CHAPTER 6 SECONDARY ACTIVITIES Questions at the end of the Chapter A. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below. 1. Which one of the following statements is wrong? 1.1 Cheap water transport has facilitated the jute mill industry along the Hugli. 1.2 Sugar, cotton textiles and vegetable oils are footloose industries. 1.3 The development of hydro-electricity and petroleum reduced, to a great extent, the importance of coal energy as a locational factor for industry. 1.4 Port towns in India have attracted industries. 2. In which one of the following types of economy are the factors of production owned individually? 2.1 Capitalist 2.2 Mixed 2.3 Socialist 2.4 None 3. Which one of the following types of industries produces raw materials for other industries? 3.1 Cottage Industries 3.2 Basic Industries 3.3 Small-scale Industries 3.4 Footloose Industries 4. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched? 10x10 Learning TM Page 1
4.1 Automobile industry Los Angeles 4.2 Shipbuilding industry Lusaka 4.3 Aircraft industry Florence 4.4 Iron and Steel industry Pittsburgh 5. Write a short note on the following in about 30 words. 5.1 High-Tech industry: High Technology industry applies latest researches to manufacture products of advanced scientific and engineering. Highly skilled and specialized workforce creates computer aided designs, electronic controls for manufacturing and new pharmaceuticals. (30 words) 5.2 Manufacturing industries: convert raw materials to finished products, for sale at a higher value in markets. Products made by hand were replaced by those made by machines, as they were standardized, cheaper and better. (32 words) 5.3 Footloose industries: produce in small quantities, employing very few workers. They do not depend on proximity to source of raw material, specialized workforce, or a certain type of climate. They can be set up anywhere. (33 words) 6. Answer the following in not more than 150 words. 6.1 Differentiate between primary and secondary activities. Answer. Primary activities are those forms of livelihood that depend on Nature and natural products. Climatic zones, different kinds of soils, variety of animal fish and birds, and changing seasons are parts of Nature s process. These are used for Primary activities. Examples are agriculture, fishing, nomadic herding, hunting and gathering of forest produce, mining of minerals. Primary activities have a long 10x10 Learning TM Page 2
tradition. Several beliefs, customs and traditions have developed as part of the processes of Primary Activities. Secondary Activities are all such economic activities that add value to the resources obtained from Primary Activities. They change, modify and transform the raw material from one form into another to make it more useful. The final product is sold in the market. Cultivating cotton as a crop is a primary activity. From cotton yarn is spun. Yarn is transformed into cloth that is converted into readymade garments. Value is added at each stage. (151 words) 6.2 Discuss the major trends of modern industrial activities especially in the developed countries of the world. Answer. Modern industrial activities are moving towards increasing use of high technology also called high-tech. This involves an increasing research and innovation for getting manufacturing work done through electronic and computer based technology. Highly skilled workforce is employed, in these white collar industries. The industries are located in or near large urban clusters. The computer graphic designers in modern industries are the biggest and most important component of the workforce. Actual manufacturing get done automatically on basis of computerized designs by a much smaller portion of employees. Many countries are building technopolies. These are areas where only high tech industries are concentrated. The infrastructure is new and neatly spaced, modern office cum plant cum laboratory buildings and storages. Planned business parks for high tech startups are part of this trend. Robotics on the assembly line, computer aided designing and manufacturing, electronic controls of smelting and refining processes, research in pharmaceutical products. (150 words) 10x10 Learning TM Page 3
6.3 Explain why high-tech industries in many countries are being attracted to the peripheral areas of major metropolitan centres. Answer. High technology industries comprise of computer based research and development in manufacturing, robotics, designing of electronically controlled processes in various industries, and development of new chemicals and medicines. For undertaking the work of high tech industries, a modern work environment with new infrastructure neatly spaced with modern office cum plant cum laboratory buildings and storages are needed. Therefore, high tech industries are being concentrated in well planned business parks with full time availability to power supply, internet connectivity, computer related supplies. These are foot lose industries that can be set up anywhere as they are not dependent on proximity to mines and raw material sources to bring down their costs. For transportation of heavy products proximity to railways, roads and ports is also not needed. Highly qualified and specialized skill workforce constitutes a major portion of high tech employees. The workforce with required skills is easily available in major metropolitan cities. (151 words) 6.4 Africa has immense natural resources and yet it is industrially the most backward continent. Comment Answer. African countries have immense natural resources, but many of these are owned and controlled either by the former colonial countries or by corrupt and instable governments. They continue to be used as source for raw material for the industries already developed in Europe and America. Development of industries is a capital intensive activity. Huge amounts of capital and funds are needed. These are not available with 10x10 Learning TM Page 4
African governments. To develop infrastructure of roads, ports, railways and modern means of transportation for industrialization, governments have first to borrow from the developed world. For development, political stability is an essential requirement. Most African countries have tribal loyalty based unstable governments. They are constantly trying to destroy their opposing tribes who in turn try to overthrow the government. Finally, the people of Africa have to be provided with modern education and skills to generate a local workforce for employment in the industries. (149 words) 10x10 Learning TM Page 5