INTRODUCTORY QUESTIONS CLASS 8 SUBJECTS GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER 1 RESOURCE Ques.1 What are Resources? Ans. Available supply of something that is valued because it can fulfil human needs and wants. Ques.2 Into how many broad categories Resources are divided? Ans. Resources are divided into two broad categories Natural and human. Ques.3 What are Natural Resources? Ans. Substances that are formed naturally and are useful to people are called Natural resources. Ques.4 What are human resources? Ans. Human beings (physically) and their intelligence and skills (mentally) collectively called human resources VERY SHORT QUESTIONS Ques.1 What is resource conservation? Ans. Using resources carefully and giving them time to get renewed is called resource conservation. Ques.2 What is sustainable development? Ans. Balancing the need to use resources and also conserve them for the future is called sustainable development. SHORT QUESTIONS Ques.1 Why are resources distributed unequally over the earth? Ans. The distribution of natural resources depends upon many physical factors like land, climate and altitude. The distribution of resources is unequal because these factors differ from place to place on this earth. Ques.2 Why are human resources important? Ans. People can make the best use of the gifts of nature to create more resources as they the knowledge, skill and technology to do so. That is why human resources are important.
LONG QUESTIONS Ques.1 a. Differentiate between Potential and actual resources. Ans. Actual Resources- Actual resources are those which have been surveyed, their quantity and quality determined and are being used in present times. Potential Resources - Potential resources are resources which exist in a region and which can be used in the future. For example:- 1 The petroleum and the natural gas which is obtained from the Mumbai High Fields and West Asia 2 The rich deposits of coal in Ruhr region of Germany 3 Dark soils of the Deccan plateau in Maharashtra For example:- 1 Mineral oil may exist in many parts of India where sedimentary rocks are found but till it is actually drilled out and put into use, it remains a potential resource. 2 The uranium found in Ladakh is potential resource that could be used in the future. 3 High speed winds were a potential resource two hundred years ago. Today they are an actual resource and wind farms generate energy using windmills like in Netherlands, Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu and on the Gujarat coast. B. Ubiquitous and localized resources. Ans. Natural resources are also classified as ubiquitous and localized resources based on their distribution Natural resources that are found everywhere are called ubiquitous resources, like air. Natural resources that found in a particular place are called localized resource like copper or iron ore TICK THE CORRECT ANSWER (a) Which one of the following does NOT make substance a resource? (i)utility (ii) Value (iii) Quantity (b) Which one of the following is a human made resource? (i) Medicines to treat cancer (ii) spring water (iii) Tropical forests (c) Complete the statement. Biotic resources are (i) Derived from living things (ii) made by human beings (iii) Derived from non-living things
Ans. (a) (iii) quantity (b) (i) Medicines to treat cancer (c) (a) Derived from living things HOTS QUESTIONS Ques.1. Can Biotic resources survive in the absence of abiotic resources? Ans. Most of the biotic resources are renewablewh11e abiotic resources are non-enewable. Biotic resources like plants and animals are renewable while abiotic resources like land, minerals and power resources are nonrenewable. Man himself belongs to the category of biotic resources. A number of biological species have become extinct from the earth due to various ecological reasons which is a matter of concern. It is the duty of man to regulate his activities in such a way that at least the species of plants and animals, which are existing at present, are saved from becoming extinct. Similarly, a number of non-renewable abiotic resources must be conserved because they are also very useful and important for human life. By judicious consumption and other ways of conservation, ii we can save them for the future. VALUE BASED QUESTIONS Which of the following would you do to conserve resources? (a) Repair the leaking tap in the bathroom. (b) Switch off the light and fans, if not in use. (c) Waste paper to make boats. (d)keep the television switched on even if no one is there to watch. Ans. (a) YES (b) YES (c)no (d) YES
ACTIVITY 1. Pick up a stone, a leaf, a paper straw and a twig. Think of how you can use these as resources. See the example given below and get creative! You can use a stone Use/Utility To play stapu As a paper weight To crush spices To decorate your garden / room To open a bottle In a catapult Toy Tool Tool Decoration piece tool Weapon You can use a leaf In books As a medicine As a Mehndi To decorate temple Home Use/Utility Activity Tool Tool Decoratavie piece Decorative piece
CHAPTER 2 LAND, SOIL, WATER, NATURAL VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES INTRODUCTORY QUESTIONS Ques.1 Where do you play games? Ans. We play games on play ground. Ques.2 What are the other work that you do on the ground? Ans. Gardening, walking, making rangoli etc. Ques.3 What are the two main uses of land? Ans. Land supports agriculture and various other human activities and its habitation. VERY SHORT QUESTIONS Ques.1 Which are the two main climatic factors responsible for soil formation? Ans. Temperature and rainfall are the two main climatic factors responsible for soil formation. Ques.2 Write any two reasons for land degradation today. Ans. Two reasons for land degradation are deforestation and overuse of chemical fertilizers. SHORT QUESTIONS Ques.1 Why is land considered an important resource? Ans. Land is considered an important resource because it is used for different purposes such as agriculture, forestry, mining, building houses, roads and setting up of industries. Ques.2 Name any two steps that government has taken to conserve plants and animals. Ans. National parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves are established and run by the government to protect our natural vegetation and wildlife. Awareness programmers like social forestry and Vanamahotsava- the planting of trees are organized by the government to conserve forests which are a valuable natural resource. Ques.3 Suggest three ways to conserve water. Ans. 1. Rain-water harvesting; 2. Lining irrigational canals to avoid seepage of water and using the sprinkler-system for irrigation are ways in which water can be conserved.
