Selina Concise Solutions for ICSE Class 7 Geography Chapter 15 Africa Climate Natural Vegetation Wildlife Minerals

THINK AND ANSWER

Question 1: The northern and southern parts of Africa have opposite seasons at any time of the year. Why ?
Answer:
A large part of Africa lies between the tropics, and, therefore, most of the continent has a warm or hot climate. However, the amount of rainfall and humidity varies from area to area.
Anoteworthy feature ofthe climate of Africa is that the northern and southern parts of the continent have opposite seasons at any time ofthe year. In other words, when the northern part experiences summer, the southern part experiences winter.
Because Africa is split by the Equator, the two hemispheres experience the sun's rays at different angles throughout the year. This creates a cycle where the North and South always have mirrored weather patterns.
Teacher's Tip: Think of the Equator as a mirror; whatever happens on one side, the opposite happens on the other!
Exam Tip: Use the term "hemisphere" to explain why seasons are reversed between the North and South.

Discuss

Question 1: Discuss how the location of Africa has affected the climate ofthe country.
Answer:
Since most of Africa lies within the tropics, the temperatures are high throughout the year. The variations between summer and winter temperatures are only slight.
Being positioned in the center of the world's tropical zone means Africa receives direct sunlight for most of the year. This creates a consistently warm environment without the extreme cold found on other continents.
Teacher's Tip: Tropical location equals high heat - Africa is the heart of the world’s warmth.
Exam Tip: Mention that the "slight variation" in temperature is due to the constant tropical sun.

VALUES AND LIFE SKILLS

Question 1: Can you enlist a few factors that affect the growth of human beings ? What factors adversely affect the growth of people in an area ?
Answer:
The factors that affect the growth of human beings are :
1. Proper balanced and nutrionational diet.
2. Proper health and sanitary facilities.
3. Proper temperature.
The factors that adversely affect the growth of people in an area are :
1. Poor or unhealthy diet.
2. Poor sanitation
3. Poor water facilities
4. Lack of awareness.
For humans to reach their full potential, they need a safe environment with clean water and healthy food. Without these basics, diseases can spread and physical development can be slowed down.
Teacher's Tip: Just like a plant needs good soil and water, humans need "Nutrients and Hygiene" to flourish.
Exam Tip: Presenting these as positive vs. negative factors in a clear list helps score better marks.

EXERCISES

A. Write True or False. Correct the false statements.

Question 1: Nights are very hot in the Sahara Desert.
Answer:
False.
Nights are very cold in the Sahara Desert.
Sand loses heat very quickly once the sun goes down, causing the temperature to drop drastically. Without clouds to trap the heat, the desert air becomes freezing at night.
Teacher's Tip: Sand is like a metal spoon; it gets hot fast in the sun and cold fast in the shade.
Exam Tip: Always write the correct version of the statement for every "False" answer.

Question 2: The cold Canaries Current washes the north-west coast of Africa ?
Answer:
True.
This ocean current brings cooler water from the north down towards the African coast. It has a significant cooling effect on the local coastal climate.
Teacher's Tip: Remember "Canaries" sounds like "Cold" - they both start with a 'C'!
Exam Tip: A simple "True" is enough, but adding a short reason shows you understand the topic well.

Question 3: Savannah is another name for the Sudan type of climate.
Answer:
True.
The Savannah is a tropical grassland with distinct wet and dry seasons. It is famously found in the Sudan region of Africa, which is why it carries that name.
Teacher's Tip: Think of "Savannah" and "Sudan" as two names for the same grassy home.
Exam Tip: Use the term "Sudan type" when describing tropical grasslands to sound more professional.

Question 4: Temperate grasslands have dry, tall grasses.
Answer:
False.
Temperate grasslands have green, short grasses.
Unlike the tall, coarse grass of the hot Savannah, temperate grasslands receive less rain, which keeps the grass short. This short, green grass is perfect for animals like sheep and cattle to graze on.
Teacher's Tip: Short grass = Temperate; Tall grass = Tropical (Savannah).
Exam Tip: Don't confuse "dry" with "short"; temperate grasses are often very lush and green.

