NCERT Class 8 Geography Chapter 1 - Resources

Chapter 1 -  Resources

Question and Answers
Question 1: What is a Resource? How are resources classified generally?
Answer: Anything that can be used to satisfy a need is a resource.
Resources are generally classified into:
1. Natural resources   
2. Human made resources
3. Human resources.

Question 2: List out five resources you use in your home and five you use in your classroom.
Answer: Resources used at home: furniture, bed, doors, electrical object etc. Resources used at classroom: book, blackboard, chalk, table, chair etc.

Question 3: What makes an object or substance become a resource? How does something become a resource?
Answer:
1. Utility or usability is what makes an object or substance a resource.
2. The things become resources only when they have a value.
3. Its uses or utility gives it a value. All resources have some value.

Question 4: Explain how a resource can become economically valuable with time?
Answer:
1. Resources can become economically valuable with time.
2. Certain resources like medicinal plants, home remedies etc have no commercial value today.
3. If they are patented and sold by a medical firm tomorrow, then they could become economically valuable.

Question 5: What do you understand by:
I. Technology
II. Stock of resource
III. Patent
Answer:
I. Technology: Technology is the application of latest knowledge and skill in doing or making things.
II. Stock of resource: Stock is the amount of resources available for use.
III. Patent: Patent means the exclusive right over any idea or invention.

Question 6: What are natural resources? Give examples.
Answer: Resources that are drawn from nature and used without much modification are called natural resources. Examples: Air, water, soil, minerals, sunlight etc.

Question 7: Distinguish between renewable resources and non-renewable resources. Answer:
Renewable resources
1. Renewable resources are those which get renewed or replenished quickly.
2. These are unlimited and are affected by human activities.
3. Example: Solar energy and Wind energy
Non-renewable resources
1. Non-renewable resources are exhausted due to excessive use and it may take thousands of years to be renewed or replenished.
2. These are limited stock and are affected by human activities.
3. Example: Coal, Petroleum and Natural gas

Question 8: Mention how stock of certain renewable resources may get affected by overuse.
Answer:
1. Careless use of certain renewable resources like water, soil and forest can affect their stock.
2. Water seems to be an unlimited renewable resource.
3. But shortage and drying up of natural water sources is a major problem in many parts of the world today.

Question 9: Why are resources distributed unequally over the earth?
Answer:
1. The distribution of natural resources depends upon number of physical factors like terrain, climate and altitude.
2. The distribution of resources is unequal because these factors differ so much over the earth.
3. Moreover, the level of development and technological levels determine the distribution.

Question 10: What are resource conservation and sustainable development?
Answer:
1. Using resources carefully and giving them time to get renewed is called resource conservation.
2. Balancing the need to use resources and also conserve them for the future is called sustainable development.      

Question 11: Name the two factors that can change a substance into resource and explain their significance.
Answer:
1. Time and technology are two important factors that can change substances into resources.
2. Each discovery or invention leads to many others.
3. The discovery of fire led to the practice of cooking and other processes while
4. The invention of the wheel ultimately resulted in development of newer modes of transport.
5. The technology to create hydroelectricity has turned energy in fast flowing water into an important resource.

Question 12: What are the duties of the citizens to preserve the resources of the earth?
Answer: The future of our planet and its people is linked with our ability to maintain and preserve the life support system that nature provides. Therefore, it is our duty to ensure that:
1. All uses of renewable resources are sustainable
2. The diversity of life on the earth is conserved
3. The damage to natural environmental system is minimised.

Question 13: List the basic principles of sustainable development.
Answer: Some basic Principles of Sustainable Development:
1. Respect and care for all forms of life.
2. Improve the quality of human life.
3. Conserve the earth’s vitality and diversity.
4. Minimise the depletion of natural resources.
5. Change personal attitude and practices towards the environment
6. Enable communities to care for their own environment.

Question 14: Suggest some easy ways of conserving resources.
Answer: Some easy ways of conserving resources-
1. Make shopping bags with old newspapers, discarded clothes.
2. Make baskets with bamboo sticks.
3. Switch off electricity when not in use.
4. Prevent wastage of water by checking leakages and closing taps when not in use.
5. Reuse water for washing and watering plants.