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CHAPTER 1
RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
MCQ’s
1. Study the picture and answer the question that follows:

Which of the following best signifies the above image?

(a) Biotic (b) Abiotic (c) Renewable Resource (d) Non-Renewable
Resource
Ans. (a) Biotic
2. Which type of resource is park?
(a) Community owned resource (b) Non-renewable resource
(c) Individual resource (d) Potential resource
Ans. (a) Community owned resource
3. Study the picture and answer the question that follows:

Which of the following best signifies the above image?

(a) Biotic (b) Abiotic (c) Renewable Resource (d) Non-Renewable
Resource
Ans. (d) Non-Renewable Resource
4. Which one of the following type of resource is iron ore ?
(a) Renewable (b) Flow (c) Biotic (d) Non-renewable
Ans. (d) Non-renewable
5. Which type of resource is park ?
(a) Community owned resource (b) Non-renewable resource
(c) Individual resource (d) Potential resource
Ans. (a) Community owned resource

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6. Which type of resource is wind energy?
(a) Human-made (b) Renewable (c) Non-Renewable (d) Biotic
Ans. (a) Renewable
7. Under which of the following type of resources can tidal energy be put?
(a) Renewable (b) Abiotic (c) Human-made (d) Non-renewable
Ans. (a) Renewable
8. Resources which are found in a region, but have not been utilised are known as _________.
(a) Potential Resources (b) Abiotic resources
(c) Biotic resources (d) Renewable resources
Ans. (a) Potential Resources
9.

Which kind of relationship is shown in the above image?

(a) Related relationship (b) Dependent relationship
(c) Interdependent relationship (d) Independent relationship
Ans. (c) Interdependent relationship
10. ‘There is enough for everybody’s need but not for everybody’s greed’. Who said these
words ?
(a) Gandhiji (b) Nehru (c) S.V.B. Patel (d) Medha Patkar
Ans. (a) Gandhiji
11. The Club of Rome advocated resource conservation in the year:
(a) 1965 (b) 1966 (c) 1967 (d) 1968
Ans. (d) 1968
12. Who wrote the book ‘Small is beautiful’?
(a) Schumacher (b) Spencer (c) Surrey (d) Steward
Ans. (a) Schumacher
13. How much area of land in India is plain?
(a) 53% (b) 43% (c) 62% (d) 58%
Ans. (b) 43%
14. The resources can be conserved by ___________ .
(a) Recycling (b) Reusing (c) Reducing consumption (d) All of the above
Ans. (d) All of the above
15. Resource planning should be at :
(a) National Level (b) Regional Level (c) Local Level (d) All of the above
Ans. (d) All of the above
16. Which one of the following is the main reason for land degradation in Punjab?
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(a) Intensive cultivation (b) Over irrigation
(c) Deforestation (d) Overgrazing
Ans. (b) Over irrigation
17. In which of the following states is the terrace cultivation practiced?
(a) Punjab (b) Haryana (c) Uttaranchal (d) Jharkhand
Ans. (c) Uttaranchal
18. Which one among the following is the method to control land degradation?
(a) Deforestation (b) Intensive cultivation (c) Overgrazing (d) Afforestation
Ans. (d) Afforestation
19. Arrange the following in the correct sequence:
(i) Topsoil (ii) Parent rock (iii) Bedrock (iv) Subsoil
Options:
(a) iii-i-ii-iv (b) ii-i-iii-iv (c) i-iv-ii-iii (d) iii-ii-i-iv
Ans. (c) i-iv-ii-iii
20. In which of the following states is black soil found?
(a) Jammu and Kashmir (b) Rajasthan
(c) Gujarat (d) Jharkhand
Ans. (c) Gujarat
21. Black soil is ideal for growing which crop ?
(a) Jute (b) Cotton (c) Silk (d) Cereals
Ans. (b) Cotton
22. Which among the following soil types is the result of intense leaching due to heavy
rainfall ?
(a) Black soil (b) Alluvial soil (c) Laterite soil (d) Red soil
Ans. (c) Laterite soil
23. This soil is also found in the eastern coastal plains in the deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari,
Krishna and Kaveri rivers.
(a) Black soil (b) Alluvial soil (c) Laterite soil (d) Red soil
Ans. (b) Alluvial soil
24. Which is the method of checking soil erosion ?
(a) Strip cropping (b) Terrace farming (c) Contour ploughing (d) All of the above
Ans. (d) All of the above
25. Which one of the following is not a human reason of soil erosion?
(a) Mass cutting of trees (b) Washing down of top soil by fast running water
(c) Wrong agriculture practices (d) Extraction of minerals found under surface
Ans. (b) Washing down of top soil by fast running water
Directions: In the following questions, a statement of assertion is followed by a statement
of reason. Mark the correct choice as:
(a) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of
assertion.
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(c) Assertion is true but reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false but reason is true.
26. Assertion: Resources are free gifts of nature.
Reason: Resources like soil, air, water are easily available in nature.
Ans. (d) Assertion is false but reason is true.
27. Assertion: The availability of resources is not the only necessary condition for the
development of any region.
Reason: Not only availability of resources but also corresponding change in technology is
necessary for development of any region.
Ans. (a) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
28. Assertion: Resource planning is an easy process in India.
Reason: Resource planning involves identification and inventory of resource across the
regions of the country.
Ans. (d) Assertion is false but reason is true.
29. Assertion: Land is a natural resource of utmost importance.
Reason: Land can be used for various purposes.
Ans. (a) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
30. Assertion: Controlling on mining activities only doesn’t control land degradation.
Reason: In states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, deforestation has occurred
due to over grazing, not mining.
Ans. (d) Assertion is false but reason is true.
31. Assertion: Western Rajasthan has well developed terrace farming.
Reason: Terrace cultivation restricts erosion.
Ans. (d) Assertion is false but reason is true.
32. Assertion: Alluvial soil is ideal for growth of paddy, wheat, cereal and pulse crops.
Reason: Alluvial soil is well-known for is capacity to hold moisture.
Ans. (c) Assertion is true but reason is false.
33. Assertion: Soil is the most important renewable natural resource.
Reason: Soil supports different types of living organisms on earth.
Ans. (a) Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
34. Assertion: Arid soil is unsuitable for cultivation.
Reason: Arid soil is generally sandy in texture and saline in nature. It restricts the
filtration of water.
Ans. (c) Assertion is true but reason is false.
35. Assertion: Processes of soil formation and erosion goes simultaneously and creates a
balance between the two.
Reason: The denudation of the soil cover and subsequent washing down is soil erosion.
Ans. (c) Assertion is true but reason is false.

