Answer Key 5

Sangeeta Gupta

New Delhi • Mumbai • Chennai • Kolkata • Bengaluru • Hyderabad • Kochi • Guwahati

 Contents

1. The Imaginary Lines 5

2. Movements of the Earth 6

3. Structure of the Earth 7

4. Weather and Climate 8

5. Major Religions of India 10

6. Natural Resources 11

7. Environmental Pollution 12

8. Our Environment 13

9. Equatorial Forest Region 14

10. The Desert Region 16

Assessment Sheet 1 (Based on Chapters 1 to 10) 17

11. The Temperate Grassland 19

12. The Polar Region 21

13. Indian Freedom Struggle—the First War of Independence 23

14. Indian Independence 25

15. Indian Constitution 26

16. The Great Achievers of India 27

17. The United Nations 29

18. Agencies of the UN 30

19. Transport and Communication 31

20. The Great Inventions 33

Assessment Sheet 2 (Based on Chapters 11 to 20) 34

 1. The Imaginary Lines

Now I can Answer (page 6)

A. Major Latitudes

Arctic Circle Tropic of Cancer Equator Tropic of Antarctic circle

Capricorn

Major Longitudes

Prime Meridian International Date Line

B. 1. east to west 2. the Antarctic Circle

3. the Equator 4. meridians
5. grids
C. 1. Imaginary lines are drawn to locate the places accurately on the globe and maps.
2. Latitudes Longitudes
1. The latitudes are parallel to each other 1. All the meridians are of the same length as
and they never meet. they meet at the poles.
2. All latitudes, other than equator are 2. Meridians opposite to each other may form
called small circles and they cannot great circles and can divide the earth into
divide the earth into two equal haves. two equal halves.
3. Latitudes are imaginary circles running 3. Longitudes are imaginary vertical lines
from east to west on a globe. drawn on a globe running from the north
pole to the south pole.
3. The most important and the longest parallel of latitude is the equator. Equator divides the
earth into two equal halves known as hemispheres.
4. The latitudes and the longitudes intersect each other and form squares called grids. This
network of grids is known as the grid system. It helps us to locate places accurately on the
globe and maps. For this, we need to know the latitude and the longitude of the place. The
point at which they cross each other will be the location of that place.
5. The central longitude that divides the earth into the Eastern Hemisphere and the Western
Hemisphere is known as the Prime Meridian. It is the 0° meridian. This meridian runs through
the observatory at Greenwich in London in the United Kingdom, and is also known as the
Greenwich Meridian. It passes through the islands of the Pacific Ocean.

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D. 1. Latitudes are imaginary circles running from east to west on a globe.
2. Longitudes are imaginary vertical lines drawn on a globe running from the north pole to the
south pole.
3. Equator divides the earth into two equal halves known as Hemisphere. The northern part of
the earth above the equator is known as the Northern Hemisphere and the southern part of
the earth below the equator is called the Southern Hemisphere.
4. The meridian of 180°E and 180°W is the same line. It passes through the islands of the Pacific
Ocean. It is called the International Date Line. A new date begins when we cross this meridian.
5. The time at Greenwich is observed as the mean time and hence the name Greenwich Mean
Time (GMT). Local time of a particular country can be calculated based on the GMT.
E. 1. True 2. False 3. True 4. True 5. True

2. Movements of the Earth

Now I can Answer (page 13)
A. A — Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and Spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
B — Winter in the Northern Hemisphere and Summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
C — Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
D — Summer in the Northern Hemisphere and Winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
B. 1. Axis 2. 365¼ days
3. leap year 4. lunar eclipse
5. 23½°
C. 1. Aryabhata and Bhaskara 2. 23½°
3. north pole and south pole 4. Seasons
5. new moon
D. 1. 21 March and 23 September are known as equinoxes when the days and nights are of equal
length. During these equinoxes, the rays of the sun shine directly on the equator.
2. 21 June and 22 December are known as Summer Solstice and Winter Solstice respectively. On
these solstices, the rays of the sun shine directly on one of the two tropics. During the June
Solstice, the son’s rays shine directly on the Tropic of Cancer. During the December Solstice,
the sun’s rays shine on the Tropic of Capricorn. The length of the days and night is not the
same during the two solstices.
E. 1. Nicolaus Copernicus proved that earth is a sphere and it spins on its axis.
2. The astronomers have found that the axis of our earth does not stand upright. It is tilted at
an angle of 23½ degrees from the perpendicular as shown in the figure. This is known as the
inclination of the earth’s axis.
3. As the earth keeps rotating and revolving around the sun, different parts on the earth receive
different amount of heat and light from the sun. This is why the seasons keep changing. The

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 region that is tilted away from the sun receives less heat and has winter. On the other hand,
the region that is tilted towards the sun receives more heat and has summer.
4. The revolution of the earth around the sun and the revolution of the moon around the earth
cause eclipses. This happens when the moon, the sun and the earth fall in the same line.
5. When the moon passes between the sun and the earth, it blocks the rays of the sun partially or
totally from falling on the earth. It can occur only during a new moon. The earth is then in the
shadow of the moon. This is known as the solar eclipse or eclipse of the sun. It is dangerous to
look at a solar eclipse directly, even if you have sun glasses on.
When the earth passes between the sun and the moon, it casts a shadow on the moon,
partially or totally. This is known as the lunar eclipse or eclipse of the moon. Lunar eclipses
occur more frequently than solar eclipses. A lunar eclipse can last up to an hour and a half.
During a lunar eclipse the moon may turn reddish. It is not dangerous at all to look at a lunar
eclipse because the moon does not produce its own light.
(For diagrams refer to page 12.)

3. Structure of the Earth

Now I can Answer (page 20)
A. Layers of the earth’s interior

Crust Mantle Core

B. 1. crust 2. Alfred Wegener

3. rapid 4. core
5. vent
C. 1. Big Bang Theory 2. earthquake
3. magma 4. funnel, crater
5. tsunami
D. 1. (a) All the landmasses together formed a super continent known as Pangaea.
(b) There was only one water body known as Panthalassa.
2. Due to internal movements of the earth, the landmass started to divide into pieces like a
jigsaw puzzle. These pieces were known as plates and they floated on the liquid rock matter.
Gradually these pieces began to move away from each other forming continents. This theory
was stated by Alfred Wegener, a German scientist, and was known as the Continental Drift
Theory.
3. The plateau or a mountain with an opening at its centre through which the molten lava, gases
and rock pieces are thrown out is called a volcano.

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 4. The magma and the gases in the earth’s interior move and push the land upward, making the
earth tremble or vibrate. This violent trembling is known as an earthquake. It occurs without
any warning and causes a lot of destruction to life and property.
The place where an earthquake begins, below the earth’s surface, is called focus. The point on
the earth’s surface, just above the focus, is called epicenter. This is the place where the effect
of the earthquake is the maximum.
5. A tsunami (pronounced soo-NAH-mee) is a series of underwater waves, created in an ocean or
a water body by an earthquake, landslide, volcanic eruption or any other reason.
E. 1. Core is the centre of the earth and is made of two heavy metals, nickel and iron. Hence this
layer is also known as NiFe.
2. Water bodies are home to many water animals and are also a source of water transport, salt
and electricity.
3. Tsunami waves are different from the waves we usually find on the coasts. Coastal waves are
made by wind and are quite small compared with tsunami waves which are huge and can
travel very quickly causing huge destruction when they hit.
F. For diagram refer to page 15.

