Textbook Exercise Solutions
Q.1: Multiple Choice Questions
(i) Main cause of land degradation in Punjab?
→ (c) Over irrigation
(ii) State with terrace cultivation?
→ (d) Uttarakhand
(iii) State with predominant black soil?
→ (b) Maharashtra
Q.2: Answer in about 30 words
(i) Name three states having black soil and the crop mainly grown in it.
→ Black soil is found in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. The main crop grown in it is cotton, hence it is also called black cotton soil.
(ii) What type of soil is found in river deltas of eastern coast? Give features.
→ Alluvial soil is found in deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri rivers. Features: (a) very fertile, (b) contains potash, phosphoric acid, and lime, (c) supports rice, sugarcane, and wheat.
(iii) What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in hilly areas?
→ Soil erosion in hilly areas can be controlled by contour ploughing, terrace farming, planting shelter belts, afforestation, and avoiding deforestation and overgrazing.
Q.3: Answer in about 120 words
(i) Explain land use pattern in India and why land under forests has not increased much since 1960-61.
→ Land in India is used for agriculture, forestry, pasture, industries, and settlements. About 43% is plain (used for farming/industry), 30% is mountainous (forests, tourism), and 27% is plateau (minerals, forests). Despite policies, forest land has not increased significantly due to population pressure, expansion of agriculture, industrialisation, and urbanisation. Encroachment and deforestation for development projects also hindered growth of forest area.
(ii) How have technical and economic development led to more consumption of resources?
→ Development in technology and economy has increased demand for resources. Advanced machinery, mining, industries, and irrigation systems exploit land, water, and minerals at a faster rate. Industrial growth and urbanisation cause deforestation and land degradation. Thus, instead of balanced use, resources are consumed excessively, causing ecological crises like pollution, global warming, and soil erosion.
Projects and Activities – Chapter 1: Resources and Development
1. Make a project showing consumption and conservation of resources in your locality.
Project Report Example:
In my locality, people consume resources like water, electricity, LPG, land, and trees. For example, water is used for drinking, washing, and irrigation; electricity for lighting and appliances; land for houses and farming. However, many resources are wasted—excess use of water, power theft, and cutting of trees without replanting.
For conservation, our community has adopted rainwater harvesting, solar street lights, plantation drives, waste segregation, and composting. Students can also spread awareness through posters and campaigns.
👉 This shows that if resources are used judiciously, both present and future generations can benefit.
2. Have a discussion in the class – how to conserve various resources used in your school.
Discussion Points for Class:
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Electricity: Switch off fans and lights when not in use; use LED bulbs.
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Water: Repair leaking taps; install water-saving taps; reuse water for gardening.
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Paper: Use both sides of sheets; recycle notebooks; go digital where possible.
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Food: Avoid wastage in canteen or lunch; compost leftover food.
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Playground & greenery: Protect plants, do tree plantation drives.
👉 Students can form an Eco-Club in school to monitor usage and create awareness.
3. Imagine if oil supplies get exhausted, how will this affect our lifestyle?
Answer:
If oil supplies get exhausted, modern life will face a huge crisis. Transport systems (cars, buses, trains, airplanes) will stop, causing disruption in trade and daily travel. Industries dependent on petroleum for fuel and raw materials (plastics, fertilizers, chemicals) will collapse. Electricity generation in oil-based plants will halt. Everyday products like petrol, diesel, kerosene, and LPG will disappear, affecting households. People may need to shift to renewable alternatives like solar, wind, bio-gas, electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel. Overall, life will slow down, costs will rise, and the economy will be forced to find eco-friendly solutions quickly.
4. Solve the Puzzle (Word Search)
Clues & Answers:
(i) Natural endowments in the form of land, water, vegetation, and minerals → Resources
(ii) A type of non-renewable resource → Minerals
(iii) Soil with high water-retaining capacity → Black Soil
(iv) Intensively leached soils of monsoon climate → Laterite Soil
(v) Plantation of trees on a large scale to check soil erosion → Afforestation
(vi) The Great Plains of India are made up of these soils → Alluvial Soil
Extra Questions
Short Answer Questions
-
Define sustainable development.