SHORT ANSWERS

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Q.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.
Q.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.
Q.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.
Q.4. 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.
Q.5. 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.
Q.6. 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.
Q.7. 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.
d. An important and distinct aim of the agenda is that every local government should
draw its own local Agenda 21.
Q.8. Write a short note on Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit, 1992.

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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.
Q.9. 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.
Q.10. 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.
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.
Q.11. 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.
Q.12. 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.
Q.13. 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 km 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.

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Q.14. 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.
Q.15. 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.
Q.16. 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.
Q.17. 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.
Q.18. 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.
Q.19. 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?

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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.
Q.20. 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.
Q.21. 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.
Q.22. 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.
Q.23. 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.

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LONG ANSWERS
Q.1. Classify resources on the basis of ownership with example.
Ans. a. Individual resources: These are owned privately by individuals. Many farmers own land
which allotted to them by government against the payment of revenue. People own plots,
houses and other property.
b. Community owned Resources: There are resources which are accessible to all the
members of the community. Village commons, public parks, burial ground, playgrounds
in urban areas are de facto accessible to all the people living there.
c. National resources: All the resources belong to the nation. The country has legal power
to acquire even private property for public good. We have seen roads, canals, railways
being constructed on fields owned by some individuals. Urban Development Authorities
get empowered by the government to acquire land.
d. International Resources: There are international institutions which regulate some
resources. The oceanic resources beyond 200 km of the exclusive Economic Zone belong
to open ocean and no individual country can utilize these without the concurrence of
international institutions.
Q.2. Classify resources on the basis of state of development with example.
Ans. a. Potential Resources: Resources which are found in a region, but have not been utilized
due to the lack of capital. For example, the western parts of India particularly Rajasthan
and Gujarat have enormous potential for the development of wind and solar energy, but
so far these have not been developed properly.
b. Developed resources: Resources which are surveyed and their quality and quantity
have been determined for utilization. The development of resources depends on technology
and level of their feasibility.
c. Stock: material in the environment which have the potential to satisfy human needs but
human being do not have the appropriate technology to access these, are included among
stock. For example water is a compound of two inflammable gases: Hydrogen and oxygen,
which can be used as a rich source of energy. But we do not have the required technology
to use them for this purpose. Hence it can be considered as stock.
d. Reserves: Reserves are the subset of stock, which can be put into use with the help of
existing technology but their use has not been started. These can be used for meeting
future requirements.
Q.3. Why is resource planning important in the context of a country like India?
Ans. a. India has enormous diversity in the availability of recourses.
b. There are regions which are rich in certain types of resources but are deficient in some
other resources.
c. There are some regions which can be considered self sufficient in terms of availability of
resources and there are some regions which have acute shortage of some vital resources.
d. For example the states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in
Minerals and coal deposits. Arunachal Pradesh abundance of water resources but lake of
infrastructural development.
e. The state of Rajasthan is very well endowed with solar and wind energy but lacks in
water resources.
f. The cold desert of Ladhakh is entirely isolated from the rest of the country.
Q.4. How has technical and economic development led to more consumption of resources?
Ans. a. Human beings interacted with nature through technological and create institutions to
accelerate their economic development.

