Unit - 7

Environment
01 Our Planet
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only known planet that
supports life. Its surface is composed of approximately 70% water and 30%
land. Earth has one natural satellite–the Moon.
Tick (3) the correct answer to know more about our planet.
1. ______________________ is a group of islands.
a. Delta b. Canal
c. Archipelago d. Estuary
2. A strong wall built across a river to store water is known as
______________________.
a. Bay b. Dam
c. Gulf d. Peninsula
3. ______________________ is used to measure rainfall.
a. Rainwater b. Rain tape
c. Rain gauge d. Rain clock
4. A long, low area between two hills is called a ______________________.
a. Hill b. Cliff
c. Reef d. Valley
5. A book of maps or charts is known as an/a ______________________.
a. Novel b. Atlas
c. Dictionary d. Directory
6. The area where land meets the sea is called a ______________________.
a. Sea line b. Seashore
c. Sea bed d. Sea rock

68 Prateek’s Knowledge Booster-04

 7. ________________ is the downward movement of land and rock on a slope.
a. Land erosion b. Landslide
c. Land hold d. Land decline
8. The ______________________ divides Earth into two equal hemispheres.
a. Meridians b. Longitude
c. Latitude d. Equator
9. The Earth is broken up in the region known as ______________________
plates, which cause earthquakes when they move.
a. Submerged b. Tectonic
c. Crust d. Plain
10. Approximately____________ of the earth’s surface is submerged in water.
a. 50% b. 20%
c. 70% d. 90%
11. Earth’s molten iron core creates a ______________________ field.
a. Electric b. Magnetic
c. Cooling d. Muddy
12. Earth has ______________________ natural satellite(s).
a. One b. Two
c. Three d. Four
13. The branches of a river are called ______________________.
a. Distributaries b. Tributaries
c. Sub-rivers d. Streams
14. ______________________ heats the water in a hot spring.
a. Lava b. Dust
c. Magma d. Sand
15. ______________________ is the largest island in the world.
a. Australia b. Lakshadweep
c. New Zealand d. Greenland

Prateek’s Knowledge Booster-04 69

 02 Natural Disasters
Natural disasters are powerful natural events that can cause significant
damage to the Earth's surface, endangering people, wildlife, and
infrastructure. They can occur suddenly or develop over time.
Understanding natural disasters and appropriate safety measures is crucial
for survival and disaster preparedness.
Fill in the blanks with the natural disasters given in the helpbox:

Drought Flood Earthquake Wild fire Volcano

Landslide Tsunami Dust storm Blizzards Tornado

1. A ___________________ is a mountain or hill that has an opening on the top

and erupts because of excessive heat and pressure.
2. A continuous period of low rainfall that leads to a shortage of water is
called ___________________.
3. Massive sea waves that are caused by an earthquake below the sea are
called ___________________.
4. A/An ___________________ occurs when there is a sudden shaking of the
ground due to the movement below the surface of the earth.
5. The movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth down a slope is
known as ___________________.
6. A fire that spreads quickly through a forest and destroys it, is called a
___________________.
7. A ___________________ is the overflow of water from a water body.
8. High-velocity winds in arid areas that can pick or throw things are
called ___________________.
9. ___________________ are severe winter storms characterised by heavy
snow and strong winds.
10. A ___________________ is a violent and dangerous rotating column of air.

70 Prateek’s Knowledge Booster-04

03 Protect the Earth
It is important to keep our planet healthy and safe for all living beings. All
individuals, organisations and activists must take some steps every day to
help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and our carbon footprint to
make a less harmful impact on the environment.
A. Write T for true and F for false for the following statements.
1. Soil layers, which have taken thousands of years to build up,
can get washed away in a very short time when we cut down
trees.
2. Trees help to clean the air we breathe.
3. 90% of all the animal species that ever lived are now extinct.
4. Using plastic bags has no negative impact on the
environment.
5. Our earth is experiencing global warming.
B. Give one word for the following using the helpbox:
Deforestation Compost Smog Conservation Afforestation

1. Because of this, there are fewer trees, greater

pollution and soil erosion and more creatures
are being added to the endangered list. ___________________
2. Planting trees or seeds to create forests, where
none existed previously. ___________________
3. This dense mixture of smoke and fog causes
breathing difficulties. ___________________
4. Nutrient-rich soil which can be made by
transforming food scraps and yard waste and
can be used for plants. ___________________

5. Saving natural resources like water, electricity,

soil, and water bodies. ___________________

Prateek’s Knowledge Booster-04 71

 04 Environment Alert
Choose the correct option from the brackets to complete the following
statements.

1. Air pollution causes illnesses such as asthma, which can make

______________________ difficult. (hearing/breathing)

2. Pollution that is caused by waste generated in our homes is called

______________________ pollution. (domestic/industrial)

3. The carbon dioxide that is let out into the air is ______________________ for
us. (bad/good)

4. A large number of trees, plants and flowers in a particular area are

collectively called its ______________________ . (green cover/fauna)

5. The ______________________ runs very fast and can be found mainly in

parts of Rajasthan. Sadly, it is being hunted and faces the danger of
becoming extinct. (blackbuck/reindeer)

6. Pollution that is caused by factories and industries is called

______________________ pollution. (domestic/industrial)

7. People who study the environment and take steps to protect and
improve it are called ______________________.
(farmers/environmentalists)

8. The amount of carbon dioxide you produce is known as your carbon

______________________ . (footprint/impression)

9. The theme of World Environment Day 2024 is ______________________.

(Our Land, Our Future/Only One Earth)

