Class 10 Social Science: Development – Questions and Answers
LET’S WORK THESE OUT
1. Why do different persons have different notions of development? Which of the following explanations is more important and why?
Answer:
Different persons have different notions of development because life situations of persons are different. People’s needs, experiences, and living conditions vary, leading them to aspire for different goals. Hence, (b) is more important.
2. Do the following two statements mean the same? Justify your answer.
(a) People have different developmental goals.
(b) People have conflicting developmental goals.
Answer:
No, they do not mean the same. Different developmental goals refer to the variety of aspirations people have based on their needs, while conflicting goals refer to when one person’s developmental goal may hinder or harm another’s development.
3. Give some examples where factors other than income are important aspects of our lives.
Answer:
Examples:
- Equal treatment and respect.
- A pollution-free environment.
- Freedom and security.
- Good health and education.
4. Explain some of the important ideas of the above section in your own words.
Answer:
Development is not just about income; it includes non-material aspects like dignity, equality, and freedom. People have different and sometimes conflicting goals based on their unique circumstances.
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Discuss the following situations:
1. Look at the picture. What should be the developmental goals for such an area?
Answer:
The developmental goals should include providing basic amenities like clean drinking water, good roads, healthcare, education, employment opportunities, and better housing.
2. Read the newspaper report and answer the questions:
(i) Who are the people who benefited and who did not?
Answer:
The multinational company benefited. The local people and environment suffered due to toxic waste.
(ii) What should be the developmental goal for this country?
Answer:
The goal should be to ensure safe disposal of waste, protect health and environment, and promote sustainable development.
3. What can be some of the developmental goals for your village, town, or locality?
Answer:
- Clean water supply.
- Good educational institutions.
- Proper healthcare facilities.
- Employment opportunities.
- Green environment.
LET’S WORK THESE OUT
1. Give three examples where an average is used for comparing situations.
Answer:
- Comparing the average marks of students.
- Comparing average rainfall of different regions.
- Comparing average income of different states.
2. Why do you think average income is an important criterion for development? Explain.
Answer:
Average income helps compare the standard of living among countries or states and gives an idea of general prosperity.
3. Besides size of per capita income, what other property of income is important in comparing two or more societies?
Answer:
The distribution of income among people is important.
4. Suppose records show that the average income in a country has been increasing over a period of time. From this, can we conclude that all sections of the economy have become better? Illustrate your answer with an example.
Answer:
No. For example, if the rich become richer and the poor remain the same or get poorer, the average may rise but inequalities increase.
5. From the text, find out the per capita income level of about 10–15 low-income countries as per World Development Reports.
Answer:
Countries with per capita income about US$ 2400 or less are classified as low-income countries.
6. Write a paragraph on your notion of what should India do, or achieve, to become a developed country.
Answer:
India should focus on reducing inequalities, improving healthcare, education, employment opportunities, sustainable use of resources, and ensuring equality for all sections of society.
LET’S WORK THESE OUT
ACTIVITY 2
Fill in the blanks:
(a) The literacy rate for all age groups, including young and old, is 76% for rural males and 54% for rural females. However, it is not just that these many adults could not attend school but that there are many children who are currently not in school.
(b) It is clear from the table that 15% of rural girls and 18% of rural boys are not attending school. Therefore, illiteracy among children in the age group 10-14 is as high as 10% for rural females and 15% for rural males.
(c) This high level of illiteracy among children aged 10-14 years even after more than 75 years of our independence is most disturbing.
1. Look at data in Tables 1.3 and 1.4. Is Haryana ahead of Kerala in literacy rate etc., as it is in terms of per capita income?
Answer:
No, Kerala is ahead of Haryana in literacy rate and health indicators despite Haryana having higher per capita income.
2. Think of other examples where collective provision of goods and services is cheaper than individual provision.
Answer:
Examples:
- Public parks.
- Community water supply.
- Public transportation.
3. Does availability of good health and educational facilities depend only on amount of money spent by the government on these facilities? What other factors could be relevant?
Answer:
No. Other factors include efficiency in implementation, awareness among people, equitable distribution, and quality of governance.
4. In a study, it was found that in Tamil Nadu, 90% rural people used a ration shop whereas in West Bengal only 35% used it. Where would people be better off and why?
Answer:
People would be better off in Tamil Nadu because greater access to ration shops ensures food security.
LET’S UNDERSTAND WHY
(a) Why groundwater is overused?
Answer:
Groundwater is overused due to intensive farming, increased population demands, and lack of proper water management.
(b) Can there be development without overuse?
Answer:
Yes, through sustainable practices, efficient use of resources, and adopting conservation methods.
(a) Is crude oil essential for the development process in a country? Discuss.
Answer:
Yes, crude oil is essential for transport, industries, and energy production, but reliance on it should be reduced.
(b) India has to import crude oil. What problems do you anticipate for the country looking at the above situation?
Answer:
Problems include rising import bills, trade deficits, inflation, and dependence on foreign countries for energy security.
EXERCISES
1. Development of a country can generally be determined by:
Answer: (iv) all the above
2. Which neighbouring country has better performance in terms of human development than India?
Answer: (ii) Sri Lanka
3. Income of the fourth family:
Answer: (iv) Rs 6000
4. What is the main criterion used by the World Bank in classifying different countries? What are the limitations of this criterion?
Answer:
The main criterion is per capita income. Limitations: It ignores distribution of income, health, education, and living conditions.
5. How is the criterion used by UNDP different from World Bank?
Answer:
UNDP uses Human Development Index, which includes income, education, and health, while World Bank uses only per capita income.
6. Why do we use averages? Are there any limitations?
Answer:
We use averages for comparison. Limitation: It hides disparities among individuals.
7. Kerala has lower per capita income but better human development than Haryana. Discuss.
Answer:
Yes, Kerala’s better education, health services, and lower IMR show that income alone is not sufficient for development.
8. Present sources of energy used in India and possibilities 50 years from now:
Answer:
Present sources: Coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydroelectricity.
Future possibilities: Solar energy, wind energy, biofuels, and nuclear energy.
9. Why is the issue of sustainability important for development?
Answer:
Because future generations should also have resources to fulfill their needs.
10. “The Earth has enough resources to meet the needs of all but not enough to satisfy the greed of even one person.” Discuss.
Answer:
This statement highlights that sustainable use of resources is necessary to meet everyone’s needs without overexploitation.
11. Examples of environmental degradation:
Answer:
- Deforestation.
- Air and water pollution.
- Soil erosion.
12. From Table 1.6, country at top and bottom for each item:
Answer:
Top – Sri Lanka; Bottom – Nepal or Myanmar depending on the indicator.
13. Based on BMI table:
(i) Compare Kerala and Madhya Pradesh.
Answer:
Kerala has lower undernourishment (8.5% males, 10% females) compared to Madhya Pradesh (28% males, 28% females).
(ii) Why is undernourishment high despite enough food?
Answer:
Due to unequal distribution, poverty, lack of purchasing power, and poor food management systems.