NCERT Textbook: What a Tank! | English Santoor Class 5 - New NCERT PDF Download

 Page 1


6 What a Tank!
Let us Read
Water conservation is a practice that has existed 
for centuries. Even hundreds of years ago, there 
were huge water storage structures. These did 
not just store water but also protected cities from 
floods, provided drinking water, and brought 
people together. 
 Today in many parts of India, many 
communities still practice the traditional water 
management methods. In Tamil Nadu, Ooranis 
store rainwater for drinking and farming. In 
Kerala, Panam Keni wells are known for not 
drying up even in the hottest months. Similarly, 
Tankas as shown below are quite common in 
Rajasthan’s Thar region. 
Chapter 6.indd   65 09-06-2025   14:37:11
Page 2


6 What a Tank!
Let us Read
Water conservation is a practice that has existed 
for centuries. Even hundreds of years ago, there 
were huge water storage structures. These did 
not just store water but also protected cities from 
floods, provided drinking water, and brought 
people together. 
 Today in many parts of India, many 
communities still practice the traditional water 
management methods. In Tamil Nadu, Ooranis 
store rainwater for drinking and farming. In 
Kerala, Panam Keni wells are known for not 
drying up even in the hottest months. Similarly, 
Tankas as shown below are quite common in 
Rajasthan’s Thar region. 
Chapter 6.indd   65 09-06-2025   14:37:11
66
Santoor  Grade 5
 They are underground tanks that can store 
enough water for six to seven months.
 Nowadays most people have water tanks to 
store water in their homes. These tanks store 
hundreds and even thousands of litres of water. 
Usually, they are kept or built on the roofs. Such 
water tanks are called overhead water tanks. 
known for the unique 
designs of water tanks 
in its rural areas. You 
may see tanks shaped 
like a giant flower,  a 
large football, a brown 
rooster, a statue or 
even an aeroplane.
 People carefully 
plan the design of their 
 Most of us are familiar 
with water tanks but there 
is something different 
about the overhead tanks of 
Punjab. 
 Punjab is a state in 
the northwestern part of 
India. Rich in culture and 
heritage, Punjab is also 
Chapter 6.indd   66 09-06-2025   14:37:13
Page 3


6 What a Tank!
Let us Read
Water conservation is a practice that has existed 
for centuries. Even hundreds of years ago, there 
were huge water storage structures. These did 
not just store water but also protected cities from 
floods, provided drinking water, and brought 
people together. 
 Today in many parts of India, many 
communities still practice the traditional water 
management methods. In Tamil Nadu, Ooranis 
store rainwater for drinking and farming. In 
Kerala, Panam Keni wells are known for not 
drying up even in the hottest months. Similarly, 
Tankas as shown below are quite common in 
Rajasthan’s Thar region. 
Chapter 6.indd   65 09-06-2025   14:37:11
66
Santoor  Grade 5
 They are underground tanks that can store 
enough water for six to seven months.
 Nowadays most people have water tanks to 
store water in their homes. These tanks store 
hundreds and even thousands of litres of water. 
Usually, they are kept or built on the roofs. Such 
water tanks are called overhead water tanks. 
known for the unique 
designs of water tanks 
in its rural areas. You 
may see tanks shaped 
like a giant flower,  a 
large football, a brown 
rooster, a statue or 
even an aeroplane.
 People carefully 
plan the design of their 
 Most of us are familiar 
with water tanks but there 
is something different 
about the overhead tanks of 
Punjab. 
 Punjab is a state in 
the northwestern part of 
India. Rich in culture and 
heritage, Punjab is also 
Chapter 6.indd   66 09-06-2025   14:37:13
67
What a Tank!
New Words
conservation overhead culture heritage 
containers unique concrete
water tanks. Every tank tells us something about 
the people of the house. For example, if the 
owner of the house is a farmer, the water tank 
may be in the shape of a tractor or a bullock cart 
or even a rooster. If the owner likes football, the 
water tank of the house may be shaped like a 
football.
 All these tanks are 
made of cement. The 
frame of the water tank 
is made using steel rods. 
Later, concrete is used 
to give it final shape. 
Then it is installed on 
the roof of the house. 
The final product is 
a unique tank that 
can hold hundreds of 
litres of water. These 
unique water tanks 
are the heart of the 
communities in rural 
Punjab.
Chapter 6.indd   67 09-06-2025   14:37:14
Page 4


