GSEB Class 11 Solutions Unit 9 Read 1 Water An Elixir of Life

GSEB Std 11 English Textbook Solutions Unit 9 Read 1 Water: An Elixir of Life (2nd Language)

GSEB Class 11 English 9 Read 1 Water: An Elixir of Life Text Book Questions and Answers

Comprehension (Based Textbook Contents)

Here are the points of what you have read. Put them at their proper places in the map:

ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह चित्र 'पानी - जीवन का अमृत' नामक पाठ के मुख्य बिंदुओं को दर्शाने वाला एक वैचारिक मानचित्र है। यह पानी के विभिन्न पहलुओं को श्रेणियों में विभाजित करता है जैसे बारिश का पानी (धाराएँ, टैंक, परिदृश्य, पानी की तुलना आँखों से), रंग (गाद ले जाना, पानी का रंग), परिचय (नील नदी का उदाहरण, नील नदी के दो किनारे), मिट्टी के कटाव के कारण (अचानक भारी बारिश, वनस्पति हटाना, जाँच का अभाव), वनीकरण के लाभ (पानी रोकना, ईंधन), उपाय (बांध, समोच्च खेती, वनीकरण, संरक्षण और उपयोग) और पानी के दोहन के लाभ (जलविद्युत, ग्रामीण अर्थव्यवस्था, भूजल का उपयोग करना)।

 

Question 2. The passage has a lot of sentences that are connected to irrigation, beauty and transportation. Go back to the passage and write T for irrigation, 'B' for beauty and 'T' for transportation in the margin.
[Note : Students will pick out the sentences from the passage and write T, 'B' or 'T' against them themselves.]
In simple words: This question asks students to re-read the passage and categorize sentences related to irrigation, beauty, or transportation by marking them with 'T' or 'B'.

🎯 Exam Tip: For such tasks, focus on identifying keywords in sentences that align with irrigation (farming, water supply), beauty (scenery, appearance), or transportation (movement of goods/people). This tests comprehension and categorization skills.

 

Question 3. Underline and number the sentence/ group of sentences in the text that mean:

 

Question 1. We do not give more importance to water but it has done a lot for mankind.
Answer: This ordinary substance, water, which is often taken for granted in daily life, is indeed the most potent and remarkable element on Earth. It has significantly influenced the planet's history and continues to be crucial for life's existence on its surface.
In simple words: Water, though often overlooked, is the most powerful and wonderful thing on Earth, vital for both the planet's history and all life.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining the significance of water, emphasize its fundamental role in Earth's geological processes and the sustenance of all living organisms. Mentioning its 'potent' and 'wonderful' qualities directly addresses the question.

 

Question 2. The deposits that water carries decide
Answer: Despite their greater density, the finest particles remain suspended within the liquid and are transported over significant distances. While these particles are individually minuscule, their vast number allows for the transportation of substantial amounts of solid matter in this manner. The water's hue progressively shifts from a silt-laden muddy red or brown, through various shades of yellow and green, ultimately transitioning to the deep blue of the sea.
In simple words: Water transports tiny particles over long distances, and the type of silt it carries influences its color, causing it to change from muddy tones to various shades, eventually becoming deep blue.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on explaining the mechanism of silt transportation by water and how the composition of these carried particles directly impacts the water's observable color variations across different environments.

 

Question 3. There are different solutions of soil erosion.
Answer: Soil erosion can be mitigated through various preventative strategies, including land terracing, constructing bunds (dams) to regulate water flow, implementing contour cultivation (farming along curves), and planting appropriate types of vegetation.
In simple words: To combat soil erosion, methods like terracing, building dams, contour farming, and planting suitable vegetation are effective solutions.

🎯 Exam Tip: List a variety of practical, actionable measures to check soil erosion, such as land modification (terracing, bunds) and agricultural practices (contour cultivation, vegetation planting).

