Access the latest NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Geography Chapter-5: “Primary Activities,” updated for 2024-2025. Solution is designed to help students tackle difficult questions with ease. The content is written in simple, easy-to-understand language. Use this solution to prepare for board exams and achieve excellent results.
Exercise
1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below:
(i) Which one of the following is not a plantation crop?
(a) Coffee
(b) Sugarcane
(c) Wheat
(d) Rubber
(ii) In which one of the following countries cooperative farming was the most successful experiment?
(a) Russia
(b) Denmark
(c) India
(d) The Netherlands
(iii) Growing of flowers is called:
(a) Truck farming
(b) Factory farming
(d) Floriculture
(c) Mixed farming
(iv) Which one of the following types of cultivation was developed by European colonists?
(a) Kolkoz
(b) Viticulture
(d) Plantation
(c) Mixed farming
(v) In which one of the following regions is extensive commercial grain cultivation not practiced?
(a) American Canadian prairies
(b) European Steppes
(c) Pampas of Argentina
(d) Amazon Basin
(vi) In which of the following types of agriculture is the farming of citrus fruit very important?
(a) Market gardening
(c) Mediterranean agriculture
(b) Plantation agriculture
(d) Cooperative farming
(vii) Which one type of agriculture amongst the following is also called ‘slash and burn agriculture’?
(a) Extensive subsistence agriculture
(b) Primitive subsistence agriculture
(c) Extensive commercial grain cultivation
(d) Mixed farming
(viii) Which one of the following does not follow monoculture?
(a) Dairy farming
(b) Mixed farming
(c) Plantation agriculture
(d) Commercial grain farming
Answer the following questions in about 30 words:
(i) Future of shifting cultivation is bleak. Discuss.
The future of shifting cultivation, also known as slash and burn agriculture, is bleak due to its unsustainable nature. Continuous clearing of forests leads to loss of soil fertility, deforestation, and environmental degradation. With increasing population pressure, this form of cultivation is no longer viable on a large scale.
(ii) Market gardening is practiced near urban areas. Why?
Market gardening involves growing high value crops like vegetables, fruits, and flowers for sale in urban markets. It is practiced near urban areas to reduce transportation costs and ensure freshness, which is essential for perishable goods that have high demand in cities.
(iii) Large Scale dairy farming is the result of the development of transportation and refrigeration.
Large Scale dairy farming has become feasible due to the advancement in transportation and refrigeration technologies. These innovations allow milk and dairy products to be stored for longer periods and transported over greater distances, reaching markets without spoilage.
Answer the following questions in not more than 150 words:
(i) Differentiate between Nomadic Herding and Commercial Livestock Rearing.
Nomadic herding is a subsistence activity where herders move from one place to another with their livestock in search of pastures and water. It is practiced in regions with harsh climates and involves small scale herding of animals like sheep, goats, and camels. In contrast, commercial livestock rearing is a highly organized and capital intensive activity. It involves rearing livestock on large ranches for commercial purposes, such as meat, wool, and dairy production. It is practiced in developed countries like the USA, Argentina, and Australia, with scientific breeding, genetic improvement, and disease control.
(ii) Discuss the important characteristic features of plantation agriculture. Name a few important plantation crops from different countries.
Plantation agriculture is characterized by large estates, single crop specialization, and significant capital investment. It requires advanced technology, skilled labor, and well developed transport facilities to link plantations with markets. This type of farming was introduced by European colonists and is mainly practiced in tropical regions. Some important plantation crops include tea (India, Sri Lanka), coffee (Brazil, Ethiopia), rubber (Malaysia), and sugarcane (West Indies, Philippines). These crops are primarily grown for export markets.
Other Important Question Answers
1. What are primary economic activities?
Answer: Primary economic activities refer to human activities that are directly dependent on natural resources. These include agriculture, fishing, mining, forestry, and animal husbandry. They are called primary because they deal with the basic production of goods from the environment without any processing.
2. Why is hunting banned in India?
Answer: Hunting has been banned in India to protect endangered species and maintain ecological balance. Many species were pushed to extinction or endangered due to poaching and illegal hunting. The ban helps in wildlife conservation efforts.
3. What is transhumance?
Answer: Transhumance is the seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. In mountain regions like the Himalayas, pastoral groups such as Gujjars and Bakarwals migrate with their herds from plains to higher altitudes during summer and return during winter.
4. Differentiate between nomadic herding and commercial livestock rearing.
Answer: Nomadic Herding: It is a subsistence activity where herders move with their animals in search of pasture and water. It is practiced in regions like the Sahara, Central Asia, and Arctic tundra.
Commercial Livestock Rearing: It is a market oriented and capital intensive activity, primarily aimed at producing products like meat, wool, and hides for trade. It is practiced in regions like New Zealand, Australia, and the USA.
5. What are the factors that influence the type of primary activities in a region?
Answer: The factors include:
- Physical factors: Climate, soil, topography, and availability of water.
- Social factors: Cultural traditions, availability of labor, and technological advancement. For example, fishing is common in coastal areas, while agriculture is predominant in fertile plains.
6. What is shifting cultivation, and why is its future bleak?
Answer: Shifting cultivation, also called “slash and burn” agriculture, is a farming method in which a piece of land is cultivated for a few years and then abandoned for natural regeneration. Its future is bleak because of soil degradation, deforestation, and environmental concerns. Moreover, modern agricultural practices are more productive and sustainable.
