Access the latest NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Geography Chapter-5: Human Resource, 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.
Exercise
Answer the following questions:
(i) Why are people considered a resource?
People are considered a resource because they develop the ability to use natural resources effectively. It is their education, skills, and motivation that make them valuable. Healthy, educated, and skilled people enhance productivity and turn available natural wealth into useful resources, making human beings the ultimate resource.
(ii) What are the causes for the uneven distribution of population in the world?
The uneven distribution of population is influenced by both geographical and social factors:
- Geographical factors: People prefer regions with favorable climate, fertile soil, plains, fresh water, and access to natural resources. Harsh climates (like deserts or polar regions) and mountainous terrains are less populated.
- Social and economic factors: Better health, education, and employment opportunities attract more people, leading to dense populations in some areas.
(iii) The world population has grown very rapidly. Why?
The rapid growth in population, especially after the 1800s, is due to improvements in food production, healthcare, and sanitation. This resulted in lower death rates, while birth rates remained high, causing a population explosion. By 1999, the population reached 6 billion due to reduced mortality but steady births.
(iv) Discuss the role of any two factors influencing population change.
1. Birth Rate: The number of live births per 1,000 people in a year. A high birth rate leads to population growth.
2. Migration: Movement of people between regions or countries. Immigration increases a population, while emigration decreases it.
(v) What is meant by population composition?
Population composition refers to the structure of a population, including its division by age, sex, literacy, occupation, income levels, and health. It helps understand the demographic characteristics of a society and how people contribute to the economy.
(vi) What are population pyramids? How do they help in understanding the population of a country?
A population pyramid is a graphical representation of the age and sex structure of a country’s population. It shows the proportion of young, working-age, and elderly populations. A wide base indicates a high birth rate, while a narrow base suggests low birth rates. It helps in planning for schools, healthcare, and employment.
Tick the correct answer:
(i) Which does the term population distribution refer to?
(a) How the population in a specified area changes over time.
(b) The number of people who die in relation to the number of people born in a specified area.
(c) The way in which people are spread across a given area. ✅
(ii) Which are three main factors that cause population change?
(a) Births, deaths and marriage
(b) Births, deaths and migration ✅
(c) Births, deaths and life expectancy
(iii) In 1999, the world population reached
(a) 1 billion
(b) 3 billion
(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.
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 …….densely populated.
- Factors that influence this include …..favourable climate; good supplies of ……..natural resources and …………..fertile land.
Other Important Short Answer Questions
Based on Chapter 5: Human Resources of the NCERT Class 8 textbook, here are some important short-answer type questions and answers. These questions focus on core concepts beyond the textbook exercises and are relevant to both board exams and competitive exams like UPSC.
1. What is meant by human resources?
Human resources refer to the people who form the workforce of a country. People contribute to the economy and development through their skills, education, and labor. A nation’s prosperity depends on the quality of its human resources, which include healthy, educated, and motivated individuals.
2. Why is population distribution uneven across the world?
Population distribution is uneven due to various factors:
- Geographical: Fertile plains and river valleys attract more people, while deserts and mountains have fewer residents.
- Climate: Moderate climates attract more people, whereas extreme climates are avoided.
- Economic: Industrial and developed areas offer more job opportunities, attracting more population.
- Social: Better healthcare, education, and living standards draw people to certain regions.
3. What are the major factors influencing population change?
Population change is influenced by:
- Birth rate: The number of live births per 1,000 people.
- Death rate: The number of deaths per 1,000 people.
- Migration: Movement of people within or between countries. Population can increase with immigration and decrease with emigration.
4. What are population pyramids, and how do they help?
Population pyramids are graphical representations of a population’s age and gender composition. They provide insights into the birth and death rates, life expectancy, and working-age population. For example:
- A broad base indicates a high birth rate.
- A narrow top reflects fewer elderly people, signifying lower life expectancy.
5. How do social and economic factors affect population density?
- Social factors: Areas with better education, healthcare, and housing are more densely populated (e.g., cities like Pune).
- Economic factors: Employment opportunities in industrial areas attract more people (e.g., Mumbai, Osaka).
6. What is the significance of migration in population changes?
Migration affects the population both in the areas people move to and from. Immigration increases population in countries like the USA, while emigration reduces population in countries like Sudan. Migration can be driven by better job opportunities, education, or safety.
