CHAPTER 1

Introduction to the Human Environment

Learning Outcomes
You Will Learn: about the components of the human

environment
that the human environment is the result of interaction between people and the physical

environment

Lead-in: Living in a World of Difference (Suggested Answers)

1. The first picture shows a typical day for a city dweller in a busy street, with people commuting from place to place on motor vehicles. The second picture depicts the day of a farmer hard at work in the fields with his buffaloes. 2. The environment one lives in will greatly influence one's lifestyle and activities. For instance, people living in villages will have differences in the type of work they do and the way they commute from place to place, as compared to city dwellers.

Lead-in: Living in a World of Difference

Extension Activity
Do our activities affect our surrounding environment? Please name a few examples. People often have to travel to other places for work, holiday or to find a new place to stay. How do people change their lifestyles to accommodate to new environments?

An Overview of the Human Environment

The key components of the human environment are: population, settlements, agriculture, transport and communications.
Settlements: The places where people live and carry out activities. Agriculture: The growing of crops or rearing of animals.

Transport: The movement of people or goods from one place to another using vehicles

Communications: The exchange of information and ideas between people.

Interaction between People and the Physical Environment

The interactions of people with the physical environment result in changes and the creation of a human environment.

Population
The physical environment of a place is changed with the population residing there. For instance, an increase in the population will lead to more land converted for housing, farming and other land use.

Settlements

Interaction between People and the Physical Environment

A settlement is formed with the growth of the population residing in an area (E.g. a village, town or city). People may engage in various activities such as farming, mining and manufacturing in a settlement.

Interaction between People and the Physical Environment

Agriculture
People living in a settlement may engage in agricultural activities such as the growing of crops and rearing of animals for food and other purposes.

Interaction between People and the Physical Environment

Transport and Communications
People travel from one place to another using vehicles. They maintain contact with one another via various ways, such as through newspapers or by using the telephone or E-mail.

Discover the Human Environment

By examining the human environment closer, we can discover the extent in which people have changed the environment to meet their needs. A good example would be the remaking of Singapore's own Chinatown in 1998. The shophouses along Temple Street were old and run-down before restoration turned the place into a shopping attraction for both locals and tourists.

Skills Builder: Suggested Answers

1.

Settlements: A village of low-rise houses

Transport: People commuting to work via vehicles on busy roads

Agriculture: Farmers harvesting their crops

Communications: Office workers communicating via computers and telephones

Skills Builder: Suggested Answers

2. We change the physical environment by our human activities. For instance, the clearing and development of an area to grow crops or to build houses for accommodation.

People clearing the land to build houses for accommodation Land that has been cleared for farmland and growing of crops

3. People change the environment gradually with our activities to meet our needs.