Geography · Textbook solutions

Primary Economic Activities

Every textbook question in book order, plus the board's past questions. · 71 questions

Chapter activities

37 q

Make friends with maps! / Try this / Give it a try

Practice · 37

Observe the map in fig. 4.1 and answer the questions that follow.
Act p01 F4.1(1) $Which economic activities are shown on the map?$
Act p01 F4.1(2) $In which regions do you not find any activity? What could be the reason?$
Act p01 F4.1(3) $In which latitudes do you primarily find the distribution of lumbering activity?$
Act p01 F4.1(4) $Why is fishing occupation only found in certain areas in the oceans?$
Act p01 F4.1(5) $Which primary economic activities are mostly found in Europe?$
Act p01 F4.1(6) $What production does the symbol of mining shown in seas and oceans depict?$
Act p01 F4.1(7) $In which continent is mining not found?$
Act p01 F4.1(8) $In which ocean is the world's fishing mostly carried out?$
Act p01 F4.1(9) $Which primary economic activities are found to the south of Tropic of Capricorn?$
Act p01 F4.1(10) $Which primary activity is found in the islands of South East Asia?$
Act p01 F4.1(11) $Considering all the four continents, in which continent do you find less agriculture being practised?$
Act p01 F4.1(12) $Write a paragraph on relationship between latitudinal extent of agriculture and climate in your own words.$

Act p01 T4.1

Complete the following table. One has been done for you as an example. Table 4.1 Primary economic activity Natural resources required for the activity Factors affecting activities: Natural Factors affecting activities: Man-made Agriculture Land, soil, water, air Slope of land, Quality of soil, favourable climate, rainfall Fertilizers, insecticides, farm machines Animal husbandry ......... ......... ......... Fishing ......... ......... ......... Mining ......... ......... ......... Lumbering ......... ......... ......... Gathering ......... ......... .........

Observe the map in fig. 4.1 and answer the questions that follow.
Act p02 Lumb(1) $Which countries in the monsoon region practise lumbering on a larger scale?$
Act p02 Lumb(2) $In which part of Australia is lumbering carried on?$
Act p02 Lumb(3) $Why do you think lumbering is not carried out in the Northern part of Africa?$
Act p02 Lumb(4) $Write a note on the relationship between latitudes and lumbering.$
Act p02 Lumb(5) $Why is lumbering not developed on a commercial level in equatorial regions?$

Primary economic activity	Natural resources required for the activity	Factors affecting activities: Natural	Factors affecting activities: Man-made
Agriculture	Land, soil, water, air	Slope of land, Quality of soil, favourable climate, rainfall	Fertilizers, insecticides, farm machines
Animal husbandry	.........	.........	.........
Fishing	.........	.........	.........
Mining	.........	.........	.........
Lumbering	.........	.........	.........
Gathering	.........	.........	.........

Act p02 T4.2

Complete Table 4.2. One has been done for you as an example. Table 4.2 : Lumbering practised in different parts of the world Type of forest Regions Characteristics of forests Characteristics of lumbering activity Equatorial Evergreen forests Amazon river basin in South America, Congo river basin of Africa, West coast of Africa, South East Asia, Papua New Guinea Dense forests; many species in a small area; hard wood trees; accessibility is difficult; inhospitable climate Dense forests increase inaccessibility and transportation issues; traditional methods of lumbering; insects and reptiles cause problems; hard wood is comparatively less in demand than softwood; presence of many species in one region makes it unprofitable Tropical Deciduous forest (Monsoon) ......... ......... ......... Temperate deciduous forest ......... ......... ......... Temperate Coniferous forest ......... ......... .........

Observe the map in fig. 4.1 and answer the questions that follow.
Act p03 Fish(1) $Along which coast of North America is the Grand Bank located?$
Act p03 Fish(2) $Along which coast of South America is the fishing mostly practised?$
Act p03 Fish(3) $In which part of the Australian continent has fishing activity developed?$
Act p03 Fish(4) $Fishing is carried out on large scale on the Western coast of Africa than on the Eastern coast. Give reasons.$
Act p03 Fish(5) $Commercial fishing is practised on the Southern coast of Greenland. Give reasons.$
Observe the map in fig. 4.1 and answer the questions that follow.
Act p04 AH(1) $Do you think there is a correlation between animal husbandry and grasslands?$
Act p04 AH(2) $In which continent is animal husbandry not practised on a large scale?$
Act p04 AH(3) $In which regions of the world do animal husbandry and agriculture coincide?$
Act p04 AH(4) $Animal husbandry is found in between which latitudes of the world?$
Act p04 AH(5) $In which zone between 30 degrees North and 30 degrees South latitudes is animal husbandry not found on a large scale? What could be the reason behind?$
Act p04 AH(6) $What could be the reason of concentration of animal husbandry in the Eastern part of Australia?$
Act p04 AH(7) $Why is animal husbandry developed more in the arid regions of the interior of the continents?$
Observe the map in fig. 4.1 and answer the questions that follow.
Act p05 Min(1) $In which part of North American continent is mining mainly found?$
Act p05 Min(2) $Mining activity is located along which coastal side of the continent of South America?$
Act p05 Min(3) $Comparing other primary economic activities, do you think the extent of mining is related to latitudes? Why?$
Act p05 Min(4) $Looking at the concentration of mining in the world, can you relate it with the economic development of the country?$

Type of forest	Regions	Characteristics of forests	Characteristics of lumbering activity
Equatorial Evergreen forests	Amazon river basin in South America, Congo river basin of Africa, West coast of Africa, South East Asia, Papua New Guinea	Dense forests; many species in a small area; hard wood trees; accessibility is difficult; inhospitable climate	Dense forests increase inaccessibility and transportation issues; traditional methods of lumbering; insects and reptiles cause problems; hard wood is comparatively less in demand than softwood; presence of many species in one region makes it unprofitable
Tropical Deciduous forest (Monsoon)	.........	.........	.........
Temperate deciduous forest	.........	.........	.........
Temperate Coniferous forest	.........	.........	.........

Act p05 AgriChain

Act p07 Factors $On the basis of the information given in the chapter, classify the factors affecting agriculture into physical and human factors.$

Characteristics (B)	Type of Agriculture (C)
1) Small land holding. Maximum yield from small land. Food crops are dominant. Manual labour and use of animals. China, India, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka and East Asian countries. Rice is the major crop.	A) Shifting Agriculture
2) Large size of farm. Capital intensive, more use of modern machinery. Monoculture. Use of machinery from sowing to harvesting. Cultivation and commercial animal husbandry is done together. Per hectare low but per capita income is high. Temperate grassland, Steppes, Praries, Downs, Pampas, Velds. Wheat and maize are the major crops.	B) Horticulture
3) Large farm size. Capital intensive. Monoculture. Local labour is employed. Crop is well managed for quality and processing. Per hectare yield low but total production is high. Once plantation is done, it gives production for 10 to 15 years. Tea, coffee, rubber, cocoa etc., spice plantations in Kerala, cashewnut plantation in Konkan region. Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Indonesia, Caribbean Islands, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam.	C) Market Gardening
4) Forest land is burnt and used for agriculture. Very small farm size. Production is very less. Production can be taken for only 2-3 years. Land left fallow and move ahead looking for another land. Forest resources decline and soil erosion occurs. Mainly practiced in forested tropical regions of Asia, South-East Asia, South and Central America and Africa.	D) Intensive Subsistence Agriculture
5) Modern type of agriculture. Fulfill the demands of urban people, it is developed in fringe areas. Maximum production from limited agriculture area. Use of capital is high. Along with use of manual labour, use of scientific technology, knowledge and capital. Organic and chemical manures or fertilizers and irrigation. Practised in areas lying at distance of an overnight journey by trucks. Vegetables, fruits, milk, eggs, meat, fish etc. Developed mainly in highly industrialised and densely populated urban areas, e.g. fruits, vegetables and flowers from Khedshivapur, Saswad are brought to Pune.	E) Plantation Agriculture
6) Fruits, flowers, medicinal plants, ornamental plants etc. are produced for commercial use. Use of manual labour and mechanization. Practiced in tropical, Mediterranean and temperate regions where climate is supportive.	F) Extensive Commercial Agriculture

Exercise

34 q

Choose the correct option and complete the sentence :
Ex Q1(1) $Gathering of various products from the forests for livelihood is mainly carried in$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Ex Q1(2) $Ideal location for fishing$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Ex Q1(3) $Primary Economic activity not related directly to latitudinal locations$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Ex Q1(4) $Characteristics of extensive commercial agriculture$
Tap an option to check your answer.

