Case Study Based Questions: Resources | Social Studies (SST) Class 8 PDF Download

Case Study 1

Mona and Raju were helping Amma to clean their house. “Look at all these things…. clothes, utensils, foodgrains, combs, this bottle of honey, books…..Each of these has a use,” said Mona. “That is why they are important,” said Amma. “These are resources…..”. “What is a resource?” was Raju’s question to Amma. “Anything that can be used to satisfy a need is a resource”, replied amma. “Look around you and observe, you will be able to identify many types of resources. The water you drink when you are thirsty, the electricity you use in your house, the rickshaw you use to get home from school, the textbook you use to study are all resources. Your father has prepared a tasty snack for you. The fresh vegetables he has used are also a resource”. Water, electricity, rickshaw, vegetable and textbook have something in common. They have all been used by you, so they have utility. Utility or usability is what makes an object or substance a resource. “How does something become a resource?” Raju now wanted to know. Amma told the children that things become resources only when they have a value. “Its use or utility gives it a value. All resources have some value.” said Amma. Value means worth. Some resources have economic value, some do not. For example, metals may have an economic value, a beautiful landscape may not. But both are important and satisfy human needs.

Question and Answer: 1 Mark

Q1: What is resource?
Ans: Resource is something that can be used to satisfy our need .

Q2: What makes an object or substance a resource?
Ans: Utility or usability is what makes an object or substance a resource.

Question and Answer : 2 Mark

Q1: How does something become a resource?
Ans: Things become resources only when they have a value. All resources have some value.

Q2: What is the meaning of value? Give example.
Ans: Value means worth. Some resources have economic value, some do not. For example ,metals may have an economic value.

Case Study 2

Some resources can become economically valuable with time. Your grandmother’s home remedies have no commercial value today. But if they are patented and sold by a medical firm tomorrow, they could become economically valuable. Time and technology are two important factors that can change substances into resources. Both are related to the needs of the people. People themselves are the most important resource. It is their ideas, knowledge, inventions and discoveries that lead to the creation of more resources. Each discovery or invention leads to many others. The discovery of fire led to the practice of cooking and other processes while the invention of the wheel ultimately resulted in development of newer modes of transport. The technology to create hydroelectricity has turned energy in fast flowing water into an important resource. Types of Resources Resources are generally classified into natural, human made and human. Natural Resources Resources that are drawn from Nature and used without much modification are called natural resources. The air we breathe, the water in our rivers and lakes, the soils, minerals are all natural resources. Many of these resources are free gifts of nature and can be used directly. In some cases tools and technology may be needed to use a natural resource in the best possible way. Natural resources can be broadly categorised into renewable and nonrenewable resources. Renewable resources are those which get renewed or replenished quickly. Some of these are unlimited and are not affected by human activities, such as solar and wind energy. Yet careless use of certain renewable resources like water, soil and forest can affect their stock. Water seems to be an unlimited renewable resource. But shortage and drying up of natural water sources is a major problem in many parts of the world today. Non-renewable resources are those which have a limited stock. Once the stocks are exhausted it may take thousands of years to be renewed or replenished. Since this period is much more than human life spans, such resources are considered nonrenewable. Coal, petroleum and natural gas are some examples. The distribution of natural resources depends upon number of physical factors like terrain, climate and altitude. The distribution of resources is unequal because these factors differ so much over the earth.

Question and Answer: 1 Mark

Q1: What are renewable resources?
Ans: Renewable resources are those which get renewed or replenished quickly.

Q2: What are non-renewable resources?
Ans: Non-renewable resources are those which have a limited stock.

Question and Answer: 2 Mark

Q1: How grandmother’s home remedies become commercially valuable?
Ans: Some resources can become economically valuable with time.If grandmother’s home remedies are patented and sold by a medical firm tomorrow, they could become economically valuable.

Q2: Classify the types of resources?
Ans: Resources are generally classified into 2 types:
a. Natural Resources
b. Human made Resources

Case Study 3

Mona had a nightmare. She dreamt that all the water on the earth had dried up and all the trees cut down. There was no shade and nothing to eat or drink. People were suffering and roaming around desperately looking for food and shade. She told her mother about the dream. “Amma can this really happen?” she asked. “Yes,” Amma replied. “If we are not careful then even renewable resources can become very scarce and the non-renewable ones can definitely get exhausted”. “What can we do about it,” Raju asked. “Lots,” replied Amma. Using resources carefully and giving them time to get renewed is called resource conservation. Balancing the need to use resources and also conserve them for the future is called sustainable development. There are many ways of conserving resources. Each person can contribute by reducing consumption, recycling and reusing thing. Ultimately it makes a difference because all our lives are linked. That evening the children and their friends made packets and shopping bags out of old newspapers, discarded clothes and baskets from bamboo sticks. “We will give a few to every family we know,” said Mona. “After all it is for a very good cause,” said Mustafa, “To save our resources and to keep our earth alive”. “I am going to be very careful not to waste paper,” said Jessy. “Many trees are cut down to make paper,” she explained. “I will see that electricity is not wasted in my house,” shouted Mustafa. “Electricity comes from water and coal.”

Question and Answer: 1 Mark

Q1: From where electricity comes to us?
Ans: Electricity comes to us from water and coal.

Q2: from where paper comes to us?
Ans: Paper comes to us from trees.

Question and Answer: 2 Mark

Q1: What is called Resource Conservation?
Ans: Using resources carefully and giving them time to get renewed is called resource conservation.