AP 6th Class Social Textbook Solutions – 2. Oceans And Continents (2026-27)

2 OCEANS AND CONTINENTS

LET'S EXPLORE (Page 50)

• What are the circular lines in each map called? And do you know what the lines radiating out of the two poles are called?
  - Circular lines: Parallels of latitude.
  - Radiating lines: Meridians of longitude.
• Which hemisphere holds more water?
  The Southern Hemisphere holds more water (also known as the Water Hemisphere) compared to the Northern Hemisphere.
• What do you think could be the approximate proportion of water to land in the Northern Hemisphere? And in the Southern Hemisphere?
  - Northern Hemisphere: Approximately 60% water and 40% land.
  - Southern Hemisphere: Approximately 80% water and 20% land.
• Are all the oceans connected with one another, or are there separations between them?
  All the oceans are interconnected with one another; the boundaries drawn on maps are only geographical conventions.
• If there is such abundance of water on the planet, why is there so much talk of 'water scarcity' or a 'water crisis'?
  About 97% of the Earth's water is saline seawater in oceans, which is unfit for drinking and agriculture. Freshwater makes up only about 3% of total water, and most of it is locked in glaciers or deep underground.
• What ways of saving water are you aware of? Which ones have you seen practised at home, at your school, and in your village, town or city?
  - Turning off taps while brushing teeth and washing hands.
  - Rainwater harvesting to recharge groundwater.
  - Reusing kitchen wastewater for watering garden plants.
  - Repairing leaking pipelines and using drip irrigation in fields.

LET'S EXPLORE (Page 54)

Hemispheres of the Five Oceans

Ocean	Northern Hemisphere	Southern Hemisphere
Pacific Ocean	✔	✔
Atlantic Ocean	✔	✔
Indian Ocean	✔	✔
Southern Ocean	-	✔
Arctic Ocean	✔	-

LET'S EXPLORE (Page 62)

• Counting the numbers of squares, name the largest continent and the smallest.
  - Largest continent: Asia (covers the maximum number of grid squares).
  - Smallest continent: Australia (covers the least number of grid squares).
• Which one is larger: North America or South America? Africa or North America? Antarctica or Australia?
  - Between North America and South America: North America is larger.
  - Between Africa and North America: Africa is larger.
  - Between Antarctica and Australia: Antarctica is larger.
• 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.
  Eurasia (Asia + Europe combined) is the largest landmass on Earth and is more than three times the size of South America.
• Write down the list of continents from the smallest to the largest.
  Australia < Europe < Antarctica < South America < North America < Africa < Asia.

Questions, activities and projects (Page 66)

• 1. The given Picture shows the symbol of the Olympic Games. What do these rings symbolise?
  A. The five most popular sports

  B. The five continents of the world

  C. The five major oceans of the world

  D. The five host countries of the Olympics
  Answer: B. The five continents of the world (inhabited continents: Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Europe)
• 2. Assertion (A): India has established scientific research stations in Antarctica.
  Reason (R): Scientists study climate and environmental changes there.
  A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

  B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.

  C. A is true, but R is false.

  D. A is false, but R is true.
  Answer: A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
• 3. If most of earth's surface was covered by land instead of water, which of the following statement would likely be true?
  A) Oceans would become larger

  B) The earth would still look blue

  C) There would be no change in appearance

  D) The earth would appear brown from space
  Answer: D) The earth would appear brown from space
• 4. Explain the following terms:
  (A) Continent
  (B) Ocean
  (C) Island
  (A) Continent: A large, continuous expanse of landmass on the Earth's surface (e.g., Asia, Africa).
  
  (B) Ocean: A vast body of saline water that covers large parts of the Earth's surface (e.g., Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean).
  
  (C) Island: A piece of land that is completely surrounded by water on all sides but is smaller than a continent (e.g., Greenland, Sri Lanka, Andaman Islands).
• 5. "Oceans are often called the planet's lungs and climate regulators." Evaluate this statement by analysing the role of oceans in the Earth's water cycle and human life. Also, justify why protecting oceans is essential for the future of humanity.
  - Lungs of the Planet: Marine plants, especially phytoplankton and algae, produce more than half of the world's oxygen through photosynthesis.
  
  - Climate Regulators & Water Cycle: Oceans absorb immense heat from the Sun and distribute it across the globe via ocean currents. Water evaporating from oceans forms clouds, driving the global water cycle and bringing life-giving monsoon rainfall to continents.
  
  - Human Life & Protection: Oceans provide food (fisheries), livelihoods, and major global trade routes. Protecting oceans from plastic pollution, industrial waste, and overfishing is vital to ensure our oxygen supply, rainfall balance, and marine biodiversity for future generations.
• 6. Create a short awareness message for coastal people explaining what a tsunami is and how to stay safe.
  TSUNAMI SAFETY ALERT
  
  - What is a Tsunami? A series of massive, destructive ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions.
  
  - Warning Signs: A strong earthquake felt near the coast, sudden receding of seawater from the shoreline, or a loud roaring sound from the sea.
  
  - Safety Measures:
  1. Move immediately to high ground or inland areas.
  2. Never stay on the beach to watch the waves.
  3. Listen to official alerts from the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System.
• 7. On the outline map of the world, label all the continents and oceans.
  - Continents (7): Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, Australia.
  - Oceans (5): Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, Arctic Ocean.

Crossword Puzzle (Page 68)

• 8. Solve this crossword:

  Clue Direction & Number	Clue Description	Ans
  Across 1	Abundantly produced by the oceans	OXYGEN
  Across 3	A large expanse of landmass	CONTINENT
  Across 6	A large continent of which India is a part	ASIA
  Across 8	A major source of pollution of the oceans	PLASTIC
  Across 10	The coldest continent	ANTARCTICA
  Down 2	The largest island on Earth	GREENLAND
  Down 4	A huge destructive wave from the ocean	TSUNAMI
  Down 5	The smallest continent	AUSTRALIA
  Down 7	The largest body of water on the Earth	OCEAN
  Down 9	A landmass (but not a continent) surrounded by the sea or ocean	ISLAND