Economic Activities Around Us – Short Answer Type Questions
CBSE Class 6 Social Science
Theme E — Economic Life Around Us | Chapter 14: Economic Activities Around Us
Content Bank — Chapter 14
Topics covered: Definition of economic activities; Primary, Secondary & Tertiary sectors; Farming; Industry; Trade; Services; Regional variations; Seasonal & mixed occupations; Importance of resources, transport and technology.
1. Basics: Economic Activities
1. What are economic activities?
Economic activities are actions people undertake to earn a living and produce goods or services to meet needs and wants.
2. How are economic activities classified?
They are classified into three sectors: primary (using natural resources), secondary (manufacturing) and tertiary (services).
3. Give two examples of primary activities.
Farming (growing crops) and fishing (catching fish from rivers, lakes or seas).
4. Give two examples of secondary activities.
Processing cotton into cloth and baking wheat into bread are secondary activities.
5. Give two examples of tertiary activities.
Teaching in a school and transporting goods by truck are examples of services.
6. Why do people engage in economic activities?
To earn income, support families, and produce goods and services that satisfy human needs.
7. What is a 'livelihood'?
A livelihood is the means by which a person or family earns money to live, such as farming, trading or working in a factory.
2. Farming and Agriculture
8. What factors determine the type of farming in a region?
Climate, soil type, availability of water, topography and local farming practices determine the crops grown.
9. What is subsistence farming?
Subsistence farming is where farmers grow food mainly for their family's use rather than for sale in markets.
10. What is commercial farming?
Commercial farming produces crops and livestock for sale in markets, often using modern methods and machinery.
11. How does irrigation benefit farming?
Irrigation provides water to crops, allowing farmers to grow more crops and reduce dependence on rainfall.
12. What is crop rotation?
Crop rotation is growing different crops on the same land in successive seasons to maintain soil fertility and reduce pests.
13. What role does livestock play in agriculture?
Livestock provide milk, meat, wool and labour; they also add nutrients to soil through manure.
14. What is horticulture?
Horticulture is the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants for food, trade and beautification.
3. Industry and Manufacturing
15. What is a cottage industry?
A cottage industry is a small-scale production carried out at home or in small workshops, such as handloom weaving or pottery.
16. How do raw materials influence industry location?
Industries often locate near raw materials to reduce transport costs and ensure steady supply of inputs.
17. What is meant by 'small-scale industry'?
Small-scale industries have limited investment and produce goods in smaller quantities, often serving local markets.
18. How does electricity affect industrial growth?
Electricity powers machines and factories; reliable power supply attracts industries and increases production capacity.
19. Give an example of an industry that needs skilled labour.
Information technology firms, automobile assembly plants and precision engineering factories require skilled workers.
20. What is meant by 'processing industry'?
A processing industry converts raw materials into finished or semi-finished goods, like sugar mills or textile mills.
4. Trade and Markets
21. What is the difference between local and long-distance trade?
Local trade happens within villages or nearby towns; long-distance trade moves goods across states or countries.
22. What is a fair or mela in trade?
A fair (mela) is a periodic gathering where traders and buyers meet to exchange goods, often important for rural trade.
23. How do middlemen help trade?
Middlemen buy goods from producers and sell them to consumers or retailers, helping distribution but taking a share of profit.
24. What role do markets play in rural life?
Markets provide places to sell farm produce, buy daily needs, and access information and services.
25. How does packaging help trade?
Packaging protects goods, makes them easier to transport and attractive for sale, and provides information to buyers.
26. Why is price important in trade?
Price determines what consumers pay and what producers earn; it affects demand, supply and profitability.
5. Services and the Tertiary Sector
27. What are examples of transport services?
Trucks, trains, buses, ships and aeroplanes that move people and goods are transport services.
28. How do banks support economic activity?
Banks provide loans, safe keeping of money, payment services and support business growth and trade.
29. Why is education a service?
Education provides knowledge and skills, preparing people for jobs and improving productivity.
30. What is tourism and how does it help the economy?
Tourism involves travel for leisure or business; it creates jobs in hotels, transport and local crafts, earning income for regions.
31. Give an example of a public service.
Postal services, police, public hospitals and government-run schools are public services.
6. Regional Variations in Economic Activities
32. Why are coastal regions often busy with trade?
Coastal regions have ports for shipping goods, fishing opportunities and easier access to international markets.
33. How do mountains influence jobs in a region?
Mountain areas may focus on terrace farming, tourism, animal rearing and forestry due to steep slopes and climate.
34. What economic activities are common near rivers?
Fertile river plains support agriculture, and rivers often serve as transport routes for trade.
35. How do mineral deposits change local economies?
Mineral deposits lead to mining and related industries, creating jobs but sometimes causing environmental changes.
36. Why might a desert area have fewer industries?
Deserts lack water and good soil; harsh climate and scarce resources make agriculture and many industries difficult.
7. Seasonal, Migrant and Mixed Work
37. What is seasonal employment?
Work available only in certain seasons, like harvesting or festival-related jobs.
38. What causes people to migrate for work?
Lack of local jobs, better wages elsewhere, or seasonal demands lead people to migrate temporarily or permanently.
39. Give an example of mixed occupation.
A person who farms during the season and runs a small shop during other months has mixed occupations.
40. How do remittances help villages?
Money sent by migrant workers (remittances) supports families, improves living standards and funds local spending.
8. Development, Technology and Environment
41. How does technology change economic activities?
Technology improves efficiency, creates new jobs, and can replace some manual tasks with machines.
42. What is sustainable use of resources?
Using natural resources in a way that meets present needs without harming the environment for future generations.
43. How can industries affect the environment?
Industries may pollute air, water and soil if waste is not properly managed, affecting health and ecosystems.
44. What role does transport infrastructure play in development?
Good roads, railways and ports enable trade, access to markets, and movement of people and goods, boosting growth.
9. Importance & Revision Terms
45. How do economic activities help a nation?
They create goods and services, provide employment, generate income and contribute to the country's development.
46. Define 'resource'.
A resource is anything from nature or human-made that can be used to meet needs, like water, forests or minerals.
47. Define 'market'.
A market is a place or system where buyers and sellers interact to exchange goods and services.
48. Define 'trade'.
Trade is the buying and selling of goods and services for money or exchange.
49. Why is education important for economic growth?
Education builds skills and knowledge, enabling people to take better jobs and improve productivity.
50. Give one tip for revising this chapter.
Use maps and local examples to connect economic activities with geography, and practice explaining examples aloud.
These questions and answers are strictly aligned with the NCERT Class 6 Social Science syllabus for Chapter 14 and are designed for CBSE board-level revision.