Activities (page 22)

3. (a) largest (b) second (c) coldest (d) Eurasia
(e) Arctic (f ) Antarctic (g) Pacific

4. Weather and Climate

Now I can Answer (page 28)

A. Factors that determine climate

Latitude Altitude Distance from the sea Direction of winds

Three major heat zones of the earth

Torrid Temperate Frigid

B. 1. January-February 2. climate 3. sea breeze

4. torrid 5. climate
C. 1. atmosphere 2. climatologists 3. humidity
4. decreases 5. frigid

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D. 1. Weather Climate
1. Weather is the condition or the state 1. Climate is the average weather condition of
of atmosphere over a short period of a place for a long period of time.
time at a particular place.
2. It keeps changing from time to time. 2. It changes from place to place as it may rain
throughout the year in some areas of the
world while some areas may be completely
dry throughout the year.
2. For diagram refer to page 26.
3. Altitude is the height of a place above the sea level. As all the seas of the world are linked to
each other, their level is the same all over the earth. Sea level is hence taken as the parameter
for measuring the altitude of a place.
The climate of a place is also affected by its altitude. The air closer to the earth’s surface is
dense and absorbs more heat. This makes places at lower altitudes hot. The atmosphere is
thinner at high altitudes. It absorbs less heat making the places in hilly areas cold. That is why
most of the mountain peaks are covered with ice in winter and hill stations are cold even in
summer. For example, Shimla which is at a high altitude is always cooler than Delhi which is at
a low altitude.
4. Equator receives more sunlight than any other place on the earth as it is the closest to the sun.
As we move away from the equator towards the poles, the temperature gradually decreases.
This variation is due to the shape of the earth and the angle at which the sun’s rays fall on it.
5. The regions around the poles are known as Frigid Zones. They lie between the Arctic Circle
and the North Pole and between the Antarctic Circle and the South Pole. They are very far
away from the equator and receive absolutely slanting rays of the sun. During most months
in a year, the Frigid Zones do not receive the sun’s rays at all. That is why they are covered with
thick sheets of ice most of the year. The climate here is extremely cold throughout the year.
E. 1. The region between the two tropics, the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, is known
as the Torrid Zone. This region receives direct sun rays making it hot almost throughout the
year. The rainfall in some places here is very heavy. Thus they have a hot and wet climate. This
region is also called the Tropical Zone.
2. The regions between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle and between the Tropic of
Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle form the Temperate Zone. These regions receive slanting
rays of the sun and hence the climate is neither too hot nor too cold. They have cold winters
and mild summers.
3. The wind that blows from the sea to the land is known as onshore wind or sea breeze. It carries
moisture and makes the climate in the coastal areas humid. It also brings rain to these areas.
The wind that blows from the land to the sea is called offshore wind or land breeze. It is dry
and does not carry moisture.
F. 1. Equator receives more sunlight than any other place on the earth as it is the closest to the sun.
As we move away from the equator towards the poles, the temperature gradually decreases.
This variation is due to the shape of the earth and the angle at which the sun’s rays fall on it.

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 We know that the earth is spherical in shape and its axis is tilted. Hence, the rays of the sun
fall either vertically or slanting on its surface. The vertical rays pass through a less volume
of atmosphere and hardly lose heat. That is why the regions near the equator which receive
direct sun rays are warmer. On the other hand, the slanting rays pass through a large volume
of atmosphere and lose heat in the air. Thus, the regions away from the equator which get
slanting rays of the sun are cold.
2. The climate of a place is also affected by its altitude. The air closer to the earth’s surface is
dense and absorbs more heat. This makes places at lower altitudes hot. The atmosphere is
thinner at high altitudes.
3. During winter, land becomes cooler than the water in the sea. The warm air above the sea
rises up and moves towards land. This raises the temperature of the places along the coast. By
the time this air reaches the places away from the sea, it loses its warmth. Hence, these places
remain cold in winter.
4. During summers, due to large amount of water vapour in the air we tend to sweat a lot.

5. Major Religions of India

Now I can Answer (page 34)
A. Some Religions of India

Hinduism Buddhism Jainism Islam Zoroastrianism Sikhism Christianity

B. 1. Ganga 2. Lord Mahavira

3. Mecca 4. Goa
C. 1. enlightened one 2. Guru Granth Sahib
3. Muslims 4. Zoroastrianism
5. Bethlehem, Jerusalem
D. 1. Ramayana and Mahabharata
2. According to Buddhism in order to prevent suffering, one has to conquer the desire for worldly
pleasures.
3. Islam prohibits idol worship. In fact, every Muslim is supposed to offer namaz or prayers five
times a day facing the direction of Mecca, their holy city in Saudi Arabia. They also have to fast
for the whole month of Ramzan.
4. The focus of Jainism is the purification of soul by means of right conduct, right faith and right
knowledge. These were called the three jewels by Lord Mahavira. This faith also enunciates
complete non-violence. This is the reason why the Jain monks can be seen with their nose
and mouth covered by a cloth mask to ensure that they do not kill any germs or insects while
breathing.

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 5. The Sikhs can be recognized by the five marks which were identified by Guru Gobind Singh to
make it easier for his followers to recognize each other. These five signs or the five ‘K’s are, kesh
or uncut hair; kangha or comb; kirpan or sword or dagger; kara or steel bracelet on the right
wrist; and katchera or specially made cotton underwear. Every true Sikh must carry or wear
these all the time.

6. Natural Resources
Now I can Answer (page 38)
A. Natural Resources

Renewable Non-renewable

Sun Water Air Fossil fuels Petroleum Iron

B. 1. again and again 2. non-renewable resources

3. directly 4. electricity
5. crude
C. 1. True 2. True 3. False 4. False 5. False
D. 1. Natural resources are naturally occurring substances which are considered very valuable for
the survival of all the living things on earth. Our planet is gifted with a wide range of natural
resources. It includes water, land, forests, animals, sunlight, minerals, etc. These resources are
the gifts of nature. They are the sole reason why life is possible on our planet. The life of people
over the years has shaped up according to the way in which they used the natural resources.
A nation’s wealth is largely dependent on how well they use their natural resources.
2. Renewable resources Non-renewable resources
1. Renewable resources are those which 1. These are those resources that are
can be used again and again. exhaustible.
For example: Sun, water, air, etc. For example: fossil fuels, iron, petroleum,
coal, etc.
3. Some resources can’t be used in its natural form. They need to be processed before they can
be used. For example, petroleum that is taken out from the earth is in a crude form. It is then
refined and turned into petrol, diesel, kerosene and other products. The case is same with
minerals also. They need to be extracted from their ores before they can be used.
4. Human activities have led to the depletion of natural resources which is leading to extinction
of natural resources.
5. Since many natural resources are non-renewable, it is high time we did something to preserve
much of them. If we are going to use these resources continuously they will get exhausted

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 soon. So there is a rising demand to conserve all our natural resources. Air, water and land
are being affected due to overuse. Many plants and animal species have become extinct and
many others are on the verge of extinction. There won’t be a future if we don’t conserve our
natural resources properly.

7. Environmental Pollution
Now I can Answer (page 42)

A. Environmental Pollution

Air pollution Water pollution Noise or sound pollution Land or soil pollution

B. 1. ozone layer 2. air pollution

3. contaminated water 4. 90 decibels
5. land or soil pollution 6. Light pollution
7. infertility
C. 1. (e) 2. (a) 3. (d) 4. (b) 5. (c)
D. 1. Our environment is getting polluted day by day because of three main reasons—
industrialization, urbanization and population. All these things are caused by human beings.
2. Air pollution happens when harmful gases mix with the air. This air is dangerous for our health.
Breathing in this polluted air can cause harmful diseases. Air pollution can be disastrous
because it can harm the ozone layer which is protecting us from the dangerous ultraviolet
rays.
3. Sometimes the harmful smoke combines with fog to form ‘smog’ which is very dangerous. It
can cause asthma.
4. Noise pollution is caused by excessive or unpleasant sound. This type of pollution is seen
largely in cities and other densely populated areas. Vehicles are the main reason for noise
pollution. The horns from the vehicles can be unbearable. Human ear can bear only 90 decibels
of sound. Anything more than that is harmful for the ears. It can cause stress, irritation and in
some cases it will lead to loss of hearing also.
5. Land pollution is the degradation of the earth’s land surface through the misuse of soil. This
misuse can happen when harmful substances are released into the soil because of poor
agriculture practices, mineral exploitation, industrial waste dumping, etc. This will result in the
infertility of the soil. Trees won’t be able to grow in it and the micro-organisms can’t survive.
E. 1. air 2. population
3. loss of hearing 4. soil pollution
5. water pollution

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 8. Our Environment
Now I can Answer (page 46)

A. Types of wastes

Biodegradable Non-biodegradable

Leftover Human and Fruits Vegetables Plastics Bottles Cans Poisonous

food animal waste chemical
substances

B. 1. dustbins 2. plastic 3. villages 4. non-biodegradable 5. landfills

C. 1. (c) 2. (d) 3. (e) 4. (b) 5. (a)
D. 1. True 2. False 3. True 4. False 5. False
E. 1. • Do not throw waste materials or garbage on roads or other public places. Use the dustbins.
• Avoid the use of plastic bags which are a serious threat to environment. Use paper or cloth
bags instead.
• Do not spit, urinate or defecate in open or public places.
• Do not pollute the rivers by throwing any waste materials.

