Class 8 Social Science Chapter 1 MCQ: Natural Resources and Their Use | 50 Important Questions with Answers
Q1. What are natural resources?
A. Materials created entirely by humans
B. Materials and substances that occur in Nature and are valuable to humans
C. Only minerals found underground
D. Only resources used for producing electricity
Answer: B. Materials and substances that occur in Nature and are valuable to humans
Q2. When do elements of Nature become resources?
A. When they are discovered by scientists
B. When they are found only in cities
C. When they become expensive
D. When humans use them for sustenance or to create things for consumption
Answer: D. When humans use them for sustenance or to create things for consumption
Q3. Which of the following is an example of a natural resource being used to create a product?
A. Converting wood from trees into furniture
B. Painting a wall without using any material
C. Drawing a picture without using any resources
D. Naming a mountain on a map
Answer: A. Converting wood from trees into furniture
Q4. According to the textbook, what three conditions should generally be satisfied for an entity to be considered a resource?
A. It must be cheap, colourful and lightweight
B. It must be available in cities, imported and stored
C. It must be technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable to use
D. It must be artificial, manufactured and exported
Answer: C. It must be technologically accessible, economically feasible and culturally acceptable to use
Q5. Why might petroleum deep under the ocean not be used as a resource in some situations?
A. Petroleum cannot be found beneath the seabed
B. The technology may be unavailable or extraction may be too expensive
C. Petroleum is always renewable
D. Petroleum has no value for humans
Answer: B. The technology may be unavailable or extraction may be too expensive
Q6. Which of the following is an example of a natural resource mentioned in the textbook?
A. Plastic furniture
B. A manufactured computer
C. A railway ticket
D. Soil
Answer: D. Soil
Q7. Why is cutting trees in certain sacred groves considered an example of cultural acceptability affecting resource use?
A. Cultural beliefs may make cutting trees unacceptable
B. Sacred groves contain no trees
C. Trees cannot provide useful materials
D. All forests are inaccessible to humans
Answer: A. Cultural beliefs may make cutting trees unacceptable
Q8. What does the word “exploitation” mean in the context of natural resources in this chapter?
A. Protecting every resource from all forms of use
B. Studying resources without using them
C. Extraction, utilisation and consumption of natural resources
D. Creating resources entirely from artificial materials
Answer: C. Extraction, utilisation and consumption of natural resources
Q9. Which of the following is one way to categorise natural resources described in the textbook?
A. According to the colour of the resources
B. According to their uses, such as resources essential for life, materials and energy
C. According to the language spoken in the region
D. According to the number of people living nearby
Answer: B. According to their uses, such as resources essential for life, materials and energy
Q10. Which group contains resources essential for life as explained in the chapter?
A. Gold, coal and petroleum
B. Plastic, glass and cement
C. Machines, vehicles and buildings
D. Air, water and food
Answer: D. Air, water and food
Q11. Which of the following is an example of a natural resource used for making materials?
A. Wood used to make a chair
B. Wind used to move a sail
C. Sunlight used to generate solar electricity
D. Flowing water used to generate electricity
Answer: A. Wood used to make a chair
Q12. Which group contains natural resources that can be used as energy sources?
A. Marble, gold and timber
B. Soil, food and precious stones
C. Coal, petroleum, natural gas, sunlight and wind
D. Furniture, cement and plastic
Answer: C. Coal, petroleum, natural gas, sunlight and wind
Q13. What is restoration?
A. Extracting resources at the fastest possible rate
B. Returning something to its original healthy state after it has been damaged or degraded
C. Replacing all natural resources with artificial ones
D. Preventing every natural process from taking place
Answer: B. Returning something to its original healthy state after it has been damaged or degraded
Q14. How does regeneration differ from restoration?
A. Regeneration means consuming resources, while restoration means exporting them
B. Regeneration applies only to minerals
C. Restoration creates new life, while regeneration only removes waste
D. Regeneration involves Nature’s ability to create new life and conditions for thriving
Answer: D. Regeneration involves Nature’s ability to create new life and conditions for thriving
Q15. How does a fallen tree contribute to Nature’s cycle, according to the textbook?
A. It immediately becomes a non-renewable mineral
B. It prevents all new plants from growing
C. It decomposes through organisms, enriches the soil and supports new growth
D. It permanently removes nutrients from the ecosystem
Answer: C. It decomposes through organisms, enriches the soil and supports new growth
Q16. Which of the following is a renewable resource when managed sustainably?
A. Solar energy
B. Coal
C. Petroleum
D. Gold
Answer: A. Solar energy
Q17. Which condition is necessary for timber from forests to remain a renewable resource?
A. Every tree must be cut before it matures
B. Timber must be exported to other countries
C. Forests must be prevented from regenerating
D. Trees must not be harvested faster than the forest can regenerate
Answer: D. Trees must not be harvested faster than the forest can regenerate
Q18. Why can a renewable resource become depleted?
A. Renewable resources never depend on natural processes
B. It may be used faster than its natural rate of restoration and regeneration
C. It is always found in unlimited quantities
D. It cannot be affected by human activities
Answer: B. It may be used faster than its natural rate of restoration and regeneration
Q19. Which human activities are identified in the chapter as contributing to rising temperatures?
