Impact of Resource Depletion: NBSE Class 9 Environment

Summary

This chapter explains what happens when natural resources are used up too quickly. It talks about the effects of resource depletion on nature, materials, life, and the economy. The environment has its own way of healing, but human greed disrupts this balance. Overpopulation makes resources like land, water, and food scarce. People use more resources to live comfortably, which harms the environment.

Resource depletion causes four main problems. First, it creates an imbalance in nature. This means less rain, hotter temperatures, and extinction of plants and animals. Cutting down trees, called deforestation, disrupts the air and water cycles. It also causes soil erosion, floods, and landslides. Desertification happens when fertile land turns into desert due to overuse. Ozone layer depletion lets harmful sun rays reach Earth, causing diseases in humans, animals, and plants. Water pollution harms fish and other aquatic life.

Second, there is a shortage of materials. Mining removes valuable minerals from the Earth, but these take millions of years to form. Once they are gone, they cannot return. Groundwater levels are falling because of overuse in farming and cities. Forests are disappearing fast, which means fewer trees for wood and habitat for animals. Non-renewable energy sources like coal and oil are being used up quickly.

Third, the struggle for existence increases. As habitats are destroyed, animals and plants find it hard to survive. Some species have already gone extinct. Humans also face challenges like lack of clean water and food. Oil shortages can lead to fights between countries.

Fourth, economic growth slows down. Natural resources are needed to make goods. When resources are scarce, industries produce less. This affects the economy. Machines, technology, and people work together to produce things. If resources run out, production falls, and so does economic growth.

The chapter explains terms like soil erosion, desertification, and chlorofluorocarbons. It suggests ways to manage resources better. Replanting trees, reducing pollution, and using water wisely can help. The goal is to use resources carefully so they last longer and support life and the economy.

Textbook solutions

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Replanting an area with trees is called:

A. Afforestation
B. Reforestation
C. Deforestation
D. Both (a) and (b)

Answer: D. Both (a) and (b)

2. Removal of vegetation from a piece of land is called:

A. Deforestation
B. Desertification
C. Soil erosion
D. None of these

Answer: A. Deforestation

Very Short Answer Questions

1. What is deforestation?

Answer : Deforestation refers to the removal of vegetation from a piece of land. Trees are removed for wood or for pasturing, cultivation, or settlement.

2. What do you understand by desertification?

Answer : Desertification is a phenomenon of semi-arid or arid areas in which deserts spread to neighboring areas and land is degraded due to climatic variations.

3. Give two causes of soil erosion.

Answer : Two causes of soil erosion are: (i) Excessive use of land (ii) Overgrazing

4. List any two causes of water pollution.

Answer : Two causes of water pollution are: (i) Sewage disposal (ii) Industrial waste disposal

Short Answer Questions

1. What is mining? Name any two minerals?

Answer : Mining is the extraction of valuable materials from the earth, such as metals, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock salt, and others. Two minerals are coal and copper.

2. Give two causes of groundwater depletion?

Answer : Two causes of groundwater depletion are: (i) Deforestation and agricultural practices, such as cultivating rice in areas where average annual rainfall is insufficient, leading to widespread tubewell irrigation. (ii) In big cities, millions of people depend on limited groundwater reserves, causing their levels to keep decreasing.

3. What do you mean by Ozone layer depletion? Explain its causes?

Answer : Ozone layer depletion refers to the gradual thinning of the earth’s ozone layer in the upper atmosphere caused due to the release of chemical compounds containing gaseous bromine or chlorine from industries or other human activities. The main factors responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer are: (i) Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs, which are released by solvents, spray aerosols, refrigerators, air-conditioners, etc. (ii) Nitrogenous compounds such as NO2, NO, and N2O, which are highly responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.

4. What is ‘imbalance in nature’? How human causing this imbalance?

Answer : Imbalance in nature refers to the disruptions and alterations in the natural balance of ecosystems, leading to adverse effects on the environment, wildlife, and human beings. Humans cause this imbalance through activities such as deforestation, overpopulation, overexploitation of resources, and habitat destruction. For example, deforestation disrupts the food chain, changes the climate, and leads to soil erosion, desertification, and biodiversity loss.

