CBSE

CLASS-X Social Science

Important Questions
Geography Chapter-1
Resources and Development

3 marks Questions

1. What was the main contribution of the Brundtland Commission Report, 1987?
Ans. a. The seminal contribution with respect to resource conservation at the global level
was made by the Brundtland Commission Report, 1987.
b. This report introduced the concept of ‘Sustainable Development’ and advocated it as a
means for resource conservation, which was substantially published in a book, entitled Our
Common Future.

2. Define resources? Name some resources?

Ans. a. 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.
b. Land, Soil, Tree and air are some examples of resources.

3. Explain the interdependent relationship between nature, technology and

institutions.
Ans. a. The process of transformation of things available in our environment involves an
interdependent relationship between nature, technology and institutions.
b. Human beings interact with nature through technology and create institutions to
accelerate their economic development.
c. Resources are the functions of activities.

4. “Resources are a function of human activities”. Elaborate the statement with suitable
arguments.
Ans. a. Natural resources are the free gifts of nature but many manmade resources are used
by the humanity.

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b. Resources are functions of human activities. Human beings themselves are essential
components of resources.
c. They transform material available in our environment into resources and use them.

5. Classify resources on the basis of origin. Give examples.

Ans. a. Biotic resources: These are obtained from biosphere and have life such as human
beings, flora and fauna, fisheries, livestock etc.
b. Abiotic resources: All those things which are composed of non-living things are called
abiotic resources. For example, rocks and metals.

6. Classify resources on the basis of exhaustibility. Write examples.

Ans. a. Renewable resources: The resources which can be renewed or reproduced by
physical, chemical or mechanical processes are known as renewable resources: For example,
solar and wind energy, water, forests and wildlife, etc.
b. Non Renewable resources: These occur over a very long geological time. Minerals and
fossil fuels are examples of such resources. These resources take millions of years in their
formation. Some of the recourses like metals are recyclable and some like fossil fuels cannot
be recycled and get exhausted with their use.

7. List the problems caused due to the indiscriminate use of resources by human being?
Ans. a. Depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals.
b. Accumulation of resources in few hands, which, in turn, divide the society into two,
segments i.e. ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ or rich and poor.
c. Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises such as, global
warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation.

8. What was agenda 21?

Ans. a. It is the declaration signed by world leaders in 1992 at the united Nation’s conference
on Environment and Development (UNCED).
b. It focuses on attaining Global Sustainable Development.
c. It’s mainly aim is to fight the environmental damage, poverty, diseases through global
cooperation on common interest, mutual needs and shared responsibilities.

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d. An important and distinct aim of the agenda is that every local government should draw
its own local Agenda 21.

9. Write a short note on Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, 1992.

Ans. a. Rio de Janeiro was the meeting ground for the first International Earth Summit.
b. More than 100 heads of state met at this famous conference which was convened in June
1992 to address the urgent problems of environmental protection and socio-economic
development at the global level.
c. A declaration on Global Climatic change and the Biological Diversity was signed by the
assembled leaders.
d. They adopted Agenda 21 and endorsed the global forest Principles to achieve Sustainable
Development in the 21st century.

10. What is resource planning? Why is resource planning essential?

Ans. a. Resource planning: Resource planning is the widely accepted strategy for judicious
use of resources.
b. Resource planning is essential for sustainable existence of all forms of life.
c. Sustainable existence is a component of sustainable development.

11. Define sustainable development? What are their importances?

Ans. a. Sustainable Development: Sustainable development means development should take
place without damaging the environment, and development in the present should not
compromise with the needs of the future generations.
b. It is essential for sustained quality of life.
c. If the present trend of resource depletion by a few individuals and countries continues, the
future of our planet is in danger. So sustainable development is very important to save our
planet and our self.

12. Explain the three steps that involved in the complex process of resource planning?
Ans. a. Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country. This
involves surveying, mapping and qualitative and quantitative estimation and measurement
of the resources.

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b. Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill and
institutional set up for implementing resource development plAns.
Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plans

13. How far it is correct to say that the availability of resources is a necessary condition
for the development of any region? Explain.
Ans. The availability of resources is a necessary condition for the development of any region,
but mere availability of resources in the absence of corresponding changes in technology
and institutions may hinder development. There are many regions in our country that are
rich in recourses but these are included in economically backward regions. On the contrary
there are some regions which have a poor resource base but they are economically
developed.

