RBSE Solutions Class 5 Environmental Studies Chapter 19 When there is a Disaster

Points for discussion (Page No. 107)

Question 1. Have you or any of your known persons have ever faced any natural disaster?
Answer: Yes, I know someone who has faced a natural disaster. Disasters can be very scary experiences for anyone involved.
In simple words: Yes, I know a person who has experienced a natural disaster.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering personal experience questions, keep your answer brief and direct, focusing on whether the event occurred.

Question 2. Which people helped the victims at that time?
Answer: After a natural disaster, all government bodies work to provide quick relief and help the affected people as much as possible. Besides the government, local police, administrators, soldiers, social workers, and doctors also assist the victims. Many people come together to help during such difficult times.
In simple words: Government, police, administrators, soldiers, social workers, and doctors all help disaster victims.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember to list all key groups involved in disaster relief, including both official bodies and community helpers, to show a complete understanding.

Question 3. If there is an earthquake in your area, then what type of loss can be there in your surroundings?
Answer: An earthquake can cause a lot of damage to people and their surroundings. Many thousands of lives and cattle can be lost. Roads get destroyed, and buildings can fall down, turning into piles of rubble. Canals, bridges, and dams are also badly affected during an earthquake, which impacts water supply and travel. It's a very serious event that changes the landscape and people's lives.
In simple words: An earthquake can destroy lives, animals, roads, buildings, canals, bridges, and dams.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing the impact of a disaster, cover different aspects like human life, animals, infrastructure (roads, buildings), and utilities (canals, dams).

Think and write the answer of the following (Page No. 108)

Question 1. What things do the earthquake victims need?
Answer: Earthquake victims need several basic things to survive and recover. They require food to eat, and pure drinking water to stay hydrated and avoid sickness. They also need shelter, clothing, and medicines. These immediate needs are crucial for their well-being after such a devastating event.
In simple words: Earthquake victims need food, clean water, shelter, clothes, and medicines.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the most basic human needs when listing what disaster victims require. Think about survival essentials.

Question. In what ways would you help an earthquake victim?
Answer: I would help an earthquake victim by giving them essential items like food, clothes, and medicines. I would also offer financial help if possible. It is important to support them both physically and emotionally during their time of need. Helping others is a kind act that builds stronger communities.
In simple words: I would help earthquake victims by providing food, clothes, medicines, and money.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked how you would help, consider practical and immediate forms of aid that address basic needs.

Explore and write (Page No. 108)

Question 1. Search the newspapers and journals for the places that have had earthquake recently. What type of losses occurred there due to that earthquake?
Answer: Nepal faced a very strong earthquake in 2015. Most of the houses and shops there were completely destroyed and turned into piles of rubble. Thousands of people and many animals were buried under the debris. This earthquake caused widespread devastation and left many without homes or loved ones.
In simple words: In 2015, a strong earthquake hit Nepal, destroying many homes and shops, and burying thousands of people and animals.

🎯 Exam Tip: When discussing specific disaster events, try to recall the place, year, and main types of damage (e.g., collapsed buildings, loss of life).

Question 2. If there is a disaster like an earthquake, what should we do?
Answer: If there is an earthquake, we should quickly move out of our houses and go to an open area. If you cannot go outside, you should sit under a strong piece of furniture, like a table, and stay there until the ground stops shaking. It is important to protect your head and neck during an earthquake. This helps prevent injuries from falling objects.
In simple words: During an earthquake, go outside to an open area, or if stuck inside, hide under strong furniture until the shaking stops.

🎯 Exam Tip: Know the immediate safety actions for an earthquake: "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" or evacuating to an open space.

Think and write the answer of the following (Page No. 110)

Question 1. What type of difficulties were faced there during rainy season?
Answer: During the rainy season, people face many difficulties. There are often strong winds and frequent lightning. Power can go out, and water might leak from the roofs of 'kachcha' (mud) houses. Household items and utensils can float in the water, and tree branches may break. These problems make daily life hard and sometimes dangerous during heavy rains.
In simple words: During the rainy season, people face strong winds, lightning, power cuts, leaky roofs, floating items, and broken tree branches.

