CBSE Class 7 Social Science: Chapter 7 – Human Environment – Settlement, Transport and Communication NCERT Solutions

Solution: This section contains multiple sub-questions that are answered individually below.

Solution: The four primary means of transport are:

1. Roadways: This includes roads and highways used by vehicles like cars, buses, and trucks.
2. Railways: This involves trains that run on tracks, suitable for carrying many passengers and heavy goods over long distances.
3. Waterways: This utilizes rivers, lakes, and oceans for transportation using ships, boats, and ferries.
4. Airways: This is the fastest means of transport, using airplanes and helicopters to travel through the air, ideal for long distances and urgent travel.

Solution: A settlement refers to any place where people build their homes and live. Settlements can range from small hamlets to large cities, and they provide shelter and a base for human activities.

Solution: People living in rural settlements primarily engage in primary economic activities. These commonly include farming (agriculture), fishing, forestry (related to collecting forest produce), trading, and various types of craftwork.

Solution: Two significant merits of railways are:

1. Efficiency for Long Distances: Railways are capable of transporting large numbers of people and heavy goods over long distances quickly and often more affordably compared to other modes.
2. Bulk Cargo Transport: They are particularly well-suited for carrying bulk commodities like coal, grains, and raw materials in large quantities, making them essential for trade and industry.

Solution: Communication is the process through which individuals or groups exchange information, ideas, thoughts, and messages. It involves sending and receiving information, enabling interaction and understanding between people.

Solution: Mass media refers to various channels and technologies used to communicate with a large number of people simultaneously. Examples include newspapers, radio, television, and the internet. These platforms enable the rapid dissemination of information to a vast audience.

Solution:

1. (iii) table: A table is a piece of furniture and not a means of communication. Telephones and books are used to convey messages or information.
2. (iii) subways: Subways are roads or passages constructed underground, allowing traffic to pass beneath the surface. Flyovers are built over existing roads, and expressways are high-speed roads.
3. (i) ship: A ship is the most suitable mode of transport to reach an island, as it can travel across water bodies like oceans and seas. Trains and cars are primarily land-based.
4. (i) cycle: A cycle (bicycle) is a non-polluting mode of transport as it does not use fuel and produces no emissions. Buses and aeroplanes typically run on fossil fuels and contribute to pollution.

Solution: The correct matches are:

1. (i) Internet — (e) a means of communication: The internet connects people globally and facilitates the exchange of information.
2. (ii) Canal route — (d) inland waterways: Canals are man-made waterways used for transporting goods and people within a country.
3. (iii) Urban areas — (a) areas where people are engaged in manufacturing, trade and services: Urban areas are characterized by non-agricultural economic activities.
4. (iv) Compact settlement — (b) closely built area of houses: A compact settlement is a type of rural settlement where houses are built close to each other.

Solution:

(a) Today's world is shrinking because of rapid advancements in transport and communication technologies. With the development of faster modes of transport like aeroplanes and high-speed trains, and instant communication tools like the internet, mobile phones, and satellite television, distances have become less significant. We can now communicate with people across the globe in real-time and travel to far-off places much more quickly than before. This interconnectedness makes the world feel smaller and more accessible.

Solution:

(i) This requires a local survey. Here are hypothetical examples:

(a) A person might use a bicycle to reach the bus stop, then take a bus, and finally a metro train to reach their workplace, thus using more than two modes.

(b) Someone might walk to a rickshaw stand, take a rickshaw to the railway station, then a train, and finally an auto-rickshaw, using more than three modes.

(c) If the workplace is within walking distance, the person simply walks.

(ii) The preferred mode of communication depends on the situation:

(a) To inform the doctor about a sudden illness, the most immediate and effective method would be a **telephone call**.

(b) To spread the news of selling an old house widely, **newspapers** (through advertisements) or online property portals would be most suitable.

(c) To inform a teacher about a planned absence, a formal **leave application** (written or email) is appropriate.

(d) To keep in touch daily with a friend in New York, **telephone calls** or **internet-based communication** like video calls and messaging apps would be preferred for regular contact.