8th Std Social Science Notes.
by Veeresh. P
ECONOMICS
MEANING AND IMPORTANCE OF ECONOMICS
1. Fill in the blanks with suitable words:
1. The word 'Economics' originates from the Greek root ___________ words and __________
2. Kautilya who was in the Mauryan court, wrote the book __________
3. The quality of the goods and services which can satisfy man's wants is called _____________
4. The physical and intellectual work that is done in return for money is called __________
5. The manufactured goods that are used in the production process are called _________
Ans: (1) 'okos', 'nomos' (2) Arthashastra (3) Utility (4) labour
(5) physical capital
II. Answer the following in a sentence each:
1. What is Economics?
Ans: Economics is a subject which studies daily economic activities of man.
1. Who is identified as the Father of Economics'?
Ans: Adam Smith is identified as the 'Father of Economics'.
3. What are Economic Activities?
Ans: All the activities that man engages in to earn money and to utilize money are called economic activities.
4. A student buys a pen and writes with it. What kind of
economic activity is this?
Ans: Consumption.
5. What is 'Production'?
Ans: Man has learnt to utilize the natural resources and produce whatever goods he wants. This process is called 'Production'.
III. Answer the following in three or four sentences each:
1. What are man's economic activities?
Ans: Man makes use of his skills and labours to earn money and satisfies his wants by utilizing that money. In order to earn money and wealth, and thereby satisfy his wants, man engages himself in various activities. These activities are called economic activities.
2. Why do we need to study Economics?
Ans: We need to study Economics because of the following important aspects-
a) It helps to understand and solve problems of poverty, unemployment, economic inequality, etc.,
b) It helps to solve the problem of what to produce, how to produce, whom to produce, etc.,
c) Economics identifies the reason for the rise and fall of prices and the results of such fluctuations.
d) Economics suggests ways to make use of limited resources with care and efficiency.
3. How has the meaning of Economics changed from time
to time?
Ans: The subject matter of Economics has been changing from time to time. Earlier it meant as 'house hold management' Over the years the scope of economics has widened to national and international levels. Today economics deals with the activities such as production, consumption, exchange and distribution, etc.
4. What is meant by 'Factors of Production’? What are they?
Ans: The inputs needed to produce goods and services are - called Factors of production. There are four factors of production. They are 1) Land 2) Labour 3) Physical Capital and 4) Human Capital.
NATURAL RESOURCES
I. Fill in the blanks with suitable words
1. In recent times, man has moved towards ________ development by controlling environmental pollution and conservation of nature.
2. The amount of pure water available on the surface of land for human use is _________
3. Water is a renewable natural resource, but mineral oil is a _________
4. Plants, by the process of photosynthesis, absorb atmospheric ______________ and release __________
5. If deforestation continues at the same pace, within a few years, __________ state will become the largest desert of our country.
Ans: (1) forest (2) 0.03% (3) non-renewable
(4) Carbon dioxide, oxygen (5) Karnataka
II. Answer the following in a sentence each:
1. What is meant by 'Natural Resources'?
Ans: The resources that nature has given us are called 'Natural
Resources'.
2. What is the meaning of 'Desertification"?
Ans: The destruction of forests and living beings on earth leads to the creation of deserts. This is called desertification.
3. What do you mean by 'Ecological Balance'?
Ans: There is a close link between the innumerable species of animals, plants and man. When the number of animals, human beings and plants complement one another and all beings can live, in peace, such a state is called ecological balance.
4. Which are the gases identified as 'green-house gases'?
Ans: Gases like carbon dioxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons, ozone and others.
5. What is meant by the earth's 'carrying capacity'?
Ans: Earth is capable of enduring the pressure of population increase, deforestation, environmental pollution, depletion of ground water, excessive use of vehicles, etc., to a certain extent. This is called the earth’s Carrying capacity.
6. What is the main reason for depletion of underground
water table?
Ans: Excess use of ground water through bore wells is the reason for the depletion.
III. Answer the following in 5-6 sentences each :
1. How are the natural resources essential for human life?
Ans: 1) Man's life depends on natural resources. His economic activities have evolved depending on the natural resources. 2) Pleasant weather, fertile soil and abundant water enable agricultural development; 3) mineral resources provide the raw material and fuel necessary for the industrial development. 4) Forest resources not only provide timber and other products needed by man but also regulate the atmosphere. 5) Water helps in agricultural irrigation, production of electricity, industrial development and domestic consumption.
2. 'Plants are the atmospheric purification factories' Explain.
Ans: Plants and trees in the forest provide food and shelter to man and all birds and animals. They preserve the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Forest brings rain. They also give timber, fire wood and other products. They enable environmental protection and development.
3. What are renewable natural resources? List them.
Ans: Some natural resources go on getting replenished as we use them. These resources are called non-exhaustible resources. Nature, through its natural processes, goes on replenishing them. They are also called renewable resources. Water, land, forests, air, sunlight and heat are some of the renewable resources.
