Class 8 Geography Chapter 1 Important Question Answers - Resources

• Abiotic Resources: These are non-living natural resources like soils, rocks, minerals etc.
  Soil
• Biotic resources: These are living natural resources like plants and animals.   

Q 5. How do we classify natural resources on the basis of their stock?

Ans: On the basis of stock, natural resources are further classified or subdivided into Renewable and Non-renewable types.

• Renewable Resources: These are the resources that do not depend on human consumption. These resources are renewed with the use of humans. However, there are some kinds of renewable resources that are affected by human consumption, such as water, soil, and forests. Other examples of renewable resources are solar and wind energy.

Wind Energy: A Renewable Resource

• Non-Renewable Resources: These resources have a limited stock in nature and may take thousands of years to get renewed. Since this period is much more than human life spans, so, they are called Non-Renewable Resources. For example, coal deposits, petroleum deposits etc. Petrol: A non renewable Resource

Q 6. What do you understand by sustainable development? Also, mention its basic principles.

Ans: Balancing the need to use resources and also conserve them for the future is called sustainable development. In other words, Carefully utilizing resources so that besides meeting the present requirements, it also takes care of the needs of future generations is known as sustainable development. The basic principles of sustainable development are given below:

1. Respect and care for all forms of life.
2. Improve the quality of human life.
3. Conserve the earth’s vitality and diversity.
4. Minimize the depletion of natural resources.
5. Change personal attitudes and practices towards the environment.
6. Enable communities to care for their own environment.

Q 7. Describe water as an indispensable form of resource.

Ans: Water is indispensable to the survival of all living things. Almost all living things require water for their survival. Water is referred to as the elixir of life, as nothing would exist on this globe in the absence of water. Without water availability, living things like pearls, swans and dough cannot exist. The disappearance of this natural resource would thus mean the destruction of all forms of life on this planet. This is the reason why planets other than Earth are not suitable for the existence of life.

Q 8. What are the differences between actual and potential resources?

Ans: Potential resources are those resources that exist in a particular region and can be used in the future. Examples of potential resources are mineral oil, uranium, wind farms, etc.  Actual resources are those resources that have been surveyed and measured and their quality and quantity have been calculated. Humans currently use such resources. Examples of actual resources are petroleum and natural gas and coal.

Q 9. Human resources are an important entity. Why?

Ans: Human resources refers to people and their contributions. Human resources are important as they are skilled in making the best use of nature in order to enhance the existing resources and also create more resources using the knowledge and technology that they possess. Hence, human resources are considered highly significant. 

Q 10. What is resource conservation and why is it important?

Ans: Resource conservation is the careful use of resources to ensure they are not depleted and can be renewed over time. It is important because it helps maintain the life support system that nature provides, ensuring that renewable resources remain sustainable and that the diversity of life on Earth is conserved.