Growing up with Confidence NCERT Solutions | Health and Physical Education for Class 9 PDF Download

Answer the following Questions

Q.1. Give at least one difference between
(a) Growth and development ..............................................
(b) Development and maturation .......................................

(a) 

• Growth is a natural phenomenon. Growth is a characteristic feature of all living beings so development. Growth and development occur side by side.
• Growth is a quantitative increase in size through an increase in the number of cells or elongation of cells. Development may be defined as the progression of changes, both qualitative and quantitative, which lead to an undifferentiated mass of cells to a highly organized state.
• Growth is the change in shape, form, structure, size of the body, i.e. physical change. Development is structural change and functional progress of the body, so it can be physical as well as social or psychological change.
• Development also includes growth so growth is a part of development. Hence Growth stops at maturation (or after a certain period) but development continues till the death of the organism.

(b)

• Development may be defined as the progression of changes, both qualitative and quantitative, which lead to an undifferentiated mass of cells to a highly organized state. 
• Development also includes growth so growth is a part of development. 
• Maturation is a kind of achievement of a level of stable development or developing ability to make a decision or perform tasks.
• Maturation is a more emotional, and intellectual measure, where organisms grow within a structure.

Q.2. Given below are nine statements. Categorise them into  events of Growth (G), Development (D) and Maturation (M)
(a) A baby on seeing his mother begins to utter the word “MA”.
(b) The testis begins to produce sperms.
(c) The fetal heart begins to beat.
(d) A plant observed in the garden a few months ago is now a shrub.
(e) The baby starts walking without support.
(f) Aruna has reached menarch
(g) Mary can no longer fit into her shoes that were bought for her last year.
(h) Haneef needs to shave everyday this year before going to school.
(i) In 2007, Dhruv was only 5 feet tall. On his 14th birthday, his height is 5 feet 10 inches.

Growth (G): As growth is a quantitative increase in size, shape, or mass(weight) of an organism, events are given that fit into the definition is:
(i) In 2007, Dhruv was only 5 feet tall. On his 14th birthday, his height is 5 feet 10 inches. In this event, Dhruv’s height increases i.e. increase in size, shape so it is growth.
(d) A plant observed in the garden a few months ago is now a shrub. Transforming into a shrub is an increase in size, shape so considered as growth.
(g) Mary can no longer fit into her shoes that were bought for her last year. Here mary’s shoe size increased, so this event is growth.
(h) Haneef needs to shave every day this year before going to school. If Haneef needs to shave every day, it means the growth of hairs on the face is more.
Development (D): Development may be defined as the progression of changes, both qualitative and quantitative, which lead to an undifferentiated mass of cells to a highly organized state.
(c) The fetal heart begins to beat. This event is the development of the embryo to an organised state.
(a) A baby on seeing his mother begins to utter the word “MA”. When the baby is uttering the word “MA”, this is due to development in vocal tissues.
Maturation (M): Maturation is a measure of functional capacity. Organs of reproduction reach maturity at the end of puberty. So, reproductive developments can be considered as maturation.
(b) The testis begins to produce sperms. Testis starts producing sperms after puberty.
(e) The baby starts walking without support. It is maturity, that the functional capacity of the child increased.
(f) Aruna has reached menarche. Menarche is the start of the mensuration cycle, it happens after puberty. So it is categorized into maturation.

Q.3. List factors that affect growth.

• Heredity
  (i) Parents contribute genes to their biological offspring, so the children tend to resemble their parents in many aspects
  (ii) Because of inheritance, children of tall parents are likely to be tall and children of short parents tend to be short.
• Nutrition
  (i) A nutritious diet favours growth. Growth requires multiplication of cells or enlargement of cells, which depends on an adequate supply of nutrients.
  (ii) Undernutrition during childhood results in slow growth and delayed maturation. If continued into adolescence, it leads to short stature adulthood.
• The Psycho-social environment
  (i) The quality of the emotional and psychological environment in which a child lives and grows does influence the hormonal balance of the body, thereby affecting growth.
  (ii) Growth gets retarded as a result of an emotionally stressful environment.
• Socio-economic Status
  (i) Socio-economic status also affects growth. Poverty and low socioeconomic status lower the rate of growth in youngsters.
  (ii) Malnutrition and an unhygienic environment are also not congenial for growth.

Q.4. The teenager should take nutritious diet, because............

• A nutritious diet favours growth. Growth requires multiplication of cells or enlargement of cells, which depends on an adequate supply of nutrients.
• In the case of teenagers, their body needs a basic level of nutrients for its sustenance and proper growth.
• Nutrients are obtained from food that provides energy, and energy (in kilocalories) is required not only for growth but also for maintenance of the body, it is working as well as reproduction.
• Dietary deficiencies retard growth. Undernutrition during teenage can result in slow growth and delayed maturation.
• So for proper growth and development, teenagers should take a nutritious diet.

Q.5. Arun is worried because he is not as tall as others in his class. How will you dispel such unnecessary anxiety?

• Arun needs to understand the role of heredity and some other factors in the context of the development of body physique.
• In this case, I would tell Arun that being short or tall doesn’t matter, it’s beyond one’s control, a person’s talent is not decided by this physical appearance.
• Self-image is important not only for oneself but also in the eyes of others which is decided by own skills and social development.
• Self-esteem is also a kind of self-recognition. It is important for growing up with confidence. So I will suggest him to focus on these factors, not on his physical appearance.

Q.6. Prepare a worksheet writing the response in the following things.
(a) Who all would you include as a support system in case of any problem to be sexual harassment? Think of both people and institutions.
(b) Why have you included them people/institutions as a safety net?