Ex Q2

Complete the chain. A B C 1) Intensive Subsistence agriculture 1) Dogger Bank 1) Small size of farm 2) Pampas Grassland region 2) Off shore oil and gas production 2) Unfavorable 3) Fishing 3) Rice 3) Bombay High 4) Gathering 4) Dense forest 4) NE Atlantic Ocean 5) Mining 5) Commercial animal husbandry 5) South America

Write short notes on :
Ex Q3(1) $Plantation agriculture$
Ex Q3(2) $Physical factors and fishing$
Ex Q3(3) $Lumbering on a commercial scale$
Ex Q3(4) $Hunting and loss of ecosystem$
Give geographical reasons :
Ex Q4(1) $Agriculture is done on a large scale in India.$
Ex Q4(2) $Mining is developed in the Chhota Nagpur plateau of India.$
Ex Q4(3) $Lumbering is developed on a large scale in Canada.$
Ex Q4(4) $Extensive agriculture is a commercial type of agriculture.$
Ex Q4(5) $Lumbering is practised more in coniferous region than in tropical region.$
Ex Q4(6) $Hunting has been banned.$
Differentiate between :
Ex Q5(1) $Lumbering in equatorial forests and Temperate forests.$
Ex Q5(2) $Plantation agriculture and extensive commercial agriculture.$
Ex Q5(3) $Mining and Fishing.$
Answer the following questions :
Ex Q6(1) $What are the factors affecting commercial fishing?$
Ex Q6(2) $Write a note on Intensive Subsistence agriculture.$
Ex Q6(3) $Give the characteristics of Market Gardening.$
Ex Q6(4) $Write a note on the areas in the world practicing commercial animal husbandry.$
Ex Q6(5) $Mining is dependent on the extraction of naturally occurring minerals. Explain.$
Ex Q6(6) $Write in detail about the characteristics of primary economic activities.$
On an outline map of the world, show the following with appropriate symbols and prepare an index :
Ex Q7(1) $Dogger Bank fishing area.$
Ex Q7(2) $Area of lumbering in Asia.$
Ex Q7(3) $Area of animal husbandry in Australia.$
Ex Q7(4) $An area under agriculture in Europe.$
Ex Q7(5) $Mining area in Arabian Sea.$
Ex Q7(6) $Fishing area in South-West Atlantic Ocean.$
Given below is the data about the continent-wise employment engaged in primary economic activities in the year 2018.
Continent % of population engaged in primary economic activities
Europe 7.91
Asia 24.49
North America 14.93
South America 14.94
Africa 47.28
Australia 27.79
Source: FAO data, 2018
Ex Q8(diagram) $Draw a suitable diagram to represent the data.$
Ex Q8(1) $In which continents is less than 10% of the population engaged in agriculture?$
Ex Q8(2) $In which continent is more than 40% population engaged in agriculture?$
Ex Q8(3) $Looking at the given data, can you arrange these continents in an ascending order on the basis of level of economic development?$

A	B	C
1) Intensive Subsistence agriculture	1) Dogger Bank	1) Small size of farm
2) Pampas Grassland region	2) Off shore oil and gas production	2) Unfavorable
3) Fishing	3) Rice	3) Bombay High
4) Gathering	4) Dense forest	4) NE Atlantic Ocean
5) Mining	5) Commercial animal husbandry	5) South America

Continent	% of population engaged in primary economic activities
Europe	7.91
Asia	24.49
North America	14.93
South America	14.94
Africa	47.28
Australia	27.79

What the board has asked from this chapter

Questions per paper · 3 papers · 2024 to 2026

June 2026

6 q

Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(3) $Extensive agriculture is a commercial type of agriculture.$
Agriculture and Its Types
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(3) $Horticulture and Market gardening$
Agriculture and Its Types
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(4) $A region in South America where animal husbandry is practised on commercial scale.$
Animal Husbandry
Q4(A)(8) $Nile river basin.$
Agriculture and Its Types
Draw neat, labelled diagrams (Any TWO) :
Q6(B)(1) $Types with names of the Grasslands in the world.$
Animal Husbandry
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(1) $Name the different types of agriculture and explain any two types of agriculture.$
Agriculture and Its Types

March 2026

9 q

Complete the chain according to the co-relation of factors in column 'A', 'B' and 'C' :

No.	'A'	'B'	'C'
(1)	Making maps	(a) Delhi	(l) Niger
(2)	Administrative cities	(b) Pampas	(m) Small-Scale Industry
(3)	Grass-Land Region	(c) Observation	(n) Skills of Geographer
(4)	Toys	(d) Bangladesh	(o) New York
(5)	Population Explosion	(e) Paper Industry	(p) Argentina

Q1(A)(3)

Grass-Land Region

Animal Husbandry

Choose the correct option and complete the sentences :
Q1(B)(3) $A major crop of extensive commercial agriculture -$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Agriculture and Its Types
Answer the following questions as per given instructions :
Q1(C)(5) $Ideal location for fishing fields - (a) rugged coasts, shallow seas, hot climate, growth of planktons (b) shallow seas, confluence of warm and cold ocean currents, growth of planktons, cold climate (c) continental shelf, growth of planktons, good skill of fishing, warm climate (d) continental shelf, broken coasts, growth of planktons, warm climate$
Fishing
Write True or False :
Q1(D)(4) $Various physical and human factors influence the development of agriculture.$
Agriculture and Its Types
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(2) $Shifting Agriculture and Plantation Agriculture$
Agriculture and Its Types
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(3) $Grand Bank fishing area$
Fishing
Q4(A)(4) $Lumbering area of Canada$
Lumbering
Q4(A)(6) $Oil producing country in South America - Venezuela$
Mining
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(1) $Explain the characteristics of extensive commercial grain farming with its distribution.$
Agriculture and Its Types

June 2025

6 q

Complete the chain according to the co-relation of factors in coloumn 'A', 'B' and 'C' :

No.	'A'	'B'	'C'
(1)	Ice covered region	(a) Capital of the country	(l) Harmful farming
(2)	Administrative city	(b) Artificial satellite	(m) Sparsely populated
(3)	Shifting agriculture	(c) Use of manpower	(n) Communication
(4)	Cottage industry	(d) Polar region	(o) Weavers
(5)	Global Positioning System (GPS)	(e) Small size of farm	(p) Tokyo

Q1(A)(3)

Shifting agriculture

Agriculture and Its Types

Choose the correct option and complete the sentences.
Q1(B)(3) $Characteristics of Extensive Commercial Grain Farming :$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Agriculture and Its Types
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(3) $Mining is developed in the Chota Nagpur Plateau in India.$
Mining
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(1) $Lumbering in Equatorial Forests and Temperate forests$
Lumbering
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(7) $Area of commercial animal husbandry in South America : Pampas$
Animal Husbandry
Write short notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(2) $Factors affecting Fishing activity.$
Fishing

March 2025

13 q

Complete the chain and rewrite in your answer paper :

No.	'A'	'B'	'C'
(1)	Amazon River basin	(1) Manufacturing Activities	(1) Tata Iron and Steel Industries.
(2)	Constrictive Pyramid	(2) Commercial cattle rearing	(2) Low population density.
(3)	Industrial Region	(3) Individual	(3) Low birth rate and least death rate.
(4)	Pampas Grassland	(4) Dense equatorial Forest	(4) South America
(5)	Private	(5) More old age Population	(5) Availability of Employment

