Students revise important topics using Class 7 SST Extra Questions and Class 7th SST Chapter 8 How the Land Becomes Sacred Important Extra Question Answer before exams.
Class 7 SST Chapter 8 How the Land Becomes Sacred Extra Questions
NCERT Class 7 Social Science Chapter 8 Extra Questions on How the Land Becomes Sacred
How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Very Short Question Answer
Question 1.
Name any two sacred rivers mentioned in the chapter.
Answer:
Ganga and Yamuna.
Question 2.
Which tree is considered sacred in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism?
Answer:
Peepal tree, it is also called Fig tree.
Question 3.
What are the 12 self-manifested shrines of Lord Shiva called?
Answer:
Jyotirlingas.
Question 4.
Where is the Golden Temple located?
Answer:
Amritsar.
Question 5.
Name one tribe that protects sacred groves in India.
Answer:
Dongria Kondh.
How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Short Question Answer
Question 1.
What is the significance of the Char Dham pilgrimage in India?
Answer:
The Char Dham pilgrimage connects four sacred sites (Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, Rameswaram) located in the four directions of India, creating a spiritual map of the country.
Question 2.
How do sacred groves help in environmental conservation?
Answer:
Sacred groves protect biodiversity by preserving native flora and fauna through religious prohibitions against hunting and tree-cutting.
Question 3.
Why is the Kumbh Mela considered an important religious gathering?
Answer:
Kumbh Mela is important as it commemorates the drops of divine nectar from Hindu mythology and brings millions of people together for spiritual purification.
Question 4.
What is the importance of the Golden Temple in Sikhism?
Answer:
The Golden Temple is the holiest shrine in Sikhism, symbolising equality and welcoming people of all faiths.
How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Long Question Answer
Question 1.
Explain how pilgrimage traditions in India have contributed to cultural integration across the country. Discuss with examples.
Answer:
The pilgrimage traditions like the Char Dham yatra and Kumbh Mela have historically connected India’s diverse regions through shared sacred geography. These journeys facilitated cultural exchange as pilgrims travelled across different linguistic and cultural zones, participating in common rituals while absorbing local traditions, this process helped create a sense of national religious unity despite regional variations.
Question 2.
Describe the ecological significance of sacred groves in India. How do religious beliefs help in their conservation?
Answer:
Sacred groves serve as important ecological reserves by preserving native biodiversity through religious protection. For example Kerala’s kavu and Maharashtra’s devrai, where communities prohibit tree¬cutting and hunting due to the belief that deities inhabit these forests. This faith-based conservation has effectively maintained watersheds and protected endangered species for generations.
Question 3.
Analyse the role of mythology in creating India’s sacred geography, with special reference to the Shakti Peethas and Jyotirlingas.
Answer:
Hindu mythology established India’s sacred geography by associating divine narratives with physical landscapes. Stories like the 51 Shakti Peethas (from Sati’s body parts) and the 12 Jyotirlingas (Shiva’s manifestations) created pilgrimage networks that standardised worship practices while incorporating local traditions, blending spiritual beliefs with natural features across the subcontinent.
How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Source Based Questions
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
“In the early 2000s, the Government of Sikkim identified several sacred mountains, caves, lakes, rocks, and hot springs that were to be protected against all forms of damage. These sites, revered by local communities, were declared as part of Sikkim’s cultural and ecological heritage.”
Question 1.
Name one type of sacred natural site mentioned in the excerpt.
Answer:
Some sacred natural sites are mountains, caves, lakes, rocks, hot springs.
Question 2.
Why do you think the Government of Sikkim took steps to protect these sites?
Answer:
The government protected these sites because:
- They hold cultural significance for local communities (religious/spiritual value).
- They contribute to ecological conservation (preserving biodiversity, water sources, etc.)
Question 3.
How is the conservation approach in Sikkim similar to or different from the protection of sacred groves (kãvu) in Kerala?
Answer:
Similarity: Both involve legal and community-based protection (Sikkim’s government policy vs. Kerala’s traditional taboos).
Difference: Sikkim’s approach is state-led, while Kerala’s sacred groves rely more on local beliefs and customs.
How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Picture Based Questions
Observe the given image and answer the questions below:
Question 1.
Which tree is shown in the image, and why is it significant in Buddhism?
Answer:
The tree shown in the image is the Peepal tree (Ficus religiosa), which is significant in Buddhism as it is believed that Buddha attained enlightenment under this tree.
Question 2.
Explain why this tree is also considered sacred in Hinduism and Jainism.
Answer:
In Hinduism, this tree is believed to be the abode of Lord Vishnu, while in Jainism, it is associated with the 23rd Tirthankara, Parshvanatha.
Question 3.
State two ways this tree benefits the environment.
Answer:
The peepal tree provides shelter and food for birds and animals throughout the year and its leaves and bark have medic¬inal uses (treats skin/stomach ailments etc.).
Question 4
Where is this tree located?
Answer:
This tree is located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar.
How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Competency Based Questions
Question 1.
“The sacredness of natural elements like rivers and mountains is not just religious but also ecological.” Using examples from the chapter, explain how this statement holds true. Discuss both the spiritual and enwronmental significance of at least two sacred natural sites mentioned in the text.
Answer:
The chapter highlights how sacred natural sites combine religious and ecological value. The Ganga River is worshipped as a goddess (spiritual) while its clean water is essential for survival (ecological). Similarly, sacred groves like Kerala’s kavu are protected, as deity abodes (religious) but also conserve biodiversity by preventing deforestation . (ecological). These examples show how faith- based reverence promotes environmental conservation.
