Geography Quiz: Economic Geography of the World |6 Feb, 2021

The regions where farmers specialize in vegetables only, the farming is known as truck farming. The distance of truck farms from the market is governed by the distance that a truck can cover overnight, hence the name truck farming.

Source: NCERT – XII Fundamental of Human Geography

A pack animal is a type of animal used by humans to carry heavy loads. These animals carry goods and supplies upon their backs across long distances or difficult terrain.

They are not to be confused with draft animals, which pull weight on a cart or sled. The use of animals to carry cargo dates as far back as 3500 BC.

Historical evidence suggests that donkeys have served as pack animals for longer than any other species. Other types of common pack animals include camels, yaks, horses, llamas, oxen, and water buffalos.

Mules are preferred in the mountainous regions; while camels are used for caravan movement in deserts. In India, bullocks are used for pulling carts.

Source: NCERT – XII Fundamental of Human Geography

In ancient India, cotton textiles were produced with hand spinning and handloom weaving techniques.

After the 18th century, power-looms came into use. Our traditional industries suffered a setback during the colonial period because they could not compete with the mill-made cloth from England.

The first successful textile mill was established in Mumbai in 1854. The two world wars were fought in Europe, India was a British colony.

There was a demand for cloth in U.K. hence; they gave a boost to the development of the cotton textile industry.

The first jute mill was set up near Kolkata in 1859 at Rishra.

After Partition in 1947, the jute mills remained in India but three-fourth of the jute producing area went to Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan).

Source: NCERT – XII Fundamental of Human Geography

A geographer, Griffith Taylor introduced another concept which reflects a middle path (Madhyam Marg) between the two ideas of environmental determinism and possibilism. He termed it as Neo-determinism or stop and go determinism.

Source: NCERT – XII Fundamental of Human Geography

Pastoral nomadism is associated with three important regions.

The core region extends from the Atlantic shores of North Africa eastwards across the Arabian Peninsula into Mongolia and Central China.

The second region extends over the tundra region of Eurasia.

In the southern hemisphere there are small areas in South-West Africa and on the island of Madagascar.

Source: NCERT – XII Fundamental of Human Geography

Rearing of animals in ranching is organized on a scientific basis. The main emphasis is on breeding, genetic improvement, disease control and health care of the animals.

New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Uruguay and United States of America are important countries where commercial livestock rearing is practiced.

Source: NCERT – XII Fundamental of Human Geography

The vegetation is usually cleared by fire, and the ashes add to the fertility of the soil.

Shifting cultivation is thus, also called slash and burn agriculture. It is prevalent in tropical region in different names, e.g., Jhuming in North eastern states of India, Milpa in Central America and Mexico and Ladang in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Source: NCERT – XII Fundamental of Human Geography

Viticulture or grape cultivation is a specialty of the Mediterranean region.

Best quality wines in the world with distinctive flavors are produced from high quality grapes in various countries of this region.

The inferior grapes are dried into raisins and currants. This region also produces olives and figs.

The advantage of Mediterranean agriculture is that more valuable crops such as fruits and vegetables are grown in winters when there is great demand in European and North American markets.

Source: NCERT – XII Fundamental of Human Geography

The Ruhr Coal-field, Germany has been one of the major industrial regions of Europe for a long time.

Coal and iron and steel formed the basis of the economy, but as the demand for coal declined, the industry started shrinking.

Even after the iron ore was exhausted, the industry remained, using imported ore brought by waterways to the Ruhr.

The Ruhr region is responsible for 80 per cent of Germany’s total steel production.

Source: NCERT – XII Fundamental of Human Geography

Tourism is travel undertaken for purposes of recreation rather than business.

It has become the world’s single largest tertiary activity in total registered jobs (250 million) and total revenue (40 per cent of the total GDP).

Besides, many local persons are employed to provide services like accommodation, meals, transport, entertainment and special shops serving the tourists.

Source: NCERT – XII Fundamental of Human Geography