A. Planting trees and protecting forests
B. Harvesting rainwater and restoring ponds
C. Fossil fuel-driven industrialisation and cutting forests for agriculture and other purposes
D. Using sunlight and wind for energy
Answer: C. Fossil fuel-driven industrialisation and cutting forests for agriculture and other purposes
Q20. What is one consequence of Himalayan glaciers melting faster than precipitation can replace them?
A. It can threaten water security for populations in the plains that depend on these water sources
B. It guarantees an unlimited supply of water
C. It prevents all changes in river flow
D. It eliminates the need for water conservation
Answer: A. It can threaten water security for populations in the plains that depend on these water sources
Q21. Why did traditional communities sometimes regulate fishing during the spawning season?
A. To prevent fish from reproducing
B. To increase the use of industrial waste in rivers
C. To eliminate all fishing permanently
D. To help maintain fish populations
Answer: D. To help maintain fish populations
Q22. What happened to tuna populations, as described in the textbook?
A. Their populations increased indefinitely because of commercial fishing
B. Rapid and extensive decline in their populations led to agreements to control fishing
C. They became non-living resources
D. Their decline had no connection with fishing activities
Answer: B. Rapid and extensive decline in their populations led to agreements to control fishing
Q23. What is an ecosystem service?
A. A manufactured product sold by a factory
B. A government tax collected from forest owners
C. A benefit humans receive from natural processes
D. A machine used to extract minerals
Answer: C. A benefit humans receive from natural processes
Q24. Which of the following is an example of an ecosystem function?
A. A forest naturally filtering water and preventing soil erosion
B. A factory manufacturing cement
C. A shop selling timber
D. A road transporting minerals
Answer: A. A forest naturally filtering water and preventing soil erosion
Q25. According to the textbook, approximately how much oxygen does a mature tree produce per day?
A. 35 litres
B. 100 litres
C. 350 litres
D. 275 litres
Answer: D. 275 litres
Q26. Why are coal, petroleum, iron, copper and gold classified as non-renewable resources?
A. They are produced every day by forests
B. They cannot be replenished at the rate at which humans use them
C. They are available only in rivers
D. They do not have any economic value
Answer: B. They cannot be replenished at the rate at which humans use them
Q27. According to the textbook’s estimate, how long might India’s coal reserves last?
A. Another 50 years
B. Another 5 years
C. Another 200 years
D. They will never be depleted
Answer: A. Another 50 years
Q28. Why does the chapter recommend using India’s coal reserves judiciously?
A. Coal is a renewable resource that grows in forests
B. Electricity demand is expected to disappear
C. Coal reserves are limited, while demand for electricity has been increasing
D. Coal cannot be used to generate energy
Answer: C. Coal reserves are limited, while demand for electricity has been increasing
Q29. What does the uneven distribution of natural resources influence?
A. Only the colours of buildings
B. Only the languages spoken by people
C. Only the weather in every region
D. Human settlements, trade patterns, international relations and conflicts
Answer: D. Human settlements, trade patterns, international relations and conflicts
Q30. What is one possible benefit when industries are established near natural resources?
A. Local employment opportunities can increase and townships may grow
B. All environmental costs disappear
C. Natural resources become unlimited
D. Every resident must leave the area
Answer: A. Local employment opportunities can increase and townships may grow
Q31. Which map is used in Figure 1.11 on page 9 to show the distribution of important minerals in India?
A. A map showing only rainfall distribution
B. A map showing only population density
C. A map showing locations of coal, oil, iron ore and bauxite
D. A map showing only national highways
Answer: C. A map showing locations of coal, oil, iron ore and bauxite
Q32. According to the textbook, what may happen to people living in resource-rich areas when large developments are undertaken?
A. They always receive every benefit without any cost
B. They may be displaced from their homes, and their sacred places may come under threat
C. They no longer need natural resources
D. They automatically control all industries
Answer: B. They may be displaced from their homes, and their sacred places may come under threat
Q33. What does the example of Wootz steel illustrate in the chapter?
A. Natural resources cannot be used for manufacturing
B. Trade has no relationship with natural resources
C. All natural resources are distributed evenly
D. Human knowledge and skills can combine with natural resources to create distinctive products
Answer: D. Human knowledge and skills can combine with natural resources to create distinctive products
Q34. Which river water-sharing issue is discussed in the textbook?
A. Sharing of Kaveri River water among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry
B. Sharing of the Ganga among all countries of the world
C. Sharing of the Narmada between India and France
D. Sharing of the Godavari between Rajasthan and Punjab
Answer: A. Sharing of Kaveri River water among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry
Q35. What is the “natural resource curse” or “paradox of plenty”?
A. A situation in which every resource-rich region becomes wealthy
B. A condition in which natural resources cannot be extracted
C. A situation in which abundant natural resources do not automatically lead to economic prosperity
D. A situation in which renewable resources never regenerate
Answer: C. A situation in which abundant natural resources do not automatically lead to economic prosperity
Q36. According to the textbook, how can the natural resource curse be overcome?