2. Biodegradable Non-biodegradable
1. These wastes can decompose naturally. 1. These wastes do not decompose naturally.
For example: leftover food, human and For example: plastics, poisonous chemical
animal wastes, fruits, vegetables, etc. substances, bottles, etc.
3. Compost pit is something which can be made at home. It is commonly found in villages. This
can be made by digging a pit in the ground. All the household waste can be put into it. After
sometime, the waste turns into manure. It is also known as compost. Farmers use this in their
fields.
4. This method is used in most cities and towns. Wastes are loaded in trucks and are then taken
far away from the town or city and dumped in the open. But this is not an eco-friendly way of
waste disposal. It can pollute the environment.
5. Reduce, reuse and recycle are known as the three R’s. This is a very useful method to reduce
environmental pollution. Recycling is the process of reusing a product or producing a new
product from a used or waste material. This process helps to prevent wastes of potentially
useful materials. Recyclable materials include glass, paper, metal, textile, plastic, electronics,
etc. All these materials can be used again with the help of this process.

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 9. Equatorial Forest Region
Now I can Answer (page 54)
A. 1. the equator 2. Africa 3. tsetse flies
4. Bantu 5. Kinshasa

B.
People of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Language Religion Capital city

242 Islam and Christianity Kinshasa

Language

National language Official language Tribal language

Kikongo French Bantu

Swahili

Tshiluba

Lingala

C. 1. 242 2. cotton, skin

3. Pygmies 4. teak, mahagony, ebony, bamboo
5. 1960
D. 1. Regions located within the Tropical Zone, approximately between 10°N and 10°S latitudes, are
known as equatorial regions. Many countries like Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(Zaire), Malaysia and Indonesia are located in this region.
2. The climate is hot and humid in the river basin and cool and dry in the southern highlands.
The rainy season lasts from October to May to the south of the equator, and from April to
November to the north of the equator. Along the equator, rainfall is fairly regular throughout
the year. This part experiences direct rays of the sun. Hence, it has a very hot climate. Due
to the heat, there is a great amount of evaporation in its water bodies. This results in the
formation of thick clouds. The region hence gets heavy downpour almost every day in the
evening accompanied by thunder and lightning. This rainfall is also known as the 4 o’clock
rainfall.

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 3. Cassava is the staple food of the people. The starchy roots of cassava are dried and made into
flour to make bread.
4. People work in huge farmlands outside the forests and adopt modern techniques of farming.
Large forest areas are cleared and converted into agricultural lands. Cash crops like oil palm,
cocoa, coffee, rubber, sugarcane and cotton are grown extensively.
5. Earlier, the region was not known to many people of the world as it was very difficult to reach
the country through the dense forests. Hence, the continent of Africa was called the Dark
Continent by the Europeans.
E. 1. The people of Congo lead a very harsh life. The hot and humid climate, dense vegetation and
the dreadful diseases caused by the insects and flies that dwell in the forest region have a
great impact on the lifestyle of the people.
The country is thinly populated. The largest tribe of Congo is Bantu. The ones who live near
the forests, clear patches of forests and form small villages. They live in huts built on raised
wooden platforms to protect themselves from heavy rainfall. The roofs of the houses are made
of palm leaves and are thatched. The walls are made of clay. These houses do not last long
because of the heavy rainfall on almost everyday. The hot and damp climate also rots the
wood quickly. Thus, the houses here have to be rebuilt frequently.
Due to the harsh climate, people of this region often suffer from many dreadful diseases
like sleeping sickness caused by the tsetse flies, malaria, yellow fever, cholera, smallpox and
typhoid. People of Congo wear light cotton clothes as very often they develop rashes and
irritation on their skin.
2. Pygmies are the primitive people of the region of Congo. They are dark in colour and are short,
about 1 to 1.5 metres in height. They live in the interior of the dense forests. They do not speak
a specific language but use only signs and actions.
Pygmies lead a nomadic life, hunting and gathering berries, nuts, fruits, honey and roots. They
are excellent hunters and use bows, arrows and spears for hunting. They smear mild poison at
the tip of the spears and kill the animals for food. They rarely cook their food. They live in small
huts made of branches of trees. They cover the huts with leaves to protect themselves from
heavy rains. The pygmies are fond of dance and music.
F. 1. The climate is hot and humid in the river basin and cool and dry in the southern highlands.
The rainy season lasts from October to May to the south of the equator, and from April to
November to the north of the equator. Along the equator, rainfall is fairly regular throughout
the year. The Democratic Republic of the Congo experiences direct rays of the sun. Hence, it
has a very hot climate. Due to the heat, there is a great amount of evaporation in its water
bodies. This results in the formation of thick clouds. The region hence gets heavy downpour
almost every day in the evening accompanied by thunder and lightning. This rainfall is also
known as the 4 o’clock rainfall.
2. The hot and wet climate of the equatorial forests results in very fast growth of variety of trees.
They grow to great heights in search of sunlight. The trees are so closely packed that their
branches are tangled and form a green and broad roof or canopy above. The rays of the sun
cannot penetrate them easily. Therefore these forests are dark and dim.

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 3. These houses do not last long because of the heavy rainfall on almost everyday. The hot and
damp climate also rots the wood quickly. Thus, the houses here have to be rebuilt frequently.
4. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is rich in mineral deposits like copper, silver, gold,
diamond, cobalt, zinc, manganese, tin, coal, uranium, petroleum, and cadmium. It is the
world’s largest producer of cobalt. Therefore, mining is also an important occupation of the
people.

10. The Desert Region

Now I can Answer (page 63)

A. Neighbouring countries of Saudi Arabia

Jordan Kuwait Iraq Qatar Yemen Oman Bahrain

B. 1. Atacama 2. swift runners

3. petroleum 4. Arabic
5. thawb
C. 1. Sandstorms 2. Cancer
3. Riyadh, Jeddah 4. liquid gold
5. Mecca, Medina
D. 1. (e) 2. (g) 3. (f ) 4. (c) 5. (b)
6. (d) 7. (a)
E. 1. petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation spirit and lubricants
2. Al Ardha
3. cacti, date palms
4. Iraq, Yemen
F. 1. The climate remains extremely dry, and temperature fluctuates from extreme heat during day
to freezing cold at night. This fluctuation in temperature makes the rocks break and crumble
into tiny particles of sand. That is why most of the land surface is sandy.
2. Petroleum is known as liquid gold for its great economic value. When refined, it provides
petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation spirit and lubricants.
G. 1. Saudi Arabia lies in the western part of the Asian Continent at the junction of the European,
Asian and African continents. Some of its prominent neighbouring countries are Jordan, Iraq,
Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen, Oman and Bahrain. Saudi Arabia is the largest country in West Asia, and
occupies three-fourths of the Arabian Peninsula. It has the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba on
the west and the Persian Gulf on the east. Most of its oil-rich regions lie in the eastern part
along the Persian Gulf.

