Important Questions and Answers for Class 11 Geography Chapter 1 Geography as a Discipline 2025-26

Q1. Who first coined the term ‘Geography’?

• (a) Herodotus
• (b) Eratosthenese
• (c) Galileo
• (d) Aristotle

Answer: (b) Eratosthenese. 

He was a Greek scholar who coined the term ‘Geography’ meaning the description of the earth.

Q2. Which of the following can be regarded as a physical feature?

• (a) Port
• (b) Road
• (c) Plain
• (d) Water park

Answer: (c) Plain. 

A plain is a natural landform and thus considered a physical feature.

Q3. Which of these questions relates to a ‘cause-effect’ relationship in geography?

• (a) Why
• (b) Where
• (c) What
• (d) When

Answer: (a) Why. 

The ‘why’ question examines reasons behind phenomena, addressing causes and effects.

Q4. Geography as an integrating discipline means it:

• (a) Focuses only on physical features
• (b) Combines aspects of natural and social sciences
• (c) Describes only human activities
• (d) Is unrelated to other disciplines

Answer: (b) Combines aspects of natural and social sciences. 

Geography synthesizes information from both to understand the earth holistically.

Q5. The systematic approach in geography was introduced by:

• (a) Karl Ritter
• (b) Alexander Von Humboldt
• (c) Aristotle
• (d) Eratosthenese

Answer: (b) Alexander Von Humboldt. 

He introduced the systematic approach, studying phenomena globally then recognizing patterns.

2. Very Short Answer (VSA).

Q6. Define ‘Areal differentiation’ in the context of geography.

Answer: Areal differentiation refers to the study of how and why geographical phenomena vary from one place to another over the earth’s surface.

Q7. What is the literal meaning of ‘Geography’?

Answer: The term ‘Geography’ derives from “geo” (earth) and “graphos” (description), meaning the ‘description of the earth’.

Q8. What are the three main questions geography seeks to answer?

Answer: Geography seeks to answer ‘what’ (identification), ‘where’ (location/distribution), and ‘why’ (causal relationship) regarding various phenomena.

Q9. Name two branches of geography based on the systematic approach.

Answer: Two branches are Physical Geography (e.g., Geomorphology, Climatology) and Human Geography (e.g., Population Geography, Economic Geography).

Q10. What is pedogenesis?

Answer: Pedogenesis is the process of soil formation, influenced by parent rocks, climate, biological activity, and time.

3. Short Answer Questions.

Q11. Explain how geography serves as an integrating discipline between natural and social sciences.

Answer: Geography acts as an integrating discipline by synthesizing knowledge from natural sciences (like geology, meteorology) and social sciences (like economics, sociology). It studies spatial relationships, showing how human activity adapts to and modifies the environment, thus linking both spheres for holistic understanding.

Q12. Distinguish between the systematic and regional approaches in geography.

Answer: The systematic approach examines a phenomenon globally and identifies common patterns, while the regional approach divides the world into areas and studies all aspects of a region holistically, highlighting the interrelations of phenomena within that space.

Q13. Briefly describe the importance of physical geography for human society.

Answer: Physical geography is vital as it studies features like landforms, climate, and resources. These elements influence agriculture, industry, settlement, and lifestyle. Understanding physical geography is essential for resource management, disaster preparedness, and sustainable development.

Q14. What is ‘dualism’ in geography?

Answer: Dualism in geography refers to the distinction between physical geography—which emphasizes the study of natural environments—and human geography—which focuses on cultural and social environments. This dualism emerged with evolving cultural development.

Q15. State the four spheres studied under physical geography.

Answer: Physical geography studies the Lithosphere (land), Atmosphere (air), Hydrosphere (water), and Biosphere (life forms), each vital for understanding earth’s environment.

4. Long Answer Questions.

Q16. Discuss in detail how technology has enabled humans to modify their relationship with nature. Use examples from the chapter to support your answer.

