Selina Concise Solutions for ICSE Class 7 Geography Chapter 17 Australia Climate Natural Vegetation Wildlife Forest and Minerals

DISCUSS

Discuss the roie of the Eastern Highlands in the climate of Australia.
Answer: Eastern Highlands block the rain-bearing winds ; as a result, most of Western Australia is a desert.
These mountains act as a giant wall, preventing moist air from the Pacific Ocean from reaching the interior. This leads to a rain-shadow effect which keeps the central and western parts of the continent extremely dry.
Teacher's Tip: Think of the Eastern Highlands as a giant umbrella that keeps Western Australia dry.
Exam Tip: Mention the term "rain-bearing winds" to explain why deserts form behind mountain ranges.

THINK AND ANSWER

Why do we not find marsupials like kangaroo and wombat in other parts of the world ?
Answer: Marsupials like kangaroo and wombat are not found because the continent separated from the main land mass about 200 million years ago. As a result, its animal life evolved quite differently from that of the rest of the world.
Because Australia was cut off from other continents for so long, its animals did not have to compete with species from elsewhere. This unique evolutionary path allowed marsupials to thrive and diversify in many different environments across the island.
Teacher's Tip: Australia is like a "nature laboratory" that was locked away for 200 million years.
Exam Tip: Mention the specific time period of 200 million years to show historical accuracy.

EXERCISES

A. Match the columns

A
acacia
joey
death adder
echidna
kookaburra

B
(i) dangerous reptile
(ii) monotreme
(iii) baby kangaroo
(iv) laughing jackass
(v) wattle

Answer:
1. acacia - (v) wattle
2. joey - (iii) baby kangaroo
3. death adder - (i) dangerous reptile
4. echidna - (ii) monotreme
5. kookaburra - (iv) laughing jackass
These terms are the local Australian names for common animals and plants. Understanding them helps in learning about the culture and natural heritage of the continent.
Teacher's Tip: Match the "A" with "W" (Acacia-Wattle) and "K" with "L" (Kookaburra-Laughing) to remember the pairs.
Exam Tip: Always write the final matched pairs clearly side-by-side to avoid confusion for the examiner.

B. Identify who I am.

Question 1: i am an animal that lives entirely on the juicy leaves of the gum tree.
Answer: Koala
Koalas have a very specialized diet and spend most of their time sleeping to save energy from their low-calorie food. They are strictly tree-dwellers and are perfectly adapted to life in the eucalyptus canopy.

Question 2: I am a wild dog found in Australia.
Answer: Dingo
Dingoes are Australia's largest land predators and play an important role in the ecosystem. They look like domestic dogs but are actually a unique species that came to the continent thousands of years ago.

Question 3: I am a mammal that lays eggs.
Answer: Platypus
The platypus is a very strange creature that combines features of mammals, birds, and reptiles. It is one of the few mammals in the world that reproduces by laying eggs instead of giving birth to live young.

Question 4: I am a big Australian bird but I cannot fly.
Answer: Emu
Emus are the second-largest birds in the world and are famous for their speed on land. Because they had very few predators in ancient Australia, they lost the need to fly and evolved strong legs for running.

Question 5: I have a beautiful fan-tail and I can mimic very well.
Answer: Cassowary (Note: Based on text provided in the PDF, though often Lyrebirds are known for mimicry, Cassowary is the answer given).
This bird is known for its striking appearance and its presence in the tropical rainforests. It plays a vital role in spreading seeds throughout the forest floor.

Question 6: I am a male bird who likes to attract female birds by building intricate and decorative nests.
Answer: Bower
The Bowerbird is famous for building a "bower" made of sticks and decorating it with colorful objects like shells and flowers. These structures are not nests for eggs but are solely used for courtship displays.

Question 7: I am popularly called the ‘laughing jackass’.
Answer: Kookaburra
This bird is famous for its loud call that sounds exactly like human laughter. It is a member of the kingfisher family and is a well-loved icon of the Australian bush.
Teacher's Tip: Most of these animals are "Endemic," which means they are found nowhere else on Earth naturally.
Exam Tip: For "Identify who I am" questions, double-check your spelling as these names are unique.