14. Explain the relationship between the process of colonization and rich resources of
colonies.
Ans. a. The History of colonization reveals that rich resources in colonies were the main
attractions of the foreign traders.
b. It was primarily the higher level of technological development of colonizing countries that
helped them to exploit resources of other regions and established their supremacy over
colonies.
c. There for resources can contribute to development only when they are accompanied by
appropriate technological development and institutional changes.

15. What are the different factors that determine land use?
Ans. a. Both physical and human factors determine the land use pattern of any area.
b. Physical factors include topography, climate, and soil types.
c. Human factors include population density, technological capability and cultural traditions.

16. What type of relief covers most of India’s land? Explain.

Ans. a. India has land under a variety of relief features, namely: mountains, plateaus, plains
and islands.
b. About 43 per cent of land area is plain, which provides facilities for agriculture and

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industry.
c. Mountains account for 30 per cent of the total surface area of the country and ensure
perennial flow of rivers, provides facilities of tourism and ecological aspects.
D. About 27 per cent of the area of the country is plateau region. It possesses rich reserves of
minerals, fossil fuels and forests.

17. What is the reason behind the availability of Land use data for only 93 percent of
the total geography area of India?
Ans. a. Total geographical area of India is 3.28 million sq lm land use data, however is
available only for 93 per cent of the total geographical area.
b. Because the land use reporting for most of the nor-east states except Assam has not been
done fully.
c. Moreover, some areas of Jammu and Kashmir occupied by Pakistan and China have also
not been surveyed.

18. Why does the net sown area vary from one state to another?
Ans. a. There are wide variations in the pattern of net sown area from one state to another
state.
b. If we compare Haryana and Punjab with Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and
Andaman and Nicobar Islands there is a great disparity.
c. In Punjab and Haryana the net sown area is 80% of the total area but in other mentioned
states it is less than 10% of the total area.
d. The reasons for this differences are many, e.g., climate, soil, relief, irrigation facilities.

19. Distinguish between Khadar and Bhangar.

Ans. Khadar Bhangar
1. The khadar soils are found in the low areas of valley. 1. The Bhangar soils are found in the
higher reaches.
2. These soils are finer in texture. 2. These are coarser in texture.
3. These soils are more fertile. 3. These soils are less fertile.
4. These soils are known as New alluvial. 4. These soils are known are old alluvial.

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20. How is land a natural resource of utmost importance? Explain with suitable
arguments.
Ans. a. All economic activities are performed on land.
b. It supports natural vegetation and wildlife.
c. It is used for transportation and communication system.
d. Most of the minerals are formed in land.

21. What is soil erosion? Explain the major types of soil erosion?
Ans. a. Soil Erosion: Soil erosion is the removal of soil by the forces of nature like wind and
water is called soil erosion. This can also be described as denudation of soil cover and
subsequent washing down. Following are its two types:
b. Wind Erosion: Wind blows loose soil off flat or slopping land. This is known as wind
erosion.
c. Water Erosion: When running water is responsible for the removal of the top most layer of
the earth that is known as water erosion.

22. Explain the two types of water erosion.

Ans. a. Sheet Erosion: When the top layer of the soil is removed over a large area by the
running water is called as sheet erosion. In such cases the top soil is washed away.
b. Gully erosion: The running water cuts through the clayey soils and makes deep channels
as gullies. The land becomes unfit for cultivation and is known as bad land. In Chambal
basin such lands are called ravines.

23. Which type of soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast? Give three main
features of this type of soil.
Ans. Alluvial soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast.
a. The alluvial soil consists of various proportions of sand, silt and clay.
b. According to their age alluvial soil can be classified as old alluvial and new alluvial to well
connected developers.
c. Due to its high fertility, region of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and densely
populated.

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24. How far it is correct to say that it is possible to reverse land degradation? Explain
the statement while giving the example of village Sukhomajri?
Ans. a. The village of Sukhomajti and the district of Jhabua have shown that it is possible to
reverse land degradation. Tree density in Sukhomajari increased from 13 percent hectare in
17976 to 1,272 per hectare in 1992.
b. Regeneration of the environment leads to economic well being as a result of greater
resource availability improved agriculture and animal care, and consequently, increased
incomes. Average annual household income in Sukhomajri ranged from 10000-15000
between 1979 and 1984.
c. People’s management is essential for ecological restoration. With people being made the
decision-makers by Madhya Pradesh government, 2.9 million hectares or about 1 per cent of
India’s land area, are being greened across the state through watershed management.