Question 5: The Kalahari Desert is located in north Africa.
Answer:
False.
The Kalahari Desert is located in south-central Africa.
The Sahara is the famous desert in the North, while the Kalahari sits much further south. It covers parts of Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.
Teacher's Tip: Use "K" for Kalahari and "South" - they both have a strong sound in the second half!
Exam Tip: Practice pointing out both deserts on a map of Africa to keep their locations clear.

B. Give geographical reasons.

Question 1: The equatorial region has dense forests.
Answer:
The equatorial region has dense forests as trees grow in this region to different heights, giving an impression of a three-tier formation. The topmost layer is the emergent layer. The giant trees thrust above the dense layer of trees and have huge mushroom shaped crowns. The trees in this layer receive a lot of sunlight and rain. The second layer is the canopy layer. The broad irregular crown of these trees form a tight, continuous canopy 20-30 m above the ground. The branches are often densely covered with other plants and tied together with vines.
The third layer is the understorey, which receives very little sunlight and is very dark. It has young trees, shrubs, ferns, creepers, and orchids. The forest floor usually has a layer of decomposed leaves, branches, and fruits that have fallen from the trees above. As there is very little sunlight here, the growth of plants is poor. Thus, these forests are very dense and gloomy.
The combination of daily rainfall and intense heat creates a "greenhouse" effect where plants never stop growing. This leads to a crowded forest where every inch of space is filled with life.
Teacher's Tip: Think of the equatorial forest as a three-story house where plants live on every floor!
Exam Tip: Describe the "three-tier formation" (Emergent, Canopy, Understorey) to get the best marks.

Question 2: The grasses of the savannah and the veldt are different.
Answer:
Veldts or temperate grasslands are found in South Africa. The vegetation consists of short grasses, less coarse and green than those in the savannahs. On the hill slopes, poplars and willows are common.
The Savannah has tall, rough grass because it is in a much hotter region with heavy rains. The Veldt is cooler and drier, which results in softer, shorter grass that stays green for longer.
Teacher's Tip: Savannah is for giraffes (tall), and Veldt is for sheep (short).
Exam Tip: Mention "climate differences" as the reason for the variation in grass types.

Question 3: Plants in the Sahara are thorny and dry.
Answer:
Plants in the Sahara are thorny and dry as these plants have thorny leaves, thick waxy stems, and long thin roots which penetrate deep for underground water.
Thorns protect the plants from being eaten by thirsty animals, while the waxy stems stop precious water from evaporating. Long roots are necessary because they must reach deep underground to find water that has sunk far into the sand.
Teacher's Tip: Desert plants are built like "Water Safes" - they are tough to open and hold water tightly!
Exam Tip: List three features: thorns, waxy stems, and long roots for a complete answer.

Question 4: Not much wildlife is found in the Mediterranean region of Africa.
Answer:
Not much wildlife is found in the Mediterranean as the forests in the Mediterranean region are not extensive and most of the natural vegetation has been cut down, not much wildlife is found in the this region.
Because people have used this land for farming and building cities for thousands of years, the animals have lost their natural homes. Without enough forest cover, large wild animals cannot survive or hide easily.
Teacher's Tip: "No Forest = No Home," which means no wildlife can stay there.
Exam Tip: Use the phrase "human interference" or "deforestation" to explain the lack of wildlife.

C. Answer the following questions in brief.

Question 1: Most of Africa is hot. Why ?
Answer:
A large part of Africa lies between the tropics, and, therefore, most of the continent has a warm or hot climate. However, the amount of rainfall and humidity varies from area to area.
Since the equator runs right through its middle, Africa gets direct overhead sun rays for most of the year. This geographical position prevents the continent from having the freezing temperatures found in the north or south poles.
Teacher's Tip: Location is everything! Africa is sitting in the sunniest part of the Earth.
Exam Tip: Use the term "latitudinal position" to sound more scientific in your explanation.

