Geography as a DisciplineClass 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography NCERT Solutions
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Q1EXERCISES
(iii) Make correct pairs from the following two columns and mark the correct option. 1. Meteorology A. Population Geography 2. Demography B. Soil Geography 3. Sociology C. Climatology 4. Pedology D. Social Geography
(a)
1B, 2C, 3A, 4D
(b)
1A, 2D, 3B, 4C
(c)
1D, 2B, 3C, 4A
(d)
1C, 2A, 3D, 4B
Solution
(d) 1C, 2A, 3D, 4B
Based on the relationships between geography and other disciplines mentioned in the text:
- Meteorology is the science of weather, which is a core component of Climatology (1-C).
- Demography is the statistical study of human populations, which is the subject matter of Population Geography (2-A).
- Sociology is the study of society and social behaviour, which directly interfaces with Social Geography (3-D).
- Pedology is the scientific study of soils, which is the focus of Soil Geography (4-B).
Q1EXERCISES
Multiple choice questions. (i) Which one of the following scholars coined the term 'Geography'?
(a)
Herodotus
(b)
Erathosthenese
(c)
Galileo
(d)
Aristotle
Solution
(b) Erathosthenese
The text explicitly states: "The term geography was first coined by Eratosthenese, a Greek scholar (276－194 BC.)."
Q1EXERCISES
(iv) Which one of the following questions is related to cause-effect relationship?
(a)
Why
(b)
Where
(c)
What
(d)
When
Solution
(a) Why
The chapter explains that geography as a discipline is concerned with three sets of questions. The questions of 'what' and 'where' relate to identifying and locating features. The text states, "The third question is related to the explanation or the causal relationships between features and the processes and phenomena. This aspect of geography is related to the question, why?"
Q1EXERCISES
(v) Which one of the following disciplines attempts temporal synthesis?
(a)
Sociology
(b)
Geography
(c)
Anthropology
(d)
History
Solution
(d) History
The text states, "Geography is a discipline of synthesis. It attempts spatial synthesis, and history attempts temporal synthesis."
Q1EXERCISES
(ii) Which one of the following features can be termed as 'physical feature'?
(a)
Port
(b)
Road
(c)
Plain
(d)
Water park
Solution
(c) Plain
According to the chapter, physical features are natural variations on the earth's surface, such as mountains, hills, valleys, and plains. Features like ports, roads, and water parks are cultural features created by human beings.
Q2EXERCISES
(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?
Solution
The time taken to reach school from my house depends on the distance and mode of transport. For instance, it might take 20 minutes.
If the school were located just across the road, it would have taken only a minute or two to reach. This shows that the distance between my residence and the school has a direct effect on the time taken in commuting: a greater distance results in a longer travel time.
Yes, we can convert time into space and vice versa. As the chapter explains, this is an integral part of geographical studies. For example, if I say my school is "20 minutes away," I am expressing a spatial distance (space) in terms of time. Conversely, I can say the school is "3 kilometres away," which expresses the same reality in terms of space.
Q2EXERCISES
(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?
Solution
While going to school, I observe several cultural features such as roads, houses, shops, markets, railway lines, and religious buildings. These features are generally dissimilar; for example, buildings vary in size and design, and roads vary in width and quality.
Yes, these features should absolutely be included in the study of geography. According to the text, geography studies the variations in both physical and cultural features on the earth's surface. These cultural features are created by human beings and represent the interactive relationship between humans and their environment. Studying them helps us understand spatial organisation, settlement patterns, and how human societies have modified the physical landscape.
Q2EXERCISES
(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?
Solution
Elephants, deer, earthworms, trees, and grasses live or grow in the Biosphere.
The Biosphere is the realm of life on Earth. As described in the chapter, it includes all life forms, from human beings to micro-organisms. Some of its important features are:
- It is the sphere where the other three spheres—lithosphere (land), atmosphere (air), and hydrosphere (water)—interact to support life.
- It consists of various ecosystems where organisms interact with their physical environment.
- It is sustained by mechanisms like the food chain, which describes the flow of energy between different life forms.
- It is characterised by ecological parameters and a delicate ecological balance, which can be disrupted by human activities.
Q2EXERCISES
(iii) Do you celebrate Van Mahotsava in your school? Why do we plant so many trees? How do the trees maintain ecological balance?
Solution
Yes, we celebrate Van Mahotsava in our school. We plant so many trees because they are a vital resource and essential for environmental health. As the text mentions, modern development has created ecological imbalance, and there are growing concerns for conservation.
Trees maintain ecological balance in several ways:
- They produce oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide, helping to regulate the composition of the atmosphere.
- They prevent soil erosion and help in the formation of fertile soil.
- They support a vast range of life forms (animals, birds, insects) by providing food and habitat, thus sustaining the biosphere and its food chains.
- They influence climate by regulating temperature and contributing to rainfall.
Q2EXERCISES
(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?
Solution
Among the given options, an orange best resembles the shape of the earth.
