Resources and Development

What does the term ‘resource’ encompass according to the text?
a. Natural endowments without transformation
b. Items with cultural, technological, and economic viability
c. Renewable and inexhaustible natural materials
d. Human-created tools only
Answer: b

Which of the following is NOT a classification of resources based on origin?
a. Biotic
b. Abiotic
c. Renewable
d. None of the above
Answer: c

Resources classified as renewable are characterized by:
a. Limited availability and high cost
b. The ability to replenish naturally over time
c. Constant levels irrespective of use
d. Exclusivity to forest ecosystems
Answer: b

What is one main objective of sustainable economic development?
a. Rapid industrialization
b. Environmental conservation alongside development
c. Resource monopolization for nations
d. Increasing resource consumption
Answer: b

The Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit occurred in which year?
a. 1987
b. 1992
c. 2000
d. 2015
Answer: b

Agenda 21 focuses on:
a. Combating poverty and disease globally
b. Strengthening the military powers of nations
c. Introducing new global currency systems
d. Eliminating agricultural practices
Answer: a

Which region in India has abundant mineral and coal resources?
a. Rajasthan
b. Jharkhand
c. Kerala
d. Gujarat
Answer: b

Why is Arunachal Pradesh underdeveloped despite abundant water resources?
a. Lack of rainfall
b. Poor infrastructural development
c. Over-extraction of resources
d. Excessive urbanization
Answer: b

What is a primary consequence of indiscriminate resource exploitation?
a. Uniform wealth distribution
b. Ecological crises like global warming
c. Reduced industrial output
d. Enhanced biodiversity
Answer: b

Which term describes resources owned by individuals?
a. Community resources
b. Individual resources
c. National resources
d. International resources
Answer: b

The most fertile type of alluvial soil is:
a. Khadar
b. Bangar
c. Black soil
d. Laterite soil
Answer: a

Which is a significant cause of land degradation in Punjab?
a. Deforestation
b. Over-irrigation
c. Overgrazing
d. Mining activities
Answer: b

Which state predominantly practices terrace cultivation?
a. Uttarakhand
b. Rajasthan
c. Punjab
d. Gujarat
Answer: a

Black soil is best suited for cultivating which crop?
a. Cotton
b. Rice
c. Wheat
d. Maize
Answer: a

Laterite soil is commonly found in regions with:
a. Dry desert climates
b. Tropical monsoonal climates
c. Snow-covered mountains
d. Low-rainfall plateaus
Answer: b

Which type of soil is formed by the leaching of minerals?
a. Alluvial soil
b. Laterite soil
c. Black soil
d. Forest soil
Answer: b

The cold desert region of Ladakh lacks:
a. Solar energy
b. Water and minerals
c. Cultural heritage
d. High-altitude vegetation
Answer: b

Which of the following is considered non-renewable?
a. Wind energy
b. Solar energy
c. Petroleum
d. Water resources
Answer: c

What did Gandhiji emphasize regarding resource conservation?
a. Mass production
b. Greedy individuals depleting resources
c. Sustainability for future generations
d. Rapid urbanization
Answer: c

Which state in India is famous for its solar and wind energy resources?
a. Rajasthan
b. Kerala
c. Chhattisgarh
d. West Bengal
Answer: a

What is the term for soil erosion caused by running water forming deep channels?
a. Sheet erosion
b. Gully erosion
c. Wind erosion
d. Contour erosion
Answer: b

Which report introduced the concept of ‘Sustainable Development’?
a. Brundtland Commission Report
b. Rio Declaration
c. Earth Summit Agenda
d. Schumacher’s Report
Answer: a

Which soil type develops deep cracks during hot weather?
a. Black soil
b. Alluvial soil
c. Arid soil
d. Red soil
Answer: a

What is the primary cause of land degradation in Rajasthan?
a. Deforestation
b. Overgrazing
c. Over-irrigation
d. Industrial pollution
Answer: b

Which crop is commonly grown in alluvial soil?
a. Cotton
b. Sugarcane
c. Tea
d. Coffee
Answer: b