 

Question 4. Transportation on water has always been neglected in India.
Answer: While there is considerable discussion about railway and road construction programs, significantly less attention is given to the advancement of waterways within India.
In simple words: In India, the development of waterways for transportation has been largely overlooked, unlike roads and railways.

🎯 Exam Tip: Highlight the comparative lack of focus on waterway development in India, contrasting it with the more prominent discourse surrounding road and rail infrastructure projects.

 

Question 5. Water is everywhere.
Answer: Water forms the fundamental basis of all life. Every animal and plant incorporates a significant amount of free or combined water in its structure, and this fluid is indispensable for all physiological functions. Adequate moisture in the soil is equally essential for the growth and survival of plants and trees.
In simple words: Water is crucial for all life; it's a vital component in every living organism and necessary for soil moisture, supporting plant and tree growth.

🎯 Exam Tip: Emphasize water's pervasive presence and its foundational role as a universal requirement for life, covering both biological composition and environmental necessity.

 

4. Answer the following questions in two to four sentences each:

 

Question 1. Why is water considered true elixir of life?
Answer: Water constitutes the foundation of all life; every animal and plant contains a substantial proportion of free or combined water, which is crucial for all physiological processes. Given its exceptional properties, which enable it to sustain animal and plant life, it is rightly regarded as the true elixir of life.
In simple words: Water is considered the true elixir of life because it forms the basis of all living things, being an essential component in every organism and critical for all biological functions due to its unique properties.

🎯 Exam Tip: To explain why water is the "elixir of life," connect its amazing properties directly to its indispensable role in sustaining both plant and animal physiology.

 

Question 2. Water in a landscape may be compared with the eyes on a human face. Why ?
Answer: Water in a landscape can be likened to the eyes on a human face because, much like eyes, it mirrors the prevailing mood. When the sun is shining, water appears bright and cheerful, but it becomes dark and somber when the sky is overcast.
In simple words: Water in a landscape mirrors human eyes because it reflects the ambient mood; it looks bright in sunshine and gloomy under cloudy skies.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the reflective quality of water and how its appearance changes with atmospheric conditions, drawing a direct parallel to how human eyes express mood.

 

Question 3. What are the measures to check soil erosion?
Answer: To combat soil erosion, effective measures include terracing land, constructing bunds (dams) to control water flow, and planting appropriate types of vegetation.
In simple words: Soil erosion can be controlled by terracing, building dams to manage water flow, and planting suitable vegetation.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember to list at least three distinct methods for soil erosion control, such as terracing, bunds/dams, and afforestation, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of preventive measures.

 

Question 4. What are the permanent solutions to the problems of shortage of water ?
Answer: The primary solutions to water scarcity involve effective conservation and utilization. Constructing bunds (dams) to prevent water runoff is a significant permanent solution. Additionally, halting tree-felling and planting suitable vegetation can promote rainfall, thereby helping to sustainably overcome water shortages.
In simple words: Long-term solutions for water shortage include conserving and utilizing water, building dams to stop runoff, and planting trees to encourage rain.

🎯 Exam Tip: Emphasize both structural solutions like bunds and ecological solutions like afforestation as critical components of a permanent strategy for water shortage issues.

 

Question 5. Water is the most potent and the most wonderful thing. List the things that prove it potent and wonderful.
Answer: Water has profoundly influenced Earth's history, continuing to play a leading role in the development of life on our planet. Every animal and plant contains a significant amount of free or combined water. As an indispensable part of all physiological activities, possessing extraordinary properties responsible for sustaining life, water is truly the most potent and powerful element.
In simple words: Water is potent and wonderful because it shaped Earth's history, is essential for all life, and drives every biological function with its unique properties.

🎯 Exam Tip: When proving water's potency and wonder, cite its historical impact on Earth, its ubiquitous presence in living organisms, and its critical role in all biological processes.

