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Std 6 General Science · Chapter 13

13. Gifts of Nature

Complete solutions to the Exercises, including the completed natural-resources flow chart and the marine wealth table. Maharashtra State Board (Balbharati), Grade Six General Science.

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About the chapter

Nature gives us many useful things like soil, water, air, forests and sunlight. These are called natural resources. This chapter tells us about these resources and their uses. It also teaches us how to save them.

Key points

  • Black soil is fertile and good for farming.
  • Rainwater should be stored and used carefully.
  • The sea gives us fish, salt, minerals, oil and natural gas.
  • Coal, petrol and natural gas are fossil fuels. They are limited.
  • Sunlight and wind never end. They are sustainable sources of energy.
  • We should protect forests and plant more trees.

Words to remember

  • natural resource – a useful thing we get from nature
  • renewable resource – a resource that nature produces again and again
  • non-renewable resource – a resource available in limited quantity
  • sustainable resource – a resource that never ends
  • fossil fuel – fuel formed from the remains of plants and animals buried long ago

Exercises

1Find the correct option and rewrite the statement.

(1) … is more fertile for farming.

  • (a) Black soil  — correct
  • (b) China clay
  • (c) Red soil
  • (d) Multani mati

Black soil is more fertile for farming.

(2) … is fossil fuel.

  • (a) Sunlight
  • (b) Wind
  • (c) Petrol  — correct
  • (d) Water

Petrol is a fossil fuel.

(3) … is a sustainable source of energy.

  • (a) Coal
  • (b) Petrol
  • (c) Natural gas
  • (d) Sun  — correct

The Sun is a sustainable source of energy.

2Write whether the following statements are true or false. Give reason.

(1) There is a lot of water available on land, so use it carelessly.

False. Only a small part of water is fit for drinking. So we must use it carefully.

(2) Renewable resources are produced again and again.

True. Nature produces them again, like water and soil.

(3) Petrol, Coal, Natural Gas are easily available to us.

False. They are available only in limited quantity.

3Match the pair.
Resources (Group A)Characteristic (Group B)Example (Group C)
(a) Fossil fuel(iii) Non-renewable(2) Diesel
(b) Solar energy(iv) Sustainable resource(3) Solar cooker
(c) Black soil(i) Useful for agriculture(4) Cotton
(d) Medicinal plants(ii) Useful for health(1) Turmeric
4Complete the flow chart.
Natural ResourcesRenewableNon-RenewableSustainableAre produced againand again in nature.Available in limitedquantity. Take thousandsof years to form again.Never ending.Always availablein nature.Water, SoilCoalSunlight, WindAlready givenAnswer to be filled in

The completed flow chart. The shaded boxes are the blanks in the textbook.

5Give scientific reasons.

(1) It is necessary to store rainwater.

  1. Rain falls only for a few months.
  2. We need water every day.
  3. Stored rainwater can be used later.
  4. It also raises the groundwater level.

(2) Solar energy is called an inexhaustible energy source.

  1. The sun gives light and heat all the time.
  2. It never gets used up.
  3. So solar energy is called inexhaustible.

(3) Fossil fuels should be used sparingly.

  1. Fossil fuels are available in limited quantity.
  2. They take millions of years to form.
  3. Burning them pollutes the air.
6Answer in short.

(1) Write about the importance of water and ways to save water.

Importance of water:

  1. All living things need water to live.
  2. Plants need water to make food.
  3. We need water for drinking, cooking and cleaning.
  4. Water is needed for farming and industries.

Ways to save water:

  1. Close the tap while brushing.
  2. Repair leaking taps.
  3. Use drip irrigation in farms.
  4. Store rainwater.
  5. Reuse water for plants.

(2) What is a natural resource?

The useful things we get from nature are called natural resources. They are not made by humans. e.g. water, air, soil, sunlight, forests.

(3) Write in short about the benefits of solar energy and how to increase usage of it.

Benefits:

  1. It never ends.
  2. It is free.
  3. It does not cause pollution.
  4. It can reach remote villages.

How to increase its use:

  1. Put solar panels on roofs.
  2. Use solar water heaters and solar cookers.
  3. Use solar street lights.
  4. Run farm pumps on solar energy.

(4) Explain in short about types of marine resources and their uses for humans.

  1. Marine animals (fish, prawns, crabs) – used as food.
  2. Minerals (copper, iron, magnesium) – used in industries.
  3. Oil and natural gas – used as fuel.
  4. Marine algae – used in medicines and cosmetics.
  5. Salt – used in food.
7Which type of energy will be beneficial for us in future, renewable or non-renewable? Why?

Renewable energy will be beneficial.

  1. It never runs out.
  2. It does not pollute the air.
  3. Non-renewable fuels are limited and will finish one day.
8What should be done to protect and take care of the trees and shrubs in the surroundings?
  1. Plant new saplings in the rainy season.
  2. Water the young plants regularly.
  3. Put tree guards around young plants.
  4. Do not hammer nails into trees.
  5. Do not break branches.
  6. Stop unnecessary cutting of trees.
9If fossil fuels are exhausted, what effects will it have on our daily life? List all the possible effects you can think of.
  1. Vehicles will stop running.
  2. Travel and transport will become difficult.
  3. Electricity from coal will stop.
  4. Cooking gas will not be available.
  5. Farm machines will stop working.
  6. Factories will close.
  7. Prices of goods will rise.
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