10. Loud voices, music, and celebration produce ______________________

pollution. (sound/noise)

72 Prateek’s Knowledge Booster-04

05 Working for a Cause
Working for a cause means dedicating your time and effort to something you
believe in, whether it is helping others, protecting the environment or
supporting a community.
Read the clues and name these organisations’ projects and the people
associated with them using the given helpbox:
Dr. Jane Goodall Nelson Mandela Bill Gates
Wangari Maathai Save Silent Valley Kinkri Devi
Greta Thunberg Aung San Suu Kyi Medha Patkar
People for Animals World Wildlife Fund
United Nations Environment Programme
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

1. She dedicated her life to extensive research on the behaviour of

chimpanzees of Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania.
__________________________________
2. Menka Gandhi leads this animal welfare organisation. The
organisation aims to frame animal-friendly laws and protect animals
from cruelty.
__________________________________
3. She led a movement to protest against the loss of homes due to the
building of the Sarovar Dam on the Narmada River in Gujarat.
__________________________________
4. This international organisation works towards protecting
ecosystems and habitats across the earth. It is present in 100
countries and is supported by more than one million members in the
United States and close to five million members globally. It is the
world's leading wildlife conservation organisation.
__________________________________

Prateek’s Knowledge Booster-04 73

 5. This social movement started in 1976 to protect the Silent Valley, a
forest area in Kerala from being flooded due to a hydroelectric project.
__________________________________

6. This is a United Nations environment institution. It helps countries

implement policies beneficial for the environment and preserve
ecosystems and the atmosphere.
__________________________________

7. It is the largest animal rights organisation in the world. It is located in

Virginia, United States and working against cruelty to animals.
__________________________________

8. She is a Kenyan Environmentalist who founded the Green Belt

Movement, which involved planting about thirty million trees to
improve the environment.
__________________________________

9. An environmentalist who fought against illegal mining and quarrying

in Himachal Pradesh.
__________________________________

10. __________________________________ campaigned for justice and freedom in

South Africa and spent 27 years in jail for opposing apartheid.

11. A Swedish schoolgirl who has become a global leader in

environmental issues and protests against global warming.
__________________________________

12. A pro-democracy activist and leader of the National League for

democracy in Burma (Myanmar) imprisoned for many years.
__________________________________

74 Prateek’s Knowledge Booster-04

06 Environmental Quiz
Tick (3) True or False for the following statements.
1. Siachen is the name of the longest lake in India.
True False
2. The ozone layer protects the Earth from the harmful radiation of the
Sun.
True False
3. Evergreen plants shed their leaves in winter.
True False
4. Carbon dioxide is not necessary for green plants.
True False
5. The weather of an area over a long period of time is called its climate.
True False
6. Tides are caused by the forces of the planets.
True False
7. The loo is a strong dry cold wind that blows across the plains of North-
India.
True False
8. Plastic should be used extensively.
True False
9. Reduce, reuse and recycle should be adopted by all of us.
True False
10. Preservation or Conservation means To Harm.
True False

Prateek’s Knowledge Booster-04 75

 07 How Green and Clean is Your Neighbourhood?
Answer the following questions with Yes or No to evaluate the
environmental quality of your neighbourhood.

1. Are the roads kept clean every day? ________________

2. Are street lights in your neighbourhood turned off during daylight

hours? ________________

3. Does your neighbourhood have designated bicycle lanes?

________________

4. Is the garbage collected every day to keep the neighbourhood

clean? ________________

5. Does your neighbourhood have rainwater harvesting systems?

________________

6. Is there regular maintenance of water infrastructure (such as taps and

pipes) in public spaces? ________________

7. Do you have access to safe drinking water? ________________

8. Is there a playground nearby for children to play? ________________

9. Are there adequate tree coverage in your neighbourhood?

________________

10. Are industrial zones properly separated from residential areas to

prevent pollution? ________________

Compare your answers with those of your classmates. What does this tell
you? What can you do to make your neighbourhood greener?

76 Prateek’s Knowledge Booster-04

08 Global Warming
We know that the temperature of the Earth is
increasing day by day. The main reason
behind this is the air pollution. Gases like
carbon dioxide and methane in the
atmosphere trap the Sun's heat causing
the Earth's temperature to increase.
This phenomenon is known as Global
Warming. This rising temperature
poses a great threat to life on Earth. Let
us discuss the causes and effects of
Global Warming on our planet.

Causes
1. Smoke Emission: 2. Deforestation:
Smoke emissions due to the Deforestation is one of the major
burning of fuel in cars and causes of global warming. Trees
other vehicles contain carbon absorb carbon dioxide and
dioxide, which adds to release oxygen. When trees are
greenhouse gases. cut, the level of carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere increases.

Prateek’s Knowledge Booster-04 77

 3. Electricity Generation: The power plants which produce electricity
emit large amounts of carbon dioxide by burning fossil fuels.

Effects
1. 2. 3.

Extinction of certain Negative effect on Adverse effect on

species of animals climate pattern of crop production
due to rapid changes the world. These because of sudden
in climate. days, summers are changes in seasons.
getting longer.

Activity Time
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Climate Detectives!
Team up with your friends to investigate one way our planet gets warmer,
like car pollution or forest loss. Create an exciting detective report about
what you discover! Also, draw a colourful poster showing what you
discovered. Explain how your problem affects Earth and suggest three
simple ways to help protect our environment.

78 Prateek’s Knowledge Booster-04