Our Environment
Que 1. Achal's teacher is teaching their class about fuels today. She tells them 'Always turn off the engine of your car at red lights'. The next day Achal's father drives him to school. At the red light he does not turn the engine off. When Achal asks him to do so he says that the light is of short duration and this won't save the fuel.
Based on the above statement, answer the following questions.
(i) Which type of fuel is used in vehicles? Is it renewable or non-renewable?
(ii) How can you contribute towards saving these fuels at your level?
(iii) What values are being neglected by Achal's father?
Ans. (i) Fossil fuel - non-renewable.
(ii) (a) Travelling in public transport; arranging for car pools.
(b) Opting for CNG as a motor fuel instead of petrol and diesel.
(iii) Concern for environment, judicious use of non-renewable sources of energy.
Que 2. You observe that a gardener working in the park near your house collects the dry leaves from the garden and burns it. He also uses synthetic fertilisers for growth of plants.
Answer the following questions based on the above information:
(i) Which environmental values is the gardener disrespecting?
(ii) How can the first activity be changed to make it environmental friendly?
(iii) How can the second activity be changed to promote environmental health?
(iv) Suggest one activity to inculcate such environmental values in students.
Ans. (i) Environmental concern/Environmental health.
(ii) The leaves may be buried in the soil to produce manure.
(iii) Organic manure may be used in place of synthetic fertilisers.
(iv) By creating proper awareness about the ill environmental impact from existing practices and benefits from changed practices. Group discussions/Debates/ Community service.
Que 3. You are walking by a store along with your friend. Both of you see a poster on the wall saying ‘Say No To Plastics'. Your friend disagrees with the content of the poster and recounts the uses and advantages of plastic. You contradict him saying that plastics are harmful to the environment.
Answer the following questions based on the above information:
(i) Which values are being disrespected by your friend by not agreeing with you?
(ii) How will you convince him that plastics are harmful to the environment?
(ii) Government has banned the use of plastics and has asked to use paper bags or jute bags instead. How will you get the decision implemented effectively?
Ans. (i) Environmental protection, reducing environmental pollution, concern for life.
(ii) Plastics are non-biodegradable. If they are eaten by animals they block their digestive system and if they get buried in soil it would become infertile.
(iii) (a) Totally avoid using plastics though personal action.
(b) Organise mass campaigns with the help of friends and family members.
Que 4. Plastic production is increasing day by day in spite of the fact that plastic is harmful for the environment.
Based on the above statement answer the following.
(i) What are the harmful effects of plastic usage?
(ii) In our day to day situation what are the alternatives that we can use instead of plastics.
Ans. (i) (a) Environmental pollution.
(b) Burning plastics can cause pollution.
(c) Plastic cause harm to the cattle/animals if enter inside their alimentary canal.
(ii) Paper bags/jute bags can be used instead of plastic bags.
(Any other relevant view of the student)
Que 5. Write any three characteristics of a food chain. Dharmesh always treated the chemical effluent before disposing it in the water body. Mention any three moral values possessed by Dharmesh.
Ans. Characteristics of a food chain:
(i) Unidirectional
(ii) Helps in understanding the food relationship and interaction among various organisms in an ecosystem
(iii) Helps to understand movement of toxic substances and the problem of their biological magnification
Moral values possessed by Dharmesh:
(i) Sensitive towards environment
(ii) Possesses knowledge about biological magnification
(iii) Scientific temperament
(iv) Conscious (Any three)