Chapter - 2
Oceans and Continents
The Big Questions (Page 27)
Question 1.
What are oceans and continents? What are their names and their
distribution?
Answer:
Oceans are large bodies of saltwater that cover about 71% of the Earth's
surface. Their names and distribution are as follows:
● The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean, located between
Asia, Australia, and the Americas.
● The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean, situated between
the Americas to the west and Europe and Africa to the east.
● The Indian Ocean is located between Africa, Asia, Australia, and the
Indian subcontinent.
● The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest ocean, located
around the Arctic region, north of Europe, Asia, and North America.
● The Southern Ocean surrounds Antarctica and is the newest
recognized ocean.
Continents are large landmasses on Earth, each made up of countries,
cities, and various natural features. Their names and distribution are as
follows:
● Asia is the largest continent, located in the eastern part of the world,
including countries like China, India, and Japan.
● Africa is the second-largest continent, located south of Europe,
including countries like Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa.
● North America is located north of the equator, including countries like
the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
● South America is located south of North America, including countries
like Brazil, Argentina, and Peru.
● Antarctica is the coldest continent, located around the South Pole,
covered mostly by ice.
● Europe is located west of Asia, including countries like France,
Germany, and Italy.
● Australia is the smallest continent, located in the Southern
Hemisphere, consisting of the country of Australia and nearby islands.
Question 2.
In what ways do oceans and continents impact life on Earth, including
human life?
Answer:
Oceans and continents have a great impact on Earth as well as on human
beings in the following ways:
Impact of Oceans:
● Oceans help control the climate by distributing heat around the planet,
making coastal areas warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
● They provide homes for many sea creatures, like fish and whales, and
produce a lot of the Earth's oxygen through tiny plants called
phytoplankton.
● Oceans are important for food, as many people eat fish and seafood,
and they are used for shipping goods between countries, which helps
businesses trade with each other.
Impact of Continents:
● Continents provide the land where people live and build cities.
● They contain important natural resources, like minerals and fossil
fuels, and fertile land for growing crops.
● Each continent has its own unique animals and plants, which add to
the Earth's biodiversity.
● Continents also influence cultures and ways of life, as different
landscapes and climates shape how people live and work.
Letʼs Explore
Question 1.
What are the circular lines in each map called? And do you know what the
lines radiating out of the two poles are called? (Hint: you studied them in
the previous chapter, but here they are presented differently.) (Page 29)
Answer:
The circular lines on a map are called lines of latitude. They run parallel to
the Equator and help us measure how far north or south a place is from the
Equator. For example, the Equator is at 0° latitude, while the poles are at
90°N or 90°S.
The lines radiating out from the two poles are called lines of longitude.
These lines run from the North Pole to the South Pole and help us measure
how far east or west a place is from the Prime Meridian. Longitude lines are
like slices of an orange, stretching from one pole to the other.
Question 2.
Which hemisphere holds more water?
Answer:
The Southern Hemisphere contains more water.
Question 3.
What do you think could be the approximate proportion of water to land in
the Northern Hemisphere? And in the Southern Hemisphere? Discuss in
groups.
Answer:
The Northern Hemisphere's surface is approximately 40% landmass and
60% water. The Southern Hemisphere's surface is approximately 20%
landmass and 80% water.
Question 4.
Are all the oceans connected with one another, or are there separations
between them? (Page 29)
Answer:
Yes, all the oceans are connected to each other. Even though we refer to
them as separate oceans, like the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean,
they all flow into each other and form one large, continuous body of water
called the World Ocean. Here's how they connect:
● The Pacific Ocean connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the
Southern Ocean near Antarctica.
● The Atlantic Ocean connects to the Indian Ocean through the
Southern Ocean and around the southern tip of Africa.
● The Indian Ocean connects to the Pacific Ocean through the Southern
Ocean and around the southern tip of Australia.
● The Arctic Ocean connects to the Atlantic Ocean through the Nort h
Sea and the Bering Strait.
So, while we use different names for these large bodies of water, they are
all part of one big, interconnected ocean system.
Question 5.
Locate the five oceans and, in the table below, mark the hemisphere or
hemispheres they belong to figure.
Answer:
Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere
Pacific Ocean Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere
Atlantic Ocean Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere
Indian Ocean Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere
Southern Ocean – Southern Hemisphere
Arctic Ocean Northern Hemisphere –
Question 6.
Counting the number of squares, name the largest continent and the
smallest.
Answer:
Asia is the largest continent, as there are 44 blocks representing Asia.
Australia is the smallest continent, with 8 blocks.
Question 7.
Which one is larger – North America or South America? Africa or North
America? Antarctica or Australia?
Answer:
● North America is larger than South America.
● Africa is larger than North America.
● Antarctica is larger than Australia.
Question 8.