→ Sustainable development means growth that meets present needs without harming the environment or compromising the needs of future generations. It balances economic progress with ecological protection. -
What is Agenda 21?
→ Agenda 21 was adopted at the Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro (1992). It aims to achieve sustainable development globally by combating environmental damage, poverty, and disease through cooperation. -
Write two human activities responsible for land degradation.
→ (a) Deforestation due to mining and urbanisation, (b) Over-irrigation causing waterlogging and salinity, especially in Punjab and Haryana. -
What is contour ploughing?
→ Ploughing along the contour lines of a slope to reduce water runoff and soil erosion is called contour ploughing. It helps conserve soil in hilly areas. -
Give two features of laterite soil.
→ Laterite soil is acidic, deficient in nutrients, and prone to erosion. With proper soil conservation, it supports crops like tea, coffee, and cashew in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
Long Answer Questions
1. Explain the classification of resources on different bases.
Resources can be classified in several useful ways depending on how we look at them. On the basis of origin, resources are either biotic (derived from living organisms — forests, animals, crops) or abiotic (non-living — minerals, water, air, land). On the basis of exhaustibility, they are renewable (replenished naturally—solar energy, forests, groundwater when managed) or non-renewable (finite — coal, petroleum, metallic minerals). By ownership, resources may be individual(owned by persons), community (commons used by local groups), national (owned by the state) or international (shared across borders, e.g., oceans, atmosphere). Finally, according to status of development, they can be potential (known to exist but not yet used), developed/stock (surveyed and in use), and reserves (part of developed resources that can be used with current technology). Each classification helps planners decide how to manage, conserve and allocate resources for sustainable development and equitable access.
2. Describe the importance of resource planning in India.
Resource planning is vital for India because of the country’s vast diversity in resource distribution, population pressure and differing levels of economic development across regions. Some states are resource-rich but economically backward due to lack of technology, infrastructure and institutions; others are resource-poor yet prosperous because of better industries and services. Effective resource planning involves surveying and inventorying resources, assessing their quality and quantity, matching resource plans to national development goals, and creating institutional and technological arrangements for utilisation. It helps reduce regional imbalances by directing investment and infrastructure where resources exist but remain underused. Planning also promotes sustainable use — preventing over-exploitation of water, forests and mineral wealth — and encourages adoption of appropriate technology, conservation measures and community participation. In short, resource planning turns natural endowments into productive assets in an equitable, efficient and environmentally sustainable manner, securing livelihoods and long-term national growth.
3. Discuss major causes of land degradation and measures to control it.
Land degradation arises from both natural processes and human actions. Major human causes include deforestation(removal of protective vegetation for timber, agriculture or mining), overgrazing (which strips vegetation and exposes soil), unsustainable agricultural practices (monocropping, excessive tillage, lack of soil cover), mining and quarrying(creates scars and dumps overburden), over-irrigation (causing waterlogging and salinisation), and urbanisation/industrial waste disposal (covering fertile land or polluting soil). Natural causes include floods, wind erosion in arid areas and heavy rainfall causing sheet and gully erosion. Control measures combine policy, technology and community action: afforestation and reforestation, contour ploughing and terracing on slopes, shelter belts and strip cropping to reduce wind speed, regulated grazing, rehabilitation of mined areas, improved irrigation management(drainage to prevent waterlogging), soil conservation structures (check dams, gully plugging) and treatment of industrial effluents. Community participation, legal protection, and integrating conservation into development planning are essential for lasting results.
4. Explain types of soils in India with their characteristics and crops.
India’s soils are varied due to differences in relief, climate, rock type and vegetation. Alluvial soils (northern plains and river deltas) are fertile mixes of sand, silt and clay; rich in potash and lime and ideal for paddy, wheat, sugarcane and pulses. Black (Regur) soils—derived from Deccan basalts—are clayey, moisture-retaining and rich in calcium and potash; they crack in summer and are excellent for cotton, also grown with sorghum and oilseeds. Red and yellow soils(Deccan, parts of Odisha and Chhattisgarh) are formed by weathering of crystalline rocks, are low in humus and fertility but suitable for millets, pulses and groundnut with proper care. Laterite soils occur in high-rainfall tropical areas, are leached and acidic, and support tea, coffee, cashew and plantations after conservation. Arid soils (desert areas) are sandy, saline and low in organic matter; they support millets and, with irrigation, some cereals. Forest soils in hilly regions vary (loamy in valleys, coarse on slopes) and support horticulture and plantation crops. Appropriate management and fertilisation make many of these soils productive.
