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Natural Resources and Their Use – Class 8 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 8 Social Science, chapter 1. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Natural resources are materials and energy that nature provides, such as land, water, soil, forests, minerals and sunlight. Some are renewable and others are exhaustible. Their wise and fair use, called sustainable use, is needed so that present and future generations can meet their needs.

Types of natural resources

Renewable resources can be replenished naturally, such as sunlight, wind, water and forests (if used carefully).
Non-renewable or exhaustible resources, such as coal, petroleum and minerals, take millions of years to form.
Resources are unevenly distributed: for example, Jharkhand and Odisha are rich in minerals, while Rajasthan has little water.

Use and overuse

Land is used for farming, forests, settlements and industry; overuse causes soil erosion and degradation.
Overuse of groundwater, deforestation and pollution threaten resources.
Traditional practices such as sacred groves, johads and community forest management help conserve resources.

Sustainable use

Reduce, reuse and recycle; use renewable energy such as solar and wind.
Conserve water through rainwater harvesting and efficient irrigation.
Share resources fairly so that poor and future generations are not deprived.

Key terms

Natural resource: a material or energy source provided by nature that people use
Renewable resource: a resource that is naturally replenished, such as sunlight or wind
Non-renewable resource: a resource that cannot be replaced quickly once used, such as coal
Sustainable use: using resources in a way that meets present needs without harming future generations

Important questions with answers

Distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources.2 marks

Renewable resources, such as sunlight, wind, water and forests, are replenished naturally and can be used again if managed well. Non-renewable resources, such as coal, petroleum and minerals, take millions of years to form and get exhausted with use.

Why is the distribution of resources uneven? Give examples.3 marks

Resources depend on geology, climate and relief, which differ from place to place. For example, Jharkhand and Odisha are rich in coal and iron ore because of their old rocks, the Western Ghats and north-east receive heavy rain, and western Rajasthan is dry and has little water.

Explain the need for sustainable use of natural resources and suggest ways to achieve it.5 marks

Many resources are limited or slow to renew, and the growing population and economy are using them fast. Overuse of groundwater lowers water tables, deforestation destroys habitats and causes soil erosion, mining degrades land, and burning fossil fuels pollutes the air and contributes to climate change. If resources are exhausted or damaged, future generations will suffer, and the poor are often hurt first. Sustainable use means meeting present needs without harming the ability of future generations to meet theirs. Ways to achieve it include reducing, reusing and recycling materials; shifting to renewable energy such as solar and wind; rainwater harvesting and efficient irrigation such as drip systems; afforestation and community forest management; controlling pollution; and following traditional practices such as sacred groves and johads. Fair sharing of resources is also part of sustainability.

Quick revision

Renewable vs non-renewable resources.
Resources are unevenly distributed.
Overuse leads to degradation and scarcity.
Sustainable use protects future generations.

Exam tips

For each resource, give one use, one threat and one conservation method.
Remember the 3 Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle.

Practice MCQs

Which of these is a renewable resource
1. coal
2. petroleum
3. iron ore
4. solar energy
Show answer
Answer: (d) solar energy. Sunlight is replenished every day.
Coal and petroleum are
1. renewable resources
2. non-renewable resources
3. human-made resources
4. biotic resources
Show answer
Answer: (b) non-renewable resources. They take millions of years to form.
Collecting rainwater for later use is called
1. deforestation
2. grazing
3. mining
4. rainwater harvesting
Show answer
Answer: (d) rainwater harvesting. It conserves water.
Which state is rich in mineral resources
1. Odisha
2. Rajasthan
3. Goa only
4. Punjab
Show answer
Answer: (a) Odisha. Odisha has iron ore, bauxite, coal and more.
The 3 Rs of conservation are
1. reduce, reuse, recycle
2. read, write, revise
3. rain, river, reservoir
4. rest, run, relax
Show answer
Answer: (a) reduce, reuse, recycle. They reduce waste.
Overuse of groundwater mainly leads to
1. falling water tables
2. rising water tables
3. more rainfall
4. more forests
Show answer
Answer: (a) falling water tables. Water is drawn faster than it is replenished.
Why must resources be used sustainably
1. they are unlimited
2. to stop all development
3. to increase pollution
4. so that future generations can also meet their needs
Show answer
Answer: (d) so that future generations can also meet their needs. Many resources are limited.
Which traditional practice helps conserve forests
1. clearing forests for mining
2. sacred groves protected by communities
3. burning grasslands every year
4. selling all timber
Show answer
Answer: (b) sacred groves protected by communities. Communities protect them for religious reasons.

All chapters of Class 8 Social Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.