5. Why are resources considered part of the economy?

Answer : Resources are considered part of the economy because they provide raw materials to industries, which produce goods and services essential for economic growth. Natural resources and technology combined enable large-scale production, employment opportunities, and wealth generation in an economy.

Long Answer Questions

1. How does deforestation bring imbalance in nature?

Answer : Deforestation brings imbalance in nature by causing disruptions and alterations in the natural balance of ecosystems, leading to adverse effects on the environment, wildlife, and human beings. Trees are removed for wood or for pasturing, cultivation, or settlement. When deforestation is not accompanied by reforestation, it leads to imbalance in nature, disruption in the food chain, change in climate, etc. Plants or trees take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis and release it back into the atmosphere during normal respiration. With the cutting of trees, this cycle gets disrupted, leading to imbalance in nature. Forests also control the hydrological cycle. Trees extract groundwater through their roots and release it into the atmosphere. When a forest is removed, the trees do not evaporate the water, resulting in a dry climate. Deforestation also reduces the content of water in the soil and groundwater, leads to soil erosion that results in floods and landslides, and causes biodiversity loss as many species become extinct.

2. What is desertification and what are its causes?

Answer : Desertification is a phenomenon of semi-arid or arid areas in which deserts spread to neighboring areas, and land is degraded due to climatic variations. The major reasons for desertification are overgrazing, overcultivation, increased fire frequency, water impoundment, deforestation, overdrafting of groundwater, increased soil salinity, and climatic changes.

3. Describe the causes and effects of soil erosion.

Answer : The causes and effects of soil erosion are as follows:

(i) Soil erosion is caused by excessive use of land, overgrazing, deforestation, and similar activities.
(ii) The adverse effects of soil erosion include desertification and the occurrence of floods.
(iii) The removal of fertile agricultural soil adversely affects agricultural productivity.
(iv) Overgrazing leads to the depletion of pasture lands.
(v) Landslides, which are among the most destructive consequences of soil erosion, sweep away entire areas by destroying all vegetation and human structures.

4. Briefly describe the process of ozone layer depletion and its effects.

Answer : The process of ozone layer depletion and its effects are as follows:

(i) Ozone layer depletion refers to the gradual thinning of the Earth’s ozone layer in the upper atmosphere, caused by the release of chemical compounds containing gaseous bromine or chlorine from industries or other human activities.
(ii) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), released by solvents, spray aerosols, refrigerators, air conditioners, etc., are the main cause of ozone layer depletion.
(iii) Nitrogenous compounds such as NO2, NO, and N2O are also highly responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer.
(iv) The major effects of ozone layer depletion on humans and the environment include direct exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun, which causes skin diseases, cancer, sunburns, cataracts, quick ageing, and a weakened immune system.
(v) Direct exposure to ultraviolet radiation also leads to skin and eye cancer in animals.
(vi) Strong ultraviolet rays may result in minimal growth, flowering, and photosynthesis in plants, causing forests to suffer from the harmful effects of these rays.

5. What is mining and what is the reason for shortage of minerals?

Answer : Mining is the extraction of valuable materials from the earth, such as metals, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock salt, etc. The reasons for the shortage of minerals are:

(i) Minerals are formed after complex processes spreading over millions of years, but by mining, we extract that material in just a few years. Once mined, any mineral cannot be formed again.
(ii) Several mines have been closed as a result of the total exhaustion of the mineral, for example, the Mesabi range in the USA where iron ore deposits have been totally exhausted.
(iii) At the current speed of mining, many areas would become devoid of minerals.

6. Elaborate the causes of groundwater depletion.

Answer : The causes of groundwater depletion are:

(i) Deforestation and agricultural practices.
(ii) In India, rice is cultivated in many areas where the average annual rainfall is not sufficient for its cultivation. As a result, farmers resort to widespread tubewell irrigation, leading to the exhaustion of groundwater reserves.
(iii) Forest cover helps in the charging of groundwater reserves, but increasing deforestation adversely affects the recharging of groundwater reserves.
(iv) Rainwater goes waste as run-off and is not absorbed by the soil to recharge the groundwater.
(v) In big cities, millions of people depend on limited groundwater reserves, causing their levels to keep going down.

