Natural Resources

Que 1. While driving in the countryside, Kapil saw square panels attached on the street lights along the road. He found out that these were photovoltaic solar panels which tapped solar energy and converted it to electrical energy to make the street lights function. He liked this idea so much that he got similar solar panels installed at his residence also. 

Answer the following questions based on the above information: 

(i) In what respects is the installation of solar panels useful to Kapil? 

(ii) Which values is Kapil promoting by installing solar panels? 

(iii) How can Kapil promote similar values to other in the neighbourhood?

Ans. (i) Conservation of energy, financial savings, conservation of natural resources. 

(ii) Environmental care, savings, promotion of use of alternative sources of energy. 

(iii) Creating awareness about advantages of use of renewable sources of energy, motivating the neighbours for use of technology for better quality of living.

 Que 2. Anurag's friend visits his house for the weekend. He observes the following undesired practices without much care for water:

(i) Plants are watered 2-3 times a day excessively.

(ii) Taps are often running even when not required.

(iii) Cars are being washed by wrong methods leading to lot of wastage of water. He talks to Anurag about the wrong practices resulting in wastage of water and tells him that water should be used judiciously.  

Answer the following questions based on the above information: 

(i) Which values are being neglected in the activities in the above situation? 

(ii) What are the adverse effects of the activities observed at Anurag's house? 

(iii) How can the values related to minimisation of wastage of water in everyday life be promoted?

Ans. (i) Judicial use of natural resources, mismanagement of natural resources. 

(ii) Wastage of water results in reduced ground water, less water for drinking. 

(iii) Turning off water taps when not in use, Repair of leaking taps, Watering plants with a watering can once a day, washing/cleaning cars with a dry/wet cloth instead of water running through a pipe, etc. 

(iv) Creating consciousness about limited water resources and its judicious use.

Que 3. Parul has gone for a picnic near a lake along with her classmates and teacher. All the children were happy to be in such a beautiful place and started playing. All the children spread the toffee wrappers and empty chips packs in either the lake or the garden. The teacher observed that it was only Parul who collected all these wastes and put them in the dustbins. Teacher was delighted by Parul's act and told everyone to follow Parul's example. 

Answer the following questions based on the above information: 

(i) What values are being promoted by Parul? 

(ii) How can throwing waste in the lake affect the environment? 

(iii) Suggest some ways by which you can spread awareness about pollution in your school?

Ans. (i) Concern for environment, good manners. 

(ii) Throwing waste in the lake will contaminate the water. This will lead to the deaths of plants and animals in the lake. This polluted water will then become the breeding ground for germs and bacteria which may be disease causing. 

(iii) By organising discussions/setting up cleanliness committees/celebrating Environment
day.

Que 4. A laundry engaged in washing clothes has been pouring waste water directly into the river. Over a period of time, it was found that large numbers of fish were dying in the river. 

Answer the following questions based on the above information: 

(i) Mention the reasons for the dying of fish. 

(ii) Is there any way it can be avoided? 

(iii) Mention values associated with above situation.

Ans. (i) The chemical detergents in the waste water accumulate in the body of fish. The process s called biological magnification. These accumulated chemicals interrupt the metabolic processes and ultimately results in death. 

(ii) The situation can be avoided by not discharging the waste water directly into the river or by treating the waste water before its discharge. 

(iii) Environmental conservation.

Que 5. Raj is a farmer residing on the outskirts of Delhi. Upon a visit to a fertiliser shop, the salesman inquired of Raj of the crop he anticipated to cultivate in the coming season. During the conversation, the crop concerned was conveyed. The salesman suggested that urea and other nitrogenous fertiliser be used. Mukesh, quietly but keenly listening the conversation intervened and told Raj that for the concerned crop nitrogenous fertilisers shall not be required. 

Respond to the following questions using the information provided above: 

(i) What values are shown by Mukesh? 

(ii) What can be the concerned crop possibly? 

(iii) What can be the reason for Mukesh's suggestion?

Ans. (i) Mukesh is aware how unusual use of nitrogeneous fertilisers is dangerous for environment thus he showed his concern towards environment. 

(ii) The concerned crop possibly will be a leguminous plant. 

(iii) According to Mukesh, the nitrogeneous fertiliser is not required as leguminous crop was grown due to which atmospheric nitrogen is already present in the soil.

Que 6. A priest of temple collected dried garlands, holy old books and some statues. He asked his son to throw in the river. But instead of throwing, he buried them in the soil.

(i) In the situation above, who wins your support: the priest or the son? Justify your answer by giving two reasons. 

(ii) What are the values reflected in the behaviour of son?

Ans. (i) The son, as he does not want to pollute the river and he was very well aware of biodiversity.

(ii) Awareness and concern towards environment.

Que 7. A gardener was seen burning dry leaves in the garden daily by a bunch of school kids. The kids went to him and advised not to burn those leaves and told about this practice's ill effects. 

(i) What ill-effects were the kids talking of? 

(ii) What do you suggest the gardener to do with the leaves instead of burning? 

(iii) Write any two values shown by the kids.

Ans. (i) Burning of leaves causes air pollution as the smoke contain carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere would cause more heat to be retained by atmosphere and lead to global warming. 

(ii) He can burry the leaves in compost pit instead of burning. 

(iii) Awareness towards the love to save mother planet earth, imparting knowledge.

Que 8. The Resident Welfare Association of an area refused the proposal of installation of a mobile tower in their complex. 

(i) Co-relate the refusal with the environment and extinetion of house sparrow. 

(ii) Comment upon the values shown by RWA.

Ans. (i) The proposal was refused by the RWA as the radiations from the mobile tower cause cancer, fatigue, cataracts, reduced mental concentration, etc. It has also been noticed that by heat radiation of mobile tower, the house sparrows are getting extinct in nature day by day. 

(ii) Protecting nature, concern toward the society.

Que 9. A news item, telling about mysterious disease affecting people of nearby village, inspired Rahul to find out the cause behind it. On investigation, he discovered that the only source of water for the village is a small river on whose banks three paper factories are situated. Rahul along with villagers made efforts and got those factories closed. 

(i) what values are promoted by Rahul? 

(ii) What role should the government play in protecting the environment? 

(iii) Do you identify with the cause Rahul fought for?

Ans. (i) Environmental concern, responsibility towards humanity. 

(ii) (a) Government should make laws limiting the pollutants amount. 

(b) It should take immediate actions to ban the factories which do not comply the rules of discharging wastes in water bodies. 

(iii) Rahul fought for disease causing organisms like the bacteria which cause cholera.

Que 10. Raghu switched from traditional to modern farming practices in which he used large amounts of fertilisers and pesticides to gain an increase in profit. 

(i) What are the adverse effects of modern farming? 

(ii) What do you think will be effect on the soil in long run? 

(iii) What alternative method could be more beneficial for farming?

Ans. (i) The adverse effects of modern farming involve the use of fertilisers and pesticides which leads to soil pollution. 

(ii) In a long run it will destroy the soil structure by killing the soil micro-organism which recycle nutrients in the soil. 

(iii) Organic farming.