🎯 Exam Tip: When listing difficulties during the rainy season, think about environmental impacts (winds, lightning) and structural damage (leaks, broken branches) along with daily life disruptions.

Question 2. What type of losses the people must have had due to flood?
Answer: Floods cause serious losses, including human lives and property. Livestock often suffers greatly, and roads become blocked, making travel difficult. Crops are destroyed, and drinking water sources become polluted. The communication system also breaks down, and diseases can spread quickly in affected areas. Dams, ponds, and canals are severely damaged, impacting water management and agriculture.
In simple words: Floods cause loss of life and property, kill animals, block roads, destroy crops, pollute water, break communication, and spread diseases.

🎯 Exam Tip: For flood losses, consider the immediate impact on life, property, and agriculture, as well as secondary effects like disease spread and infrastructure damage.

Question 4. What measures can be taken to safeguard against a disaster like a flood?
Answer: To protect against floods, government officials move all flood victims to safe relief camps and temporary shelters in nearby villages and inns. Ambulances constantly move to take injured victims to hospitals. Wells, stepwells, and other water sources are cleaned, and medicines are added to them to prevent disease. Buildings are repaired, and the government works to build dams to control floodwaters. These steps help reduce the harm caused by floods.
In simple words: To prevent flood damage, victims are moved to camps, ambulances help the injured, water sources are cleaned, buildings are repaired, and dams are built to control water.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing flood safety, include evacuation procedures, medical aid, water sanitation, infrastructure repair, and long-term control measures like dams.

Question 5. What are the hindrances in the region of natural flow of water in your village and nearby area? What should be done to remove them?
Answer: In our village and nearby areas, slums and small factories often block the natural flow of water. These structures stop water from moving freely, which can cause water to collect and lead to flooding. To fix this, these slums and factories should be legally moved to a different location. This would allow water to flow naturally and prevent future problems.
In simple words: Slums and small factories block natural water flow in our area; they should be moved legally to fix this.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify specific man-made obstacles to natural water flow and suggest clear, actionable solutions, like legal relocation.

Points for discussion (Page No. 111)

Question 1. Generally, why do people settle down in one place, near to each other?
Answer: People usually settle close to each other in one place for several reasons, mainly to help each other during difficult times or crises. Living together creates a sense of community and allows for mutual support, sharing of resources, and collective defense. This social bonding is crucial for survival and well-being.
In simple words: People live close together to help each other when there is trouble or need.

🎯 Exam Tip: Emphasize community support and mutual help as key reasons for people settling together.

Question 2. When must have the people around you, helped each other during any difficulty or crisis?
Answer: People around me often help each other during various difficult times, such as floods, earthquakes, or storms. For example, during heavy rains, neighbors might help move belongings to higher ground, or after an earthquake, they might assist in searching for missing people. This immediate help is vital for surviving emergencies.
In simple words: People near me help each other during hard times like floods, earthquakes, and storms.

🎯 Exam Tip: Give examples of specific disasters where people typically offer mutual assistance, highlighting the importance of community during crises.

Learnt, understood and now tell (Page No. 111)

Question 1. What do you understand by an earthquake?
Answer: An earthquake is when the ground shakes due to sudden movements deep inside the Earth. These movements happen when the Earth's plates shift. It can cause buildings to collapse and the ground to crack. Earthquakes are natural disasters that can cause a lot of damage and danger to people.
In simple words: An earthquake is a sudden shaking of the ground, caused by movements deep inside the Earth.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define an earthquake by mentioning the shaking of the ground and the underlying cause (Earth's internal movements).

