(Exploring Society: India and Beyond – Grade 8, Part 1)
Q1. What can make a renewable resource non-renewable? Suggest some actions to prevent this.
Answer:
- Overexploitation (e.g., overuse of groundwater or forests).
- Pollution that damages natural regeneration (e.g., river pollution).
- Unsustainable extraction (e.g., cutting trees faster than they regrow).
Q2. What are renewable resources? How are they different from non-renewables?
Answer:
- Renewable resources: naturally replenished (e.g., solar energy, forests).
- Non-renewables: formed over millions of years, exhaustible (e.g., coal, petroleum).
- Difference: Renewables can regenerate within human lifespan; non-renewables cannot.
Q3. Name five ecosystem functions that serve humans.
Answer:
- Forests purify air and release oxygen.
- Wetlands filter water.
- Pollinators aid crop production.
- Trees prevent soil erosion.
- Oceans support fisheries and regulate climate.
Q4. How does uneven distribution of natural resources shape human life?
Answer:
- Fertile plains → agriculture-based settlements (Indo-Gangetic).
- Coal & iron → industrial centres (Jharkhand, Odisha).
- Scarce resources → conflicts (Kaveri water dispute).
- Thus, settlement, economy, and conflicts depend on distribution.
Q5. Identify cultural practices that reflect mindfulness in resource use.
Answer:
- Sacred groves where trees are never cut.
- Festivals offering water to the sun (Arghyam).
- Tulasi puja symbolising respect for plants.
- Indigenous practices of fishing bans during breeding season.
Q6. Explain five different ways of categorising natural resources with examples.
Answer:
- By origin – Biotic (forests), Abiotic (minerals).
- By renewability – Renewable (sunlight), Non-renewable (coal).
- By stage of development – Actual (coal in use), Potential (uranium in Ladakh).
- By distribution – Ubiquitous (air), Localised (iron ore).
- By use – Energy (petroleum), Material (wood, metals).
Q7. Discuss the implications of over-exploitation of natural resources with examples.
Answer:
- Water: Punjab groundwater crisis due to Green Revolution crops.
- Soil: Degradation from excessive chemical fertilisers.
- Forests: Deforestation → biodiversity loss.
- Fossil fuels: Pollution & climate change.
- Overuse disturbs ecosystems and threatens sustainability.
Q8. Case Study – Punjab’s groundwater crisis. What were the causes and consequences? Suggest remedies.
Answer:
- Causes: Over-extraction of groundwater for HYV crops, free electricity, chemical fertilisers.
- Consequences: Water table fell 30m, soil degraded, water polluted.
- Remedies: Crop diversification, water harvesting, organic farming, reduced chemical use.
Q9. Explain the concept of the "Natural Resource Curse". How has India avoided it?
Answer:
- Resource curse: nations with abundant resources may remain poor if they fail to process and add value.
- Example: resource-rich countries with weak industries.
- India avoided curse by developing industries, investing in skills, and reducing dependence on raw exports.
Q10. Explain five ecosystem services provided by nature with examples.
Answer:
- Oxygen supply by trees.
- Water purification by forests & wetlands.
- Soil fertility through decomposition.
- Pollination by insects.
- Climate regulation by oceans & forests.
- These free services sustain human life.
Q11. What inputs are required to use natural resources effectively? Explain with examples.
Answer:
- Technology – e.g., oil rigs extract petroleum.
- Skilled labour – needed for modern farming or mining.
- Capital (money) – to build infrastructure.
- Transport – to move coal, oil, or food.
- Governance/planning – sustainable management.
Q12. “Responsible stewardship is essential for natural resources.” Explain with examples.
Answer:
- Water: rainwater harvesting in Chennai prevents scarcity.
- Soil: organic farming in Sikkim restored fertility.
- Energy: International Solar Alliance promotes renewable power.
- Construction: eco-friendly materials reduce cement pollution.
- Wise use ensures resources last for future generations.
Q13. Why are non-renewable resources considered more vulnerable to depletion?
Answer:
- They take millions of years to form (e.g., coal, petroleum).
- Rapid human consumption exhausts them quickly.
- Once used, they cannot be replenished within a human lifespan.
Q14. “Unequal distribution of natural resources leads to conflicts.” Explain with examples.
Answer:
- Within India: Kaveri river water dispute among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry.
- Global: Oil-rich regions often face wars and tensions.
- Mining projects displace communities and threaten sacred lands.
- Thus, resource distribution influences politics, conflicts, and relations.
Q15. “Industrialisation has disturbed nature’s ability to restore and regenerate.” Justify.
Answer:
- Industrial waste pollutes rivers → aquatic life destroyed.
- Cement factories cause air, water, and soil pollution.
- Over-mining of coal → land degradation.
- Overuse of fossil fuels → climate change.
- Thus, unchecked industrialisation disrupts natural cycles.
Q16. Case Study – Cement Industry: Why is it considered one of the most polluting? Suggest three alternatives.
Answer:
- Produces fine dust → lung damage, soil & water pollution.
- Reduces crop yields by settling on leaves.
- Use of eco-materials like mud, stone.
- Plant-based construction materials.
- Recycling of waste plastics into building materials.
Q17. “Sikkim is a model of sustainable farming.” Explain how.
Answer:
- Adopted organic farming statewide (2016).
- Farmers shifted to compost and natural pest repellents.
- Biodiversity flourished; eco-tourism grew.
- Farmers’ incomes rose by 20%.
- This shows how policy + tradition can create eco-friendly agriculture.
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