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 2. Camels, known as the ship of the desert, can stay without food and water for many days. Their
wide padded feet do not sink into the sand and help them to move across the desert without
any difficulty. Their transparent and thick eyelids and the nostrils prevent sand from getting
into their eyes or nose during sandstorms. Their tongue and mouth are so rough that they can
eat the thorny bushes with ease.
The water they drink is stored in their stomach and the food they eat is stored in the form of
fat in their humps.
3. Sandstorms are common in deserts. They blow away sand from place to place forming sand
hills known as sand dunes. These sand dunes are not permanent and keep changing because
of the sandstorms. Rainfall here is very scanty due to its distance from the sea. The dry offshore
winds blowing over Saudi Arabia carry very less moisture resulting in low rainfall.
4. Nomadic herders are the people who travel from place to place in search of food and shelter
for their animals. They are known as Bedouins. They are the natives of Saudi Arabia and speak
Arabic.
They keep herds of camels, goats, sheep and horses. These animals provide them with milk,
meat, hide and skin. Bedouins do not have permanent homes. They travel across the desert
in groups on camels in caravans. They pitch temporary tents where they find pasture land for
their animals.
Once the land gets dried up, they move to another place. They carry goods, which they trade,
on camels. They make carpets, ropes, mats, etc. with animal skin. Bedouins wear long loose
white cotton cloaks or gowns called thawbs with which they cover their whole body.
5. Underground water comes to the surface forming water bodies called oases. These are the
only fertile parts in the desert. The people of Saudi Arabia who live in and around oases lead a
settled life. They are mostly farmers and grow maize, millets, barley, wheat, cotton, sugarcane,
fruits and vegetables.
6. Sandstorms known as simooms that blow in summer also affect the life of the people.

Assessment Sheet 1
(Based on Chapters 1 to 10)

A. 1. longitudes 2. 23½ 3. water pollution

4. 90 decibels 5. crude 6. Babylonian clay tablet
7. Ramzan 8. Atmosphere
B. 1. seismology 2. Parsis 3. land pollution
4. non-renewable resource 5. Kinshasa
C. 1. True 2. True 3. False 4. False 5. True
D. 1. Equator is the imaginary line which divides the earth into two hemispheres.
2. The plateau or a mountain with an opening at its centre through which the molten lava, gases
and rock pieces are thrown out is called a volcano.
3. Cyclones are high speed winds which move in circles. They are always accompanied by heavy
showers.
4. The amount of water vapour or moisture present in the air is known as humidity.

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 5. Landfills are site for waste disposal. Garbage is dumped into deep ditches and once it is full, it
will be covered with soil.
6. Harmful smoke combined with fog forms smog.
7. The forest areas are cleared for farming. Heavy rainfall in the region washes away the fertile
top soil. Hence, people have to shift to a new piece of land. This type of farming is called
shifting cultivation.
8. Sandstorms known as simooms that blow in summer also affect the life of the people.
9. The forests which remain green throughout the year are called evergreen forests.
E. 1. The meridian of 180°E and 180°W is the same line. It passes through the islands of the Pacific
Ocean. It is called the International Date Line. A new date begins when we cross this meridian.
2. Petroleum is known as liquid gold for its great economic value. When refined, it provides
petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation spirit and lubricants.
3. Equator receives more sunlight than any other place on the earth as it is the closest to the sun.
As we move away from the equator towards the poles, the temperature gradually decreases.
This variation is due to the shape of the earth and the angle at which the sun’s rays fall on it.
4. The cracks in the ozone layer can cause global warming because air pollution can harm ozone
layer which protects us from the dangerous ultraviolet rays.
5. Some resources can’t be used in its natural form. They need to be processed before they can
be used. For example, petroleum that is taken out from the earth is in a crude form. It is then
refined and turned into petrol, diesel, kerosene and other products. The case is same with
minerals also. They need to be extracted from their ores before they can be used.
F. 1. GMT IST
1. The time at Greenwich is observed 1. A country may have longitudes passing
as the mean time. Local time of a through it. Hence, different places may have
particular country can be calculated different time within the country. Thus every
based on GMT. country choose a longitude that passes
through its centre and the time at that
longitude is taken as the standard time of
that country. The IST is 5½ hours ahead of
the GMT.
2. Crust, mantle and core are the three layers of the earth’s interior.
3. Natural resources are naturally occurring substances which are considered very valuable for
the survival of all the living things on earth. Our planet is gifted with a wide range of natural
resources. It includes water, land, forests, animals, sunlight, minerals, etc. These resources are
the gifts of nature. They are the sole reason why life is possible on our planet. The life of people
over the years has shaped up according to the way in which they used the natural resources.
A nation’s wealth is largely dependent on how well they use their natural resources.
4. Noise pollution is caused by excessive or unpleasant sound. This type of pollution is seen
largely in cities and other densely populated areas. Vehicles are the main reason for noise
pollution. The horns from the vehicles can be unbearable. Human ear can bear only 90 decibels
of sound. Anything more than that is harmful for the ears. It can cause stress, irritation and in
some cases it will lead to loss of hearing also.

18
 5. The followers of Zoroastrianism are called Parsis because the religion arrived in India from
Persia. They believe in the existence of one invisible God. They worship fire that symbolizes
light. The Parsis in India came from Iran and the Fire Temple is one of the oldest Parsi temples
situated in Iran.
The Parsis believe that fire, water, air and earth are to be preserved. Therefore they do not
cremate or bury their dead ones. They leave them on high towers, specially built for this
purpose, to be eaten by hawks and crows.
6. Weather Climate
1. Weather is the condition or the state 1. Climate is the average weather condition of
of atmosphere over a short period of a place for a long period of time.
time at a particular place.
2. It keeps changing from time to time. 2. It changes from place to place as it may rain
throughout the year in some areas of the
world while some areas may be completely
dry throughout the year.
7. Underground water comes to the surface forming water bodies called oases. These are the
only fertile parts in the desert. The people of Saudi Arabia who live in and around oases lead a
settled life. They are mostly farmers and grow maize, millets, barley, wheat, cotton, sugarcane,
fruits and vegetables.
8. • Come out of an enclosed area and move to an open place.
• Shift to the corner of the room, away from windows, fans or any other things that may fall
on you.
9. Rotation Revolution
1. It refers to the spinning of the earth 1. Earth moves around the sun on a fixed path
on its own axis. known as orbit. This movement is known as
revolution.
2. It takes 24 hours to complete one 2. It takes 365¼ days to complete one
rotation. revolution.
3. Rotation causes day and night. 3. Revolution of the earth causes changes in
seasons.
10. In every map the north direction will be shown with the help of an arrow pointing upwards.
When you place a map on a table, the top of the map is the north direction. The bottom of the
map is the south. The right side of the map is the east and the left side is the west. When you
know the four main directions, you can easily locate other sub-directions also.

11. The Temperate Grassland

Now I can Answer (page 72)
A. Argentina is bounded by

Paraguay Bolivia Brazil Uruguay Chile

19
B. 1. South America 2. the Andes
3. extensive farming 4. Buenos Aires
C. 1. steppes 2. pampero
3. Spain, Italy 4. Gauchos
5. Farming, rearing
D. 1. (e) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (b) 5. (d)
E. 1. Temperate grasslands are found mainly outside the tropics in temperate regions. They are
located in the latitudes above and below the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
They lie between 40° and 55° North and South of the equator in all the continents except
Antarctica. In the Northern Hemisphere, these grasslands are located far from the sea as
they are very large. In the Southern Hemisphere, the grasslands are on the coast since the
continents are very narrow here.
2. Argentina is divided into four topographical regions.
• Fertile plains of the Pampas in the centre located between 34° and 30° south latitude, and
57° and 63° west latitude.
• Frosty, dry and barren plateau region of Patagonia in the south.
• Gran Chaco in the north.
• Andes mountain range, which is a home to some of the tallest mountains in the world,
along the western border.
3. The Pampas region of Argentina receives low rainfall. It cannot support dense forests but
favours the growth of thick grasses in the region. The grasses appear different in different
seasons.
The exterior soil of the Pampas is deep black. It is principally humus, commonly known as
manure. It is suitable for the growth of the most common grass found in the Pampas known
as alfalfa.
Originally, Pampas had virtually no trees because fires frequently occur in it. The fires do not kill
the grasses but destroy the trees. Today, some imported species like the American sycamore
or eucalyptus are found along the roads or in towns and country estates. The only tree-like
plant native to Pampas is ombu which is an evergreen plant and is adapted to protect itself
from fires.
4. The Pampas region in Central Argentina has hot summers with thunderstorms and cool
winters. The region has coastal influence. The difference between the summer and the winter
temperatures is high. The amount of rainfall ranges between 25 cm – 70 cm. This type of
climate is known as continental climate.
5. Gauchos is a term commonly used to describe residents of the South American Pampas,
Patagonian Grasslands or Gran Chaco. They are found chiefly in parts of Argentina, Uruguay
and Southern Chile and are called the wanderers of the Pampas region. The Argentinean
ranchers employ gauchos to work in their very large farms called ranches. Herding cows,
riding horses around large ranches and hunting are their main economic activities. They
wear wide brimmed hats called sombreros, ponchos, and loose pair of trousers tucked into
boots.

