NCERT Solutions Class 5 English Santoor Chapter 06 What a Tank

 

Question 1. What do we use a water tank for?
Answer: Water tanks serve to hold water for many different needs - including drinking, cooking, washing, and cleaning purposes.
In simple words: A water tank stores water so we can use it for drinking, cooking, bathing, and keeping things clean.

Exam Tip: Always mention the main purposes (drinking, cooking, bathing, cleaning) when answering questions about water tank uses.

 

Question 2. Where is Punjab located on the map of India?
Answer: Punjab sits in the northwestern region of India on the map.
In simple words: Punjab is in the northwest part of India.

Exam Tip: Remember that northwest means the top-left corner of the country when looking at a map of India.

 

Question 3. How are the water tanks in Punjab made?
Answer: In Punjab, water tanks are built by first creating a frame out of steel rods, and then concrete is applied to form their final structure. These tanks are then placed on house roofs.
In simple words: Workers build a steel rod frame first, then cover it with concrete to make the tank strong, and then put it on the roof.

Exam Tip: The key steps are: steel frame creation, concrete application, and roof installation - make sure to mention all three parts.

 

Question 4. How do the unique shapes of water tanks reflect the identity of the house owners?
Answer: The special shapes of water tanks often show what the homeowners like or what work they do. For instance, a person who farms might have a tank shaped like a farming vehicle, while someone who loves football might have a tank shaped like a football.
In simple words: Tank shapes tell us about the people who own them - what they like and what they do for work.

Exam Tip: Give specific examples (tractor for farmers, football for sports lovers) to show how tank shapes match the owners' interests.

 

Question 5. An overhead water tank is a way to store water. Do you know any other ways of storing water?
Answer: Several other methods of keeping water stored are available - including tanks placed underground, natural wells, clay pots, and large shared reservoirs that serve entire communities.
In simple words: We can store water in many ways - underground tanks, wells, earthen pots, and big community reservoirs.

Exam Tip: List at least three different water storage methods to show you understand various options beyond overhead tanks.

 

Question 6. If you had to build a water tank, what would you make it look like? Why?
Answer: If I were to construct a water tank, I would shape it like a tree. Trees offer us cool shade and play an important role in nature. A tree-shaped tank would remind people of the need to save water and protect our natural environment.
In simple words: I would make it look like a tree because trees help us and we should keep nature safe.

Exam Tip: When answering creative questions, explain both what shape you choose AND why it matters - connect it to the purpose or message.

 

Let us Learn - Contractions (Pages 68-72)

 

Question 1. Write the contractions for the following words: do not
Answer: don't

Exam Tip: Remember that contractions combine two words by removing letters and using an apostrophe in their place.

 

Question 2. Write the contractions for the following words: is not
Answer: isn't

Exam Tip: The apostrophe always takes the place of the missing letter or letters when forming contractions.

 

Question 3. Write the contractions for the following words: are not
Answer: aren't

Exam Tip: Most negative contractions replace "not" with just the letter "t" and an apostrophe.

 

Question 4. Write the contractions for the following words: cannot
Answer: can't

Exam Tip: "Cannot" is unique - it becomes "can't" by dropping some letters and adding an apostrophe.

 

Question 5. Write the contractions for the following words: could not
Answer: couldn't

Exam Tip: Follow the same pattern: remove "not" and replace it with an apostrophe and "t".

 

Question 6. Write the contractions for the following words: did not
Answer: didn't

Exam Tip: All these negative contractions follow a consistent rule - the apostrophe and "t" replace "not".

 

Question 7. Rewrite the following using contracted forms: Partho is not feeling well today. His parents have decided that he will stay at home till he gets better. Partho is bored and cannot stay at home anymore. He decides to ask his grandmother if he can go outside, but he thinks she, too, would not agree.
Answer: Partho isn't feeling well today. His parents have decided that he'll stay at home till he gets better. Partho's bored and cannot stay at home anymore. He decides to ask his grandmother if he can go outside, but he thinks she, too, wouldn't agree.
In simple words: Change "is not" to "isn't", "will" to "'ll", "would not" to "wouldn't", and "is" to "'s" when you need to shorten words in sentences.

Exam Tip: Look for all possible contraction opportunities in a sentence - "is", "will", "would", and "have" can all be shortened with apostrophes.

