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CBSE Class 8 Social Science Chapter 8 Resources — 20 MCQs with Answers

Chapter 8 'Resources' in CBSE Class 8 Social Science introduces the foundation of resource classification, conservation ethics, and sustainable development. NCERT frames resources as 'everything available in our environment which can be used to satisfy our needs', provided it is technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable. This MCQ set mirrors the CBSE exam blueprint—mixing direct recall, application scenarios, and higher-order thinking questions to prepare you thoroughly.

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Key takeaways

  • ✓Resources are classified into natural (biotic, abiotic), human-made, and human resources; understanding these categories is critical for CBSE Class 8 exams.
  • ✓Conservation and sustainable development are interconnected concepts tested frequently through application-based MCQs and assertion-reason questions.
  • ✓NCERT Class 8 Social Science emphasises renewable vs. non-renewable distinction; expect 2–3 MCQs on this in your term exam.
  • ✓HOTS questions on resource misuse, depletion, and community-based conservation appear regularly in CBSE Class 8 Social Science chapter 8 quiz formats.
  • ✓Practising 15–20 MCQs before the exam improves speed and accuracy, especially for tricky assertion-reason pairs that carry 1 mark each.
  • ✓CBSETUTOR.ai offers 24×7 AI tutoring at ₹999/month (all classes 6–12) with photo-upload doubt solving and chapter-wise MCQ practice—start your 3-day free trial today.

Understanding Resource Classification — Core MCQs

NCERT defines resources in three broad categories: natural (gifts of nature like air, water, minerals), human-made (technology-modified assets like buildings, roads), and human resources (people with skills and knowledge). Class 8 Social Science Resources multiple choice questions often test the ability to distinguish between biotic (living origin—forests, wildlife) and abiotic (non-living—rocks, metals) natural resources. Additionally, the concepts of potential resources (exist but not yet utilised) and actual resources (currently in use) frequently appear in CBSE term papers. Mastering these definitions is non-negotiable for scoring full marks in the objective section.
  • Q1. Which of the following is a biotic natural resource? (A) Coal (B) Sunlight (C) Forest (D) Iron ore | Answer: (C) Forest | Reason: Forests are living resources derived from plants and animals, making them biotic.
  • Q2. Resources that are surveyed but technology to use them is not available are called: (A) Potential resources (B) Actual resources (C) Reserve resources (D) Stock resources | Answer: (A) Potential resources | Reason: Potential resources exist but lack current means or technology for utilisation.
  • Q3. Human-made resources include: (A) Rivers (B) Buildings (C) Wildlife (D) Soil | Answer: (B) Buildings | Reason: Buildings are created by modifying natural resources using human skill and technology.
  • Q4. Which resource is both renewable and abiotic? (A) Coal (B) Wind (C) Forests (D) Wildlife | Answer: (B) Wind | Reason: Wind is non-living (abiotic) and naturally replenished, hence renewable.

Renewable vs. Non-Renewable Resources — Application-Based MCQs

Renewable resources regenerate naturally over short periods (solar energy, wind, water), while non-renewable resources take millions of years to form (coal, petroleum, natural gas). The CBSE Class 8 Social Science chapter 8 quiz regularly features scenario-based questions where students must identify resource type based on usage rate and replenishment capacity. For instance, groundwater can be renewable if extraction does not exceed recharge rate, but becomes non-renewable under over-exploitation. Similarly, soil is renewable with proper management but degrades irreversibly through erosion and chemical misuse. These nuances are high-yield areas for MCQs.
  • Q5. Which energy source is inexhaustible? (A) Natural gas (B) Solar energy (C) Coal (D) Uranium | Answer: (B) Solar energy | Reason: Solar energy is continuously available and cannot be depleted by human use.
  • Q6. Soil becomes a non-renewable resource when: (A) It is used for agriculture (B) Erosion exceeds soil formation rate (C) Crop rotation is practised (D) Organic manure is added | Answer: (B) Erosion exceeds soil formation rate | Reason: Soil formation takes centuries; rapid erosion makes it effectively non-renewable.
  • Q7. Petroleum is classified as non-renewable because: (A) It is found underground (B) It takes millions of years to form (C) It is expensive (D) It pollutes air | Answer: (B) It takes millions of years to form | Reason: Fossil fuels form over geological timescales, far exceeding human lifespans.
  • Q8. Groundwater is renewable only if: (A) It rains heavily (B) Extraction rate equals or is less than recharge rate (C) More tubewells are dug (D) Rivers flow nearby | Answer: (B) Extraction rate equals or is less than recharge rate | Reason: Sustainable use requires balance between withdrawal and natural replenishment.

