Social Science STD 8 Chapter 14: Disaster Management : Exercises

1. Answer the following questions in one sentence:

1. What is a natural disaster?

Disasters that are caused by natural forces or circumstances are called natural disasters.
2. Which are predictable natural disasters?

Floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, locusts plague, and epidemics are predictable natural disasters.
3. Which are unpredictable natural disasters?

Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, forest fires, and landslides are unpredictable natural disasters.
4. Which are man-made disasters?

Fires, riots, bomb blasts, and industrial accidents are man-made disasters.
5. What is forest fire?

Forest fires are fires that spread in forests or grasslands.
6. In which particular areas landslide occur?

Landslides particularly occur in mountainous areas.
7. What is an epidemic situation?

An epidemic is a situation in which many people in a wide area fall victim to a disease.

2. Answer the following questions:

1. Under what circumstances does a forest fire erupt?

A forest fire can erupt due to human activity or natural causes. Human-caused fires can result from throwing away a burning beedi or cigarette without extinguishing it, or leaving temporary stoves used by herdsmen carelessly without putting them out. Accidents involving electricity or gas lines passing through the forest, or negligence of tourists can also be reasons. Additionally, natural lightning can cause forest fires.
2. Write a short note about locusts hazard.

A locust is a type of insect that prefers to stay in groups of millions and is usually found in desert areas. The locusts that attack Gujarat are known as "desert locusts," a species also found in Pakistan and arid parts of Africa. They are called "voracious locusts" because they eat a quantity of food equal to their own weight. They destroy all crops and vegetation, except neem trees, in the areas where they spend the night. To deal with this hazard, the government issues warnings and the damage is reduced by spraying locust-control pesticides in affected areas.
3. Describe the situation arising from the epidemic.

In an epidemic, a disease spreads rapidly, infecting and killing a large number of people in a wide area. When a new virus emerges and no vaccine or medicine is available, the disease spreads uncontrollably. The situation creates chaos and disrupts daily life, with education, trade, and production coming to a standstill. Hospitals become overloaded and even wealthy nations can feel helpless. Strict measures like lockdowns, travel bans, and quarantine are enforced to contain the spread.
4. Give details of accidents that may occur in an industrial accident.

Industrial accidents can occur due to human error, mechanical malfunction, or lack of maintenance. These accidents can include gas leaks in pesticide factories, explosions in firework factories, and fires in factories producing flammable materials like plastics. Explosions or fires in refineries and chemical factories, and accidents in nuclear industries can also happen. Such accidents can lead to the death or permanent disability of many people, and toxic gas poisoning can have serious health consequences on a large population. The atmosphere and water bodies can also be polluted.
5. Briefly describe the effects of a disaster.

Whether natural or man-made, disasters have profound effects on human life. They cause loss of life and property, and rehabilitating people with permanent disabilities and mental depression is a major challenge. The government has to bear crores of rupees in costs to repair the damage. Families suffer immensely if the earning member is lost. These events also disrupt the economy and social fabric of the affected area for years.

3. Choose and write the correct option from the following options:

1. Which of the following disasters is not included in man-made disasters?

Earthquake
2. Which of the following is a man-made disaster?

Industrial accident
3. Which of the following are rare incidents that happen in Saputara (Dang) in Gujarat?

Landslides