The National Forest Policy of 1952 recommended maintaining forest cover at:
a. 10%
b. 33%
c. 50%
d. 25%
Answer: b

What does the process of afforestation involve?
a. Removal of forests
b. Planting trees to create forests
c. Using land for mining activities
d. Establishing industries in forested areas
Answer: b

Which of the following states has the highest net sown area?
a. Punjab
b. Maharashtra
c. Arunachal Pradesh
d. Kerala
Answer: a

What is the total geographical area of India?
a. 2.78 million sq km
b. 3.28 million sq km
c. 4.00 million sq km
d. 3.00 million sq km
Answer: b

Which soil type is ideal for tea and coffee cultivation in Karnataka and Kerala?
a. Laterite soil
b. Alluvial soil
c. Black soil
d. Arid soil
Answer: a

What is a common consequence of over-irrigation in Punjab and Haryana?
a. Soil erosion
b. Waterlogging
c. Loss of biodiversity
d. Decline in agricultural productivity
Answer: b

Which state has a high proportion of cultivable waste land?
a. Gujarat
b. Madhya Pradesh
c. Odisha
d. Rajasthan
Answer: d

What percentage of India’s total land area is covered by plains?
a. 27%
b. 43%
c. 30%
d. 50%
Answer: b

What is strip cropping?
a. Planting crops in strips to conserve soil
b. Growing one crop type continuously
c. Ploughing up and down the slope
d. Removing vegetation cover from land
Answer: a

What type of soil is commonly found in the deltas of the eastern coastal plains?
a. Black soil
b. Laterite soil
c. Alluvial soil
d. Arid soil
Answer: c

Which of the following is a characteristic of arid soils?
a. High humus content
b. High salt content
c. High water retention capacity
d. High fertility without treatment
Answer: b

What is the main component of black soil that makes it retain moisture?
a. Potassium
b. Calcium carbonate
c. Humus
d. Clayey material
Answer: d

Which method can prevent wind erosion in desert areas?
a. Shelter belts
b. Overgrazing
c. Intensive farming
d. Quarrying
Answer: a

What is the main cause of low net sown area in Arunachal Pradesh?
a. Lack of minerals
b. Dense forests and difficult terrain
c. High population density
d. Excessive urbanization
Answer: b

Which soil is red due to the diffusion of iron in crystalline rocks?
a. Arid soil
b. Laterite soil
c. Red and yellow soil
d. Forest soil
Answer: c

Which soil is also known as “regur soil”?
a. Black soil
b. Alluvial soil
c. Laterite soil
d. Red soil
Answer: a

What is the characteristic feature of laterite soil?
a. High fertility
b. Acidic and nutrient deficient
c. Waterlogging issues
d. High organic matter
Answer: b

Which soil is predominantly found in the Deccan Trap region?
a. Alluvial soil
b. Laterite soil
c. Black soil
d. Arid soil
Answer: c

What is the primary use of forest soil?
a. Growing cereals
b. Supporting vegetation and wildlife
c. Extracting minerals
d. Urban development
Answer: b

What does the term “bad land” signify?
a. Land fit for cultivation
b. Land eroded by gully formation
c. Urban areas lacking infrastructure
d. Overgrazed pastureland
Answer: b

Which soil is known for its sticky nature when wet?
a. Laterite soil
b. Alluvial soil
c. Black soil
d. Arid soil
Answer: c

What is the primary benefit of terrace cultivation?
a. Increased crop yield
b. Prevention of water logging
c. Reduction of soil erosion on slopes
d. Efficient water drainage
Answer: c

What does “shelter belts” refer to?
a. Strips of grass between crops
b. Rows of trees to break wind force
c. Steps cut into slopes for farming
d. Soil conservation trenches
Answer: b

Which natural factor greatly influences land use patterns?
a. Population density
b. Soil fertility
c. Topography
d. Urbanization
Answer: c

Which soil is ideal for growing cashew nuts in Tamil Nadu?
a. Black soil
b. Laterite soil
c. Alluvial soil
d. Red soil
Answer: b

