Lesson- 6 WEATHER AND CLIMATE New Words 1. Heat Zones:- the division of the earth according to the climate. 2. Frigid:- the zone that is the coldest 3. Temperate:- the zone that is neither too hot nor too cold. 4. Torrid:- the zone that receives the direct rays of the sun. 5. Altitude:- vertical distance from the sea level. 6. Humidity:- water content in air. 7. Weather:- condition of the atmosphere at a given time and place. 8. Climate:- average of the weather conditions of a large area over a long period of time. Write short answer Q1. Define humidity:- Ans. The amount of water vapour or moisture contained in the air is called humidity. It affects the climate of a place and causes rainfall. Q2. Differentiate between weather & climate? Ans:- Weather:- 1. It is the condition of air, temperature, wind, air pressure, rainfall and humidity in the atmosphere long period of time. 2. Weather keeps changing at short intervals and may change many times during a day. 3. Weather affects our daily activities Climate:- 1. Climate is the average weather condition that prevails over a vast area and for a long period of time. 2. The climate of a place stays more or less the same year after year. 3. Climate affects our way of life. Q.3:- How does rain occur? Ans:- Winds that blow over oceans and seas carry moisture. These moist winds, rise up and cool to form water droplets that fall dawn as rain. 1 P a g e
Q4:- Write the difference between moderate climate and extreme climate? Ans:- The difference between moderate & extreme climate are as follows.:- Moderate Climates:- 1. Places that are neither very hot in summers nor very cold in winters have a moderate climate. 2. Places near the sea coast have a moderate climate for example, Chennai. Extreme Climate:- 1. Places that are extremely hot in summers and extremely cold in winters have an extreme climate 2. Places far away from the sea coast have an extreme climate for example, Delhi. Answer the following questions:- Q1:- Name the five important factors that determine the climate of a place. Ans:- The five important factors that determine the climate of a place are:- 1. Distance from the equator or latitude 2. Height above the sea level or altitude. 3. Distance from the sea 4. Direction of winds 5. Humidity and rainfall. Q2:- How does (a) latitude (b) altitude affect the climate of a place? Ans:- (a) latitude:- The earth s surface is heated by the rays of the sun. Places located on or near the equator receive the direct rays of the sun. The places at the poles receive the slanting rays of the sun. Slanting rays travel through a greater distance and lose most of their heat as compared to the direct rays of the sun. So the closer a place to the equator, the hotter it is and the closer it is to poles, the colder it is. (b) Altitude:- Atmosphere is heated by the hot surface which is heated by the sun. Places which are higher altitudes receives less heat than those places which are at lower altitudes. That is why the hill station 2 P a g e
have cooler climate as compared to the plains. The higher the altitude, the cooler the place. Q3:- How do winds influence the climate of a place? Ans:- Winds influence the climate of a place in the following ways:- 1. Winds coming from hot regions, increase the temperature. 2. Winds coming from cold regions, decrease the temperature. 3. Winds coming from the sea brings cool and moist weather. 4. Winds bring clouds with them, which cause rain fall. Q4:- How does the climate of a place affect the people living there? Ans:- Climate affects our way of life. People living in cool climate wear woollen clothes, live in houses with wooden flooring and eat foods that are rich in proteins and fats while the people living in the jot areas wear cotton clothes, eat easily digestible foods like coconut water and butter milk and live in houses which protect them from the hot rays of the sun. Q5:- Name the seven climatic regions of the world? Ans:- The seven major climatic regions of the world are as follows:- 1. Equatorial:- very hot and wet. 2. Tropical Monsoon:- hot & wet 3. Desert:- very hot & dry. 4. Taiga:- cool & dry 5. Temperate:- warm & wet. 6. Tundra:- very cold 7. Mediterranean Q6:- Name the main climatic zones of the earth Ans:- The earth is divided in to three climatic or heat zones:- 1. Torrid zone:- which is hot and humid through out the year. 2. Temperate zone:- which is neither very hot very cold. It has a moderate climate. 3. Frigid zone:- which has very cold climate. 3 P a g e
