Question 2: Find the odd man out and state its reasons:

Question 3. State whether the following statements are true or false:

Maharashtra State Board Class 5 Environmental Studies (EVS) Solutions Chapter 4 Environmental Balance - Digest Answers | Maharashtra Board Solutions

Maharashtra State Board Class 5 EVS Solutions Part 1 Chapter 4 Environmental Balance

5th Std EVS 1 Digest Chapter 4 Environmental Balance Textbook Questions and Answers

1. What’s the solution?

Question 1 Maharashtra Board Solution

We have to remove insects from the grains without using pesticides.

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Some plants like neem or their extract repel insects. That is insects run away from these substances. Hence if we place dried leaves of neem. The grains will be freed from the insects as they will go away. Similarly it is by applying canola oil to the grains we can remove the insects as canola oil is also an insect repellent.

2. Use your brain power.

Question 1 Maharashtra Board Solution

Use your brain power. Make up a food chain: Frog, Kite, Worm, Snake, Grass

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Grass → Worm → Frog → Snake → Kite

3. Answer the following questions:

Question (a)
What is a food chain? Give an example of it.
Answer:
In nature, Plants are food for one small animal. This smaller animal is the food for a larger animal which in turn is a food for another larger animal. Thus we see that one living thing is connected to another living thing for their food, and each component or living thing is the food for the next one. Therefore we can say the components form a chain. Such a biological chain is called a food chain. Example of a food chain.

Plants → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake → Kite

The plant is eaten by the grasshopper which is eaten by the frog. The frog is eaten by the snake which is eaten by the kite.

Question (b)
How is the balance in the environment maintained?
Answer:
1. Plants use substances in the soil for their growth and when plants and animals die the micro-organisms decompose them and this added to the substances goes back to the soil once again.
2. Similarly the water cycle maintains a continuous supply of water for all the living things.
3. Living things take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide while breathing. The plants take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen while preparing their food. Thus oxygen gets added to the air.

There are several other such cycles which go on in nature due to interaction amongst living things. When such interactions and cycles go on uninterrupted continuously, they help in maintaining the food chain. Due to this, environmental balance is maintained.

4. What substances in the soil are useful for the growth of plants?

Question 1 Maharashtra Board Solution

What substances in the soil are useful for the growth of plants?

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

The plants use substances like water, minerals and organic matter from the soil for their growth. Note: Grasshopper does not feed on worms. It is not a flesh eating insect. It eats only various parts of plants like seeds & leaves. The first image shown in the textbook on page 20 is of an insect called cricket, which feeds on worms, and the bird feeds on this cricket. Hence the correct food chain is grass → worm → cricket (insect) → bird

5. True or false?

Question 1 Maharashtra Board Solution

True or false?

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Environmental Studies Part 1 Standard 5th Solutions Chapter 4 Environmental Balance Additional Important Questions and Answers

Fill in the blanks with the correct answers from the options given below:

Question 1 Maharashtra Board Solution

The variety we see in all living things that belong to a particular area is called ………………. of that place. (a) biodiversity (b) environment (c) food chain

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(a) biodiversity

Question 2 Maharashtra Board Solution

While studying biodiversity of a given place scientists make large number of ………………….. in different conditions using special devices. (a) observation (b) specification (c) direction

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(a) observation

Question 3 Maharashtra Board Solution

The science which studies interaction between living and non living things is known as ………………... (a) environmental science (b) food web (c) water cycle

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(a) environmental science

Question 4 Maharashtra Board Solution

The soil, air, water, plants, animals and microorganisms are known as the ……………… of the environment. (a) dividents (b) components (c) substance

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(b) components

Question 5 Maharashtra Board Solution

A ………………. is formed by interlinking of several food chains. (a) food store (b) junk food (c) food web

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Question 6 Maharashtra Board Solution

………………… make their own food using water and carbon dioxide in the presence of sunlight. (a) Plants (b) Animals (c) Humans

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(a) Plants

Question 7 Maharashtra Board Solution

………………… decompose the dead remains of plants and animals present in the soil. (a) plants (b) micro-organism (c) animals

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(b) micro-organism

Question 8 Maharashtra Board Solution

All the living organisms get a continuous supply of water in nature because of the water ………………. (a) fountain (b) clouds (c) cycle

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Question 9 Maharashtra Board Solution

Plants give out ………………. gas while preparing their food. (a) carbon dioxide (b) oxygen (c) sulphur dioxide

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(b) oxygen

Question 10 Maharashtra Board Solution

Plants take in ………………….. gas from the air while preparing food. (a) carbon dioxide (b) oxygen (c) mitrogen

