NCERT Solutions For Class 11 Geography Chapter 1 Geography as a Discipline - 2025-26

1. Multiple choice questions.

(i) Which one of the following scholars coined the term ‘Geography’?

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

Answer: (b) Erathosthenese.

(ii) Which one of the following features can be termed as ‘physical feature’?

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

Answer: (c) Plain.

(iii) Make correct pairs from the following two columns and mark the correct option.

• (a) 1B, 2C, 3A, 4D
• (b) 1A, 2D, 3B, 4C
• (c) 1D, 2B, 3C, 4A
• (d) 1C, 2A, 3D, 4B

Answer: (d) 1C, 2A, 3D, 4B.

(iv) Which one of the following questions is related to cause-effect relationship?

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

Answer: (a) Why.

(v) Which one of the following disciplines attempts temporal synthesis?

• (a) Sociology
• (b) Geography
• (c) Anthropology
• (d) History

Answer: (d) History.

2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) What important cultural features do you observe while going to school? Are they similar or dissimilar? Should they be included in the study of geography or not? If yes, why?

Answer: While going to school, I observe features like roads, railways, markets, buildings, vehicles, and agricultural fields. They are dissimilar. Yes, they should be included in geography as these are part of human geography, showing how people interact with the environment.

(ii) You have seen a tennis ball, a cricket ball, an orange and a pumpkin. Which one amongst these resembles the shape of the earth? Why have you chosen this particular item to describe the shape of the earth?

Answer: An orange resembles the shape of the earth the most because both are slightly flattened at the top and bottom. The earth is not a perfect sphere but an oblate spheroid, just like an orange.

(iii) Do you celebrate Van Mahotsava in your school? Why do we plant so many trees? How do the trees maintain ecological balance?

Answer: Yes, we celebrate Van Mahotsava in our school. We plant trees to increase green cover, as they absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, reduce soil erosion, provide shade, and help maintain ecological balance.

(iv) You have seen elephants, deer, earthworms, trees and grasses. Where do they live or grow? What is the name given to this sphere? Can you describe some of the important features of this sphere?

Answer: These organisms live or grow in the biosphere. The biosphere includes all living things on earth, interacting with the lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. It supports life and maintains ecological balance by connecting living and non-living components.

(v) How much time do you take to reach your school from your house? Had the school been located across the road from your house, how much time would you have taken to reach school? What is the effect of the distance between your residence and the school on the time taken in commuting? Can you convert time into space and vice versa?

Answer: More distance means more time to reach school. If school were across the road, less time would be needed. Time and distance are interchangeable; longer distance increases travel time, while time can also be measured as a unit of distance when using speed.

3. Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i) You observe every day in your surroundings that there is variation in natural as well as cultural phenomena. All the trees are not of the same variety. All the birds and animals you see, are different. All these different elements are found on the earth. Can you now argue that geography is the study of “areal differentiation”?

Answer: Yes, geography is rightly called the study of "areal differentiation" because it focuses on the differences in physical and cultural phenomena in different areas of the earth’s surface. No two places are exactly alike—there are variations in landforms, climate, vegetation, and population.

For example, cropping patterns or settlements differ from region to region due to differences in soil, climate, technological development, and socio-economic factors. Geography studies these spatial distributions, their causes, and their relationships, explaining why things are different in different places.

Both natural elements like climate, soil, and water, and cultural features like language, religion, and economic activities contribute to these differences, which are observed and analyzed by geographers. Thus, areal differentiation is a fundamental concept in geography.

(ii) You have already studied geography, history, civics and economics as parts of social studies. Attempt an integration of these disciplines highlighting their interface.

Answer: Geography, history, civics, and economics are all part of social studies and are interconnected. Geography provides information about the physical setting, spatial patterns, and environmental context. History focuses on events and developments over time. Civics helps us understand governance, rights, and responsibilities in society. Economics examines production, distribution, and consumption of resources.

For example, the development of civilization along river valleys shows geography’s connection to history and economics, while the rules governing communities link to civics. Issues like trade, migration, and environmental policies involve all four disciplines, which together give us a comprehensive understanding of society and environment.

Understanding Geography as a Discipline

Grasping the basics of Geography as a Discipline helps students build a solid foundation for advanced topics. Focusing on spatial patterns and human-environment relationships makes learning more relevant and effective for board exams.

Make sure to cover key areas like branches of geography and the importance of physical geography. Reviewing NCERT solutions regularly increases understanding and boosts confidence for the upcoming 2025-26 exams.

Practice answering questions in your own words, and focus on conceptual clarity. This habit not only sharpens your knowledge but also helps you excel in both written and objective questions in your assessments.

CBSE Class 11 Geography Chapter-wise NCERT Solutions

CBSE Class 11 Geography Study Materials