Resources – Short Answer Type Questions
Class 8
Geography — Chapter 1: Resources
Subject: Social Science | NCERT-aligned Short Answer Questions (50)
CBSE Board Examinations — Systematic Order
- Periodic Tests and Formative Assessments
- Half-Yearly Examination
- Yearly (Annual) Examination
- Project Work & Practical Assessments (as applicable)
- Sample Papers / Revision Tests for board readiness
Topic-wise Short Answer Questions (50) — Clear & Exam-Focused Answers
Topic 1: Concept of Resources
Q1. Explain the term 'resource' with an example.
A resource is any material or service that helps humans meet their needs. For example, water is a resource used for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes.
Q2. What are the three broad categories of resources?
Resources are broadly grouped into natural resources (like forests and minerals), human resources (people and their skills) and capital resources (tools, machines, and infrastructure).
Q3. How do human resources differ from natural resources?
Human resources refer to people and their abilities, knowledge and labour. Natural resources are elements provided by nature such as soil, water and minerals.
Q4. Why is it important to identify resources?
Identifying resources helps plan their effective use, avoid waste, and ensure that essential resources are available for future needs through sustainable management.
Q5. Define 'resource development'.
Resource development involves discovering resources, improving technology to use them, and creating plans and institutions to manage their extraction and distribution.
Q6. Give one example where technology has improved resource use.
Modern irrigation methods like drip irrigation save water and increase crop yields, showing how technology improves efficient use of water resources.
Q7. What role do institutions play in resource management?
Institutions—such as government bodies and local councils—formulate rules, monitor use, and implement policies to regulate resource extraction and promote conservation.
Q8. What is meant by 'sustainable use' of resources?
Sustainable use means using resources at a rate that does not deplete them and allows natural regeneration, ensuring availability for future generations.
Q9. How can awareness help in resource conservation?
Awareness educates people about the consequences of overuse, encourages responsible behaviour, and promotes community actions like tree planting and waste reduction.
Q10. Mention one way to increase resource efficiency in daily life.
Using energy-efficient appliances and switching off unused electrical devices reduces energy consumption and improves resource efficiency at home.
Topic 2: Types of Resources
Q11. Distinguish between biotic and abiotic resources.
Biotic resources come from living organisms, such as plants and animals (forests, fisheries). Abiotic resources are non-living, like minerals, water and air.
Q12. What are renewable resources? Give two examples.
Renewable resources can be replenished naturally in a short period. Examples include solar energy and forests (when managed sustainably).
Q13. Define non-renewable resources with examples.
Non-renewable resources are finite and form over long geological timescales. Examples include coal, petroleum and certain metallic minerals.
Q14. What are potential resources?
Potential resources are those known to exist in an area but are not yet exploited due to lack of technology or knowledge, e.g., mineral deposits not yet surveyed.
Q15. Explain developed resources with an example.
Developed resources are those explored, surveyed and put to use. For example, a discovered coal deposit mined using existing technology becomes a developed resource.
Q16. How are resources classified by ownership?
By ownership, resources may be private (owned by individuals), community resources (used collectively), national resources (state-owned) or international resources (shared across countries).
Q17. What is meant by ‘local resources’?
Local resources are those available within a community or region, such as groundwater, local forests, or building materials like clay or bamboo.
Q18. Give an example of a community resource and its use.
A village common grazing field is a community resource used by local people for grazing livestock and collecting fodder.
Q19. How does classification help in resource planning?
Classification helps policymakers identify which resources need protection, where investment is required, and how to prioritise sustainable use and development.
Q20. What are human-made resources? Provide an example.
Human-made (or capital) resources are goods produced to aid production, such as machines, roads, and buildings. A factory's machinery is a capital resource.
Topic 3: Renewable and Non-renewable Resources
Q21. Why is it necessary to conserve non-renewable resources?
Non-renewable resources are limited and take millions of years to form. Conserving them prolongs availability and reduces environmental harm caused by extraction.
Q22. Explain how renewable energy contributes to sustainability.
Renewable energy sources like wind and solar are cleaner and replenish naturally, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Q23. What practices help maintain forest resources?
Practices include sustainable harvesting, reforestation, community forest management, and protecting forests from illegal logging and fires.
Q24. How does sustainable fishing protect aquatic resources?
Sustainable fishing sets catch limits, protects breeding grounds and uses selective gear to prevent overfishing and maintain fish populations long-term.
Q25. Give two examples of how recycling conserves resources.
Recycling paper reduces the need for cutting trees, and recycling metals cuts down on mining and energy used to process new ore.
