Grade 5 Q&A: Chapter 25: Community Health and Hygiene

Concept Questions

Q1: What is community health?

Answer: Community health refers to the good health and hygiene of all individuals in a community, ensuring everyone can live a tension-free and happy life.

Q2: What factors lead to excellent health and good personal development?

Answer: Nutritious food, personal hygiene, exercise, and pursuit of hobbies lead to excellent health and good personal development.

Q3: How can good community health and hygiene be achieved?

Answer: Good community health and hygiene can be achieved through habits of cleanliness and good health on the part of all individuals in a community.

Q4: Why are the people of a country considered the most important factor in its progress and development?

Answer: The people of a country are the most important factor in its progress and development because their health and well-being directly contribute to the nation's advancement.

Q5: List two ways mass media is used in community welfare programs.

Answer: Mass media is used to educate people about issues such as taking care of drinking water and food, and to urge them to keep their surroundings clean.

Q6: What is a legal offense regarding public hygiene mentioned in the chapter?

Answer: It is a legal offense to spit in public places, with the aim of preventing the spread of diseases.

Q7: Name two threats to community health.

Answer: Two threats to community health are carelessness regarding hygiene and addictions.

Q8: What are some common tobacco products mentioned in the chapter?

Answer: Common tobacco products mentioned include gutka, cigarettes, bidis, masheri, mawa, and panmasala.

Q9: When does casual tobacco chewing turn into an addiction?

Answer: Casual tobacco chewing turns into an addiction when the person becomes dependent on tobacco, cannot give up the habit, becomes restless without it, and has to have it in their mouth all the time.

Q10: List two ill effects of tobacco addiction.

Answer: Two ill effects of tobacco addiction are ulcers in the mouth (which can develop into bigger wounds or tumours) and cancer of the digestive organs.

Q11: What is alcoholism?

Answer: Alcoholism is the addiction to drinking alcohol, which has adverse effects on the body and life.

Q12: Name two diseases or health issues caused by alcoholism.

Answer: Alcoholism causes diseases of the liver, intestines, and urinary bladder.

Q13: What is the ultimate consequence of addiction to tobacco, drugs, or alcohol?

Answer: Addiction to tobacco, drugs, or alcohol produces a state of intoxication and eventually leads to death.

Q14: What should be done if a person starts getting addicted to smoking, drinking, or drugs?

Answer: The help of counsellors or doctors should be sought immediately to rid the person of the habit.

Q15: What are the main points learned in this chapter about community health and hygiene?

Answer: The main points learned are: each person should strive to maintain community health, alertness regarding public health is necessary, wholesome living leads to good personal and social health, and one needs to be firm to avoid bad habits.

Application-Based Questions

Q16: Radha was stressed and missed a competition after helping food poisoning victims. What does this incident highlight about community health?

Answer: This incident highlights that community health issues, like food poisoning epidemics, can have far-reaching impacts beyond just the affected individuals, causing stress and disruption to the lives of those involved in providing help, demonstrating the interconnectedness of community well-being.

Q17: You observe someone burning old tires and spitting on the road. How do these actions relate to community health?

Answer: Burning old tires contributes to air pollution, which harms the respiratory health of the community. Spitting on the road spreads germs and diseases, especially infectious ones, directly threatening community health and hygiene. Both actions are examples of carelessness regarding hygiene.

Q18: A person is suffering from malnutrition. According to the chapter's table, what are some ill effects and remedies for this condition?

Answer: According to the chapter, malnutrition can lead to higher numbers of child deaths, weakness, poor growth, and susceptibility to diseases. Suggested remedies include a nutritious diet and food security programs.

Q19: Explain how maintaining physical health contributes to wholesome living.

Answer: Maintaining physical health through nutritious food, personal hygiene, and exercise is essential for wholesome living. When physically healthy, individuals are better able to engage in activities, feel happy, avoid negative emotions like hatred and envy, and contribute positively to society, thereby reducing social tensions and fostering friendship.

Q20: A friend offers you gutka and urges you to try it. How should you respond, according to the chapter's advice?

Answer: According to the chapter, you should "Learn to say ‘No!’ firmly in order to avoid bad habits." You should on no account give in to pressure from people who lure others into such harmful habits.