What is the major objective of resource planning?
a. Resource exploitation
b. Equitable distribution and sustainability
c. Economic monopoly
d. Reduction of renewable resources
Answer: b

What is the main cause of waterlogging in Haryana and Punjab?
a. Over-irrigation
b. Excessive rainfall
c. Poor drainage systems
d. Soil erosion
Answer: a

What is the primary objective of Agenda 21?
a. Promoting global trade
b. Ensuring global sustainable development
c. Reducing resource usage
d. Industrialization of rural areas
Answer: b

Which feature is typical of forest soil in the Himalayan region?
a. High humus content
b. Acidic nature with low humus content
c. Nutrient-rich and alkaline
d. Waterlogging tendency
Answer: b

Which human activity contributes significantly to land degradation in Odisha?
a. Overgrazing
b. Deforestation due to mining
c. Over-irrigation
d. Urbanization
Answer: b

What is the composition of alluvial soil?
a. Clay, silt, and sand in varying proportions
b. Calcium and humus-rich soil
c. Nutrient-poor sandy soil
d. Rocky and gravelly soil
Answer: a

Which of the following causes soil salinity in Punjab?
a. Waterlogging from over-irrigation
b. Mining activities
c. Erosion due to wind
d. Lack of forest cover
Answer: a

Which state has abundant water resources but lacks infrastructure?
a. Gujarat
b. Arunachal Pradesh
c. Rajasthan
d. Tamil Nadu
Answer: b

The concept of “Sustainable Development” emphasizes:
a. Maximum exploitation of resources
b. Balancing current needs without compromising future needs
c. Economic growth without environmental concerns
d. Exclusive industrialization of urban areas
Answer: b

Which Indian region is rich in solar energy but faces a water deficit?
a. Rajasthan
b. West Bengal
c. Kerala
d. Himachal Pradesh
Answer: a

Which resource is classified as biotic?
a. Solar energy
b. Forests
c. Water
d. Minerals
Answer: b

What causes the formation of saline soil in arid regions?
a. High rainfall
b. Accumulation of salts due to evaporation
c. Excessive vegetation cover
d. Industrial waste
Answer: b

Which process results in the formation of laterite soil?
a. Freezing and thawing
b. Intense leaching due to heavy rain
c. Sediment deposition by rivers
d. Volcanic activity
Answer: b

What does the term “gross cropped area” refer to?
a. Total cultivated land, including multiple cropping
b. Land left fallow for over five years
c. Total area under forest cover
d. Uncultivable land used for grazing
Answer: a

Which of the following is an example of a renewable resource?
a. Petroleum
b. Wind energy
c. Coal
d. Natural gas
Answer: b

Why are red soils red in color?
a. High humus content
b. Diffusion of iron in crystalline rocks
c. High potassium levels
d. Presence of sand and clay
Answer: b

What is the term for abandoned mining sites that contribute to land degradation?
a. Ravines
b. Bad land
c. Overburdened land
d. Fallow land
Answer: b

Which state is rich in coal deposits?
a. Kerala
b. Jharkhand
c. Gujarat
d. Tamil Nadu
Answer: b

What is a significant consequence of deforestation?
a. Increased biodiversity
b. Soil erosion
c. Improved soil fertility
d. Greater rainfall
Answer: b

Which feature is typical of arid soils?
a. High moisture content
b. Rich humus layer
c. Sandy texture
d. Fertility without irrigation
Answer: c

What is the main use of strip cropping?
a. Increasing soil fertility
b. Conserving soil by reducing wind erosion
c. Expanding forested areas
d. Promoting large-scale irrigation
Answer: b

Which factor does NOT influence the formation of soil?
a. Climate
b. Parent rock
c. Industrial activities
d. Vegetation
Answer: c

What is the main objective of contour plowing?
a. Preventing landslides
b. Controlling the flow of water down slopes
c. Maximizing irrigation
d. Enhancing forest cover
Answer: b

Which state has extensive areas of black cotton soil?
a. Punjab
b. Maharashtra
c. Kerala
d. Arunachal Pradesh
Answer: b