20
 12. The Polar Region
Now I can Answer (page 80)

A. Inuits as they are called in

Canada Alaska Siberia

Inuits Inupiata
Yupik Yuita

B. 1. permafrost 2. Denmark, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean

3. Mongoloid 4. tou pigs, reindeer, seal
5. Greenlandic, Danish
C. 1. The regions lying beyond 66½° latitudes in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres up to
the poles are called polar regions. They are cold deserts. They comprise of Northern Europe,
Siberia, Greenland, northernmost part of North America, and a few places in the Southern
Hemisphere.
2. Greenland is a part of Denmark that lies between the Arctic Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. It
is the largest island in the world and lies mostly within the Arctic Circle. The Atlantic Ocean
borders Greenland’s south-east, the Greenland Sea is to its east, the Arctic Ocean is to its north,
and the Baffin Bay is to its west.
3. The polar regions are further divided into two climatic regions. They are the tundra which
support vegetation in summer alone, and ice caps which are permanently covered with ice
throughout the year. Almost all tundra regions are located in the Northern Hemisphere with
some small tundra-like areas in Antarctica in the Southern Hemisphere.
4. Greenland looks white since 80 percent of it is permanently covered with ice and snow. Due
to this it remains very cold throughout the year in Greenland.
5. The animals that inhabit the arctic tundra regions have special adaptations to withstand long,
cold winters and to breed and raise young ones in summer. Large animals like the musk ox
and caribou are heavily protected against the cold by insulation of fat. They migrate to warmer
areas in winter. Smaller animals like the arctic squirrels survive by burrowing and hibernating
during winter.
Aquatic animals comprise huge whales, seals and walruses. Cod, herring and salmon fish
abound the arctic water. These animals have blubbers to protect them from icy cold conditions.
Arctic terns and seagulls migrate between the two poles all the year round. Wild swans and
geese are also found here. Penguins inhabit the antarctic region.

21
 6. Mighty warriors from Norway, the Vikings, created the first settlement in Greenland. Important
inhabitants of the tundra lowlands are:
• Inuits of North America and Greenland
• Lapps and Finns of Finland
• Yakuts and Chukchis of Siberia
D. 1. The tundra is the world’s coldest and driest region with an extremely low annual temperature.
During some months in winter, the temperature drops down further.
Winters carry on for about nine months with the sun not seen at all and the nights lasting for
a few weeks. The moon and other heavenly bodies can be seen throughout the season. Very
cold winds blow violently in winter and bring continuous heavy snowfall. These snowstorms
are called blizzards and they form thick layers of ice.
2. Due to the extremely cold climate, poor soil quality and frozen land, vegetation in the arctic
tundra regions is limited. The frozen ground prevents plants with deep roots, like trees, from
growing.
During the short summers, the top layer of soil melts and allows plants to grow and reproduce.
Small flowering plants like poppies, lilies, buttercups and violets spring up, survive for a short
while, and get buried under the sheet of ice in winter.
Willows grow on some parts of the tundra but only about 8 cm high.
3. The animals that inhabit the arctic tundra regions have special adaptations to withstand long,
cold winters and to breed and raise young ones in summer. Large animals like the musk ox
and caribou are heavily protected against the cold by insulation of fat. They migrate to warmer
areas in winter. Smaller animals like the arctic squirrels survive by burrowing and hibernating
during winter.
Aquatic animals comprise huge whales, seals and walruses. Cod, herring and salmon fish
abound the arctic water. These animals have blubbers to protect them from icy cold conditions.
Arctic terns and seagulls migrate between the two poles all the year round. Wild swans and
geese are also found here. Penguins inhabit the antarctic region.
Reindeers are very important animals for the people of tundra region. Their milk, meat, skin
and bones are used by the people. These reindeers are much adapted to the climatic condition
of the place. They dig the ice sheets to get their food which includes mosses and lichens.
Reindeers are also used by people to draw their sledges.
E. 1. Sledges are carts without wheels, drawn by reindeers.
2. The Eskimos use small boats called kayaks, made of animal skin such as seals stretched over a
wooden frame, for hunting animals in the sea.
3. The Eskimos also use a boat called umiak, which is a large open sea boat made of animal skin
and wood, to hunt whales.
4. Very cold winds blow violently in winter and bring continuous heavy snowfall. These
snowstorms are called blizzards and they form thick layers of ice.
5. Harpoons are sharp spears made of animal bones or stones with leather ropes attached to
them.

22
F. 1. Godthab or Nuuk
2. Godhavn
3. Holsteinberg
4. Kangerlussuaq Airport (earlier known as Bluie West Eight)
G. 1. Due to the extremely cold climate, poor soil quality and frozen land, vegetation in the arctic
tundra regions is limited.
2. The people of Greenland eat food with rich fat content in order to combat the cold arctic
climatic conditions.
3. Reindeers are very important animals for the people of tundra region. Their milk, meat, skin
and bones are used by the people. These reindeers are much adapted to the climatic condition
of the place. They dig the ice sheets to get their food which includes mosses and lichens.
Reindeers are also used by people to draw their sledges.

13. Indian Freedom Struggle—the First War of Independence

Now I can Answer (page 87)
A. 1. 1498: Vasco da Gama found a sea route to India.
1600: Setup of East India Company
1608: First trading centre at Surat
1757: Battle of Plassey
1857: Struggle for freedom
B. 1. Calicut 2. 1600
3. Lord Dalhousie 4. 1877
C. 1. Surat, Gujarat
2. 18th century
3. 1757, Battle of Plassey
4. Jhansi, Doctrine of Lapse
5. 1857, Barrackpore, Mangal Pandey
6. Rani of Jhansi, Bahadur Shah Zafar, Rangoon
D. 1. In 1498, Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer found a sea route to India from Europe. He
landed at Calicut in Kerala and started trading from there. Gradually, the Portuguese took
control of the west coast by setting up trading centres at Kochi, Kannur and Calicut.
These trading centres were called companies. These companies bought Indian spices, cotton,
textiles and other material which were sold at higher prices in Europe and America. By the
early 18th century, the Portuguese were replaced by the companies of England and France
who came into India. Their trade flourished in India attracting the other Europeans to settle
here. This was how the Dutch, the French and the British came to India to trade their goods.
The British were the most prominent people who colonized most parts of our country.
2. France, Britain, Portuguese, Dutch.

23
3. (a) Siraj ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, was against the building of forts around the
British trading centres in India. He insisted that the British should behave like traders and
demolish their forts. The British, who had become very powerful by then, opposed the
Nawab and waged a war against him in 1757. This war was known as the Battle of Plassey.
It was fought under the leadership of Robert Clive. The British defeated the Nawab and
established the British East India Company in India after the war.
(b) Various policies were made by the British to bring Indian territories under their control. This
led to discontentment among Indian rulers. One such policy was the Doctrine of Lapse. It
was introduced by a British Governor named Lord Dalhousie. According to this policy, if
an Indian ruler died without leaving a son as heir, his kingdom would be brought directly
under the British rule. The kings who were considered weak and could not oppose the
British were forced to surrender to the policy. The Nawab of Oudh was one such ruler. The
province of Jhansi and parts of Maratha kingdoms were also brought under the Britishers
due to this policy.

