CBSE Class 8 Social Science Chapter 6: Human Resource NCERT Solutions

1. People are considered the most important resource because they are the ones who utilize their intelligence, skills, and creativity to exploit and transform other natural resources into useful products and services. Without human intervention, other resources would remain of little value.
2. The uneven distribution of population across the globe is influenced by several factors:
   • Geographical Factors: People tend to live in areas with favourable climates, fertile plains suitable for agriculture, and proximity to water sources. Extreme environments like deserts, high mountains, and dense forests are sparsely populated.
   • Economic Factors: Areas with well-developed industries, better employment opportunities, and good infrastructure (like housing, education, and health facilities) attract more people, leading to dense populations.
   • Social and Cultural Factors: Places with historical significance or religious importance can also attract a considerable number of people.
3. The world population has grown very rapidly primarily due to significant advancements in medical science and public health. These advancements have led to a drastic decrease in the death rate, as fewer people now die from diseases and other causes compared to the past. While the birth rate has not decreased at the same pace, the decline in mortality has resulted in a faster increase in population.
4. Two key factors influencing population change are:
   • Birth Rate: This is the number of live births per 1,000 people in a year. A high birth rate contributes to population increase.
   • Death Rate: This is the number of deaths per 1,000 people in a year. A declining death rate, especially due to improved healthcare and living conditions, leads to population growth if the birth rate remains high.
   • Migration: This is the movement of people from one place to another, either within a country or between countries. Migration can significantly alter the population size of specific areas.
5. Population composition refers to the structure of a population based on various characteristics. It describes the makeup of the population in terms of age (e.g., children, working adults, elderly), sex (male-female ratio), literacy level, occupation, health status, economic condition, and other social attributes.
6. A population pyramid is a graphical representation that shows the distribution of various age groups in a population, typically broken down by sex. It helps in understanding the population structure of a country by:
   • Visualizing Age Structure: The shape of the pyramid indicates the proportion of young (under 15), working-age (15-64), and elderly (65+) populations.
   • Indicating Birth and Death Rates: A broad base suggests a high birth rate, while a rapidly narrowing top indicates a high death rate. A pyramid that tapers gradually suggests a lower death rate.
   • Predicting Future Trends: The structure can help predict future population growth, dependency ratios, and the demand for resources like education and healthcare.

1. (c) The way in which people are spread across a given area.
2. (b) Births, deaths and migration (Note: The source provided 'Births, deaths and life expectancy' twice, but migration is the standard third factor for population change).
3. (c) 6 billion
4. (a) A graphical presentation of the age, sex composition of a population.

When people are attracted to an area it becomes densely populated. Factors that influence this include favourable climate; good supplies of natural resources and fertile land.

A society with "too many under 15s" (a young population) would have a high dependency ratio, meaning a large number of children rely on the working-age population for support. This necessitates significant investment in education, healthcare (especially pediatric services), childcare, and recreational facilities. There would be a high demand for schools, teachers, and child-friendly infrastructure. The workforce for the future would be abundant, but immediate resource allocation would be heavily skewed towards the young.

Conversely, a society with "too few under 15s" (an aging population) would have a low dependency ratio concerning children but potentially a high dependency ratio for the elderly. The workforce might be shrinking, leading to potential labor shortages. There would be a greater need for healthcare services catering to older adults, pension schemes, and facilities like retirement homes and nursing care. The economy might face challenges related to innovation and dynamism due to a smaller younger generation entering the workforce.

(a) Asia