Karnataka 1st PUC Economics Question Bank Chapter 9 Environment Sustainable Development
1st PUC Economics Environment Sustainable Development Textbook Questions and Answers
I. Fill in the blanks (each question carries 1 mark)
Question 1.
India supports approximately 17% of the world’s population on a mere percent of the world’s geographical area.
Answer:
2.5
Question 2.
Forests are_____resource.
Answer:
Natural
Question 3.
Thermal power plants emit large quantities of
Answer:
Carbon dioxide
II. Match the following (each question carries 1 mark)
Question 1.
| A | B |
| 1) Non-renewable resource | (a) Sustainable development |
| 2) Bio pest control | (b) Air pollution |
| 3) Encroachment into the forest | (c) Water resource |
| 4) Industrialization | (d) Land degradation |
| 5) Renewable resource | (e) LPG |
Answer:
| A | B |
| 1) Non-renewable resource | (e) LPG |
| 2) Bio pest control | (a) Sustainable development |
| 3) Encroachment into the forest | (d) Land degradation |
| 4) Industrialization | (b) Air pollution |
| 5) Renewable resource | (c) Water resource |
III. Answer the following questions in a word/sentence (each question carries 1 mark)
Question 1.
What is meant by environment?
Answer:
Environment refers to the totality of the physical conditions on the earth or a part of it. In other words, it refers to physical surroundings, conditions, circumstances, etc., in which a person lives.
Question 2.
What happens when the rate of resource extraction exceeds that of their regeneration?
Answer:
When the rate of resource extraction exceeds that of their regeneration, the environment fails to perform its vital function of life sustenance, and this results in an environmental crisis.
Question 3.
Give the meaning of renewable resources.
Answer:
Renewable resources are those resources that can be used again and again. There will be a continuous supply of resources. For example, water, forest, land, etc.
Question 4.
What is meant by the absorptive capacity of the environment?
Answer:
The absorptive capacity of the environment refers to the ability of the environment to absorb degradation.
Question 5.
What is sustainable development? (S – 2018)
Answer:
According to Brundtland Commission, sustainable development is the “process of development which meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
Question 6.
Expand CNG?
Answer:
Compressed natural gas.
IV. Answer the following questions in four sentences (each question carries 2 marks)
Question 1.
Mention any four functions of the environment.
Answer:
The major functions of the environment are as follows:
(a) The environment supplies both renewable and non-renewable resources. Renewable resources are those resources that can be used again and again. There will be a continuous supply of resources. For example, water, forest, land, etc.
Non-renewable resources are those which get exhausted with extraction and use. For example, mineral resources like petrol, coal, iron ore, etc.
(b) The Environment assimilates waste. That means that the environment absorbs the solid and liquid wastes created by humans and other living beings.
(c) The environment sustains life on earth by providing both genetic and bio-diversities.
(d) Environment also provides aesthetic services like beautiful scenery of forest land, waterfalls, mountains like the Himalaya ranges, lagoons, glaciers, valleys, etc.
Question 2.
What are non-renewable resources? Give two examples.
Answer:
Non-renewable resources are those which get exhausted with extraction and use. For example, mineral resources like petrol, coal, iron ore, etc.
Question 3.
Classify the following into renewable and non-renewable resources.
(a) Trees
Answer:
Trees: renewable resource
(b) Fish
Answer:
Fish: renewable resource
(c) Petroleum
Answer:
Petroleum: non-renewable resource
(d) Coal
Answer:
Coal: non-renewable resource
(e) Iron ore
Answer:
Iron ore: non-renewable resource
(f) Water
Answer:
Water: renewable resource
Question 4.
List out any four biotic factors of the environment.
Answer:
The biotic factors of the environment are birds, animals, plants, forests.
Question 5.
What do you mean by the carrying capacity of the environment?
Answer:
Carrying capacity implies that the resource extraction is not above the rate of regeneration of the resource and the wastes generated are within the assimilating capacity of the environment.
Question 6.
Government expenditure on health is increasing. Why?
Answer:
The decline in air and water quality has resulted in an increased incidence of respiratory and water-borne diseases. This has contributed to the increase in government expenditure on health.
Question 7.
Write any two threats to the environment in our country.