(a) Sexual harassment is described as any unwelcome sexual gesture or behaviour, whether directly or indirectly–physical contact or advance, showing pornography, a demand or quest for sexual favour, or any other unwelcome physical, verbal/ nonverbal conduct. It also includes molestation and rape. It is a criminal act and a punishable offence. In such cases, the girl/boy being abused must immediately inform parents/or any trusted member for protection. One can legally complain in the police if needed. There are many NGOs/institution work against sexual harassment, one can take help of these institutes too.
(b) Safety net, in its various forms, offers essential protection for victims. They help strategically to maintain safety and privacy. Parents and friends as a safety net create stronger bonds and comfort. Institutes also help to prove guilt and hold offenders accountable.

Q.7. Why is psychological security necessary for a growing adolescent?

• Adolescence is a period of losses like loss of childhood, loss of sexual innocence, loss of freedom from responsibility. For developing self-confidence and self-esteem, it is essential to have a stress-free environment.
• Teenagers who have experienced encouragement from others concerning values and parental expectations tend to be psychologically more secure than those who are subjected as children to shame and punishment.
• A psychologically secure teenager can concentrate on studies, have respect for parents, spend time judiciously on hobbies, and establish healthy relationships.
• The adolescent attains a beautiful physique, figure, and face. Another gain is the maturity of the brain, which leads to rational thinking and a better understanding of subjects and issues. But to ignore the losses and carry the gains forward, support from parents/guardians, teachers, and peers goes a long way in helping the youngsters cope with changes occurring during adolescence.
• These are the reasons that psychological security necessary for a growing adolescent.

Q.8. “Communication between parent and the adolescent child is critical for his/her health.” Why?
..............................................................................
..............................................................................

• Parents need to be able to communicate openly and effectively with their children. Relationships between parents and their children are greatly improved when there is effective communication taking place.
• Healthy communication between the adolescent and the parents can sure help the children to maintain his health, as parents are children’s comfort zone, a good conversation with parents is nutritious to mental health.
• Negative conversations can lead a child in peer pressure, depression, and can cause no development / wrong development. This can make the child face many psychological issues too.

Q.9. Give at least two reasons of substance abuse by adolescents.
(a) ..............................................................................
(b) ..............................................................................

• Drugs are chemicals. Some are used for treatment and help in recovery from an ailment. But when drugs are used for purposes other than treatment, their consumption becomes ‘drug abuse’.
• Reasons for substance abuse by adolescents are:
  • peer pressure, 
  • poor self-esteem, 
  • low achievement at school
  • family history of drug or substance abuse.

Q.10. Why is it necessary to discard the myth that ‘women are the weaker sex’? Give three reasons.
(a) ..............................................................................
(b) ..............................................................................
(c) ..............................................................................

‘Women are the weaker sex’ is a myth because

• our constitution has given equal rights and freedom to women. the development of a country is dependent on both the male and the female population equally.
• Women are independent now, women have reached heights in all fields.
• Strength is not based on one’s sex, it depends on skills, talents, and work. And women have all these qualities.

Q.11. In dealing with the following challenging situations whom should adolescents approach and why?
(a) bullying
(b) discrimination by grandmother
(c) sexual abuse

(a) If someone is bullying a girl/boy out of school or college, then he should be bold and should tell the professor or tell somebody elder than you.
(b) If one is facing discrimination by grandmother, then he/she should get a person who can guide and create some awareness to grandmother about the discrimination.
(c) In the case of sexual abuse, one should propose a society which distributes and schools with this type of situation, one has to inform parents/guardian about sexual abuse.

Q.12. “Growing up with confidence is not a myth.“ Explain”

• While growing up, Several changes begin to occur in their body and psyche. It becomes important for a person to create a self image, confidence. Hence attention goes to self.
• Self-image becomes important not only for oneself but also in the eyes of others. Self-esteem is also a kind of self-recognition. In this journey, one needs lots of confidence. As no one born with confidence, so it is important for growing up with confidence.

Q.13. Write a paragraph in your own words why “growth” is necessary for all living beings including humans.

• Growth is a characteristic of all living beings. Growth is a natural phenomenon. Growth is the increase in size and mass of that organism.
• We can see seeds growing into seedlings, which then grow and develop into plants, or pups growing into dogs, kitten into cats, and so on. Similarly, an infant passes through different phases of growth from childhood to adolescence to adulthood. These are the stages of growth.
• Growing involves drastic transformation, development in all senses. So growth is necessary.

Q.14. What is depression. Give three symptoms

• Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. 
• Depression can affect a person's thoughts, behavior, motivation, feelings, and sense of well-being. 
• Depression at times leads to hostility towards parents, society, and peers. 
• Symptoms of depression can be
  • Social Withdrawal,
  • Need to weep,
  • Eating and sleeping problems,
  • The feeling of dejection and hopelessness.
  • ‘Anger’ is sometimes a psychological reaction to fighting depression.

Q.15. Explain the difference between drug abuse and use with the help of examples.

• Drugs are chemicals. Some are used for treatment and help in recovery from an ailment. But when drugs are used for purposes other than treatment, their consumption becomes ‘drug abuse.’
• Young people are more vulnerable to drug or substance misuse and abuse due to peer pressure, poor self-esteem, low achievement at school, or family history of drug or substance abuse.
• When drugs are used as medical purposes then it is called ‘drug use’. For example, paracetamol is used to treat fever.
• Drug abuse refers to an individual who continues to use drugs even though they know it is harming their health and well-being. For example, Marijuana, hallucinogens.
• The difference between drug use and drug abuse can be given by example. sometimes doctors prescribe some small dosage of tranquilizers to treat anxiety, this is called as drug use. But when people continue its use with high dosage which has an effect on the brain and drives the user into a make-believe world of fantasy and provides false feelings of being free from problems. These are not only addictive but also have an adverse effect on the brain. This is considered as drug abuse.