Q1(A)(4)

Pampas Grassland

Animal Husbandry

Do as directed: Choose the correct option and write.
Q1(B)(2) $Ideal location for fishing .$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Fishing
Identify the correct co-relation in the given statements and write : A : Assertion R : Reasoning
Q1(C)(1) $A : Hardwood trees are found in equatorial evergreen Forest. R : Lumbering is not developed on a commercial level in equatorial regions.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Lumbering
Identify the incorrect factor and write it :
Q1(D)(2) $Primary occupations depending upon natural resources - (a) Agriculture (b) Hunting (c) Motor industry (d) Lumbering$
Nature of Primary Economic Activities
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(2) $Agriculture is practised on a large scale in India.$
Agriculture and Its Types
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(4) $Area of animal husbandry in Australia.$
Animal Husbandry
Q4(A)(5) $Leading country of Asia in Fishing.$
Fishing
Q4(A)(7) $Nile River basin$
Agriculture and Its Types
Write short notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(3) $Hunting and loss of ecosystem$
Hunting and Gathering
Read the following passage and answer the questions given below : Considering the latitudinal distribution of animal husbandry in the world, it is located between 30°N to 60°N and 30°S to 55°S latitudes. Climate is one of the most influencing factors in the development of animal husbandry. It is more developed in the Northern Hemisphere. Presence of grasslands in Australia and North and South America has led to distribution of this occupation. But, this occupation is influenced by advanced technology market and availability of large estates. It has developed on a commercial basis in North America, South America and Australia. The animal husbandry in North and South America is carried out with the help of advanced technology on a commercial scale. Dense forests, inhospitable climate, low quality fodder in equatorial region has discouraged the development of animal husbandry in these regions.
Q6(A)(1) $In which latitude, world distribution of animal husbandry is found?$
Animal Husbandry
Q6(A)(2) $Which hemisphere has maximum development of animal husbandry?$
Animal Husbandry
Q6(A)(3) $Which factor affects animal husbandry in Australia and South and North America continents?$
Animal Husbandry
Q6(A)(4) $Which continents have maximum mechanization of animal husbandry in the world?$
Animal Husbandry

June 2024

7 q

Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(4) $Grassland in the U.S.A.$
Animal Husbandry
Write short notes on (Any THREE) :
Q5(1) $Shifting agriculture.$
Agriculture and Its Types
Read the following passage and answer the questions given below : Mining - Use of minerals Man has been using minerals since ancient times. Minerals have been used for making weapons, tools, jewellery, medicines, utensils, etc. The various stages of cultural evolution of man are also related to the use of minerals. At the end of the Stone Age, man developed skills of using minerals. Various periods like the Copper Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Atomic Age respectively were delineated accordingly. Man has even started exploiting the mineral oil and natural gas reserves from the sea and ocean beds too. Man cannot manufacture the minerals that are found naturally in the earth's crust. The distribution of minerals is highly uneven in the world. The activity depends solely on the availability of minerals and not related to latitude directly. Even though the minerals may be present, actual mining depends on several factors such as the geology of the region, the value of minerals, climate, capital investment, technology, skilled labour, etc. Due to mechanisation, this occupation has developed on a large scale.
Q6(A)(1) $What kind of minerals are exploited by man from sea and ocean beds?$
Mining
Q6(A)(2) $Why have humans been using minerals since ancient times?$
Mining
Q6(A)(3) $What is the reason for large scale development of mining activity?$
Mining
Q6(A)(4) $Why the mining activity is not related to latitude directly?$
Mining
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(2) $What is primary economic activity? Explain the types of primary economic activities.$
Nature of Primary Economic Activities

March 2024

7 q

Write True or False :
Q1(B)(2) $The farm size is small in extensive commerical agriculture.$
Agriculture and Its Types
Choose the correct option and complete the sentences :
Q1(C)(2) $Commercial lumbering is mainly carried in ____.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Lumbering
Identify incorrect factor :
Q1(D)(1) $Primary economic activity factor which is not related directly to latitude : (a) Lumbering (b) Fishing (c) Mining (d) Agriculture$
Mining
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(3) $Lumbering is developed on a large scale in Canada.$
Lumbering
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(3) $Mining and Fishing.$
Mining
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(3) $Dogger Bank Fishing area.$
Fishing
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(2) $Explain intensive subsistence agriculture in detail.$
Agriculture and Its Types

The 10 board questions to practise first

The questions and kinds of question the board asked most often come first. Each one says how often and when.

Question 1
This type asked 4 times: Jun 2024, Mar 2025, Jun 2025, Jun 2026. This one: Jun 2026 See all 4 of this type
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(4) $A region in South America where animal husbandry is practised on commercial scale.$
Question 2
This type asked 3 times: Mar 2024, Mar 2026, Jun 2026. This one: Jun 2026 See all 3 of this type
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(1) $Name the different types of agriculture and explain any two types of agriculture.$
Question 3
Asked 2 times: Mar 2025, Jun 2026 See all 2 times it was asked
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(8) $Nile river basin.$
Question 4
Asked 2 times: Mar 2025, Mar 2026 See all 2 times it was asked
Answer the following questions as per given instructions :
Q1(C)(5) $Ideal location for fishing fields - (a) rugged coasts, shallow seas, hot climate, growth of planktons (b) shallow seas, confluence of warm and cold ocean currents, growth of planktons, cold climate (c) continental shelf, growth of planktons, good skill of fishing, warm climate (d) continental shelf, broken coasts, growth of planktons, warm climate$
Question 5
This type asked 2 times: Mar 2026, Jun 2026. This one: Jun 2026 See all 2 of this type
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(3) $Horticulture and Market gardening$
Question 6
This type asked 2 times: Mar 2024, Mar 2026. This one: Mar 2026 See all 2 of this type
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(3) $Grand Bank fishing area$
Question 7
Asked once: Mar 2025 (same type asked 4 times) See all 4 of this type
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(4) $Area of animal husbandry in Australia.$
Question 8
Asked once: Mar 2026 (same type asked 3 times) See all 3 of this type
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(1) $Explain the characteristics of extensive commercial grain farming with its distribution.$
Question 9
Asked once: Mar 2026 (same type asked 2 times) See all 2 of this type
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(2) $Shifting Agriculture and Plantation Agriculture$
Question 10
Asked once: Mar 2024 (same type asked 2 times) See all 2 of this type
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(3) $Dogger Bank Fishing area.$

Quick revision

8 most-asked questions · 14 key points · 9 derivations · 1 diagram

Checked against Balbharati Geography Std XII (Maharashtra State Board), Chapter 4.

