Differentiate between heavy industry and light industry in industrial geography.

• A. Heavy industry is labor-intensive and near markets; light industry is capital-intensive near resources.
• B. Light industry is capital-intensive and near resources; heavy industry is consumer goods near markets.
• C. Heavy industry prioritizes consumer goods and smaller capital investments.
• D. Heavy industry is capital-intensive and energy-intensive (steel, chemicals) often near resources; light industry focuses on consumer goods, smaller capital, and often located near markets.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is how capital intensity, energy use, and location logic differ between heavy and light industry in industrial geography. Heavy industry involves large-scale, capital- and energy-intensive plants—think steel, chemicals, heavy machinery. Because these processes require huge upfront investment and substantial energy, producers locate near sources of raw materials and reliable energy supplies to cut transport and energy costs and to handle bulky inputs. This ties heavy industry more to resource-rich areas than to consumer markets.

Light industry, on the other hand, handles consumer goods, electronics, apparel, and similar products. These activities use less capital and energy per unit and benefit from being close to markets and distribution networks, so transport costs to customers are minimized. Proximity to labor can matter too, but the key driver is serving nearby demand and markets rather than proximity to raw materials.

So the best description is that heavy industry is capital- and energy-intensive and near resources, while light industry focuses on consumer goods with smaller capital needs and is typically located near markets. The other statements misstate these relationships by swapping or mismatching the roles of resources, markets, and capital intensity.