 

Question 6. What are the multiple advantages of harnessing of water, afforestation and bunds ?
Answer: By effectively harnessing rivers, wasted waters can be repurposed for irrigation and other uses. Systematic planting of appropriate trees in all feasible areas can directly or indirectly increase the nation's hidden wealth, preventing soil erosion, conserving rainfall, and providing inexpensive fuel. Bunds (dams) are highly beneficial for irrigation and generating hydroelectricity.
In simple words: Harnessing water, afforestation, and building bunds offer numerous benefits: providing irrigation, generating electricity, enriching national wealth, preventing soil erosion, conserving water, and supplying fuel.

🎯 Exam Tip: For this question, ensure you provide a comprehensive list of advantages for each component – water harnessing, afforestation, and bunds – detailing their impact on agriculture, energy, economy, and environment.

 

Question 7. Why is water called common as well as uncommon?
Answer: Water, a fundamental necessity for life, is readily available, making its importance often overlooked, hence considered common. However, upon serious reflection, it is recognized as the basis of all life, with every animal and plant containing a substantial proportion of free or combined water, which highlights its uncommon, unique qualities.
In simple words: Water is considered common because it's abundant and often taken for granted, but it's also uncommon due to its unique properties that make it essential for all life.

🎯 Exam Tip: To explain why water is both common and uncommon, differentiate between its everyday accessibility (common) and its unique life-sustaining properties (uncommon).

 

Additional Questions

Short Notes

Write a short note focussing on the questions: Water-an Elixir of Life (1) Why is Water – Elixir of Life ? (2) What role has water played on the earth ? (3) What are vital functions of water ? (4) How should water be conserved ? (5) What are the other advantages of water ?
Answer: It is universally acknowledged that neither plant nor animal life can exist without water, as every organism contains a substantial proportion of free and combined water. Hence, water is rightly termed 'the divine amrit' or elixir of life. Water has played a pivotal role in shaping Earth's history and continues to be fundamental for life on our planet. Beyond providing drinking water and irrigation, water enhances natural beauty. The conservation and judicious utilization of water are paramount for human well-being. Effective measures to prevent soil erosion and save rainwater runoff are crucial. Harnessing rivers, constructing bunds, transforming scrub jungles into fertile land, and afforestation are vital steps to prevent water wastage. Furthermore, developing internal waterways offers cost-effective transportation. Thus, water, despite being the most common of liquids, is also the most uncommon, possessing remarkable properties essential for maintaining all animal and plant life.
In simple words: Water is the "elixir of life" because it's indispensable for all life, shaped Earth's history, enhances natural beauty, and offers cheap transportation. Its conservation and wise use are crucial, involving preventing soil erosion, harnessing rivers, building bunds, and afforestation.

🎯 Exam Tip: For a short note, synthesize information from all five sub-questions into a cohesive essay. Cover water's role in sustaining life, its historical impact, essential functions, conservation methods, and additional benefits like transportation and aesthetic value.

 

Reading Comprehension

Read the extracts and answer the questions:

(1) Water adds much to the beauty of the countryside, be it just a little stream trickling over the rocks or a little pond by the wayside where the cattle satisfy their thirst of an evening. The rainfed tanks are a cheering sight when they are full. These tanks play a vital role in South Indian agriculture. In Mysore, for example, much of the rice is grown under them. Some of these tanks are surprisingly large and it is a beautiful sight to see the sun rise or set over them. Water in a landscape may be compared to the eyes in a human face. It reflects the mood of the hour, being bright and gay when the sun shines, turning to dark and gloomy when the sky is overcast.

Questions: (1) Which water sources are mentioned in this passage? (2) What different beauties are created by water ?
Answer: (1) The water sources highlighted in this passage include streams flowing over rocks, ponds found alongside roads, and rain-fed tanks.
(2) Large tanks present a beautiful spectacle during sunrise or sunset. Additionally, water within a landscape mirrors the mood of the moment; it appears vibrant and joyful under sunlight, yet becomes dark and somber when the sky is cloudy.
In simple words: The passage mentions streams, wayside ponds, and rain-fed tanks as water sources. Water creates beauty through large tanks at sunrise/sunset and reflects the mood of the day, appearing bright in sun and gloomy when overcast.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering comprehension questions on an extract, directly quote or paraphrase the specific details mentioned in the text for accuracy. Ensure both parts of a multi-part question are addressed clearly.

