Case Study Based Questions: Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources | Social Studies (SST) Class 8 PDF Download

Case Study 1

In a small village in Tanzania, Africa, Mamba gets up very early in the morning to fetch water. She has to walk a long way and returns after a few hours. She then helps her mother in the house and joins her brothers in taking care of their goats. All her family owns is a piece of rocky land around their small hut. Mamba’s father can barely grow some maize and beans on it after toiling hard. This is not enough to feed their family for the whole year. Peter lives in the heart of the sheep rearing region in New Zealand where his family runs a wool processing factory. Everyday when he returns from school, Peter watches his uncle taking care of their sheep. Their sheep yard is situated on a wide grassy plain with hills in the far distance. It is managed in a scientific way using the latest technology. Peter’s family also grows vegetables through organic farming. Mamba and Peter stay in two different parts of the world and lead very different lives. This difference is because of the differences in the quality of land, soil, water, natural vegetation, animals and the usage of technology. The availability of such resources is the main reason places differ from each other.

Question and Answer: 1 Mark

Q1: Why does Mamba get up very early in the morning?
Ans: Mamba gets up very early in the morning to fetch water.

Q2: Where does Peterlive in?
Ans: Peter lives in the heart of the sheep rearing region in New Zealand.

Question and Answer: 1 Mark

Q1: Why Mamba and Peter lead very different kind of lives?
Ans: Mamba and Peter stay in two different parts of the world and lead very different lives. This difference is because of the differences in the quality of land, soil, water, natural vegetation, animals and the usage of technology.

Q2: Where Peter’s sheep yard is situated and how is it managed?
Ans: Peter’s sheep yard is situated on a wide grassy plain with hills in the far distance. It is managed in a scientific way using the latest technology.

Case Study 2

Land is among the most important natural resources. It covers only about thirty per cent of the total area of the earth’s surface and all parts of this small percentage are not habitable. The uneven distribution of population in different parts of the world is mainly due to varied characteristics of land and climate. The rugged topography, steep slopes of the mountains, lowlying areas susceptible to water logging, desert areas, thick forested areas are normally sparsely populated or uninhabited. Plains and river valleys offer suitable land for agriculture. Hence, these are the densely populated areas of the world. Land is used for different purposes such as agriculture, forestry, mining, building houses, roads and setting up of industries. This is commonly termed as Land use. Can you list out the different ways in which Mamba’s and Peter’s family use their land? The use of land is determined by physical factors such as topography, soil, climate, minerals and availability of water. Human factors such as population and technology are also important determinants of land use pattern. Land can also be classified on the basis of ownership as – private land and community land. Private land is owned by individuals whereas, community land is owned by the community for common uses like collection of fodder, fruits, nuts or medicinal herbs. These community lands are also called common property resources.

Question and Answer: 1 Mark

Q1: What is the most important natural resource?
Ans: The most important natural resource is Land.

Q2: What is the main reason of uneven distribution of population in different parts of the world?
Ans: The uneven distribution of different population in different parts of the world is mainly due to varied characteristics of land and climate.

Question and Answer: 2 Mark

Q1: What is the meaning of ‘Land Use’?
Ans: Land is used for different purposes such as agriculture, forestry, mining, building houses, roads and setting up of industries. This is commonly Termed as Land use’.

Q2: What is the difference between private land and community land?
Ans: Private land is owned by individuals whereas, community land is owned by the community for common uses like collection of fodder, fruits, nuts or medical herbs.

Case Study 3

The thin layer of grainy substance covering the surface of the earth is called soil. It is closely linked to land. Landforms determine the type of soil. Soil is made up of organic matter, minerals and weathered rocks found on the earth. This happens through the process of weathering. The right mix of minerals and organic matter make the soil fertile. Landslides are simply defined as the mass movement of rock, debris or earth down a slope. They often take place in conjunction with earthquakes, floods and volcanoes. A prolonged spell of rainfall can cause heavy landslide that can block the flow of river for quite some time. The formation of river blocks can cause havoc to the settlements downstream on its bursting. In the hilly terrain landslides have been a major and widely spread natural disaster that often strike life and property and occupy a position of major concern.

Question and Answer: 1 Mark

Q1: What is closely linked to land?
Ans: Soil is closely linked to land.

Q2: What make the soil fertile?
Ans: The right mix of minerals and organic matter make the soil fertile.

Question and Answer: 2 Mark

Q1: What is called soil?
Ans: The thin layer of grainy substance covering the surface of the earth is called soil.

Q2: What can cause heavy landslides?
Ans: A prolonged spell of rainfall can cause heavy landslide that can block the flow of river for quite some time.