Forests: Our Lifeline NCERT Solutions – Class 7 Science

On the surface, NCERT Class 7 Science Chapter 17 titled Forests: Our Lifeline, is a story about children walking through the forests and discovering their beauty. However, on a deeper level, this chapter educates students about the importance of forests and the living organisms in them. NCERT Class 7 Science Chapter 17 highlights the ill effects of deforestation and how it can create problems in the ecological balance of nature. 

NCERT Solutions Class 7 Science Chapter 17 comprise a detailed explanation of answers to textbook questions. This enables students to learn the chapter in the most effective way. When accessing NCERT Solutions Class 7 Science Chapter 17 on Extramarks’ website or app, students don’t have to worry about authenticity as the solutions are curated by subject matter experts. Thus, making Extramarks’ NCERT Solutions Chapter 17 Science Class 7 a useful self-study material. 

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Science Chapter 17 

Access NCERT Solutions for Science Class 7 Chapter 17 – Forests: Our Lifeline

NCERT Solutions Class 7 Science Chapter 17 

The NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Science Chapter 17 have answers to all the questions that are given in the NCERT textbook. The solutions are prepared by subject matter experts at Extramarks. Students can access the solutions on the website or app of Extramarks.

NCERT Solutions of Class 7 Science Chapter 17 Forest: Our Lifeline

NCERT Class 7 Science Chapter 17 has some wonderful characters like Prof Ahmad, Bhoojo, Tibu and Paheli. These characters are part of a story that educates us about the issue of deforestation and how it impacts wildlife and humans in a negative way. Students will also get ideas about how they can do things differently in order to make our environment better. Moreover, NCERT Class 7 Science Chapter 17 also makes a strong case against urbanisation that causes deforestation. It does so by telling us about the effects of forest depletion. Rapid urbanisation reduces the forest cover, which ruins the life of animals living in those forests and also damages the environment. This Class 7 Science Chapter 17 also tells us how forests prevent floods and maintain the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.

At the end of the chapter, there are some exercise questions to gauge the understanding of students. Whether you want to find the accurate answer or want to cross-check the answer, you can refer to NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Science Chapter 17. As these have elaborate answers to textbook questions, in a simple to understand language, students can start their examination preparation early on. 

Benefits of NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Science Chapter 17

NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Science Chapter 17 comes with a lot of benefits for the students. Here are some:

  • The solutions are prepared by experienced subject matter experts.
  • The solutions are according to  the latest CBSE guidelines.
  • The solutions have answers to all the questions given in NCERT textbook Chapter 17.
  • The answers are written in simple language and  comprehensive manner.
  • The solutions are ideal for revision, practise and assignments.

Q.1 Explain how animals dwelling in the forest help it grow and regenerate.

Ans-

Organic matter, generated by animals in the form of animal droppings and dead remains, contains lots of nutrients. These nutrients are recycled by the decomposers into the soil and made available to young saplings and microorganisms facilitating their growth. This helps forest to regenerate its lost resources. Further, animals also help in dispersal of seeds to larger distances which help in expansion of forest cover. Thus, animals play a vital role in growth and regeneration of forests.

Q.2 Explain how forests prevent floods.

Ans-

The roots of the trees anchor the top soil firmly and prevent erosion of soil and underlying rocks. Those banks of rivers and streams, which are guarded by forests, delimit them and prevent their overflow. Also, the heavy flow of rain is received by the forest canopy and as water reaches the ground, its flow slows down. This further prevents cutting away of fertile top soil and provide ample time for seepage of water into the ground. Therefore, forests are helpful in preventing floods.

Q.3 What are decomposers? Name any two of them. What do they do in the forest?

Ans-

Decomposers are the microorganisms, like fungi and bacteria, that breakdown dead and decaying remains of plants and animals into the nutrients to be utilised by other organisms. In this way, decomposers recycle the nutrients and make them available to the soil from which other organisms can uptake and utilize them.

Q.4 Explain the role of forest in maintaining the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Ans-

Forests are considered as carbon sinks which absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and utilise it in the process of photosynthesis. In turn, they release oxygen, which is the by-product of photosynthesis formed along with carbohydrates. In this way, forests maintain the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Q.5 Explain why there is no waste in a forest.

Ans-

There is no waste in a forest because animal droppings, dead remains of plants and animals, are acted upon by the decomposers which convert them back into useful nutrients. These recycled nutrients are utilised by the plants and microorganisms for growth and reproduction. Thus, all the waste material generated in the forest is converted into useful materials and no waste is left in the forest.

Q.6 List five products we get from forests?