7. Why is Mediterranean agriculture specialized in fruit production?
Answer: Mediterranean agriculture is specialized in fruit production due to the mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers of the region, which are ideal for growing citrus fruits, grapes, olives, and figs. The high demand for these crops in European and North American markets also supports this specialization.
8. What is the significance of plantation agriculture?
Answer: Plantation agriculture is a commercial farming system involving the large-scale cultivation of cash crops like tea, coffee, rubber, and sugarcane. It requires significant investment in capital, labor, and technology. Plantation agriculture played a significant role in colonial economies and continues to be important for global trade.
9. What is the role of market gardening in urban areas?
Answer: Market gardening involves the production of high value crops like fruits, vegetables, and flowers near urban centers. It is labour intensive and capital driven, using modern techniques such as greenhouses and irrigation. This farming method caters to the high demand for fresh produce in cities.
10. What are the factors affecting the profitability of mining operations?
Answer: The profitability of mining depends on:
- Physical factors: Size, quality, and depth of mineral deposits.
- Economic factors: Demand for minerals, technological advancements, cost of infrastructure development, and labor costs. These factors determine whether mining can be profitable in a region.
These questions are tailored to cover important concepts from the chapter, focusing on previous year examinations and relevant topics for UPSC.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Based on Chapter 5 of the NCERT Class 12 Geography textbook on “Primary Activities,” here are 20 MCQs with answers at the end. These questions are aligned with previous NCERT and UPSC exam patterns.
1. Which of the following activities falls under primary economic activities?
a) Manufacturing
b) Fishing
c) Teaching
d) Banking
2. What is the term for people engaged in primary activities?
a) White Collar workers
b) Blue Collar workers
c) Red collar workers
d) Green Collar workers
3. In which climatic regions is subsistence gathering mainly practiced?
a) Temperate regions
b) Low latitude tropical zones
c) Arctic regions
d) Equatorial regions
4. Which of the following is not a primary activity?
a) Mining
b) Agriculture
c) Teaching
d) Fishing
5. Which type of subsistence agriculture is widely practiced by tribal communities in tropical regions?
a) Commercial farming
b) Shifting cultivation
c) Dairy farming
d) Market gardening
6. What is shifting cultivation also known as in India?
a) Milpa
b) Jhuming
c) Ladang
d) Kolkhoz
7. Which of the following is a characteristic feature of Mediterranean agriculture?
a) Slash and burn technique
b) Growing of citrus fruits
c) Commercial grain cultivation
d) Dairy farming
8. What is the name for grape cultivation, which is a specialty of Mediterranean agriculture?
a) Viticulture
b) Floriculture
c) Sericulture
d) Horticulture
9. In which region is reindeer herding mainly practiced?
a) Tropical Africa
b) Arctic and sub-Arctic regions
c) Sahara Desert
d) South-East Asia
10. What is the most important livestock reared in tropical Africa?
a) Sheep
b) Cattle
c) Goats
d) Reindeer
11. What is the main problem associated with shifting cultivation?
a) Use of modern tools
b) Loss of soil fertility
c) Overirrigation
d) High labor cost
12. Which of the following countries is known for its commercial livestock rearing?
a) India
b) Argentina
c) Russia
d) Japan
13. What type of agriculture is practiced in areas with high population density in monsoon Asia?
a) Extensive farming
b) Intensive subsistence agriculture
c) Plantation farming
d) Mixed farming
14. Which one of the following crops is most associated with wet paddy cultivation?
a) Wheat
b) Rice
c) Barley
d) Maize
15. What is the primary feature of commercial grain cultivation?
a) Small farm size
b) High yield per acre
c) Mechanization of farming activities
d) Dependence on manual labor
16. Which of the following regions is not a major center for commercial grain farming?
a) Canadian Prairies
b) Pampas of Argentina
c) Amazon Basin
d) European Steppes
17. Which of the following is an important crop grown in plantation agriculture?
a) Coffee
b) Barley
c) Corn
d) Rye
18. Which of the following countries is known for floriculture?
a) Netherlands
b) Brazil
c) Canada
d) China
19. Which one of the following activities is referred to as ‘truck farming’?
a) Dairy farming
b) Poultry farming
c) Vegetable farming near urban areas
d) Sheep rearing in mountainous areas
20. In which of the following countries was cooperative farming most successful?
a) India
b) Denmark
c) Russia
d) United States
Answers:
1. b) Fishing
2. c) Red-collar workers
3. b) Low latitude tropical zones
4. c) Teaching
5. b) Shifting cultivation
6. b) Jhuming
7. b) Growing of citrus fruits
8. a) Viticulture
9. b) Arctic and sub-Arctic regions
10. b) Cattle
11. b) Loss of soil fertility
12. b) Argentina
13. b) Intensive subsistence agriculture
14. b) Rice
15. c) Mechanization of farming activities
16. c) Amazon Basin
17. a) Coffee
18. a) Netherlands
19. c) Vegetable farming near urban areas
20. b) Denmark
Other Chapter
| Chapter 1:- Human Geography: Nature and Scope | Chapter 2:- The World Population: Distribution, Density and Growth |
| Chapter 3:- Population Composition | Chapter 4:- Human Development |
| Chapter 6:- Secondary Activities | Chapter 7:- Tertiary and Quaternary Activities |
| Chapter 8:- Transport and Communication | Chapter 9:- International Trade |
| Chapter 10:- Human Settlements |