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b. As more technological development occurs there is increased need for inputs and
utilization of resources.
c. Technical and technological development is closely linked to economic development.
d. For example more factories providing employment to more people are a necessity. For
the factory land and labour is used. For this mining of minerals and metals increases.
Q.5. Explain the land use pattern in India?
Ans. a. The net sown area in India has decreased from 45.26% to 43.41%. This means that
more and more agricultural land is being shifted to other activities.
b. The pattern of the net sown area varies gently from one state to another. In Punjab and
Haryana the net sown area is 80% of the total area but Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram,
Manipur and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it is less than 10% of the total area.
c. The area under forests has been increased from 18.11% in 1960-61 to 22.57% in 2000-
2003 and to 23% in 2005-06 yet it is far below than the scientific norms.
d. The land under permanent pastures is very low, i.e., only 3.45%.
e. Area under fallow land has also decreased which shows, that subsistence agriculture is
being replaced by commercial agriculture.
Q.6. Explain any five proper farming techniques which can be used for soil conservation.
Ans. a. Strip Cropping: To counter the effect of wind the practice of strip cropping is followed to
stop wind erosion. Large fields are divided in strips. Grass in strips is left to grow between
the crops.
b. Contour Ploughing: Ploughing along the contour lines does not let water run down the
slopes. This technique involved ploughing along contours, so that the furrows follow lines
linking points of the same height. Such furrows halt the downward flow of water and
reduce erosion.
c. Terrace Farming: Since ancient times farmers have built terraces or steps up a hillside
creating several levels of farms. Hill slopes are cut into a number of terraces having
horizontal top and steep slopes on the back and front.
d. Crop rotation: If the same crop is sown in the same field, year after year, this consumes
particular nutrients from the soil making it infertile. Crop rotation can check the type of
erosion.
e. Shelter Belts: Planting trees to create shelter also works in a similar way. Rows of such
trees are called shelter belts. These shelter belts have contributed significantly to the
stabilization of sand dunes and in establishing the desert in western India.
Q.7. How is red soil formed? Mention its features. Ans. a. Formation: most of the red soils have
come into existence due to weathering of ancient crystalline igneous rocks.
b. Soils are loamy in deep depressions and in upload. They consist of loose gravels and
highly coarse materials.
c. These soils develop a reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in crystalline and
metamorphic rocks.
d. It looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.
e. This soil is found in the areas of low rainfall in the eastern and southern parts of the
Deccan plateau.
Q.8. Which is most widely spread and important soil of India? State the characteristics of this
type of soil?
Ans. Alluvial soil is most widely spread and important soil of India. In fact the entire northern
plains are made of alluvial soils.

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a. These soils have been deposited by three important Himalayan river systems-the Indus,
the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.
b. The alluvial soil consists of various proportions of sand, silt and clay.
c. According to their age alluvial soil can be classified as old alluvial and new alluvial.
d. Alluvial soils as a whole are very fertile. Mostly these soils contain adequate proportion
of potash, phosphoric acid and lime which are ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy,
wheat and other cereal and pulse crops.
e. Due to its high fertility, region of alluvial soils are intensively cultivated and densely
populated.
Q.9. Which type of soil is ideal for growth of cotton? What are the main characteristics of this
type of soil? Name some areas where they found.
Ans. Black soil is ideal for the growth of cotton soil. Following are its characteristics:
a. Black soils are also known as ‘regur’ soil or black cotton soils.
b. Such a soil is ideal for growing cotton and hence the name.
c. They have extremely good moisture retention capacity but become sticky when wet.
d. These soils are difficult work upon unless tilled during pre-monsoon periods or just
after the first shower.
e. Black soils are rich in soil nutrients such as calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash
and lime but poor in phosphoric contents.
f. This soil is found in Deccan trap areas. This includes Maharashtra, Western Madhya
Pradesh, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh, some parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil
Nadu.
Q.10. What is soil? Analyze the four main factors which help in the formation of soil.
Ans. Soil: Soil is the most important renewable natural resource. It is the medium of plant
growth and supports different types of living organisms on the earth. The soil is a living
system. It takes million of years to form soil up to a few cm in depth.
a. Relief, parent rock or bed rock, climate, vegetation and other forms of life and time are
important factors in the formation of soil.
b. Various forces of nature such as change in temperature, actions of running water, wind
and glaciers, activities of decomposition etc. contribute to the formation of soil.
c. Chemical and organic changes which take place in the soil are equally important.
d. Soils also consist of organic (humus) or inorganic materials.

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