Here are 30 short questions and answers (2-3 marks each) based on the "Environment" chapter from Class 7 CBSE Geography:

1. What is the environment?

Ans: The environment refers to everything that surrounds us, including both natural and human-made elements like air, water, land, plants, animals, and human activities.

2. What are the different components of the environment?

Ans: The environment has three components:

1. Natural environment – Land, water, air, plants, and animals.

2. Human environment – Buildings, parks, industries, roads.

3. Human-made environment – Communication, transport, and technology.

3. What is the natural environment?

Ans: The natural environment includes all naturally occurring things such as landforms, water bodies, air, plants, and animals.

4. Define the lithosphere.

Ans: The lithosphere is the solid outer layer of the Earth that consists of rocks, mountains, and soil. It provides a surface for human activities.

5. What is the atmosphere?

Ans: The atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding the Earth. It contains oxygen for breathing, carbon dioxide for plants, and protects us from harmful solar radiation.

6. Explain the hydrosphere.

Ans: The hydrosphere includes all water bodies like oceans, rivers, lakes, and groundwater. It is essential for all forms of life.

7. What is the biosphere?

Ans: The biosphere is the zone of life on Earth, where living organisms interact with land (lithosphere), water (hydrosphere), and air (atmosphere).

8. How do human activities affect the environment?

Ans: Human activities like deforestation, pollution, urbanization, and industrialization negatively impact the environment by disturbing the natural balance.

9. What is an ecosystem?

Ans: An ecosystem is a system where living organisms interact with each other and their physical environment in a specific area, such as forests, lakes, or deserts.

10. Why is the environment important for us?

Ans: The environment provides essential resources like air, water, food, and shelter. It also maintains ecological balance and supports all living beings.

11. How do humans modify the environment?

Ans: Humans modify the environment through activities like agriculture, deforestation, construction, and industrialization to meet their needs.

12. What are the main causes of environmental pollution?

Ans: Major causes include industrial waste, deforestation, excessive use of fossil fuels, plastic pollution, and vehicle emissions.

13. How does deforestation impact the environment?

Ans: Deforestation leads to soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, increased carbon dioxide levels, and climate change.

14. What is the significance of forests in the environment?

Ans: Forests provide oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, support biodiversity, prevent soil erosion, and help regulate the climate.

15. What is the difference between biotic and abiotic components of the environment?

Ans:

Biotic components – Living things like plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Abiotic components – Non-living things like air, water, soil, and sunlight.

16. What are renewable and non-renewable resources?

Ans:

Renewable resources – Resources that can be replenished, like sunlight, wind, and water.

Non-renewable resources – Resources that cannot be replaced easily, like coal, petroleum, and natural gas.

17. How does pollution harm the environment?

Ans: Pollution contaminates air, water, and land, harms human health, kills wildlife, and contributes to climate change.

18. What are some ways to conserve the environment?

Ans: Planting trees, reducing waste, using renewable energy, saving water, and minimizing pollution help conserve the environment.

19. Why is biodiversity important?

Ans: Biodiversity maintains ecosystem balance, provides food and medicine, and supports the survival of all species.

20. What is sustainable development?

Ans: Sustainable development means using resources wisely to meet present needs without compromising the needs of future generations.

21. How does urbanization affect the environment?

Ans: Urbanization leads to deforestation, pollution, loss of farmland, and increased demand for natural resources.

22. What is climate change?

Ans: Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns due to human activities like pollution and deforestation.

23. What are the effects of global warming?

Ans: Global warming causes melting glaciers, rising sea levels, extreme weather, and loss of biodiversity.

24. How can we reduce air pollution?

Ans: Using public transport, reducing industrial emissions, planting trees, and switching to renewable energy can reduce air pollution.

25. What is the role of water in the environment?

Ans: Water supports life, maintains ecosystems, regulates temperature, and is essential for drinking, agriculture, and industries.

26. Why is soil conservation important?

Ans: Soil conservation prevents erosion, maintains fertility, and ensures agricultural productivity for food security.

27. How does plastic pollution affect the environment?

Ans: Plastic pollution harms wildlife, pollutes oceans, clogs drains, and takes hundreds of years to decompose.

28. What is afforestation?

Ans: Afforestation is the process of planting trees in an area where there were no previous forests to improve the environment.

29. What are the advantages of using solar energy?

Ans: Solar energy is renewable, non-polluting, cost-effective, and reduces dependence on fossil fuels.

30. How can individuals contribute to environmental protection?

Ans: Individuals can help by reducing waste, using eco-friendly products, saving electricity, conserving water, and planting trees.