CLASS: X : GEOGRAPHY

CHAPTER: 1: Resources and Development

No. Question Marks

1 What do you understand by the term resource? 1
Ans. 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’.
2 What does the process of transformation of things available in our environment 2
involve? State the role of human beings to accelerate their economic development.
Ans. A) The process of transformation of things available in our environment involves
an inter-dependent relationship between nature, technology and institutions.
B) Human beings interact with nature through technology and create institutions to
accelerate their economic development.
3 Give a detailed classification of resources. 2
OR marks
Distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources. of each
Ans. Resources can be classified in the following way:
(a) On the basis of origin-biotic and abiotic
(b) On the basis of exhaustibility-renewable and non-renewable
(c) On the basis of ownership-Individual, community, national and international.
(d) On the basis of status of development- Potential, developed, stock and reserves
Refer TB for explanation
4 State the major problems caused due to indiscriminate use of resources 3/5
by human beings.
Ans. Following problems are caused:
1. Depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals.
2. Accumulation of resources in few hands, which in turn, divided the society into
two segments i.e., haves and have nots or rich and poor.
3. Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises such
as, global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and land
degradation.
5 Why is resource planning essential for sustainable existence of all forms of life? 3
Ans. 1. An equitable distribution of resources has become essential for a sustained
quality of life and global peace.
2. If the present trend of resource depletion by a few individuals and countries
continues, the future of our planet is in danger.
3. Resource planning is essential for sustainable existence of all forms of
life. Sustainable existence is a component of sustainable development.

6 What does the term Sustainable development mean? 1

Ans. Sustainable economic 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.

Page 2 of 9
7 How do regions differ in terms of availability of resources? Give examples from four 5
states to show the reasons.

Regions/ States Rich in Poor / Deficient in

Jharkhand, Minerals and coal
Chhattisgarh and deposits
Madhya Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh Abundance of water Lacks infrastructural development
resources
Rajasthan Well endowed with solar Lacks water resources
and wind energy
Cold desert of Rich cultural heritage Deficient in water, infrastructure and
Ladakh some vital minerals.
Therefore, there is a need for balanced resource at the national, state, regional and local
levels.
8 “Resource planning is a complex process”. Justify 3
Ans. It involves the following steps:
a) Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country:
It involves surveying, mapping and qualitative and quantitative estimation and
measurement of the resources.
b) Evolving a planning structure:
Endowed with appropriate technology, skill and institutional set up for implementing
resources development plans.
c) Matching resource development plans with:
Overall national development plans.
9 How has colonization established relation between technological development and 3
institutional changes?
Ans. 1. The history of colonisation reveals that rich resources in colonies were the main
attractions for the foreign invaders.
2. It
3.
4.
5.
6.
4.7. was primarily the higher level of technological development of the colonis
8.

9.
10. ing countries that helped them to exploit resources of other regions and
establish their supremacy over the colonies.
Resources can contribute to development only when they are accompanied by

Page 3 of 9
10 What does resource development involve in particular in India? 2
Ans. The availability of resources, technology, quality of human resources and the historical
experience of the people.
11 What are the two problems of irrational consumption and over-utilization of 1
resources in India?
Ans. Socio-economic and environmental problems.

12 What was Gandhiji‟s concern about resource conservation? 3

Ans. Gandhiji believed that:
a) There is enough for everybody’s need and not for anybody’s greed.
b) He placed the greedy and selfish individuals and exploitative nature of modern
technology as the root cause for resource depletion at the global level.
c) He was against mass production and wanted to replace it with the production by the
masses.
13 „Land is a natural resource of utmost importance‟. Justify the statement. 1
Ans: We live on land, we perform our economic activities on land and we use it in
different ways with careful planning.
14 Explain the variety of relief features in India with reference to percentage and uses. 5
Ans:

Relief feature % Uses

Plains 43 Provides facilities for agriculture and industry.

mountains 30 ensure perennial flow of some rivers, provide facilities
for tourism and ecological aspects.
Plateau 27 possesses rich reserves of minerals, fossil fuels and forests.
15 A} What do the following categories of land use pattern include: (2) 3
Ans. I) Land not available for cultivation: a) Barren and waste land b) Land put to non-
agricultural uses, e.g. buildings, roads, factories etc.

II} Fallow land- a) Current fallow- left without cultivation one or less than one agricultural
year.
b) Other than current fallow land-left uncultivated for the past 1 to 5
agricultural years.
III. Other uncultivated land- excluding fallow land-
a) Permanent pastures and grazing land
b) Land under miscellaneous tree crops groves not included in net sown area.
c) Culturable wasteland- left uncultivated for more than 5 agricultural years.

B}Difference between: (1)

Grossed Cropped Area :Area sown more than once in an agricultural year plus net
sown area is known as gross cropped area.
Net Sown Area: Area sown under one crop in one agricultural season. Example rice
grown in Kharif season.
16 Mention the physical and human factors that determine the use of land. (2+2) 5
Ans. A) Physical factors: Topography, climate and soil types.
B) Human factors: Population density, technological capability and culture & tradition.

17 The land under permanent pastures has declined. How are we able to feed our huge 3

Page 4 of 9
 cattle population? What are the consequences of it?
Ans. 1. Agricultural residue will provide fodder for our huge cattle population.
2. Consequences: a) Tremendous pressure on agricultural land
b) Animal products and milk production will decline.