4. What are the non-renewable natural resources? Why should they be used carefully?
Ans: Some natural resources get depleted as we go on using them. Eventually they get dried up too, and cannot be created again. These resources are known as exhaustible resources. Minerals like iron ore, copper, gold, manganese, bauxite, etc., mineral fuels like coal, petroleum, natural gas, uranium, thorium etc., resources which get depleted and cannot be renewed. Nature cannot replenish them through its processes and so they are also known as non-renewable resources.
5. List out the effects of climatic changes.
Ans: The effects of climate are-
(1) Due to global warming, the ice cap in the Polar Regions
and the mountainous peaks will melt and raise the level of the sea and many coastal towns and cities will be
submerged.
(2) More surface water gets evaporated due to the rise of
heat in the atmosphere.
(3) When the amount of carbon dioxide increases in the
atmosphere, heat waves arise which are harmful to plant
and animal species.
(4) Due to temperature rise, the ice on the mountains, the glaciers melt flooding the river valleys and result in soil erosion.
(5) The rising temperature of the tropical zones spreads to Polar Regions, and causes oceanic currents and change in the direction of the oceanic currents.
(6) Marine life suffers due to the atmospheric change. There will be adverse effects on their feeding, reproductive activities and Lifestyle.
HUMAN RESOURCES
I. Fill in the blanks with suitable words:
1. The working people who have knowledge, talent and skill are called the ____________ of that country.
2. In 2011, the sex ratio was _________
3. Census takes place once in ________ years in India.
4. The quality of population in a country depends on ______ and ___________
5. The average number of infants out of the thousand born, which die within a year of birth, is called _________
6. In India, since the crude birth rate is high, and the crude death rate is ______, the population growth rate is high.
Ans: (1) national wealth (2) 1000 men 940 women (3) ten
(4) education, health (5) infant mortality (6) low
II. Answer the following in a sentence each:
1. Who are the people identified as 'Working People?
Ans: Adults are capable of working. They form the working people and they form the national wealth of a country
2. What is meant by 'Human resources’?
Ans: People with knowledge, skill and abilities form the human resource.
3. What was India's population according to 2011 census?
Ans: India's population according to 2011 census was 121.01 crores.
4. What do you mean by 'crude birth rate'?
Ans: The number of babies being born per year per thousand is called the crude birth rate.
5. In 2011, India's crude birth rate was 22 and crude death
rate was 6 what is the crude population growth rate?
Ans: Natural growth rate of population can be calculated in the following way
Natural growth rate of population = crude birth rate - crude death rate
In 2011, crude birth rate= 22
crude death rate = 6
22 - 6 = 6
In 2011, the crude population growth rate is 16
6. According to the 2011 census, what is the population
density in India?
Ans: According to the 2011 census, the population density in India is 382.
7. The population growth rate in developed nations is very
low. Why?
Ans: The population growth rate in developed nations is very low because both the birth rate and the death rate remain very low due to good health and hygienic facilities.
III. Answer' the following in 5-6 sentences each:
1. What is population Density? How is the population
density of a country calculated?
Ans: Population density is the average number of people living in an area of one square kilometer. Population density is calculated by dividing the total population of a country by the total land area.
2. Human Resources are considered the best among the factors of production. Why?
Ans: Human Resources are considered the best among the factors of production. It occupies' greater importance in the production of goods and services than natural resources and material resources. Natural resources and material resources cannot produce goods and services on their own. Production becomes possible only when human intelligence and effort are present. Human resources provide the knowledge and workforce needed for production.
3. What is the role of health and education in developing
human resources?
Ans: If good education, training and health facility measures are provided to human resources, they get transformed into human capital. They possess the capability to increase the national income and transform society. Health is one of the most important social infrastructures of man. Good health improves not only the quality of life of people but also the quality of their work. Therefore if rapid economic development has to be achieved, the health of the people should be improved.
4. The population growth is more only in the developing
countries. Why?
Ans: A backward country implements many measures in order to achieve economic growth. The government comes forward to provide education and health facilities to people. Epidemics are brought under control. Due to this, the death rate will decrease rapidly. However, the birth rate remains high, reducing very slowly. Hence at this stage, since the birth rate is high, and the death rate remains low, the population growth rate is high.
5. What measures do you suggest to improve the quality Population?
Ans: The national Health Policy of India aims to improve health care, family welfare and nutritional services for the people. It has paid greater attention to the health protection of the poor and tribal people. In the past six decades, it has attempted to provide comprehensive health facilities and thus improve the quality of people.
POVERTY AND HUNGER
I. Fill in the blanks with suitable words:
1. According to the National Sample Survey Organization
(NSSO), in 2004-05, there were ________ poor people in India.