Most asked in board papers

1
Commercial animal husbandry and the world's grasslands (Pampas, latitudes, hemisphere)
Asked 2 times: 2026, 2025
2
Types of agriculture (shifting, plantation, intensive subsistence, market gardening, horticulture) and its factors
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
3
Map: Grand Bank, Dogger Bank, Nile basin, grasslands, an oil producer of South America
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
4
Mining: not related to latitude, large-scale development, minerals from sea beds, Chota Nagpur
Asked 2 times: 2025, 2024
5
Extensive commercial grain farming: characteristics, crop, distribution
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
6
Lumbering: equatorial and temperate forests, Canada, coniferous forests
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
7
Fishing: factors and the ideal location for fishing grounds
Asked 2 times: 2026, 2025
8
Primary economic activities, hunting and loss of ecosystem
Asked 2 times: 2025, 2024

Must-know points

Primary economic activities: Activities that depend on nature and its resources: hunting, gathering, animal husbandry, agriculture, fishing, lumbering, mining. Mechanisation came to meet the needs of a growing population.
Hunting: A primitive activity to obtain food. Large-scale hunting has made many species extinct or nearly so, so commercial hunting is banned worldwide. Some tribes still hunt for subsistence: Bushmen of the Kalahari, Pygmies, Eskimos, Sentinels, Jarawas, Onges.
Gathering: Collecting forest products for livelihood: fruits, roots, tubers, leaves, flowers, medicinal plants, gum, lac, honey, wax, rubber (kath from Khair trees). In dense, humid equatorial forests it is not done on a large scale (reptiles and insects).
Lumbering: Mostly practised in temperate coniferous forests: only one species of tree in an area, tall trees, softwood. Tropical evergreen forests have hardwood and many species, so commercial lumbering is not possible there.
Fishing: Best where there is a wide continental shelf with shallow water, and where warm and cold currents meet and plankton grows (warm Kuroshio meets cold Oyashio near Japan). Fishing grounds: Grand Bank, Dogger Bank, North-West Pacific.
Animal husbandry: Found between 30°N to 60°N and 30°S to 55°S; more developed in the Northern Hemisphere. Climate is the most influencing factor; grasslands, technology, market and large estates matter. Commercial in North America, South America (Pampas) and Australia.
Mining: Depends solely on the presence of minerals, so it is not related to latitude directly. Minerals are unevenly distributed and man cannot manufacture them. Oil and natural gas are now taken from sea and ocean beds too (e.g. Bombay High).
Who works in agriculture: The share of people in agriculture is highest in Africa, then Asia. Europe, the Americas and Australia farm larger areas with very few people: developed countries have less population in agriculture, developing countries more.
Intensive subsistence agriculture: Small land holdings, maximum yield from small land, food crops, manual labour and animals. Rice is the major crop. China, India, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka and East Asian countries.
Extensive commercial (grain) agriculture: Large farms, capital intensive, monoculture, machinery from sowing to harvesting, with commercial animal husbandry. Yield per hectare low but per capita income high. Temperate grasslands: Steppes, Prairies, Downs, Pampas, Velds. Wheat and maize.
Plantation agriculture: Large farms, capital intensive, monoculture, local labour, crops managed for quality and processing. Once planted, yields for 10 to 15 years. Tea, coffee, rubber, cocoa, spices: Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Indonesia.
Shifting agriculture: Forest land is burnt and used for agriculture: very small farms, low production, only for 2 to 3 years, then the land is left fallow and farmers move on. Forests decline and soil erodes. Tropical forests of Asia, Central and South America, Africa.
Market gardening: Modern farming in the fringe of big cities to meet urban demand: vegetables, fruits, milk, eggs, meat, fish, within an overnight truck journey. High capital, science and fertilizers. E.g. Khedshivapur and Saswad supply Pune.
Horticulture: Fruits, flowers, medicinal and ornamental plants grown for commercial use, with manual labour and machines, in tropical, Mediterranean and temperate regions where the climate suits.

Derivations

Try each one first, then open its outline.

What are the factors affecting commercial fishing?

Continental shelf with shallow water, e.g. North-West Pacific near the Okhotsk Sea.
Confluence of warm and cold currents and abundant plankton, e.g. Kuroshio and Oyashio near Japan.
Traditional skills (Japanese, Chinese); large population, little land and no other protein (Japan, Philippines); no alternative occupation.
Technology; broken coastline for ports; cold climate to preserve fish; nearby forests for wood for ships.

Differentiate between lumbering in equatorial forests and temperate forests

Equatorial: dense evergreen forests of hardwood, many species in a small area; temperate coniferous: one species in an area, tall softwood trees.
Equatorial: inaccessible, inhospitable climate, insects and reptiles, traditional methods; coniferous: commercial, mechanised lumbering.
Hardwood is less in demand than softwood, and mixed species make equatorial lumbering unprofitable.
Equatorial: Amazon and Congo basins, South-East Asia. Coniferous: Canada and other temperate lands.

Mining: why it is not related to latitude, and why it develops on a large scale

Mining depends solely on the presence of minerals in the earth's crust, which are unevenly spread, so it does not follow latitude.
Actual mining depends on geology, value of the mineral, climate, capital, technology and skilled labour.
Mechanisation and improved transport develop it on a large scale; mineral-based industries locate near mines, so the country develops.
E.g. Chota Nagpur Plateau in India is rich in minerals, so mining is developed there.

Why have humans used minerals since ancient times?

Minerals were used for weapons, tools, jewellery, medicines and utensils.
Man's cultural evolution follows minerals: Copper Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Atomic Age.
Man's progress is linked to exploiting minerals; now even oil and gas from sea and ocean beds.

Differentiate between plantation agriculture and extensive commercial agriculture

Plantation: tropical regions; extensive commercial: temperate grasslands.
Plantation: local labour, crop managed for quality and processing; extensive: machines from sowing to harvesting.
Plantation: tea, coffee, rubber, cocoa, spices, yielding 10 to 15 years; extensive: wheat and maize, with animal husbandry.
Both are large, capital-intensive, monoculture farms.

Give reasons: extensive agriculture is a commercial type of agriculture

Farms are very large and capital intensive, worked by machines from sowing to harvesting.
One crop (wheat, maize) is grown on a huge scale in temperate grasslands.
Per hectare yield is low but per capita output is high, so the grain is grown for sale, not for the family.

Factors affecting the development of agriculture

Physical: climate, topography, soils and biotic factors.
Economic and social: labour, market, capital, transport, storage, government policies, population, ownership of land.
Technology: greenhouses and polyhouses, high-yielding seeds, fertilizers and insecticides raise production.

Give reasons: agriculture is done on a large scale in India

Favourable physical factors: plains, fertile soils, a suitable climate.
A large population gives labour and needs food; India practises intensive subsistence farming, rice the major crop.
India is a developing country, where the share of people engaged in agriculture is high.

Hunting and loss of ecosystem

Hunting was man's primitive way to obtain food.
Large-scale hunting has made many species extinct or nearly extinct, upsetting the ecosystem.
So commercial hunting is banned all over the world and laws protect animals; only some tribes hunt for subsistence.

Diagrams to practise

World map of primary economic activities (Fig 4.1): label fishing: Grand Bank, Dogger Bank, NW Pacific · lumbering: Canada and other coniferous belts · animal husbandry: Pampas, Prairies, east Australia · mining: Bombay High (Arabian Sea) · agriculture: Nile basin, Europe · index of symbols

Mistakes that cost marks

Picking the wrong activity as not related to latitude

Mining depends only on where minerals are. Lumbering, fishing and agriculture all follow latitude and climate.

Small farms in extensive agriculture

Extensive commercial farms are large, machine-worked, in temperate grasslands, growing wheat and maize. Small holdings with manual labour are intensive subsistence farming.

Commercial lumbering in equatorial forests

Commercial lumbering is mainly in temperate coniferous forests. Equatorial forests have hardwood, many species and poor access, so lumbering there is not commercial.

Hot climate for fishing

Cold climate helps preserve fish; tropical countries need refrigeration. The fishing factors are shallow seas or continental shelf, warm and cold currents meeting, plankton, broken coasts for ports.

Mixing plantation with extensive farming

Plantation: tropical, tea, coffee, rubber, local labour. Extensive: temperate, wheat, machines. Both are large monoculture farms.

Wrong hemisphere or latitudes for animal husbandry

It lies between 30°N to 60°N and 30°S to 55°S and is more developed in the Northern Hemisphere. Equatorial regions lack it: dense forest, poor fodder.