5. Write a detailed note on soil erosion and conservation techniques.
Soil erosion is the removal of the fertile topsoil by agents like water, wind and human activities. Types include gully erosion (deep channels cut by concentrated flow), sheet erosion (thin layers washed off widely), and wind erosion (loss of surface soil in arid, exposed areas). Causes are deforestation, overgrazing, improper ploughing (up and down slopes), removal of ground cover, construction and mining. Consequences include reduced soil fertility, lower agricultural yields, formation of ravines, sedimentation of rivers and increased flood risk. Conservation techniques aim to reduce runoff, retain soil and rebuild degraded lands: contour ploughing and terrace farming slow water flow on slopes; strip cropping and cover crops protect soil between harvests; shelter belts (rows of trees) break wind speed; afforestationstabilises slopes; check dams, gully plugs and bunds capture runoff; mulching, organic manuring and crop rotationimprove soil health; and controlled grazing prevents overuse of pastures. Watershed management, reclamation of saline/waterlogged soils and regulation of mining also play key roles. Combining engineering measures with community stewardship and sustainable farming practices ensures long-term soil conservation.
MCQs with Answers
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Which soil is ideal for cotton cultivation?
(a) Alluvial soil (b) Red soil (c) Black soil (d) Laterite soil
→ (c) Black soil -
Laterite soil is suitable for which crop?
(a) Wheat (b) Cotton (c) Tea and Coffee (d) Rice
→ (c) Tea and Coffee -
Which soil is found in the northern plains?
(a) Alluvial (b) Arid (c) Forest (d) Laterite
→ (a) Alluvial -
The process of resource planning includes:
(a) Identification of resources (b) Matching plans with national development (c) Evolving planning structure (d) All of these
→ (d) All of these -
Which of the following is not a renewable resource?
(a) Forest (b) Water (c) Coal (d) Wildlife
→ (c) Coal -
Which resource is found abundantly in Rajasthan?
(a) Coal (b) Solar energy (c) Water (d) Forests
→ (b) Solar energy -
Which state is rich in water resources but lacks infrastructure?
(a) Rajasthan (b) Arunachal Pradesh (c) Punjab (d) Gujarat
→ (b) Arunachal Pradesh -
Which soil develops deep cracks in summer?
(a) Alluvial (b) Black (c) Laterite (d) Red
→ (b) Black -
Which soil is prone to erosion and leaching?
(a) Alluvial (b) Laterite (c) Arid (d) Black
→ (b) Laterite -
Which is the most widely spread soil in India?
→ Alluvial soil -
The Rio Earth Summit was held in which year?
→ 1992 -
The Brundtland Commission Report introduced the concept of:
→ Sustainable Development -
Arid soils are generally:
→ Sandy and saline -
The total geographical area of India is:
→ 3.28 million sq. km -
Percentage of plains in India:
→ 43% -
Forest area recommended by National Forest Policy (1952):
→ 33% -
Land under cultivation is highest in which states?
→ Punjab and Haryana -
Ravines are formed due to:
→ Gully erosion -
The soil profile consists of:
→ Top soil, subsoil, substratum, bedrock -
Shelter belts are used to:
→ Check wind erosion -
Land degradation due to overgrazing is common in:
→ Gujarat and Rajasthan -
Which report introduced “Our Common Future”?
→ Brundtland Report -
Which soil is loamy and silty in valleys and coarse in mountains?
→ Forest soil -
Which soil is rich in humus when under forests?
→ Laterite soil -
Which Gandhian idea is related to resource conservation?
→ “There is enough for everybody’s need, not for anybody’s greed.”