Natural Resources and their Use Class 8 Question and Answers
Q. When does Nature become a Resource?
Ans – When humans use things for their sustenance( eat/drink ), or create new things from them for consumption, these elements of Nature become ‘resources’. eg, trees are part of the environment; they exist independently of humans. When we cut them and convert into furniture, we see the trees as a resource.
Q. What are the Categories of Natural Resources?
Ans – One of the ways we could categorise natural resources is based on the uses.
A. Resources essential for life ( Air, Water, Soil )A
B. Resources for materials ( Wood, Marble, Gold )
C. Resources for energy ( Energy can be generated through coal, water, petroleum, natural gas, sunlight, wind )
Q. What do you mean by Restoration?
Ans – Restoration is the process of returning something to its original healthy state if it has been degraded or damaged. Nature heals, renews and maintains herself over time.
Q. What do you mean by Regeneration?
Ans – It is about Nature’s ability to create new life and the conditions for thriving.
Q. How Nature works in cycles. Explain?
Ans – A tree falls in the forest. It decomposes with the bacteria, fungi and insects feeding on it. The tree becomes part of the soil enriching it. New trees and plants grow from seeds … eventually some will fall and the cycle starts again.
Q. Name some renewable resources.
Ans – Solar energy, wind energy, energy from flowing water, timber from forests are renewable resources.
Q. Through which irresponsible human actions, Nature’s cycles have been disturbed.
Ans –
A. fossil fuel-driven industrialisation
B. The cutting down of forests for agriculture
These has led to rising temperature and melting Glaciers.
Q. What types of interventions can be undertaken to restore Nature’s cycle?
Ans. Restoring nature’s cycles involves addressing the disruptions caused by human activities and working toward rebalancing ecosystems, ensuring biodiversity, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
A. Reforestation and Afforestation
B. Soil Restoration and Conservation
C. Sustainable Agriculture and Agro forestry
D. Biodiversity Conservation and Protected Areas
Q. What is ‘ecosystem services’?
Ans – Trees naturally produce oxygen. When these natural processes benefit humans, we call them ‘ecosystem services’.
Q. How Many Litres of oxygen A mature Tree produces in a day?
Ans – 275 litres of oxygen per day
Q. Uneven Distribution of Natural Resources can led to…..
Ans – Natural resources are not evenly distributed across our planet or even within countries.
A. Human settlements,
B.Trade patterns,
C. International relations,
D. conflicts too.
Q. How Industries located near natural resources create opportunities for the local people?
Ans – Industries located near natural resources create opportunities for the local people are as follows
A. Create Employment
B. Townships grow around them and expand economic opportunities.
C. More modern facilities that improve the quality of life become accessible.
Q. How Industries located near natural resources create disadvantage for the local people?
Ans – The disadvantages for the local people are:-
A. People have been displaced from their homes to facilitate such Developments
B. Sacred places are under threat, leading to conflicts.
Q. Nature does not pay attention to political boundaries. This leads to tensions regarding the sharing of natural resources across states. Explain with examples?
Ans – The sharing of Kaveri River water among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry; negotiations and deft (skill) management were required to maintain peace and fair sharing.
Q. ‘Natural resource curse’ or the ‘paradox of plenty’. Explain the statement?
Ans – Having abundant natural resources does not guarantee economic prosperity.
A. Economies are unable to develop industries that convert the resources into products of higher value;
B. Some regions rich in natural resources can experience slower economic growth and development.
Q. How India has Avoided ‘Natural resource curse’ or the ‘paradox of plenty’?
Ans – India has generally avoided this curse by investing in the development of such industries to meet our growing needs.
A. Understanding and managing natural resources
B. Human knowledge,
C. Good governance,
D. Strategic planning
Q. Irresponsible treatment of natural resources has led to…
Ans – It has led to pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change.
Q. What are some of the strategies can be done to raise groundwater levels?
Ans – Some of the strategies can be done to raise groundwater levels are:-
A. Traditional practices of water harvesting,
B. Rejuvenation of ponds and tanks,
C. Cutting down on wasteful consumption of water,
D. Processing and reusing water
Q. What has led to soil degradation?
Ans – The improper use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides has led to soil degradation.