Conservation of Resources — Real-World Scenario MCQs

NCERT stresses judicious use and preservation of resources for future generations. Conservation strategies include reducing wastage, recycling materials, reusing products, and protecting biodiversity. Class 8 Social Science Resources important questions often ask students to identify best practices: afforestation over deforestation, rainwater harvesting, organic farming, and community-driven initiatives like Van Mahotsav. The 2025 CBSE pattern has increased weightage for value-based questions linking conservation to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 (Responsible Consumption) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Expect 2–3 marks from this theme in your term exam.
  • Q9. Which practice directly conserves water resources? (A) Building more dams (B) Rainwater harvesting (C) Increasing tubewells (D) Expanding canal networks | Answer: (B) Rainwater harvesting | Reason: It captures and stores rainwater, recharging groundwater and reducing dependence on external sources.
  • Q10. Afforestation helps in: (A) Increasing soil erosion (B) Reducing carbon dioxide levels (C) Depleting groundwater (D) Expanding deserts | Answer: (B) Reducing carbon dioxide levels | Reason: Trees absorb CO₂ during photosynthesis, mitigating climate change.
  • Q11. The 3R principle (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) is part of: (A) Resource extraction (B) Resource conservation (C) Resource depletion (D) Resource ownership | Answer: (B) Resource conservation | Reason: 3R minimises waste and extends resource life, core to conservation.
  • Q12. National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries are established to: (A) Promote tourism (B) Conserve biodiversity (C) Increase agricultural land (D) Mine minerals | Answer: (B) Conserve biodiversity | Reason: Protected areas preserve habitats and prevent species extinction.

Sustainable Development — HOTS and Assertion-Reason MCQs

Sustainable development is 'development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs' (Brundtland Commission, 1987). CBSE Class 8 Social Science chapter 8 quiz integrates this concept through higher-order thinking questions: balancing economic growth with environmental protection, intergenerational equity, and precautionary principle. Assertion-Reason (A-R) format tests causal understanding—both statements may be true, but does the reason correctly explain the assertion? Recent papers have featured A-R pairs on resource overuse leading to climate change, and technology's dual role in resource exploitation and conservation.
  • Q13. Assertion (A): Sustainable development aims at inter-generational equity. Reason (R): Resources should be conserved for future generations. (A) Both A and R are true, R is correct explanation of A (B) Both true, R not correct explanation (C) A true, R false (D) A false, R true | Answer: (A) | Reason: Inter-generational equity means fairness across generations, directly explained by conserving resources for the future.
  • Q14. Which activity aligns with sustainable development? (A) Clearing forests for industry (B) Using solar panels for electricity (C) Open-cast mining without reclamation (D) Over-fishing in oceans | Answer: (B) Using solar panels for electricity | Reason: Solar energy is renewable, reduces carbon footprint, and preserves non-renewable resources.
  • Q15. Assertion (A): Over-exploitation of groundwater leads to land subsidence. Reason (R): Water fills underground spaces; its removal causes soil to compact. (A) Both A and R true, R correct explanation (B) Both true, R not correct explanation (C) A true, R false (D) A false, R true | Answer: (A) | Reason: Removal of groundwater creates voids, causing soil layers to collapse and land to sink.
  • Q16. The concept of sustainable development was popularised by: (A) Rio Earth Summit 1992 (B) Kyoto Protocol 1997 (C) Brundtland Report 1987 (D) Paris Agreement 2015 | Answer: (C) Brundtland Report 1987 | Reason: 'Our Common Future' report by Brundtland Commission formally defined sustainable development.