Answer:
The major threats to the environment in India are as follows:
- The threat of poverty induced environmental degradation
- The threat of pollution from the rapidly growing industrial sector, air pollution, water contamination, soil erosion, deforestation, and wildlife extinction.
Question 8.
Mention any four strategies to achieve sustainable development.
Answer:
The major strategies for sustainable development are as follows:
- Utilization of non-conventional sources of energy
- Use of liquefied petroleum gas and gobar gas in rural areas.
- Use of compressed natural gas (CNG) in public transport.
- Use of solar energy.
- The practice of traditional knowledge in healthcare and other fields.
Question 9.
Give the meaning of bio-pest control. Give examples. (S-2018)
Answer:
Bio-pest control is a method of using pesticides based on plant products and spreading awareness about various animals and birds which help in controlling pests.
For example,
- Neem trees are useful to control pests, mixed cropping, and growing different crops in successive years on the same land also helps.
- Snakes are one of the important groups of animals that devour rats, mice, and various other pests, as their food.
Similarly, large varieties of birds like owls and peacocks, pray upon vermin and pests. If these are allowed to dwell around the agricultural land, they can clear a large number of pests including insects. Frogs and lizards are also useful in this regard.
Question 10.
Name the types of medical systems included in AYUSH.
Answer:
The types of medical systems included in AYUSH are Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy, and Naturopathy.
V. Answer the following questions in twelve sentences (each question carries 4 marks)
Question 1.
Explain the functions of the environment.
Answer:
Environment refers to the totality of the physical conditions on the earth or a part of it. In other words, it refers to physical surroundings, conditions, circumstances, etc., in which a person lives.
The environment is defined as the total planetary inheritance and the totality of all resources and includes biotic (birds, animals, and plants, forests (fishes) and abiotic (air, water, land, rocks, and sunlight) factors.
The major functions of the environment are as follows:
- The environment supplies both renewable and non-renewable resources. Renewable resources are those resources that can be used again and again. There will be a continuous supply of resources. For example, water, forest, land, etc.
- Non-renewable resources are those which get exhausted with extraction and use. For example, mineral resources like petrol, coal, iron ore, etc.
- The environment assimilates waste. That means that the environment absorbs the solid and liquid wastes created by humans and other living beings.
- The environment sustains life on earth by providing both genetic and bio-diversities.
- The environment also provides aesthetic services like beautiful scenery of forest lands, waterfalls, mountains like the Himalaya ranges, lagoons, glaciers, valleys, etc.
Question 2.
Is the environmental crisis a recent phenomenon? If so why?
Answer:
Yes, the environmental crisis is a recent phenomenon. It is due to the supply-demand reversal. In recent years, the population has increased. This has resulted in an increase in demand for natural resources while the supply of natural resources is fixed. It creates excess demand and exerts pressure on natural resources. These resources are overused and usage goes beyond the earning capacity leading to environmental degradation.
The developmental activities in India have created excessive pressure on natural resources. There is a threat to India’s environment which has posed a dichotomy threat to poverty-induced environmental degradation and threat of pollution from industrialization.
The major issues identified in India in respect of threat to the environment are as follows:
- Land degradation
- Bio-diversity loss
- Air pollution with special reference to vehicular pollution in urban areas
- Management of freshwater
- Solid waste management.
The land in India suffers from varying degrees and types of degradation stemming mainly from unstable use and inappropriate management techniques. The high density of population and livestock and competing uses of land for the forest, agriculture, pastures, human settlements, and industries have created maximum pressure on the meager land resources of the country.
Every year, the soil erosion in India has estimated at the rate of 5.3 billion tonnes and the country loses about 0.8 million tonnes of nitrogen, 1.8 million tonnes of phosphorus, and 26.3 million tonnes of potassium.
Air pollution is widespread in India particularly in urban areas due to the usage of a large number of vehicles, the concentration of industries, and thermal power plants. The personal transport vehicles (two-wheelers and cars) constituted about 80% of the total traffic contributing the highest to total air pollution.
Thus, India is facing major challenges as for as the environmental issues are concerned and if proper measures are not taken India is going to face a severe environmental crisis in the near future.
Question 3.