C. Answer the following questions in brief.

Question 1: Name the winds that bring rainfall to Australia.
Answer: The South-East Trade Winds blow onshore and bring heavy rainfall to the east coast. The Westerlies bring rainfall in winter to south-west and south-east Australia. The north-west monsoon winds cause rainfall over northern Australia.
Different parts of Australia receive rain at different times depending on these wind systems. This ensures that while some areas are dry, others remain lush and green throughout the year.

Question 2: What is the name of the temperate grassland in Australia?
Answer: The temperate grasslands of Australia are called the downs.
These grasslands are found in the southeastern part of the country and are very important for agriculture. They provide excellent grazing land for sheep and are often used for growing wheat.

Question 3: What kind of natural vegetation can be seen in the desert regions of Australia ?
Answer: Natural vegetation in the desert are cactus, spinifex, and acacia (locally called wattle).
These plants have adapted to survive with very little water by having small leaves or thorns to prevent moisture loss. Acacia trees are so common that they have become the national floral emblem of Australia.

Question 4: Why is the wildlife of Australia considered unique in comparison to other countries ?
Answer: The wildlife of Australia is unique. The continent separated from the main land mass about 200 million years ago. As a result, its animal life evolved quite differently from that of the rest of the world. Among the unique animals found here are marsupials are— mammals that carry their young ones in a pouch formed by a fold of skin near the stomach. The pouches contain the mammary glands.
The long period of isolation allowed species to develop features that are not found in animals on other continents. Australia is home to the highest concentration of marsupials and egg-laying mammals in the world.

Question 5: The platypus is considered a strange animal. Why ?
Answer: The platypus is considered a strange animal because they lay eggs but suckle their young ones. The platypus is an aquatic, furred mammal with a bill like that of a duck and poisonous spurs on its hindlegs.
It is one of the few mammals that can produce venom, making it even more unusual. Scientists were originally so confused by its appearance that they thought the first specimen sent to Europe was a hoax.
Teacher's Tip: Remember "Downs" for Grasslands and "Wattle" for Acacia.
Exam Tip: When defining marsupials, always mention the "pouch" as it is their most distinguishing feature.

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

Question 1: Name the factors that influence the climate of Australia. Elaborate any two.
Answer: The factors that influence the climate of Australia are its location, land features, direction of mountain ranges, winds and distance from the sea.
Location - The northern part lies in the tropics, so it is either warm or hot all the year round. The rest of the continent lies south of the Tropic of Capricorn and, as a result, has warm summers and mild or cool winters.
Land Features - The east coast gets heavy rainfall from the South-east Trade Winds, which steadily decreases westward, owing to the presence of the Eastern Highlands that form a barrier for the rain-bearing winds.
Direction of Mountain Ranges - If the Great Dividing Range did not lie in a north-south direction, Western Australia would not have been a desert.
Winds - The South-East Trade Winds blow onshore and bring heavy rainfall to the east coast. The Westerlies bring rainfall in winter to south-west and south-east Australia. The north-west monsoon winds cause rainfall over northern Australia.
Australia's climate is a mix of tropical heat in the north and temperate seasons in the south. The massive size of the continent means that the center is very far from the sea, leading to extreme temperatures and low rainfall.

Question 2: The Western Plateau region of Australia is mainly a desert. Why ?
Answer: The presence of the Eastern Highlands causes heavy rains along the eastern coast and rainfall decreases westwards, away from the coast. So, most of central and western Australia has high temperatures and very little rainfall resulting in the formation of a desert.
Because the mountains block the moist winds, the air that reaches the west is dry and holds no rain. This geological setup creates some of the largest sandy deserts in the world, like the Great Sandy Desert.

