Resources — Exercise Solutions
Use this page alongside the official Samacheer Kalvi textbook. Solve every exercise question on your own first, then check the solutions below.
I. Choose the Correct Answer (MCQs)
Q1. Which one of the following is a natural resource?
- (a) Road
- (b) Building
- (c) Air
- (d) Car
Air is a natural resource because it exists in nature without human creation. Roads, buildings, and cars are man-made resources.
Q2. Which one of the following is an international resource?
- (a) Forest
- (b) Ambergris
- (c) Minerals
- (d) Air
Ambergris is found in oceans beyond territorial waters and is governed by international agreements, making it an international resource.
Q3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is related to ___.
- (a) Resource planning
- (b) Sustainable development
- (c) Economic development
- (d) Industrial development
The 3R principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) is a core practice of sustainable development, ensuring resources are used wisely and conserved for future generations.
Q4. Which one of the following is a non-renewable resource?
- (a) Solar energy
- (b) Wind energy
- (c) Minerals
- (d) Water
Minerals take millions of years to form and cannot be replenished quickly, making them non-renewable. Solar energy, wind, and water are renewable resources.
Q5. Which is a universal resource?
- (a) Forest
- (b) Air
- (c) Coal
- (d) Petroleum
Air is found everywhere on Earth and is accessible to all, making it a universal resource.
Q6. Secondary activities involve ___.
- (a) Farming
- (b) Fishing
- (c) Manufacturing
- (d) Banking
Secondary activities involve processing raw materials into finished products. Farming and fishing are primary activities; banking is a tertiary activity.
II. Match the Following
| # | Column A | Column B | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natural resource | (a) Manufacturing | (e) Forest |
| 2 | International resource | (b) Air | (f) Ambergris |
| 3 | Reduce, Reuse, Recycle | (c) Minerals | (g) Sustainable development |
| 4 | Non-renewable | (d) Human resource | (c) Minerals |
| 5 | Universal resource | (e) Forest | (b) Air |
| 6 | Secondary activities | (f) Ambergris | (a) Manufacturing |
III. Fill in the Blanks
1. Sugarcane is processed to make sugar.
2. Conservation of resources is judicious and careful use of resources.
3. Resources which are confined to certain regions are called localized resources.
4. Actual resources are being used at present with their quantity and quality known.
5. Human resources are the most valuable resources.
6. Collection of resources directly from nature is called primary activity.
IV. True or False (with Corrections)
Q1. All resources are found everywhere on Earth.
Correction: Resources are not found everywhere. Some resources like minerals and petroleum are localized — found only in specific regions. Only a few resources like air and sunlight are universal (found everywhere).
Q2. Human resources are the most valuable of all resources.
Human beings possess the unique ability to transform, utilise, and manage other resources through their skills, knowledge, and labour, making them the most valuable resource.
Q3. Non-renewable resources can be replenished quickly.
Correction: Non-renewable resources cannot be replenished quickly. They take millions of years to form (e.g., coal, petroleum, minerals). Renewable resources like sunlight and water can be replenished naturally.
Q4. Tertiary activities produce goods directly.
Correction: Tertiary activities do not produce goods directly. They provide services such as banking, transport, communication, education, and healthcare that support primary and secondary activities.
Q5. Sustainable development focuses only on present needs.
Correction: Sustainable development focuses on meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It balances current use with long-term conservation.
V. Very Short Answer Questions
Q1. What are resources?
Q2. What are actual resources?
Q3. Define abiotic resources.
Q4. What is sustainable development?
VI. Short Answer Questions
Q1. Differentiate between universal resources and localized resources.
| Feature | Universal Resources | Localized Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Found everywhere on Earth | Confined to specific regions only |
| Availability | Available in all places | Available only in particular locations |
| Examples | Sunlight, air, wind | Minerals, petroleum, iron ore |
| Access | Accessible to everyone everywhere | Accessible only to people in those regions |
| Management | Requires global cooperation | Requires local conservation efforts |
Q2. Why are human beings classified separately though they are natural resources?
That is why human resources are considered the most valuable of all resources.
