NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 8 Environment and Society Solutions to each chapter is provided in the list so that you can easily browse through different chapters NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 8 Environment and Society Question Answer and select need one. NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 8 Environment and Society Solutions Download PDF. NCERT Class 11 Sociology Textbooks Solutions.
NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 8 Environment and Society
Also, you can read the NCERT book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Book guidelines. NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 8 Environment and Society Solutions for All Chapters, You can practice these here.
Environment and Society
Chapter: 8
| PART – (II) UNDERSTANDING SOCIETY |
| EXERCISES |
1. Describe in your own words what you understand by the term ‘ecology’.
Ans: Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment; it seeks to understand the vital connections between plants and animals and the world around them. It explores how plants, animals, and microorganisms coexist and depend on each other and their surroundings, including air, water, soil, and climate. Ecologists study ecosystems, which are communities of organisms and their physical environment, to understand how energy and nutrients flow through them. Ecology is the study of organisms and how they interact with the environment around them. Check this article to know more about the Meaning, types and Importance. Ultimately, ecology helps us comprehend the delicate relationships within nature, emphasizing the importance of maintaining environmental sustainability for all life forms.
2. Why is ecology not limited only to the forces of nature?
Ans: Ecology is not limited to the forces of nature as it gradually gets modified by human actions. Many seemingly natural features and phenomena associated with the environment are the caused by human activities. While natural factors such as climate, soil, and water play a key role in shaping ecosystems, human actions—like urbanization, agriculture, pollution, and deforestation—have profound effects on the environment. These activities alter habitats, disrupt food chains, and contribute to climate change, impacting biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment; it seeks to understand the vital connections between plants and animals and the world around them.
3. Describe the two-way process by which ‘social environments’ emerge.
Ans: Social environments emerge as a result of a two-way process in the form of interaction between biophysical ecology and human interventions. This can be explained as the shaping of human society by nature and the shaping of nature by human society. First, individuals influence society by contributing ideas, behaviors, and innovations that can reshape cultural norms, values, and institutions. For example, social movements or technological advancements can lead to significant societal changes. On the other hand, society shapes individuals through socialization, where norms, laws, and expectations are taught and internalized from a young age. Two major aspects of a social environment are social class and social circles. Social class stems from societal stratification and the creation of hierarchical social categories. Many forms of social class exist, yet they all essentially serve the purpose of stratification.
4. Why and how does social organisation shape the relationship between the environment and society?
Ans: The social environment, social context, sociocultural context or milieu refers to the immediate physical and social setting in which people live or in which something happens or develops. It includes the culture that the individual was educated or lives in, and the people and institutions with whom they interact. Cultural norms, economic systems, and political structures influence how societies interact with their surroundings. In industrialized societies, economic priorities may lead to overexploitation of natural resources. Social hierarchies, such as class or gender, can also impact access to environmental resources and the burden of environmental degradation. Social organization determines not only how societies affect the environment but also how environmental changes impact social structures and relations. The environment provides the raw materials for various industries, supporting economic activities and livelihoods. Society also depends on the environment for regulating climate, air quality, and other ecosystem services that are crucial for human well-being.
5. Why is environmental management a complex and huge task for society?
Ans: Environmental management is complex because it involves balancing the needs of development with the preservation of natural resources. Diverse ecosystems, climate patterns, and species require tailored approaches, as each environment has unique challenges. The relation between humans and environment has become complex as industrialisation has accelerated the extraction of resources. This has affected ecosystems in ways which were not possible earlier. Additionally, human activities such as industrialization, agriculture, and urbanization contribute to pollution, deforestation, and resource depletion, which complicate management efforts. The global nature of environmental issues, like climate change and biodiversity loss, demands coordinated action across nations, requiring political, economic, and social cooperation. The industrial management systems are fragile and often vulnerable. This has also given rise to many environmental problems and risks. The main objective is to create and maintain conditions in which society and nature coexist. The role of civil society at all levels should be strengthened through freedom of access to environmental information to all, broad participation in environmental decision-making, as well as access to justice on environmental issues.
6. What are some of the important forms of pollution-related environmental hazards?
Ans: Some important forms of pollution-related environmental hazards include:
(i) Air Pollution: Air pollution is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. Emissions from vehicles, industries, and burning of fossil fuels release harmful gases like carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, leading to respiratory diseases, global warming, and smog.
(ii) Water Pollution: Water pollution, the release of substances into subsurface groundwater or into lakes, streams, rivers, estuaries, and oceans to the point that the substances interfere with beneficial use of the water or with the natural functioning of ecosystems. Contamination of water bodies by chemicals, waste, and sewage disrupts aquatic ecosystems, harms marine life, and poses health risks to humans.