Ebooks Tutor

Geography · Textbook solutions

Primary Economic Activities

Every textbook question in book order, plus the board's past questions. · 71 questions

Chapter activities

37 q

Make friends with maps! / Try this / Give it a try

Practice · 37

Observe the map in fig. 4.1 and answer the questions that follow.
Act p01 F4.1(1) $Which economic activities are shown on the map?$
Act p01 F4.1(2) $In which regions do you not find any activity? What could be the reason?$
Act p01 F4.1(3) $In which latitudes do you primarily find the distribution of lumbering activity?$
Act p01 F4.1(4) $Why is fishing occupation only found in certain areas in the oceans?$
Act p01 F4.1(5) $Which primary economic activities are mostly found in Europe?$
Act p01 F4.1(6) $What production does the symbol of mining shown in seas and oceans depict?$
Act p01 F4.1(7) $In which continent is mining not found?$
Act p01 F4.1(8) $In which ocean is the world's fishing mostly carried out?$
Act p01 F4.1(9) $Which primary economic activities are found to the south of Tropic of Capricorn?$
Act p01 F4.1(10) $Which primary activity is found in the islands of South East Asia?$
Act p01 F4.1(11) $Considering all the four continents, in which continent do you find less agriculture being practised?$
Act p01 F4.1(12) $Write a paragraph on relationship between latitudinal extent of agriculture and climate in your own words.$

Act p01 T4.1

Complete the following table. One has been done for you as an example. Table 4.1 Primary economic activity Natural resources required for the activity Factors affecting activities: Natural Factors affecting activities: Man-made Agriculture Land, soil, water, air Slope of land, Quality of soil, favourable climate, rainfall Fertilizers, insecticides, farm machines Animal husbandry ......... ......... ......... Fishing ......... ......... ......... Mining ......... ......... ......... Lumbering ......... ......... ......... Gathering ......... ......... .........

Observe the map in fig. 4.1 and answer the questions that follow.
Act p02 Lumb(1) $Which countries in the monsoon region practise lumbering on a larger scale?$
Act p02 Lumb(2) $In which part of Australia is lumbering carried on?$
Act p02 Lumb(3) $Why do you think lumbering is not carried out in the Northern part of Africa?$
Act p02 Lumb(4) $Write a note on the relationship between latitudes and lumbering.$
Act p02 Lumb(5) $Why is lumbering not developed on a commercial level in equatorial regions?$

Primary economic activity	Natural resources required for the activity	Factors affecting activities: Natural	Factors affecting activities: Man-made
Agriculture	Land, soil, water, air	Slope of land, Quality of soil, favourable climate, rainfall	Fertilizers, insecticides, farm machines
Animal husbandry	.........	.........	.........
Fishing	.........	.........	.........
Mining	.........	.........	.........
Lumbering	.........	.........	.........
Gathering	.........	.........	.........

Act p02 T4.2

Complete Table 4.2. One has been done for you as an example. Table 4.2 : Lumbering practised in different parts of the world Type of forest Regions Characteristics of forests Characteristics of lumbering activity Equatorial Evergreen forests Amazon river basin in South America, Congo river basin of Africa, West coast of Africa, South East Asia, Papua New Guinea Dense forests; many species in a small area; hard wood trees; accessibility is difficult; inhospitable climate Dense forests increase inaccessibility and transportation issues; traditional methods of lumbering; insects and reptiles cause problems; hard wood is comparatively less in demand than softwood; presence of many species in one region makes it unprofitable Tropical Deciduous forest (Monsoon) ......... ......... ......... Temperate deciduous forest ......... ......... ......... Temperate Coniferous forest ......... ......... .........

Observe the map in fig. 4.1 and answer the questions that follow.
Act p03 Fish(1) $Along which coast of North America is the Grand Bank located?$
Act p03 Fish(2) $Along which coast of South America is the fishing mostly practised?$
Act p03 Fish(3) $In which part of the Australian continent has fishing activity developed?$
Act p03 Fish(4) $Fishing is carried out on large scale on the Western coast of Africa than on the Eastern coast. Give reasons.$
Act p03 Fish(5) $Commercial fishing is practised on the Southern coast of Greenland. Give reasons.$
Observe the map in fig. 4.1 and answer the questions that follow.
Act p04 AH(1) $Do you think there is a correlation between animal husbandry and grasslands?$
Act p04 AH(2) $In which continent is animal husbandry not practised on a large scale?$
Act p04 AH(3) $In which regions of the world do animal husbandry and agriculture coincide?$
Act p04 AH(4) $Animal husbandry is found in between which latitudes of the world?$
Act p04 AH(5) $In which zone between 30 degrees North and 30 degrees South latitudes is animal husbandry not found on a large scale? What could be the reason behind?$
Act p04 AH(6) $What could be the reason of concentration of animal husbandry in the Eastern part of Australia?$
Act p04 AH(7) $Why is animal husbandry developed more in the arid regions of the interior of the continents?$
Observe the map in fig. 4.1 and answer the questions that follow.
Act p05 Min(1) $In which part of North American continent is mining mainly found?$
Act p05 Min(2) $Mining activity is located along which coastal side of the continent of South America?$
Act p05 Min(3) $Comparing other primary economic activities, do you think the extent of mining is related to latitudes? Why?$
Act p05 Min(4) $Looking at the concentration of mining in the world, can you relate it with the economic development of the country?$

Type of forest	Regions	Characteristics of forests	Characteristics of lumbering activity
Equatorial Evergreen forests	Amazon river basin in South America, Congo river basin of Africa, West coast of Africa, South East Asia, Papua New Guinea	Dense forests; many species in a small area; hard wood trees; accessibility is difficult; inhospitable climate	Dense forests increase inaccessibility and transportation issues; traditional methods of lumbering; insects and reptiles cause problems; hard wood is comparatively less in demand than softwood; presence of many species in one region makes it unprofitable
Tropical Deciduous forest (Monsoon)	.........	.........	.........
Temperate deciduous forest	.........	.........	.........
Temperate Coniferous forest	.........	.........	.........

Act p05 AgriChain

Act p07 Factors $On the basis of the information given in the chapter, classify the factors affecting agriculture into physical and human factors.$

Characteristics (B)	Type of Agriculture (C)
1) Small land holding. Maximum yield from small land. Food crops are dominant. Manual labour and use of animals. China, India, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka and East Asian countries. Rice is the major crop.	A) Shifting Agriculture
2) Large size of farm. Capital intensive, more use of modern machinery. Monoculture. Use of machinery from sowing to harvesting. Cultivation and commercial animal husbandry is done together. Per hectare low but per capita income is high. Temperate grassland, Steppes, Praries, Downs, Pampas, Velds. Wheat and maize are the major crops.	B) Horticulture
3) Large farm size. Capital intensive. Monoculture. Local labour is employed. Crop is well managed for quality and processing. Per hectare yield low but total production is high. Once plantation is done, it gives production for 10 to 15 years. Tea, coffee, rubber, cocoa etc., spice plantations in Kerala, cashewnut plantation in Konkan region. Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Indonesia, Caribbean Islands, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam.	C) Market Gardening
4) Forest land is burnt and used for agriculture. Very small farm size. Production is very less. Production can be taken for only 2-3 years. Land left fallow and move ahead looking for another land. Forest resources decline and soil erosion occurs. Mainly practiced in forested tropical regions of Asia, South-East Asia, South and Central America and Africa.	D) Intensive Subsistence Agriculture
5) Modern type of agriculture. Fulfill the demands of urban people, it is developed in fringe areas. Maximum production from limited agriculture area. Use of capital is high. Along with use of manual labour, use of scientific technology, knowledge and capital. Organic and chemical manures or fertilizers and irrigation. Practised in areas lying at distance of an overnight journey by trucks. Vegetables, fruits, milk, eggs, meat, fish etc. Developed mainly in highly industrialised and densely populated urban areas, e.g. fruits, vegetables and flowers from Khedshivapur, Saswad are brought to Pune.	E) Plantation Agriculture
6) Fruits, flowers, medicinal plants, ornamental plants etc. are produced for commercial use. Use of manual labour and mechanization. Practiced in tropical, Mediterranean and temperate regions where climate is supportive.	F) Extensive Commercial Agriculture

Exercise

34 q

Choose the correct option and complete the sentence :
Ex Q1(1) $Gathering of various products from the forests for livelihood is mainly carried in$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Ex Q1(2) $Ideal location for fishing$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Ex Q1(3) $Primary Economic activity not related directly to latitudinal locations$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Ex Q1(4) $Characteristics of extensive commercial agriculture$
Tap an option to check your answer.