A. By exporting every raw material without processing it
B. By investing in technology, skills and industries that convert resources into higher-value products
C. By stopping all forms of education
D. By using resources without planning
Answer: B. By investing in technology, skills and industries that convert resources into higher-value products
Q37. What is biodiversity loss?
A. An increase in the number of manufactured products
B. An increase in the quantity of coal underground
C. The restoration of every damaged ecosystem
D. A decline in the variety of life on Earth
Answer: D. A decline in the variety of life on Earth
Q38. What can happen when groundwater is extracted faster than it is replenished?
A. Groundwater becomes easier and cheaper to obtain forever
B. The water table rises automatically
C. The cost of extraction may increase and groundwater may eventually become unavailable
D. Soil degradation becomes impossible
Answer: C. The cost of extraction may increase and groundwater may eventually become unavailable
Q39. Which of the following is suggested in the chapter to help manage groundwater resources?
A. Water harvesting, rejuvenating ponds and tanks, reducing wasteful consumption, and reusing water
B. Pumping groundwater continuously without monitoring
C. Allowing all water bodies to dry up
D. Increasing the discharge of untreated industrial waste
Answer: A. Water harvesting, rejuvenating ponds and tanks, reducing wasteful consumption, and reusing water
Q40. Which farming practices are mentioned as ways to support holistic soil management?
A. Using excessive chemical fertilisers alone
B. Removing all organic matter from the soil
C. Growing only one crop forever
D. Using cow dung and other natural fertilisers, mulching and multi-cropping
Answer: D. Using cow dung and other natural fertilisers, mulching and multi-cropping
Q41. What led farmers in Punjab to extract more groundwater after shifting to high-yielding crop varieties in the 1960s?
A. The new varieties required no irrigation
B. The high-yielding wheat and paddy varieties required more water than traditional seeds
C. Farmers stopped growing wheat and paddy
D. The region had no agricultural activity
Answer: B. The high-yielding wheat and paddy varieties required more water than traditional seeds
Q42. Which additional factor contributed to excessive groundwater pumping in Punjab?
A. The complete absence of electricity
B. A ban on irrigation
C. The supply of free power
D. The disappearance of agricultural machinery
Answer: C. The supply of free power
Q43. According to the textbook, approximately what percentage of Punjab’s area had been classified as over-exploited for groundwater?
A. Almost 80%
B. Almost 10%
C. Almost 25%
D. Almost 100% of India’s total area
Answer: A. Almost 80%
Q44. What problem is associated with cement production in the textbook?
A. It produces no waste and has no environmental effects
B. It increases the natural regeneration of every forest
C. It eliminates all air pollution
D. Fine dust can damage lungs, settle on plant leaves, reduce yields and pollute soil and water
Answer: D. Fine dust can damage lungs, settle on plant leaves, reduce yields and pollute soil and water
Q45. Which alternative materials for reducing pollution from construction are mentioned in the chapter?
A. Only coal and petroleum
B. Stone and mud, plant-based materials, and recycled materials from waste plastic
C. Only newly mined metals
D. Only untreated industrial waste
Answer: B. Stone and mud, plant-based materials, and recycled materials from waste plastic
Q46. What is Vrikshayurveda?
A. A modern system for manufacturing cement
B. A method of extracting petroleum from the seabed
C. An ancient Indian botanical science concerned with the study and care of plants and trees
D. A system used only for measuring groundwater depth
Answer: C. An ancient Indian botanical science concerned with the study and care of plants and trees
Q47. Which practices associated with Vrikshayurveda are described in the textbook?
A. Crop rotation, mixed cropping, natural pest management and soil-moisture-conscious ploughing
B. Continuous use of chemical pesticides without limits
C. Removing all earthworms and soil organisms
D. Growing crops without considering soil or seasons
Answer: A. Crop rotation, mixed cropping, natural pest management and soil-moisture-conscious ploughing
Q48. According to the Sikkim case study, what happened after the state transitioned to organic farming?
A. The state permanently stopped all agricultural production
B. All biodiversity disappeared
C. Farmers were prohibited from growing traditional vegetables
D. Biodiversity flourished, tourism increased and farmers’ incomes grew by 20% on average
Answer: D. Biodiversity flourished, tourism increased and farmers’ incomes grew by 20% on average
Q49. Which statement correctly describes the International Solar Alliance initiative as presented in the textbook?
A. It was created to promote coal mining in every country
B. India and France launched the alliance in 2015 to promote solar energy among sunshine-rich countries
C. It was established to stop all renewable energy projects
D. It was created only to regulate fishing during spawning seasons
Answer: B. India and France launched the alliance in 2015 to promote solar energy among sunshine-rich countries
Q50. What does the concept of lokasangraha, referred to near the end of the chapter, emphasise?
A. Using all resources for individual gain without considering others
B. Preventing all communities from sharing natural resources
C. Transcending personal desires and acting for the wellbeing of all
D. Extracting non-renewable resources as quickly as possible
Answer: C. Transcending personal desires and acting for the wellbeing of all