(iii) Soil Pollution: Soil pollution refers to the contamination of soil with anomalous concentrations of toxic substances. The use of pesticides, fertilizers, and industrial waste contaminates soil, affecting agriculture and leading to the loss of fertile land. It is a serious environmental concern since it harbours many health hazards.
(iv) Noise Pollution: Noise pollution is considered to be any unwanted or disturbing sound that affects the health and well-being of humans and other organisms. Sound is measured in decibels. Excessive noise from traffic, industrial activities, and urbanization disrupts wildlife and harms human health by causing stress and hearing loss.
(v) Plastic Pollution: Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles (e.g. plastic bottles, bags and microbeads) in the Earth’s environment that adversely affects humans, wildlife and their habitat. The accumulation of plastic waste in oceans and landfills harms wildlife and disrupts ecosystems.
7. What are the major environmental issues associated with resource depletion?
Ans: Major environmental issues associated with resource depletion include:
(i) Biodiversity Loss: Over-exploitation of natural resources, such as forests and oceans, leads to habitat destruction and the extinction of species. Main reasons for biodiversity loss: Changes in land, Climate change, Pollution, Invasive alien species.
(ii) Soil Degradation: Soil degradation is the physical, chemical and biological decline in soil quality. Excessive agricultural use depletes soil nutrients, resulting in erosion, desertification, and reduced agricultural productivity. It can be the loss of organic matter, decline in soil fertility, and structural condition, erosion, adverse changes in salinity, acidity or alkalinity, and the effects of toxic chemicals, pollutants or excessive flooding.
(iii) Water Scarcity: Water scarcity can be defined as a lack of sufficient water, or not having access to safe water supplies. Overuse of freshwater resources for industrial, agricultural, and domestic purposes leads to water shortages, affecting ecosystems and human populations. Water is a pressing need in many areas of the world.
(iv) Climate Change: Sociology of climate change focuses on how different societies perceive, experience, and respond to the acceleration of climate change and its impact on society. Resource extraction, particularly fossil fuels, contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, accelerating global warming and climate disruption.
(v) Pollution: Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Resource extraction and waste disposal contaminate air, water, and land, causing environmental degradation and health issues.
8. Explain why environmental problems are simultaneously social problems.
Ans: Environmental problems are simultaneously social problems, as the way they affect different social groups is associated with ‘social inequality’. Issues like pollution, deforestation, and climate change disproportionately affect marginalized communities, causing health issues, displacement, and loss of livelihood. Furthermore, the exploitation of resources often leads to inequality, as wealthier nations or corporations benefit while poorer populations bear the brunt of the environmental damage. The depletion of water is compounded when the rains fail, as the wells of poorer farmers become dry. However, some environmental problems, like air pollution and loss of biodiversity, are universal concerns. Environmental degradation also exacerbates social conflicts, such as water scarcity disputes or land rights issues. Thus, environmental challenges are inherently linked to social justice, economic disparity, and human well-being, making them both environmental and social issues.
9. What is meant by social ecology?
Ans: Introduction to Social Ecology. Social ecology is the study of how individuals interact with and respond to the environment around them, and how these interactions affect society and the environment as a whole. Social-ecological systems are complex adaptive systems in which people and nature are inextricably linked, in which both the social and ecological components exert strong influence over outcomes. The social dimension includes actors, institutions, cultures and economies, including livelihoods. Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment; it seeks to understand the vital connections between plants and animals and the world around them. It deals with the relationship people have to their social living environment, and how they interact with each other and the environment around them. As described by Stokols, the core principles of social ecology include: Multidimensional structure of human environments—physical & social, natural & built features; objective-material as well as perceived-symbolic (or semiotic); virtual & place-based features.
10. Describe some environment related conflicts that you know of or have read about. (Other than the examples in the text.)
Ans: There were more conflicts around conservation, water management, and biomass and land use in low income countries; while in high income countries almost half of conflicts focused on waste management, tourism, nuclear power, industrial zones, and other infrastructure projects. One prominent example is the Amazon rainforest deforestation conflict, where the need for agricultural expansion, particularly for cattle ranching and soy production, has led to large-scale deforestation, threatening biodiversity and contributing to climate change. Similarly, water disputes in regions like the Middle East, particularly between countries like Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan over the Nile River, highlight conflicts over shared water resources. While the human cost of war is undeniable and profound, the environment also suffers immense and often-overlooked consequences. Beyond the immediate destruction, conflicts disrupt ecosystems, deplete natural resources, pollute the environment, and jeopardize the health of our planet for generations to come.
