NCERT Solutions Class 5 EVS Our Wondrous World Chapter 08 Clothes How Things are Made

Question. Have you seen products woven out of natural material at home or elsewhere? What are they?
Answer: Yes, I have seen many products made from natural woven materials in different places. At home, I have seen cotton clothes and woollen sweaters. I have also noticed mats made from grass and baskets made from bamboo. In the market, I have come across jute bags and ropes made from natural fibres. All of these are made by weaving natural materials together.
In simple words: Many things we use are made by weaving natural materials like cotton, wool, grass, bamboo, and jute.

Exam Tip: When answering this type of question, always give specific examples from your own experience at home or in your area - this shows observation skills.

Question. What can you find in your classroom that is woven? If we weave with threads instead of paper strips, it becomes cloth.
Answer: Many woven items are found in the classroom. My school bag is made of woven fabric. My uniform shirt and trousers are made from woven cloth. Some of my friends have sweaters which are knitted - a type of weaving. The carpet or mat on the floor is also woven.
In simple words: Things like bags, uniforms, sweaters, and floor mats in your classroom are all made by weaving threads together.

Exam Tip: Look around your own classroom and identify at least three woven items - this practical observation is what the examiner expects.

Activity 4. Look at some clothes, bags or other things you use every day. List some of the materials that you have used. Are they made from natural or synthetic fibres? Then, write one thing you like about it in the table below.
Answer:

Exam Tip: When completing observation tables, make sure you pick real items from your home and honestly note whether they feel rough or smooth, thick or thin - this is based on your own touch and sight.

Question 1. Have you ever seen someone stitching at home or in your neighbourhood? What were they making or fixing?
Answer: Yes, I have watched my grandmother stitching. She was repairing a tear in my pants. I have also noticed a tailor in my neighbourhood who stitches new clothes such as shirts and dresses for people.
In simple words: Stitching happens both at home when someone fixes torn clothes, and in tailor shops where new clothes are made.

Exam Tip: Mention both the person (grandmother, tailor) and what they were doing (fixing or making clothes) - this shows you understood the question fully.

Question 2. Look at your shirt or school bag. Can you find where the pieces have been stitched together?
Answer: Yes, I can see the lines of stitches on my shirt where the sleeves join the body and along the sides. On my school bag, I can see stitching where the straps are attached and where different pockets are sewn on.
In simple words: If you look closely at any piece of clothing or bag, you can spot the lines of stitches that hold different pieces of fabric together.

Exam Tip: This is a practical observation question - actually look at your own belongings rather than guessing, and describe what you actually see.

Question. Where else can we use running stitches in daily life?
Answer: Running stitches are used for decorating cloth, such as in Kantha embroidery which comes from West Bengal. You can also use them to hold two pieces of fabric together temporarily before doing the final sewing. Running stitches are great for making beautiful quilts by joining together small pieces of fabric.
In simple words: Running stitches make pretty designs on cloth and help hold fabric pieces together before sewing them properly.

Exam Tip: Know the difference between running stitches used for decoration and those used for joining - the question asks for "uses" in daily life, so give multiple examples.

Question. If one thread breaks in your stitching, what do you think will happen to the rest of the stitches?
Answer: If one thread breaks, the stitches next to it may become loose. If you pull on the broken thread, several other stitches in that line could come undone, causing a hole to form.
In simple words: When one thread snaps, the stitches around it can fall apart and make a hole bigger and bigger.

Exam Tip: This question tests whether you understand how stitches depend on each other - use the word "chain reaction" or "connected" to show you grasp this concept.

Question 1. Have you ever reused or recycled an old piece of cloth? What did you or your family make from it?
Answer: Yes, my mother transformed my old favourite t-shirt, which no longer fit me, into a useful cleaning cloth for the kitchen. We also took old bedsheets and made a lovely quilt by stitching different pieces together.
In simple words: Old clothes can be turned into new useful things like cleaning cloths or quilts instead of being thrown away.

Exam Tip: Give specific examples from your own home - this shows you have actually thought about and practised recycling.

Question 2. If one thread breaks in a stitched cloth or in a woven mat, what might happen? Why is each thread important?
Answer: When a thread breaks, the entire structure becomes weaker. In a woven mat, a broken thread can create a hole that grows larger as time passes. In stitched cloth, it can lead to the seam opening up. Each thread is important because it works alongside all the other threads to hold the fabric together and make it strong.
In simple words: Every single thread matters because all the threads work as a team to keep the fabric from falling apart.

Exam Tip: Use the phrase "interdependent" or "working together" when explaining why each thread matters - this shows deeper understanding.

Question 3. Visit a tailor's shop or a handloom store with an adult. What tools or machines did you see being used there?
Answer: At the tailor's shop, I saw a sewing machine, scissors, a measuring tape, chalk for marking, and many needles and threads in different colours. At a handloom store, I saw a large wooden loom that the weaver uses to make cloth by hand.
In simple words: Tailors use machines and hand tools like scissors and needles, while handloom weavers use large wooden looms to make fabric.

Exam Tip: This is meant to be a field observation activity - actually visit a tailor or weaver and list what you see, not what you imagine.

Question 4. Find out what kind of weaving or stitching work is famous in your area or state. Name it.
Answer: In Gujarat, a well-known weaving technique is used to create 'Patola' sarees. Punjab is famous for an embroidery style called 'Phulkari'. In Delhi, many skilled craftspeople work with 'Zardozi', which is a detailed form of metal embroidery. In my area, handloom weaving is well-known. Local people make clothes by weaving threads on handlooms.
In simple words: Different parts of India are known for their own special weaving and embroidery styles, and you can find these crafts in your own area too.

Exam Tip: Research your own state or area and name the actual traditional craft that is practised there - this shows local knowledge and cultural awareness.

Question 5. We should not throw the old clothes away. Why?
Answer: We should not discard old clothes because they can be given new life through reuse or recycling. You can pass them to younger family members or donate them to people in need. Old clothes can also be turned into new items such as quilts, mats, or cleaning cloths. This approach helps the environment since it cuts down on waste.
In simple words: Throwing away old clothes wastes resources and harms the earth - instead, we can give them away or make them into new things.

Exam Tip: Always mention both the human benefit (helping others) and the environmental benefit (reducing waste) when answering why we should recycle.

Question 6. Below are the jumbled-up steps of the life cycle of a moth. Read and number them from 1 to 6 in the correct order.
Answer:
[1] Silk moth lays eggs.
[2] Eggs hatch into tiny caterpillars.
[3] Caterpillars eat mulberry leaves and grow big.
[4] Caterpillars spin cocoons around themselves.
[5] Adult moth comes out of the cocoon.
[6] The cycle begins again.
In simple words: A silk moth's life starts when it lays eggs, and those eggs grow into caterpillars that eat leaves, spin cocoons, and finally become adult moths that lay eggs again.

Exam Tip: Remember that the life cycle sequence always flows logically - start with what comes first (laying eggs) and follow the natural order of growth and change.

Question 7. Bring 5-6 pieces of different types of clothes from home or nearby tailors (leftover scraps). Observe the material closely and complete the table. Ask an elder or search in your book to find out whether it is made from cotton, wool, silk, jute, polyester or nylon.
Answer:

Exam Tip: Use your senses - feel the texture, look at the shine, try to stretch it - these observations help you identify the type of fibre correctly.