Ex Q2

Complete the chain. A B C 1) Intensive Subsistence agriculture 1) Dogger Bank 1) Small size of farm 2) Pampas Grassland region 2) Off shore oil and gas production 2) Unfavorable 3) Fishing 3) Rice 3) Bombay High 4) Gathering 4) Dense forest 4) NE Atlantic Ocean 5) Mining 5) Commercial animal husbandry 5) South America

Write short notes on :
Ex Q3(1) $Plantation agriculture$
Ex Q3(2) $Physical factors and fishing$
Ex Q3(3) $Lumbering on a commercial scale$
Ex Q3(4) $Hunting and loss of ecosystem$
Give geographical reasons :
Ex Q4(1) $Agriculture is done on a large scale in India.$
Ex Q4(2) $Mining is developed in the Chhota Nagpur plateau of India.$
Ex Q4(3) $Lumbering is developed on a large scale in Canada.$
Ex Q4(4) $Extensive agriculture is a commercial type of agriculture.$
Ex Q4(5) $Lumbering is practised more in coniferous region than in tropical region.$
Ex Q4(6) $Hunting has been banned.$
Differentiate between :
Ex Q5(1) $Lumbering in equatorial forests and Temperate forests.$
Ex Q5(2) $Plantation agriculture and extensive commercial agriculture.$
Ex Q5(3) $Mining and Fishing.$
Answer the following questions :
Ex Q6(1) $What are the factors affecting commercial fishing?$
Ex Q6(2) $Write a note on Intensive Subsistence agriculture.$
Ex Q6(3) $Give the characteristics of Market Gardening.$
Ex Q6(4) $Write a note on the areas in the world practicing commercial animal husbandry.$
Ex Q6(5) $Mining is dependent on the extraction of naturally occurring minerals. Explain.$
Ex Q6(6) $Write in detail about the characteristics of primary economic activities.$
On an outline map of the world, show the following with appropriate symbols and prepare an index :
Ex Q7(1) $Dogger Bank fishing area.$
Ex Q7(2) $Area of lumbering in Asia.$
Ex Q7(3) $Area of animal husbandry in Australia.$
Ex Q7(4) $An area under agriculture in Europe.$
Ex Q7(5) $Mining area in Arabian Sea.$
Ex Q7(6) $Fishing area in South-West Atlantic Ocean.$
Given below is the data about the continent-wise employment engaged in primary economic activities in the year 2018.
Continent % of population engaged in primary economic activities
Europe 7.91
Asia 24.49
North America 14.93
South America 14.94
Africa 47.28
Australia 27.79
Source: FAO data, 2018
Ex Q8(diagram) $Draw a suitable diagram to represent the data.$
Ex Q8(1) $In which continents is less than 10% of the population engaged in agriculture?$
Ex Q8(2) $In which continent is more than 40% population engaged in agriculture?$
Ex Q8(3) $Looking at the given data, can you arrange these continents in an ascending order on the basis of level of economic development?$

A	B	C
1) Intensive Subsistence agriculture	1) Dogger Bank	1) Small size of farm
2) Pampas Grassland region	2) Off shore oil and gas production	2) Unfavorable
3) Fishing	3) Rice	3) Bombay High
4) Gathering	4) Dense forest	4) NE Atlantic Ocean
5) Mining	5) Commercial animal husbandry	5) South America

Continent	% of population engaged in primary economic activities
Europe	7.91
Asia	24.49
North America	14.93
South America	14.94
Africa	47.28
Australia	27.79

What the board has asked from this chapter

Questions per paper · 3 papers · 2024 to 2026

June 2026

6 q

Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(3) $Extensive agriculture is a commercial type of agriculture.$
Agriculture and Its Types
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(3) $Horticulture and Market gardening$
Agriculture and Its Types
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(4) $A region in South America where animal husbandry is practised on commercial scale.$
Animal Husbandry
Q4(A)(8) $Nile river basin.$
Agriculture and Its Types
Draw neat, labelled diagrams (Any TWO) :
Q6(B)(1) $Types with names of the Grasslands in the world.$
Animal Husbandry
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(1) $Name the different types of agriculture and explain any two types of agriculture.$
Agriculture and Its Types

March 2026

9 q

Complete the chain according to the co-relation of factors in column 'A', 'B' and 'C' :

No.	'A'	'B'	'C'
(1)	Making maps	(a) Delhi	(l) Niger
(2)	Administrative cities	(b) Pampas	(m) Small-Scale Industry
(3)	Grass-Land Region	(c) Observation	(n) Skills of Geographer
(4)	Toys	(d) Bangladesh	(o) New York
(5)	Population Explosion	(e) Paper Industry	(p) Argentina

Q1(A)(3)

Grass-Land Region

Animal Husbandry

Choose the correct option and complete the sentences :
Q1(B)(3) $A major crop of extensive commercial agriculture -$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Agriculture and Its Types
Answer the following questions as per given instructions :
Q1(C)(5) $Ideal location for fishing fields - (a) rugged coasts, shallow seas, hot climate, growth of planktons (b) shallow seas, confluence of warm and cold ocean currents, growth of planktons, cold climate (c) continental shelf, growth of planktons, good skill of fishing, warm climate (d) continental shelf, broken coasts, growth of planktons, warm climate$
Fishing
Write True or False :
Q1(D)(4) $Various physical and human factors influence the development of agriculture.$
Agriculture and Its Types
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(2) $Shifting Agriculture and Plantation Agriculture$
Agriculture and Its Types
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(3) $Grand Bank fishing area$
Fishing
Q4(A)(4) $Lumbering area of Canada$
Lumbering
Q4(A)(6) $Oil producing country in South America - Venezuela$
Mining
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(1) $Explain the characteristics of extensive commercial grain farming with its distribution.$
Agriculture and Its Types

June 2025

6 q

Complete the chain according to the co-relation of factors in coloumn 'A', 'B' and 'C' :

No.	'A'	'B'	'C'
(1)	Ice covered region	(a) Capital of the country	(l) Harmful farming
(2)	Administrative city	(b) Artificial satellite	(m) Sparsely populated
(3)	Shifting agriculture	(c) Use of manpower	(n) Communication
(4)	Cottage industry	(d) Polar region	(o) Weavers
(5)	Global Positioning System (GPS)	(e) Small size of farm	(p) Tokyo

Q1(A)(3)

Shifting agriculture

Agriculture and Its Types

Choose the correct option and complete the sentences.
Q1(B)(3) $Characteristics of Extensive Commercial Grain Farming :$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Agriculture and Its Types
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(3) $Mining is developed in the Chota Nagpur Plateau in India.$
Mining
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(1) $Lumbering in Equatorial Forests and Temperate forests$
Lumbering
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(7) $Area of commercial animal husbandry in South America : Pampas$
Animal Husbandry
Write short notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(2) $Factors affecting Fishing activity.$
Fishing

March 2025

13 q

Complete the chain and rewrite in your answer paper :

No.	'A'	'B'	'C'
(1)	Amazon River basin	(1) Manufacturing Activities	(1) Tata Iron and Steel Industries.
(2)	Constrictive Pyramid	(2) Commercial cattle rearing	(2) Low population density.
(3)	Industrial Region	(3) Individual	(3) Low birth rate and least death rate.
(4)	Pampas Grassland	(4) Dense equatorial Forest	(4) South America
(5)	Private	(5) More old age Population	(5) Availability of Employment

Q1(A)(4)