7. Write a note on the struggle for existence.

Answer : The concept of the struggle for existence (or struggle for life) concerns the competition or battle for resources needed to live. It can refer to human society, or to organisms in nature. In today’s environment, competition and struggle for existence can be seen between man and man, state and state, or nation and nation. Struggle for existence is also observed among animals.

Causes of struggle for existence include:

(i) Population increase causing the struggle for existence.
(ii) Changes in the living conditions of animals as a result of resource overexploitation and habitat degradation, which may lead to the extinction of some species.
(iii) Habitat destruction, one of the primary reasons why species of plants and animals are being endangered or driven to extinction.
(iv) Deforestation progressively destroying forest habitats that are home to thousands of animals.
(v) Practices such as overfishing and pollution drastically reducing the number of marine species like tuna fish.
(vi) Extinction of certain animals like the ivory-billed woodpecker, splendid poison frog, Lake Lanao freshwater fish, smooth handfish, bramble cay melomys, spix’s macaw, baiji, and western black rhinoceros. Similarly, 32 orchid species and 65 North American plants have become extinct.
(vii) Adverse effects of oil depletion, including the fall of businesses, high cost of living in developing countries, uncertainty in the transport sector, and international tensions due to competition for remaining oil supplies.
(viii) Approximately two billion people lacking access to clean water due to deforestation and contamination of water sources and groundwater, leading to water shortages, famine, and food insecurity.

8. Write a note on the Slackening of Economic growth.

Answer : Slackening of economic growth refers to the slowdown in the rate at which a country’s economy is expanding. Economic growth is the increase in production and wealth in an economy. The availability of natural resources and their reserves directly affects the economic growth of a country’s economy. Large numbers of resources supply raw materials to many industries, enabling them to produce large quantities of goods. Natural resources and technology are combined to produce goods and services. Large-scale production is possible only when goods are produced using fast and efficient machines, advanced technology, and a large workforce. However:

(i) Man indulges in the fast extraction of all natural resources, leading to their depletion from the earth.
(ii) When resources start depleting, the input of industry is affected, adversely impacting industrial production.
(iii) A decrease in industrial production causes economic growth to fall.
(iv) Therefore, it is suggested that man should use resources wisely so they can last longer and continue to provide inputs to industries, ensuring sustained economic growth.

Extras

Additional questions and answers

1. Define resource depletion?

Answer : Resource depletion refers to the fast depleting natural resources as a result of increasing industrialization, non-equitable distribution, and growing population. It exerts pressure on the environment, leading to environmental degradation and exploitation.

Q. What is imbalance in nature?

Q. What does ‘struggle for existence’ mean?

Answer : The concept of the struggle for existence concerns the competition or battle for resources needed to live. It can refer to human society or organisms in nature. In today’s environment, competition and struggle for existence can be seen between man and man, state and state, or nation and nation. Causes include population increase, habitat destruction, overexploitation of resources, and practices like overfishing and pollution.

Q. Define slackening of economic growth.

Answer : Slackening of economic growth refers to the slowdown in the rate at which a country’s economy is expanding. Economic growth is the increase in production and wealth in an economy, and the availability of natural resources directly affects it. When resources start depleting, industrial production decreases, causing economic growth to fall.

Q. What is soil erosion?

Answer : Soil erosion refers to the removal of soil by the action of water or wind, which is caused by factors such as excessive use of land, overgrazing, and deforestation.

Q. What are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)?

Answer : Chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, are chemical compounds containing gaseous bromine or chlorine that are released from industries or other human activities and are the main cause of ozone layer depletion.

Q. Define groundwater contamination.

Answer : Groundwater contamination refers to the pollution of groundwater through leaking industrial pits or sewage pits, as well as pesticides leaching down with water into the groundwater.

Q. What do you mean by biodiversity loss?

Answer : Biodiversity loss refers to the reduction or extinction of species of plants and animals due to factors like deforestation, desertification, habitat destruction, and overexploitation of resources.

Q. Mention any two adverse impacts of resource depletion?

Answer : Two adverse impacts of resource depletion are: (i) Imbalance in nature, which includes decreased rainfall, increased temperature, and species extinction. (ii) Shortage of materials, such as the exhaustion of groundwater and deforestation.