Question 3: Briefly describe the climate and vegetation of the south-eastern and south-western coasts of Australia.
Answer: The presence of the Eastern Highlands causes heavy rains along the eastern coast and rainfall decreases westwards, away from the coast. So, most of central and western Australia has high temperatures and very little rainfall resulting in the formation of a desert. South-eastern and south-western parts which experience rain in winter from the onshore Westerlies. Winter condition prevail from April to September in this reason.
The temperate forests are found in the south-eastern and south-western parts of Australia and in Tasmania. Eucalyptus (locally called eucalypt or gum tree) is the main tree of these forests. There are over 900 species of eucalyptus tree found in Australia. This tree does not shed its leaves, but the bark peels off and is replaced by new white or light coloured bark. Eucalyptus trees dominate the landscape of Australia.
These coastal regions enjoy a "Mediterranean" style climate with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The Eucalyptus trees are perfectly adapted to this environment and are famous for their pleasant scent and essential oils.

Question 4: What are marsupials ? Describe any one marsupial.
Answer: Marsupials are — mammals that carry their young ones in a pouch formed by a fold of skin near the stomach. The pouches contain the mammary glands. Australia has about 150 species of marsupials that vary in size, from the giant kangaroo over two metres in height to the tiny insect-eating bandicoot. The wallaby, wombat, and koala are other examples of marsupials found in Australia.
The young are born in a very immature state and must crawl into the mother's pouch to continue developing. The kangaroo is the most famous example, using its powerful legs to hop across the grasslands at high speeds.

Question 5: What are monotremes ? Give examples.
Answer: The platypus and echidna are the only living monotremes, i.e., they lay eggs but suckle their young ones. The platypus is an aquatic, furred mammal with a bill like that of a duck and poisonous spurs on its hindlegs.The echidna is also known as the spiny anteater.
These animals are incredibly rare and represent a link between earlier reptilian ancestors and modern mammals. They are unique to the Australasian region and are protected by law because of their scientific importance.
Teacher's Tip: Use "E-L-W-M" to remember the climate factors: East Highlands, Location, Winds, and Mountains.
Exam Tip: For paragraph questions, use sub-headings like "Location" or "Land Features" to make your answer organized and easy to read.

E. Map work

Question 1: Describe the vegetation of region C.
Answer: Temperate Grassland
This region is characterized by vast areas of short grass which are perfect for large-scale sheep and cattle farming. The climate here is moderate, allowing these grasses to stay green for most of the year.

Question 2: What are the most outsanding characteristics of the climate of region B ?
Answer: Tropical Monsoon
This climate type brings heavy seasonal rainfall followed by a distinct dry season. It supports thick tropical forests and a wide variety of wildlife that thrives in hot, humid conditions.

Question 3: On the map, draw the South-East Trade Winds with red arrows.
Answer: Arrows drawn on the map (per textbook instruction).
These winds are the primary source of rain for the eastern coast of Australia. They travel across the warm ocean, picking up moisture before hitting the mountains.

Question 4: By what name are the temperate grasslands known in the Murray-Darling Basin ? Write the name in the appropriate place on the map.
Answer: The temperate grasslands of Australia are called the downs.
This basin is the agricultural heartland of Australia, where the combination of river water and fertile grasslands supports huge farms. It is one of the most productive regions on the entire continent.
Teacher's Tip: Map work is about visualization; Region B is North, C is South!
Exam Tip: Practice drawing wind arrows accurately; they should always point from the sea toward the land on the east coast.

F. Picture study

Question 1: What is the local name of this tree?
Answer: Eucalypt
These trees are remarkably hardy and can survive in poor soils and dry conditions. They are also known as "Gum trees" because they release a thick sap when the bark is damaged.

Question 2: Which animal survivies by eating the leaves of this tree?
Answer: The koala is the most popular Australian animal. This tree dweller is only about 76 cm high and lives entirely on the sjuicy leaves of the eucalyptus tree.
Koalas have a special digestive system that can break down the toxins found in eucalyptus leaves. Because they eat nothing else, they rarely need to drink water, getting all their moisture from the leaves themselves.
Teacher's Tip: The Eucalyptus is the "home and grocery store" for the Koala.
Exam Tip: Mention that there are over 900 species of eucalyptus to show you know the diversity of Australian flora.