Resource Distribution and Utilisation — Geography Integration MCQs

NCERT Class 8 Geography (Resource and Development unit) discusses spatial distribution: mineral belts in Jharkhand-Odisha, solar potential in Rajasthan, hydropower in Himachal Pradesh. MCQs test map skills and regional awareness. For instance, questions may present a table of state-wise coal reserves and ask which state has maximum potential for thermal power. The CBSE board loves integrating data interpretation with resource concepts. Additionally, terms like 'ubiquitous resources' (found everywhere, e.g. air) vs. 'localised resources' (concentrated in specific areas, e.g. minerals) appear frequently. Understanding India's resource endowment helps in answering CBSE Class 8 Social Science Resources multiple choice questions confidently.
  • Q17. Which resource is ubiquitous? (A) Coal (B) Iron ore (C) Air (D) Uranium | Answer: (C) Air | Reason: Air is available everywhere on Earth, unlike minerals which are localised.
  • Q18. India has the largest reserves of which mineral? (A) Bauxite (B) Mica (C) Copper (D) Gold | Answer: (B) Mica | Reason: India holds about 60% of global mica reserves, mainly in Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh.
  • Q19. Tidal energy can be harnessed effectively in: (A) Deserts (B) Coastal areas with high tidal range (C) Plains (D) Plateaus | Answer: (B) Coastal areas with high tidal range | Reason: Tidal energy depends on sea-level variation; Gulf of Khambhat and Gulf of Kutch in India are ideal.
  • Q20. Assertion (A): Resource planning is essential in India. Reason (R): Resources are unevenly distributed across regions. (A) Both A and R true, R correct explanation (B) Both true, R not correct explanation (C) A true, R false (D) A false, R true | Answer: (A) | Reason: Uneven distribution necessitates planning to ensure equitable access and prevent regional imbalances.

Common Mistakes Students Make in Resource MCQs

Many Class 8 students confuse 'potential' with 'reserve' resources. Reserves are the subset of potential resources that can be profitably extracted with current technology. Another frequent error is treating all natural resources as renewable—coal and minerals are natural but non-renewable. In assertion-reason questions, students often fail to check if the reason logically explains the assertion; both can be factually correct yet unrelated. Additionally, during CBSE exams, hasty reading leads to marking 'forest' as abiotic or 'solar energy' as non-renewable. Slow down, underline keywords (biotic, renewable, sustainable), and eliminate obviously wrong options before choosing. CBSETUTOR.ai's AI tutor can instantly clarify such confusions through photo-upload: snap the MCQ, get a step-by-step breakdown.
  • Mistake 1: Assuming all natural resources are eco-friendly. (Coal is natural but burning it causes pollution.)
  • Mistake 2: Ignoring the time-frame in renewable vs. non-renewable. (Soil can renew, but takes centuries—if eroded faster, it becomes non-renewable.)
  • Mistake 3: In A-R questions, marking (A) without verifying the causal link. (Both statements may be true independently.)
  • Mistake 4: Confusing conservation with preservation. (Conservation is wise use; preservation is non-use—NCERT favours conservation.)

How CBSETUOR.ai Helps You Master Resources MCQs

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  • Upload MCQ screenshot → Get correct answer + detailed reason within seconds.
  • Chapter-wise quizzes auto-generated from NCERT content, matching latest CBSE pattern.
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  • Ask follow-up questions in natural language: 'Why is soil renewable but also non-renewable?' → Get crisp, exam-focused answers.