Question 2: What factors influence the climate of Africa ?
Answer:
The factors that affects the climate of Africa are latitudinal extent, land and sea contrast, ocean currents, and altitude.
Being near the ocean cools the coast, while being high up in mountains (altitude) makes places like Mt. Kilimanjaro cold. These different forces work together to create everything from hot deserts to cool highlands.
Teacher's Tip: Remember the "Four Factors": Lat, Land/Sea, Currents, and Height.
Exam Tip: Memorize this list of four as it is a very common short-answer question.

Question 3: Name a cold and a warm current that affect the climate of Africa.
Answer:
The cold Canaries Current washes the north-west coast of Africa, while the cold Benguela Current washes the shores of south-west Africa and has a cooling influence on the adjacent land. Winds blowing over these cold currents become cold and do not pick up moisture.
Ocean currents act like a giant cooling system for the continent by bringing chilled water from the poles. This prevents coastal temperatures from becoming as scorching as the inland deserts.
Teacher's Tip: Think of currents as the ocean's "Breeze System."
Exam Tip: Be sure to specify the location (North-west or South-west) for each current name.

Question 4: What are 4 o’clock showers ? In which climatic region of Africa do they occur ?
Answer:
This type of climate is found in the lowlands on either side of the equator in the Congo Basin, the coastal region around the Gulf of Guinea and coastal Kenya. The climate is characterized by a high temperature of 27°C throughout the year and heavy annual rainfall of 200-250 cm. Thus, there is high humidity all through the year and there are no clearly marked seasons. There is a daily occurrence of convectional rainfall. This type of rainfall is the result of intense heating of the land surface. During the day, there is a lot of evaporation. By afternoon, when it starts cooling, the water vapour condenses and falls as rain. Since it pours around 4 o’clock every day, it is known as ‘4 o’clock showers’.
The intense tropical heat causes water to evaporate into clouds all morning long. By late afternoon, the clouds become so heavy that they release rain like a regular appointment.
Teacher's Tip: It's nature's own alarm clock; the rain is so regular you can set your watch by it!
Exam Tip: Explain the process of "evaporation and condensation" to show how these showers form.

Question 5: Which region is called an open air zoo ? Why ?
Answer:
Savannah or Tropical sub-humid type of region is often referred to as an open air zoo.
The savannah has vast grassy plains with tall, coarse grasses. Many herbivorous animals such as giraffes, elephants, and zebras and carnivorous animals such as lions, cheetahs, and leopards are found here in large numbers and, therefore, this region is referred to as an open air zoo.
Because there are no cages and the land is filled with thousands of different wild animals, it feels like a giant, natural zoo. It is the best place on Earth to see complex food chains in action.
Teacher's Tip: "Savannah = Safari" - it's the home of all the big famous animals.
Exam Tip: Name at least two herbivores and two carnivores in your answer for full marks.

D. Answer the following questions in one or two paragraphs.

Question 1: Describe the three-tier forest of the equatorial region.
Answer:
The equatorial region has dense forests. Trees grow in this region to different heights, giving an impression of a three-tier formation. The topmost layer is the emergent layer. The giant trees thrust above the dense layer of trees and have huge mushroom shaped crowns. The trees in this layer receive a lot of sunlight and rain. The second layer is the canopy layer. The broad irregular crown of these trees form a tight, continuous canppy 20-30 m above the ground. The branches are often densely covered with other plants and tied together with vines.
The third layer is the understorey, which receives very little sunlight and is very dark. It has young trees, shrubs, ferns, creepers, and orchids. The forest floor usually has a layer of decomposed leaves, branches, and fruits that have fallen from the trees above. As there is very little sunlight here, the growth of plants is poor. Thus, these forests are very dense and gloomy. The hardwood trees are valuable for making good quality furniture as the wood is heavy, but the trees are difficult to exploit as they do not grow in pure stand.
The structure of this forest ensures that every possible bit of energy is used, from the highest leaves catching sun to the mushrooms on the dark floor. This density makes it one of the most important oxygen-producing regions on the planet.
Teacher's Tip: Use the words "Floor, Middle, and Top" to remember the three tiers.
Exam Tip: Mention "vines" and "hardwood" as they are key features of this specific forest type.