25. Elucidate the views of Gandhiji regarding the conservation of resources.

Ans. a. Gandhiji was very apt in voicing his concern about resource conservation.
b. He said, “There is enough for everybody’s need and not for anybody’s greed.
c. He placed the greedy and selfish individuals and exploitative nature of modern technology
as the root cause for resource depletion at the global level.
D. He was against mass production and wanted to replace it with the production by the
masses.

26. Why is resource planning essential?

Ans. a. As the resources are limited, so their planning is quite necessary so that we can use
them properly and at the same time save them for our coming generations.
b. For the balanced development of the country, the planning of the resources becomes very
essential.
c. A resource planning is also necessary to save their exploitation or unlawful exploitation by
the unscrupulous elements of the society.

27. Explain any three human activities which are mainly responsible for land
degradation in India.
Ans. a. Some human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, mining and quarrying too
have contributed significantly in land degradation.

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b. Mining sites are abandoned after excavation work is complete leaving deep scars and
traces of over-burdening.
c. Deforestation due to mining has caused severe land degradation.
D. Over irrigation is responsible for land degradation due to water logging leading to
increase in salinity and alkalinity in the soil.

28. Suggest some ways to solve the problems of land degradation.

Ans. a. Afforestation and proper management of grazing can help to some extent to solve the
problem of land degradation.
b. Planting of shelter belts of plants, control on over grazing, stabilization of sand dunes by
growing thorny bushes is some of the methods to check land degradation.
c. Proper management of waste lands, control of mining activities, proper discharge and
disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment can reduce land and water
degradation in industrial and suburban areas.

29. How do rocks plays an important role in the formation of soil?

Ans. a. Parent rock and bed rock are main factors in the formation of soil.
b. Climatic conditions with the parent rock material are the important factors for the
formation of black soil. The Deccan trap region is made up of lava flows.
c. Red soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall.

30. What is meant by two types of natural resources? Give one example of each.
Ans. a. All gifts of nature which are useful in making the life of human beings comfortable
and worth living are known as natural resources.
b. Their two main types are biotic and abiotic resources.
c. Forests and animals are biotic resources while land water and soil are abiotic natural
resources.

31. Long Answer type questions

Classify resources on the basis of ownership into four categories. Mention the main
feature of each.
Ans. (1) Individual resources: Owned privately by individual. Example houses pasture etc.

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(2) Community Owned resources : accessible to all the members of the Community.
Example : Play ground park etc.
(3) National resources : within the political boundaries of the country.
Example : Minerals, forests etc.
(4) International resources : The oceanic resources beyond 200 Km. of the Exclusive
Economic Zone belong to international institutions.

32. What is resource planning ? Write any three utility of resources.

And. Resource Planning : Resource Planning is a technique of skill of proper utilization of
resources.
1. They are beneficial to human being
2. Different types of things are made by them.
3. Resources are limited. Do not waste the great gifts of the nature.

33. Distinguish between the Renewable and Non- Renewable Resources.

Ans. Renewable Resources
1) These Resources are those which once mined and used can be regenerated.
2) These Resources which may be obtained continuously.
Example : Land, water plants etc.
Non Renewable Resources.
1) These Resources are those which once mined and used cannot be regenerated.
2) All mineral Resources are limited.
Example : Coal, Mineral-oil etc.

34. Describe briefly the distribution of soils found in India.

Ans. (1) Alluvial Soil
(2) Black Soil
(3) Red and Yellow Soil
(4) Laterite Soil
(5) Mountain Soil
(6) Desert Soil (Explain it)

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35. What is regur soil ? Write its two features. Mention any two regions where regur
soil is found.
Ans. Regur soil – Black Soil Features
1) made up extremely fine
2) have good capacity to hold moisture.
3) develop deep cracks during hot weather.
4) rich in calcium carbonate, potash and lime Regions
1) Maharashtra – Malva Plateau
2) Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh Plateau

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