4. Social Causes
• Heavy taxes were levied on the farmers. They were forced to grow cotton and indigo (a
dye used to colour cotton) for the cotton mills in England, but were paid very little for
them. The raw materials were taken from India and the finished goods were brought from
England and sold in India at a higher price. This led Indians to poverty.
• Indian artisans and weavers were affected by the flow of mill-made products from
England. These machine made products were cheaper than the Indian products. Indian
industries started having heavy losses and many had to close down. Lakhs of people were
unemployed. Moreover, the British neither allowed the Indians to open mills and factories
nor trade in things of their choice. This led to the downfall of Indian industry.
Political Causes
• Various policies were made by the British to bring Indian territories under their control. This
led to discontentment among Indian rulers. One such policy was the Doctrine of Lapse. It
was introduced by a British Governor named Lord Dalhousie. According to this policy, if
an Indian ruler died without leaving a son as heir, his kingdom would be brought directly
under the British rule. The kings who were considered weak and could not oppose the
British were forced to surrender to the policy. The Nawab of Oudh was one such ruler. The
province of Jhansi and parts of Maratha kingdoms were also brought under the Britishers
due to this policy.
5. The war of 1857 was a major turning point in the history of modern India. The British suppressed
the revolt with their strong army and modern weapons like rifles and cannons. Rani of Jhansi
was killed during this battle. Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled to Rangoon in Burma where he
died in 1862, finally bringing the Mughal dynasty to an end.
In 1858, East India Company’s rule ended in India and the British government took over the
reign. In 1877, Queen Victoria took the title of the Empress of India. She appointed Viceroys
who acted as her representatives and ruled over India.
The war, even in its failure, produced many Indian heroes. Above all, it created a sense of unity
between the Hindus and the Muslims of India that was witnessed in later years.

24
 14. Indian Independence
Now I can Answer (page 94)
A. 1. 1885: Indian National Congress was formed
1905: Division of Bengal
1919: Rowlatt Act, Jallianwala Bagh incident
1942: Quit India Movement was launched
B. 1. A.O. Hume 2. Rowlatt
3. non-violence, satyagraha 4. India, Pakistan
5. August 1942
C. 1. 1915 2. Bal Gangadhar Tilak 3. 1934
4. 1919 5. moderates
D. 1. The British executed another act called the Rowlatt Act in 1919. It was also known as the Black
Act. The act empowered the government to put people in jail without any trial. Gandhiji called
for a countrywide protest against this act.
2. On May 1930, Gandhiji marched with his followers to Dandi to protest against the tax imposed
by the British on making of salt. Gandhiji broke this law by preparing salt at Dandi. Gandhiji
and many of his followers were arrested.
3. The British government was finding it difficult to control the law and order situation in the
country. They appointed Sir Simon in 1927 to head a commission to make some changes
and reforms in the administration of India. The Indian National Congress boycotted the
commission as there were no Indian representatives in it. When Sir Simon came to India, the
protestors shouted slogans of ‘Simon Go back’.
E. 1. The first War of Independence was a failure because the Britishers were successful in supressing
the movement and also Indians were not educated regarding the social evils that prevailed in
India at that time.
2. Moderates Extremists
1. Moderates believed in achieving 1. They adopted the path of violence and
freedom in a peaceful way without threat to achieve freedom from British.
any sort of violence.
2. Leaders like Gopal Krishna Gokhale, 2. Leaders like Lal Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar
Dadabhai Naoroji are moderates. Tilak are extremists.
3. The nationalist movement in Bengal was very strong. Bengal was then the largest province of
British India which included Bihar and parts of Odisha. In 1905, Lord Curzon divided Bengal
into two territories–a Muslim-majority East Bengal and a Hindu-majority West Bengal. The
people and the national leaders realized that this was the ‘Divide and Rule’ policy of the British
government.
In protest, the Swadeshi Movement was started by the Indians. They decided to buy only
Indian goods and boycott foreign goods. The British tried to suppress the movement but were
unsuccessful. As a result, they had to revoke the partition of Bengal.

25
 4. Dandi March, Civil Disobedience Movement, Quit India Movement, Non-Cooperation
Movement
5. When the British decided to quit India, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the leader of the Muslim
League, demanded a separate nation for the Muslims. He wanted it to be known as Pakistan.
Mahatma Gandhi did not approve of this idea, as he always wished for Hindu-Muslim unity. He
showed his disagreement by fasting, but in vain.
The Divide and Rule policy of the British was successful at last. On 15th August, 1947, the
country was divided into two independent nations. They were India and Pakistan.

15. Indian Constitution

Now I can Answer (page 98)

A. Any Three Fundamental Rights

Right to equality Right to freedom Right to freedom of religion

B. 1. preamble 2. constitution
3. Dr B.R. Ambedkar 4. Rights
5. Right to freedom of religion
C. 1. Every independent nation is governed by a set of laws. These are written documents stating a
system for governance and powers and duties of the people. These laws form the constitution
of a country. The citizens of a country are expected to follow them.
The Constitution of India lays down a set of rules according to which the Indian government
functions. It was framed by a committee of 8 members headed by Dr B.R. Ambedkar. It was
passed on November 26, 1949 and came into effect on January 26, 1950. Since then, we
celebrate 26th January as the Republic Day.
2. Every constitution has a preamble with which it begins. The Preamble of our Constitution
reads as follows:
We, the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign Socialist
Secular Democratic Republic and to secure to all its citizens:
• Justice, social, economic and political;
• Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
• Equality of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all
• Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;
In our constituent assembly this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do Hereby Adopt, enact
and give to ourselves this constitution.
3. Our Constitution has provided six basic rights to every citizen. Rights literally mean those
freedoms which are essential for the good of an individual as well as the community.

26
 Right to Equality: All citizens are treated equally and there is no discrimination on the basis
of caste, sex, status, religion or race.
Right to Freedom: People living in India have the freedom of speech and expression;
freedom to practice any religion; freedom to move freely and live in any part of the country;
and freedom to practice any profession, trade or occupation.
Cultural and Educational Rights: As India is a country of many languages, religions and
cultures, people are given the right to follow their own culture and language, and run
educational institutions.
Right to Freedom of Religion: The citizens have the right to follow any religion of their own
choice.
Right Against Exploitation: Exploitation of women, slavery, child labour and low wages are
considered as offences in our country.
Right to Constitutional Remedies: This allows Indian citizens to fight for their rights.
4. • Every Indian citizen must follow the ideals given in the constitution.
• It is the duty of every citizen to respect the National Flag and the National Anthem.
• The people of the country must protect the unity and integrity of the nation.
• As a good citizen, we must defend our country and serve it when needed.
5. It is the responsibility of every citizen of India to carry out their duties faithfully and help in the
smooth and peaceful co-existence of individuals for the progress of our nation.

16. The Great Achievers of India

Now I can Answer (page 106)

A. J.R.D. Tata

Born in the year Place of birth Bharat Ratna in the year

1904 France 1992

C.V. Raman

Born in the year Won Gold Medal in

1888 1904

27
 Baba Amte

Born in the year Damien-Dutton Award

1914 1983

B. 1. France 2. iron and steel 3. Physics

4. Bengaluru 5. 1983
C. 1. Lenin Peace Prize 2. scattering of light
3. Jamsetji Tata 4. Padma Vibhushan
5. UN Global Compact City
D. 1. J.R.D. Tata was a compassionate and a caring human being. He respected those who worked
with him and firmly believed in employee welfare. He supported the principles of an eight-
hour working day, free medical aid, workers’ provident scheme, and accident compensation
schemes. Later, these were legally adopted by the Indian Government.
J.R.D. cared greatly for his workers. In 1979, Tata Steel started a new practice according to
which a worker is considered to be at work from the moment he leaves home till he returns
home from work. Tata Steel provided an excellent quality of life, and perfect conditions of
sanitation, roads and welfare to its workers.
Jehangir Tata believed in perfection, with which he excelled in his career. He felt good human
relations are the key to victory. He practiced what he preached and claimed excellence in
almost everything.
2. C.V. Raman won a gold medal in 1904, when he secured the first place in B.A. in Physics from
the Presidency College, Chennai. In 1907, when he was hardly seventeen, Raman again topped
his class when he received his M.A. honours degree.
In 1917, Raman joined as a professor of Physics at the University of Kolkata. He worked there
for fifteen years. Simultaneously, he continued doing research at the IACS, where he also
became the Honorary Secretary. During his tenure, he received worldwide recognition for his
work in optics and scattering of light.
He was elected to the Royal Society of London in 1924. He was made a knight of the British
Empire in 1929. In 1930, he received the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on scattering of
light. His discovery was later named the Raman Effect. He considered this period as the golden
era of his career.
In 1934, Raman became the director of the newly established Indian Institute of Sciences in
Bengaluru. In 1947, he was appointed as the first National Professor by the new government
of Independent India. Raman retired from the Indian Institute of Science in 1948. A year later,
he established the Raman Research Institute in Bengaluru, Karnataka. He served as its director
till the age of 82.
He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1954 and the Lenin Peace Prize in 1957.