Question 2.
How did ancient pilgrimage routes contribute to both cultural unity and economic development in India? Support your answer with specific examples from the chapter, showing how these routes served dual purposes in history.
Answer:
Pilgrimage routes like Uttarapatha fostered cultural unity by connecting people from different regions through shared sacred journeys (e.g., Char Dham). Economically, these routes became trade corridors where merchants sold goods to pilgrims, as seen in temple towns like Varanasi. The chapter shows how spiritual travel boosted local markets and artisan livelihoods, linking devotion with commerce.
How the Land Becomes Sacred Class 7 Skill Based Questions
Question 1.
The chapter states: “The Kumbh Mela of 2025 saw 660 million insitors.”
(a) Convert this number into scientific notation.
Answer:
6.6 × 108
(b) If India’s population was 1.4 billion in 2025, what percentage attended the Kumbh Mela?
Answer:
47% (660 million ÷ 1400 billion × 100)
(c) Suggest two infrastructural challenges for hosting such large gatherings.
Answer:
Two infrastructural challenges for hosting such large gatherings are:
- Security and surveillance
- Ensuring adequate sanitation and waste disposal systems.
Question 2.
Compare the ecological conservation methods of:
(a) Sacred groves (like kaim in Kerala)
(b) Government-protected wildlife sanctuaries
Identify:
- One common objective
- One key difference in their conservation approach.
Answer:
Common objective: Both sacred groves and wildlife sanctuaries aim to protect biodiversity.
Key difference:
- Sacred groves are protected through religious taboos (e.g., deity worship), while wildlife sanctuaries are protected by legal regulations enforced by the government (e.g., Wildlife Protection Act).
Class 7 How the Land Becomes Sacred Extra Questions for Practice
A. Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1.
The Char Dham pilgrimage connects sacred sites in how many directions of India?
(a) Two
(b) Three
(c) Four
(d) Five
Question 2.
Which river is NOT part of the Sapta Sindhu mentioned in the Rigveda?
(a) Ganga
(b) Sarasvati
(c) Yamuna
(d) Godavari
Question 3.
The Kumbh Mela is held at which of these locations?
(a) Varanasi
(b) Prayagraj
(c) Amritsar
(d) Madurai
Question 4.
Sacred groves in Kerala are locally known as:
(a) Devrai
(b) Kavu
(c) Sarna
(d) Oran
Question 5.
The 12 Jyotirlingas are associated with which deity?
(a) Vishnu
(b) Shiva
(c) Durga
(d) Buddha
B. Fill in the Blanks
Question 1.
The ………….. tribe reveres the Niyamgiri hills as sacred land.
Question 2.
The ………… Mela is celebrated at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and Sarasvati.
Question 3.
The ………….. Temple in Amritsar is the holiest shrine in Sikhism.
Question 4.
The story of the 51 ………….. is linked to the body parts of Goddess Sati.
Question 5.
The ancient trade route connecting northern India was called ………….
C. State Whether True or False
Question 1.
The Golden Temple allows entry only to Sikhs.
Question 2.
Sacred groves are protected solely for their timber value.
Question 3.
Only Hindus consider the peepal tree is sacred.
Question 4.
The Kumbh Mela is held every 6 years.
Question 5.
The Shakti Peethas are associated with Lord Shiva.
D. Match the Columns
| Column A | Column B |
| A. Char Dham | (i) 12 self-manifested Shiva shrines |
| B. Kumbh Mela | (ii) Tribe protecting Niyamgiri hills |
| C. Jyotirlingas | (iii) Four directional pilgrimage sites |
| D. Dongria Kondh | (iv) 51 goddess shrines from Sati’s story |
| E. Shakti Peethas | (v) World’s largest religious gathering |
(a) A-(ii), B-(iv), C-(v), D-(i), E-(iii)
(b) A-(v), B-(iii), C-(iv), D-(i), E-(ii)
(c) A-(iii) B-(v), C-(i), D-(ii), E-(iv)
(d) A-(v), B-(iii), C-(iv), D-(iii), E-(i)
E. Assertion and Reason Questions
There are two statements given Assertion (A) and Reason (JR) given below. Mark your answer according to the code given below.
Question 1.
Assertion (A): Sacred groves help conserve biodiversity.
Reason (R): Cutting trees is prohibited in these areas due to religious beliefs. Codes:
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false but (R) is true.
Question 2.
Assertion (A): The Char Dham pilgrimage sites are located in four directions of India.
Reason (R): Adi Shankaracharya established them to unify the country spiritually.
Codes:
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false but (R) is true.
F. Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Name two sacred rivers mentioned in the chapter.
Question 2.
Which tree is associated with Buddha’s enlightenment?
Question 3.
What are the 12 self-manifested Shiva shrines called?
Question 4.
Where is the Mahabodhi Stupa located?
Question 5.
Name one tribe that protects sacred groves.
G. Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Explain the ecological importance of sacred groves.
Question 2.
How did pilgrimage routes like Uttarapatha benefit ancient India?
Question 3.
Why is the Kumbh Mela significant in Hinduism?
H. Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Discuss how mythology has shaped India’s sacred geography. Use examples from the chapter.
Question 2.
Analyse the dual role of pilgrimage traditions in fostering cultural unity and economic growth.