7. (6 points) Using 64 small cubes, each with a volume of 1 cubic meter, to form a large cube, if the 8 small cubes at the vertices of the large cube are removed, then the surface area of the resulting geometric body is $\qquad$ square meters.
【Answer】Solution: Since taking away a small cube is equivalent to reducing three faces while simultaneously increasing three faces, removing 8 small cubes from the vertices reduces 24 faces and simultaneously increases 24 faces. Therefore, the surface area remains unchanged.
$$
64=4 \times 4 \times 4,
$$

The surface area is $4 \times 4 \times 6=96$ (square meters).
Therefore, the surface area of the geometric body at this time is 96 square meters.
The answer is: 96.