I. OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS
A. Choose the correct answer.
(b) Ministry of Education (formerly Ministry of Human Resource Development)
(c) South-east Asia
(d) All of these
(d) 51 persons per square km (Note: Based on NCERT Grade 8 textbook data; option (b) 49 or closest standard text value. If choosing strictly from options, check textbook key).
(d) All of these
B. Mark the option that matches Column A with Column B.
Correct Option: (c) 1.-(i), 2.-(iii), 3.-(ii), 4.-(iv)
1. Population Density \rightarrow (i) Number of people living in unit area
2. Sex Ratio \rightarrow (iii) Number of females per 1000 males
3. Death Rate \rightarrow (ii) Number of deaths per 1000 of population
4. Birth Rate \rightarrow (iv) Number of live births per 1000 of population
II. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Write a short note on the literacy level of people in India.
Answer:
Literacy is a crucial indicator of a nation’s socio-economic development. In India, literacy levels have improved significantly over the decades. According to official census data, a person aged 7 and above who can read and write with understanding in any language is considered literate. Higher literacy directly correlates with better employment opportunities, higher living standards, and technological progress.
2. What do you mean by the age structure of a population? Explain in detail.
Answer:
Age structure refers to the proportion of people in different age groups within a population. It is usually divided into three categories:
Children (below 15 years): Economically dependent group requiring care, education, and healthcare.
Working Age (15โ59 years): Economically productive group that contributes directly to workforce and revenue.
Aging Population (60+ years): Retired group that may require special care and pensions.
3. Describe the pattern of population distribution of the world with the help of a map.
Answer:
The world’s population is unevenly distributed:
Densely Populated: River valleys and fertile plains like South Asia, South-east Asia, East Asia, Western Europe, and Northeastern USA.
Sparsely Populated: High-altitude mountains, hot and cold deserts, dense equatorial forests, and polar regions due to harsh climate and relief.
4. Change in the human population is a natural phenomenon. How and why?
Answer:
Population growth or decline occurs naturally due to the interplay between birth rate and death rate. When births exceed deaths, population grows (natural increase). When deaths exceed births, it decreases. Factors like medical advancements, food supply, and living standards naturally shift these rates over time.
5. The growth of the world’s population was followed by India also. Explain the statement.
Answer:
World population grew slowly until the 1800s due to high birth and death rates. With modern health care, reduced mortality, and higher life expectancy, global population surged exponentially in the 20th century. India mirrored this trendโexperiencing rapid growth after independence due to improved public health, controlling epidemics, and lowering death rates faster than birth rates dropped.
III. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Human resources are the most important resources of a country. Do you agree with the statement? Give reasons in support of your answer.
Answer:
Yes, human resources are the most important resources because:
Value Addition: Natural elements become “resources” only when humans utilize their skills, knowledge, and technology to convert them into useful products.
Driving Force: Machines, land, and money cannot create economic development on their own without human effort and intelligence.
Innovation: Educated and healthy people drive scientific advancements, social progress, and global trade.
2. What do you know about population composition? Explain its major components.
Answer:
Population composition refers to the structure or characteristics of a population.
Major Components:
Age Structure: Distribution of children, working adults, and senior citizens.
Sex Ratio: Ratio of females to males per 1,000 males.
Literacy Rate: Percentage of educated people in a country.
Occupational Structure: Percentage of population engaged in primary (agriculture), secondary (industry), or tertiary (services) sectors.
3. Distribution of the world population is affected by different factors. What are these factors?
Answer:
Geographical Factors: Topography (plains vs. mountains), climate, soil fertility, availability of fresh water, and mineral resources.
Socio-Economic Factors: Employment opportunities, industrial development, infrastructure, educational facilities, and political stability.
4. Age structure helps us to plan and evaluate various aspects of economic development. Explain. Which diagram is used to show age structure? Give different population pyramids.
Answer:
Importance: Age structure reveals the proportion of dependent populations (children and elderly) versus working adults. This helps governments plan investments in schools, pensions, healthcare, and job creation.
Diagram: A Population Pyramid (or Age-Sex Pyramid) is used to represent age structure.
Types of Pyramids:
Expanding Pyramid (Broad Base): High birth rates with a young population (e.g., Kenya).
Stable Pyramid (Narrow Base): Birth and death rates are nearly equal (e.g., Australia).
Contracting Pyramid (Narrow Base and Top): Low birth rate and high aging population (e.g., Japan).
5. Differentiate between the following:
(i) Distribution of Population and Density of Population
Distribution of Population: The pattern of how people are spread across the Earth’s surface.
Density of Population: The number of people living in a specific unit area of land (e.g., persons per sq. km).
(ii) Population Pyramid of Japan and India
India: Broad at the base (high birth rates) and narrowing steadily upward, showing a large youth population entering the workforce.
Japan: Narrow at the base (low birth rates) and broader toward the top, showing an aging population with a shrinking workforce.
(iii) Birth Rate and Death Rate
Birth Rate: The number of live births per 1,000 people in a given year.
Death Rate: The number of deaths per 1,000 people in a given year.
