The correct option is (a).
Explanation
An industrial system operates through a cycle comprising inputs, processes, and outputs. Inputs encompass the resources, infrastructure, and costs required to set up production. Processes are the activities that transform these inputs into finished products, while outputs are the final goods and the income generated.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- 1. Cotton: Correct. Cotton is the primary raw material for the textile industry. Raw materials are the fundamental physical inputs required for production.
- 2. Factory: Correct. The factory represents the infrastructure and land required to house machinery and labor. It is a fixed capital input essential for the industry to function.
- 3. Transport cost: Correct. Inputs include not only physical items but also the associated costs of production, such as the cost of land, power, and transport. Transport is a service input required to bring raw materials to the production site.
- 4. Weaving: Incorrect. Weaving is the activity of interlacing threads to make fabric. It is classified as a process (along with ginning, spinning, and dyeing), not an input.
Key Takeaway:
In industrial geography, inputs refer to raw materials, labor, and infrastructure costs, whereas processes refer to the specific technical activities (like weaving or smelting) that convert inputs into outputs.