Explain the supply-demand reversal of environmental resources
Answer:
The environment can perform its functions without any interruption as long as the demand for environmental resources is less than its supply. When the demand is more than the supply, it results in an environmental crisis. This is known as a supply-demand reversal of environmental resources.
In other words, when the demand for resources, both production and consumption goes beyond the rate of regeneration of this resource leading to an increase in pressure on absorptive capacity, it is called supply-demand reversal of environmental resources.
That means, we are now faced with increased demand for environmental resources and services but their supply is limited due to overuse and misuse of resources.
The major causes are:
- The rising population of the developing countries
- Affluent consumption and production standards of the developed countries
- Intensive and extensive extraction of both renewable and non-renewable resources.
Question 4.
Explain the suggestions given by Herman Daly to achieve sustainable development.
Answer:
Herman Daly has given the following suggestions to achieve sustainable development are as follows:
(a) Limiting the population to a level within the carrying capacity of the environment. If the population is not controlled, the human scale grows beyond the carrying capacity of the earth and deviates from sustainable development.
(b) Technological progress should be environment friendly.
(c) Use of renewable resources should not supersede their availability.
(d) There should be optimum utilization of non-renewable resources, i.e., the rate of extraction of these should not exceed substitute resources.
(e) The adverse effects of pollution should be corrected immediately.
Question 5.
Write a note on eco-friendly traditional knowledge and practices of our country. (N-2018)
Answer:
During the ancient period, people in India were living very close to the environment. They were a part and parcel of the environmental system, and they did not try to control the environmental factors. All our economic and social activities like agriculture, healthcare, housing, transport, etc. were environment friendly.
But, in recent times, there is a shift from traditional systems to the modem which is causing considerable damage to the environment and also to our rural economy. This is mainly because of the indiscriminate use of modem techniques in the agricultural sector, rapid industrialization, advanced medical science, etc.
The time has come to go back the to traditional system of living in order to sustain the environment. For instance, in the field of healthcare, India is a country with 15,000 species of plants that have medicinal contents. About 8,000 species are already being used in various systems of treatment.
The healthcare system like AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) is gaining importance nowadays. The healthcare systems including Tibetan and folk systems are again in great demand for the treatment of chronic health problems.
Apart from these, at present. In India, consumer products like hair oil, toothpaste, toilet soaps, body lotion, perfumes, facial creams, etc. have herbal composition. These products are not only environmentally friendly but also free from side effects.
VI. Answer the following question in twenty sentences (each question carries 6 marks)
Question 1.
How do the following factors contribute to the environmental crisis in India? What problem do they pose for the government?
(a) Rising population
Answer:
Rising population: The rising population has resulted in an increase in demand for natural resources while the supply of natural resources is constant. It has created excess demand and exerts beyond earth’s carrying capacity leading to environmental degradation. They pose a threat to the environment.
(b) Air pollution
Answer:
Air pollution: The pollution caused by industrialization and vehicular emissions have created diseases like asthma, lung cancer, tuberculosis, and many air-borne diseases and posing a problem for the environment in the form of increased expenditure of government on health.
(c) Water contamination
Answer:
Water contamination: The water pollution out of industrialization and urbanization has lead to many diseases like cholera, malaria, diarrhea, and other water-borne diseases. This has also resulted in an increase in the expenditure of the government on health.
(d) Urbanization
Answer:
Urbanization: The unsystematic development of large cities and towns i.e., urbanization, has increased the demand for natural resources, while the supply of natural resources is constant. It has created excess demand oversupply. There is over-extraction of resources beyond the carrying capacity of the environment. There is a mismatch in the absorptive capacity of the environment also. There is the problem of the rich wasting food and other resources while the poor are struggling to get the same.
(e) Deforestation
Answer:
Deforestation: The reckless cutting down of trees has led to deforestation. It is causing an increase in carbon dioxide in the environment. The increased carbon dioxide has added to global warming. This has resulted in an increase in the expenditure of the government on health and increasing the financial commitments of the government even for the future.
(f) Affluent consumption standards
Answer:
Affluent consumption standards: It has increased the demand for natural resources while supply remains the same. The people recklessly using agricultural land for commercial and industrial purposes. The construction of these on agricultural and forest lands has become a big threat to the environment.
Question 2.
India has abundant natural resources. Substantiate this statement.
