Climates of India – Class 7 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

Chapter overview

India has a tropical monsoon type of climate, with seasonal reversal of winds. There are four main seasons: the cold weather season, the hot weather season, the season of the south-west monsoon and the season of the retreating monsoon. Rainfall and temperature vary greatly across regions.

Seasons of India

• Cold weather season (December–February): clear skies, cool days; western disturbances bring some winter rain to north-west India.
• Hot weather season (March–May): high temperatures in the north; dry, hot local winds called loo blow over the northern plains.
• South-west monsoon (June–September): moist winds from the Indian Ocean bring most of India's rainfall.
• Retreating monsoon (October–November): winds withdraw; the Tamil Nadu coast receives much of its rain at this time.

Variations across India

• Mawsynram and Cherrapunji in Meghalaya receive some of the highest rainfall in the world, while western Rajasthan receives very little.
• Coastal places have moderate temperatures; places far from the sea, such as Delhi, have extreme climates.
• Mountains are cooler because temperature falls with height.

Climate and life

• The monsoon decides farming, water supply and the economy; a weak monsoon can cause drought.
• Climate change is bringing more heat waves, heavy-rain events and stronger cyclones.

Key terms

Monsoon

seasonal winds that reverse direction between summer and winter

Loo

hot, dry, dusty winds that blow over the northern plains in summer

Western disturbances

weather systems from the Mediterranean region that bring winter rain to north-west India

Retreating monsoon

the withdrawal of monsoon winds in October and November

Important questions with answers

Quick revision

• Tropical monsoon climate.
• Four seasons: cold, hot, south-west monsoon, retreating monsoon.
• Mawsynram: very high rainfall; western Rajasthan: very low.
• Monsoon controls farming and water.

Exam tips

• Learn the four seasons with their months and one key feature each.
• Remember: Tamil Nadu gets winter rain because of the retreating (north-east) monsoon.

Practice MCQs

1. India's climate is described as

   1. tropical monsoon
   2. polar
   3. desert only
   4. Mediterranean
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) tropical monsoon. Seasonal winds dominate.

2. Most of India's rainfall comes during the

   1. cold season
   2. spring
   3. retreating monsoon only
   4. south-west monsoon
   Show answer

   Answer: (d) south-west monsoon. June to September is the main rainy season.

3. Hot dry winds in north India in summer are called

   1. breeze
   2. monsoon
   3. loo
   4. cyclone
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) loo. They blow in May and June.

4. Which place receives some of the highest rainfall in the world

   1. Jaisalmer
   2. Delhi
   3. Mawsynram
   4. Leh
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) Mawsynram. It is in Meghalaya.

5. Winter rain in Punjab and Haryana is brought by

   1. south-west monsoon
   2. loo
   3. western disturbances
   4. retreating monsoon
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) western disturbances. These systems come from the Mediterranean region.

6. Delhi has an extreme climate mainly because it is

   1. far from the sea
   2. near the sea
   3. on a mountain
   4. on an island
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) far from the sea. The sea moderates temperature only near the coast.

7. The Tamil Nadu coast gets much of its rain in

   1. October–November
   2. June–July
   3. March–April
   4. January only
   Show answer

   Answer: (a) October–November. The retreating monsoon picks up moisture from the Bay of Bengal.

8. Why does temperature fall as we go up a mountain

   1. the sun is farther
   2. there is more water
   3. air becomes thinner and holds less heat
   4. winds stop
   Show answer

   Answer: (c) air becomes thinner and holds less heat. Temperature drops with height.