Ans-

The five products which we get from the forests are as follows:

  1. Timber
  2. Firewood
  3. Wax
  4. Gum
  5. Spices

Q.7 Fill in the blanks:
(a) The insects, butterflies, honeybees and birds help flowering plants in_______.
(b) A forest is a purifier of________ and_________.
(c) Herbs form the ________layer in the forest.
(d) The decaying leaves and animal droppings in a forest enrich the_______.

Ans-

(a) pollination
(b) air, water
(c) lowest
(d) soil

Q.8 Why should we worry about the conditions and issues related to forests far from us?

Ans-

We should be concerned with the conditions and issues related to forests because of the following reasons:

1. Forests maintain the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This helps in preventing the increase in temperature of earth’s atmosphere.
2. Forests prevent floods and erosion of soil.
3. Forests provide us with many important products like, timber, firewood, honey, beeswax, herbal medicines etc.
4. Forests help a region in receiving sufficient amount of rainfall.
5. Forests also curb noise pollution.

Q.9 Explain why there is a need of variety of animals and plants in a forest.

Ans-

Large variety of plants and animals provide greater choice of food resources to all the life forms. This helps in growth in populations and varieties of both herbivores and carnivores. These animals play important roles in circulation of nutrients and energy through food chain and dispersal of seeds to larger distances. Such processes define and contribute in the growth, expansion, development and regeneration of a forest.

Q.10 In Fig. 17.15, the artist has forgotten to put the labels and directions on the arrows. Mark the directions on the arrows and label the diagram using the following labels: clouds, rain, atmosphere, carbon dioxide, oxygen, plants, animals, soil, roots, water table.

Ans- The correctly labelled diagram with arrow marks is as shown below:

Q.11 Which of the following is not a forest product?
(i) Gum
(ii) Plywood
(iii) Sealing wax
(iv) Kerosene

Ans-

(iv) Kerosene

Q.12 Which of the following statements is not correct?
(i) Forests protect the soil from erosion.
(ii) Plants and animals in a forest are not dependent on one another.
(iii) Forests influence the climate and water cycle.
(iv) Soil helps forests to grow and regenerate.

Ans-

The incorrect statement is: (ii) Plants and animals in a forest are not dependent on one another.

Q.13 Micro-organisms act upon the dead plants to produce
(i) sand
(ii) mushrooms
(iii) humus
(iv) wood

Ans-

Micro-organisms act upon the dead plants to produce (iii) humus

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Forests: Our Lifeline is considered an important chapter because it gives the students some valuable lessons about the environment and its balance. It teaches about things like the role of microorganisms in converting dead plant and animal remains into humus which makes the soil fertile and results in the growth of new plants. It tells them about how forests have a natural and beautiful way of regenerating themselves. Such information and learnings help students to appreciate and  become  aware of the environment and do their best to protect and preserve it.

Class 7 Science Chapter 17  As the name suggests the forests are our lifelines for many reasons. Humans need oxygen to live and it’s the forests that help us to maintain the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide. This chapter makes students aware of how deforestation can disturb that balance to eventually threaten everyone’s lives. There are thousands of species that reside in the forests that indirectly help us survive on this planet and are crucial for  our existence. This chapter also calls forests our lifelines because of the wood, herbs and medicinal plants that we get from forests – they are all part of our wellbeing.

NCERT Class 7 Science Chapter 17 will give students a good understanding of forests and what it offers to us. It helps students understand what humans can do to ensure that the environmental balance is maintained and our planet remains sustainable. It also highlights how deforestation and natural imbalance can be harmful to humans. These values are conveyed in the chapter via story-telling. Through the characters like Prof Ahmad, students comprehend how trees form a layer in the forest that is called understoreys. Through the conversations between Boojho and Prof Ahmad, students also get to know how different forests have different animals and trees depending on the climatic conditions.

One of the most effective ways to score full marks in NCERT Chapter 17 science Class 7 is by referring to its Solutions on Extramarks’ website or app. 

One of the benefits of studying NCERT Class 7 Science Chapter 17 is that students get to understand and appreciate nature more. They become aware of the forests and how much they provide to humans. This enables students an understanding of how they may contribute to the  environment so that it is suitable for them and that l of their future generations. They will also appreciate forests for providing so many things like rubber, honey, wood, oils and medicinal herbs. The students will learn about the importance of forests in their life and why they need to use natural resources judiciously.

Forests have a lot to offer to humans because of their biodiversity and ability to maintain temperature. The trees in dense forests are responsible for purifying the air and providing us with enough oxygen to breathe. Forests are also the source of animal food, wood pulp, honey and firewood. In Class 7 Science Chapter 17, students also learn that forests also help in preventing soil erosion and protect soil fertility.