Our Environment Class 7 Extra Questions and Answers Free PDF Download
FAQs on CBSE Important Questions for Class 7 Social Science Our Environment - 2025-26
1. What are the major components of the environment as per the CBSE Class 7 syllabus for 2025-26?
The environment consists of two major components that are crucial for exams:
Natural Environment: This includes all things that exist naturally. It is further divided into biotic (living organisms like plants and animals) and abiotic (non-living elements like land, air, and water) components.
Human-Made Environment: This comprises creations by human beings to meet their needs, such as buildings, parks, bridges, roads, industries, and monuments.
2. What is an ecosystem? What are its key components?
An ecosystem is a system formed by the interaction of all living organisms with each other and with the physical and chemical factors of their environment, all linked by the transfer of energy. Its key components are:
Biotic Components: These are the living elements of an ecosystem, such as plants, animals, fungi, and other microorganisms.
Abiotic Components: These are the non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment, like sunlight, air, water, temperature, and soil.
3. Explain the four major domains of the Earth. Why are they important?
The four major domains of the Earth are fundamental concepts for exams:
Lithosphere: The solid crust or hard top layer of the Earth. It provides us with land for living, farming, and forests.
Hydrosphere: The domain of water, comprising various sources like rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans. It is essential for all living organisms.
Atmosphere: The thin layer of air surrounding the Earth. It protects us from the sun's harmful rays and regulates temperature.
Biosphere: The narrow zone where the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere interact to support life. It is the domain that contains all life on Earth.
4. How do human beings modify the natural environment? This is an expected question for 3 marks.
Human beings interact with the environment and modify it according to their needs. Key modifications include:
Agriculture: Humans clear land to grow crops and domesticate animals, leading to a settled life.
Industry: The Industrial Revolution led to large-scale manufacturing, which required extracting raw materials and often resulted in pollution.
Infrastructure: Humans build roads, dams, and cities, which significantly alter landscapes and water flows.
Trade: Early humans developed the barter system, and later, currency-based economies emerged, increasing resource consumption and transportation.
5. Why is the interaction between biotic and abiotic components considered crucial for any ecosystem?
The interaction between biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components is crucial because it ensures the flow of energy and the cycling of essential nutrients. For example, plants (biotic) use sunlight, water, and soil (abiotic) to produce food. Animals (biotic) consume these plants. When organisms die, decomposers return nutrients to the abiotic environment. This continuous interaction is what maintains the sustainability and balance of the ecosystem, making life possible.
6. What kind of important questions can a student expect from the Class 7 Geography chapter 'Our Environment' for the 2025-26 exams?
From the chapter 'Our Environment', students can expect a variety of questions:
1-mark questions: Focus on definitions of key terms like 'Lithosphere', 'Ecosystem', or 'Barter system'.
3-mark questions: Require short explanations, such as describing the components of the environment or distinguishing between natural and human-made environments.
5-mark questions: May ask for detailed explanations, like how humans modify the environment or the significance of the four domains of the Earth.
7. Explain why a perfect balance between the natural and human environment is necessary.
A perfect balance between the natural and human environment is essential for the long-term survival of all species, including humans. The natural environment provides essential resources like clean air, water, and food. Human activities must be sustainable to avoid depleting these resources or causing irreversible damage like pollution and climate change. An imbalance threatens our health, food security, and overall well-being, highlighting the need for humans to use resources judiciously and live in harmony with nature.
8. What was the barter system, and what was its major limitation?
The barter system was an early form of trade where goods were exchanged directly for other goods without the use of money. Its major limitation was the need for a 'double coincidence of wants'. This means that for an exchange to happen, two individuals must each have a good that the other person wants. This made trade inefficient and difficult, which is why modern societies use money as a universal medium of exchange.
9. Compare and contrast the key features of the Lithosphere and the Atmosphere.
The Lithosphere and Atmosphere are two distinct domains of the Earth with different features:
Composition: The Lithosphere is the solid, rocky crust of the Earth, whereas the Atmosphere is a gaseous layer composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.
State: The Lithosphere is in a solid state, providing a surface for life. The Atmosphere is in a gaseous state, surrounding the planet.
Function for Life: The Lithosphere provides habitat and minerals. The Atmosphere provides essential gases for breathing (oxygen) and photosynthesis (carbon dioxide) and protects the planet from harmful solar radiation.











