Grade 5 Q&A: Chapter 14: Transport

Concept Questions

Q1: What is the main advantage of using a vehicle for travel compared to walking?

Answer: Using a vehicle saves time and effort compared to walking.

Q2: What are the main advantages of modern means of transport?

Answer: Modern means of transport have many advantages: * Work gets done sooner. * Time and effort are saved. * Trade is facilitated. * Different parts of the world are now connected. * Transport of goods on a global level has become simple and easy. * The lifestyle of people has improved as many things are easily available. * Facilities of tourism, health, education, etc., have become speedier.

Q3: What are the main poisonous gases and particles emitted by vehicles due to burning fuel?

Answer: Vehicles emit smoke and poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide. Minute particles of carbon and lead are also released into the air.

Q4: What is 'air pollution'?

Answer: Air pollution occurs when an excess of harmful substances (like smoke, poisonous gases, carbon, and lead particles) from burning fuel in vehicles lowers the quality of air in the environment.

Q5: How does air pollution affect animals and plants?

Answer: * **Animals:** Causes trachea, lung, and eye disorders (e.g., burning of the eyes). * **Plants:** Leaves shrivel up and fall, sprouts get scorched, and the growth and development of plants are affected adversely.

Q6: How does constant traffic through forest areas harm the habitat of plants and animals?

Answer: Constant traffic through forest areas can harm the habitat of plants and animals living there. The wild animals in these forests begin to migrate elsewhere due to disturbance and habitat destruction.

Q7: What are the ill effects of constant noise from vehicles?

Answer: The constant sounds of vehicles create noise on a large scale, causing ill effects such as restlessness, irritability, headaches, lack of concentration, and psychological disorders.

Q8: What are the consequences of traffic jams?

Answer: If there are traffic jams, air and noise pollution in that area increase. Traffic accidents also cause injuries, deaths, and damage to vehicles.

Q9: Name two fuels that cause less pollution and should be used for vehicles.

Answer: LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) or CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) are fuels that cause less pollution.

Q10: Name two remedies for reducing pollution caused by transport.

Answer: 1. Using fuels that cause less pollution (e.g., LPG, CNG). 2. Timely maintenance and repair of vehicles. 3. Using public transport as far as possible. 4. Using private vehicles only when necessary. 5. Planting trees, especially indigenous varieties, and caring for them.

Q11: What are the advantages of using a bicycle for transport?

Answer: * Can be stored in a small space. * Saves money. * Less crowding of vehicles on the streets. * Provides physical exercise. * Small loads can also be carried. * Does not cause pollution. * Promotes self-reliance. * Saves time (for short distances).

Q12: What were 'sailing ships' and how did they work in olden days?

Answer: In the olden days, ships did not use engines. They had sails which helped to use the force of the wind. They were called sailing ships, and people travelled all over the world on these ships.

Application-Based Questions

Q13: You need to go to a friend's house nearby. Which mode of transport would you choose and why?

Answer: I would choose **walking** or **riding a bicycle**. For a nearby friend's house, walking provides physical exercise and causes no pollution. A bicycle is also a good option for slightly longer distances, offering similar benefits.

Q14: You need to take materials to a science exhibition in another town. Which mode of transport would you choose and why?

Answer: I would choose to use **public transport (like a bus or train)** or a **private vehicle (car)** if the materials are too much to carry. For another town, these options save time and effort, and for materials, a vehicle is necessary for convenience and safety.

Q15: You observe that plants near a busy road have dull, dusty leaves compared to plants far away. Explain why this happens.

Answer: This happens due to **air pollution** from vehicle emissions. Plants near busy roads are constantly exposed to smoke, dust, and minute particles of carbon and lead released by vehicles. These particles settle on the leaves, making them dull and affecting their freshness and color, while plants far away are less exposed to such pollutants.

Q16: Your locality has a problem with constant traffic noise. What two remedies would you suggest to reduce this noise pollution?

Answer: To reduce noise pollution, I would suggest: 1. **Encouraging the use of public transport** and discouraging unnecessary private vehicle use. 2. **Promoting timely maintenance and repair of vehicles** to ensure their engines run smoothly and quietly.