Q. What are the consequences of deforestation?

Answer : The consequences of deforestation are:

(i) It leads to imbalance in nature, disruption in the food chain, and changes in climate.
(ii) Forests control the hydrological cycle, and their removal results in a dry climate, reduced water content in the soil and groundwater, soil erosion, floods, landslides, and loss of biodiversity.

Q. List two impacts of desertification on human settlements?

Answer : Two impacts of desertification on human settlements are:

(i) Sand dunes may encroach upon the settlements.
(ii) It causes biodiversity loss and reduces the productive capacity of the land.

Q. Give two examples of animals affected by ozone layer depletion?

Answer : Two examples of animals affected by ozone layer depletion are:

(i) Animals that may develop skin and eye cancer due to direct exposure to ultraviolet radiations.
(ii) Forests and plants, including wild species, which may experience minimal growth, flowering, and photosynthesis due to strong ultraviolet rays.

Q. Explain two effects of polluted water on agriculture?

Answer : Two effects of polluted water on agriculture are:

(i) Polluted water severely affects the life in waterbodies, leading to retarded growth of fish and other water animals, which impacts agricultural productivity indirectly.
(ii) Heavy metals like lead, copper, and mercury enter the water through various sources and reach the soil where plants or crops are grown, adversely affecting their growth and quality.

Q. Mention two human activities causing ozone depletion?

Answer : Two human activities causing ozone depletion are:

(i) Release of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from solvents, spray aerosols, refrigerators, air-conditioners, etc.
(ii) Emission of nitrogenous compounds such as NO2, NO, and N2O from industrial and other human activities.

Q. How does deforestation lead to soil erosion?

Answer : Deforestation leads to soil erosion because when trees are removed, the soil becomes naked, which results in excessive erosion. Trees help in controlling the hydrological cycle by extracting groundwater through their roots and releasing it into the atmosphere. When forests are removed, this process is disrupted, leading to a dry climate, reduced water content in the soil and groundwater, and increased soil erosion. Additionally, overgrazing and practices like shifting cultivation, which involve burning forest cover, further contribute to soil erosion.

Q. Describe briefly the importance of minerals to manufacturing industries.

Answer : Minerals provide raw materials to almost all the manufacturing industries. They are essential for industrialization, which is rapidly increasing with growing technological development. All minerals are formed after complex processes spreading over millions of years, and once mined, they cannot be replenished.

Q. Discuss how groundwater reserves are adversely affected by human activities.

Answer : Groundwater reserves are adversely affected by human activities in the following ways:

(i) Deforestation reduces the forest cover that helps in the charging of groundwater reserves.
(ii) Agricultural practices, such as widespread tubewell irrigation in areas with insufficient rainfall, lead to the exhaustion of groundwater reserves.
(iii) The rainwater goes waste as run-off and is not absorbed by the soil to recharge the groundwater due to deforestation and other activities.
(iv) In big cities, millions of people depend on limited groundwater reserves, causing their levels to continuously decrease.

Q. Explain briefly why forests are essential for groundwater recharge.

Answer : Forests are essential for groundwater recharge because forest cover helps in the charging of groundwater reserves. Trees extract groundwater through their roots and release it into the atmosphere. When a forest is removed, the trees do not evaporate the water, resulting in a dry climate. Additionally, deforestation reduces the content of water in the soil and groundwater, adversely affecting the recharging of groundwater reserves.

Q. What are the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation on humans?

Answer : The harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation on humans include:

(i) Direct exposure to the harmful ultraviolet radiation of the sun due to the depletion of the ozone layer, which causes skin diseases, cancer, sunburns, cataract, quick ageing, and a weak immune system.
(ii) Strong ultraviolet rays may lead to minimal growth, flowering, and photosynthesis in plants, which also have to bear the harmful effects of the ultraviolet rays.

Q. Explain how mining leads to the depletion of minerals.

Answer : Mining leads to the depletion of minerals because all minerals are formed after complex processes spreading over millions of years. However, by mining, we extract that material in just a few years. Any mineral once mined cannot be formed again. Several mines have been closed as a result of the total exhaustion of the mineral, such as the Mesabi range in the USA where iron ore deposits have been totally exhausted. At this speed of mining, many areas would become devoid of minerals.

