Chapter 14 – A Lesson for All
Things to do
1. Answer the following questions.
(1) What difficulties do the people in the play face in the morning?
Ans: The difficulties that the people in the play face in the morning are:
(i) Mr Desai doesn’t get his newspaper.
(ii) Mr Patel doesn’t get his morning cup of tea.
(iii) Madhu injures herself with a broken glass bottle.
(iv) The newspaper boy trips over an old tyre and sprains his foot.
(v) The milkman’s bicycle tyres are punctured and he has to walk all the way with his heavy milk can.
(vi) The bus driver couldn’t drive on the road due to the litter.
(vii) People couldn’t walk on the streets because of the garbage and litter lying all around.
(2) What more difficulties would they have to face, if the roads are not cleared?
Ans: If the roads are not cleared, vehicles will not be able to ply on the road. Bicycle tyres will get punctured. Children will get injured and it will not be safe for them.
(3) What are the complaints of the animals?
Ans: The animals complain that:
(i) the people dump all their litter and garbage in the forests.
(ii) The trees are dying and vanishing.
(iii) The birds have no place to roost and build their nests.
(iv) The animals get hurt and their young ones die.
(v) Waste is dumped in the rivers and lakes, and the fish die due to this.
(vo) Animals drink the polluted water and fall ill and die.
2. List the characters in the play.
Human characters
Ans: Mr Desai, Mrs Patel, Madhu, Nidhi, Mrs Joshi, Dr Sawant, the milkman, the newspaper boy, the bus driver, the hawker and the Mayor.
Birds and animals
Ans: Deer, bear, birds, squirrel, rabbit, tortoise and peacock.
3. Activities
(1) Enact the play.
Ans: Students must do this on their own.
(2) Write slogans for the cleanliness drive in your area.
Ans:
(i) “Keep it clean, make our area gleam!”
(ii) “Clean surroundings, happy hearts!”
(iii) “Trash in its place, a cleaner space!”
(iv) “Be a superhero, keep it zero litter!”
(v) “Clean streets, big smiles, let’s go the extra miles!”
(3) Write a short note /story based on the ill effects of pollution.
Ans: We dump our garbage in the forests, and as a result, the trees die. The animals and birds have no place to roost or build nests. Their young ones get hurt and die. The fish in the rivers and lakes die because of the chemicals and poisons dumped in the water. Animals drink the polluted water, fall ill, and die. Vehicles and factories pump poisonous gases into the air. As a result, the amount of oxygen in the air is reduced. People in large cities suffer from various diseases.
4. Language Study (See pages 84-88.)
(1) Find two examples of each of the following from the lesson.
A Statement
Ans:
(i) Our young ones simply die.
(ii) You have opened our eyes.
A Question
Ans:
(i) Where can we roost or build nests?
(ii) Don’t our young ones get injured too?
A Command
Ans:
(i) Let us save our mother earth from further harm.
(ii) Let’s clear this up.
An Exclamation
Ans.
(i) That’s the problem!
(ii) How shocking!
5. Group Work
(1) Form groups of four or five.
Try to find the answers to the following questions through observation and by talking to your teachers, parents and others. Discuss your answers in the group.
How is waste generated?
Ans: Waste is generated when we dispose or throw away things we no longer need. Waste can be generated at home and in industries.
How is it removed or cleared?
Ans: Waste can be removed or cleared by having a good waste management plan. We should sort out waste of which some can be processed while the rest can be recycled. Our mantra should be : Reduce! Reuse! Recycle! Restore!
How can we help in the task of clearing or removing garbage?
Ans:
(i) We should stop littering.
(ii) We should reduce, reuse and recycle.
(iii) We should use organic waste to create biogas and compost.
(iv) We should always use dustbins.
(2) In what way can we help to reduce or minimize waste generation?
Discuss the issue in groups of 4 or 5 and note down all good suggestions.
Resolve to follow them yourself. Some have been given below for your reference.
- Don’t waste food.
- Take as much as you want but finish everything that’s on your plate.
- Don’t throw away broken or half-used things. Repair them and use them.
- Avoid things which can be used only once.
- For example : thermocol (polysterene) cups, plastic glasses, etc.
- Reuse !
Recycle !
Ans: Adopt a mindful approach by consuming food responsibly and finishing what’s on your plate. Repair broken items instead of discarding them, and avoid single-use products like plastic cups. Embrace reusables such as water bottles and bags, while actively promoting recycling. Composting food scraps contributes to waste reduction. Encourage donations and educate others about these practices to collectively create a positive impact on our environment. Opt for products with minimal packaging, cutting down on waste. Embrace the concept of upcycling, creatively repurposing items. Say no to excessive printing and opt for digital alternatives. Choose durable goods over disposable ones, promoting longevity. Efficiently manage e-waste through proper disposal methods. Consciously choose eco-friendly products and educate peers to foster a culture of waste reduction.