Podar International School, Osmanabad

Std: VIII Subject : Geography Topic : CH 3: Water

Value of Chapter : Importance of Natural Resources

1 Choose the appropriate option.

a) India receives water mainly in this season.
a) autumn ii)spring
iii) winter iv)monsoon
b) ………… leads to stagnation of growth and development of the area.
i) non availability of water ii)excessive water availability
iii) rain water harvesting iv)recycling of water

c) Uneven distribution of water is mainly caused by ……..

i) snowfall ii) rainfall

iii) vegetation iv) slope of the land

2.Fill in the blanks

a) The percentage of the water available for human consumption is approximately only
1%.
b) Hydroelectric is the electricity produced by water.
c) River cleaning projects have been undertaken to improve the quality of water.
d)The equatorial region and the tropical regions have more precipitation than
evaporation .
3. Answer the following questions in 10 to 20 words
a) How does afforestation helps in water conservation?

Ans: Recharging the underground water by afforestation. It will also prevent soil erosion
and surface run off.

b) List the various uses of water.

Ans: we use water for domestic purposes such as cooking, washing, drinking, bathing, etc.
 Podar International School, Osmanabad
Std: VIII Subject : Geography Topic : CH 3: Water

Value of Chapter : Importance of Natural Resources

● water is used for irrigation to water crops, from various sources such as rivers, lakes, etc.

● water is used in industries for various purposes such as cooling, cleaning, washing, etc.
c) How do increased water demands lead to water scarcity ?

Ans: The demand of water has increased with the increase in population. It is not only
required for human consumption but also for agriculture, industries and domestic
purposes.

4.Answer the following question in 50 to 70 words.

a) Discuss the human factors lead to water scarcity.

Ans: Human beings cause a two-fold impact on water resources by increasingly using
freshwater and depletion of usable freshwater resources. The demand of water has
increased with the increase in population. It is not only required for human consumption
but also for agriculture, industries and domestic purposes.

Depletion of usable freshwater means reducing the current water reserve before it gets
replenished. Depletion of fresh water is caused because of many factors such as misuse,
over exploitation, poor storage facilities, pollution of water resources, etc.

b) What is the impact of scarcity of water?

Ans: ● People have to walk long distances in order to fetch drinking water.

● Growth and development of the area is hindered because of the non-availability of the

water.

● Water though being a free resource is now being sold at a price which is steadily
increasing with the demand.

● People have to drink impure water that could lead to many water borne diseases.

● Water scarcity could lead to conflicts between people, between states and even between

countries.
 Podar International School, Osmanabad
Std: VIII Subject : Geography Topic : CH 3: Water

Value of Chapter : Importance of Natural Resources

c) How can we conserve the water resources?

Ans: Water resources can be conserved in many ways some of which are given below.

● Recycling of water from the industrial waste and urban sewage by treating them, before
releasing them into water bodies.

● Recharging the underground water by afforestation. It will also prevent soil erosion and

Surface run off.

● Incorporating water saving methods of irrigation in agriculture such as drip-irrigation,

trickle irrigation and sprinklers irrigation.

● Harvesting rainwater by collecting it as a surface run off and making it available for

Various purposes.

● Removal of salt from sea water known as desalination.

5. Give reasons.
a) Some of the biggest deserts lie in the subtropical regions.

Ans: subtropical areas between 20°– 40° North and South, face more evaporation than
precipitation.Therefore, these areas have some of the largest deserts of the world such as
Sahara, Arabian,Western Australian Desert, etc.

b) Only 1% of fresh water is available for human use.

Ans: Earth is called the ‘blue planet’ because 71% of the earth is covered with water. Most
of the surface water (about 97%) is in the oceans and seas. This water is saline and not fit
for human consumption. The remaining 3% is the fresh water. But the entire 3% is not
available for use. About 2 3 of this fresh water remains frozen in ice-caps and glaciers.
Thus, approximately only 1% of the fresh water is available for human use.
 Podar International School, Osmanabad
Std: VIII Subject : Geography Topic : CH 3: Water

Value of Chapter : Importance of Natural Resources

Workbook exercise
2. Why is water called as a renewable resource? Mention three properties of water.
Ans: Water is a natural resource which is found in oceans, seas, rivers, ponds, streams,
wells and also under the ground. As long as we get rain, these sources of water never
replenish due to hydrological cycle of water. So water can be called as a renewable
resource. The three properties of water are: it is colourless, odourless and tasteless.
3. If 71% of the earth is covered with water, then why there is scarcity of water.
Ans :Earth is covered with 71% of water, however most of the surface water is in the
oceans and seas. This water is saline and not fit for human consumption. remaining 3% is
the fresh water, but the entire 3% is not available for use. As 2/3 of this fresh water
remains frozen in the ice-caps and glaciers. Thus, approximately only 1% of the fresh
water is available for human use and therefore we face the problem of scarcity of water.
4. What are multipurpose projects and name three river systems of Northern India?
Ans :Most of the major rivers have dams for optimum management of river water. Such
dams that perform various functions such as generating electricity, controlling floods, etc.
are called as multipurpose projects. The three river systems of Northern India are the
Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.
5. List down the physical factors that leads to water scarcity.
Ans :Physical water scarcity is a result of inadequate natural water resources to supply the
demand of a region. It may be due to the distribution of rainfall all over the world.
Secondly climatic change may also result in altered weather patterns. Such alterations
create droughts and floods or global warming that again influences the hydrological
balance. The hydrological imbalance eventually leads to drying up of many water
resources.
6. Define water scarcity and explain how it is caused due to economic and political factors.
Ans: Water scarcity is the lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demands
of the water usage within a region. It is not only the quantity but also the quality of water
that renders water useless. Following are the economic and political factors that leads to
water scarcity. a) Processing of water is a costly process. Lack of efficient infrastructure to
supply water to the dry regions also leads to shortage of freshwater. b) Political factors
such as indecision of the government on various multipurpose projects and unwillingness
of the state or countries with another territory are also few reasons of shortage of water.
 Podar International School, Osmanabad
Std: VIII Subject : Geography Topic : CH 3: Water

