Which one of the following is the low latitudes zone of subsistence gathering practiced in the world?
Which one of the following is the low latitudes zone of subsistence gathering practiced in the world?
Options
Official answer
Correct option: C — Southeast Asia is a low-latitude, tropical zone of subsistence gathering, along with tropical Africa and parts of the Amazon Basin.
Marking scheme
- 1.1 mark: choosing option C (Southeast Asia).
Hint
Low latitude = tropical belt: Amazon Basin, tropical Africa, Southeast Asia (subsistence gathering).
Quick oral answer
Southeast Asia, along with parts of the Amazon Basin and tropical Africa, represents the low-latitude, tropical zone of subsistence gathering; Northern Canada and Eurasia are the high-latitude gathering zones.
Common mistakes
- 1.Selecting Northern Canada or Northern Eurasia — these are high-latitude (cold, tundra/taiga) zones of gathering, not low-latitude tropical zones.
- 2.Confusing gathering (a primitive, subsistence primary activity) with commercial primary activities like plantation agriculture found in the same tropical regions.
Analysis and explanation
Gathering is the most primitive primary activity, and its world distribution is split between low-latitude and high-latitude zones.
Why Southeast Asia (C) is correct
- Along with tropical Africa and parts of the Amazon Basin, Southeast Asia is a low-latitude, tropical zone where subsistence gathering of fruits, roots, fibres and medicinal plants is practised by small, scattered communities.
Why the other options are wrong
- Northern Canada (A) and Northern Eurasia (B) are high-latitude, cold zones where gathering (mainly of furs and skins) is practised — the opposite of what the question asks.
- Southeast Chile (D) is not a recognised zone of subsistence gathering in standard classifications; south-central Chile is instead associated with Mediterranean-type commercial agriculture.
Interesting facts
Gathering is one of the oldest human economic activities, predating settled agriculture by thousands of years.
In the tropics, gathered products include fruits, roots, fibres, resins and medicinal plants; in the high latitudes, gathering focuses on furs and skins.
Question details
Q3 of 36 questions
- Board
- CBSE
- Class
- Class 12
- Subject
- Geography
- Year
- 2026
- Section
- Section A
- Marks
- 1
- Type
- MCQ
- Chapter
- Primary Activities
- Topic
- Gathering (Primary Activity)
- Bloom's level
- remember
- Syllabus topic
- Fundamentals of Human Geography Unit 5: Primary Activities — Gathering: Low-latitude vs High-latitude Zones
- Author
- CBSE
- Reviewed by
- Padhantu Academic Team
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Frequently asked questions
What is subsistence gathering?
Subsistence gathering is a primitive primary activity in which small, scattered communities collect naturally occurring plant and animal products — fruits, roots, fibres, resins, furs — mainly for their own use, not for sale.
Where is high-latitude gathering practised?
High-latitude gathering is practised in cold regions such as Northern Canada and Northern Eurasia, where communities gather furs and skins rather than tropical plant products.