CHAPTER 1 Environment
ENVIRONMENT
What is
environment? Environment is everything around us. The air we breathe, the water
we use, the land we live on, the clothes we wear, the food we eat, the vehicles
we use, and even the plants and animals we share our surroundings with are all
a part of our environment. The components of environment can be divided into
two parts: natural and human.
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Think and Answer Why do you think there is so much concern over
saving plants and animals these days? It is because many species of plants and animals
are disappearing at a much faster rate now, primarily because of human
activities. Many species have lost their natural habitat or food sources for
many reasons, such as clearing of forests. The hunting of some animal species
by humans has led to a rapid fall in their numbers. In the last 300 years,
the rate at which species have become extinct has risen from 1 per year to
50,000 per year. This has raised concerns and many efforts are being made to
conserve the environment. |
The natural
component of environment includes all those things that exist in nature like
river, water, soil, etc. Natural environment provides us with all the
essentials for life like food, air, water and materials for shelter. On the
other hand, the human component of environment is created by humans themselves.
It includes the buildings we live in, the roads we travel on, the cities we
build, and the things we make, like cars and computers. It also includes all
human interactions
.
The natural and
human components of environments are deeply interconnected and interdependent.
The human activities such as industrialisation, and resource exploitation can
have significant negative impact on the natural component of environment. It
is, thus, important that we do not exploit and pollute nature and employ
sustainable practices in order to take care of the natural environment to
ensure a healthy planet for future generations.
NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT
Natural
environment is the system that supports life it comprises air, water, land,
plant and animal, which are found in nature and are essential for living. It
also provides us with many other things such as natural fibres with which we make
clothes, minerals which we use in our industries, and sources of energy. Thus,
the natural environment fulfils all our needs. In fact, our very existence
depends on it.
Biotic
and abiotic components
The natural
environment has both living and non-living components. All living things such
as plants, organisms, humans, animals, etc., make up the biotic component of
the natural environment, also called the biological environment. All non-living
things such as land, water, air, etc., make up the abiotic component or the
physical environment.
Domains of our
environment.
The natural
environment comprises four major domains lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere,
and biosphere.
The lithosphere
comprises land. It is the outer crust of the Earth on which we all live. This
domain is made up of rocks, minerals, and soil. The soil cover supports all
kinds of plant life and organisms. The lithosphere includes forests,
grasslands, fertile land for farming, and different landforms like mountains
and plains. It is a rich source of minerals.
The atmosphere
comprises layers of gases that surround the Earth. It keeps harmful ultraviolet
rays of the Sun from reaching us. It regulates the temperature of the Earth. It
protects the Earth from the heat of the Sun during the day and keeps it from freezing
at night. It contains life-supporting gases, like oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon
dioxide. In this way, it helps sustain life on our planet.
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Ozone layer This atmospheric layer contains a large amount of
ozone gas. It is this layer that absorbs most of the harmful ultraviolet
radiation from the Sun. |
The hydrosphere
comprises all water bodies and water sources found on Earth. It comprises
running water in oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes, ice in glaciers, underground
water, and water vapour. This water is essential for all forms of life. It is
also a source of energy, minerals, food, etc.
The biosphere is
the narrow zone where air, water, and land interact and support life. It is in
this thin zone that life exists on our planet and makes it unique. The
biosphere comprises a variety of organisms, from microbes, to bacteria, to
large mammals and plants.
ECOSYSTEM
All components of
the natural environment interact with and depend on each other. The interaction
of living organisms with each other and with their surroundings forms the
ecosystem of a place. The interaction between the different components of an
ecosystem is such that they create a self-sufficient unit. Land, vegetation,
and living organisms are different in different places. Therefore, we find
different types of ecosystems in forests, deserts, oceans. Even an aquarium can
be considered an ecosystem.
HUMAN
ENVIRONMENT
The human
environment includes all humans their activities and interactions and
human-made things. If we take a look around us, we will find many other things
surrounding us besides air, land, and water. For example, books, pencils,
buildings, lights, etc. These are human-made components of the environment.
Humans have had a big impact on the natural environment. The natural
environment is constantly changing as a result of natural processes, such as
erosion, movement of the Earth's crust, etc. Humans have also been modifying
the environment to suit their needs. They are hugely responsible for the
changes in it.
HUMAN
AND ENVIRONMENT
We know that the
environment varies from place to place. For example, the environment of a
desert is different from that of a mountain. Desert areas are sandy, hot, dry,
and deficient in water. Mountains have an uneven and often rocky terrain, cool
weather, and adequate sources of water, like springs and waterfalls. The
vegetation found in desert areas is quite scattered and comprises short bushes,
shrubs, or stunted trees, such as cactus and keekar. This type of vegetation is
known as thorny vegetation. In contrast, mountains have taller trees such as
deodar, pine, teak, and chir. There is also a lot of difference between the
kind of animals found in mountains and deserts. While thickly furred animals
(such as bears) abound in the mountains, deserts commonly have animals who can
survive on little water (such as camels).