Q21: An addict's family is suffering due to their addiction. What are the social implications of addiction on a family?

Answer: Addiction can lead to the addict's condition becoming pathetic, causing their family to suffer along with them. It can result in financial ruin due to treatment costs and wasted efforts, and the family gets deprived of health and happiness, ultimately destroying the entire family unit.

Q22: Classify the following habits into good, bad, or pointless: 1. Telling the truth. 2. Biting one’s nails. 3. Fiddling with one’s hair, a pencil, etc. all the time.

Answer:

1. Telling the truth: Good habit
2. Biting one’s nails: Bad habit
3. Fiddling with one’s hair, a pencil, etc. all the time: Pointless habit

Higher-Order Thinking Questions

Q23: "Good community health and hygiene can be achieved through habits of cleanliness and good health on the part of all individuals in a community." Elaborate on this statement, considering individual responsibility and collective well-being.

Answer: This statement emphasizes that community health is a collective outcome of individual actions. Each person's commitment to personal hygiene (like washing hands, proper waste disposal) and healthy habits (nutritious diet, exercise) directly contributes to preventing the spread of diseases and creating a healthier environment. When everyone takes this responsibility, it reduces the burden on public health services, minimizes epidemics, and fosters a generally healthier, happier, and more productive society, demonstrating that individual well-being is intrinsically linked to collective well-being.

Q24: Discuss how "Ignorance and Superstition" can be a threat to community health, and what is the suggested remedy.

Answer: Ignorance and superstition pose a significant threat to community health because they can lead to people rejecting scientific medical advice in favor of ineffective or harmful traditional remedies, or believing that diseases are caused by supernatural forces rather than micro-organisms. This can delay proper treatment, allow diseases to spread, and lead to exploitation. The suggested remedy is to develop a "scientific temper," which means promoting rational thinking, critical inquiry, and an understanding of scientific principles to counter false beliefs.

Q25: "Drugs, tobacco and alcohol use - an invitation to death." Analyze the broader societal impact of this statement beyond individual health.

Answer: Beyond individual health, the widespread use of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol has severe societal impacts. It leads to increased healthcare costs for treating addiction-related illnesses, reduces workforce productivity, increases crime rates (due to drug-related activities or impaired judgment), strains public services, and can perpetuate cycles of poverty within families and communities. It also erodes social trust and harmony, making it harder for a society to progress and maintain overall well-being.

Q26: The chapter mentions "Wholesome Living." How does avoiding feelings of hatred and envy contribute to it?

Answer: Avoiding feelings of hatred and envy is crucial for wholesome living because these negative emotions create mental stress and tension. When individuals are free from such feelings, they can maintain a happier and more positive outlook, which in turn reduces social tensions and allows feelings of friendship to be nurtured. This emotional well-being fosters healthier interpersonal relationships and a more harmonious community environment.

Q27: Propose a short public awareness message (like a slogan or a few lines) based on the chapter's content to encourage people to avoid spitting in public places.

Answer: "Don't spit, protect health! Spitting spreads germs and disease. Keep our public places clean and healthy for all. It's the law, and it's for your well-being!"

Q28: Based on the "Speak and write" table, how can environmental pollution be addressed to improve community health?

Answer: Environmental pollution, which poses a danger to the environment and can cause respiratory problems or skin diseases, can be addressed by protecting the environment. This includes reducing waste, using public transport, and planting trees, all of which contribute to a cleaner environment and, consequently, better community health.

Q29: The chapter ends with "Learn to say ‘No!’ firmly in order to avoid bad habits." Why is this advice crucial for both personal and community health?

Answer: This advice is crucial because bad habits, especially addictions like tobacco and alcohol consumption, directly harm personal health, leading to severe diseases and even death. For community health, these habits contribute to public hygiene issues (like spitting), strain healthcare systems, cause social problems within families, and reduce overall societal productivity. By firmly saying "No" to such habits, individuals protect themselves and contribute to a healthier, cleaner, and more harmonious community.

References

1. Maharashtra State Board Environmental Studies (Part One) Standard Five Textbook (2015 Edition) - Chapter 25: Community Health and Hygiene, pages 133-136.
2. Maharashtra State Board 5th Standard Environmental Studies Syllabus.
3. Balbharati Environmental Studies Part 1 Textbook.