18. Name the two states that have over 80% of total area under NSA. Also name the 4
states that have less than 10% of land under NSA. Find out reasons for low and
high proportion of Net Sown Area in these states. 2+2
Ans.
Two states that have Punjab and Haryana 1. Gentle slope
over 80% of total area 2. Fertile soil
under NSA 3. Abundance of water
Sates that have less Arunachal Pradesh, 1. Unfavourable
than 10% of land Mizoram, Manipur and topography
under NSA Andaman and Nicobar 2. Unfavourable climate
Islands 3. Dense forests

19. What has resulted in land degradation? What are its consequences? 2
Ans. A) Continuous use of land over a period of time without taking appropriate
measures to conserve and manage it, has resulted in land degradation.
B)It has serious repercussions on society and the environment.

Land Degradation Deforestation

20. How has human activities led to land degradation? Also name human activities that 3
have contributed to land degradation.
Ans. a) Human activities have not only brought about degradation of land but have also
aggravated the pace of natural forces to cause damage to land.
b) Human activities contributing to land degradation- Deforestation, over grazing,
mining and quarrying etc.
21. Explain the reasons for land degradation with the help of examples. 5
Ans.
Reasons States/Areas Analysis
[Link] sites Jharkhand, Mining sites are abandoned after excavation work
Chhattisgarh, is complete leaving deep scars and traces of over-
Madhya burdening.

Page 5 of 9
 Pradesh and deforestation due to mining in these states have
Orissa caused severe land degradation.

[Link] Gujarat, overgrazing is one of the main reasons for land

Rajasthan, degradation.
Madhya
Pradesh and
Maharashtra
[Link] Punjab, over irrigation is responsible for land degradation
irrigation Haryana, due to water logging leading to increase in
western Uttar salinity and alkalinity in the soil.
Pradesh
[Link] The mineral processing like grinding of limestone
Processing for cement industry and calcite and soapstone for
ceramic industry generate huge quantity of dust in
the atmosphere. It retards the process of
infiltration of water into the soil after it settles
down on the land.
[Link] In recent years, industrial effluents as waste have
effluents become a major source of land and water pollution
in many parts of the country.
22. Explain the ways to solve the problem of land degradation. 3
Ans. There are many ways:
a) Afforestation and proper management of grazing can help to some extent. (1)
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. (1)
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. (1)
23. Name the important things that contribute to the formation of soil. 2
Ans. Relief, parent rock or bed rock, climate, vegetation and other forms of life and time
are important factors.
24. State various forces of nature that contribute to the formation of soil. 2
Ans. Various forces of nature such as change in temperature, action of running water,
wind and glaciers, activities of decomposers etc.
25. Name the most widely spread and important soil of India. Write any three 5
characteristics of this type of soils. (1+3) OR
Which type of soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast? Give
three main features of this type of soil.
Ans.
A) Alluvial soils.
B) These soils consist of various proportions of sand, silt & clay.
C) As we move inlands towards the river valley, soil particles appear some what bigger
in size.

Page 6 of 9
 D) According to the size of their grains or components they are also known as old
alluvial (Bangar) and new alluvial (Khadar) soils.
26. Name the three areas where alluvial soils are found in India. 3
Ans. They are found as:
1) The entire northern plains.
2) They extend in Rajasthan and Gujarat through a narrow corridor.
3) Eastern coastal plains particularly in the deltas of the Mahanadi, the Godavari,
the Krishna and the Kaveri rivers also contain these soils.

Piedmont Plains
Duars, Chos and
Terai
Study soil type
from TB

27. What is soil erosion? State the human activities and natural forces that lead to soil 3/5
erosion. (1+3)

Ans. Meaning: The denudation of the soil cover and subsequent washing down is
described as soil erosion. (1)
Human activities: Deforestation, over-grazing, construction and mining. (2)
Natural forces: Wind, glacier and water lead to soil erosion (2)

28. Define the following: 1/3/5

Ans. 1) Gullies: The running water cuts through the clayey soils and makes deep
channels as gullies.
2. Bad lands: The land becomes unfit for cultivation and is known as bad land.
3. Ravines: Bad land in the Chambal basin is called ravines.
4. Sheet Erosion: Sometimes water flows as a sheet over large areas down a slope.
In such cases the top soil is washed away, this is known as sheet erosion.
29. How can we check the stabilization of sand dunes in the deserts? 1
Ans. Rows of trees are called shelter belts. These shelter belts have contributed
significantly to the stabilization of sand dunes and in stabilizing the desert in W. India.

Page 7 of 9
30 What steps can be taken to control soil erosion? (S.A.-1, 2012) One
mark
of
Ans. The following steps can be taken to control soil erosion: each
1) Contour ploughing: Ploughing along the contour lines can decelerate the flow of point
water down the slopes.

Contour Ploughing
2) Terrace farming: Steps can be cut out on the slopes making terraces. Terrace
cultivation restricts erosion. Western and central Himalayas have well developed
terrace farming.

Page 8 of 9
 Terrace Farming

3) Strip cropping: Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to
grow between the crops. This breaks up the force of the wind. This method is
known as strip cropping.

Strip Cropping

4) Planting lines/shelter belts: Planting lines of trees to create shelter also works in
the similar way to check soil erosion. Rows of such trees are called shelter belts.

Shelter Belts

Map work: Major soil types

(Identification only)

*********************************************

*****

Page 9 of 9