PREVIOUS YEAR
GEOGRAPHY
QUESTIONS-X
RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT
PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS
VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (1 Mark)
1. How is cement industry responsible for land degradation? [Delhi 2019]
Ans. The mineral processing like grinding of limestone for cement industry generate huge
quantity of dust that settles down on the land and retards the process of infiltration
of water into the soil.
2. Classify resources on the basis of origin. [CBSE 2018]
Ans. On the basis of origin resources are classified as biotic and abiotic resources.
3. What are the methods of checking soil erosion? [2017]
Ans. Strip cropping, terrace farming and contour ploughing.
4. Name the land with deep channels that is unfit for cultivation. [2016]
Ans. Bad land.
5. Which state has the largest area under black soil? [2016]
Ans. Maharashtra.
6. In which states overgrazing is responsible for land degradation? [2015]
Ans : Madhya Pradesh. Rajasthan. Gujarat and Maharashtra.
7. In which states laterite soil is found? [2015]
Ans. Karnataka, Kerala. Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, and hilly areas of Odisha and
Assam.
8. What is the percentage share of plains in the total land area? [2014]
Ans. 43%.
9. What is the main cause of land degradation in Punjab? [2014]
Ans. Over irrigation.
10. Classify resources into two groups on the basis of their exhaustibility. [Delhi 2010]
Ans. On the basis of exhaustibility, resources can be classified as renewable and
non-renewable.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (3 Marks)
11. “Resource planning is a complex process.” Justify the statement with
arguments. [AI Chennai 2019]
Ans. Resource planning is a complex process which involves:
(a) Identification of resources across the country through surveying, mapping and
preparation of inventory of resources through their quantitative and qualitative
estimation and measurement.
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PREVIOUS YEAR
GEOGRAPHY
QUESTIONS-X
(b) Develop a planning structure for resource development taking into account
technology, skill and infrastructure available for implementing the plans.
(c) Matching the resource development plans with overall national development
plans. This involves systematic planning of exploitation of resources.
12. Why is it essential to have resource planning? Explain any three reasons. [2017]
Ans. a. If the present trend of resource depletion by few individuals continues, the future
of our planet is in danger.
b. Planning is essential for sustainable existence of all forms of life.
c. Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises.
13. Examine the three major problems created as a result of indiscriminate utilization
of natural resources. [CBSE 2016]
Ans. The following are the three major problems created as a result of indiscriminate
utilization of natural resources.
(a) Depletion of resources at a faster rate.
(b) Accumulation of resources in the hands of few creating a wide gap between the
haves (rich) and have nots (poor).
(c) Increase in global crises like ozone layer depletion, global warming, pollution and
land degradation.
14. Describe any three measures of controlling land degradation. [2015, 2014, 2012]
OR
Explain any three steps taken to solve the problem of land degradation in
India. [2011]
Ans. a. Afforestation and proper management of grazing can help to some extent .
b. Planting of shelter belts, control on over-grazing, stabilisation of sand dune by
growing thorny bushes.
c. Proper management of wastelands, control of mixing activities, proper discharge
and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment can reduce land
and water degradation in industrial and sub-urban areas are some of the
methods to check land degradation.
15. Indiscriminate use of resources had led to numerous problems.‟ Justify this
statement. [2014, 2012, 2011]
Ans. Resources are vital for human survival and it was believed that resources are free gift
of nature. The indiscriminate use of resources led to the following problems:
a. To satisfy the greed of few individuals, depletion of resources has continued.
b. Due to the accumulation of resources in few hands, the society gets divided into
two segments, e.g., rich and poor.
c. Indiscriminate use of resources has „ led to ecological crises, e.g., ozone layer
depletion, land degradation, global warming and environmental pollution.
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PREVIOUS YEAR
GEOGRAPHY
QUESTIONS-X
16. “33 per cent area should be under forests.” Justify the statement highlighting the
environmental values of forests. [CBSE 2013]
Ans. According to the international norms, the forest cover in a country should be 33 per
cent of the total geographical area. However the forest cover in India is estimated at
637,293 sq. km, which is 19.39 per cent of the total geographical area.
(a) The following points sum up of the environmental values of forests.
If a country does not have 33 per cent geographical area under forest it may lead
to poor quality of support system — water, air and soil.
(b) Forests preserve the genetic diversity of plants and animals.
(c) The forest ecosystem is the storehouse of valuable forest products, minerals and
other resources.
17. What is meant by the term “resource"? List the types of resources classified on the
basis of its ownership. [2012]
Ans. a. Resource: Everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy
our needs, provided, it is technologically accessible, economically feasible and
culturally acceptable is known as a resource.
b. Types of resources on the basis of ownership are: Individual, community, national
and international.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (5 Marks)
18. Explain resource planning. What are the steps involved in resource
planning? [2014]
OR
Why is resource planning essential in India? [2015]
OR
What is resource planning? Why is resource planning essential? Explain it with three
reasons. [2015]
Ans. Resource planning is a procedure of proper utilization of resources. Resource
planning is important because :
a. Resources in India are not evenly distributed. Some parts of the county are rich in
one resource but deficient in other important resources which are essential. For
example, Rajasthan is rich in solar and wind energy but lacks water resource.
Jharkhand is rich in minerals and coal deposits but lack in industrialisation. This
is the reason why resource planning is essential. An effective resource planning
will help in effective use of the resources available in the environment.
(b) Secondly, most of the resources present in our environment are limited.
Therefore, if these resources are not preserved or not used rationally we will be
in great trouble. For example : Petrol is a limited resource and it cannot be
renewed. Exhaustion of petrol will create huge chaos in the country as we are
extensively dependent on the petrol.
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GEOGRAPHY
QUESTIONS-X
(c) Thirdly, resource planning is important because it minimises the wastage or over
utilization of resources. The very first step of resource planning is to make a list of
resources available in the environment. This helps us to assess which resources
should be used and how much it should be used to prevent over utilisation and
minimize wastage.
19. Mention three physical factors as well as three human factors which determine the
use of land in India. [CBSE 2012]
Ans. Three physical factors determining the use of land in India are the following.
(a) topography (b) climate (c) soil type
Three human factors determining the land use in India are:
(a) population density. (b) technological capability.
(c) culture and traditions.
20. What are the reasons for land degradation? Describe briefly any four measures to
conserve land from degradation. [All India 2010]
Ans. At present there are about 130 million hectares of degraded land in India. It has
mainly been due to the following reasons.
(a) Human activities like deforestation, mining, quarrying, overgrazing are mainly
responsible for land degradation.
(b) In states like Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha deforestation due to
mining has caused severe degradation. In Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat
and Maharashtra, overgrazing is one of the main reasons for land degradation.
(c) Industrial effluents have become a major source of land and water degradation in
many parts of the country.
(d) Over-irrigation in the states of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, has
led to waterlogging and increased alkalinity and salinity in the soil.
(any two)
The following are the four measures to conserve land from degradation.
(a) Afforestation and management of grazing can solve the problem to some extent.
(b) Planting of shelter belts of trees and growing of thorny bushes can stabilize sand
dunes and check land degradation.
(c) Control over mining activities can also contribute to it.
(d) Proper discharge of industrial effluents can be done by grinding, sedimentation
and flocculation.
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