NMMS Unit 3: Population and Settlement (7th Standard Geography Term -1)

 Based on the detailed text provided in the Unit 3: Population and Settlement PDF, here are the comprehensive notes and 30 MCQs tailored for NMMS and TNPSC exam preparation.

Comprehensive Notes: Population and Settlement (7th Standard Geography)

1. Introduction to Population Geography

• Definition: The study of demographic phenomena including natality (birth rate), mortality (death rate), and growth rates through space and time.

• Migration: The study of movements and mobility of population.

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2. The Races of Mankind

Race is defined as a biological grouping within the human species based on physical traits like head shape, facial features, nose shape, skin colour, blood groups, etc.

A. Major World Human Races:

1. Caucasoid (European Race):

   • Physical Traits: Fair skin, dark brown eyes, wavy hair, narrow nose.

   • Location: Found in Eurasia.

2. Negroid (Black Race):

   • Physical Traits: Dark eyes, black skin, black woolly hair, wide nose, long head, thick lips.

   • Location: Different parts of Africa.

3. Mongoloid (Asian-American Race):

   • Physical Traits: Light yellow to brown skin, straight hair, flat face, broad head, medium nose.

   • Location: Asia and Arctic regions.

4. Australoid:

   • Physical Traits: Wide nose, curly hair, dark skin, short height.

   • Location: Australia and Asia.

B. Races of India:

• India is one of the cradle lands of human civilization.

• Indus Valley Civilization: Believed to be of Dravidian origin in Northern India.

• History: Dravidians were pushed south when Indo-Aryans arrived later.

• Ancient Kingdoms: South India was dominated by three Dravidian kingdoms: Chera, Chola, and Pandyas.

• Dravidian Languages: Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Tulu.

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3. Religion

Religion is a particular system of faith and worship that brings human beings together with human society. It is a symbol of group identity.

Classification of Religion:

1. Universalizing Religions: Christianity, Islam, Buddhism.

2. Ethnic Religions: Judaism, Hinduism, Shintoism.

3. Tribal/Traditional Religions: Animism, Shamanism.

Places of Worship:

• Buddhism: Vihara

• Christianity: Church

• Hinduism: Temple

• Islam: Mosque

• Jainism: Basadi

• Judaism: Synagogue

• Zoroastrianism: Agiyari

Important Days (Do Not Miss):

• 3rd Sunday in January: World Religion Day

• 21st February: International Mother Language Day

• 21st May: World Cultural Diversity Day

• 11th July: World Population Day

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4. Language

Language is the most common type of communication (oral or written) and a great force of socialization.

• Major World Languages: Chinese, English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, German, Tamil.

• Languages in India:

  • Recognized Languages: 22 major languages are recognized by the Indian Constitution.

  • North India: Kashmiri, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Rajasthani, Gujarati, Bengali, Assamese.

  • South India (Dravidian Family): Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam.

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5. Settlements

A settlement is a place where people live and interact.

A. Classification of Settlements:

• Rural Settlement: People are engaged in Primary Activities (Agriculture, Lumbering, Fishing, Mining).

  • Features: Small population, low density, simple life.

• Urban Settlement: People are engaged in Secondary and Tertiary Activities (Industries, Trade, Banking).

  • Features: Large population, high density, fast and complicated life.

B. Rural Settlement Patterns:

1. Compact (Nucleated) Settlements:

   • Houses built very close to each other.

   • Location: River valleys and fertile plains.

   • Example: Northern Plains and Coastal Plains of Peninsular India.

2. Dispersed Settlements:

   • Houses are spaced far apart, often interspersed with fields.

   • Location: Extreme climates, hills, forests.

   • Example: Northern Kosi tract, Ganga delta, Thar Desert, Foothills of Himalayas and Nilgiris.

3. Linear Settlement: Houses arranged along either side of a road, railway, river, or canal.

4. Rectangular Settlement: Straight settlements meeting at right angles. Found in plains (e.g., Sutlej).

5. Circular Settlement: Houses built around a central area like a lake or tank.

6. Star-like Pattern: Develops where several roads converge; houses spread out in all directions (e.g., Namakkal).

7. Pilgrim Settlement: Develops around a place of worship (e.g., Palani Hills, Tamil Nadu).

8. Wet Point Settlement: Located near water sources in arid (dry) regions.

9. Dry Point Settlement: Located in low-lying areas (to avoid floods) in damp regions.

   • Example: Coastal plains of Kerala and deltas along the East Coast.

C. Urban Settlement Types:

1. Town: Population more than 5,000.

2. City: Population more than 1 Lakh (100,000).

3. Mega City: Population more than 10 Million (1 Crore).

   • Examples: Canton, Tokyo, Delhi, Mumbai.

4. Megalopolis: A combination of two or more large cities with a total population exceeding 10 million.

   • Examples: Region between Boston and Washington D.C. (USA). In India: Kolkata, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot.

5. Conurbation: A region where cities and towns have merged physically to form one continuous area.

   • Examples: Mumbai (Maharashtra), Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida.

6. Satellite Town: Designed to house the overpopulation of a major city, located outside the rural-urban fringe.

7. Smart City: Advanced infrastructure, real estate, and communication.

   • First 10 in India: Bhubaneswar, Pune, Jaipur, Surat, etc.

   • TN Smart Cities (12): Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur, Tiruppur, Salem, Vellore, Coimbatore, Thoothukudi, Dindigul, Erode.