Strategy to Attempt MCQs in CBSE Class 8 Social Science Paper

CBSE typically allots 1 mark per MCQ, with 20–25 questions in the Social Science paper (5–7 from Geography/Resources chapter). Time management is critical: aim for 30 seconds per MCQ to leave buffer for long answers. Start by reading all four options before the question—this primes your brain. Eliminate obviously incorrect choices using NCERT terminology: if the question asks for a biotic resource, strike out 'sunlight' and 'rocks' immediately. For assertion-reason, evaluate assertion first; if false, answer is (C) or (D). If true, check reason independently, then verify causality. Never leave MCQs blank—CBSE does not have negative marking, so guess intelligently. Finally, revise marked answers if time permits; students often catch silly mistakes (e.g. marking 'coal' for renewable resource) in the last 5 minutes.
  • Step 1: Skim all MCQs once to identify easy wins (direct recall questions)—answer these first to bank quick marks.
  • Step 2: For application-based MCQs, underline keywords ('renewable', 'conservation', 'human-made') to stay focused.
  • Step 3: In assertion-reason, use this decision tree: A false? → (C)/(D). A true, R false? → (C). Both true, check link → (A)/(B).
  • Step 4: Cross out eliminated options lightly in the question paper (if allowed) to avoid re-reading them.
  • Step 5: Reserve 2 minutes at the end to transfer answers carefully to the OMR sheet or answer booklet, checking question numbers.

Frequently asked questions

How many MCQs appear from Chapter 8 Resources in CBSE Class 8 Social Science term exam?+
Typically 3–5 MCQs (out of 20–25 total in the paper) come from the Geography section covering Resources. Expect a mix of definition-based, application, and one assertion-reason question.
Are assertion-reason questions difficult in Class 8 Social Science Resources chapter?+
They test conceptual clarity, not rote memory. If you understand why conservation leads to sustainable development (causal link), you will score. Practice 5–6 A-R pairs before the exam.
Which topic in Chapter 8 has maximum MCQ weightage: types of resources, conservation, or sustainable development?+
Types of resources (biotic/abiotic, renewable/non-renewable) accounts for roughly 40–50% of MCQs. Conservation and sustainable development together cover the rest, often as HOTS questions.
Can I score full marks in MCQs by only reading NCERT textbook?+
Yes, if you read carefully and understand definitions, examples, and case studies. CBSE strictly follows NCERT; no external reference is mandatory for Class 8 objective questions.
What is the difference between potential and actual resources, commonly tested in MCQs?+
Actual resources are currently extracted and used (e.g. coal in Jharkhand). Potential resources exist but lack technology or economic viability for use (e.g. uranium in Ladakh). NCERT Page 3 clarifies this.
How should I revise Resources chapter MCQs one day before the exam?+
Solve 15–20 practice MCQs, focusing on incorrect answers. Revise NCERT definitions (ubiquitous, localised, renewable, sustainable development). Skim the Chipko Movement and other case studies for value-based questions.
Does CBSE ask map-based MCQs in Class 8 Social Science?+
Occasionally, a 1-mark MCQ may show a map with mineral belts and ask identification. Familiarise yourself with Jharkhand-Odisha iron belt, Rajasthan mica belt, and Gujarat's solar/tidal zones.
Is soil a renewable or non-renewable resource according to NCERT Class 8?+
NCERT states soil is renewable if conserved (through crop rotation, organic farming) but becomes non-renewable if erosion exceeds formation rate. Expect a tricky MCQ on this nuance.
How does CBSETUTOR.ai help with last-minute MCQ practice for Resources chapter?+
Upload your NCERT chapter 8 exercise or any MCQ sheet via photo. The AI generates instant explanations, suggests similar questions, and tracks which question types you miss—all at ₹999/month with a 3-day free trial.
Are there negative marks for wrong MCQs in CBSE Class 8 Social Science?+
No. CBSE does not deduct marks for incorrect MCQs in Class 8. Always attempt every question; use elimination strategy if unsure, and make an educated guess.

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