NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Social Science

Chapter 2 - Oceans and Continents

THE BIG QUESTIONS?

1. What are oceans and continents? What are their names and their distribution?

Ans: Oceans are vast bodies of saltwater that cover about 71% of the Earth's surface, while
continents are large landmasses that form the Earth's land area. There are five major oceans
and seven continents.

● Oceans: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic.

● Continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and
Australia.

These oceans and continents are distributed across the Earth’s surface, with oceans
surrounding and separating the continents.

2. In what ways do oceans and continents impact life on Earth, including human life?

Ans: Oceans regulate Earth's climate, support marine life, and provide resources such as fish
and salt. They also serve as major transportation routes for global trade. Continents provide
habitats for humans, plants, and animals, and contain natural resources like minerals, forests,
and freshwater. Together, oceans and continents shape ecosystems, weather patterns, and
human activities like agriculture, trade, and urban development.

LET’S EXPLORE
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?

Ans: The circular lines on the map are called parallels of latitude, which run parallel to the
equator. The lines radiating out from the poles are known as meridians of longitude. They
help in identifying the exact location of places on Earth.

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2. Which hemisphere holds more water?

Ans: The Southern Hemisphere holds more water, as it has a greater area covered by oceans
compared to the Northern Hemisphere.

3. What do you think could be the approximate proportion of water to land in the
Northern Hemisphere? And in the Southern Hemisphere?

Ans: In the Northern Hemisphere, the proportion of water to land is approximately 60%
water and 40% land. In the Southern Hemisphere, the proportion is around 80% water and
20% land.

4. Are all the oceans connected with one another, or are there separations between
them?

Ans: Yes, all the oceans are connected to one another, forming a global oceanic system.
However, they are traditionally divided into separate oceans based on geographical and
historical distinctions.

THINK ABOUT IT
1. If there is such an abundance of water on the planet, why is there so much talk of
‘water scarcity’ or a ‘water crisis’?

Ans: Even though Earth has a vast amount of water, most of it is saltwater in oceans and not
suitable for drinking or agriculture. Only a small portion of the Earth's water is freshwater,
and much of that is locked in glaciers or underground. Factors such as pollution, overuse,
climate change, and unequal distribution of water resources contribute to water scarcity in
many regions, creating a ‘water crisis.’

What ways of saving water are you aware of? Which ones have you seen practiced at
home, at your school, and in your village, town or city?

Ans: Some ways to save water include:

● At home: Turning off taps when not in use, using buckets instead of hoses for
washing, fixing leaks promptly.

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 ● At school: Installing water-saving devices, ensuring taps are closed properly, and
rainwater harvesting.
● In towns or cities: Rainwater harvesting, water recycling, using efficient irrigation
methods like drip irrigation in agriculture, and public awareness campaigns to reduce
water wastage.

LET’S EXPLORE
Locate the five oceans and, in the table below, mark the hemisphere or hemispheres
they belong to.

Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere

Pacific Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

Indian Ocean

Southern Ocean

Arctic Ocean

Ans:
Ocean Name Northern Southern
Hemisphere Hemisphere

Pacific Ocean Yes Yes

Atlantic Ocean Yes Yes

Indian Ocean No Yes

Southern No Yes
Ocean

Arctic Ocean Yes No

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LET’S EXPLORE
1. Counting the number of squares, name the largest continent and the smallest.
Ans:

● The largest continent, based on the number of squares, is Asia.

● The smallest continent is Australia.

2. Which one is larger — North America or South America? Africa or North America?
Antarctica or Australia?
Ans:

● North America is larger than South America.

● Africa is larger than North America.
● Antarctica is larger than Australia.

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3. Re-colour the diagram by having a single colour for Europe and Asia and rename the
result as ‘Eurasia’. Compare its size with South America’s.

Ans:

After combining Europe and Asia as ‘Eurasia’, it becomes significantly larger than South
America.

Write down the list of continents from the smallest to the largest.
Ans:

From smallest to largest:

1. Australia
2. Europe
3. Antarctica

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 4. South America
5. North America
6. Africa
7. Asia (or Eurasia if combined with Europe)

Questions, activities and projects

1. Explain the following terms:

(a) Continent:
Ans: A continent is a large, continuous landmass that forms a major part of the Earth's
surface. There are seven continents on Earth: Asia, Africa, North America, South America,
Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. These landmasses vary in size and are home to different
countries, cultures, and ecosystems.

(b) Ocean:
Ans: An ocean is a vast body of salt water that covers about 71% of the Earth's surface.
Oceans are interconnected and play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's climate,
supporting marine life, and providing resources like fish and minerals. The five major oceans
are the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic.

(c) Island:
Ans: An island is a landmass that is completely surrounded by water. Islands can vary in size
from small patches of land to large areas like Greenland. Some islands are formed by
volcanic activity, while others may be the result of rising sea levels or erosion. Examples
include Madagascar and the Hawaiian Islands.

2. 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.

Ans: Do it Yourself

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3. Let us do – On the outline map of the world given below, label all the continents and
oceans.

Ans: Do it Yourself

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

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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

Ans:

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