The Core Books

Chapter 4: Primary Activities MCQs

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Sri

in

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Class 12 • Geography

Chapter 4: Primary Activities

Source: NCERT Official Textbook

Chapter 4, “Primary Activities,” covers economic activities directly dependent on the environment for the utilization of natural resources. It begins by defining primary activities and then delves into specific types. Hunting and Gathering is discussed as the oldest activity, practiced in harsh climates with low technology.

Pastoralism is examined in two forms: Nomadic Herding, a primitive subsistence activity involving seasonal migration (transhumance), and Commercial Livestock Rearing, a capital-intensive, organized practice in ranches. The core of the chapter focuses on Agriculture, detailing various systems.

These include Subsistence Agriculture (Primitive/Shifting and Intensive), Plantation Agriculture (large-scale, capital-intensive, single-crop systems introduced by Europeans), Extensive Commercial Grain Cultivation (mechanized farming in mid-latitude interiors), Mixed Farming (combined crop and livestock rearing), Dairy Farming (advanced, capital and labour-intensive), Mediterranean Agriculture (specialized in citrus fruits and viticulture), and Market Gardening/Horticulture (high-value crops for urban markets).

The chapter also explains farming organizations like Co-operative and Collective Farming. Finally, it covers Mining, discussing factors affecting its profitability and the two main methods: Surface (open-cast) and Underground (shaft) mining, noting the shift of these activities to developing nations due to labour costs.

Topics Covered:

Section A: Descriptive Questions

  1. What are primary activities? Why are they directly dependent on the environment? (Pg. 1) Page 22
  2. Why has hunting been banned in India? (Pg. 1) Page 22
  3. List two high latitude and two low latitude zones where gathering is practised. (Pg. 2) Page 23
  4. Differentiate between Nomadic Herding and Commercial Livestock Rearing based on organization and capital. (Pg. 3) Page 24
  5. Describe the process and challenges of shifting cultivation. (Pg. 6) Page 27
  6. What are the characteristic features of Plantation Agriculture? (Pg. 7) Page 28
  7. Why is there low yield per acre but high yield per person in Extensive Commercial Grain Cultivation? (Pg. 7) Page 28
  8. Why is Dairy Farming practised mainly near urban and industrial centres? (Pg. 9) Page 30
  9. What is the advantage of Mediterranean agriculture in terms of crop seasons? (Pg. 10) Page 31
  10. How does Co-operative Farming help individual farmers? (Pg. 11) Page 32
  11. What are the two main factors affecting the profitability of mining? (Pg. 11) Page 32
  12. (Exercise) Why is the future of shifting cultivation considered bleak? (Pg. 13) Page 34
  13. (Exercise) Why is market gardening practised near urban areas? (Pg. 13) Page 34

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Section B1: Objective MCQs

Page 22

People engaged in primary activities are often called: (Pg. 1)

A) Blue-collar workersB) White-collar workersC) Red-collar workersD) Grey-collar workers
View Answer
Correct Answer: C
Reference: NCERT Page 22
Page 23

Gathering is practised in regions with: (Pg. 2)

A) Fertile soil and mild climateB) Harsh climatic conditionsC) Dense urban centersD) Advanced technological infrastructure
View Answer
Correct Answer: B
Reference: NCERT Page 23
Page 24

What is the main reason for the decreasing number of pastoral nomads? (Pg. 3)

A) Climate changeB) Imposition of political boundariesC) Lack of animalsD) New diseases
View Answer
Correct Answer: B
Reference: NCERT Page 24
Page 24

Which of these is NOT a region associated with pastoral nomadism? (Pg. 3)

A) Arabian PeninsulaB) Eurasian TundraC) Canadian PrairiesD) South-west Africa
View Answer
Correct Answer: C
Reference: NCERT Page 24
Page 27

What is a major characteristic of Intensive Subsistence Agriculture? (Pg. 6)

A) Large farm sizesB) Low yield per unit areaC) Use of family labourD) Extensive use of machinery
View Answer
Correct Answer: C
Reference: NCERT Page 27
Page 28

Plantation agriculture was introduced in colonies primarily by: (Pg. 7)

A) The localsB) European colonizersC) Asian tradersD) Nomadic tribes
View Answer
Correct Answer: B
Reference: NCERT Page 28
Page 29

Extensive Commercial Grain Cultivation is NOT practised in: (Pg. 8)

A) Eurasian steppesB) Amazon BasinC) Canadian PrairiesD) Pampas of Argentina
View Answer
Correct Answer: B
Reference: NCERT Page 29
Page 29

The most advanced and efficient type of rearing milch animals is: (Pg. 8)

A) Nomadic HerdingB) PastoralismC) Dairy FarmingD) Truck Farming
View Answer
Correct Answer: C
Reference: NCERT Page 29
Page 31

Market Gardening depends heavily on good transportation links with: (Pg. 10)

A) Mining townsB) Urban centersC) Nomadic campsD) Plantation estates
View Answer
Correct Answer: B
Reference: NCERT Page 31
Page 32

Co-operative farming has been exceptionally successful in which country? (Pg. 11)

A) RussiaB) IndiaC) DenmarkD) USA
View Answer
Correct Answer: C
Reference: NCERT Page 32
Page 33

Which mining method is used when minerals lie deep below the surface? (Pg. 12)

A) Open-cast miningB) Surface miningC) Shaft methodD) Placer mining
View Answer
Correct Answer: C
Reference: NCERT Page 33
Page 34

(Exercise) Which one is NOT a plantation crop? (Pg. 13)

A) CoffeeB) WheatC) SugarcaneD) Rubber
View Answer
Correct Answer: B
Reference: NCERT Page 34
Page 34

(Exercise) Growing of flowers is called: (Pg. 13)

A) Truck farmingB) Factory farmingC) Mixed farmingD) Floriculture
View Answer
Correct Answer: D
Reference: NCERT Page 34

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Section B2: Factual One-Liners

The oldest economic activity known to humans is ______ and gathering. (Pg. 1) Page 22

Reveal Answer
Hunting (Page 22)

The milky juice of the zapota tree, used in chewing gum, is called ______. (Pg. 2) Page 23

Reveal Answer
Chicle (Page 23)

The seasonal migration of herders between plains and mountains is called ______. (Pg. 3) Page 24

Reveal Answer
Transhumance (Page 24)

Shifting cultivation is also called ______ and burn agriculture. (Pg. 6) Page 27

Reveal Answer
slash (Page 27)

Jhuming, Milpa, and Ladang are local names for ______ cultivation. (Pg. 6) Page 27

Reveal Answer
shifting (Page 27)

A large plantation in Brazil is called a ______. (Pg. 7) Page 28

Reveal Answer
fazenda (Page 28)

Fodder crops are an important component of ______ farming. (Pg. 8) Page 29

Reveal Answer
Mixed (Page 29)

Grape cultivation is specially known as ______. (Pg. 9) Page 30

Reveal Answer
Viticulture (Page 30)

The Netherlands specializes in growing ______, especially tulips. (Pg. 10) Page 31

Reveal Answer
flowers (Page 31)

The model of collective farming introduced in the erstwhile Soviet Union was called ______. (Pg. 11) Page 32

Reveal Answer
Kolkhoz (Page 32)

Mining that occurs close to the surface is called ______ mining. (Pg. 12) Page 33

Reveal Answer
surface / open-cast (Page 33)

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