Human Environment - Settlement, Transport, and Communication

Settlements

• Settlements are places where people build their homes.
• They can be of two types:

→ Temporary: Settlements occupied for a short time. Example: People in forests, deserts, and mountains.

→ Permanent: Settlements made for long-term living. Example: People build homes to live in.

→ Rural Settlements

• Villages where people engage in agriculture, fishing, forestry, crafts work, trading etc.
• Can be compact or scattered settlements.

→ A compact settlement is closely built, found on flat land.

→ A scattered settlement spreads over a large area, found in hilly or forested regions.

• Houses are built to suit the environment:

→ Heavy rainfall: Slanting roofs.

→ Rainy water areas: Raised platforms or stilts.

→ Hot climate: Thick mud walls with thatched roofs.

→ Urban Settlements

• Towns and cities are examples of urban settlements.
• People are engaged in manufacturing, trading, and services.

Transport

• Transport means moving people and goods.
• Early transport involved walking and using animals.
• Even today, animals are used in many parts:

→ In India: Donkeys, mules, bullocks, camels.

→ Andes Mountains: Llamas.

→ Tibet: Yaks.

• Four major means of transport:

→ Roadways

→ Railways

→ Waterways

→ Airways

→ Roadways

• Roads are most used for short distances.
• Types: Metalled (pucca) and Unmetalled (kutcha).
• Plains have dense road networks.
• Manali-Leh highway is among the highest roads.
• Underground roads: Subways/under paths.
• Raised roads: Flyovers.

→ Railways

• Railways transport heavy goods and people quickly and cheaply.
• Now use diesel and electric engines.
• Superfast trains introduced for faster travel.
• Plains have well-developed railway networks.
• India has the largest railway network in Asia.

→ Waterways

• Cheapest way to transport heavy and bulky goods.
• Two types: Inland waterways and Sea routes.

→ Inland Waterways: Rivers/lakes used for transport.

• Examples: Ganga-Brahmaputra, Great Lakes (North America), Nile (Africa).

→ Sea Routes: Used for international transport of goods.

• Connected to ports. Important ports: Singapore, Mumbai, New York, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, Durban, Cape Town, Sydney, London, Rotterdam.

→ Airways

• Airways are the fastest transport, developed in the early 20th century.
• Most expensive due to fuel cost.
• Bad weather affects flights.
• Essential for remote areas without roads or railways.
• Helicopters help during disasters for rescue and supply.
• Important airports: Delhi, Mumbai, New York, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Cairo.

Communication

• Communication is the process of sending messages.
• Advancements led to an information revolution.
• Used for information, education, entertainment.
• Mass media: Newspapers, radio, TV reach large audiences.

Satellites

• Satellites have made communication faster.
• Help in oil exploration, forest survey, mineral detection, weather and disaster warning.
• Cellular phones use wireless communication.

Internet

• Internet allows sending emails and accessing global information.
• Helps in online bookings for trains, flights, cinemas, and hotels.

MCQs

1. Which vehicle does NOT pollute the environment

(a) Cycle

(b) Train

(c) Bus

(d) Car

► (a) Cycle

2. Settlement where people are engaged in activities like agriculture, fishing, forestry, crafts work and trading

(a) Permanent Settlement

(b) Urban Settlement

(c) Temporary Settlement

(d) Rural Settlement

► (d) Rural Settlement

3. Andes Mountains is in

(a) South America

(b) Africa

(c) Australia

(d) North America

► (a) South America

4. Cairo is the name of an

(a) City

(b) Country

(c) Seaport

(d) Bus stop

► (a) City

5. Dwellings made of ice called

(a) Hut

(b) Igloo

(c) Stilt

(d) Penguin

► (b) Igloo

6. The place where a building or a settlement develops is called its

(a) Nagar

(b) Site

(c) Office

(d) Side

► (b) Site

7. The latest development in India is the construction of

(a) Express Ways

(b) Car

(c) Railways

(d) Aeroplane

► (a) Express Ways

8. Which of the following is NOT the mass media

(a) Telephone

(b) Radio

(c) Newspaper

(d) Television

► (a) Telephone

9. _______ have largely replaced the _____

(a) Diesel and Electric engines, Steam engines

(b) Wheel and Electric engines, Steam engines

(c) Steam and Electric engines, Diesel engines

(d) Steam and Diesel engines, Electric engines

► (a) Diesel and Electric engines, Steam engines

10. Traffic jams and pollution found in

(a) Villages

(b) Cities

(c) Mountains

(d) Forest

► (b) Cities

11. Settlements are places where people

(a) Build temples

(b) Cultivate on land

(c) Build their homes

(d) Build their office

► (c) Build their homes

12. Which mode of transport is most suitable to reach an island

(a) Train

(b) Ship

(c) Car

(d) Cycle

► (b) Ship

13. E-mail means

(a) Electronic mail

(b) Electric mail

(c) Enlarge mail

(d) Elastic mail

► (a) Electronic mail

14. Early human beings lived

(a) On trees and in cave

(b) Houses and buildings

(c) Huts and caves

(d) Temple and trees

► (a) On trees and in cave

15. The most commonly used means of transport especially for short distances are roads. They can be

(a) Rural and Urban

(b) Temporary and Permanent

(c) Metalled and Unmetalled

(d) Short and Long

► (c) Metalled and Unmetalled

16. What do penguins mostly eat?

(a) Worms and insects

(b) Krill, squid and fish

(c) Small birds

(d) Seeds and fruits

► (b) Krill, squid and fish

17. _____ is the process of conveying messages to others

(a) Communication

(b) Speak

(c) Language

(d) Talk

► (a) Communication

18. Settlements which are occupied for a short time are called

(a) Rural settlements

(b) Temporary settlements

(c) Short settlements

(d) Permanent settlements

► (b) Temporary settlements