Q. Explain the impacts of deforestation on biodiversity and climate?

Answer : Deforestation refers to the removal of vegetation from a piece of land. When deforestation is not accompanied by reforestation, it leads to imbalance in nature, disruption in food chain, change in climate, etc. Trees or plants take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis and release it back into the atmosphere during respiration. With the cutting of trees, this cycle gets disrupted, leading to an imbalance in nature. Forests control the hydrological cycle as trees extract groundwater through their roots and release it into the atmosphere. When a forest is removed, the trees do not evaporate the water, resulting in a dry climate. Deforestation also reduces the water content in the soil and groundwater. It leads to soil erosion, which results in floods and landslides. The biggest loss due to deforestation is biodiversity loss. Many species become extinct, making deforestation a significant cause of imbalance in nature.

Q. Describe desertification and outline the major factors contributing to it?

Q. Discuss how industrial waste contributes to water pollution and its effects on human health.

Answer : Industrial waste contributes to water pollution as it is one of the main sources of river water contamination. The industrial waste disposal contains many toxic chemicals. Groundwater is also contaminated by leaking industrial pits or sewage pits. Pesticides leach down with water and further contaminate the groundwater. Polluted water severely affects life in water bodies, retarding the growth of fish and other water animals. Oil spills in oceans cannot be removed or contained because oil does not mix with water. Heavy metals like lead, copper, and mercury enter water through industries, mines, and vehicular exhaust. These metals reach the soil where plants or crops are grown. Animals feeding on these plants get adversely affected immediately. If consumed by humans, these heavy metals can damage any organ of the body, such as the kidney, heart, or liver.

Q. Explain the role of deforestation and agricultural practices in groundwater depletion.

Answer : Deforestation plays a significant role in groundwater depletion as forest cover helps in the charging of groundwater reserves. Increasing deforestation adversely affects the recharging of groundwater reserves. Rainwater goes waste as run-off and is not absorbed by the soil to recharge the groundwater. Agricultural practices also contribute to groundwater depletion, especially in areas where rice is cultivated despite insufficient average annual rainfall. Farmers resort to widespread tubewell irrigation, leading to the exhaustion of groundwater reserves.

Q. What are the reasons for forest depletion, and how does this affect soil erosion?

Answer : The reasons for forest depletion include:

(i) Deforestation, which refers to the removal of vegetation from a piece of land. Trees are removed for wood or for pasturing, cultivation, or settlement.
(ii) Clear cutting technique of felling trees, in which all the trees of an area are abruptly removed, making the soil naked and leading to excessive erosion.
(iii) Shifting cultivation, which destroys forest cover by burning.

Deforestation affects soil erosion as follows:

(i) With the removal of trees, the soil becomes exposed and prone to erosion by water or wind.
(ii) Overgrazing leads to depletion of pasture lands, further contributing to soil erosion.
(iii) Soil erosion causes desertification and floods, adversely affecting agricultural productivity and leading to destructive consequences such as landslides.

Q. Discuss how resource depletion contributes to conflicts between humans.

Answer : Resource depletion contributes to conflicts between humans in the following ways:

(i) Population increase causes competition and struggle for resources needed to live, leading to conflicts between individuals, states, or nations.
(ii) Overexploitation of resources and habitat degradation change living conditions for animals and humans, causing some species to go extinct and humans to compete for limited resources.
(iii) Habitat destruction, particularly through deforestation, endangers plant and animal species, intensifying human conflicts over remaining resources.
(iv) Practices like overfishing and pollution reduce marine species populations, leading to disputes over access to dwindling resources.
(v) Oil depletion results in international tensions as countries compete for access to the remaining oil supply.
(vi) Water shortages caused by deforestation and contamination lead to famine and food insecurity, exacerbating human struggles for existence.