Pampas Grassland

Animal Husbandry

Do as directed: Choose the correct option and write.
Q1(B)(2) $Ideal location for fishing .$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Fishing
Identify the correct co-relation in the given statements and write : A : Assertion R : Reasoning
Q1(C)(1) $A : Hardwood trees are found in equatorial evergreen Forest. R : Lumbering is not developed on a commercial level in equatorial regions.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Lumbering
Identify the incorrect factor and write it :
Q1(D)(2) $Primary occupations depending upon natural resources - (a) Agriculture (b) Hunting (c) Motor industry (d) Lumbering$
Nature of Primary Economic Activities
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(2) $Agriculture is practised on a large scale in India.$
Agriculture and Its Types
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(4) $Area of animal husbandry in Australia.$
Animal Husbandry
Q4(A)(5) $Leading country of Asia in Fishing.$
Fishing
Q4(A)(7) $Nile River basin$
Agriculture and Its Types
Write short notes on the following (Any THREE) :
Q5(3) $Hunting and loss of ecosystem$
Hunting and Gathering
Read the following passage and answer the questions given below : Considering the latitudinal distribution of animal husbandry in the world, it is located between 30°N to 60°N and 30°S to 55°S latitudes. Climate is one of the most influencing factors in the development of animal husbandry. It is more developed in the Northern Hemisphere. Presence of grasslands in Australia and North and South America has led to distribution of this occupation. But, this occupation is influenced by advanced technology market and availability of large estates. It has developed on a commercial basis in North America, South America and Australia. The animal husbandry in North and South America is carried out with the help of advanced technology on a commercial scale. Dense forests, inhospitable climate, low quality fodder in equatorial region has discouraged the development of animal husbandry in these regions.
Q6(A)(1) $In which latitude, world distribution of animal husbandry is found?$
Animal Husbandry
Q6(A)(2) $Which hemisphere has maximum development of animal husbandry?$
Animal Husbandry
Q6(A)(3) $Which factor affects animal husbandry in Australia and South and North America continents?$
Animal Husbandry
Q6(A)(4) $Which continents have maximum mechanization of animal husbandry in the world?$
Animal Husbandry

June 2024

7 q

Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(4) $Grassland in the U.S.A.$
Animal Husbandry
Write short notes on (Any THREE) :
Q5(1) $Shifting agriculture.$
Agriculture and Its Types
Read the following passage and answer the questions given below : Mining - Use of minerals Man has been using minerals since ancient times. Minerals have been used for making weapons, tools, jewellery, medicines, utensils, etc. The various stages of cultural evolution of man are also related to the use of minerals. At the end of the Stone Age, man developed skills of using minerals. Various periods like the Copper Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Atomic Age respectively were delineated accordingly. Man has even started exploiting the mineral oil and natural gas reserves from the sea and ocean beds too. Man cannot manufacture the minerals that are found naturally in the earth's crust. The distribution of minerals is highly uneven in the world. The activity depends solely on the availability of minerals and not related to latitude directly. Even though the minerals may be present, actual mining depends on several factors such as the geology of the region, the value of minerals, climate, capital investment, technology, skilled labour, etc. Due to mechanisation, this occupation has developed on a large scale.
Q6(A)(1) $What kind of minerals are exploited by man from sea and ocean beds?$
Mining
Q6(A)(2) $Why have humans been using minerals since ancient times?$
Mining
Q6(A)(3) $What is the reason for large scale development of mining activity?$
Mining
Q6(A)(4) $Why the mining activity is not related to latitude directly?$
Mining
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(2) $What is primary economic activity? Explain the types of primary economic activities.$
Nature of Primary Economic Activities

March 2024

7 q

Write True or False :
Q1(B)(2) $The farm size is small in extensive commerical agriculture.$
Agriculture and Its Types
Choose the correct option and complete the sentences :
Q1(C)(2) $Commercial lumbering is mainly carried in ____.$
Tap an option to check your answer.
Lumbering
Identify incorrect factor :
Q1(D)(1) $Primary economic activity factor which is not related directly to latitude : (a) Lumbering (b) Fishing (c) Mining (d) Agriculture$
Mining
Give geographical reasons (Any FOUR) :
Q2(3) $Lumbering is developed on a large scale in Canada.$
Lumbering
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(3) $Mining and Fishing.$
Mining
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(3) $Dogger Bank Fishing area.$
Fishing
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(2) $Explain intensive subsistence agriculture in detail.$
Agriculture and Its Types

The 10 board questions to practise first

The questions and kinds of question the board asked most often come first. Each one says how often and when.

Question 1
This type asked 4 times: Jun 2024, Mar 2025, Jun 2025, Jun 2026. This one: Jun 2026 See all 4 of this type
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(4) $A region in South America where animal husbandry is practised on commercial scale.$
Question 2
This type asked 3 times: Mar 2024, Mar 2026, Jun 2026. This one: Jun 2026 See all 3 of this type
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(1) $Name the different types of agriculture and explain any two types of agriculture.$
Question 3
Asked 2 times: Mar 2025, Jun 2026 See all 2 times it was asked
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(8) $Nile river basin.$
Question 4
Asked 2 times: Mar 2025, Mar 2026 See all 2 times it was asked
Answer the following questions as per given instructions :
Q1(C)(5) $Ideal location for fishing fields - (a) rugged coasts, shallow seas, hot climate, growth of planktons (b) shallow seas, confluence of warm and cold ocean currents, growth of planktons, cold climate (c) continental shelf, growth of planktons, good skill of fishing, warm climate (d) continental shelf, broken coasts, growth of planktons, warm climate$
Question 5
This type asked 2 times: Mar 2026, Jun 2026. This one: Jun 2026 See all 2 of this type
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(3) $Horticulture and Market gardening$
Question 6
This type asked 2 times: Mar 2024, Mar 2026. This one: Mar 2026 See all 2 of this type
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(3) $Grand Bank fishing area$
Question 7
Asked once: Mar 2025 (same type asked 4 times) See all 4 of this type
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(4) $Area of animal husbandry in Australia.$
Question 8
Asked once: Mar 2026 (same type asked 3 times) See all 3 of this type
Answer the following questions in detail (Any ONE) :
Q7(1) $Explain the characteristics of extensive commercial grain farming with its distribution.$
Question 9
Asked once: Mar 2026 (same type asked 2 times) See all 2 of this type
Differentiate between (Any THREE) :
Q3(2) $Shifting Agriculture and Plantation Agriculture$
Question 10
Asked once: Mar 2024 (same type asked 2 times) See all 2 of this type
Mark and name the following on the outline map of the world with suitable index (Any SIX) :
Q4(A)(3) $Dogger Bank Fishing area.$

Quick revision

8 most-asked questions · 14 key points · 9 derivations · 1 diagram

Checked against Balbharati Geography Std XII (Maharashtra State Board), Chapter 4.

Most asked in board papers

1
Commercial animal husbandry and the world's grasslands (Pampas, latitudes, hemisphere)
Asked 2 times: 2026, 2025
2
Types of agriculture (shifting, plantation, intensive subsistence, market gardening, horticulture) and its factors
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
3
Map: Grand Bank, Dogger Bank, Nile basin, grasslands, an oil producer of South America
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
4
Mining: not related to latitude, large-scale development, minerals from sea beds, Chota Nagpur
Asked 2 times: 2025, 2024
5
Extensive commercial grain farming: characteristics, crop, distribution
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
6
Lumbering: equatorial and temperate forests, Canada, coniferous forests
Asked 3 times: 2026, 2025, 2024
7
Fishing: factors and the ideal location for fishing grounds
Asked 2 times: 2026, 2025
8
Primary economic activities, hunting and loss of ecosystem
Asked 2 times: 2025, 2024