 

Question 8. Rewrite the following using contracted forms: It is a rainy day, and Tina is not happy. She cannot go out to play with her friends. Her brother does not want to play indoors either. They have decided to watch a movie instead. Their mother says she will make popcorn for them.
Answer: It's a rainy day, and Tina isn't happy. She can't go out to play with her friends. Her brother doesn't want to play indoors either. They've decided to watch a movie instead. Their mother says she'll make popcorn for them.
In simple words: When you see "is", "is not", "does not", "have", or "will", you can use contractions to make the sentence shorter and more casual.

Exam Tip: Use contractions in informal writing - they make sentences sound more natural and spoken, like real conversations.

 

Exclamatory Sentences

 

Question 9. Can you name four emotions expressed through exclamatory sentences?
Answer: Four emotions that come through in exclamatory sentences are happiness, surprise, anger, and sadness.
In simple words: Exclamatory sentences show strong feelings like being happy, surprised, angry, or sad.

Exam Tip: Remember that exclamatory sentences end with an exclamation mark (!) and express powerful emotions or feelings.

 

Question 10. Find at least five exclamatory sentences and identify the emotions or feelings expressed in them.
Answer:

In simple words: Look for sentences that end with an exclamation mark (!) and think about what feeling the writer is showing - are they surprised, happy, sad, or excited?

Exam Tip: When identifying emotions in exclamatory sentences, read the whole sentence carefully and ask yourself: "What feeling do these words express?"

 

Question 11. Look at the pictures of the animal families and read the words given below each of them.
Answer: For self-reading and vocabulary building.
In simple words: Study the animal pictures and learn the names - lion, lioness, lion cub; tiger, tigress, tiger cub; rooster, hen, chick; bull, cow, calf.

Exam Tip: Learn the male, female, and baby names for each animal group - this vocabulary often appears in reading and writing activities.

 

Let us Speak (Page 73)

 

Question 12. Sit in groups of three and discuss: How do we waste water in our daily lives? What can we do to stop this wastage?
Answer: For group discussion and student responses.
In simple words: Think and talk about times when water is wasted at home, then share ideas on how to use less water.

Exam Tip: Listen to others in your group and share your own ideas - good discussion shows you understand the topic.

 

Question 13. Write at least three examples of water wastage and how to prevent it.
Answer:

• Taking long showers uses a lot of water. We can take quicker showers instead.
• Washing cars with a running hose wastes water. We can use a bucket filled with water and a cloth.
• After washing vegetables and fruits, the water often goes to waste. We can use this water for watering our plants and gardens.

In simple words: Look for everyday activities where water runs without being used, then think of easy ways to save it.

Exam Tip: For each example, mention the wasteful activity AND provide a simple solution - this shows complete thinking.

 

Question 14. Say aloud, 'What a tank!' and 'Water tank'. Do both phrases use the word 'tank'? Do they mean the same thing? Now, say aloud, 'I scream' and 'Ice cream'. Do both phrases sound the same? Do they mean the same thing?
Answer:

• Both phrases use the word 'tank' - Yes
• They mean the same thing - No
• Both phrases sound the same - Yes
• They mean the same thing - No

In simple words: When words sound the same but mean different things, we call them homophones. "What a tank!" and "Water tank" have the same word but different meanings. "I scream" and "ice cream" sound alike but have different meanings.

Exam Tip: Listen carefully to how words are pronounced - sometimes words that sound the same can have very different meanings.

 

Let us Listen (Pages 74-76)

 

Question 15. Why was Suma surprised in the morning?
(a) Her friends came to visit.
(b) There was no water in the tap.
(c) She saw a rainbow.
(d) She had a holiday.
Answer: (b) There was no water in the tap.
In simple words: Suma turned on the tap to brush her teeth, but no water came out - this surprised her because water usually flows from taps.

Exam Tip: Look for the event that shocked or surprised the character at the start of the passage.

 

Question 16. How did people manage without water?
(a) They didn't need water.
(b) They bought bottles and waited for tankers.
(c) They drank juice instead.
(d) They went swimming.
Answer: (b) They bought bottles and waited for tankers.
In simple words: When the water supply stopped, neighbors had to buy water bottles from shops and stand in line waiting for water tankers to bring water from other places.

Exam Tip: Find the sentence in the passage that describes what people actually did during the water shortage.

 

Question 17. What did Suma promise after the water supply was restored?
(a) To waste more water.
(b) To never waste water again.
(c) To turn off the tap.
(d) To check the water tank frequently.
Answer: (b) To never waste water again.
In simple words: After experiencing a day without water, Suma made a promise to herself that she would not squander water in the future.

Exam Tip: Look for what the character decides or promises to do after learning a lesson from their experience.

