🌍 Class 5 – Chapter 7 Notes: The Temperate Zone 🌳
Simple, neat & colourful notes for students – laptop & mobile friendly 📱💻
1️⃣ Definition of the Temperate Zone
- The Temperate Zone lies between:
- 🌎 Tropic of Cancer (23½° N) and Arctic Circle (66½° N) in the Northern Hemisphere.
- 🌏 Tropic of Capricorn (23½° S) and Antarctic Circle (66½° S) in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Climate is moderate – not very hot like the tropics, not extremely cold like the poles.
2️⃣ Climate Features
The Temperate Zone is famous for its four seasons 🌸☀️🍂❄️
- 🌸 Spring: mild, plants begin to grow.
- ☀️ Summer: warm or hot, but not extreme.
- 🍂 Autumn: leaves fall, temperature cools.
- ❄️ Winter: cold, often snowy in higher latitudes.
- Rainfall is fairly well-distributed throughout the year.
- 🌊 Coastal areas have moderate temperatures; inland areas may face hotter summers and colder winters.
3️⃣ Vegetation
- 🍂 Deciduous Forests: Europe, eastern USA, China, Japan. Trees – oak, maple, beech, birch. Shed leaves in autumn.
- 🌾 Grasslands: Prairies, Pampas, Steppes, Downs. Found in interiors with less rainfall. Very fertile soil – ideal for farming.
- 🌲 Coniferous Forests (Taiga): Pine, spruce, fir. Found in northern parts. Needle-like leaves to bear cold.
4️⃣ Wildlife
- 🐻 Mammals: deer, bears, wolves, foxes, squirrels, rabbits.
- 🦉 Birds: owls, woodpeckers, eagles, migratory birds.
- 🛌 Bears hibernate, birds migrate to warmer areas.
5️⃣ Human Life
- 👨👩👧 Dense population due to moderate climate.
- 🌾 Farming: wheat, maize, barley, rice, fruits, vegetables. Grasslands → cattle & sheep rearing.
- 🏭 Industrial growth: started Industrial Revolution in Europe. Advanced industries today.
- 🏙️ Urbanization: big cities like New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Beijing.
6️⃣ Countries in the Temperate Zone
| Continent | Examples |
|---|---|
| North America | USA, Canada |
| Europe | UK, France, Germany, Italy etc. |
| Asia | Parts of China, Japan, Korea |
| South America | Southern Brazil, Argentina, Chile |
| Oceania | Southern Australia, New Zealand |
📖 Textbook Questions & Answers
A1. Where does the Chinook blow?
Ans: The Chinook blows in the Prairies of North America.
A2. What type of grasses are found in the steppes?
Ans: The steppes have short grasses.
A3. What is alfalfa?
Ans: Alfalfa is a grass grown for cattle fodder.
A4. Where does the Kirghiz tribe live?
Ans: The Kirghiz tribe lives in the Steppes.
A5. Where do the Hottentots live?
Ans: The Hottentots live in South Africa.
B. Match the columns
| A | B |
|---|---|
| 1. Prairies | North America |
| 2. Pampas | South America |
| 3. Downs | Australia |
| 4. Steppes | Russia |
| 5. Veld | South Africa |
C. Fill in the blanks
1. In the northern hemisphere, the temperate grasslands extend between the 30° N and 55° N.
2. In the northern hemisphere the grasslands have a continental climate.
3. The Chinook is a hot wind.
4. Kangaroos are found in Australia.
5. Gauchos are found in South America.
D. Unscramble the letters
1. LFLAAFA → Alfalfa
2. AAMLL → Llama
3. ESSORH → Horses
4. ACGHUOS → Gauchos
5. STEACINAS → Estancias
E1. List the different names for grasslands in the temperate zone and mention their locations.
Ans: Prairies – North America; Pampas – South America; Steppes – Russia & Central Asia; Downs – Australia; Veld – South Africa.
E2. Explain the climate of the temperate grasslands.
Ans: The climate is continental with hot summers, cold winters, and moderate rainfall.
E3. Describe the plant life found in this temperate zone.
Ans: Mainly grasses like short and tall grass, few trees near rivers, crops like wheat and maize.
E4. What are the different types of human activities carried out in the temperate zone?
Ans: Farming (wheat, maize, barley, rice), cattle and sheep rearing, industries, and trade in large cities.
E5. What are gauchos? What do they do?
Ans: Gauchos are cowboys of South America. They rear cattle and work on grasslands.