 

(2) The conservation and utilisation of water is fundamental for human welfare. Much of Indian agriculture depends on seasonal rainfall and is therefore very sensitive to any failure or irregularity of the same. The problems of soil erosion and of inadequate (not enough) or irregular rainfall are closely connected with each other. It is clear that the adoption of techniques preventing soil erosion would also help to conserve and keep the water where it is wanted.

Questions: (1) What is Indian agriculture sensitive to ? (2) How would the adoption of techniques preventing soil erosion help ?
Answer: (1) Indian agriculture is highly susceptible to any failures or inconsistencies in seasonal rainfall.
(2) Employing methods to prevent soil erosion would aid in preserving water and retaining it in desired locations.
In simple words: Indian agriculture is vulnerable to irregular rainfall. Preventing soil erosion helps conserve water by keeping it where it's needed.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on identifying the direct cause-and-effect relationships presented in the extract. For example, connect irregular rainfall directly to agricultural sensitivity, and soil erosion prevention to water conservation.

 

(3) Water is the basis of all life. Every animal and every plant contains a substantial proportion of free or combined water in its body, and fluid is an essential part in all physiological activities. Moisture in the soil is equally necessary for the life and growth of plants and trees. Thus, although water is the commonest of liquids, it is the most uncommon of liquids with amazing properties which are responsible for its unique power of maintaining animal and plant life.

Questions: (1) What are the forms of water that every animal and every plant contain ? (2) How is water the most uncommon of liquids ?
Answer: (1) Every animal and plant contains a significant amount of water in either its free or combined form within its body, as fluid is essential for all physiological activities.
(2) Water is considered the most uncommon of liquids due to its extraordinary properties, which confer its unique ability to sustain both animal and plant life.
In simple words: (1) All living things contain water, either freely or combined, as it's crucial for their biological functions. (2) Water is uncommon because its unique, amazing properties allow it to sustain all life.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining water's presence in life, distinguish between "free" and "combined" forms. For its "uncommon" nature, link it directly to its "amazing properties" and "unique power" to sustain life.

 

Question 5. Find out the sentences having almost similar sense. Then divide them into cause and effect.
Answer:(1) The upper surface of land is washed away due to falling and rushing of water. (2) The colour of water depends on the soil under water. (3) Any change in schedule of rain affects our agriculture a lot. (4) Afforestation will bring hidden wealth. (5) Another advantage of bunds is electricity.

No.	Cause	Effect
1.	Falling and rushing of water	Top soil is washed away
2.	Soil under water	The colour of water changes
3.	Change in the schedule of rain	Agriculture is affected
4.	Afforestation	Hidden wealth
5.	Bunds	Advantage of Electricity

In simple words: This table shows how certain actions or conditions (causes) lead to specific outcomes (effects), such as water runoff causing soil erosion, or afforestation leading to increased wealth.

🎯 Exam Tip: When constructing cause-and-effect tables, ensure clear and concise phrasing for both elements. Each pair should logically demonstrate how one event directly influences the other, as derived from the text.

Reference:http://jalkranu.org/ about_trust /http://www.swadhyay.org / Index.htmhttp://www.realheroes.com / shamJl_bhal.php
[Note : Students are supposed to visit these websites and learn about the noteworthy efforts In Gujarat for long term planning of water-harvesting and check dams.]

Water: An Elixir of Life Summary in Gujarati

આપણે નાટકના કાલ્પનિક ‘અમૃત’ની શોધમાં ફાંફાં મારીએ છીએ, સાચું અમૃત તો પૃથ્વી પર આપણી આસપાસ રહેલું સાદું પાણી જ છે! લેખક એક તરફ લિબિયાનું સૂકુંભટ્ટ રણ અને બીજી તરફ લીલીછમ નાઈલ નદીની ખીણની સ્મૃતિને વાગોળતાં તેના સ્રોતથી માંડી મેડિટરેનિયન સાગર તરફ વહી જતી નાઈલ નદીએ સમગ્ર ઇજિપ્તના સર્જનમાં કરેલી કમાલનું સ્તુતિગાન કરે છે.