Q3. Compare national resources and international resources.
| Feature | National Resources | International Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Resources within a country's political boundaries | Resources that belong to all nations |
| Jurisdiction | Governed by the country's laws | Governed by international agreements |
| Examples | Forests, minerals, rivers within India | Ocean resources beyond territorial waters, atmosphere |
| Control | Under the nation's authority | Shared by all countries |
Q4. Differentiate between man-made resources and human resources.
| Feature | Man-made Resources | Human Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Resources created by humans from natural resources | People with their skills, knowledge, and abilities |
| Examples | Buildings, roads, machines, bridges | Doctors, engineers, teachers, scientists |
| Nature | Physical objects | Human potential and capability |
| Origin | Derived from natural resources through technology | Part of the human population |
| Dependency | Depend on natural and human resources | Independent — can create other resources |
Q5. What is Gandhiji's view on conservation of resources?
This means:
- Resources on Earth are sufficient to meet everyone's needs if distributed fairly.
- It is human greed — overexploitation, wastage, and hoarding — that causes resource scarcity.
- Conservation must begin with controlling greed and ensuring equitable distribution.
- We should use resources wisely and not exploit them beyond what is necessary.
VII. Detailed / Long Answer Questions
Q1. How are natural resources classified? Explain any three types with examples.
A. Based on Origin
| Type | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Biotic resources | Resources from living things | Forests, wildlife, fish, fossil fuels |
| Abiotic resources | Resources from non-living things | Rocks, minerals, water, air, metals |
B. Based on Renewability
| Type | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Renewable resources | Can regenerate naturally over time | Sunlight, wind, water, forests |
| Non-renewable resources | Cannot be replenished quickly | Coal, petroleum, natural gas, minerals |
C. Based on Distribution
| Type | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Universal resources | Found everywhere on Earth | Air, sunlight, wind |
| Localized resources | Found only in specific regions | Iron ore, petroleum, gold |
D. Based on Development
| Type | Definition | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Actual resources | Currently known and being used | Coal at Neyveli, iron ore in Jharkhand |
| Potential resources | Known to exist but not yet utilised | Wind energy in coastal areas, geothermal energy |
Q2. How can resources be conserved?
1. Follow the 3R principle — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle:
- Reduce — Minimise the use of resources (e.g., using less water, less electricity)
- Reuse — Use items again instead of throwing them away (e.g., giving old clothes to others)
- Recycle — Convert waste materials into new products (e.g., recycling paper, plastic, metal)
2. Use renewable energy sources — Shift from non-renewable (coal, petroleum) to renewable sources (solar, wind, hydropower).
3. Practise sustainable development — Use resources at a rate that allows them to regenerate.
4. Prevent pollution and wastage — Avoid contaminating water bodies, soil, and air.
5. Create awareness — Educate people about the importance of conservation and the consequences of resource depletion.
6. Follow Gandhian principles — Use resources for need, not greed, as Gandhiji said: "There is enough for everybody's need and not for anybody's greed."
Q3. What is resource planning and why is it necessary?
Why resource planning is necessary:
1. Uneven distribution — Resources are not found equally everywhere. Some regions have abundant minerals, others have fertile soil. Planning ensures equitable access.
2. Limited availability — Many resources (especially non-renewable ones) are finite. Planning ensures they are used wisely and not exhausted prematurely.
3. Preventing overexploitation — Without planning, resources may be exploited excessively, leading to environmental degradation, soil erosion, and deforestation.
4. Balanced development — Planning helps match resource use with the needs of different regions and sectors (agriculture, industry, services).
5. Future needs — Planning ensures that present consumption does not compromise future availability — the core principle of sustainable development.
6. Environmental protection — Planned resource use minimises ecological damage and preserves biodiversity.
Q4. Explain primary, secondary, and tertiary activities with examples.
| Activity | Definition | Process | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | Direct extraction/collection of resources from nature | Taking raw materials from natural sources | Agriculture, fishing, mining, forestry, animal husbandry |
| Secondary | Processing and manufacturing raw materials into finished products | Transforming raw materials through industry | Sugarcane → Sugar; Cotton → Cloth; Iron ore → Steel; Wood → Furniture |
| Tertiary | Providing services that support primary and secondary activities | Delivering services rather than producing goods | Banking, transport, communication, education, healthcare, trade, insurance |
Flow of economic activities:
Primary Activities (Extraction) → Secondary Activities (Manufacturing) → Tertiary Activities (Services)
For example:
- A farmer grows sugarcane (primary) → A factory processes it into sugar (secondary) → A truck transports sugar to markets and banks provide loans (tertiary).
