NCERT Class 7 Geography — Chapter 2: Life in the Deserts

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Which one of the following crops is NOT typically cultivated in the Sahara oases or the Nile valley?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

ABeans
BRice
CBarley
DMaize

Did you get this right?

Solution

Correct Option

The correct option is

Maize

Explanation

Agriculture in the Sahara Desert and the Nile Valley is heavily dependent on water availability from oases and the Nile River. The crops cultivated are selected based on their adaptability to arid conditions or the irrigation potential provided by the river.

Analysis

Rice: It is extensively cultivated in the Nile Valley, particularly in the Nile Delta, where water availability is sufficient to meet its high irrigation requirements.
Barley: This is a hardy crop well-suited to arid environments and is traditionally grown in the oases of the Sahara.
Beans: Various types of beans are staple crops cultivated in both the oases and the agricultural lands along the Nile.
Maize: While maize is grown in modern Egypt, standard geographical descriptions of the traditional agricultural patterns in the Sahara oases and the Nile Valley typically list dates, rice, wheat, barley, and beans as the primary crops. Maize is not characteristically included in this specific grouping of traditional staples for this region in standard texts.

Key Takeaway

The primary crops traditionally associated with the Sahara oases and the Nile Valley include dates, rice, wheat, barley, and beans.

Your note

More from Chapter 2: Life in the Deserts

Consider the following statements regarding the general characteristics of deserts: 1. They are characterized by low rainfall and scanty vegetation. 2. They are always associated with extremely high temperatures. 3. Agriculture is impossible in desert areas even if water is available. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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With reference to the Sahara Desert, consider the following statements: 1. It covers a large part of North Africa. 2. It touches exactly three countries. 3. Its total area is more than double the area of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Consider the following statements regarding the physical landscape of the Sahara Desert: 1. It consists solely of vast stretches of sand dunes. 2. It includes gravel plains and elevated plateaus with bare rocky surfaces. 3. Some rocky surfaces in the desert can be more than 2500m high. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Which of the following evidence suggests that the Sahara Desert was once a lush green plain?

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With reference to the climate of the Sahara Desert, consider the following statements: 1. The moisture evaporates faster than it accumulates. 2. The sky is typically overcast with heavy clouds. 3. Nights remain hot with temperatures staying above 30°C. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Correct Option

The correct option is

Maize

Explanation

Analysis

Rice: It is extensively cultivated in the Nile Valley, particularly in the Nile Delta, where water availability is sufficient to meet its high irrigation requirements.
Barley: This is a hardy crop well-suited to arid environments and is traditionally grown in the oases of the Sahara.
Beans: Various types of beans are staple crops cultivated in both the oases and the agricultural lands along the Nile.
Maize: While maize is grown in modern Egypt, standard geographical descriptions of the traditional agricultural patterns in the Sahara oases and the Nile Valley typically list dates, rice, wheat, barley, and beans as the primary crops. Maize is not characteristically included in this specific grouping of traditional staples for this region in standard texts.

Key Takeaway

The primary crops traditionally associated with the Sahara oases and the Nile Valley include dates, rice, wheat, barley, and beans.