2. The person who first brought the poverty line concept into practice to identify poor people was ________
3. The Indian government has established ________ to buy and store food grains.
4. The Health insurance that is provided to poor people is called __________
5. The project that has been implemented for the purpose of providing old age pension is ____________
6. The government fixes the minimum price for the food grains before sowing season. This is called _______
Ans: (1) 21.8% 2) Dadabhai Naoroji (3) Food Corporation of
India (4) Yashaswini Yojana (5) Sandhya Suraksha Yojana (6) Minimum support price.
ll. Answer the following in a sentence each:
1. Give the meaning of 'Poverty'.
Ans: The condition in which people are deprived of their fundamental needs like food, clothing, shelter, education and health is called poverty.
2. What are the basic requirements of human beings?
Ans: The basic requirements of human beings especially of the rural people are food, shelter, education, drinking water, hygiene, etc.
3. What is 'poverty line'?
Ans: Poverty line is the yardstick used to measure poverty by
differentiating between poor and the non-poor.
4. What is the indicator framed to measure amount of
hunger?
Ans: 'World Hunger Index' is the indicator framed to measure
amount of hunger.
5. What is 'food security'?
Ans: Food security refers to that system which ensures the provision of food at all times to everyone in the country.
6. What is meant by buffer stock?
Ans: The government buys the excessive food grains from the farmers at the Lime of harvest through the Food Corporation of India. This type of collecting grains is called buffer stock.
III. Answer the following in five-six sentences each:
1. How is poverty identified in India?
Ans: The poverty line has been used as the main yardstick to measure poverty. At present, depending on the per capita consumption of food, the poverty line is fixed. An individual's food consumption is measured in terms of calorie. In cities, an individual's daily average requirement is 2100 calories, whereas it is 2400 calories in villages. People unable to earn this minimum requirement of calories are identified as people below the poverty line, or the poor.
2. What are the indicators of poverty?
Ans: Sociologists have attempted to identify poverty through
indicators other than income and consumption of food. Those indicators are- level of illiteracy, amount of malnutrition, lack of health care, dearth of employment opportunities: unavailability of hygiene, etc. Nowadays, factors of social ostracization and handicaps of various types are also being considered while determining poverty.
3. Although India has achieved self-sufficiency in the
production of food grains, it has not been able to get rid
of hunger and drought. Why?
Ans: The lack of buying power among the poor, and the shortcomings in the distribution of food grains are some of the reasons. When natural disasters like earthquake, drought, floods, Tsunamis and destruction of crops take place, the consequences will be devastating. In these circumstances, the production of food grains suffers and there is shortage of food. Due to shortage of food, the prices of food grains rise very high. At such times, poor people cannot afford to buy food grains, and hence suffer from starvation. This kind of collective starvation leads to famine.
4. Explain the working of the public distribution system in
India.
Ans: The food grains collected by the Food Corporation of India are distributed to poor people at low prices through the government controlled fair price depots. This is called the public distribution system. Food grains, sugar, kerosene, cooking oil and other essential ingredients are distributed through the fair price depots. These items are sold at rates much lower than the market rates. The government has enabled fair price depots to be opened in almost all villages, towns and cities. There are around 4.7 lakh fair price depots in India today, and around 16 Crore families are benefitting from them.
5. List out the measures taken by the government to
eradicate poverty.
Ans: The measures taken by the government to eradicate poverty are as follows:
(1) Economic development measures. The government is
attempting to achieve economic development through five year plans.
(2) Implementation of specific poverty eradication
programmes like (A) Self employment programmes.
Under this scheme, the integrated rural development
programmes, the Swarnajayanthi Gram Swaudyog Yojana
are undertaken. (B) Wage Employment Programme is
implemented to provide jobs on daily wage basis. (C)
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Programme was the most ambitious daily wage Programme ever launched.
(3) Provision of the minimum basic requirement: Under this programme, many measures are taken to improve the life of poor rural mass.
(4) Social Security measures: The protection that the
government provides to the helpless, the aged and the
handicapped among the very poor people.
6. Mention the social security measures being provided to
the poor people.
Ans: Social Security measures: The protection that the government provides to the helpless, the aged and the handicapped among the very poor people is called Social Security; Deserted old people get Old Age allowance every month under 'Sandhya Suraksha Yojana'. Handicapped people and helpless people incapable of doing any work get disability allowance every month. Poor widows get Widow Allowance every month.
7. How has the 'Mahatma Gandhi National employment
Guarantee Programme' helped to eradicate rural
poverty?
Ans: 'Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee
Programme' was implemented in 2006. This was the most
ambitious daily wage programme ever launched. Under this programme, from every poor family, member desirous of working are given daily wage work for a minimum of 100 days in a year in order to provide stability in their lives. Those who are poor and are ready to work for low wages should register their names in their gram panchayat under this programme. If the registered job aspirants are not given jobs within 15 days of registration, they will be given the daily unemployment allowance as fixed by the government.
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