that flow in
eastern and western parts of the Sahara desert.
3. ________________, _______________ and _________________ are oil-rich countries.
4. The ___________________ and the _________________ are the two prominent nomadic tribal
groups of the Sahara Desert.
5. A major occupation in Ladakh is the weaving of _________________ shawls from the wool of
the __________________ ante lope.
6. The __________________________ is the most useful animal in the Ladakh region.
7. ________________________, situated in Ladakh, is the coldest place in India.
II.
NAME THE FOLLOWING
1. The largest fresh water lake - ______________________.
2. The country that is called the ‘GIFT OF NILE’- _______________________.
3. A large Buddhist temple or place of worship - ________________________.
4. The world’ second highest peak- _____________________.
5. The capital of Ladakh - _____________________________.
6. The animal that is an endangered species in Ladakh - ____________________.
7. An important latitude passing through the middle of the Sahara desert- _______
III. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS [ONE POINT].
1. What is a desert?

2.

3.

Any place in the world that receives less than 25 cm rainfall annually is classified as a desert.
What is the typical activity that is seen around an oasis in Sahara?
Oases are the only spots where water is available and therefore date palms, vegetable and wheat
are cultivated.
Why does Ladakh get very little rain?
Ladakh is a cold desert, being in the rain shadow of the high ranges, it receives less than 10cm
of rainfall annually.
4. Why was Ladakh bifurcated into two districts?
 For better administration Ladakh was divided into two districts in 1979; Leh and Kargil.
IV.ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS [TWO POINTS]
1. Where is the Sahara Desert located?
 Located in the northern half of Africa, the Sahara extends from the Atlantic Coast in the west, to
the Red Sea in the east.
 The Tropic of Cancer passes through the middle of the desert.
2. Where is Ladakh situated?


Ladakh is situated in the eastern part of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
It is enclosed between the Karakoram and the Zanskar Ranges of the Greater Himalayas.
V.ANSWER THE FOLLOWING [THREE POINTS ]
1. Give an account of the economic activities of the people of Ladakh?



Men undertake herding sheep and cattle.
A major occupation is the weaving of Pashmina shawls from the wool of the Chiru Antelope.
Rugs and carpets from the sheep and yak hair form popular trade products.
VI.ANSWER THE FOLLOWING [FOUR POINTS]
1. Compare the flora and fauna of the Sahara with those of the Ladakh?
SAHARA
1. The vegetation consists of scattered cacti,
stunted trees and thorny bushes.
LADAKH
1. Patches of grasses and shrubs .Willow and
poplar trees also flourish extensively.
2. Date palm, vegetables and wheat are
cultivated in the Oasis.
2. Apples, apricots and walnuts bloom in the
valley.
3. The animals found are camels, jackals,
hyenas, foxes, snakes and lizards.
3. The common animals found here are yaks,
sheep and goats.
4. The camel is the main beast of burden and
is called the ‘ship of the desert’.
4.The yak is the most important beast of burden in
this region.
DO YOU KNOW?????
 Desertifation is the process which turns productive fertile land into non- productive
desert as a result of climate change, excessive exploitation and poor land management.
 The Sahara Desert is sometimes called ‘El Khela’ which means ‘the emptiness’.
 Ladakh means ‘land of the passes’
 Ladakh is also known as ‘Khapachan’ [land of snow]