Q26. What is sustainable harvesting?
Sustainable harvesting means collecting natural products at a rate that allows populations to recover, ensuring long-term availability without ecosystem damage.
Q27. Why are soil and water conservation linked?
Soil holds water and nutrients for crops; conserving soil through practices like terracing helps retain water and prevents erosion, sustaining agriculture and ecosystems.
Q28. Mention a renewable building material and its advantage.
Bamboo is renewable and grows quickly; it is strong and can be harvested sustainably for construction with minimal environmental impact.
Topic 4: Resource Management and Conservation
Q29. What is rainwater harvesting and why is it important?
Rainwater harvesting collects rain from rooftops and stores it for later use. It reduces pressure on groundwater and supplies water during dry periods.
Q30. Describe two methods to prevent soil erosion.
Contour ploughing and terracing slow water flow on slopes, reducing surface runoff and preventing topsoil loss. Planting cover crops also protects soil from erosion.
Q31. How can communities manage common resources effectively?
Communities can set usage rules, monitor use, rotate access, and engage in collective restoration efforts to ensure fair and sustainable use of common resources.
Q32. What steps can industries take to use resources responsibly?
Industries can adopt cleaner technologies, improve energy efficiency, recycle waste, and restore sites after resource extraction to reduce environmental impact.
Q33. Explain the concept of carrying capacity with an example.
Carrying capacity is the maximum population an environment can support without deterioration. For example, overgrazing can exceed a pasture's carrying capacity, causing land degradation.
Q34. How does afforestation differ from reforestation?
Afforestation involves planting trees on land not previously forested, while reforestation restores trees where forests were cut down or destroyed.
Q35. What is integrated water management?
Integrated water management coordinates the use, conservation and distribution of water across sectors (agriculture, urban, industry) to ensure sustainable supply and quality.
Q36. Why is recycling important in resource conservation?
Recycling reduces demand for virgin materials, conserves energy used in production, lowers pollution, and decreases landfill waste.
Q37. Mention two policies that can protect natural resources.
Policies like protected area designation (national parks) and strict regulations on mining and pollution control help safeguard natural resources and biodiversity.
Q38. How does urban planning affect resource use?
Good urban planning reduces resource consumption by promoting public transport, efficient buildings, green spaces and effective waste management, lowering per capita environmental impact.
Q39. What is sustainable agriculture and why is it needed?
Sustainable agriculture uses techniques that preserve soil fertility, minimise chemical use and conserve water. It is needed to maintain long-term food production and ecosystem health.
Q40. State one community action that helps conserve water.
Community-led maintenance of local water bodies and promoting water-saving practices, like repairing leaks and using efficient irrigation, conserve shared water resources.
Topic 5: Resources & Sustainable Development
Q41. Define sustainable development in relation to resources.
Sustainable development uses resources to meet present needs while ensuring that future generations can also meet theirs by conserving and replenishing resources.
Q42. How do natural resources support economic development?
Natural resources provide raw materials for industries, energy for production and services like tourism, all of which contribute to income and employment generation.
Q43. What is the impact of pollution on sustainable development?
Pollution degrades air, water and soil, reducing resource quality and availability, and undermines health and long-term economic growth, hindering sustainable development.
Q44. Suggest one policy measure to promote renewable energy.
Providing subsidies and incentives for solar panels and wind farms encourages investment in renewable energy and reduces reliance on fossil fuels.
Q45. How can education contribute to sustainable resource use?
Education raises awareness about conservation techniques, empowers communities to adopt sustainable practices, and trains professionals in resource management fields.
Q46. Give an example of a technological innovation that conserves resources.
Smart irrigation systems that use sensors to water crops only when needed save significant amounts of water compared to traditional flooding methods.
Q47. Why is international cooperation important for resource management?
Many resources like oceans and the atmosphere cross national borders; cooperation helps manage shared resources, reduce pollution and address global issues like climate change.
Q48. How can businesses practice corporate responsibility towards resources?
Businesses can reduce resource use, invest in recycling and cleaner processes, and report environmental performance to stakeholders as part of corporate social responsibility.
Q49. Mention one simple lifestyle change that supports sustainability.
Choosing to walk, cycle or use public transport reduces fossil fuel consumption and lowers individual carbon footprints, helping conserve energy resources.
Q50. Summarise why resource management is essential for the future.
Resource management ensures fair distribution, prevents depletion, preserves ecosystems and supports livelihoods, securing a healthy environment and economy for future generations.
Note: These short answer questions follow the NCERT syllabus and are designed for CBSE Class 8 exam preparation.