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30 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. The Caucasoid race is also known as the:

   A) Asian-American Race

   B) European Race

   C) Black Race

   D) African Race

2. Which race is characterized by black woolly hair, wide nose, and thick lips?

   A) Mongoloid

   B) Australoid

   C) Negroid

   D) Caucasoid

3. World Population Day is observed on:

   A) 21st February

   B) 11th July

   C) 21st May

   D) 3rd Sunday in January

4. The place of worship for Judaism is called:

   A) Basadi

   B) Agiyari

   C) Synagogue

   D) Vihara

5. Which of the following is NOT a universalizing religion?

   A) Christianity

   B) Islam

   C) Buddhism

   D) Hinduism

6. Basadi is the place of worship for which religion?

   A) Buddhism

   B) Jainism

   C) Zoroastrianism

   D) Judaism

7. How many major languages are recognized by the Indian Constitution?

   A) 18

   B) 22

   C) 25

   D) 20

8. International Mother Language Day is celebrated on:

   A) 21st May

   B) 11th July

   C) 21st February

   D) 1st September

9. Which civilization in India is believed to be of Dravidian origin?

   A) Vedic Civilization

   B) Indus Valley Civilization

   C) Mauryan Civilization

   D) Gupta Empire

10. A settlement where people are primarily engaged in agriculture, lumbering, and fishing is called:

    A) Urban Settlement

    B) Rural Settlement

    C) Mega City

    D) Conurbation

11. Compact settlements are also known as:

    A) Dispersed Settlements

    B) Nucleated Settlements

    C) Linear Settlements

    D) Pilgrim Settlements

12. In which region of India are dispersed settlements commonly found?

    A) Northern Plains

    B) Coastal Plains

    C) Thar Desert

    D) River Valleys

13. Rectangular pattern settlements are typically found in:

    A) Hilly areas

    B) Coastal areas

    C) Plain areas (e.g., Sutlej)

    D) Deserts

14. Namakkal is an example of which type of settlement pattern?

    A) Circular

    B) Linear

    C) Star-like

    D) Rectangular

15. A settlement located near water sources in arid regions is called:

    A) Dry Point Settlement

    B) Wet Point Settlement

    C) Pilgrim Settlement

    D) Satellite Town

16. Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu is an example of:

    A) Industrial Settlement

    B) Pilgrim Settlement

    C) Market Settlement

    D) Wet Point Settlement

17. An urban place with a population of more than 1 Lakh is considered a:

    A) Town

    B) City

    C) Mega City

    D) Village

18. A Mega City typically has a population exceeding:

    A) 1 Million

    B) 5 Million

    C) 10 Million

    D) 50,000

19. Which of the following is an example of a Megalopolis in India?

    A) Chennai

    B) Kolkata

    C) Madurai

    D) Salem

20. Noida in Uttar Pradesh is an example of a:

    A) Conurbation

    B) Rural Village

    C) Wet Point Settlement

    D) Pilgrim Centre

21. Which race is found in Asia and the Arctic region?

    A) Negroid

    B) Australoid

    C) Mongoloid

    D) Caucasoid

22. What is the primary activity in urban settlements?

    A) Agriculture

    B) Mining

    C) Secondary and Tertiary activities

    D) Fishing

23. Agiyari is the place of worship for:

    A) Zoroastrianism

    B) Judaism

    C) Buddhism

    D) Jainism

24. Which of the following cities is NOT listed as a Smart City in Tamil Nadu?

    A) Erode

    B) Vellore

    C) Thanjavur

    D) Kanchipuram

25. The study of movements and mobility of the population is called:

    A) Natality

    B) Mortality

    C) Migration

    D) Geography

26. Which pattern of settlement develops around lakes and tanks?

    A) Linear

    B) Circular

    C) Rectangular

    D) Star-like

27. Dry point settlements are found in:

    A) Deserts

    B) Low-lying areas in damp regions

    C) Mountain tops

    D) Arid regions

28. How many cities in Tamil Nadu are to be transformed into Smart Cities?

    A) 10

    B) 12

    C) 15

    D) 8

29. Which of the following is a Dravidian language?

    A) Hindi

    B) Bengali

    C) Tulu

    D) Gujarati

30. According to the text, the Indus Valley Civilization was likely of ______ origin.

    A) Aryan

    B) Mongoloid

    C) Dravidian

    D) Australoid

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Answer Key

1. B (European Race)

2. C (Negroid)

3. B (11th July)

4. C (Synagogue)

5. D (Hinduism - It is an Ethnic religion)

6. B (Jainism)

7. B (22)

8. C (21st February)

9. B (Indus Valley Civilization)

10. B (Rural Settlement)

11. B (Nucleated Settlements)

12. C (Thar Desert)

13. C (Plain areas)

14. C (Star-like)

15. B (Wet Point Settlement)

16. B (Pilgrim Settlement)

17. B (City)

18. C (10 Million)

19. B (Kolkata)

20. A (Conurbation)

21. C (Mongoloid)

22. C (Secondary and Tertiary activities)

23. A (Zoroastrianism)

24. D (Kanchipuram - Not in the list of 12 provided in text)

25. C (Migration)

26. B (Circular)

27. B (Low-lying areas in damp regions)

28. B (12)

29. C (Tulu)

30. C (Dravidian)