Grade 7 Social Studies

Cluster 2: Global Quality of Life

1. What is a standard of living? The basic needs of all people are to have food, clothing
and shelter. All people strive to have these needs met. If they
dont have enough food, clothing or shelter, life is a daily
struggle. When these basic needs are met, people begin to
achieve a more comfortable life. How well people live and
have their needs met is called their standard of living.
People, for example, who do have enough food or shelter,
would be described as people with a low standard of living.
People, who do not struggle to have these basic needs met
have a higher standard of living.
farm1.static.flickr.com

2. What other factors affect the quality of life in Canada and elsewhere in the world?
Besides the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter, people have other needs that must
be met to insure a good standard of living. These include things such as proper health
care, educational opportunities, peace and security, environmental protection, and
participation in decision making.

3. What is suffrage? Suffrage is the right to vote. In the United States at on time only
men were allowed to vote but women were not. Also, at one time only white people were
allowed to vote but blacks were denied this privilege. To respect the dignity of all people,
everyone of legal age should be allowed to vote regardless of gender or color.

4. Are some countries in the world better off than other countries? Some countries in
the world are very rich as compared to other countries.
Canada is among the countries in the world with the highest
standard of living. Many people feel that Canada is the best
country in the world to live in. Some other countries are
very poor. For various reasons, many of which are beyond
their control, many countries simply cannot meet the basic
needs of their populations.
ocw.mit.ed

Student Notes
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Grade 7 Social Studies

Cluster 2: Global Quality of Life

5. Should the rich countries help the poor

countries? It is generally agreed that those countries
with a high standard of living have an obligation to
help those countries that are very poor. In the year
2000, 147 world leaders agreed to a global compact
known as the Millennium Development Goals. This
was a long-term commitment to help the poorer
countries in the world. This group set up specific
goals to be met by the year 2015 that will have a
huge impact on the developing countries of the
world.
www.hiconference2008.org

6. What are human rights? Human rights are rights that it has been agreed to that every
person should have. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a
document of the United Nations, every person in the world has rights in the following
areas:

Political rights such as the right to vote and participate in government.

Civil rights such as freedom of opinion and expression
Equality Rights such as the right to be free from discrimination
Economic Rights such as fair wages and safe working conditions
Social Rights such as the right to education and adequate health care
Cultural Rights such as the right to speak your native language.

Many countries in the world have agreed to uphold and protect these rights.

7. Do discriminatory attitudes and practices have an impact on the quality of life of

people? What we think about people and the way we act toward them has a huge impact
on them. Unfortunately, many people have negative attitudes towards other people and as
a result, act negatively toward them. Instead of treating all people with the dignity they
deserve, many people are often mistreated as a result of racism, prejudice, or
stereotyping.

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Grade 7 Social Studies

Cluster 2: Global Quality of Life

8. What is racism? Racism is the belief that a particular race is superior or inferior to
another. For example, many white people in the United States believed that they were
more important than the black people. Many of the blacks were bought and
sold and mistreated as slaves and treated in many ways as less than human.
Unfortunately, many people are still very racist today. Under the reign of
Adolf Hitler in Germany many Jews were mistreated simply because they
were Jews. Hitler and many of his followers believed that the Germans were
superior to the Jews and, as a result, they felt justified in mistreating them www.sverigemotrasism.nu
in many ways.

9. What is prejudice? Prejudice means pre-judging or judging before we know all the
facts. Some people are prejudiced towards certain groups. This may cause them to either
accept them or reject them for no real reason. To treat all people with the dignity they
deserve, we need to avoid being prejudiced.

10. What is stereotyping? Stereotypes are ideas held about members of particular groups,
based solely on membership in that group. These stereotypes may be based on race,
gender, or a number of different things. Some stereotypes are: All Chinese people are
better at math, all blondes are dumb, all car salesmen are dishonest, all Muslims are
terrorists, or all women are more emotional than men. Unfortunately, stereotypes are
often used in a negative or prejudicial sense and are frequently used to justify certain
discriminatory behaviors. In order to treat all people with the dignity they deserve, we
need to avoid stereotyping them.

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Grade 7 Social Studies

Cluster 2: Global Quality of Life
11. What is citizenship? Citizenship is membership in a political country. Canadian
citizens are members of Canada. As citizens, we have certain rights but we also have
certain responsibilities. Some of these are outlined below:

Rights and Freedoms

Responsibilities

Some rights and freedoms are:

Some responsibilities are:

legal rights;

to obey Canadas laws;

equality rights;

mobility rights;

Aboriginal peoples
rights;

to express opinions freely

while respecting the
rights and freedoms of
others;

freedom of thought;

to help others in the

community;

freedom of speech;

freedom of religion; and

the right to peaceful

assembly

to care for and protect

our heritage and
environment; and

to eliminate
discrimination and
injustice.

Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

When you become a Canadian citizen, you will have new rights and responsibilities.
Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

Citizens have all the rights listed Citizens have all the
above and the right to:
responsibilities listed above and
the responsibility to:
apply for a passport;
vote in elections.
run in elections; and

vote in elections.

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Grade 7 Social Studies

Cluster 2: Global Quality of Life

12. How do people become Canadian citizens? There are different ways to become
Canadian citizens. You are a Canadian citizen if you were born in Canada. If you were
born in another country after February 14, 1977 and one of your parents was a Canadian
citizen at the time of your birth then you are also a Canadian citizen.
You may also be a Canadian citizen if you were born in another
country before February 15, 1977, and one of your parents was a
Canadian citizen at the time of your birth. Other people become
Canadian citizens by applying to be. This would involve paying a
fee, taking a citizenship test and agreeing to the rights and
responsibilities of Canadian citizenship. Although Canada welcomes
most people who want to become Canadian citizens, some people are
rejected for various reasons such as previous criminal records.
lfpress.ca

13. What is democracy? Democracy is a form of government in which the power is given
to the people or to their elected representatives. People are allowed to vote freely in a
democracy. Canada, the United States and many other countries in
the world have democracies. Democratic rights include the right to
vote and to be a candidate, and regular fair elections.
oreadaily.blogspot.com

14. What is a humanitarian? A humanitarian is a person who

works to improve the lives of others or to reduce suffering in
the world.
www.redcross.org.sg

15. What is power? Power is the ability to have an influence or effect on others. People
get power in different ways. Often this power is used properly but at times it is abused.

16. What is globalization? The term globalization

describes the increased movement of goods, services,
technology, and money throughout the world.
www.earthforce.org

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Grade 7 Social Studies

Cluster 2: Global Quality of Life

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