6. Human Resource

6. Human Resource

Ncert solution for class 8 social science Geography chapter-06.

Question. 1. Answer the following questions.
(i) Why are people considered a resource?
Answer. Human beings are the most important resource of a nation. They are significant because had they not utilised their brains, the other resources of nature would not have found any utility. In other words, human resource is the ultimate resource.

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

Answer. Population density depends on the climate conditions and topography of the place, like few people live in high latitude areas, tropical deserts, mountainous ‘terrains, and forest areas,whereas a large number of people reside in plains. Fertility of soils, availability of fresh water, minerals are other major geographical factors behind this. Some social factors that boost the density of population in a region are better housing, education and health facilities. Places with cultural or historical significance are usually populated. Employment opportunities are another attraction for large chunks of population.

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

 Answer. The world population has grown very rapidly because of the development in medical science which has caused decrease in death rate. Since lesser people die now of diseases than before, whereas there was no way to decrease the birth rate, the population has increased at a fast rate.

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

 Answer. Geographical factors: People prefer to live on plains more than mountains or plateaus and they live more in moderate climates than extreme hot or cold. From the agriculture point of view, fertile lands are preferred. Areas with mineral deposits are more populated.

Economic factors: People prefer to industrial areas since they provide more and better employment opportunities. Due to this, industrial cities are thickly populated.

(v) What is meant by population composition?

Answer. The structure of the population with various respects like age, sex, literacy, occupations, health facilities, economic condition, etc is called population composition.

(vi) What are population pyramids? How do they help in understanding about the population of a country?
Answer. A population pyramid is a pictorial way to describe the population composition. The shape of population pyramid of a country is indicative of a lot of information about the country. The size towards the bottom may be used to estimate the birth rate, while the size towards the top to estimate the death rate.

Question. 2. Tick the correct answer.

(i) Which does the term population distribution refer to?
Answer. (c) The way in which people are spread across a given area.

(ii) Which are three main factors that cause population change?
Answer. (b) Births, deaths and life expectancy.

(iii) In 1999, the world population reached 

Answer. (c) 6 billion

(iv) What is a population pyramid?
Answer.  (a) A graphical presentation of the age, sex composition of a population..

Question. 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.

EXTRA QUESTIONS

Question. 1.In what respects do different human beings differ?
Answer.: Human beings differ from each other in age, sex, education, ethnicity, culture, physical and mental strength, etc.

Question. 2.Compare the population density of the world with that of India.
Answer.: The population density of the world is around 45 persons per sq km, whereas that of India is over 382 persons per sq km.

Question. 3.What is life expectancy?
Answer.: Life expectancy is the number of years an average person can expect to live, based on data.