Re-colour the diagram by having a single colour for Europe and Asia and
rename the result as ‘Eurasiaʼ. Compare its size with South Americaʼs.
Answer:
Do it yourself.
Question 9.
Write down the list of continents from the smallest to the largest. (Page
36)
Answer:
List of smallest to the largest continents.
● Australia
● Europe
● Antarctica
● North America
● South America
● Africa
● Asia.
Think About It (Page 31)
Question 1.
If there is such abundance of water on the planet, why is there so much
talk of ‘water scarcityʼ or a ‘water crisisʼ?
Answer:
Despite Earth's abundance of water, 'water scarcity' or a 'water crisis'
arises due to several factors:
1. Limited freshwater availability: 97.5% of Earth's water is saltwater,
unsuitable for most human uses, while only 2.5% is freshwater, much
of which is locked in glaciers, ice caps, or deep underground.
2. Uneven distribution: The limited supply of accessible freshwater is
unevenly distributed globally, leading to shortages in many regions.
3. Growing demand: Rapid population growth and urbanization increase
demand, often outpacing local supply capacities.
4. Pollution: Industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and improper disposal
reduce clean water availability.
5. Climate change: Alters precipitation patterns, causing droughts and
floods, while melting glaciers diminish vital seasonal meltwater
sources.
6. Over-extraction: Excessive use of groundwater and surface water
depletes these resources.
7. Inefficient use: Poor water management in agriculture, industry, and
domestic use exacerbates the problem.
All these factors combine to create water scarcity despite the planet's vast
water resources.
Question 2.
What ways of saving water are you aware of? Which ones have you seen
practised at home, at your school, and in your village, town or city?
Answer:
Ways of Saving Water:
● Repairing dripping taps and pipes
● Using water-saving appliances and fixtures
● Taking shorter showers to reduce water use
● Turning off the tap while brushing teeth or washing hands
● Collecting and storing rainwater for later use
● Reusing water from sinks and showers for irrigation
● Watering plants in the early morning or late evening to reduce
evaporation
● Using drip irrigation or soaker hoses for gardens
● Running dishwashers and washing machines only with full loads
● Using mulch to retain soil moisture in gardens
Practices Observed:
● At Home: Fixing leaks, turning off taps while brushing, using
water-efficient appliances
● At School: Installing water-saving fixtures, educating students about
water conservation
● In the Community: Rainwater harvesting, public awareness
campaigns, efficient irrigation in agriculture
Exercise Questions
Question 1.
Explain the following terms:
(a) Continent
(b) Ocean
(c) Island
Answer:
(a) Continent: A continent is one of the large landmasses on Earth that
covers a little over one-fourth of the Earth's surface. There are seven
continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and
South America. Continents are important because they shape Earth's
climate and impact the lives of plants, animals, and humans. For example,
Asia is the largest continent and has many different countries and cultures.
(b) Ocean: An ocean is a vast and deep body of saltwater that covers
almost three-fourths of the Earth's surface, making our planet appear
mostly blue from space. There are five major oceans: the Pacific Ocean, the
Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and the Southern
Ocean. Oceans are crucial because they support diverse marine life,
produce more than half of the world's oxygen, and play a vital role in the
Earth's water cycle by providing rain to continents. They also have smaller
extensions called seas, bays, and gulfs.
(c) Island: An island is a smaller piece of land that is completely surrounded
by water. Islands can vary in size, and some, like Greenland, are very large,
while others are much smaller. India has over 1,300 islands, including the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands. Islands can have
unique plants, animals, and cultures. They are important parts of the Earth's
geography and are often found in oceans and seas.
Activities
1. Let us draw – Without looking at the maps in this chapter, draw the
continents free hand on a sheet of paper and colour them. Then compare
your drawing with the map of oceans and continents in the chapter.
Answer:
Do it yourself.
2. Let us do-On the outline map of the world given below, label all the
continents and oceans
Answer:
Do it yourself.
3. Solve this crossword
Across :
1. Abundantly produced by the oceans
3. A large expanse of landmass
6. A large continent of which India is a part
8. A major source of pollution of the oceans
10. The coldest continent
Down :
2. The largest island on Earth
4. A huge destructive wave from the ocean
5. The smallest continent
7. The largest body of water on the Earth
9. A landmass (but not a continent) surrounded by the sea or ocean
Answer:
Across:
1. Oxygen
2. Continent
3. Asia
4. Plastic
5. Antarctica
Down: 2. Greenland 4. Tsunami 5. Australia 7. Pacific 9. Island
Word Meaning:
Word One-Word Answer
Continent Landmass
Ocean Waterbody
Asia Largest
Africa Hot
Europe Small
North America Northern
South America Southern
Australia Smallest
Antarctica Coldest
Pacific Ocean Largest