29. Explain how natural resource availability directly affects economic growth.

Answer : Natural resource availability directly affects economic growth in the following ways:

(i) Natural resources provide raw materials to industries, enabling large-scale production of goods and services.
(ii) Large-scale production is possible only when goods are produced with fast and efficient machines, advanced technology, and a large workforce, all of which depend on the availability of resources.
(iii) When natural resources start depleting due to fast extraction, the input of industries is affected, leading to reduced industrial production.
(iv) A decrease in industrial production results in a fall in economic growth.
(v) Therefore, it is suggested that resources should be used wisely so they can last longer and continue providing inputs to industries, ensuring sustained economic growth.

Additional MCQs

1. Which of the following is not an impact of resource depletion?

A. Imbalance in nature
B. Economic growth acceleration
C. Shortage of materials
D. Struggle for existence

Answer: B. Economic growth acceleration

Q. What is deforestation?

A. Removal of vegetation
B. Replanting trees
C. Mining activity
D. Water purification

Answer: A. Removal of vegetation

Q. Which process in deforestation disrupts the carbon cycle?

A. Tree removal
B. Water purification
C. Mining
D. Soil enrichment

Answer: A. Tree removal

Q. What adverse effect is directly caused by deforestation?

A. Biodiversity loss
B. Mineral formation
C. Groundwater recharge
D. Economic growth

Answer: A. Biodiversity loss

Q. What is desertification?

A. Replanting forests
B. Spread of deserts
C. Mining activities
D. Urbanisation

Answer: B. Spread of deserts

Q. Which of the following is a major cause of desertification?

A. Overcultivation
B. Reforestation
C. Industrialisation
D. Recycling

Answer: A. Overcultivation

Q. Desertification results in the loss of what?

A. Biodiversity
B. Technology
C. Education
D. Urban areas

Answer: A. Biodiversity

Q. What is soil erosion?

A. Soil formation
B. Soil removal
C. Soil conservation
D. Soil enrichment

Answer: B. Soil removal

Q. Which of the following is a consequence of soil erosion?

A. Floods
B. Industrial growth
C. Increased rainfall
D. Tree planting

Answer: A. Floods

Q. What causes ozone layer depletion?

A. CFCs
B. Reforestation
C. Mining
D. Urbanisation

Answer: A. CFCs

Q. Which compounds besides CFCs contribute to ozone depletion?

A. Nitrogenous compounds
B. Fertilizers
C. Organic matter
D. Carbonates

Answer: A. Nitrogenous compounds

Q. Ozone layer depletion exposes humans to which type of radiation?

A. Ultraviolet
B. Infrared
C. Radioactive
D. X-rays

Answer: A. Ultraviolet

Q. What is a main source of water pollution?

A. Industrial waste
B. Forest fires
C. Reforestation
D. Mining

Answer: A. Industrial waste

Q. Which contaminant is commonly found in polluted water?

A. Heavy metals
B. Vitamins
C. Oxygen
D. Nitrogen

Answer: A. Heavy metals

Q. Water pollution severely affects which of the following?

A. Aquatic life
B. Soil fertility
C. Air quality
D. Solar power

Answer: A. Aquatic life

Q. What is mining?

A. Extraction of materials
B. Replanting trees
C. Water filtration
D. Soil erosion

Answer: A. Extraction of materials

Q. Minerals extracted by mining serve as raw materials for which sector?

A. Industries
B. Agriculture
C. Tourism
D. Education

Answer: A. Industries

Q. Which statement is true regarding mined minerals?

A. They cannot be reformed
B. They are renewable
C. They are eco-friendly
D. They replenish quickly

Answer: A. They cannot be reformed

Q. What is a primary cause of groundwater depletion?

A. Deforestation
B. Reforestation
C. Recycling
D. Urban planning

Answer: A. Deforestation

Q. Groundwater depletion is exacerbated by the use of which irrigation method?

A. Tubewell
B. Drip
C. Sprinkler
D. Flood

Answer: A. Tubewell

Q. Which technique involves the abrupt removal of all trees in an area?

A. Clear cutting
B. Selective logging
C. Replanting
D. Cultivation

Answer: A. Clear cutting

Q. Which farming method destroys forest cover by burning?

A. Shifting cultivation
B. Crop rotation
C. Hydroponics
D. Terrace farming