28
 3. Amte dedicated his life to the cause of upliftment of the downtrodden. He first took a course
on care of leprosy patients. Then he settled down in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, and acquired
two hundred and fifty acres of land for his Ashram.
This Ashram became a home for the destitute and homeless, many of whom were leprosy
patients. Baba Amte helped each one of them to acquire skills, despite their handicap. These
people, under Baba Amte’s guidance, transformed this rocky and barren land into a model
farm. They produced vegetables and dairy products for the neighbouring villages at the farm
and became economically self sufficient. The farm is popularly known as Abode of Joy or
Anandwan. He also founded several other ashrams like Somnath and Ashokwan for treating
leprosy patients.
He joined Medha Patkar’s Narmada Bachao Andolan (Save Narmada Movement). This
movement was a fight against unjust displacement of local people living there and damage
to the environment on account of the construction of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada
river. Baba Amte used the Gandhian principle of non-violence to fight the Indian government
during the Narmada Bachao Andolan.
• He was given the Damien-Dutton Award from the Damien-Dutton Leprosy Society for his
work in the year 1983.
• The most notable award given to him was the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service
in 1985. He was chosen for his work-oriented rehabilitation of Indian leprosy patients and
other handicapped outcasts.
• In 1999, he was awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize for his exemplary work of treating and
rehabilitating leprosy patients.

17. The United Nations

Now I can Answer (page 112)

A.
Organizations Established after the World Wars

League of Nations United Nations Organization

B. 1. 1914–1918 2. Japan
3. New York 4. 193
C. 1. 24th October, 1945
2. The main aims or objectives of the United Nations are as follows:
• To maintain peace and security among the member states and settle all disputes peacefully
• To develop friendly relations among member states with equal rights
• To cooperate with other nations in solving the economic, social, cultural and humanitarian
problems.

29
 3. To achieve the above objectives, the United Nations set the following principles:
• All member states are sovereign and equal and must respect the rights of other nations.
• All member states should settle their disputes peacefully. They should refrain from any
threat or use of force.
• They must support the organization in all its functions.
4. General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, International Court of
Justice, Secretariat
5. The United Nations has declared six major languages as its official languages. They are English,
French, Russian, Spanish, Chinese and Arabic.
D. 1. It is the most important organ and the main body of the UN. It works like a world parliament.
Each member state has one representative in the General Assembly. They meet at least once
a year to discuss international problems and find solutions on how to settle them peacefully.
The General Assembly chooses one representative to be its president.
2. The Secretariat is the administrative organ of the United Nations which carries out the day
to day work of the organization. The Secretary General is the head of the Secretariat, who is
appointed by the General Assembly for a term of five years. He is the most powerful official of
the UN. There are many people, appointed from many countries, who work with him.
3. The Security council consists of 10 temporary and 5 permanent members. The USA, Russia,
France, China and England are its permanent members. The primary duty of the Security
Council is to maintain peace and security among various nations.
4. This is the legal court and an important organ of the United Nations. It deals with the disputes
between the member nations and settles them peacefully according to the international law.
It has 15 judges elected from different countries. The Peace Palace in the Hague, Netherlands,
is the headquarters of the International Court of Justice.
5. The economic and social council has 18 members. The purpose of this council is to carry out
the objectives of the UN in the fields of education, social upliftment, health, culture, economic
aid, etc. The various agencies of this council, like the World Health Organization, carry out its
activities.
E. 1. False 2. True 3. False 4. True 5. True

18. Agencies of the UN

Now I can Answer (page 117)

A. Special Agencies of the UN

UNICEF World Bank UNESCO WHO ILO FAO

30
B. 1. 1946, Second World War 2. Paris
3. Mrs Vijayalakshmi Pandit 4. FAO
5. apartheid, racial discrimination
C. 1. (e) 2. (c) 3. (d) 4. (a) 5. (b)
D. 1. The special agencies of the UN are: UNICEF, UNESCO, WHO, FAO, World Bank, ILO
2. UNESCO is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It was established in 1945. It works
towards improving the lives of the people through education. It provides special scientific and
cultural training to backward countries. The organization is based in Paris.
3. Polio, Smallpox
4. The World Bank lends funds to help countries with their development programmes like
communication, transport network, dams, etc. The World Bank has its headquarters in
Washington, D.C.
5. • The United Nations has been playing an active role in maintaining world peace. It has been
able to solve disputes among nations peacefully, thus preventing outbreak of more major
wars.
• The UN strongly opposed apartheid or racial discrimination in South Africa.
• It has managed to eradicate smallpox through vaccinations and proper monitoring. It has
also helped to wipe out polio from the Western Hemisphere.

19. Transport and Communication

Now I can Answer (page 124)

A. Mass Communication

Printing Radio Cinema Television Internet Satellite communication

Means of Transport

Land transport Air transport Water transport

Roadways Railways Inland water transport Shipping

B. 1. Freeways of expressways 2. Water transport

3. fourth largest 4. Jagdish Chandra Bose
5. Aryabhatta 6. Inland water transport
7. printing machine

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C. 1. True 2. True 3. False 4. False 5. True 6. False
D. 1. (e) 2. (c) 3. (f ) 4. (a) 5. (b) 6. (d)
E. 1. Our country has one of the largest road networks in the world. Our roadways include national
highways, state highways, district roads and village roads. In developed countries there is a
network of highways known as freeways or expressways which connects major cities. These
are long smooth one-way roads which do not have bends or crossroads. Vehicles can travel
very fast for long distances without stop.
Roadways are the most preferred mode of transportation for the people. It is cost-effective
also.
After the revolutionary invention of wheels, the second most important invention was the
steam engine. It was invented by James Watt. The first steam engine train was built about
200 years ago. Now the steam engines are replaced by highly developed engines that use
diesel and electricity. This will enable the trains to run much faster and carry more goods and
passengers.
Indian Railways is the largest railway network in Asia, and the fourth largest in the world. The
first railway network in India was between Mumbai and Thane, established in 1853.
2. One of the important ways to reduce the congestion is to improve the public transport system.
If the public transport is good enough, people will tend to use more of that than their private
vehicles. The metro rail project was introduced as a part of this. It has been a huge success.
Kolkata was the first state in India to have a metro. Now we have metros in Delhi, Bengaluru,
Chennai and Mumbai.
3. Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks. Whenever you want any
information about anything in the world, the internet is ready to help. That is why it is also
called the Information Superhighway. There is no modern world without this.
4. Communication is the method through which we share information. It can be a face-to-face
talk with anyone, a telephone call, reading a book, watching television, etc. Every living thing
communicates with one another.
5. Satellites are electronic devices that are sent to space through rockets. They revolve around
our planet. They receive and transmit signals. It is through these we are able to see a live
cricket or football match happening at any part of the world. Telephone and computer signals
are also sent through these communication satellites.
6. In the past, humans also communicated like animals showing signs and gestures. But because
of our superior intelligence we have developed our own unique way of communication.
Different languages we use now are a result of this. The idea of mass communication came
with the invention of the printing machine. It enabled us to communicate with a whole lot
of people through books, newspapers, magazines, etc. The inventions of radio, television,
cinema and most importantly internet were giant leaps in the field of communication.
7. Transport is the system for carrying people or goods from one place to another using vehicles,
roads, etc. In the past it was very difficult to travel long distances as there was no mode of
transport available. People had to walk from place to place. The first revolution in transport
began with the invention of the wheel. All forms of transport which we see around us now
happened because of this invention.