MCQs: Human Resource
Below are 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) based on the NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook, Chapter 5: Human Resources. These questions are designed to align with topics frequently asked in previous class 8th exams and UPSC preparation. The answers are provided at the end.
1. What is the definition of human resources?
a) Natural resources used for industry
b) Products manufactured by humans
c) People with skills, education, and abilities contributing to development
d) Animals used in agriculture
2. What is meant by population distribution?
a) The number of people living in urban areas
b) The way people are spread across the Earth’s surface
c) Population growth due to migration
d) Percentage of young people in a country
3. Which country has a high population density due to fertile plains?
a) Russia
b) India
c) Australia
d) Canada
4. Which region has the highest population density in the world?
a) East Asia and South-East Asia
b) Northern Europe
c) Sub-Saharan Africa
d) Polar regions
5. What is the term for the number of live births per 1,000 people in a year?
a) Death rate
b) Fertility rate
c) Life expectancy
d) Birth rate
6. What factors discourage people from settling in an area?
a) Fertile soil
b) Moderate climate
c) Availability of water
d) Harsh climate and steep terrain
7. What is the population pyramid?
a) A geographical pattern of population distribution
b) A graphical representation of age and sex composition
c) A pyramid-like structure showing migration trends
d) An economic chart indicating employment levels
8. Which continent has the largest share of the world’s population?
a) Asia
b) Africa
c) Europe
d) North America
9. What is migration?
a) Movement within the same age group
b) Increase in population due to natural growth
c) Movement of people from one place to another
d) The aging of a population
10. Which factor directly influences rural-to-urban migration?
a) Tourism development
b) Agricultural development
c) Availability of industrial jobs and education
d) Extreme weather events
11. What is the average population density of India (as mentioned in the book)?
a) 250 persons per sq. km
b) 500 persons per sq. km
c) 382 persons per sq. km
d) 125 persons per sq. km
12. What is the primary reason for population explosion after 1950?
a) Increase in food production
b) Higher immigration rates
c) Improvement in healthcare facilities
d) Increase in birth rates
13. What is the natural growth rate of a population?
a) Birth rate minus death rate
b) Birth rate plus death rate
c) Migration rate multiplied by life expectancy
d) Death rate divided by birth rate
14. What does Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) aim to achieve?
a) Reduce population growth
b) Improve health infrastructure
c) Train youth in employable skills
d) Enhance rural agriculture
15. Why do people avoid living in deserts?
a) Poor internet connectivity
b) Unavailability of fresh water
c) Limited tourism opportunities
d) Lack of entertainment facilities
16. What does a broad-based population pyramid indicate?
a) High birth rates and high death rates
b) Low birth rates and low death rates
c) Declining population
d) Stable population growth
17. How does migration affect population size?
a) Only affects the birth rate
b) Causes changes in birth and death rates equally
c) Alters the size of the population
d) Has no effect on population size
18. Which city in India is known for its dense population due to industrialization?
a) Delhi
b) Chennai
c) Mumbai
d) Hyderabad
19. What is the significance of a country’s population composition?
a) Indicates economic stability
b) Shows distribution of land and wealth
c) Reflects the structure based on age, sex, literacy, and health
d) Predicts the rate of migration
20. Which factor is not directly related to population density?
a) Topography
b) Religion
c) Soil fertility
d) Climate
Answers
1. c) People with skills, education, and abilities contributing to development
2. b) The way people are spread across the Earth’s surface
3. b) India
4. a) East Asia and South-East Asia
5. d) Birth rate
6. d) Harsh climate and steep terrain
7. b) A graphical representation of age and sex composition
8. a) Asia
9. c) Movement of people from one place to another
10. c) Availability of industrial jobs and education
11. c) 382 persons per sq. km
12. c) Improvement in healthcare facilities
13. a) Birth rate minus death rate
14. c) Train youth in employable skills
15. b) Unavailability of fresh water
16. a) High birth rates and high death rates
17. c) Alters the size of the population
18. c) Mumbai
19. c) Reflects the structure based on age, sex, literacy, and health
20. b) Religion
Other Chapter
| Chapter 1:- Resource | Chapter 2:- Land, Soil, Water, Natural Vegetation and Wildlife Resources |
| Chapter 3:- Agriculture | Chapter 4:- Industries |