I have chosen an orange because the Earth is not a perfect sphere like a tennis or cricket ball. It is an oblate spheroid, which means it is slightly flattened at the poles and bulges at the equator. An orange has a similar shape; it is roughly spherical but slightly compressed at the top and bottom where the stem was attached. A pumpkin is too irregular in shape.
Q3EXERCISES
(ii) You have already studied geography, history, civics and economics as parts of social studies. Attempt an integration of these disciplines highlighting their interface.
Solution
Geography, history, civics (political science), and economics are deeply integrated, and their interface is crucial for a holistic understanding of the world, as highlighted in the chapter.
Geography and History: The chapter states that geography attempts spatial synthesis, while history attempts temporal synthesis. Historical events are significantly influenced by geographical factors. For example, the Himalayas acted as a barrier protecting India, while the passes allowed for migrations and invasions, shaping India's history. Similarly, navigation technology and control over sea routes allowed European nations to colonise parts of Asia and Africa, a major historical development driven by geographical accessibility.
Geography and Economics: This interface is studied under Economic Geography. The physical environment provides the resource base for economic activities. Plains are used for agriculture, plateaus are sources of minerals, and oceans provide fish and other resources. The variation in resources from place to place leads to different economic activities. For instance, the cropping pattern in a region is related to its soil and climate (geography) as well as market demand and technology (economics).
Geography and Civics (Political Science): This relationship is explored in Political Geography. Geography studies the spatial aspects of political events, such as boundaries between countries, the delimitation of electoral constituencies, and space relations between political units. Historical conflicts and modern political strategies are often shaped by spatial factors, such as a country's size and location, which can provide a strategic advantage or disadvantage.
In essence, geography provides the 'stage' or spatial context upon which historical events unfold, economic activities take place, and political systems operate. Each discipline provides a different lens, but together they offer a comprehensive view of the human-environment relationship and the organisation of society over time and space.
Q3EXERCISES
(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"?
Solution
Yes, I can strongly argue that geography is the study of "areal differentiation" based on daily observations.
The concept of areal differentiation, as mentioned in the chapter, means that geography studies the phenomena which vary over space. My daily surroundings are a perfect example of this. I see different varieties of trees like Neem and Banyan, which are natural phenomena. I also see different birds and animals. These variations are not random; they are often related to differences in soil, climate, and water availability from one area to another.
Similarly, I observe variations in cultural phenomena. The houses in one locality might be different from those in another. The types of shops, the width of roads, and the density of population also vary from place to place. These are cultural features created by humans.
Geography does not just list these differences. It seeks to understand the causal relationships behind them. For instance, it investigates why a certain type of crop is grown in one region and not another by studying variations in soil, climate, and market demand. Therefore, observing the diverse and varied patterns of natural and cultural elements on the earth's surface and seeking to explain them is the very essence of geography as the study of areal differentiation.
Q1Project Work
Select forest as a natural resource.
(i)
Prepare a map of India showing the distribution of different types of forests.
(ii)
Write about the economic importance of forests for the country.
(iii)
Prepare a historical account of conservation of forests in India with focus on Chipko movements in Rajasthan and Uttaranchal.
Solution
This project focuses on forests as a natural resource, integrating map work, economic analysis, and historical study.
(i) Map of Forest Distribution in India:
To complete this, you should:
- Outline the map of India.
- Research the major forest types in India: Tropical Evergreen, Tropical Deciduous, Tropical Thorn, Montane, and Mangrove forests.
- Use different colours or symbols to mark the regions where each forest type is predominantly found. For example, show Evergreen forests in the Western Ghats and North-East, and Mangrove forests in the Sunderbans delta.
- Create a legend or key to explain the colours/symbols used.
(ii) Economic Importance of Forests:
Based on the chapter's principles about resources, the economic importance of forests includes:
- Direct Products: Forests provide timber for construction and furniture, firewood for fuel, bamboo for paper production, and various other products like resins, gums, medicinal herbs, and fruits.
- Support for Industries: Many industries, such as paper, sports goods, and pharmaceuticals, depend on raw materials from forests.
- Livelihood: Forests provide employment and sustenance for millions of people, especially tribal communities who depend on forest produce.
- Ecological Services: While not always directly monetised, forests provide crucial services like water regulation (as they are sources of rivers), soil conservation, and promoting tourism in mountainous areas, which have significant economic value.
(iii) Historical Account of Forest Conservation:
Your account should cover:
- Traditional Conservation: Briefly mention traditional practices where communities worshipped and protected sacred groves.
- Colonial Era: Describe how the British commercialised forests, leading to large-scale deforestation for railway sleepers and shipbuilding.
- Post-Independence Era: Mention the formulation of the National Forest Policy and the Wildlife Protection Act (1972).
- Chipko Movement: This is the main focus. Describe how, in the 1970s in Uttaranchal (then part of UP), villagers, especially women, hugged trees to prevent them from being cut by contractors. Explain that it was a non-violent protest against commercial logging that was destroying their environment and livelihood. Mention key figures like Sunderlal Bahuguna and Gaura Devi. Also, describe the similar Bishnoi movement in Rajasthan, which has a much longer history of sacrificing lives to protect Khejri trees.