Q17: Rohan and Sania's grandmother gets tired easily. They need to take her to a school function which is thirty minutes away by walk. Which transport option would you suggest for her?

Answer: I would suggest an **autorickshaw, bus, or car**. Since she gets tired easily, walking for thirty minutes is not suitable. An automobile would save her time and effort, making the journey comfortable and accessible for her age.

Higher-Order Thinking Questions

Q18: How do "different modes of transport have different advantages and disadvantages"? Explain this with examples of air, road, and water transport.

Answer: This means each mode of transport offers unique benefits and drawbacks. * **Air Transport (e.g., Aeroplane):** * **Advantage:** Fastest for long distances, crucial for urgent travel and perishable goods. * **Disadvantage:** Most expensive, high fuel consumption, significant air and noise pollution, weather-dependent. * **Road Transport (e.g., Car, Bus):** * **Advantage:** Door-to-door connectivity, flexible routes, good for short to medium distances. * **Disadvantage:** Causes air and noise pollution, traffic jams, accidents, requires extensive road infrastructure. * **Water Transport (e.g., Ship):** * **Advantage:** Cheapest for heavy and bulky goods over long distances, less fuel per ton-km. * **Disadvantage:** Slowest, limited to waterways, higher risk of environmental damage from spills, weather-dependent.

Q19: "Due to the various means of transport, the world has come closer." Explain how this statement reflects the impact of transport on globalization and interconnectedness.

Answer: This statement signifies that advanced transport has dramatically reduced geographical barriers, making distant places feel "closer." It has enabled rapid movement of people, goods, and ideas across continents. This leads to: * **Globalization:** Facilitating international trade, supply chains, and economic interdependence. * **Cultural Exchange:** Easier travel allows people to experience diverse cultures, fostering understanding and reducing isolation. * **Tourism:** Boosts global tourism, connecting people to different regions and their heritage. * **Accessibility:** Improves access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities globally. Essentially, transport has woven the world into a more interconnected web, fostering collaboration and exchange on an unprecedented scale.

Q20: The chapter promotes "judicious use of means of transport." What ethical considerations are involved in making such choices, especially concerning environmental impact?

Answer: Judicious use of transport involves ethical considerations related to environmental responsibility and social equity: * **Environmental Impact:** Choosing modes that minimize pollution (e.g., walking, cycling, public transport over private vehicles) is an ethical choice to protect air quality, reduce noise, and combat climate change for the benefit of all living things and future generations. * **Resource Conservation:** Opting for less fuel-intensive methods conserves finite natural resources like petrol and diesel. * **Social Equity:** Relying on public transport helps reduce traffic congestion for everyone and supports public infrastructure, which benefits society as a whole, rather than solely prioritizing individual convenience at a collective cost. * **Health:** Prioritizing walking or cycling for short distances is an ethical choice for personal health, which in turn reduces the burden on healthcare systems.

Q21: How can planting trees along roadsides be a "remedy for pollution" caused by transport? Explain the scientific basis.

Answer: Planting trees along roadsides is an effective remedy for pollution due to their natural ability to: * **Absorb Air Pollutants:** Trees absorb carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) through photosynthesis. They also filter out particulate matter (like carbon and lead) and absorb gaseous pollutants (like nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide) through their leaves. * **Reduce Noise Pollution:** Trees and dense foliage act as natural sound barriers, absorbing and deflecting sound waves, thereby reducing noise levels from traffic. * **Improve Air Quality:** By absorbing pollutants and releasing oxygen, trees directly improve the air quality, making the environment healthier for humans, animals, and other plants. * **Cooling Effect:** Trees provide shade and release water vapor, which helps to lower local temperatures, mitigating the urban heat island effect exacerbated by vehicle emissions.

References

1. Maharashtra State Board Environmental Studies (Part One) Standard Five Textbook (2015 Edition) - Chapter 14: Transport, pages 68-72.
2. Maharashtra State Board 5th Standard Environmental Studies Syllabus.
3. Balbharati Environmental Studies Part 1 Textbook.