Question 2: Give examples of herbivorous and carnivorous animals found in the savannah grasslands.
Answer:
Herbivorous animals such as the elephant, deer, giraffe, and zebra and carnivorous animals such as the lion, cheetah, and leopard are found in large numbers.
Herbivores eat the tall grasses, while carnivores hunt the herbivores to keep the animal population in balance. This cycle of life is very visible in the wide-open plains of the Savannah.
Teacher's Tip: Herbivores are "Veggie-eaters" and Carnivores are "Meat-eaters."
Exam Tip: Listing three of each type is usually enough for a perfect score.

Question 3: Identify the hot deserts of Africa and briefly describe the climatic conditions in terms of temperature and rainfall.
Answer:
Summers are hot and winters are cool in the hot desert regions. The daily as well as annual range of temperature is large-due to the absence of cloud cover and the sandy nature of the soil. There is hardly any rainfall. These climatic conditions are found both in the northern and the southern hemispheres. In north Africa it is mainly experienced in the Sahara Desert and in south central Africa in the Kalahari Desert.
Because there is no moisture in the air to trap heat, the ground gets incredibly hot during the day but freezes at night. Rainfall is so rare that some parts of these deserts don't see water for several years.
Teacher's Tip: Hot desert = Dry air + No clouds + Huge temperature swings.
Exam Tip: Specify "Sahara" for North and "Kalahari" for South to show you know your geography.

Question 4: Why is the camel called ‘the ship of the desert’ ?
Answer:
The camel is called ‘the ship of the desert’ for the following reasons:
1. It carries goods and people across the vast sandy deserts.
2. It stores fat in its hump.
3. Its padded feet prevent it from sinking in the sea of sand.
4. It has double eyelids and long eyelashes to protect its eyes from sand during storms.
5. It can close its nostrils during sandstorms.
Camels are built specifically to handle the most difficult desert conditions without needing much water. Just like a ship carries cargo over waves, a camel carries heavy loads over sand dunes.
Teacher's Tip: Think of the camel as a biological "off-road vehicle"!
Exam Tip: Number your points clearly when explaining the "ship of the desert" label.

Question 5: Describe the Mediterranean climate.
Answer:
The coastal areas of north-west Africa and a small area in the south-west of South Africa experience the Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot with plentiful sunshine but no rainfall. Winters are mild and wet. Shifting Westerlies bring rain to these regions in their respective winter seasons.
This climate is perfect for growing fruits like grapes and olives because it stays warm even in the winter. It is unique because most other places get rain in the summer, but here it only rains when it’s cool.
Teacher's Tip: Mediterranean = Wet Winters + Dry Summers.
Exam Tip: Mention "Westerlies" as the winds that bring the rain to these specific regions.

E. In the outline map of Africa give here, mark the features and answer the questions.

Question 1: Colour dark green the area where equatorial forests are found. What difficulties were faced by the explorers because of rivers and natural vegetation of the region ?
Answer:
The equator passes through the middle of the continent and most of Africa lies within the tropics. It is, therefore, the hottest continent.
People faced many difficulties while exploring Africa. In the north, the Sahara, the world’s largest desert, was impenetrable due to severe heat and dry conditions. Most of Africa consists of undulating plateaus, so it was difficult to reach the interior from the coastal areas. The rivers of Africa have many rapids and waterfalls, and are not fit for navigation. The extensive equatorial forests and swampy lands teeming with dangerous tsetse flies and poisonous insects discouraged explorers from entering the heart of the continent.
The thick jungles were almost like walls that blocked travelers from moving forward. Combined with dangerous diseases and river currents, the heart of Africa remained a mystery for a very long time.
Teacher's Tip: Use the name "The Dark Continent" to remember how hard it was to explore.
Exam Tip: Focus on "rapids and waterfalls" as the main reason why river travel was impossible.