Question 3. Write any 2 reasons for occurrence of flood.
Answer: Two main reasons for floods are:
(i) Uneven and excessive rainfall is a primary cause, as too much water falls too quickly for the ground to absorb or for rivers to carry away.
(ii) High population density along riverbanks and unplanned construction, such as building roads too close to rivers, also cause floods by blocking natural water flow and reducing areas where water can drain. These factors combine to make floods more likely and more severe.
In simple words: Floods happen because of too much rain and because too many buildings and roads block natural water paths near rivers.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining flood causes, remember both natural factors (rainfall) and human factors (construction, population density).

Question 4. What safety measures can be taken at the time of flood?
Answer: During a flood, government officials move all flood victims to safe relief camps and temporary shelters in nearby villages. These temporary homes are often set up in tents. Ambulances are continuously used to transport injured flood victims to hospitals. Also, wells, stepwells, and other water sources are cleaned, and medicines are put in them to ensure safe drinking water. Buildings are repaired, and the government works to build dams to manage flood situations. Furthermore, NGOs and administration distribute food, medicines, and other necessary items to the affected people. These measures ensure safety and support during the disaster.
In simple words: During a flood, people are moved to camps, ambulances help the injured, water sources are cleaned, buildings are fixed, and NGOs provide food and medicines.

🎯 Exam Tip: List a range of safety measures during floods, including evacuation, medical care, sanitation of water, and provision of essential supplies.

Objective Type Questions :

Question 1. Who gives a warning of heavy rainfall?
(a) Police department
(b) Tax department
(c) Meteorological department
Answer: (c) Meteorological department
In simple words: The meteorological department is the group that tells us when heavy rain is coming.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that weather-related warnings always come from the meteorological department, which studies weather patterns.

Question 2. Who helps when a natural disaster arises in an area?
(a) Police
(b) NGO
(c) Soldier
(d) All of the options
Answer: (d) All of the options
In simple words: During a natural disaster, police, NGOs, and soldiers all work together to help the affected area.

🎯 Exam Tip: Recognize that disaster response is a collaborative effort involving various government agencies, military, and non-profit organizations.

Question 3. Which types of works are done by NGOs in the flood situations?
(a) INGOs provide cloth, food, medicines etc. to the affected people
(b) NGOs arrange facilities of tent
(c) NGOs searches the people who are carried away with the flood water
(d) None of the options
Answer: (a) INGOs provide cloth, food, medicines etc. to the affected people
In simple words: NGOs help flood victims by giving them clothes, food, and medicines.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the primary humanitarian aid that NGOs provide, such as essential supplies, during disaster relief.

Question 4. Where did the severe earthquake occur on January 26,2001?
(a) In Kutch
(b) In Udaipur
(c) In Jaipur
(d) In Agra
Answer: (a) In Kutch
In simple words: A very strong earthquake happened in Kutch on January 26, 2001.

🎯 Exam Tip: Specific historical events like major earthquakes often come with a date and location, so try to remember them accurately.

Question 5. Upto which Richter intensity an earthquake resistent house can tolerate?
(a) Upto 4 Richter
(b) Upto 5 Richter
(c) Upto 6 Richter
(d) Upto 7 Richter
Answer: (b) Upto 5 Richter
In simple words: An earthquake-resistant house is designed to safely withstand an earthquake up to 5 on the Richter scale.

🎯 Exam Tip: Note the specific Richter scale value for earthquake-resistant buildings as this is a factual detail often tested.

Question 4. An example of temporary inn is .......... (palace / tent)
Answer:
1. (earthquake)
2. (earthquake)
3. (meteorological)
4. (tent).
In simple words: A temporary inn is like a tent, providing shelter for a short time. The options provided also include types of disasters and warnings.

🎯 Exam Tip: For fill-in-the-blanks, always choose the option that makes the most logical sense in the context of the sentence.