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(a) carbon dioxide

Question 11 Maharashtra Board Solution

When cycles go on uninterrupted in nature, ……………….. balance is maintained in nature. (a) environmental (b) botanical (c) geographical

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(a) environmental

Question 12 Maharashtra Board Solution

Living and non-living things are ………………….. on each other. (a) independent (b) interdependent (c) dependent

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Question 13 Maharashtra Board Solution

One living thing can be a part of a number of food ………………….. (a) web (b) chains (c) link

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(b) chains

Question 14 Maharashtra Board Solution

Every living thing gets its food from the ……………………. (a) environment (b) nature (c) kitchen

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(a) environment

Question 15 Maharashtra Board Solution

Many animals in the environment eat only (a) animals (b) plants (c) grass

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(b) plants

Question 16 Maharashtra Board Solution

Animals eat other animals that live on ………………….. (a) plants (b) animals (c) humans

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(a) plants

Question 17 Maharashtra Board Solution

……………………… are the main support of every food chain. (a) Animals (b) Plants (c) Humans

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(b) Plants

Question 18 Maharashtra Board Solution

Due to the ………………… every living thing gets the food it needs and therefore continues to live. (a) food chain (b) water cycle (c) oxygen

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(a) food chain

Question 19 Maharashtra Board Solution

………………. living in the soil helps the process of decomposition. (a) Worms (b) Microorganisms (c) Insects

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(b) Microorganisms

Question 20 Maharashtra Board Solution

Living things use …………………. from the air for breathing. (a) oxygen (b) nitrogen (c) carbon

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(a) oxygen

Question 21 Maharashtra Board Solution

Plants use ………………. from the air for making their food. (a) oxygen (b) carbon dioxide (c) nitrogen

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

(b) carbon dioxide

Question 2 Maharashtra Board Solution

Find the odd man out and state its reasons:

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Question 3 Maharashtra Board Solution

State whether the following statements are true or false:

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Question 4 Maharashtra Board Solution

Give one word for the following processes: 1. Process of give and take between living things and non living things. 2. Process of breaking down of dead bodies into simpler substances so that the plants can use it.

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

1. Interaction 2. Decomposition

Question 5 Maharashtra Board Solution

Use your brain power. Make up a food chain:

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

1. Plants → Deer → Tiger → Microorganisms
2. Algae → Small fish → Large fish → Sea lion → Shark
3. Nuts → Squirrel → Owl → Fox
4. Algae → Mosquito larvae → Dragonfly → Chameleon
5. Grass → Snail → Bird → Fox

9. Caterpillars → Chicken → Snake → Eagle
10. Flowers of plants → Honeybee → Spider → Lizard → Falcon (Bird)

Answer the following in one or two sentences:

Question 1 Maharashtra Board Solution

Which living organism is the main support of every food chain?

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

The plants which prepare their own food are the main support of every food chain.

Question 2 Maharashtra Board Solution

What is the food of the plants?

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Plants prepare their own food using carbon dioxide from air and water from the soil in presence of sunlight.

Question 3 Maharashtra Board Solution

What is an environment?

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

The surroundings and the conditions in those surroundings which affect the life of the organisms there, are together known as their environment.

Question 4 Maharashtra Board Solution

What are the components of the environment?

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Sunlight, air, water, soil, plants and animals etc. are the components of the environment.

Question 5 Maharashtra Board Solution

What is a food web?

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

One living thing can be a part of a number of food chains. That gives rise to a food web in nature.

Question 6 Maharashtra Board Solution

Name the following (Give any two examples):

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Givereasons:

Question 1 Maharashtra Board Solution

Plants are the main support of every food chain.

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Many animals in the environment eat only plants. Some animals eat smaller animals that live on plants. Plants make their own food using water from soil and carbon dioxide from air in the presence of sunlight. They are the only living organisms which do not depend for their food on other animals. All other animals directly or indirectly depend on plants for food. Hence, plants are the main support of every food chain.

Question 2 Maharashtra Board Solution

It is important to maintain the environmental balance for existence of living things.

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

When various cycles present in nature go on uninterrupted, environmental balance is maintained in nature. This helps in maintaining the food chains in the environment. If environmental balance is not maintained the food chains get affected and some animals may die due to shortage of food. If this continues, it will destroy nature and all the living things. Therefore, to maintain the food chains and existence of living things environmental balance should be maintained.

State how the following non-living things found in nature are useful to living things:

Question 1 Maharashtra Board Solution

Hollow of a tree:

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Many animals like squirrels, birds etc. take shelter in the hollow of the tree. Insects also are known to be found in this hollow.