Must-know points

Primary economic activities: Activities that depend on nature and its resources: hunting, gathering, animal husbandry, agriculture, fishing, lumbering, mining. Mechanisation came to meet the needs of a growing population.
Hunting: A primitive activity to obtain food. Large-scale hunting has made many species extinct or nearly so, so commercial hunting is banned worldwide. Some tribes still hunt for subsistence: Bushmen of the Kalahari, Pygmies, Eskimos, Sentinels, Jarawas, Onges.
Gathering: Collecting forest products for livelihood: fruits, roots, tubers, leaves, flowers, medicinal plants, gum, lac, honey, wax, rubber (kath from Khair trees). In dense, humid equatorial forests it is not done on a large scale (reptiles and insects).
Lumbering: Mostly practised in temperate coniferous forests: only one species of tree in an area, tall trees, softwood. Tropical evergreen forests have hardwood and many species, so commercial lumbering is not possible there.
Fishing: Best where there is a wide continental shelf with shallow water, and where warm and cold currents meet and plankton grows (warm Kuroshio meets cold Oyashio near Japan). Fishing grounds: Grand Bank, Dogger Bank, North-West Pacific.
Animal husbandry: Found between 30°N to 60°N and 30°S to 55°S; more developed in the Northern Hemisphere. Climate is the most influencing factor; grasslands, technology, market and large estates matter. Commercial in North America, South America (Pampas) and Australia.
Mining: Depends solely on the presence of minerals, so it is not related to latitude directly. Minerals are unevenly distributed and man cannot manufacture them. Oil and natural gas are now taken from sea and ocean beds too (e.g. Bombay High).
Who works in agriculture: The share of people in agriculture is highest in Africa, then Asia. Europe, the Americas and Australia farm larger areas with very few people: developed countries have less population in agriculture, developing countries more.
Intensive subsistence agriculture: Small land holdings, maximum yield from small land, food crops, manual labour and animals. Rice is the major crop. China, India, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka and East Asian countries.
Extensive commercial (grain) agriculture: Large farms, capital intensive, monoculture, machinery from sowing to harvesting, with commercial animal husbandry. Yield per hectare low but per capita income high. Temperate grasslands: Steppes, Prairies, Downs, Pampas, Velds. Wheat and maize.
Plantation agriculture: Large farms, capital intensive, monoculture, local labour, crops managed for quality and processing. Once planted, yields for 10 to 15 years. Tea, coffee, rubber, cocoa, spices: Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Indonesia.
Shifting agriculture: Forest land is burnt and used for agriculture: very small farms, low production, only for 2 to 3 years, then the land is left fallow and farmers move on. Forests decline and soil erodes. Tropical forests of Asia, Central and South America, Africa.
Market gardening: Modern farming in the fringe of big cities to meet urban demand: vegetables, fruits, milk, eggs, meat, fish, within an overnight truck journey. High capital, science and fertilizers. E.g. Khedshivapur and Saswad supply Pune.
Horticulture: Fruits, flowers, medicinal and ornamental plants grown for commercial use, with manual labour and machines, in tropical, Mediterranean and temperate regions where the climate suits.

Derivations

Try each one first, then open its outline.

What are the factors affecting commercial fishing?

Continental shelf with shallow water, e.g. North-West Pacific near the Okhotsk Sea.
Confluence of warm and cold currents and abundant plankton, e.g. Kuroshio and Oyashio near Japan.
Traditional skills (Japanese, Chinese); large population, little land and no other protein (Japan, Philippines); no alternative occupation.
Technology; broken coastline for ports; cold climate to preserve fish; nearby forests for wood for ships.

Differentiate between lumbering in equatorial forests and temperate forests

Equatorial: dense evergreen forests of hardwood, many species in a small area; temperate coniferous: one species in an area, tall softwood trees.
Equatorial: inaccessible, inhospitable climate, insects and reptiles, traditional methods; coniferous: commercial, mechanised lumbering.
Hardwood is less in demand than softwood, and mixed species make equatorial lumbering unprofitable.
Equatorial: Amazon and Congo basins, South-East Asia. Coniferous: Canada and other temperate lands.

Mining: why it is not related to latitude, and why it develops on a large scale

Mining depends solely on the presence of minerals in the earth's crust, which are unevenly spread, so it does not follow latitude.
Actual mining depends on geology, value of the mineral, climate, capital, technology and skilled labour.
Mechanisation and improved transport develop it on a large scale; mineral-based industries locate near mines, so the country develops.
E.g. Chota Nagpur Plateau in India is rich in minerals, so mining is developed there.

Why have humans used minerals since ancient times?

Minerals were used for weapons, tools, jewellery, medicines and utensils.
Man's cultural evolution follows minerals: Copper Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Atomic Age.
Man's progress is linked to exploiting minerals; now even oil and gas from sea and ocean beds.

Differentiate between plantation agriculture and extensive commercial agriculture

Plantation: tropical regions; extensive commercial: temperate grasslands.
Plantation: local labour, crop managed for quality and processing; extensive: machines from sowing to harvesting.
Plantation: tea, coffee, rubber, cocoa, spices, yielding 10 to 15 years; extensive: wheat and maize, with animal husbandry.
Both are large, capital-intensive, monoculture farms.

Give reasons: extensive agriculture is a commercial type of agriculture

Farms are very large and capital intensive, worked by machines from sowing to harvesting.
One crop (wheat, maize) is grown on a huge scale in temperate grasslands.
Per hectare yield is low but per capita output is high, so the grain is grown for sale, not for the family.

Factors affecting the development of agriculture

Physical: climate, topography, soils and biotic factors.
Economic and social: labour, market, capital, transport, storage, government policies, population, ownership of land.
Technology: greenhouses and polyhouses, high-yielding seeds, fertilizers and insecticides raise production.

Give reasons: agriculture is done on a large scale in India

Favourable physical factors: plains, fertile soils, a suitable climate.
A large population gives labour and needs food; India practises intensive subsistence farming, rice the major crop.
India is a developing country, where the share of people engaged in agriculture is high.

Hunting and loss of ecosystem

Hunting was man's primitive way to obtain food.
Large-scale hunting has made many species extinct or nearly extinct, upsetting the ecosystem.
So commercial hunting is banned all over the world and laws protect animals; only some tribes hunt for subsistence.

Diagrams to practise

World map of primary economic activities (Fig 4.1): label fishing: Grand Bank, Dogger Bank, NW Pacific · lumbering: Canada and other coniferous belts · animal husbandry: Pampas, Prairies, east Australia · mining: Bombay High (Arabian Sea) · agriculture: Nile basin, Europe · index of symbols

Mistakes that cost marks

Picking the wrong activity as not related to latitude

Mining depends only on where minerals are. Lumbering, fishing and agriculture all follow latitude and climate.

Small farms in extensive agriculture

Extensive commercial farms are large, machine-worked, in temperate grasslands, growing wheat and maize. Small holdings with manual labour are intensive subsistence farming.

Commercial lumbering in equatorial forests

Commercial lumbering is mainly in temperate coniferous forests. Equatorial forests have hardwood, many species and poor access, so lumbering there is not commercial.

Hot climate for fishing

Cold climate helps preserve fish; tropical countries need refrigeration. The fishing factors are shallow seas or continental shelf, warm and cold currents meeting, plankton, broken coasts for ports.

Mixing plantation with extensive farming

Plantation: tropical, tea, coffee, rubber, local labour. Extensive: temperate, wheat, machines. Both are large monoculture farms.

Wrong hemisphere or latitudes for animal husbandry

It lies between 30°N to 60°N and 30°S to 55°S and is more developed in the Northern Hemisphere. Equatorial regions lack it: dense forest, poor fodder.

Chapter activities

Make friends with maps! / Try this / Give it a try

Exercise

What the board has asked from this chapter

June 2026

March 2026

June 2025

March 2025

June 2024

March 2024

The 10 board questions to practise first

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Most asked in board papers

Must-know points

Derivations

Diagrams to practise

Mistakes that cost marks

Chapter activities

Make friends with maps! / Try this / Give it a try

Exercise

What the board has asked from this chapter

June 2026

March 2026

June 2025

March 2025

June 2024

March 2024

The 10 board questions to practise first

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Most asked in board papers

Must-know points

Derivations

Diagrams to practise

Mistakes that cost marks