પાણીએ પૃથ્વી પર વિકસેલી સંસ્કૃતિઓમાં મહત્ત્વનો ભાગ ભજવ્યો છે. ગ્રામ્ય કે પર્વતીય વિસ્તારની સુંદરતા મહદંશે પાણીને જ આભારી છે. દક્ષિણ ભારતમાં તો નાનાં નાનાં તળાવડાં (જળાશયો) ખેતી માટે આશીર્વાદ સમાન છે. મોટા મોટા ખડકોને પણ નાના નાના રજકણોમાં ફેરવી દઈ પોતાની સાથે ખેંચી જઈ નદીઓએ ઘણા પ્રદેશોને ફળદ્રુપ બનાવ્યા છે.

ભારત જેવા દેશમાં જમીનનું ધોવાણ એક મોટી સમસ્યા રહી છે. ભારે વરસાદ, જમીનના ઢોળાવો, વૃક્ષછેદન વગેરે કારણોસર જમીનની ઊપલી સપાટી ધોવાઈ જાય છે. આ સમસ્યાને હલ કરવા જમીનને સમથળ કરવી, બંધ બાંધવા, ઢાળવાળી ખેતી તેમજ યોગ્ય ઝાડ વગેરે વાવવાં જેવાં પગલાં લઈ શકાય, ભારતીય ખેતી આકાશી ખેતી છે. તેથી પાણીનો સંચય ખૂબ જ મહત્ત્વની બાબત છે.

વિપુલ પ્રમાણમાં વહી જતા પાણીને ઉપયોગમાં લેવું એ સમયની માંગ છે. પડતર જંગલોને ફળદ્રુપ અને સમૃદ્ધ જમીનમાં ફેરવી શકાય, અશક્ય વિસ્તારોમાં પણ યોગ્ય વનીકરણ કરવું જે પ્રત્યક્ષ કે પરોક્ષ રીતે દેશની સંપત્તિ સાબિત થઈ શકે.

આંતરિક જળમાર્ગોનો વિકાસ કરી નૌકાઓ અને માલવાહક જ્હાજો દ્વારા કૅનાલ અને નદીઓમાં થતો વાહનવ્યવહાર સૌથી સસ્તો નીવડી શકે. નદીઓને નાથીને પેદા કરવામાં આવતી જળવિદ્યુત ગ્રામ્ય અર્થવ્યવસ્થા સુધારી શકે. પાણી એ પૃથ્વી પરનાં તમામ સજીવોનું અમૃત છે – પછી એ માણસ, પ્રાણી કે વનસ્પતિ ગમે તે હોય. આમ, સૌથી સામાન્ય લાગતું પાણી સૌથી અસામાન્ય પ્રવાહી છે, જેનાથી સમગ્ર પ્રાણી અને વનસ્પતિ જીવન પૃથ્વી પર શક્ય બન્યું છે.

પાણીની એક નોંધપાત્ર બાબત છે એની કાંપ તાણી લાવવાની ક્ષમતા. આ કાંપ વરસાદના પાણીથી ભરાયેલાં જળાશયોમાંના પાણીનો લાક્ષણિક રંગ ધરાવે છે, જળાશયોમાં આવનાર પાણીના વિસ્તારની જમીનના પ્રાકૃતિક રંગ મુજબ આ રંગ બદલાતો રહે છે. ઝડપથી વહેતું પાણી પ્રમાણમાં મોટા અને ભારે (કદના) કણ ખેંચી લાવી શકે છે. જોકે, તેમાંના સૌથી નાના (હલકા) કણ તેમની ઘનતા વધુ હોવા છતાં પ્રવાહીમાં તરતા રહે છે અને લાંબા અંતર સુધી તણાઈને જતા હોય છે.