VIII. Statements and Inferences
Q1. Statement: Solar energy is the best substitute for thermal energy in tropical regions. Inference 1: Coal and petroleum are receding. Inference 2: Solar energy will never deplete.
Inference 1 follows because coal and petroleum are non-renewable and being depleted, making alternatives necessary. Inference 2 follows because solar energy is renewable and will not run out.
Q2. Statement: If you don't conserve resources, the human race may become extinct. Inference 1: You need not conserve. Inference 2: You need to conserve.
The statement warns about the danger of not conserving resources. Inference 2 (we need to conserve) logically follows. Inference 1 contradicts the statement.
Q3. Statement: Man switched over to agriculture. Inference 1: Food gatherers experienced scarcity. Inference 2: Food gathered was not nutritious.
Scarcity of gathered food would logically push humans towards agriculture. There is no evidence in the statement that gathered food was not nutritious.
IX. 3Rs Classification
Q1. Giving your childhood cycle to your neighbour.
Reuse means using an item again for the same or a different purpose without processing it. Giving away a working cycle extends its useful life.
Q2. Using a flush that consumes less water.
Reduce means minimising the consumption of resources. A flush that uses less water reduces water consumption.
Q3. Melting used plastic to lay roads.
Recycle means converting waste materials into new products. Melting plastic and using it to lay roads transforms waste into a useful material.
X. Map Work
Mark the following on an outline map of India:
1. Neyveli — located in Tamil Nadu (Cuddalore district), known for lignite coal 2. Bay of Bengal — eastern coast of India 3. Arabian Sea — western coast of India 4. Forest region of Tamil Nadu — Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats forested areas 5. Indian Ocean — southern boundary of India 6. Iron mining in Kanjamalai (Salem) — located in Tamil Nadu
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Confusing renewable with non-renewable resources. Renewable resources can regenerate naturally (sunlight, wind, water, forests). Non-renewable resources take millions of years to form and cannot be replenished (coal, petroleum, minerals). Remember: If it grows back fast, it's renewable.
2. Confusing actual resources with potential resources. Actual resources are currently known and being used (coal at Neyveli). Potential resources exist but are not yet utilised (geothermal energy). Don't mix these up.
3. Calling human resources the same as man-made resources. Human resources = people with their skills, knowledge, and labour. Man-made resources = physical things created by humans (buildings, roads, machines). They are fundamentally different.
4. Saying "tertiary activities produce goods." Tertiary activities provide services (banking, transport, education, healthcare) — they do NOT produce goods. Primary = extraction; Secondary = manufacturing; Tertiary = services.
5. Confusing localized resources with national resources. Localized resources are found only in specific regions (e.g., iron ore in Jharkhand). National resources fall within a country's political boundaries (e.g., all forests in India). A national resource can contain many localized resources.
6. Writing "sustainable development means only conservation." Sustainable development means balancing present use with future needs — it is not just conservation. It includes economic growth, social welfare, AND environmental protection.
7. Forgetting the 3Rs correctly. Reduce = use less; Reuse = use again; Recycle = convert waste into new products. Don't confuse reuse (using the same item again) with recycle (processing waste into something new).
Exam Checklist
Before your exam, make sure you can:
- [ ] Define resources and distinguish between natural, human-made, and human resources
- [ ] Classify natural resources by origin (biotic/abiotic), renewability (renewable/non-renewable), distribution (universal/localized), and development (actual/potential)
- [ ] Differentiate between renewable and non-renewable resources with examples
- [ ] Explain the 3R principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) with clear examples
- [ ] Define sustainable development and explain its importance
- [ ] Differentiate between universal and localized resources, national and international resources
- [ ] Explain primary, secondary, and tertiary activities with examples and show the flow between them
- [ ] Describe resource conservation methods and Gandhiji's view on conservation
- [ ] Explain resource planning and why it is necessary
- [ ] Distinguish between actual and potential resources
- [ ] Classify everyday actions into Reduce, Reuse, or Recycle
- [ ] Evaluate statements and inferences related to resources
- [ ] Identify key resource locations on a map (Neyveli, Kanjamalai, Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea)