Class 7 Geography - Chapter 1: The Environment

Key Questions and Answers

Question 1: What is an Ecosystem?

• Concept of ecosystem: A system consisting of plants, animals, and microorganisms interacting with each other and their physical environment.
• Dependency: Plants and animals depend on each other and also on their surroundings.
• Example: In a rainforest, each component (like trees, animals, soil) is interdependent.

Question 2: What do you mean by Natural Environment?

• Involves biotic (living things like plants and animals) and abiotic (non-living things like water, soil) components.
• Natural environment forms with these natural elements.

Question 3: Major Components of the Environment

• Natural Components: Mountains, rivers, oceans, atmosphere, plant, and animal life.
• Human-made Components: Buildings, roads, industries, etc.
• Human Components: Family, community, religion, education, economic and political conditions.

Question 4: Examples of Human-made Environment

• Roads, bridges, buildings, industries, schools, hospitals.
• These elements are not found naturally but are created by humans.

Question 5: Layers of the Earth

• Explained the top layer (lithosphere) and its resources like forests, land for agriculture, human settlements.
• Importance of these layers for life and natural processes.

Question 6: Natural vs Human Environment

• Matching exercise: Components to be matched with their correct characteristics (e.g., natural ecosystem vs. human-made environment).

Activities and Thought Exercises

• Imagine and draw an ideal environment where you'd love to live.
• Consider natural vs human-made environments in your drawing.

Important Concepts and Terms

Ecosystem

• A community of interacting organisms and their environment.

Natural Environment

• Composed of biotic and abiotic components.
• Examples include forests, rivers, mountains.

Human-made Environment

• Structures created by humans: buildings, roads, industries.
• Impacts of human activities on natural surroundings.

Lithosphere

• The Earth's outer layer providing resources and habitats.

Biotic and Abiotic

• Biotic: Living elements like plants, animals.
• Abiotic: Non-living elements like water, soil, air.

Summary Tips

• Remember the interdependence in ecosystems (plants, animals, surroundings).
• Differentiate between natural and human-made environments.
• Understand the importance of every component and their interactions.