Q. How can we prevent further degradation of Soil?
Ans – We can prevent soil degradation in the following ways:-
A. Practices like the use of cow dung and other natural fertilisers,
B. Mulching,
C. Multi-cropping,
Q. Which state was home to Green revolution?
Ans – Punjab
Q. What led to ground Water Depletion in Punjab?
Ans – The following things led to ground Water Depletion in Punjab
A. In the 1960s, farmers shifted to high-yielding varieties (HYV)of wheat and paddy. These required more water than the traditional seeds, and farmers began to extract groundwater to meet this need.
B. The supply of free power led to the over-pumping of groundwater
Q. Why Cement has been listed as one of the most polluting industries?
Ans – Cement has been listed as one of the most polluting industries because of the following reasons:-
A. The process of production releases fine dust that enters our lungs and those of animals damaging them,
B. settles on leaves of plants decreasing their yields,
C. Causes soil and water pollution too.
Q. What could be the alternative materials that reduce pollution rather than Cement?
Ans – A. The use of traditional materials like stone and mud,
B. New plant-based materials and recycled materials from waste plastic.
Q. Which Ayurveda is an ancient Indian botanical science that focuses on the study and care of plants and trees?
Ans – Vṛikṣhāyurveda, it was formalised in texts such as Surapala’s Vṛikṣhāyurveda around the 10th century CE. It includes seed collection, preservation, and pre-planting treatments.
Q. Which year Sikkim became a 100 per cent organic state with all of its farmland certified organic?
Ans – 2016
Q. Which two countries launched the International Alliance for Solar Energy (IASE) in 2015 — a coalition of sunshine-rich countries committed to harnessing solar power?
Ans – India and France
Q. Where is Bhadla Solar Park Located?
Ans – Thar Desert, Rajasthan
Q. Raichur Solar Power Plant is Located in which State?
Ans – Karnataka
Q. What do you mean by the word lokasangraha?
Ans – The idea that everyone must transcend personal desires and act for the wellbeing of all.
CLASS 8 NCERT SOLUTION
Q. What can make what is today a renewable resource nonrenewable tomorrow? Describe some actions that can prevent this from happening.
Ans – A renewable resource can become nonrenewable if it is used faster than it can be naturally replenished or if its ecosystem is damaged beyond recovery. Here are some key factors that can cause this shift, followed by actions to prevent it:
How a Renewable Resource Can Become Nonrenewable:
a) Overexploitation:
b) Habitat Destruction
c) Pollution
d)Climate Change
e) Invasive species
Actions to Prevent This:
a) Sustainable Management:
b) Conservation Efforts
c) Education and Awareness
Q. Name five ecosystem functions that serve humans.
Ans – The five ecosystem functions that serve humans are –
a)Pollination
b) Water Purification
c) Soil Fertility
d) Climate Regulation
e) Flood Control
Q. What are renewable resources? How are they different from non-renewable ones? What can people do to ensure that renewable resources continue to be available for our use and that of future generations? Give two examples.
Ans – Renewable resources are natural resources that can be replenished naturally over time and are not depleted when used sustainably. Examples include sunlight, wind, water, and biomass (like wood and crops). These resources can be used repeatedly because they regenerate quickly.
Non-renewable resources, on the other hand, are finite and take millions of years to form. Once they are used up, they cannot be replaced in a human timescale. Examples include fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and natural gas) and minerals such as gold or iron.
How to Ensure Renewable Resources Remain Available:
Use them sustainably:
Protect natural ecosystems:
Two Examples:
Solar energy: Using solar power reduces dependence on polluting fossil fuels.
Forests: If forests are managed responsibly and not over harvested.
Q. Identify cultural practices in your home and neighbourhood that point to mindfulness in the use of natural resources.
Ans – Here are several cultural practices commonly observed in homes and neighbourhoods that reflect mindfulness in the use of natural resources. Depending on your location, some of these may be especially relevant.
a)Reusing water
b)Rainwater harvesting
c)Eating seasonal and local food
d)Composting organic waste
e)Turning off lights and appliances when not in use
f)Community clean-up days
Q. What are some considerations to keep in mind in the production of goods for our current use?
Ans – When producing goods for our current use, it’s important to consider a balance between meeting present needs and preserving resources, social well-being, and environmental integrity. Here are some key considerations:
a)Pollution and waste
b)Fair labor practices
c)Job creation
d)Climate impact
e)Consumer health and safety