3.

Effects of air pollution:

(i) increase in the temperature of the atmosphere, leading to global warming
(ii) removal of the ozone layer that protects living things from harmful ultraviolet rays
(iii) results in a number of diseases of the respiratory system
4. Water is polluted when wastes from houses, farms and factories are let into sources of water.
5. N
 atural resources are materials present in the environment that we take and use for our needs. Air,
soil, water, fuels, plants and animals are some of the resources available to us.
If we use resources without control, we will soon run out of them.
Trees help to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen into the
atmosphere.

Higher-order Thinking Skills

1. T he atmosphere retains the heat created by the increased consumption of fuels and so on due to
the increased carbon dioxide content in the air. This causes global warming. By planting trees the
leaves would absorb the carbon dioxide for carrying out photosynthesis. As the levels of carbon
dioxide will be maintained, global warming could be prevented.
2. P
 lastics are not bio-degradable; they can only be melted to form a lower quality of plastic which is
not helpful for the environment. So, at best, we could reuse the bottle. We could consider the
option of minimising the use of these bottles.

NATURAL CALAMITIES
Looking Back
Answer the following questions.
1. The only active volcano in India is in Barren Island, an island in the Andaman.
2. W
 eather updates are important so that a warning can be given to people over the radio, TV or
newspaper about a flood, cyclone and other such weather-related events. People could accordingly
take steps to protect themselves and their belongings.
3. W
 hen the land shakes minutes, hours or even days after the main earthquake, we feel
aftershocks.

Answer the following questions.

1. Drought is a dry period with rainfall far below the normal rate. As a result farmers will not have
enough water for their crops. So crops die and there is less food for people. When the shortage is
severe, people could even die of hunger. This condition is called famine.
2. Natural calamities like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions cannot be predicted.

Exercises:
A. 1. c 2. b 3. a 4. c
B. 1. calamity 2. cyclone 3. drought 4. famine 5. floods

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 C. 1. û 2. û 3.  4. 
D. 1. aftershock 2. earthquake 3. f lood 4. volcano 5. famine 6. tsunami
7. drought 8. cyclone 9. calamity
E.1. When there is an earthquake:
(i) Run out of the building you are in as fast as you can.
(ii) If you are outdoors, move to an open area away from buildings and trees.
(iii) If you are indoors, take cover under a strong table or desk or along an inside wall.
(iv) Do not stay near windows, large mirrors, heavy furniture or heavy items that may fall on you.
(v) Stay away from staircases.
(vi) Do not use an elevator.
2. When there is flood warning:
(i) people move to safer places along with their animals and belongings;
(ii) if the flood is not very severe, they strengthen their roofs or sometimes move away to safer
places themselves.
3. D
 octors are put on duty since there is usually an outbreak of diseases, such as typhoid and cholera,
spread by contaminated water. There could also be instances of snake-bite.
4. T he government sets up relief camps to provide food and water to the flood-affected villages.
Sometimes, if required, the food and water packets are air dropped.
5. D
 rought is a dry period with rainfall far below the normal rate. All water bodies like reservoirs,
ponds and lakes dry up and the groundwater level also drops sharply. As a result, farmers will not
have enough water for their crops. Wind erosion strips the land of its fertile topsoil. So the crops die
and there is less food available for people and animals. When the shortage is severe, people may
even die of hunger. This condition is called famine.
6. A
 natural calamity can slow down the progress of a country. It is essential for people to come
together to face the problems, and cooperate with the government agencies to restore the affected
places.

Higher-order Thinking Skills

1. A
 fter a flood or cyclone, the drinking water and other water bodies get contaminated with
overflows from sewers. This makes it a breeding ground for disease-causing germs. The dead bodies
of animals and plants also contaminate the place.
2. Y es. A powerful earthquake can lead to bursting of pipes in water supply plants, buildings and so on.
This would cause a stop in supply of water. Contamination by overflowing sewers could also lead to
non-availability of water.

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