Answer:
India is favorably located in the northeastern hemisphere, with abundant natural resources in terms of the rich quality of soil, many rivers, vast forest area, plenty of mineral resources, ranges of mountains, oceans, etc.
The richness of India in many resources can be listed as follows:
(a) The black of the Deccan Plateau is best suitable for cotton and the same has encouraged the concentration of textile industries.
(b) The northern plains are highly fertile contributing maximum towards employment generation and agricultural production.
(c) India has about 69 million hectares of forest area covering the majority of population and wildlife.
(d) India has large deposits of iron ore, coal, and natural gas. Bauxite, diamonds, gold, lead, manganese, zinc, uranium, etc. are also available.
India has a coastline of 75000 km. Which is food for developing ports and also in helping fisherman to earn their livelihood. It can also be useful in harnessing wind – power, which is renewable and pollution-free.
Question 3.
Explain any six strategies for sustainable development.
Answer:
According to Brundtland Commission, sustainable development is a “process of development which meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
Sustainable development aims at decreasing the absolute poverty of the poor by providing a secure livelihood that minimizes resource depletion, environmental degradation, cultural disruption, and social instability.
The strategies for sustainable development are as follows:
- Utilization of non-conventional sources of energy
- Use of liquefied petroleum gas and gobar gas in rural areas.
- Use of compressed natural gas (CNG) in public transport.
- Use of solar energy.
- The practice of traditional knowledge in healthcare and other fields.
(a) Utilisation of non-conventional sources of energy: In India, thermal powerplants produce maximum electricity to meet the demands of the economy. The thermal power plants emit large quantities of carbon dioxide which is a greenhouse gas. Even hydroelectric projects inundate forests and interfere with the natural flow of water.
So, alternative sources should be made available like wind power and solar energy as non-conventional sources to meet the increasing demand for power:
- Wind power: The windmills can provide electricity without any adverse impact on the environment. In areas where the speed of wind is usually high, windmills play an important role in combating the energy crisis.
- Solar energy: Solar energy can be converted into electricity with the help of photovoltaic cells. Photovoltaic cells are a special form of materials used to capture solar energy and then convert that energy into electricity. This technique does rot damage the environment.
(b) Minihydel plants: These can be constructed and produced in small streams or waterfalls which are found throughout India. They use the energy of small streams to move turbines. The electricity generated from such small turbines can be used in local areas. These mini hydel power plants are environment friendly as they do not change the land use pattern of India.
(c) Biocomposting: It is a process of converting organic matter into compost naturally. Earthworms can convert organic matter into compost faster than the normal composting process.
(d) Bio pest control: It is a method of using pesticides made out of plant products and spreading awareness about how various animals and birds help in controlling pests.
For example,
- Neem seeds and oil are used to control pests. Mixed cropping also helps in this smaller birds eat insects.
- Snakes are one of the important groups of animals that devour rats.
Similarly, large varieties of birds like owls and peacocks, prey upon vermin and pests. If these are allowed to dwell around the agricultural land, they can clear a large number of pests including insects. Frogs and lizards are also useful in this regard.
To conclude, the main objective of sustainable development is to promote that kind of development that minimizes environmental problems and meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of the future generations.
VII. Assignment and project-oriented questions.
Question 1.
Prepare a list of causes of land degradation in India.
Answer:
Land in India suffers from varying degrees and types of degradation. These are increasing mainly due to the factors mentioned below:
(a) Deforestation, i.e. reckless cutting down of trees resulting in loss of vegetation.
(b) Indiscriminate and over-exploitation of forest products such as fuelwood and overgrazing.
(c) Conversion of forest lands into agricultural lands.
(d) Forest fire and faulty methods of cultivation.
(e) Excessive application of pesticides and insecticides.
(f) Disproportionate and excessive use of chemical fertilizers in Indian agriculture.
(g) The irrigation systems in India are not properly planned and managed.
(h) Overexploitation of groundwater for various competing utilities like human settlement, industrialization, etc.
(i) No proper introduction of crop rotation techniques and organic farming.
(j) Illiteracy and ignorance of rural population in respect of causes and effects of land degradation.
The land is indispensable for human settlement. If proper care is not taken for the conservation of land and water, there shall be a severe scarcity of water and natural resources in the future which may lead to conflict among the countries.