TICK THE CORRECT ANSWER (a) Which one of the following is NOT a factor of soil formation? (i) Time (ii) soil texture (iii) organic matter (b) Which one of the following methods is most appropriate to check soil erosion on steep slopes? (i) Shelter belts (ii) mulching (iii) terrace cultivation (c) Which one of the following is NOT in favour of the conservation of nature? (i) Switch off the bulb when not in use (ii) Close the tap immediately after using (iii) Dispose poly-packs after shopping MATCH THE FOLLOWINGS (i) Land use (ii) Humus (iii) Rock dams (iv) A rabble land Ans. (i) (c) Productive use of land (ii)(d) Organic matter deposited on top soil (iii) (a) Prevent soil erosion (iv)(b) Land suitable for agriculture (a) Prevent soil erosion (b) Land suitable for agriculture (c) Productive use of land (d) Organic matter deposited on top soil STATE WHETHER THE GIVEN STATEMENT IS TRUE OR FALSE. If true, write the reasons. i). Ganga& Brahmaputra plain of India is an overpopulated region. ii). Water availability per person in India is declining. iii). Rows of trees planted in the coastal areas to check the wind movement is called intercropping. iv). Human interference and changes of climate can maintain the ecosystem. Ans. i. This statement is true. Plains and rivers valleys offer suitable land for agriculture. Hence, these are densely populated areas of the world. ii. This statement is true. Through water is present in abundance, fresh water is a scarce resource. Water availability is a serious problem in many regions of the world. Due to the wastage of water, deforestation, and the pollution and depletion of fresh water reserves (Such as rivers and ground water), the availability of water is fast declining. iii. This statement is false. The described process is called shelter belts. Intercropping is the process in which different crops are grown in alternate rows, and are sown at different times to protect the soil from rain wash.
iv. This statement is false. Human interferences and climatic changes for the most part adverselyaffect the balance of the ecosystem. Find out from your parents and elderly people. You can conduct an interview by asking the following questions. Place Rural cattle and poultry owned trees and ponds in the village Main occupation of the head of the family Urban cars owned rooms in the house metal led roads flyovers in the city parks and playgrounds When your grand parent s were in their 30 s When your parents were in their 30 s Why do you think this is happening? Are common areas and open spaces disappearing?
Based on the table you have just completed, draw a picture of land use patterns that you foresee in your neighborhood after 20 years. Why do you think that land use patterns change over the years? Ans. Students will do this activity with the help of their parents. HOTS QUESTIONS Ques.1 The presence of water makes the Earth a unique planet. How? Ans. Our Earth is unique in having abundance of water in the form of oceans. Presence of large quantities of water is responsible for moderating the temperature conditions. The large expanse of oceans reduces the extremes of temperature not only between the summer and winter seasons, but also between day and night. VALUE BASED QUESTIONS Ques.1 How can you reuse used water in your home and help in water conservation. Ans. Each wastewater type must be treated differently and can be used in various ways. Greywater is ideal for garden watering, with the appropriate precautions, such as using low or no sodium and phosphorus products and applying the water below the surface. Appropriately treated greywater can also be reused indoors for toilet flushing and clothes washing, both significant water consumers. Blackwater requires biological or chemical treatment and disinfection before reuse. For single dwellings, treated and disinfected blackwater can be used only outdoors, and often only for subsurface irrigation. Check with your local council or state health department on local requirements.
A wastewater reuse system. ACTIVITY Ques.1 Observe the land, type of soil and water availability in the region you live. Discuss how it has influenced the life style of people there. a. I belong to the western part of U.P. b. It is a plain fertile area of the Ganga Yamuna. c. Vast plains lead to the establishment of factories buildings and net work of roads & railways. d. It is densely populated area with residential buildings and network of roads and railways. e. People enjoy unbiased life style. f. Most of the people are engaged in all the sectors of economy i.e. primary, secondary & tertiary. g. Academic, profession and health care facilities are available.