NCERT Solutions Class 10

Social Science - Geography

Chapter 1: Resources and Development

1. Multiple choice question.

(i) Which one of the following type of resource is iron ore?

(a) Renewable
(b) Biotic
(c) Flow
(d) Non-renewable
Answer. (d) Non-renewable

(ii) Under which of the following type of resource tidal energy cannot be
put?
(a) Replenish-able
(b) Human-made
(c) Abiotic
(d) Non-recyclable

Answer. (a) Replenish-able

(iii) Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in
Punjab?
(a) Intensive cultivation
(b) Deforestation
(c) Over irrigation
(d) Overgrazing

Answer. (c) Over irrigation

(iv) In which one of the following states is terrace cultivation practised?

(a) Punjab
(b) Plains of Uttar Pradesh
(c) Haryana
(d) Uttarakhand
Answer. (d) Uttarakhand
(v) In which of the following states black soil is predominantly found?
(a) Jammu and Kashmir
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Jharkhand

Answer. (b) Maharashtra

2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) Name three states having black soil and the crop which is mainly
grown in it.
(ii) What type of soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast?
Give three main features of this type of soil.
(iii) What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in the hilly areas?
(iv) What are the biotic and abiotic resources? Give some examples.

Answer.
(i) Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are the three states
where black soil is found and cotton is the main crop grown in black soil.
(ii) Alluvial Soil is found in river deltas. Three main features of this type of
soil are:
• It is very fertile.
• It is rich in potash, phosphoric acid and lime.
• It has a high water retention capacity

(iii) Soil erosion can be controlled in the hilly areas by:

• Terrace farming
• ploughing across contour-lines
• Growing strips of grass between the crops.

(iv) Biotic Resources: The resources which are obtained from the
biosphere and have life are called Biotic Resources. For example, plants,
animals, human beings, etc.
Abiotic Resources: The resources which are composed of non-living things
are called Abiotic Resources. For example, soil, air, water, metals, etc.
3. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.

(i) Explain the land use pattern in India and why has the land under
forest not increased much since 1960-61?
(ii) How have technical and economic development led to more
consumption of resources?
Answer.
(i) In India, the land is primarily used for agriculture, grazing and other
activities like housing, construction of roads and industries. Some part of it
is covered with forests and deserts. The pattern of the net sown area varies
from one state to another state depending upon the climate and soil types.
For example, about 80 percent of the total area in Punjab and Haryana is
used for cultivation while in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and
Andaman Nicobar Islands, it is even less than 10 percent. The part of the
land which is covered by forests in India is about 22%.
The land under the forest has not increased since 1960–61 due to the
increased use of land for agricultural activities, industrialisation and
urbanisation. Increasing population and subsequent increase in demand for
resources resulted in the degradation of forests. The land under forest has
increased by only about 4% since 1960-61.
(ii) The following factors are responsible for technical and economic
development leading to increased consumption of resources:
• Technological development led to efficient machinery. As a result,
production increased ultimately leading to the consumption of more
resources.
• Economic development raised people's demands and the
technological advancement led to greater exploitation of resources to
meet their demands.
• Improved medical and health resources led to increased population
which in turn resulted in increased consumption of resources.
Difference Between

Red Soil And Laterite Soil

Red soils
1. Red soil is formed due to weathering of igneous and
metamorphic rocks.
2. It is highly porous and less fertile but where it is deep it
is fertile.
3. It is less crystalline.
4. It is red in colour due to the presence of iron in it.
They occur in parts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra
Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand.

Laterite soil

1. It is formed by the leaching process in the heavy rainfall

areas of tropical India.
2. It is less fertile, only grass grows on it in abundance.
3. It is crystalline.
4. It is red in colour due to little clay and much gravel of
red sand-stones.
5. It is found in hills of the Deccan, Karnataka, Kerala,
Orissa, Assam and Meghalaya.
Alluvial Soil and Black Soil
Renewable And Non- Renewable
National And International Resources

National Resources

• All the sources which are under the control of state or union
government are known as national resources.

• All the resources within political boundaries are national

resources because the government has the power to acquire even
private property.

For example : Forests, Natural parks etc.

↪ International Resources :-

• These resources are owned and regulated by international

institutions.

• The oceanic resources beyond 200 Kms of exclusive economic

zone belong to open ocean and no individual can utilise these
without the concurrence of international institutions.

• For example : India has got the right to mine manganese nodules
from the bed of Indian ocean .