Resources- 1 - UPSC Geography Free MCQ Test with solutions

A resource is any physical material constituting part of Earth that people need and value. Natural materials become resources when humans value them. Some resources are finite, while others can be replenished at varying rates.

The question asks what Water, Electricity, and Rickshaw have in common, given that they have all been used by people. Let's evaluate the options:

• a) Patent: A patent is a legal right granted for an invention, protecting the inventor's idea. While electricity and rickshaws may involve patented technologies, water as a natural resource cannot be patented (though specific water-related technologies can be). This option doesn't fit all three. Incorrect.
• b) Skill: A skill is an ability acquired through practice, like cooking or driving. Water, electricity, and rickshaws are not skills; they are resources or objects used by people, though using them might require skill (e.g., driving a rickshaw). This option doesn't apply to all. Incorrect.
• c) Utility: In economics and general usage, "utility" refers to the usefulness or benefit provided by a good or service to satisfy human needs. Water is useful for drinking and cleaning, electricity for powering devices, and a rickshaw for transportation. All three provide utility to people through their use, making this the best fit. Correct.
• d) Potential: Potential refers to the capacity for something to develop or be useful in the future (e.g., potential energy). While water, electricity, and rickshaws have potential for use, the question emphasizes their actual use by people, not their potential. This option is less fitting than utility. Incorrect.

Conclusion: Water, Electricity, and Rickshaw are all examples of c) Utility, as they are resources or services used by people to fulfill needs, providing usefulness or benefit.

Renewable resources, such as forests, fresh water, and fish populations, can regenerate naturally over time. However, if they are used carelessly or exploited faster than they can regenerate, their stock (quantity or availability) can be depleted or damaged. This means that even though they are technically renewable, they may become scarce or unusable in practice.

 Other options:

a) They become non-renewable – Incorrect. They don’t become non-renewable, but they can become depleted or unsustainable.
b) Their availability increases – Incorrect. Overuse typically reduces availability.
d) They become more valuable – Not necessarily true, and it doesn't address the core issue of overuse.

So, c) is the most accurate choice.

Some resources can become economically valuable if they are patented and sold. An example is home remedies that were not valuable initially but could become economically valuable if commercialized through patents.

- Human-made resources are those that are created by humans using natural resources for various purposes.
- Roads are an example of human-made resources.
- They are constructed by humans to facilitate transportation.
- Roads are built using materials such as asphalt, concrete, and gravel, which are derived from natural resources.
- Water, forests, and minerals are natural resources.
- These exist in nature without human intervention.
- Thus, the correct answer is B: Roads.

Natural Gas is not a renewable source of energy, while wind energy, solar energy and geothermal energy are.

Water is a natural resource, not a human-made resource. Buildings, roads, and machinery are all examples of human-made resources that result from modifying natural substances.