Answer: A. Shifting cultivation

Q. What was the estimated deforestation rate in the 1990s?

A. 14 million hectares
B. 16 million hectares
C. 10 million hectares
D. 20 million hectares

Answer: A. 14 million hectares

Q. By what year are tropical rainforests predicted to disappear if deforestation continues?

A. 2030
B. 2025
C. 2040
D. 2050

Answer: A. 2030

Q. What is the expected annual growth rate of world energy consumption?

A. 2.2%
B. 3.0%
C. 1.5%
D. 4.0%

Answer: A. 2.2%

Q. Most world energy is derived from which type of resources?

A. Non-renewable
B. Renewable
C. Solar
D. Wind

Answer: A. Non-renewable

Q. What does the struggle for existence refer to?

A. Competition for resources
B. Urban development
C. Agricultural expansion
D. Education access

Answer: A. Competition for resources

Q. Which of the following is a cause of the struggle for existence?

A. Overpopulation
B. Reforestation
C. Recycling
D. Technological growth

Answer: A. Overpopulation

Q. Which activity contributes to habitat destruction?

A. Deforestation
B. Conservation
C. Renewable energy
D. Education

Answer: A. Deforestation

Q. Which species is mentioned as extinct due to habitat destruction?

A. Ivory-billed woodpecker
B. Bald eagle
C. Red fox
D. Grey wolf

Answer: A. Ivory-billed woodpecker

Q. What is a consequence of oil depletion as mentioned in the text?

A. Transport uncertainty
B. Increased rainfall
C. Forest growth
D. Soil enrichment

Answer: A. Transport uncertainty

Q. Approximately how many people lack access to clean water?

A. Two billion
B. One million
C. Five billion
D. 500 million

Answer: A. Two billion

Q. Slackening of economic growth refers to what?

A. Slowdown in expansion
B. Increase in production
C. Rapid industrialisation
D. Rising wealth

Answer: A. Slowdown in expansion

Q. What directly affects a country’s economic growth?

A. Availability of resources
B. Tourist influx
C. Climate change
D. Education level

Answer: A. Availability of resources

Q. What is required for large-scale production?

A. Advanced technology
B. Low wages
C. Minimal workforce
D. Abundant water

Answer: A. Advanced technology

Q. What is one effect of rapid natural resource extraction on industries?

A. Decreased production
B. Increased innovation
C. Boosted exports
D. Enhanced safety

Answer: A. Decreased production

Q. Wise use of natural resources is suggested to maintain what?

A. Economic growth
B. Population increase
C. Forest expansion
D. Energy consumption

Answer: A. Economic growth

Q. Which of the following is a direct consequence of deforestation?

A. Reduced groundwater
B. Increased minerals
C. Enhanced industry
D. Rising incomes

Answer: A. Reduced groundwater

Q. What agricultural issue results from the removal of fertile soil?

A. Low productivity
B. High yield
C. Urbanisation
D. Technological surge

Answer: A. Low productivity

Q. How much more can the oceans supply than current production?

A. 25% more
B. 50% more
C. 75% more
D. 100% more

Answer: A. 25% more

Q. What is the effect of habitat destruction and hunting on wildlife?

A. Population decrease
B. Species increase
C. Rapid growth
D. Habitat stability

Answer: A. Population decrease

Q. Natural resources are considered part of the economy because they provide what?

A. Industrial inputs
B. Educational funds
C. Tourism revenue
D. Agricultural subsidies

Answer: A. Industrial inputs

Q. What effect do modern comfort demands have on resource depletion?

A. Increased extraction
B. Reduced mining
C. Renewable growth
D. Lower consumption

Answer: A. Increased extraction

Q. Forests control which natural cycle?

A. Hydrological cycle
B. Carbon cycle
C. Nitrogen cycle
D. Oxygen cycle

Answer: A. Hydrological cycle

45. Which adverse effect is directly associated with soil erosion?

A. Landslides
B. Urban growth
C. Increased crops
D. Enhanced forests

Answer: A. Landslides

Ron'e Dutta

Ron'e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger who manages Online Free Notes. An avid reader of Victorian literature, his favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. He dreams of travelling the world. You can connect with him on social media. He does personal writing on ronism.

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