PODAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Worksheet
Std.: VII Date:
Subject: Social Science (Geography) Topic: The Dynamic Earth

1. Tick [✓] the correct option.

a. Gondwanaland was a part of
i. Lurasia
ii. Eurasia
iii. Asia
iv. Pangea

b. A mid-ocean ridge is a system of

i. oceans
ii. mountains
iii. rivers
iv. winds

c. Which of the following is a major plate?

i. African Plate
ii. US Plate
iii. India Plate
iv. British Plate

d. What does the subsided portion indicate?

i. block mountain
ii. rift valley
iii. fold mountain
iv. volcano

2. Fill in the blanks.

a. The earth’s outer shell known as lithosphere is broken into number of plates.
b. The lithosphere is divided into several rock slabs or plates.
c. The movement of the lithospheric plates causes changes on the surface of the
earth.

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 d. Faults appear when the tectonic plates are subjected to excessive stress.
e. The Vindhya and Satpura ranges in India are the example of Block Mountains.

3. Match the columns.

Column A Column B
a. Plates move towards each other i. Divergent Plate Boundaries
b. Major plates ii. Convergent Plate Boundaries
c. Plates pull away from each other iii. Eurasian Plate and Inda-Australian
Plate
d. A super continent iv. Transform Plate Boundaries
e. Plates slide past each other v. Pangea
a – ii, b – iii, c – i, d – v, e – iv

4. Correct the following statements and rewrite.

a. Exogenic forces originate from within the earth and are responsible for mountain
building, volcanic eruption, earthquakes and tsunamis.
Ans. Endogenic forces originate from within the earth and are responsible for
mountain building, volcanic eruption, earthquakes and tsunamis.
b. A volcano which has not erupted since a long time, but may become active
suddenly, it is called as active volcano.
Ans. A volcano which has not erupted since a long time, but may become active
suddenly, it is called as dormant volcano.
c. When the land between two adjacent faults subsides because of tension it leads to
formation of fold mountains.
Ans. When the land between two adjacent faults subsides because of tension it
leads to formation of rift valley.
d. Seismograph is an instrument that records the magnitude of an earthquake.
Ans. Richter Scale records the magnitude of an earthquake.

5. Define the following.

a. Tectonic plates
The lithosphere, consisting of the crust and upper mantle, is divided into number of
rock slabs or plates. These plates are known as tectonic plates.
b. Seismic waves
When the tectonic plates move, they push, pull or slide against each other creating
pressure. The accumulated pressure is released in the form of vibrations called
seismic waves.
c. Diastrophic forces
Diastrophic forces are natural forces having a slow but significant impact on the

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Earth’s crust, leading to the formation of mountains and continents.
d. Anticlines and synclines
The upfolded parts of the fold mountains are known as anticlines and downfolds
are called synclines.

6. Name the following.

a. The land portion of the earth when it was together: Pangea
b. One minor important plate: Arabian Plate (Accept any other relevant name)
c. An effect of endogenic forces of the earth: Earthquake
d. An active volcano: Mt Etna (Accept any other relevant name)

7. Answer the following questions.

a. Explain how the world distribution of earthquake prone zones coincides with that
of the volcanoes.
The Pacific coastline, known as the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire,’ contains almost two-thirds
of the world’s volcanoes. This is due to the subduction of oceanic plates beneath
lighter continental plates, resulting in strings of volcanoes and earthquake activity.
The world distribution of earthquake prone zones coincides with that of the
volcanoes. The region of greatest seismicity falls in the Circum-Pacific belt. The rest
of seismic and volcanic activity are recorded in the Mid-Continental belt, comprising
Alpine mountains, Mediterranean Sea, Africa and the Himalayas, and Mid-Atlantic
ridge and its adjoining islands. The Mid-Atlantic ridge is a zone of moderate
earthquakes caused due to divergent lithospheric plates. We mostly find dormant
and extinct volcanoes in this region.

b. Explain Wegener’s Theory of Continental Drift.

Examining a world map shows that the continents resemble puzzle pieces that could
fit together. Alfred Wegener, a German meteorologist, introduced the Theory of
Continental Drift in 1915 and suggested that all the continents were once connected
as a supercontinent called Pangaea, which eventually broke into two parts: Laurasia
in the north and Gondwanaland in the south, separated by the Sea of Tethys. Over
time, these landmasses fragmented into the continents we recognise today,
confirming the plate tectonics theory. Scientists believe, even today, they are
drifting from one another.

8. Draw a well labelled diagram showing three types of tectonic plate boundaries.
Refer to TB, pg. no. 31, Fig. 3.3

9. Read the newspaper article of the Chile earthquake of 2010 and answer the
following questions.
Chile earthquake of 2010, severe earthquake that occurred on February 27, 2010, off the

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coast of south-central Chile, causing widespread damage on land and initiating a tsunami
that devastated some coastal areas of the country. Together, the earthquake and tsunami
were responsible for more than 500 deaths. The magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck at 3:34
a.m. off the coast of Chile. The epicentre was located some 200 miles southwest of the
Chilean capital of Santiago, and the focus occurred at a depth of about 22 miles below
the surface of the Pacific Ocean. A 2014 study contended that water pressure built up
between the two plates had been the catalyst. The temblor was the strongest to strike the
region since the magnitude-9.5 event of 1960, considered to be the most powerful
earthquake ever recorded.

1) Where did the earthquake occur? What was the magnitude?

Ans. Coast of Chile, magnitude 8.8
2) What was the cause of the earthquake?
Ans. A 2014 study contended that water pressure built up between the two plates
had been the catalyst.

10. Free Thinking

What if all the continents merge together? What do you think would happen if they did?
Hint: If all the continents merged together, it would form a single supercontinent.
This would likely lead to major changes in climate patterns, loss of biodiversity,
mass migration of human populations, redistribution of resources, and geopolitical
shifts.

11. HOTS
What kind of houses should we build in earthquake-prone areas to avoid major loss of
lives and properties?
Hint: In earthquake-prone areas, it is important to build earthquake-resistant
houses. These houses should have sturdy foundations, reinforced walls, and flexible
structures that can absorb seismic waves. Additionally, using lightweight materials
and ensuring proper construction techniques can help minimise damage during
earthquakes, reducing the risk of loss of lives and properties.

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