Resources Class 8 Important Questions with Answers PDF Download
FAQs on CBSE Important Questions for Class 8 Social Science Resources - 2025-26
1. What are the different types of resources that are important for the CBSE Class 8 Social Science exam?
Based on the NCERT syllabus for Chapter 1, 'Resources', the main types of resources you should focus on for your exam are:
- Natural Resources: These are drawn directly from nature. They are further divided into:
- Renewable Resources: Those which can be replenished quickly, like solar energy and wind.
- Non-renewable Resources: Those with a limited stock that take thousands of years to replenish, such as coal and petroleum.
- Human-Made Resources: These are created by humans using natural resources. Examples include buildings, roads, and machinery.
- Human Resources: This refers to people themselves—their knowledge, skills, and health are considered a resource because they can create more resources.
2. Why is the conservation of resources a frequently asked question in exams?
The conservation of resources is a crucial topic because it addresses a fundamental global challenge. For exams, it's important as it tests your understanding of sustainable development. The key reasons are:
- Many essential resources, like fossil fuels and minerals, are non-renewable and are being consumed faster than they can form.
- Over-utilisation leads to environmental problems and depletion, leaving nothing for future generations.
- Answering this question correctly shows you understand the long-term consequences of resource mismanagement, a key theme in the CBSE curriculum for the 2025-26 session.
3. Distinguish between potential and actual resources with suitable examples.
This is a common 3-mark question. The key differences are:
- Actual Resources: These are resources whose quantity is known and which are being used in the present. For example, the coal deposits in Germany or the petroleum in West Asia are actual resources that we are currently extracting and using.
- Potential Resources: These are resources that exist in a region but may not be used at present due to a lack of technology or feasibility. Their entire quantity may not be known. For example, the uranium reserves found in Ladakh are a potential resource that India may use in the future when technology advances.
4. How do time and technology act as key factors in turning a substance into a resource?
Time and technology are two of the most important factors that can change a simple substance into a valuable resource. Technology is the application of knowledge and skill to create tools and methods for using a substance. For instance, early humans could not harness the energy of fast-flowing rivers. But with time, we developed the technology to build dams and create hydroelectricity, turning the river into a resource. Time allows for new technologies to be invented and for the economic value of a substance to become apparent, thereby making it a resource.
5. What is sustainable development, and why is it considered the best approach to using resources?
Sustainable development is the principle of carefully using resources to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It is considered the best approach because it provides a balanced solution. It promotes development while also advocating for conservation through three key actions:
- Reducing consumption (conserve).
- Recycling products (reuse materials).
- Reusing items whenever possible.
6. What makes a resource ubiquitous or localized? Provide one example for each.
The distribution of a resource determines whether it is ubiquitous or localized.
- A ubiquitous resource is one that is found everywhere on Earth. The most common example is the air we breathe.
- A localized resource is one that is found only in certain specific places. These resources are not distributed evenly across the world. Examples include minerals like copper, gold, and iron ore, which are concentrated in particular regions.
7. 'Humans themselves are the most important resource.' Justify this statement in the context of Chapter 1, 'Resources'.
This is a high-order thinking skills (HOTS) question. The statement is true because it is humans who give value to other resources. A substance like iron ore is just a rock until humans develop the knowledge and technology to extract the iron and turn it into steel. People, with their ideas, skills, and inventions, are the ultimate resource that can transform the natural world into useful products. Therefore, improving the quality of people's skills through education and health is crucial for creating more resources.
