Ch - 6
Our Environment
Q1. What do you understand by the term environment?
Ans. Environment is the natural world in which people, animals and plants live. It
consists of both living and non-living things.
Q2. What is the difference between biodegradable waste and non-biodegradable
waste?
Ans. There are mainly two types of waste materials - biodegradable waste
materials and non-biodegradable waste materials. The difference between both
of them are as follows -
i. Biodegradable waste materials can decompose naturally.
ii. They include things like leftover food, human and animal waste, fruits,
vegetables and leaves.
iii. These wastes rot and decompose with the soil easily.
iv. Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and earthworms help to decompose
these wastes.
Non-Biodegradable waste -
i. They do not decompose naturally.
ii. They take thousands of years to decompose.
iii. They cause soil pollution.
iv. Plastic, poisonous chemical substances, bottles and cans are some non-
biodegradable wastes.
v. They are major threat to the environment.
Q3. Explain open dumping.
Ans. There are numerous ways to dispose waste like burning, vermicomposting,
open dumping and making compost pits and landfills. Open dumping method is
used in mostly cities and towns where wastes are loaded in trucks and are then
taken far away from the town or city and dumped in the open. But this is not an
eco-friendly way of waste disposal. It can pollute the environment.
Q4. Write a note on compost pits.
Ans. Compost pits can be made at home. It is commonly found in villages. It is
made by digging a pit in the ground. All the household waste is put into it. After
sometimes, the waste turns into manure also known as compost. Farmers use
this in their fields.
Q5. What are the three R's? What are their uses?
Ans. Reduce, reuse and recycle are known as the three R's. It is a very useful
method to reduce environmental pollution. Recycling is the process of reusing
product or producing a new product from used or waste materials. Recyclable
materials like glass, paper, metal, textile, plastic and electronics can be used
again with the help of this process.
Q6. Give Reasons -
i. We should not throw waste in water bodies.
Ans. We should not throw waste in water bodies because -
i. It makes the water dirty and unusage to use.
ii. Dirty water can spread diseases and harm people's health.
iii. Waste like plastic can hurt or kill water animals and birds.
iv. It also pollutes the environment and spoils the beauty of nature.
Q7. Plastics bottles and cans are a major threat to the environment.
Ans. Plastics bottles and cans are a major threat to the environment because
they are non-biodegradable wastes. They do not decompose naturally. They
cause soil and water pollution. They stay in the soil and water for many years
and make the earth dirty. That is why they are major threat to the environment.
Extra Questions
Q1. How can we protect our environment? Explain.
Ans. There are many ways to protect our environment. Some of them are as
follows -
i. Do not throw waste materials or garbage on roads or other public places. Use
covered dustbins.
ii. Use paper or cloth bags instead of plastic bags.
iii. Do not throw waste materials in rivers or water bodies.
iv. Plant more trees to keep the air clean.
v. Recycle and reuse things to reduce garbage and pollution.
Q2. Discuss how environment affects our health.
Ans. The environment affects our health in many ways. Clean air helps us
breathe easily and stay healthy. Dirty water can cause diseases like cholera and
typhoid. Pollution from vehicles and factories can make people sick with
breathing problems. A clean and green environment keeps us happy, active and
strong.