Question 2 Maharashtra Board Solution

Rocks:

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Small rocks present in the soil help the roots of the plant to breathe and grow as they allow air and water to pass through the soil. Soil which helps plant to grow is formed by breaking down of these rocks. Many insects also take shelter under large rocks e.g. Scorpions live below the rocks.

Question 3 Maharashtra Board Solution

Sun:

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

The Sun is the source of energy. It provides sunlight. Plants cannot grow without sunlight. Hence no life would exist without the Sun.

Question 4 Maharashtra Board Solution

Mountains:

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Large forests are found on mountains. Rivers also originate in mountains. Hence, mountains are homes for many living things. They are homes for many birds, monkeys, wild animals etc.

Answer the following questions:

Question 1 Maharashtra Board Solution

What do you mean by a link in a food chain? If one of the links in a chain is lost from the chain, can the food chain last? Explain.

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

In a food chain, one animal is the food for the next animal. Each one of the living things forming a food chain is called the link of the food chain. If one link of the food chain is lost it will affect the next link. It means if one animal is lost, the next animal for which it is the food will also get affected, as it will cause shortage of food.

This will lead to starvation8 and death of the animals in the next link. For Example: If deer disappear from the forest, the lions and tigers will starve for food and they will die. Thus we see that the food chain will not last if one link in the food chain is lost.

Question 2 Maharashtra Board Solution

Who eats birds?

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Birds are eaten by various animals depending on their size. Small birds like sparrow, robins, canary etc. are eaten by snakes. Pythons can eat large birds like herons, stork, etc. by coiling around them and crushing them. Dogs, cats also eat birds like chicken, hens etc. Some large birds eat the young ones of birds or smaller birds.

For example: kite, eagle, owls, falcons eat small birds or young ones of other birds. Foxes, racoons, coyotes are wild animals which eat small birds and other birds like owls. Lastly human beings also eat birds like, chicken, turkey, duck as food. Birds like eagles, kite and vultures are not eaten by any animals. Microorganisms decompose them after they die.

Question 3 Maharashtra Board Solution

Explain how the balance in the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide present in the air is maintained in nature.

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

The animals take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide while breathing. However plants take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen while preparing food. Due to this process the balance in the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide present in the air is maintained.

Question 4 Maharashtra Board Solution

Describe the water cycle present in nature.

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Our earth is covered with water bodies. The heat of the sun evaporates the water from the water bodies like sea, lake, ponds stveanes of rivers and also the water which has percolated beneath the soil. This evaporated water vapour is light, so it moves up into the higher and cooler atmosphere to form fine drops of water which float.

These smaller drops form clouds. They later join together to form big and heavy drops; which fall down as rain. The rain water goes back to the water bodies, thus the process of condensation, evaporation and rainfall continue to form a water cycle.

Observe the picture given below and answer the following:

Question (A)
Find the different food chains of whichthe worm and the mouse form a link:
Answer:
There are two food chains as shown below :

Question (B)
Find the different food chains where the fox and lion form a link.
Answer:
There are two food chains as shown below:

Question 1 Maharashtra Board Solution

Draw a diagram showing the water cycle occurring in Nature:

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Question 2 Maharashtra Board Solution

Draw a diagram showing the oxygen cycle:

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

What’s the solution?

Question 1 Maharashtra Board Solution

Mosquitoes cause malaria. To prevent malaria mosquitoes need to be stopped from growing.

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Mosquitoes larvae grow in water. Hence to prevent them from growing we should not allow water to accumulate. We should keep our surroundings dry. Also fishes like guppies, gold fish and killifish eat up the mosquto larvae. Hence sometimes these fish are grown in ponds to prevent mosquitoes.

Question 2 Maharashtra Board Solution

The soil is to be made fertile without adding chemical fertilizers.

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

Organic manure is added to the soil. Organic manure is prepared by mixing remains of plants, vegetables, fruits etc. with soil and is allowed to decompose by microorganisms. Microorganisms convert the above substances to organic manure which helps plants to grow.

Can you tell?

Question 1 Maharashtra Board Solution

What is the deer’s food?

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

The deer feeds on various kinds of plants and grass. They eat leaves, twigs and stems of the plant.

Question 2 Maharashtra Board Solution

What is food for the tiger?

Solution & Step-by-Step Answer:

The tiger feeds on plant eating animals like deer, cows, zebra, giraffe, goats, buffaloes, rhinoceros, calf etc.

Glossary:

Previous Chapter

Chapter 3 The Earth and its Living World

Next Chapter

Chapter 5 Family Values

Chapter 4 Environmental Balance Solutions