Class 8 Resources (Notes)

Class 8 Resources (Notes)

Introduction

Resources are things that help humans meet their needs and improve the quality of life. They are vital for survival, development, and progress. Resources can be natural, human-made, or human resources.

Types of Resources

1. Natural Resources

  • Found in nature and used directly by humans.
  • Examples: forests, water, minerals, soil, sunlight, air.
  • Subtypes:
    • Renewable Resources: Can be replenished naturally (e.g., water, forests, sunlight).
    • Non-Renewable Resources: Cannot be replenished easily (e.g., coal, petroleum, minerals).

2. Human-Made Resources

  • Created by humans using natural resources.
  • Examples: roads, bridges, machines, buildings, vehicles.
  • These resources are often developed using knowledge, labor, and technology.

3. Human Resources

  • Skills, knowledge, and abilities of people that help in production.
  • Example: teachers, doctors, engineers, farmers.

Characteristics of Resources

  1. Usefulness: Resources should fulfill human needs.
  2. Availability: They should be present in adequate quantity.
  3. Sustainability: Resources should be used wisely for future generations.
  4. Accessibility: They must be easily accessible for people to use.

Resource Development

Resource development involves:

  • Identifying resources: Finding out available resources in a region.
  • Conservation: Using resources wisely to prevent wastage.
  • Sustainable use: Ensuring resources last for future generations.
  • Technology: Using modern methods to enhance efficiency.

Factors Affecting Resource Development

  1. Natural factors – Climate, soil, water availability.
  2. Human factors – Population, skills, technology.
  3. Economic factors – Capital availability, market demand.
  4. Political factors – Government policies and planning.

Conservation of Resources

  • Avoid wastage of water, energy, and raw materials.
  • Plant more trees to save forests.
  • Reduce, reuse, and recycle wherever possible.
  • Promote sustainable agriculture and industry.

Questions & Short Answers

  1. What are resources?
    Things that help humans meet their needs.
  2. Name the three main types of resources.
    Natural, Human-made, Human.
  3. Give examples of natural resources.
    Water, forests, minerals, sunlight.
  4. What are renewable resources?
    Resources that can be replenished naturally.
  5. Give examples of non-renewable resources.
    Coal, petroleum, minerals.
  6. What are human-made resources?
    Resources created using natural resources.
  7. Give examples of human-made resources.
    Roads, machines, buildings.
  8. What are human resources?
    Skills and knowledge of people.
  9. Give examples of human resources.
    Teachers, engineers, farmers.
  10. What is resource development?
    Using resources efficiently and sustainably.
  11. Name two factors affecting resource development.
    Natural factors, human factors.
  12. What is conservation of resources?
    Using resources wisely to prevent wastage.
  13. Give one way to conserve resources.
    Plant trees / Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
  14. Why are resources important?
    For human survival and development.
  15. What is sustainable use of resources?
    Using resources without harming future availability.