Class 8 Geography Chapter 1 Question Answers - Resources and Development

Q1: What is a Resource? Give two examples.
Ans: Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs, provided, it is technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable can be termed as Resource. Examples, coal, water, air, minerals, etc.

Q2: What are renewable resources? Give two examples.
Ans: The resources which can be renewed or reproduced by physical, chemical or mechanical processes are known as renewable or replenishable resources. For example, solar and wind energy, water, forests and wildlife, etc. The renewable resource may further be divided into continuous or flow.

Q3: What are individual resources? Give two examples.
Ans: Resources which are owned by private individuals are known as individual resources. Plots, fields, house, car, book, etc. are some examples of individual resources.

Q4: What are national resources? Give two examples.
Ans: All the resources which are under the control of state or union government are known as national resources. All the resources within political boundaries are national resources because the government has the power to acquire even private property. For example, Indian railway, Bhakra dam.

Q5: What are developed resources? Give two examples.
Ans: These are resources which have been surveyed and their quality and quantity have been determined for utilisation. The development of resources depends on technology and level of their feasibility. For example, India has a cumulative total of 2,47,847 million tones of coal resources.

Q6: What are reserves? Explain with examples.
Ans: Reserves are the subset of the stock, which can be put into use with the help of existing technical ‘know-how’ but their use has not been started. These can be used for meeting future requirements. River water can be used for generating hydroelectric power but presently, it is being utilised only to a limited extent. Thus, the water in the dams, forests etc. is a reserve which can be used in the future. ‘

Q7: Explain the relationship between nature, technology and institutions.
Ans: Nature contains resources. These resources are converted into usable form with the help of technology. Human beings interact with nature through technology, and create institutions to accelerate their economic development.

Q8: How over-irrigation and mining lead to land degradation?
Or
How is over-irrigation responsible for land degradation? Which states of India face this problem?
Ans: Over-irrigation and mining lead to land degradation as :
(i) Over-irrigation is responsible for land degradation due to waterlogging which leads to increase in salinity and alkalinity in the soil. Water logging is a major issue in Punjab, Haryana, UR
(ii) The mineral processing like grinding of limestone for cement industry calcite and soapstone for ceramic industry generate huge quantities of dust in the atmosphere. It retards the process of infiltration of water into the soil after it settles down on the land.

Q9: Mention the criteria on the basis of which Indian soils can be classified.
Ans: (i) Factors responsible for soil formation.
(ii) Colour
(iii) Thickness
(iv) Texture
(v) Age
(vi) Chemical and Physical properties.

Q10: Explain the distribution of black soil.
Ans: (i) Black soil is typical of the Deccan trap region spread over northwest Deccan plateau.
(ii) They cover the plateau of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
(iii) They are also found in the Godavari and Krishna valleys.

Q11: Mention the factors on which the land- use pattern of India depends upon.
Ans: The use of land is determined by physical as well as human factors.
(i) Physical factors: Topography, climate and soil types.
(ii) Human factors: Population density, technological capability, culture and traditions.

Q12: (i) ‘The arid soil lacks humus and moisture.’ Explain.
(ii) Name any two states where this soil is formed.
Ans: (i) The arid soil is found in dry climatic conditions. Due to dry climate and high temperature, evaporation is faster and the soil lacks humus and moisture.
(ii) Rajasthan and Gujarat

Q13: What is soil erosion? Name any four states which have been affected by gully erosion.
Ans: The removal of soil by the forces of nature, particularly wind and water is called soil erosion. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.

Q14: How does the soil of the Ganga-Yamuna plain differ from that of central Maharashtra?
Ans: The Ganga-Yamuna plain has alluvial soils, whereas the central Maharashtra has black soils. The alluvial soils are formed by the depositional work of rivers in the river ualleys, flood plains and deltas. The black soils develop from volcanic rocks from where the lava flows.

Q15: Which is the main cause of land degradation in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh? How can it be checked? Explain.
Ans: Large scale over-grazing has caused severe land degradation.
Measures to check :
(i) Afforestation and proper management of grazing.
(ii) Planting of shelter belts.
(iii) Stabilisation of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes.
(iv) Control on overgrazing.

Q16: Explain the distribution of alluvial soils.
Ans: (i) This is the most widely spread and important soil of India.
(ii) These soils also extend in Rajasthan and Gujarat through a narrow corridor.
(iii) Alluvial soil is also found in the eastern coastal plains particularly in the deltas of the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and Kaveri rivers.

Q17: ‘India has enormous diversity in the availability of resources.’ Explain.
Or
“India is rich in certain types of resources but deficient in some other resources.” Support your answer with examples.
Answer: (i) The states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in mineral resources but lack industrialisation.
(ii) Arunachal Pradesh has an abundance of water resources, but lacks in infrastructural development. The state of Rajasthan is very well endowed with solar and wind energy but lacks in water resources. The cold desert area of Ladakh is relatively isolated from the rest of the country due to lack of means of transportation and communication.
(iii) Most of North-Eastern states are rich in natural vegetation but lacks in fertile soil.

Q18: ‘The availability of resources is the only condition for the development of any region’. What is your opinion on the statement? Explain.
Or
Mention any three necessary conditions for the development of resources.
Answer: (i) Resources can contribute to development only when they are accompanied by appropriate technological development and institutional changes.
(ii) There is need for quality of human resources i.e., skilled workers who can convert natural resources into more useable form.
(iii) There is also a need for capital which is required to develop technology.

Q19: What is stock? Give two examples.
Ans: These are material in the environment which have the potential to satisfy the human needs but could not be used as the human beings do not have the appropriate technology to convert them into usable form. For example, water (H20) is a compound of two inflammable gases i.e., hydrogen and oxygen but human beings do not have the required technology to use them as a source of energy.

Q20: What are potential resources? Give two examples.
Ans: Resources which are found in a region, but have not been utilised due to lack of capital or other reasons. For example, the western parts of India particularly Rajasthan and Gujarat have enormous potential for the development of wind and solar energy, but so far these have not been developed properly.