Geography and Environment · Classes 9-10 · Chapter 1
Elements and Types of Environment.
A mountain is part of the environment, and so are the animals on it. So are festivals and schooling. How do you sort all that out? The book's way is simple: split it once by elements, and once more by types.
1. Elements: non-living and living
Environment is made of two kinds of elements: non-living and living. Start by recognising a living thing. It has life, takes food, shows intelligence, grows, and has a birth and a death.
The five marks can test anything. Pick a thing, guess first whether it is living or non-living, then watch the marks checked one by one.
guess, then testguess first
The five-mark test
Trees, birds and animals, insects, humans and other animals are the living elements of environment. The environment made of living things is the living environment.
Earth, water, air, mountains, rivers, seas, light, temperature and moisture are the non-living elements. Together they make the non-living environment. Now sort them yourself.
sort themrecall the book's marks of life
Non-living or living
Pick up a chip, then drop it in a box. Ask: does it have life, growth, birth and death?
Right. Next one.
Not yet. Run through the five marks of life once more.
All in place. Non-living: soil, water, air, mountain, river, sea, light, temperature, moisture. Living: trees, birds and animals, insects, humans.
2. Types: natural and social
There are two types of environment: the natural (physical) environment and the social environment. The environment made of nature's non-living and living elements together is the natural environment. So both kinds of element from the first split meet here.
The natural environment holds earth, water, air, mountains, rivers, seas, light, trees, birds, animals and insects, with humans and other small creatures among them.
The environment made by humans is the social environment. Human behaviour, festivals and rituals, customs, education, values, economics and politics build it up. So the question is always the same: who made it?
who made itwho made it?
Natural or social
Mountain. Given by nature, so natural.
Sea. Given by nature, so natural.
Soil. Given by nature, so natural.
Water. Given by nature, so natural.
Air. Given by nature, so natural.
Animals. Given by nature, so natural.
Behaviour. Made by humans, so social.
Festivals. Made by humans, so social.
Rituals and customs. Made by humans, so social.
Education. Made by humans, so social.
Values. Made by humans, so social.
Economics. Made by humans, so social.
Politics. Made by humans, so social.
All seen. Six were given by nature, seven were made by humans.
3. All on one tree
The two splits cut across each other. Humans are a living element, and they also appear in the natural environment's list. So the tree keeps two branches apart: one for elements, one for types. Open a branch and read each name's definition.
Non-living environment the environment made of non-living elements
Living elements things with life, food, growth, birth and death: trees, birds and animals, insects, humans
Living environment the environment made of living things
Split by types two types
Natural (physical) environment made of nature's non-living and living elements: soil, water, air, mountains, rivers, seas, light, animals, insects, humans
Social environment made by humans: behaviour, festivals, customs, education, values, economics, politics
4. Check yourself
Three questions in the exam's style. Start with the first.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 1
How many kinds of elements does environment have?
Right. Environment has two kinds of elements: non-living and living.
Not three; the book says two. The correct answer is: 2.
Not four; the book says two. The correct answer is: 2.
Not five; the book says two. The correct answer is: 2.
In the second, watch which split it asks about.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 2
Which is an element of the physical environment?
Behaviour is an element of the social environment.
Festivals are an element of the social environment.
Right. Sea and rivers are elements of the physical (natural) environment.
Customs are an element of the social environment.
The last one is another question of sorting.
check yourselfpick one answer
Question 3
The social environment includes-
i. Customary rules ii. Religious festivals iii. Trade and commerce
iii is also true: trade and commerce are part of economics, an element of the social environment. So this choice is incomplete.
i is also true: customary rules are part of rituals and customs, an element of the social environment. So this choice is incomplete.
ii is also true: religious festivals are part of festivals and ceremonies. So this choice is incomplete.
Right. i, ii, iii true: customary rules are part of rituals and customs, an element of the social environment. religious festivals are part of festivals and ceremonies. trade and commerce are part of economics, an element of the social environment.
The whole note on eight cards.
cut from the notetap to turn over
Eight cards
QuestionHow many kinds of elements does environment have, and what are they?
AnswerTwo: living elements and non-living elements.
QuestionWhom does the book call living things?
AnswerThose that have life, take food, grow, and have birth and death.
QuestionWhat is the living environment?
AnswerThe environment made up of living things.
QuestionWhat is the non-living (jar) environment?
AnswerThe environment made up of non-living elements such as soil, water and air.
QuestionWhat is the natural environment?
AnswerThe environment made of nature's non-living and living elements.
QuestionWhat is the environment made by humans called?
AnswerThe social environment.
QuestionName three elements of the social environment.
AnswerFor example behaviour, festivals, customs, education, values, economics, politics.
QuestionWhich of 'mountain' and 'education' belongs to the natural and which to the social environment?
AnswerMountain: natural environment; education: social environment.
Source: Geography and Environment, Classes 9-10 (NCTB), Chapter 1 “Geography and Environment”, the “Elements and Types of Environment” part.