Question 2: Mark the area that is called an ‘open air zoo’. Name thevegetation of this region.
Answer:
These vast grassy plains with tall, coarse grasses are called the savannahs or tropical grasslands. Several varieties of grass, including elephant grass, grow here. Some acacia and baobab trees are found interspersed between the grasses. Please check Map given on Textbook page 126 (Africa : Climatic and vegetation regions)
The vegetation consists of plants that can survive long periods of dryness followed by heavy rain. Elephant grass is so tall it can actually hide a whole elephant, which is how it got its name!
Teacher's Tip: Savannah = Tall Grass + Acacia trees (the ones that look like umbrellas).
Exam Tip: Mention "Baobab" trees to show you know specific African vegetation.

Question 3: Mark the Sahara Desert. Name a plant that best survives in the climate of this region. What are the characteristic features of this plant that help it survive ?
Answer:
The trees have long roots, small waxy leaves, and thick spongy bark, which help them survive in the dry summers. Examples include cork, oak, laurel, olive, and fig. Forests are not extensive as most of them have been cut down and replaced by orchards of citrus fruit trees such as oranges, lemons, and grapes.
Note: This answer describes Mediterranean plants near the Sahara. Desert-specific plants like cacti use thorns to save water. These features are nature's way of preventing even a drop of moisture from being wasted.
Teacher's Tip: Think of waxy leaves as a plant’s "raincoat" that keeps water inside.
Exam Tip: If asked about Sahara survival, always mention "long roots" first.

Question 4: Mark the area north of the Atlas Mountains where the Mediterranean climate is found. Which crops does this climate support ?
Answer:
The trees have long roots, small waxy leaves, and thick spongy bark, which help them survive in the dry summers. Examples include cork, oak, laurel, olive, and fig. Forests are not extensive as most of them have been cut down and replaced by orchards of citrus fruit trees such as oranges, lemons, and grapes.
This region is the world's best place for "Citrus" farming because of the sunny winters. Most of the olives and oranges eaten in Europe come from these

F. Picture study

Question 1: What kind of climate is experienced in the region shown in the picture ?
Answer:
Summers are hot and winters are cool in the hot desert regions. The daily as well as annual range of temperature is large due to the absence of cloud cover and the sandy nature of the soil. There is hardly any rainfall. These climatic conditions are found both in the northern and the southern hemispheres. In north Africa it is mainly experienced in the Sahara Desert and in south-central Africa in the Kalahari Desert.
The picture shows a camel in a sandy environment, which is typical of the world's most extreme dry lands. These regions define the "Hot Desert" climate where survival depends on finding water.
Teacher's Tip: Look for the sand dunes—they are the "Fingerprints" of a hot desert climate.
Exam Tip: Mention the "large range of temperature" to explain why it can be hot and cold in the same place.

Question 2: What kind of vegetation grows in such a climate ?
Answer:
The trees have long roots, small waxy leaves, and thick spongy bark, which help them survive in the dry summers. Examples include cork, oak, laurel, olive, and fig. Forests are not extensive as most of them have been cut down and replaced by orchards of citrus fruit trees such as oranges, lemons, and grapes.
Plants in this region are "survivors" that can live through months without a single drop of rain. They often have very small leaves to minimize the surface area exposed to the drying sun.
Teacher's Tip: Think of desert/dry-region plants as "Minimalists"—they do more with less water.
Exam Tip: List "long roots" as a key feature for finding underground water in these dry areas.

Question 3: Fill in the blanks : The animal seen in the picture is often referred to as the _____ of the _____
Answer:
Fill in the blanks: The animal seen in the picture is often referred to as the ship of the desert.
The camel is given this title because it is the most reliable way to transport people and goods across shifting sands. Its unique biology allows it to navigate the desert as easily as a ship sails the ocean.
Teacher's Tip: Ship = Transport; Desert = Sand. The Camel is the "Desert Ship"!
Exam Tip: Make sure to capitalize the answer if you are starting the sentence with it.