HOTS Questions: Medical Discoveries | Social Studies for Class 5 PDF Download

Q1: Imagine you are a doctor in the early 18th century. How would you explain to your patients the importance of using a thermometer in diagnosing illnesses like fever?
Ans: As a doctor in the early 18th century, I would explain to my patients that using a thermometer is crucial because it helps us understand how hot or cold their body is. When someone is sick, their body temperature can rise, causing a fever. By using a thermometer, we can measure this temperature and understand how severe the illness might be. It's like a little tool that helps us see inside the body and figure out what's wrong, so we can give the right medicine to make them feel better.

Q2: If you were a scientist in the 19th century, what experiments would you conduct to understand how germs cause diseases, and how would you share your findings with others? 
Ans: As a scientist in the 19th century, I would conduct experiments using microscopes to study tiny germs that cause diseases. I would collect samples from sick people and observe them under the microscope to see what these germs look like. Then, I would try to figure out how they spread and make people sick. Once I understand this, I would share my findings by writing papers and giving lectures to other scientists and doctors. I might even demonstrate my experiments to show them how germs can be stopped from spreading to prevent diseases.

Q3: Pretend you're a patient in the 19th century undergoing surgery. How would you explain the experience of being operated on without anesthesia, and how do you think anesthesia has changed the way surgeries are performed today?
Ans: If I were a patient in the 19th century undergoing surgery without anesthesia, I would describe it as a very scary and painful experience. I would feel every cut and every stitch, and it would be hard to stay still and calm. But now, with anesthesia, surgeries are much less painful and frightening. Patients can sleep peacefully through the operation without feeling a thing. Anesthesia has made surgeries safer and more comfortable for patients, allowing doctors to do more complicated procedures that were impossible before.

Q4: Imagine you're a doctor in the 20th century during the time when penicillin was discovered. How would you explain to your patients how this new medicine works to fight bacterial infections?
Ans: As a doctor in the 20th century, I would explain to my patients that penicillin is a powerful medicine that can kill certain types of bacteria that make us sick. It's like a superhero that fights off the bad guys inside our bodies. When we take penicillin, it goes into our bloodstream and attacks the bacteria, stopping them from multiplying and making us even sicker. So, if someone has a bacterial infection like strep throat or a skin infection, penicillin can help them feel better by getting rid of the germs causing the illness.

Q5: If you were a doctor in the early 20th century, how would you convince skeptical patients to trust in the effectiveness of vaccines like the one developed by Edward Jenner against smallpox?
Ans: As a doctor in the early 20th century, I would explain to my patients that vaccines are like a shield that helps their bodies fight off dangerous diseases. Just like wearing armor protects a knight from swords in battle, vaccines protect us from getting sick. Edward Jenner's smallpox vaccine, for example, is made from a weakened version of the smallpox virus, which trains our bodies to recognize and defeat the real virus if we ever encounter it. By getting vaccinated, we're not only protecting ourselves but also helping to stop the spread of diseases in our community. It's like being a hero and saving lives without even realizing it.

Q6: Imagine you're a scientist in the late 19th century, studying the effects of sterilization on surgical instruments. How would you conduct your experiments, and what do you think your findings might reveal about preventing infections during surgery?
Ans: As a scientist in the late 19th century, I would conduct experiments by taking two sets of surgical instruments: one set would be sterilized by boiling in water, and the other set would be left untreated. Then, I would use both sets of instruments in simulated surgeries, observing how infections develop in each case. My findings would likely reveal that sterilizing instruments by boiling them in water significantly reduces the risk of infections during surgery. This would suggest that implementing sterilization techniques in operating theaters could greatly improve patient outcomes and decrease the spread of diseases.

Q7: Pretend you're a public health official in the early 20th century tasked with promoting proper hygiene practices to prevent the spread of diseases. How would you engage with communities to encourage habits like handwashing and sanitation, and what strategies might you employ to overcome resistance or skepticism?
Ans: As a public health official in the early 20th century, I would engage with communities through educational campaigns and demonstrations to promote the importance of proper hygiene practices. I would visit schools, workplaces, and community gatherings to talk about the benefits of handwashing, clean water, and sanitation in preventing the spread of diseases like cholera and typhoid. To overcome resistance or skepticism, I might enlist the help of trusted community leaders, like local doctors or religious figures, to endorse these practices and demonstrate their effectiveness. Additionally, I would emphasize the collective responsibility we all have to protect ourselves and each other by practicing good hygiene habits.