Value of Chapter : Importance of Natural Resources

Q.I Fill in the blanks.

1. Water is also used in thermal power plants for _______________. cooling
2. The _________________ cycle converts sea water into fresh water. hydrological
3. The demand of water has _________________ with the increase in population. Increased
4. _______________ removes salt from the sea water. Desalinization
Q.II Match the columns

Reasons of water scarcity Factors

i Uneven distribution of water all over the world a. Human Factor
ii. Pollution of water resources b. Economic Factor
iii. Lack of infrastructure to supply water to different regions. c. Political Factor
iv. Indecision of the government on various multipurpose projects. d. Physical Factor
i-d,ii-a,iii-b,iv-c
Q.III Name the following.
1. Method of collecting surface water and making it available for various purposes.
Rain water harvesting
2. Dams that perform various functions such as generating electricity, controlling floods,
etc.
Multipurpose projects
3. Other name of hydrological cycle.
Water cycle
Q.IV Give reason.
1. Areas with heavy rainfall may also experience water scarcity.
It is not only the quantity but also the quality of water that renders water useless. Water
pollution, lack of proper storage facility, increase in population, etc. may also make region
with high rain water affected by water scarcity.
Q.V Answer the following questions in brief.
 Podar International School, Osmanabad
Std: VIII Subject : Geography Topic : CH 3: Water

Value of Chapter : Importance of Natural Resources

1. List any three uses of water.

Water is a very precious natural resource and is useful to us in the following ways.
• We use water for domestic purposes such as cooking, washing, drinking, bathing, etc.
• Water is used for irrigation to water crops, from various sources such as rivers, lakes, etc.
• Water is used in industries for various purposes such as cooling, cleaning, washing, etc.
• Water bodies help immensely in inland and international trade and transport.
• Water is used to generate hydroelectric power. It is also used in thermal power plants
for cooling.
• Water is also used by plants and animals for their survival.
• Water supports various forms of marine life, indirectly supporting various economic
activities of human beings. • Water helps in maintaining the ecological balance, through
processes such as water balance and hydrological cycle.
• Large water bodies help in regulating the climate of the coastal regions.
2. Name any two water saving methods for irrigation.
Water saving methods of irrigation in agriculture are drip-irrigation, trickle irrigation and
sprinklers irrigation.
3.Mention any two impacts of water scarcity.
Impact of Water Scarcity
• People have to walk long distances in order to fetch drinking water.
• Growth and development of the area is hindered because of the nonavailability of the
water
. • Water though being a free resource is now being sold at a price which is steadily
increasing with the demand. • People have to drink impure water that could lead to many
water borne diseases.
• Water scarcity could lead to conflicts between people, between states and even
between countries.
Q.VI Answer in detail.
1. Write short note on ‘distribution of water in India’.
 Podar International School, Osmanabad
Std: VIII Subject : Geography Topic : CH 3: Water

Value of Chapter : Importance of Natural Resources

The major source of water in India is the monsoon that feeds various rivers, lakes, ponds
and underground water. The three river systems of the Northern India– the Indus, the
Ganga and the Brahmaputra and their tributaries carry about 60% of the total potential
runoff. Most of the major rivers have dams for optimum management of river water. Such
dams that perform various functions such as generating electricity, controlling floods, etc.
and are called multipurpose projects.
2. How human beings are responsible for water scarcity?
Water Scarcity due to Human Factors
• Human beings cause a two-fold impact on water resources by increasingly using
freshwater and depletion of usable freshwater resources.
• The demand of water has increased with the increase in population. It is not only
required for human consumption but also for agriculture, industries and domestic purposes
. • Depletion of usable freshwater means reducing the current water reserve before it gets
replenished. It is caused because of many factors such as misuse, over exploitation, poor
storage facilities, pollution of water resources, etc.
Q.VII Observe the picture and answer the questions that follow.
1. Name the water bodies that comprise of 97% of water on the earth.
2. Oceans and seas
2. Why entire 3% of freshwater is not available for human consumption?
The entire 3% is not available for use. About 2/3 of this fresh water remains frozen in ice-
caps and glaciers. Thus, approximately only 1% of the fresh water is available for human
use.
Assignment links:1 https://forms.gle/h1xCrJmde67iqFXS9
2 https://forms.gle/B9DChxD7miWkNn1t6
3 https://forms.gle/KjX2LMcwgEum5Htm7
Youtube links: 1 https://youtu.be/Px2Okp70imk
2 https://youtu.be/gAGFKfhDO_o
 Podar International School, Osmanabad
Std: VIII Subject : Geography Topic : CH 3: Water

Value of Chapter : Importance of Natural Resources