Social Science STD 8 Chapter 13: Human Resource : Exercises

1. Answer the following questions:

1. Why is population perceived as a resource?

Population is perceived as a resource because healthy, educated, and skilled people can use their abilities to create and develop resources from nature to meet their needs.
2. What are the causes of unequal distribution of population in the world?

The unequal distribution of population in the world is caused by geographical factors like topography, climate, soil, water availability, and the presence of minerals, as well as social, cultural, and economic factors like good housing, education, health facilities, religious significance, and employment opportunities.
3. What is meant by population density?

Population density is the number of people living in a specific unit area of the Earth's surface, typically expressed as per square kilometer. It is a way to measure how crowded or sparse an area is.
4. Describe the role of any two factors affecting population distribution.

Topography: People prefer to live in plains rather than mountains or plateaus because plains are suitable for agriculture, industries, and service activities. This is why areas like the Gangetic plain are densely populated, while the Himalayas are sparsely populated.

Water: People prefer to settle in areas where fresh water is easily available. River valleys, such as those of the Ganges, are densely populated, while desert areas with scarce water resources are sparsely populated.

2. Choose the correct option and write the correct answer:

1. The term population distribution means,

How the people are spread in a given area.
2. Which are the three main factors that lead to population change?

Birth, death and migration
3. What was the world's population in 1999 AD?

6 billion

3. Explain the terms:

1. Sex ratio

The sex ratio is the ratio of females per 1000 males in a population. It is an important demographic indicator used to understand the balance between male and female populations in a country.
2. Literacy

Literacy refers to a person aged seven years or above who can read and write in any one language. It is a key indicator of social development and is positively correlated with economic and health outcomes.
3. Population density

Population density is the measure of the number of people living per square kilometer in a particular area. It is calculated by dividing the total population of a country by its total area.

4. Fill in the blanks: