The Core Books

Chapter 1:Nature And Scope MCQs

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Sri

in

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Class 12 • Geography

Chapter 1: Human Geography: Nature And Scope

Source: NCERT Official Textbook

This chapter introduces Human Geography as the study of the dynamic relationship between human societies and the Earth’s surface. It begins by defining the discipline’s core concern—understanding the Earth as a human home—and its integrative nature.

The chapter then explores the key philosophical debates that have shaped geographical thought: Environmental Determinism (humans controlled by nature, as seen in Benda’s story), Possibilism (humans use technology to overcome nature, illustrated by life in Trondheim), and Neodeterminism (a balanced, sustainable middle path proposed by Griffith Taylor).

The latter part of the chapter details the evolution of approaches in human geography, from colonial exploration to modern post-modernism, highlighting significant phases like the Quantitative Revolution. It effectively establishes the subject’s interdisciplinary character by mapping its sub-fields (e.g., Social, Political, Urban Geography) to corresponding social science disciplines like Sociology, Political Science, and Economics.

The chapter concludes by emphasizing human geography’s relevance in analyzing spatial patterns of human activities and addressing contemporary environmental and social issues

Topics Covered:

Section A: Descriptive Questions

  1. How does geography study the earth’s surface, and what are its two major components? (Pg. 1) Page 1
  2. What is the main issue with the traditional dichotomy between physical and human geography? (Pg. 1-2) Page 1-2
  3. Define human geography using the ideas of Ratzel, Semple, and Vidal de la Blache. (Pg. 2) Page 2
  4. What does technology indicate about a society, and how does it affect the human-environment relationship? (Pg. 2) Page 2
  5. Explain the concept of ‘possibilism’ as opposed to ‘environmental determinism’. (Pg. 3) Page 3
  6. List and briefly describe the different schools of thought that emerged in human geography in the 1970s. (Pg. 4) Page 4
  7. Human geography is highly interdisciplinary. Name any three sister disciplines of social sciences it interfaces with, along with their corresponding sub-fields. (Pg. 4-5) Page 4-5

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Section B1: Objective MCQs

Page 1

The core concern of geography as a discipline is to understand: (Pg. 1)

A) The laws of physicsB) The earth as home of human beingsC) Only the physical environmentD) Only political boundaries
View Answer
Correct Answer: B
Reference: NCERT Page 1
Page 2

Which of the following is an example of a physical phenomenon described with a metaphor from human anatomy? (Pg. 2)

A) Face’ of the earthB) Arteries of circulation’C) Organisms’ for villagesD) Profile’ of a city
View Answer
Correct Answer: A
Reference: NCERT Page 2
Page 2

According to Ellen C. Semple, human geography is the study of the changing relationship between: (Pg. 2)

A) Stable earth and stable manB) Unresting man and unstable earthC) Physical laws and living beingsD) Human societies and earth’s surface
View Answer
Correct Answer: B
Reference: NCERT Page 2
Page 2

In the early stages of human interaction with nature, when technology was low, the relationship was termed as: (Pg. 2)

A) PossibilismB) NeodeterminismC) Environmental DeterminismD) Quantitative Revolution
View Answer
Correct Answer: C
Reference: NCERT Page 2
Page 4

What concept did Griffith Taylor introduce as a middle path between determinism and possibilism? (Pg. 4)

A) Quantitative RevolutionB) Neodeterminism or stop and go determinismC) Welfare SchoolD) Behavioural School
View Answer
Correct Answer: B
Reference: NCERT Page 4
Page 4

Which school of thought employed Marxian theory to explain poverty and social inequality? (Pg. 4)

A) Behavioural SchoolB) Welfare SchoolC) Radical SchoolD) Post-modernism
View Answer
Correct Answer: C
Reference: NCERT Page 4
Page 5

Which period in human geography was marked by the use of computers and statistical tools, often applying laws of physics? (Pg. 5)

A) Exploration and DescriptionB) Areal DifferentiationC) Spatial Organisation (Quantitative Revolution)D) Post-modernism
View Answer
Correct Answer: C
Reference: NCERT Page 5
Page 6

(Exercise) Which statement does NOT describe geography? (Pg. 6)

A) An integrative disciplineB) Study of inter-relationship between humans and environmentC) Subjected to dualismD) Not relevant due to development of technology
View Answer
Correct Answer: D
Reference: NCERT Page 6
Page 6

(Exercise) Which one is NOT a source of geographical information? (Pg. 6)

A) Traveller’s accountsB) Old mapsC) Samples of rock materials from the moonD) Ancient epics
View Answer
Correct Answer: C
Reference: NCERT Page 6
Page 6

(Exercise) What is the most important factor in the interaction between people and environment? (Pg. 6)

A) Human intelligenceB) People’s perceptionC) TechnologyD) Human brotherhood
View Answer
Correct Answer: C
Reference: NCERT Page 6
Page 6

(Exercise) Which one is NOT an approach in human geography? (Pg. 6)

A) Areal differentiationB) Spatial organisationC) Quantitative revolutionD) Exploration and description
View Answer
Correct Answer: D
Reference: NCERT Page 6

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Section B2: Factual One-Liners

Human geography studies the relationship between the physical/natural and the ______ worlds. (Pg. 1) Page 1

Reveal Answer
human (Page 1)

German geographers often describe the ‘state/country’ as a ‘living ______’. (Pg. 2) Page 2

Reveal Answer
organism (Page 2)

Human geography studies the inter-relationship between the physical environment and the ______ environment created by humans. (Pg. 2) Page 2

Reveal Answer
sociocultural (Page 2)

The story of Benda from Abujh Maad represents the direct relationship of a primitive society with nature, where it is worshipped as “______”. (Pg. 3) Page 3

Reveal Answer
Mother Nature (Page 3)

The ______ school of thought in human geography was mainly concerned with aspects of social well-being like housing and health. (Pg. 4) Page 4

Reveal Answer
Welfare or humanistic (Page 4)

The ______ school of thought emphasised lived experience and perception of space based on ethnicity and race. (Pg. 4) Page 4

Reveal Answer
Behavioural (Page 4)

The phase focusing on identifying the uniqueness of any region and how it differed from others is called ______. (Pg. 5) Page 5

Reveal Answer
areal differentiation (Page 5)

(Exercise) Two sub-fields of human geography are Social Geography and ______ Geography. (Pg. 6) Page 6

Reveal Answer
Political (Page 6)

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