LESSON -7 The Equatorial Region New Words:- 1. Equatorial Region:- region on the both sides of the equator; it has a hot and wet climate through out the year. 2. Ever green forests:- forests in which the trees do not shed their leaves in any season. 3. Cassava:- Plant whose roots are eaten. 4. Pygmies:- People of a tribe in equatorial Africa; most pygmies are very short 5. Vegetation:- natural growth of plants in a region depending on climate. 6. Primitive:- very old ; the first or earliest of its kind 7. Infrastructure:- the basic facilities and services that we all need such as schools, markets and hospitals. 8. Export:- send to another country for sale. 9. Endangered:- to be in danger of becoming extinct. 10.Extinct:- to be no longer in existence. 11. Cash crops:- crops that are sold to be used as raw materials. Write Short Answers:- Q1.- What kind of climate does the equatorial region have? Ans:- The equatorial region has a hot and humid climate through out the year. It receives the direct rays of the sun. It rains heavily every afternoon. The area is covered with thick and dense forests Q2:- Name the continents and the places that fall under the equatorial region Ans:- The continents and the places that fall under the equatorial region are South America, Africa and South East Asia. 4 P a g e
Q3. In which part of Africa is the Democratic Republic of the Congo located? Name its capital. Ans:- Democratic Republic of the Congo is located in Central Africa. Its capital is Kinshasa. Q4:-Name the four lakes that the Congo is famous for. Ans:- The four lakes are Albert, Edward, Kivu and Tanganyika. Q5:- Why have some of the animals become extinct? Name an endangered animal of this country? Ans:- This is because hunting has reduced the number of animals. The hippopotamus is one such animal that is considered endangered. Q6:- What is the main occupation of the people of the Congo? Which main crops they grow? Ans:- Farming is the main occupation of the people of the Congo. The main crops grown include rice, maize, cassava, cocoa, tobacco, rubber, oil palm and cotton. Q7:- Name four minerals found in the Congo? Why are most of the minerals exported? Ans:- The main minerals found in Congo are diamonds, gold, silver and cobalt. Most of the minerals are exported because the industries are not well developed Q8:- Name any four of each in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Ans:- 1. Crops:- Rice, cocoa, tobacco, and cassava 2. Cities:- Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, Kananga and Matadi. 3. Animals:- Elephants, giraffes, monkeys, baboons Answer the following question:- List the neighbours of the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the east west, north and south. Ans:- The Democratic of the Congo is surrounded by nine independent countries. It shares its borders with. 5 P a g e
EAST:- Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania West:- Republic of the Congo North:- Central African Republic, South Sudan South:- Angola, Zambia Q2:- Describe the (a) forest & (b) climate of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ans:- Forest:- The region receives the rain fall through out the year, the forest areas are very dense and has a large variety of trees and plants. There are grasses shrubs, creepers, climbers and tall trees. The trees reach a height of about sixty metres. They make a canopy or top which blocks the sun light, making the forests damp and dark. These forests are known as ever green forests. (b) Climate:- It lies in the torrid zone and has a tropical climate. It is hot and humid through out the year. The sun shines brightly, its rays fall directly on this area and the temperature is high all the year round. It rains heavily every after noon. There is no winter season here. Q3.:- Why is the Democratic Republic of the Congo a perfect home for animals and birds? Ans:- The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a perfect home for animals and birds because the forest areas are very dense and contains a large variety of trees and plants. These forests and grass lands make this country a natural habitat for the wide varieties of animals. Q4:- What do you know about the economy of the Congo? Ans:- The economy of the Congo are as follows:- 1. It has rich deposits of minerals and it is the leading producer of industrial diamonds. 2. It produces half of the world s cobalt. 3. Mining, cement, paper, chemical, petroleum, soap and textiles are the major industries. 4. Electricity is produced from the Congo river. 5. The country has not fully utilised their natural resources. 6. Most of the minerals are exported. 6 P a g e
Q5:- Who are the pygmies? What do you know about their lifestyle? Ans:- The original inhabitants of the Congo were the Pygmies. They are very short, measuring less than 150cm in height. They lived by hunting and gathering food. The few pygmies live mostly in the Ituri forests in the north east. They live in small huts and move about in search of food. They still lead a primitive life. 7 P a g e