The lives people
lead are determined by their natural environment to a great extent. For
example, the lives of people living in mountains and deserts differ greatly. As
mountains do not have much level land, people grow crops by cutting terraces on
the sides of the mountains. This type of farming is known as terrace farming.
People in deserts usually grow crops close to sources of water such as oases.
The type of crops grown in mountains and deserts are also quite different.
Not only does the
environment determine the food people grow and the type of farming they engage
in, it also determines many other aspects of their life, such as the clothes
they wear, the occupations they follow, the houses they build, their lifestyle,
etc. For example, people in the mountains wear woollen clothes and make
buildings with sloping roofs, while people in the deserts wear light cotton
dresses and make buildings with flat roofs.
Just like the
environment has a huge impact on people, people also affect the environment
they live in. Initially humans adapted themselves to the environment of a
place. They ate fruits that were available naturally in a place or hunted
animals to sustain themselves. But in time, they learnt to change the
environment according to their needs.
They began
practising agriculture, for which they began clearing forests and lands. They
began taming animals for food and transport. The invention of machines helped
them to modify the environment further.
Environmental
pollution
Although the
natural environment has the capability to replenish resources, such as plants,
minerals, and water, and repair any damage caused by human activities, it fails
to do so if humans damage the environment excessively or use resources
carelessly. Lately, human activities have disturbed the natural balance in the
environment.
Increasing
urbanisation and overpopulation have put a huge toll on the natural
environment. Reckless use of natural resources, like water, wood, and coal has
led to their depletion. Burning of wood, coal, petroleum, etc., has caused
environmental pollution. Fumes from cars are polluting the air, untreated waste
from factories is polluting the water, and deforestation is affecting the
flora, fauna, and climate in different areas. The overexploitation and
pollution of the environment has also led to its degradation. Therefore, it is
important that humans take greater care of the environment and ensure that the
balance in nature is not disturbed.
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Depleting forests For the past many decades, excessive and unplanned
deforestation has been a major cause for concern. More than half of the
world's forests have been wiped out. Deforestation has been the most
widespread in India, leaving the country with barely 1% of global forest
area. Forests are home to a variety of flora and fauna and play a big part in
regulating temperature and climate of an area. Therefore, cutting of forests
creates major ecological imbalances. |
New
Terms
Environment: Everything one
finds in one's surroundings.
Natural
environment: The system that supports life; it comprises air, water, land, and
food.
Human-made
environment:
Includes all things that have been made by humans. For example, factories,
buildings, roads, monuments, gardens, etc.
Herman environment: Includes all
human-made things, and activities of and interaction between humans.
Biological
environment:
Includes all biotic things such as, plants, organisms, humans, animals, etc.,
Physical
environment:
Includes all abiotic things such as land, water, air, etc.
Lithosphere: The outer crust
of the Earth on which we all live; it includes forests, grasslands, land, and
different landforms such as mountains and plains.
Hydrosphere: Comprises all
water bodies; it includes rivers, oceans, streams, etc.
Atmosphere: The thin layer of
air around the Earth, which contains dust, water vapour, and life-supporting
gases.
Biosphere: The narrow zone
where air, water, and land interact and support life; it includes all plants
and animals.
Eedsystem: Formed by the
interaction of plants, animals, and humans with each other and with their
environment.
Rewind
Environment
includes everything one sees in one's surroundings. Different places have
different environments.
The environment
has two components: natural and human.
Natural
environment includes air, water, land, and food, which are essential for
living. It comprises lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.
Human environment
includes all human activities and interactions. It also includes all human-made
things.
The natural
environment has been changing because of human activities.
Reckless use and
overexploitation of natural resources has led to their depletion and
environmental problems such as pollution.
1. What does the term environment
include?
A) Only air and water
B) Only animals and plants
C) Everything around us
D) Only land and soil
Answer: C) Everything around us
Explanation: Environment includes air,
water, land, food, clothes, vehicles, plants, animals, and all human-made
things.
2. The components of environment are
mainly divided into:
A) Air and Water
B) Natural and Human
C) Land and Soil
D) Plants and Animals
Answer: B) Natural and Human
Explanation: Environment is made up of
natural components (air, water, soil, etc.) and human-made components
(buildings, cities, roads, etc.).
3. Why is there growing concern over
saving plants and animals?