આવા કણો, અલબત્ત, ઘણા નાના હોય છે, પરંતુ તેમની સંખ્યા ઘણી વધારે હોય છે અને આ રીતે ધન પદાર્થો બહુ જ મોટા જથ્થામાં એક ઠેકાણેથી બીજે ઠેકાણે પહોંચે છે. ધીમે ધીમે (ક્રમાનુસાર) પાણીનો રંગ લાલાશ પડતા કાદવવાળા (રંગ) કે કાંપના (રંગ) બદામીમાંથી પીળા, લીલા અને અંતે ગહન સમુદ્રના રંગ વાદળીમાં પરિવર્તિત થતા.

રહે છે. આવી જમીન કે જ્યાં આ કાંપ એકઠો થયો છે (જેમાં આ વિઘટિત પદાર્થો એકઠા થયેલા છે) એ હંમેશાં ઘણી જ ફળદ્રુપ હોય છે.ભારત જેવા દેશમાં જમીનનું ધોવાણ એક મસમોટી સમસ્યા છે. પાણીના સતત વહેવાને લીધે ક્રમાનુસાર જમીનનું ઉપલું પડ ધોવાઈ જાય છે ત્યારે આવું બને છે.

આવું જ્યારે એકાએક ધોધમાર વરસાદ પડે, ઢોળાવવાળી જમીન હોય, કુદરતી રક્ષણાત્મક આવરણ (જમીન પર ઉગેલી વનસ્પતિ) દૂર કરાયું હોય, જેમાંથી પાણી ઝડપથી વહી શકે તેવા ચીલા પડી ગયા હોય અને પાણીના પ્રવાહને રોકવા માટે કોઈ પ્રબંધ કરાયો ન હોય (આડ બાંધવામાં ન આવ્યા હોય)

ત્યારે આવું (જમીનનું ધોવાણ) થાય છે. યોગ્ય પ્રકારનાં વૃક્ષો વાવીને, ઢોળાવવાળી ખેતી કરીને, પાણી વહી જતું રોકવા બંધ બાંધીને, જમીનને સમથળ કરીને, વગેરે વિવિધ રક્ષણાત્મક પગલાંથી જમીનનું ધોવાણ અટકાવી શકાય.

માનવકલ્યાણ માટે પાણીનો સંગ્રહ અને તેનો યોગ્ય) ઉપયોગ કરવો પાયાની બાબતો છે. મોટા ભાગની ભારતીય કૃષિ મોસમી વરસાદ પર અવલંબે છે અને તેથી વરસાદની નિષ્ફળતા કે અનિયમિતતાને લઈને ભારતીય કૃષિ અતિ સંવેદનશીલ છે. જમીનના ધોવાણની સમસ્યા અને અપૂરતા અથવા અનિયમિત વરસાદ એકબીજા સાથે નિકટતાથી સંકળાયેલાં છે. એ સ્પષ્ટ છે કે જમીનનું ધોવાણ અટકાવવાની પ્રયુક્તિઓ પાણીનો બચાવ (સંગ્રહ) કરવા અને જ્યાં જરૂર છે ત્યાં પાણી રાખવા – (પૂરું પાડવા) મદદરૂપ થઈ પડશે.

ભારતમાં ઘણા મોટા પ્રમાણમાં વરસાદનું પાણી જમીન પરથી (નકામું) વહી જાય છે. આ પાણીનો સંગ્રહ અને તેનો ઉપયોગ અગત્યનાં છે. તેમાંનું મોટા ભાગનું (પાણી) દરિયામાં વહી જાય છે. એ રીતે માન્યામાં ન આવે તેટલા વિશાળ પ્રમાણમાં દેશમાં આ કીમતી પ્રવાહી (આપણે) ગુમાવીએ છીએ. નદીઓ કે જેનું પાણી (દરિયામાં

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