NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Geography Chapter 5 Human Resources

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Geography Chapter 5: The NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Geography Chapter 6, "Human Resources," explain why people are important for the economy and culture. This chapter talks about where people live, how many people live in different areas, and what affects population growth.

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Geography Chapter 5 Overview

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Geography Chapter 5 PDF

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science Geography Chapter 5 PDF

NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Geography (Resources and Development) Chapter 6 Human Resources

1. Answer the following questions.

(i) Why are people considered a resource?

Answer: People are the greatest resource of a nation. All other natural resources become important only when people utilize them effectively. It is through people's demands and abilities that these resources gain value. Therefore, human resource is considered the ultimate resource, as it drives the development and utilization of all other resources.

(ii) What are the causes for the uneven distribution of population in the world?

Answer:

Geographical factors include:

• Topography: People prefer living on plains rather than mountains and plateaus because these areas are suitable for farming, manufacturing, and service activities. The Ganga Plains are the most densely populated area in the world, while mountains like the Andes, Alps, and Himalayas are sparsely populated.
• Water: People prefer living in areas where fresh water is easily available. The river valleys of the world are densely populated regions, while deserts have a lower population.

Social factors include:

• Social: Areas with better housing, education, and health facilities are more densely populated. For example, Pune has a high population density due to these amenities.
• Economic: Industrial areas provide employment opportunities, attracting a large number of people. Osaka in Japan and Mumbai in India are examples of densely populated industrial areas.

(iii) The world population has grown very rapidly. Why?

Answer: The world population has not been stable and has increased significantly due to advancements in science and technology. These advancements have led to increased food production and improved healthcare facilities, which in turn have helped reduce the death rate. As a result, more people are able to live longer and healthier lives, contributing to the rapid growth of the global population.

(iv) Discuss the role of any two factors influencing population change.

Answer: Two factors influencing population change are the birth rate and the death rate. The birth rate is the number of births per 1,000 people, while the death rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 people. Births and deaths are natural causes of population change. When the birth rate is higher than the death rate, the population increases, and when the death rate is higher than the birth rate, the population decreases. The difference between a country's birth rate and death rate is called the natural growth rate.

(v) What is meant by population composition?

Answer: Population composition refers to the structure or makeup of a population. It includes various demographic details such as the number of males and females, their age distribution, education levels, types of occupations, income levels, and health conditions. Understanding population composition helps to analyze the demographic characteristics and social structure of a population. This information can be visually represented through a population pyramid, also known as an age-sex pyramid, which shows the age and gender distribution of a population.

(vi) What are population pyramids? How do they help in understanding the population of a country?

Answer: The population pyramid is a graphical representation used to study the composition of a country's population. It displays the total population divided into different age groups, typically in a bar chart format. The pyramid also illustrates the percentage of the population subdivided into males and females within each age group. Moreover, it provides insights into the number of dependents in a country, such as children and elderly people.

2. Tick the correct answer.

(i) What does the term ‘population distribution’ refer to?

1. How the population in a specified area changes over time.
2. The number of people who die in relation to the number of people born in a specified area.
3. The way in which people are spread across a given area.

Answer (c) The way in which people are spread across a given area

(ii) Which are the three main factors that cause population change?

(a) Births, deaths and marriage

(b) Births, deaths and migration

(c) Births, deaths and life expectancy

Answer (b) Births, deaths and migration.

(iii) In 1999, the world population reached

(a) 1 billion

(b) 3 billion

(c) 6 billion

Answer (c) 6 billion

(iv) What is a population pyramid?

(a) A graphical presentation of the age-sex composition of a population.

(b) When the population density of an area is so high that people live in tall buildings.

(c) Pattern of population distribution in large urban areas.

Answer (a) A graphical presentation of the age-sex composition of a population

3. Complete the sentences below using some of the following words.

(sparsely, favourable, fallow, artificial, fertile, natural, extreme, densely)

When people are attracted to an area, it becomes ………………….. populated. Factors that influence this include ………………….. climate, good supplies of ………………….. resources and ………………….. land.

Answer: When people are attracted to an area, it becomes densely populated. Factors that influence this include favourable climate, good supplies of natural resources and fertile land.

Chapter 6 – Human Resources Summary