A) Because they are too many
B) Because they are disappearing rapidly
C) Because they are easy to replace
D) Because forests are increasing
Answer B) Because they are disappearing
rapidly
Explanation: Due to deforestation,
hunting, and loss of habitat, species extinction has risen from 1 per year to
50,000 per year in the last 300 years.
4. What does the natural environment
provide us?
A) Only air
B) Food, water, air, and shelter materials
C) Only minerals
D) Only shelter
Answer: B) Food, water, air, and shelter
materials
Explanation: Natural environment
supports life by providing essentials such as food, air, water, and materials
for shelter.
5. Which of the following is an example
of the human environment?
A) Rivers
B) Soil
C) Cars and Computers
D) Atmosphere
Answer: C) Cars and Computers
Explanation: Human environment includes
human-made things like cars, computers, buildings, and cities.
6. The natural and human components of
environment are:
A) Independent
B) Interconnected and interdependent
C) Always separate
D) Opposed
Answer: B) Interconnected and
interdependent
Explanation: Human activities like
industrialisation and resource use directly affect the natural environment.
7. Which is NOT a natural fibre?
A) Cotton
B) Wool
C) Nylon
D) Silk
Answer: C) Nylon
Explanation: Natural fibres come from
plants and animals; nylon is synthetic.
8. The living components of the natural
environment are called:
A) Abiotic
B) Physical
C) Biotic
D) Artificial
Answer: C) Biotic
Explanation: All living things such as
plants, animals, and humans form the biotic (biological) environment.
9. The non-living components of the
natural environment are called:
A) Biotic
B) Abiotic
C) Natural fibres
D) Man-made
Answer: B) Abiotic
Explanation: Non-living things like air,
land, and water make up the abiotic (physical) environment.
10. The four domains of the natural
environment are:
A) Land, water, mountains, deserts
B) Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere
C) Forests, Oceans, Rivers, Plains
D) Air, Soil, Plants, Animals
Answer: B) Lithosphere, Atmosphere,
Hydrosphere, Biosphere
Explanation: These are the four major
domains of the Earth’s environment.
11. The lithosphere refers to:
A) The atmosphere around Earth
B) The Earth’s outer crust of land
C) All water bodies
D) The zone where life exists
Answer: B) The Earth’s outer crust of
land
Explanation: Lithosphere is the outer
crust consisting of soil, rocks, minerals, forests, and landforms.
12. Which domain protects us from
harmful ultraviolet rays?
A) Lithosphere
B) Atmosphere
C) Hydrosphere
D) Biosphere
Answer: B) Atmosphere
Explanation: The atmosphere surrounds
Earth and contains the ozone layer which absorbs harmful UV rays.
13. The ozone layer is found in which
domain?
A) Lithosphere
B) Atmosphere
C) Hydrosphere
D) Biosphere
Answer: B) Atmosphere
Explanation: Ozone gas in the atmosphere
absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.
14. Which of the following is part of
the hydrosphere?
A) Mountains
B) Rivers and Oceans
C) Soil
D) Atmosphere
Answer: B) Rivers and Oceans
Explanation: The hydrosphere includes
all water bodies like oceans, rivers, lakes, glaciers, and underground water.
15. The biosphere is the zone where:
A) Only humans live
B) Air, water, and land interact to support life
C) Only animals exist
D) Only plants survive
Answer: B) Air, water, and land interact
to support life
Explanation: Biosphere is a thin zone on
Earth that supports all forms of life.
16. What forms an ecosystem?
A) Only plants
B) Only humans
C) Interaction of organisms with their surroundings
D) Only forests
Answer: C) Interaction of organisms with
their surroundings
Explanation: An ecosystem is a
self-sufficient unit formed by living organisms interacting with each other and
their environment.
17. Which of the following can also be
considered an ecosystem?
A) A mountain
B) A desert
C) An aquarium
D) A forest
Answer: C) An aquarium
Explanation: Even an aquarium has living
organisms and their surroundings interacting, making it an ecosystem.
18. Which of the following is a
human-made component of environment?
A) Mountains
B) Oceans
C) Buildings
D) Forests
Answer: C) Buildings
Explanation: Human environment includes
human-made things like buildings, roads, and cities.
19. Terrace farming is practised in:
A) Deserts
B) Mountains
C) Plains
D) Coastal areas
Answer: B) Mountains
Explanation: Because level land is
scarce in mountains, people cut terraces on slopes for farming.
20. Crops in deserts are usually grown:
A) On mountains
B) Near oases
C) In valleys
D) On terraces
Answer: B) Near oases
Explanation: Water is scarce in deserts,
so crops are grown near water sources such as oases.
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