Natural Resources - Test Questions

Question 1

Question:   How do you classify our natural resources?

Answer:    We can classify our natural resources into two categories:
(a) Inexhaustible resources: Renewable resources such as solar radiation, air and water.
(b) Exhaustible resources: Non-renewable natural resources which are available in limited quantities. e.g., coal, petroleum

Question 2

Question:   List the measures adopted to control pollution.

Answer:    Pollution can be controlled by adopting the following measures:

• Solid organic wastes such as garbage and faecal matter should be changed into compost
  
• Garbage and silt of drainage may also be used in sanitary land-fill for the development of waste lands
  
• Biogas plants should be installed to deal with dung of cattle and other animals
  
• Complete combustion engines and anti-smog devices should be fitted in automobiles
  
• For avoiding water pollution the fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides should be used judiciously in the crop fields
  
• Water hyacinth can be exploited to control water pollution. This weed is found to accumulate heavy metals, radioactive metals, nitrogen, phosphorus and similar chemical pollutants from the waste water. This plant is recently found to be a good source of fodder, fertilizer and biogas.
  

Question 3

Question:   What are the sources of air pollutions?

Answer:    Some common sources of air pollution are:

• Carbon dioxide
  
• Carbon monoxide
  
• Oxides of sulphur
  
• Oxides of nitrogen
  
• Fluoride compounds
  
• Metals (e.g., lead, cadmium, nickel, arsenic, tin etc)
  
• Hydrocarbon (e.g., benzene)
  
• Particulate matter
  
• Pollen grains
  
• Petrochemical products
  

Question 4

Question:   How are the forests useful to mankind?

Answer:    Forests are useful to us for the following reasons:

• Forests provide timber for buildings and furniture, and cane for cane-furniture
  
• Forests provide raw materials for the paper industry, board industry, plywood industry etc.
  
• Forests provide fodder for cattles, sheep, goat and camels
  
• Industrially bamboos are used as raw materials in paper and rayon industry
  
• Forests help in balancing the CO₂ and O₂ of the atmosphere
  
• Forests regulate the Earth's temperature and weather cycle. They enhance local rainfall.
  
• Forests check soil erosion, landslides, shifting of sand and silting of water bodies
  
• Forests provide various minor forest products such as fruits, nuts, gums, resins, tannins, rubber, dyes, fibres, medicines, katha, insecticides, camphor, essential oils, soap substances, cooking oils and spices.
  

Question 5

Question:   What are Biosphere reserves?

Answer:    Biosphere reserves are multipurpose protected areas with major objectives such as:

• Conservation of diversity and integrity of plants
  
• Promotion of ecological conservation
  
• Creation of awareness about environmental aspects and eco friendly living
  Twelve such reserves have been created in our country. Some of them are Nilgiri, Nandadevi, Sunderbans and Manas.
  

Question 6

Question:   Explain briefly why man is trying to use more and more of solar energy in place of petroleum or coal.

Answer:    Petroleum and coal are non-renewable natural resources of energy. When they are burnt, they release energy but they cannot be got back and they also pollute air, water and land. Solar energy is free of cost, is in plenty and creates no pollution. The main advantage is that it is renewable. So, man is trying to use more and more of solar energy in place of petroleum or coal.

Question 7

Question:   What direct value does a forest have for man?

Answer:    Forests contribute to the economic development of our country by providing goods and services to the people and industry. They are intimately linked with our culture and civilization. Forests are useful to us for the following reasons:

• Forests provide timber for the building and furniture
  
• Forests provide raw materials for the paper industry, board industry, plywood industry etc.
  
• Forests yield bamboos, which is called poor man's timber. Industrially bamboos are used as a raw material in paper and rayon industry.
  
• Forests provide various minor forest products such as fruits, nuts, gums, resins, tannins, rubber, dyes, fibres, medicines, katha, insecticides, camphor, essential oils, soap substances, cooking oils and spices.
  
• Forests also provide various animal products such as lac, honey, wax, tusser or mooga silk etc.
  

Question 8

Question:   What are the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiations?

Answer:    Harmful effects of ultraviolet rays or radiations are:

• Cataract - a disease of eye lens where a normally clear eye lens becomes opaque causing blindness.
  
• Inflammatory disease
  
• Skin cancer and other types of cancers
  

Question 9

Question:   Write a short note on the fertility of soil.

Answer:    The capacity of the soil to sustain the plant life with required nutrients is called the fertility of the soil. The fertility of soil reduces mainly due to soil erosion. When a crop is grown on the same land repeatedly, fertility of the soil decreases. In nature, the soil fertility is sustained both by human efforts and natural processes. The soil is therefore termed as maintainable natural resource.

Question 10

Question:   Into how many zones is our country divided on the basis of intensity of rainfall?

Answer:    In our country, the intensity of annual rainfall varies from region to region and accordingly, we have 4 zones:

• Wet zone: Rainfall over 200 cm
  
• Intermediate zone: Rainfall 100 to 200 cm
  
• Semi arid zone: Rainfall 50 to 100 cm
  
• Arid zone: Rainfall 20 to 50 cm