State True or False :

Question 1. Indian soldiers help the affected people during natural disasters.
Answer: True. Indian soldiers play a crucial role in rescue and relief operations during natural disasters, helping affected people with their safety and supplies. Their disciplined approach makes them very effective in emergencies.
In simple words: True, Indian soldiers assist people during natural disasters.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that armed forces are commonly deployed for disaster relief due to their training and resources.

Question 2. The movement of the earthquake starts from one point and spreads like water waves.
Answer: True. An earthquake's energy originates from a specific point deep within the Earth, called the focus, and then ripples outwards, much like waves spread on water. This explains how the shaking is felt over a wide area.
In simple words: True, earthquakes start from one spot and spread out like waves in water.

🎯 Exam Tip: Visualize how ripples spread in water to understand how earthquake waves propagate from their origin point.

Question 3. When the intensity of the earthquake is less than 7, then we will feel the vibration only.
Answer: False. While lower intensity earthquakes cause vibrations, even earthquakes below 7 on the Richter scale can cause significant damage, not just vibrations, depending on factors like depth and local geology. For example, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake can still be quite destructive.
In simple words: False, even earthquakes less than 7 can cause more than just vibrations and can actually damage things.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand that the Richter scale is logarithmic; even small increases in number mean much larger increases in energy and potential for damage.

Question 4. Administration and social workers do not help in natural disasters.
Answer: False. Administration and social workers are essential in disaster management. They coordinate relief efforts, provide humanitarian aid, and support affected communities. Their work is crucial for organizing help and ensuring victims receive what they need.
In simple words: False, administration and social workers do help during natural disasters.

🎯 Exam Tip: Recognize that many different groups, including government administration and non-profit social workers, are vital in disaster response.

Very Short Answer Type of Questions :

Question 1. Write two examples of natural disasters.
Answer: Two examples of natural disasters are earthquakes and floods. These events occur naturally and can cause significant damage to the environment and human communities. Other examples include droughts and storms.
In simple words: Earthquakes and floods are two examples of natural disasters.

🎯 Exam Tip: Provide clear and common examples of natural disasters, like earthquakes and floods, which are well-known and impactful.

Question 3. What are the arrangement for affected people in earthquake?
Answer: For people affected by an earthquake, arrangements are made to supply medicines, clothes, food, and water. These are basic necessities that help victims survive and cope with the immediate aftermath of the disaster. Providing these supplies quickly is crucial for their well-being.
In simple words: Medicines, clothes, food, and water are provided for earthquake victims.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the most immediate and essential provisions when listing arrangements for disaster-affected people.

Question 4. Where are the shelters of natural disaster affected people made?
Answer: Shelters for people affected by natural disasters are usually arranged in temporary tents. These tents provide immediate and often portable housing for those who have lost their homes or need a safe place to stay away from danger. Setting up these shelters quickly is key in a crisis.
In simple words: Shelters for disaster victims are made in temporary tents.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that temporary shelters are typically tents, designed for rapid deployment and providing immediate refuge.

Question 5. What type of houses should be constructed to protect from earthquakes?
Answer: To protect from earthquakes, houses should be constructed as earthquake-resistant. These types of houses are built with special designs and materials that can withstand the strong shaking of an earthquake, reducing damage and saving lives. They are engineered to be flexible and absorb seismic forces.
In simple words: Earthquake-resistant houses should be built to protect people from earthquakes.

🎯 Exam Tip: The key term to remember for earthquake safety in buildings is "earthquake-resistant construction."

Question 6. What is earthquake centre?
Answer: The earthquake centre is the point where the movement of the earthquake begins. From this point, the earthquake's vibrations spread outwards like waves in water. This central point, also called the hypocenter, is where the energy is released.
In simple words: The earthquake centre is where the earthquake starts, and its movement spreads out like waves from there.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly define the earthquake centre as the origin point of its movement and wave propagation.