32
 20. The Great Inventions
Now I can Answer (page 128)
A. The Inventor of

Paper Printing Press

T’sai Lun Johannes Gutenberg

B. 1. Greek 2. Egyptians 3. China 4. Gutenberg’s Bible 5. oil-based

C. 1. False 2. True 3. True 4. True 5. False
D. 1. Invention is the process of coming up with something new. Invention of a thing involves in-
depth study and experimentation.
2. It is impossible to name any one person who invented the art of writing, because it was not
invented in a day. People used hash marks to express certain ideas in early days. Slowly, a
number of civilizations started making pictures of animals and other familiar things to record
interesting bits of information. Many such pictures and paintings can be seen on cave walls in
countries like India and France even today.
The pictures were gradually simplified to signs and symbols which led to the growth of a
system of writing called the script. One of the oldest scripts have been found on the seals of
the Indus Valley Civilization in India.
The Greek were the first to use the alphabetic system of writing. In ancient times, scripts were
engraved on clay tablets, seals, cave walls, stones, etc. Then papyrus was discovered by the
Egyptians as a medium to write on.
3. Papyrus from which the word paper has derived, is a reed that grows in the delta of the River
Nile in Africa.
4. Paper, as we know it today, was first made by T’sai Lun of China. He made paper by mixing
finely chopped mulberry bark and hemp rags with water, mashing the mixture flat, and then
pressing out the water from it and letting it dry in the sun. T’sai Lun’s paper was a big success. It
began to be used all over China. Today, paper made from wood pulp is used all over the world
for various purposes.
5. Printing methods based on Gutenberg’s printing press spread fast throughout Europe and
then the rest of the world. This machine replaced most block printing as more copies could be
made in lesser time and at a lower cost. This made books cheaper and easily available to the
common people.
Gutenberg is credited with the printing of the world’s first book, the 42 line Bible known as
Gutenberg’s Bible. This worked out cheaper than the handwritten Bible, which would have
taken many years to record.
The printing press led to the formation of a society of scientists who could easily communicate
their discoveries through the widely spread science journals. Authorship or writing of text
became more meaningful and profitable because of the invention of printing press.

33
 Assessment Sheet 2
(Based on Chapters 11 to 20)

A. 1. London 2. industrial revolution

3. Johannes Gutenberg 4. Paris
5. James Watt 6. Pampero
7. Aryabhatta 8. largest railway network

B. 1. France 2. FAO 3. Japan 4. Air India 5. Thane

C. 1. United Nations
2. International Air Transport Association
3. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
4. International Labour Organization
5. Food and Agriculture Organization
D. 1. False 2. False 3. False 4. True
E. 1. Battle of Plassey
2. Formation of United Nations Organization
3. Baba Amte was born
4. Observed as Republic Day
F. 1. Very cold winds blow violently in winter and bring continuous heavy snowfall. These
snowstorms are called blizzards.
2. Pampero are the cool winds that blow over the Pampas.
3. Eskimos use small boats called kayaks, made of animal skin such as seals stretched over a
wooden frame for hunting animal in the sea.
4. The inland waterways have played an important role in the Indian transport system since
ancient times. It has got an extensive network in the form of rivers, canals, backwaters and
creeks.
G. 1. Social Causes
• Heavy taxes were levied on the farmers. They were forced to grow cotton and indigo (a
dye used to colour cotton) for the cotton mills in England, but were paid very little for
them. The raw materials were taken from India and the finished goods were brought from
England and sold in India at a higher price. This led Indians to poverty.
• Indian artisans and weavers were affected by the flow of mill-made products from
England. These machine made products were cheaper than the Indian products. Indian
industries started having heavy losses and many had to close down. Lakhs of people were
unemployed. Moreover, the British neither allowed the Indians to open mills and factories
nor trade in things of their choice. This led to the downfall of Indian industry.
Political Causes
• Various policies were made by the British to bring Indian territories under their control. This
led to discontentment among Indian rulers. One such policy was the Doctrine of Lapse. It
was introduced by a British Governor named Lord Dalhousie. According to this policy, if

34
 an Indian ruler died without leaving a son as heir, his kingdom would be brought directly
under the British rule. The kings who were considered weak and could not oppose the
British were forced to surrender to the policy. The Nawab of Oudh was one such ruler. The
province of Jhansi and parts of Maratha kingdoms were also brought under the Britishers
due to this policy.
2. (a) Turkey was defeated in the First World War. The victorious powers decided to divide Turkey
among themselves. This created a sense of discontent among the Indian Muslims.
The Muslim Leaders of India, Shaukat Ali and Muhammad Ali, popularly known as ‘Ali
Brothers’, started the Khilafat Movement in 1919 to protest against the British treatment of
the Caliph or the Sultan of Turkey, their religious head. An alliance was made between the
Indian National Congress and the Khilafat leaders to work and fight together for the cause
of Khilafat and Swaraj.
Massive protests, strikes and acts of civil disobedience spread across India. Gandhiji, the Ali
brothers and others were imprisoned by the British.
(b) On May 1930, Gandhiji marched with his followers to Dandi to protest against the tax
imposed by the British on making of salt. Gandhiji broke this law by preparing salt at
Dandi. Gandhiji and many of his followers were arrested.
(c) The Quit India Movement was launched in August 1942 in response to Gandhiji’s call for
immediate independence. He insisted the British must leave India and raised the slogan
Do or Die to attain complete independence.
The Quit India Movement made the British realize that they could not rule India any longer
by force. They decided to leave India and go away.
3. The British executed another act called the Rowlatt Act in 1919. It was also known as the Black
Act. The act empowered the government to put people in jail without any trial. Gandhiji called
for a countrywide protest against this act.
On 13 April, 1919, people gathered in a small park in Amristar called Jallianwala Bagh to
protest against the arrest of two leaders–Satyapal and Saifuddin Kitchlew.
The British General Dyer blocked the main entrance and ordered his soldiers to fire at the
unarmed and unsuspecting crowd of about 5,000 people. About 1,000 people were killed and
many were injured.
4. General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, International Court of
Justice, Secretariat
5. Transport is the system for carrying people or goods from one place to another using vehicles,
roads, etc. In the past it was very difficult to travel long distances as there was no mode of
transport available. People had to walk from place to place. The first revolution in transport
began with the invention of the wheel. All forms of transport which we see around us now
happened because of this invention.
6. Satellites are electronic devices that are sent to space through rockets. They revolve around
our planet. They receive and transmit signals. It is through these we are able to see a live
cricket or football match happening at any part of the world. Telephone and computer signals
are also sent through these communication satellites.

35
 7. Reindeers are very important animals for the people of tundra region. Their milk, meat, skin
and bones are used by the people. These reindeers are much adapted to the climatic condition
of the place. They dig the ice sheets to get their food which includes mosses and lichens.
Reindeers are also used by people to draw their sledges.
8. Gauchos is a term commonly used to describe residents of the South American Pampas,
Patagonian Grasslands or Gran Chaco. They are found chiefly in parts of Argentina, Uruguay
and Southern Chile and are called the wanderers of the Pampas region. The Argentinean
ranchers employ gauchos to work in their very large farms called ranches. Herding cows,
riding horses around large ranches and hunting are their main economic activities. They wear
wide brimmed hats called sombreros, ponchos, and loose pair of trousers tucked into boots.
9. During summer, the sun shines almost 24 hours a day. It hardly sets during the season. This is
why the arctic region is also called the Land of the Midnight Sun. Summers are usually warm
with temperature going up to 12°C. Among the North American, Scandinavian and Russian
tundra regions, the Scandinavian tundra is the warmest with scanty rainfall.
10. Paper, as we know it today, was first made by T’sai Lun of China. He made paper by mixing
finely chopped mulberry bark and hemp rags with water, mashing the mixture flat, and then
pressing out the water from it and letting it dry in the sun. T’sai Lun’s paper was a big success. It
began to be used all over China. Today, paper made from wood pulp is used all over the world
for various purposes.

36