What is the primary source of alluvial soil?
a. Wind deposition
b. River systems depositing sediments
c. Volcanic activity
d. Leaching processes
Answer: b

Why are forest soils acidic in some regions?
a. High mineral content
b. Dense vegetation decomposition
c. Proximity to rivers
d. Lack of sunlight
Answer: b

What is the ideal pH level of laterite soil?
a. 8.0–9.0
b. Below 6.0
c. 6.0–7.0
d. Above 9.0
Answer: b

Which resource is classified as national property in India?
a. Community land
b. Forest reserves
c. Private farmlands
d. Rivers and canals
Answer: d

What is the recommended percentage of forest cover for ecological balance?
a. 20%
b. 33%
c. 50%
d. 25%
Answer: b

Which process is described as “the washing away of the topsoil”?
a. Leaching
b. Sheet erosion
c. Deposition
d. Salinization
Answer: b

What is a common feature of humid areas where laterite soils are found?
a. High fertility
b. Intense leaching
c. Water scarcity
d. Desert-like vegetation
Answer: b

Which term describes land cultivated after more than five years of being left fallow?
a. Net sown area
b. Cultivable waste land
c. Permanent pastures
d. Current fallow land
Answer: b

Which Indian state is rich in mineral resources but lacks economic development?
a. Jharkhand
b. Gujarat
c. Tamil Nadu
d. Rajasthan
Answer: a

What is the primary cause of land degradation in Maharashtra?
a. Over-irrigation
b. Overgrazing
c. Deforestation
d. Urbanization
Answer: b

Which method can stabilize sand dunes in arid regions?
a. Planting thorny bushes
b. Overgrazing
c. Strip cropping
d. Intensive plowing
Answer: a

Which region has fertile soils due to Himalayan river deposits?
a. Deccan Plateau
b. Northern Plains
c. Western Ghats
d. Eastern Coast
Answer: b

What is the most significant cause of soil erosion in hilly areas?
a. Overgrazing
b. Deforestation
c. Excessive rainfall
d. Terrace farming
Answer: b

What is the chemical composition of black soil?
a. High in nitrogen
b. Rich in lime and potash
c. Low in calcium carbonate
d. Lacking clay content
Answer: b

Which practice involves planting trees along fields to reduce wind erosion?
a. Strip cropping
b. Shelter belts
c. Contour plowing
d. Terrace farming
Answer: b

What causes the formation of ravines in the Chambal basin?
a. Sheet erosion
b. Gully erosion
c. Wind erosion
d. Over-irrigation
Answer: b

Which activity contributes significantly to land degradation in Gujarat?
a. Mining
b. Overgrazing
c. Industrial waste
d. Urbanization
Answer: b

Which area has high soil alkalinity and requires irrigation for productivity?
a. Northern Plains
b. Western Rajasthan
c. Coastal plains
d. Deccan Plateau
Answer: b

What is the main disadvantage of over-irrigation?
a. Soil erosion
b. Soil salinization
c. Low crop yield
d. Rapid urbanization
Answer: b

What is the main purpose of contour plowing?
a. Increase rainfall
b. Reduce water flow speed
c. Enable mass production
d. Maximize irrigation
Answer: b

Which soil is the most widely cultivated in India?
a. Black soil
b. Alluvial soil
c. Laterite soil
d. Red soil
Answer: b

Which term refers to the total cultivated area in a year?
a. Net sown area
b. Gross cropped area
c. Current fallow land
d. Permanent pastures
Answer: b

What type of soil is most suitable for growing rice?
a. Laterite soil
b. Alluvial soil
c. Arid soil
d. Black soil
Answer: b

Which Indian state is deficient in water but rich in solar energy?
a. Rajasthan
b. Kerala
c. Gujarat
d. Odisha
Answer: a

What is the primary aim of sustainable resource use?
a. Economic growth only
b. Environmental conservation and equitable distribution
c. Rapid urbanization
d. Global industrialization
Answer: b

Which area in India faces frequent issues of waterlogging?
a. Rajasthan
b. Punjab and Haryana
c. Gujarat
d. Arunachal Pradesh
Answer: b