Question 7. Up to which Richter intensity the earthquake resistant buildings can tolerate?
Answer: An earthquake-resistant house can tolerate an earthquake up to 7 Richter intensity. These buildings are specially designed and constructed to withstand powerful seismic forces without collapsing, offering greater safety to occupants. While 7 is the tolerance, stronger earthquakes can still cause damage.
In simple words: An earthquake-resistant house can stand strong during an earthquake up to 7 on the Richter scale.

🎯 Exam Tip: State the specific Richter intensity (7) that earthquake-resistant buildings are designed to withstand.

Question 8. Which number would you dial for police help during an emergency?
Answer: During an emergency, you would dial 100 for police help. This is the common emergency number for police assistance in many regions, providing quick access to law enforcement when needed. It's important to remember this number for urgent situations.
In simple words: For police help in an emergency, you would dial 100.

🎯 Exam Tip: Know the specific emergency numbers for essential services like police (100) to ensure quick action in a crisis.

Short Answer Type Questions :

Question 10. What are the functions of an ambulance?
Answer: An ambulance is mainly used to carry an injured person or a patient to the hospital. It is equipped with medical supplies and trained personnel to provide first aid and stabilize patients during transport. This quick movement to a hospital can be life-saving in emergencies.
In simple words: An ambulance takes injured people or patients to the hospital.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define the core function of an ambulance as transporting injured or sick individuals to medical facilities for care.

Question 11. Who should be informed during a flood situation in the villages?
Answer: During a flood situation in villages, the Tehsildar should be informed. The Tehsildar is a local government official responsible for land revenue and general administration, including disaster response at the local level. They can coordinate relief efforts and ensure help reaches the affected areas quickly.
In simple words: In a village flood, the Tehsildar should be told.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the specific local authority (Tehsildar) responsible for managing disaster situations in villages.

Question 12. Where are the flood victims shifted?
Answer: The flood victims are shifted to relief camps. These camps are safe places set up to provide temporary shelter, food, and medical aid to people displaced by floods. Moving people to these camps helps ensure their safety and basic needs are met during the disaster.
In simple words: Flood victims are moved to relief camps for safety.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that "relief camps" are the standard destination for evacuating flood victims.

Short Answer Type Questions :

Question 1. In what ways will you help people in the eventuality of an earthquake? State any 3 ways. (Model Paper)
Answer: When an earthquake disaster happens, we can help people in the following three ways:
• We can help people reach a safe, open place after an earthquake, moving them away from damaged buildings.
• We can call an ambulance to send injured people to the hospital quickly for medical care.
• We can arrange for food and water for earthquake victims, ensuring they have essential supplies. These actions provide immediate relief and safety.
In simple words: I can help earthquake victims by moving them to safety, calling ambulances for the injured, and providing food and water.

🎯 Exam Tip: When listing ways to help in an earthquake, focus on evacuation, medical aid, and providing basic necessities.

Question 2. What problems do the people have during the flood?
Answer: During a flood, people face many problems. Sometimes, continuous and heavy rainfall causes power failures, making everything dark. Water is everywhere, and the roofs of temporary (kachcha) houses start leaking. Dams can also be affected, leading to further water-related issues. Household items and utensils float in the water, and people often have to move their children to higher ground. All the huts get submerged, and broken house roofs, dead birds, and animals are seen floating in the floodwaters. This widespread damage and disruption make life very difficult.
In simple words: During floods, people face power cuts, leaky homes, floating belongings, submerged huts, and see dead animals, making life very hard.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing flood problems, include issues like power outages, damage to homes, floating debris, and the need for evacuation to higher ground.

Question 3. Who helps the flood victims?
Answer: After a flood, the government provides immediate relief and helps the affected people as much as they can. Along with government agencies, local police, administrators, soldiers, social workers, and doctors all assist the flood victims. This combined effort ensures that people receive necessary support, from rescue to medical care.
In simple words: Government, local police, administrators, soldiers, social workers, and doctors all help flood victims.