Answer: Over time, the relationship between humans and nature evolved significantly due to technological advancements. Early societies depended directly on available natural resources for survival. As technology progressed, humans could adapt their food habits, clothing, and habitation, reduce labor hardships, and increase production and efficiency. Modern technology, such as GIS and GPS, enables better resource management and location tracking. Innovations like irrigation, air conditioning, and large-scale transportation have allowed expansion beyond natural restrictions, leading to humanized landscapes, higher mobility, and sustainable planning.

1. Primitive societies relied solely on local resources.
2. Technological inventions enabled modification of natural environments.
3. Modern tools allow efficient use and planning of resources.

Q17. Describe the process and significance of ‘spatial organisation’ in geography with suitable illustrations.

Answer: Spatial organisation refers to how different elements—natural and cultural—are arranged and integrated over geographic space. Transportation routes, settlements, and markets are interconnected, forming patterns that enable the flow of goods, people, and information. Such organisation results in efficient use of resources and coordinated development. For instance, river valleys often become centers for agriculture and habitation due to fertile soils and water availability, demonstrating spatial organisation influenced by natural features. Modern communication and transport further bind distant places, integrating entire regions.

1. Natural elements shape human activity patterns.
2. Infrastructure connects various nodes, leading to integration.
3. Spatial patterns reflect economic, social, and environmental factors.

Q18. Examine the changing relationship between human society and nature throughout history as seen in the evolution of geography as a discipline.

Answer: Initially, human societies were restricted by their immediate environment and depended on the natural means of subsistence. The gradual development of tools and technology empowered humans to adapt, modify, and expand their interaction with the environment. Geography as a discipline reflects this change, moving from simple descriptions of earth to analyzing dynamic interrelationships between physical and human phenomena. Increased access to information and advanced technological tools has made geography more analytical, linking the natural and social sciences to support holistic development and sustainability.

1. Primitive reliance on nature for survival.
2. Growth of technology leading to adaptation and modification.
3. Integration of physical and human phenomena in modern geography.

5. Assertion–Reason type questions.

Assertion (A): Geography studies both physical and human phenomena as an integrated whole.
Reason (R): Human and physical environments interact dynamically and continuously.

• (a) A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
• (b) A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
• (c) A is true, but R is false
• (d) A is false, but R is true

Answer: (a) Both statements are true, and R correctly explains why geography is an integrative study.

Assertion (A): Geography is unrelated to time and focuses only on space.
Reason (R): Changes in landforms, climate, and societies occur without temporal influence.

• (a) A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
• (b) A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
• (c) A is true, but R is false
• (d) A is false, but R is true

Answer: (d) Both statements are false. Geography includes time as the fourth dimension, and temporal changes are significant.

3. Fill in the Blanks Questions.

Q19. The study of soil formation processes, types, and distribution is known as _________ geography.

Answer: Soil geography. 

This branch focuses on the processes of soil formation (pedogenesis), classification, fertility, and uses of soil resources.

Q20. The word ‘geography’ is derived from two Greek words: ‘____’ meaning earth and ‘graphos’ meaning description.

Answer: Geo. 

Thus, 'geography' means the description of the earth, emphasizing its physical and human aspects.

Q21. The major approaches to study geography are the systematic approach and the _______ approach.

Answer: Regional approach. 

Systematic studies phenomena globally, regional divides space for holistic local study.

Benefits of Exploring Geography as a Discipline

Learning Geography as a Discipline builds a foundation for critical thinking about our planet. You’ll gain clarity with important questions for class 11 geography chapter 1 Geography as a Discipline and develop conceptual skills to understand both natural and human environments in real-world scenarios.

By exploring important questions for class 11 geography chapter 1 with answers, you can boost your grasp on terms like spatial organization, areal differentiation, and more. These extra questions for class 11 geography chapter 1 encourage a deep and analytical approach to the subject for higher grades.