 

Question 18. What activities were planned during the Water Conservation Week?
(a) Making taps.
(b) Poster-making and planting trees.
(c) Tank making.
(d) Watching flowing water.
Answer: (b) Poster-making and planting trees.
In simple words: The school organized special activities to teach students about water conservation - they made posters with slogans and planted trees to help the environment.

Exam Tip: Find the specific activities mentioned in the passage that were part of the Water Conservation Week.

 

Question 19. What did Suma suggest to her parents?
(a) To go near a well.
(b) To build a swimming pool.
(c) To fix a rainwater harvesting system.
(d) To buy a new tank.
Answer: (c) To fix a rainwater harvesting system.
In simple words: Suma asked her parents to set up a system that collects rainwater at their home so they could save this water for later use instead of letting it run off.

Exam Tip: Look for what Suma proposes as a solution to save water at her home after learning about water conservation.

 

Let us Write (Pages 76-77)

 

Question 20. Design a poster encouraging people to preserve and clean old water tanks with the topic 'Save Our Water Tanks - A Community Awareness Campaign'. Include a catchy slogan, bullet points on why tanks are important, and an invitation to join a cleaning drive.
Answer:Poster Example:Save Our Water Tanks - A Community Awareness CampaignSlogan: Save Tanks, Save Lives!Why Tanks Matter:

• Water tanks store water for all of us
• Clean tanks give us clean water
• Taking care of tanks helps everyone in the community
• Healthy tanks mean healthy families

Join Our Cleaning Drive!Come help us clean and maintain our community water tanks. Your work matters. Date: [Insert date/time] Location: [Insert place] All are welcome!
In simple words: Make a poster that catches people's eyes with a short, strong message about saving tanks, explain why tanks are important in bullet points, and ask people to come help clean them.

Exam Tip: A good poster has three parts - an eye-catching slogan, clear reasons why the cause matters, and a call to action that invites people to participate.

 

Question 21. Write 10 words that end with 'er'.
Answer: water, teacher, farmer, player, painter, singer, driver, writer, reader, builder
In simple words: Think of jobs, things people do, and things in nature - many of these words end with the letters "er".

Exam Tip: Words ending in "er" often describe people and their jobs - look for these patterns when learning new vocabulary.

 

Question 22. Write words ending with 'or' and 'at'.
Answer:

• or: doctor, actor, sailor, visitor, editor, conductor, inventor, creator, donor, director
• at: hat, cat, mat, rat, sat, flat, bat, chat, that, pat

In simple words: Words ending in "or" often describe people and their work or roles. Words ending in "at" are common objects or actions we use every day.

Exam Tip: Group words by their ending sounds - this helps you remember them better and recognize patterns in English.

 

Let us Explore (Pages 77-78)

 

Question 23. Find out about the techniques for cleaning water tanks. Prepare a chart and present it in your class.
Answer:Techniques for Cleaning Water Tanks:

• Draining: Empty all water from the tank to remove dirt and stale water that has been sitting.
• Cleaning Solution: Mix water with a gentle soap or get a special tank cleaning liquid ready.
• Scrubbing: Use a brush with a long handle to rub all the inside surfaces, including the hard-to-reach spots and corners.
• Rinsing: Pour clean water repeatedly over all surfaces to wash away the cleaning liquid and any remaining dirt.
• Drying: Let the tank sit in the sun so it dries completely before filling it again.
• Disinfecting: Add a cleaning chemical like chlorine to kill harmful bacteria and germs in the tank.
• Refilling: Fill the tank again with fresh, safe drinking water.
• Regular Checks: Test the water quality often and clean the tank as needed to keep it fresh.
• Safety Gear: Wear gloves, eye protection, and a mask when working with cleaning chemicals.
• Professional Service: If your tank is very large or too difficult to clean, hire trained workers who clean tanks for a living.

In simple words: Cleaning a water tank means emptying it, scrubbing the inside well, rinsing it clean, letting it dry, adding a germ-killer, and then refilling it with fresh water.

Exam Tip: When explaining a process with multiple steps, list them in order and explain what happens in each step - this shows you understand the complete procedure.

 

Question 24. Look at the pictures of 'The Thirsty Crow' story. Imagine your school has invited the crow to interact with students. Enact the event with the help of your teacher.
Answer: Classroom activity - students participate in a dramatic reenactment or interview event featuring the crow character.
In simple words: Work with your teacher and classmates to act out a scene where the famous crow visits your school to talk about solving problems creatively.

Exam Tip: For dramatic activities, practice your part ahead of time, speak clearly, and work as a team with other students to make the event interesting and fun.