🎯 Exam Tip: List a variety of groups, both official and volunteer, that contribute to helping flood victims to show a comprehensive understanding.

Question 4. What kind of problems do the people in the pavements and slumps face during the rainy season?
Answer: People living on pavements and in slums face significant problems during the rainy season. They become busy trying to protect themselves and their belongings from the rain. They have difficulty preparing food and going to the toilet because of the waterlogged conditions. Their homes are often temporary and offer little protection, making survival challenging.
In simple words: During the rainy season, people in slums struggle to protect themselves, cook food, and use toilets because of the heavy rain.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the basic daily life challenges (protection, food, sanitation) faced by vulnerable populations like those in slums during heavy rains.

Question 5. What arrangements are made to save people from floods?
Answer: To save people from floods, officials from the tehsil and police immediately visit the affected area to assess the situation. They move all flood victims to nearby relief camps and inns. If there isn't enough space, temporary shelters are set up in tents. Police search for people who may have been carried away by the flowing water. Ambulances continuously transport injured flood victims. Food, medicines, and other necessary items are provided by NGOs and the administration to the affected population. These coordinated efforts aim to ensure the safety and well-being of the victims.
In simple words: Officials and police move flood victims to camps, set up temporary shelters, search for missing people, transport injured, and provide food and medicines.

🎯 Exam Tip: List the practical arrangements made during floods, covering evacuation, search and rescue, medical transport, and provision of supplies.

Question 6. What happened due to earthquake in Kutch (Gujarat) in 2001?
Answer: Due to the earthquake in Kutch (Gujarat) on January 26, 2001, many buildings collapsed. Some houses were partly damaged, while others remained safe. Most houses and shops turned into piles of debris. Thousands of people and many animals were buried under the fallen structures. This earthquake caused massive destruction and loss of life in the region.
In simple words: The Kutch earthquake in 2001 caused many buildings to collapse, destroying homes and shops, and burying thousands of people and animals.

🎯 Exam Tip: When recalling specific disaster events like the Kutch earthquake, include key details like the date and the extent of damage (collapsed buildings, loss of life).

Essay Type Questions :

Question 2. How can we face the disasters like flood and earthquake?
Answer: We can face disasters like floods and earthquakes by taking several proactive steps:
**Earthquake-** We should construct earthquake-resistant buildings in areas prone to earthquakes. These structures are designed to withstand ground shaking and prevent collapse, thereby protecting lives. Proper building codes must be followed.
**Flood-** We should clean the water of stepwells, wells, and other water reservoirs and add medicines to them to prevent waterborne diseases. Repairing broken buildings as soon as possible is also important to restore safe housing. Early warning systems and evacuation plans are also crucial.
In simple words: To face disasters, we must build earthquake-resistant houses, clean water sources during floods, and quickly repair damaged buildings.

🎯 Exam Tip: For facing disasters, divide your answer into specific actions for each type of disaster (e.g., construction for earthquakes, sanitation for floods).

Question 3. What is earthquake intensity? Define earthquake centre.
Answer: Earthquake intensity tells us how much damage or shaking is felt on the Earth's surface due to an earthquake. It helps us understand the level of loss that could happen. An earthquake occurs because of movements inside the Earth's crust. The movement starts from one point and spreads out like waves in water. This point, where the earthquake begins, is called the centre of the earthquake. The intensity of an earthquake is usually measured using the Richter scale. If the intensity is more than 5, buildings can collapse, but if it's less than 5, we only feel the ground vibrating. An earthquake-resistant house can tolerate an earthquake of up to 7 Richter intensity.
In simple words: Earthquake intensity measures how much shaking and damage an earthquake causes. The earthquake centre is the exact spot inside the Earth where the movement starts, and its intensity is measured by the Richter scale.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly distinguish between earthquake intensity (felt effects/damage) and the earthquake centre (origin point), and mention the Richter scale for measurement.