📘 Chapter 11: Nature's Treasures

Unscrambled Names & Classification Table:

• (i) Nature has all the resources to meet human needs.
  Answer: [ T ]
  (Note: As Mahatma Gandhi said, "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed").
• (ii) Machines are a resource found in nature.
  Answer: [ F ]
  Correct Statement: Machines are human-made resources created by human beings, not resources found in nature.
• (iii) Natural gas is a non-renewable resource.
  Answer: [ T ]
• (iv) Air is a renewable resource.
  Answer: [ T ]

• (i) Answer: (b) Petrol
• (ii) Answer: (b) Water

• Renewable Resources: Forests.
• Non-renewable Resources: Coal, natural gas, minerals.

Petroleum is formed from the remains of microorganisms, plants, and animals buried deep inside the earth over millions of years. Since petroleum exists in limited quantities and takes millions of years to form, once consumed, it cannot be renewed or replenished within a reasonable period of time. Therefore, petroleum is called a non-renewable resource.

Forests are large, complex natural ecosystems with dense growth of diverse plants, trees, and wild animals. When trees are cut down on a large scale, it takes many years or even decades for new trees to grow and restore the lost biodiversity and natural habitat. Hence, regrowing or restoring a forest is a very difficult and time-consuming process.

• Washing and Bathing (Water): Turn off running taps while applying soap and fix leaking taps.
• Lighting and Fan Usage (Electricity/Sunlight): Switch off lights and fans when leaving a room and utilize solar energy.
• Travelling to School or Market (Petrol/Diesel): Walk or cycle to nearby places or use public transport.
• Cooking Food (LPG / Natural Gas): Keep cooking vessels covered to retain heat and use solar cookers.
• Writing and Printing (Paper/Wood from Forests): Use both sides of paper and avoid unnecessary paper wastage.

• Breathing and respiration by living beings to stay alive.
• Rotating wind turbines/windmills to generate electricity or pump water.
• Drying wet clothes hung on clotheslines.
• Flying kites and rotating toy pinwheels (firki).

• Participate actively in planting tree saplings during 'Van Mahotsav' or forest festivals.
• Water and nurture planted saplings regularly and protect them from grazing animals.
• Protect existing trees in the locality from being cut unnecessarily.
• Create a small plant corner or kitchen garden in the school or home courtyard.

• (i) Answer: Solar energy (Energy from the Sun).
• (ii) Benefit: Solar energy is a free, renewable, abundant, and non-polluting source of energy.
  Drawback: Solar cooking cannot be done during nighttime or on cloudy days when sunlight is unavailable.

• Soil Erosion: Roots of trees hold soil particles tightly and prevent them from being washed away by rainwater or blown away by wind. Large-scale tree cutting leaves soil loose and exposed to severe erosion.
• Loss of Nutrients: Fallen leaves decay naturally and enrich the topsoil with essential organic nutrients. Cutting down trees stops this natural nutrient recycling, drastically lowering soil quality and fertility.

• Two Human Activities Polluting Air:
  • Burning fossil fuels (petrol and diesel) in automobiles, which releases harmful smoke and gases.
  • Releasing smoke and toxic gases from factories and industrial plants into the atmosphere.
• Proposed Action to Reduce Air Pollution: Walk or cycle for short distances, or use public transport and electric vehicles (EVs).

• Solar Panels: They will not be able to capture solar energy, so electricity generation from solar panels will stop completely.
• Gas Stove: Cooking food on the gas stove will continue without interruption because it uses LPG or natural gas.
• Windmill: Pumping water from the well using the windmill will continue unaffected as long as wind is blowing.

Answer (Completed Concept Map):

• Natural Resources ➔
  • Renewable Resources: Air, Water, Forest.
  • Non-renewable Resources: Fossil fuels ➔ (Coal, Petroleum, Natural gas).

Brief Report: Uncontrolled felling of trees for housing and industrial expansion is not justified.

Discussion Points:

• Trees absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, protect soil from erosion, and serve as natural homes for wildlife.
• Large-scale deforestation destroys wildlife habitats, leads to loss of biodiversity, and causes severe climate change and air pollution.
• Industrial and housing developments must follow sustainable methods—whenever trees are cut, a larger number of new trees must be planted and nurtured to maintain ecological balance.

Water Conservation Plan Steps:

• Repair Leakages: Inspect and fix all leaking taps and pipes across the school campus immediately.
• Rainwater Harvesting: Install a rainwater harvesting system on school rooftops to store rainwater for flushing and cleaning.
• Garden Irrigation: Use waste water from RO purifiers to water school garden plants using drip irrigation.
• Awareness: Turn off taps tightly while washing hands.
• Help to Environment: Preserves precious freshwater supplies, recharges underground water levels, and prevents water wastage.

Traditional methods in India include Bawadi in Rajasthan and Vav (Stepwells) in Gujarat. These structures capture rainwater and seepage water from nearby bodies to sustain water availability during dry periods.

Major sources of local air pollution include vehicular exhaust and industrial smoke. Steps to reduce pollution include tree plantation drives around schools and encouraging bicycle/walk commuting.

• Slate: Used for roofing houses.
• Laterite: Used as building blocks/bricks.
• Granite & Marble: Used for flooring and countertops.
• Aluminium & Copper (Minerals): Used for electrical wiring and utensils.

Organise a Van Mahotsav drive in school. Select native trees like Neem, Peepal, and Banyan, dig suitable soil pits, plant saplings, and assign student volunteers for daily watering.