6 What a Tank!
Let us Read
Water conservation is a practice that has existed 
for centuries. Even hundreds of years ago, there 
were huge water storage structures. These did 
not just store water but also protected cities from 
floods, provided drinking water, and brought 
people together. 
 Today in many parts of India, many 
communities still practice the traditional water 
management methods. In Tamil Nadu, Ooranis 
store rainwater for drinking and farming. In 
Kerala, Panam Keni wells are known for not 
drying up even in the hottest months. Similarly, 
Tankas as shown below are quite common in 
Rajasthan’s Thar region. 
Chapter 6.indd   65 09-06-2025   14:37:11
66
Santoor  Grade 5
 They are underground tanks that can store 
enough water for six to seven months.
 Nowadays most people have water tanks to 
store water in their homes. These tanks store 
hundreds and even thousands of litres of water. 
Usually, they are kept or built on the roofs. Such 
water tanks are called overhead water tanks. 
known for the unique 
designs of water tanks 
in its rural areas. You 
may see tanks shaped 
like a giant flower,  a 
large football, a brown 
rooster, a statue or 
even an aeroplane.
 People carefully 
plan the design of their 
 Most of us are familiar 
with water tanks but there 
is something different 
about the overhead tanks of 
Punjab. 
 Punjab is a state in 
the northwestern part of 
India. Rich in culture and 
heritage, Punjab is also 
Chapter 6.indd   66 09-06-2025   14:37:13
67
What a Tank!
New Words
conservation overhead culture heritage 
containers unique concrete
water tanks. Every tank tells us something about 
the people of the house. For example, if the 
owner of the house is a farmer, the water tank 
may be in the shape of a tractor or a bullock cart 
or even a rooster. If the owner likes football, the 
water tank of the house may be shaped like a 
football.
 All these tanks are 
made of cement. The 
frame of the water tank 
is made using steel rods. 
Later, concrete is used 
to give it final shape. 
Then it is installed on 
the roof of the house. 
The final product is 
a unique tank that 
can hold hundreds of 
litres of water. These 
unique water tanks 
are the heart of the 
communities in rural 
Punjab.
Chapter 6.indd   67 09-06-2025   14:37:14
68
Santoor  Grade 5
A. Answer the following questions.
 1. What do we use a water tank for? 
 2. Where is Punjab located on the map of India?
 3. How are the water tanks in Punjab made?
 4. How do the unique shapes of water tanks 
reflect the identity of the house owners?
Let us Think
Short forms (or contractions) are when two words 
are combined and some letters are left out. An 
apostrophe (’) takes the place of the missing letters.
For example:
•	 ar en’t 	 =	ar e 	not
•	 wouldn’t	=	 would	not
B. Think and answer
 1. An overhead water 
tank is a way to store 
water. Do you know 
any other ways of 
storing water?
 2. If you had to build 
a water tank, what 
would you make it 
look like? Why?
Let us Learn
Chapter 6.indd   68 09-06-2025   14:37:15
Page 5


6 What a Tank!
Let us Read
Water conservation is a practice that has existed 
for centuries. Even hundreds of years ago, there 
were huge water storage structures. These did 
not just store water but also protected cities from 
floods, provided drinking water, and brought 
people together. 
 Today in many parts of India, many 
communities still practice the traditional water 
management methods. In Tamil Nadu, Ooranis 
store rainwater for drinking and farming. In 
Kerala, Panam Keni wells are known for not 
drying up even in the hottest months. Similarly, 
Tankas as shown below are quite common in 
Rajasthan’s Thar region. 
Chapter 6.indd   65 09-06-2025   14:37:11
66
Santoor  Grade 5
 They are underground tanks that can store 
enough water for six to seven months.
 Nowadays most people have water tanks to 
store water in their homes. These tanks store 
hundreds and even thousands of litres of water. 
Usually, they are kept or built on the roofs. Such 
water tanks are called overhead water tanks. 
known for the unique 
designs of water tanks 
in its rural areas. You 
may see tanks shaped 
like a giant flower,  a 
large football, a brown 
rooster, a statue or 
even an aeroplane.
 People carefully 
plan the design of their 
 Most of us are familiar 
with water tanks but there 
is something different 
about the overhead tanks of 
Punjab. 
 Punjab is a state in 
the northwestern part of 
India. Rich in culture and 
heritage, Punjab is also 
Chapter 6.indd   66 09-06-2025   14:37:13
67
What a Tank!
New Words
conservation overhead culture heritage 
containers unique concrete
water tanks. Every tank tells us something about 
the people of the house. For example, if the 
owner of the house is a farmer, the water tank 
may be in the shape of a tractor or a bullock cart 
or even a rooster. If the owner likes football, the 
water tank of the house may be shaped like a 
football.
 All these tanks are 
made of cement. The 
frame of the water tank 
is made using steel rods. 
Later, concrete is used 
to give it final shape. 
Then it is installed on 
the roof of the house. 
The final product is 
a unique tank that 
can hold hundreds of 
litres of water. These 
unique water tanks 
are the heart of the 
communities in rural 
Punjab.
Chapter 6.indd   67 09-06-2025   14:37:14
68
Santoor  Grade 5
A. Answer the following questions.
 1. What do we use a water tank for? 
 2. Where is Punjab located on the map of India?
 3. How are the water tanks in Punjab made?
 4. How do the unique shapes of water tanks 
reflect the identity of the house owners?
Let us Think
Short forms (or contractions) are when two words 
are combined and some letters are left out. An 
apostrophe (’) takes the place of the missing letters.
For example:
•	 ar en’t 	 =	ar e 	not
•	 wouldn’t	=	 would	not
B. Think and answer
 1. An overhead water 
tank is a way to store 
water. Do you know 
any other ways of 
storing water?
 2. If you had to build 
a water tank, what 
would you make it 
look like? Why?
Let us Learn
Chapter 6.indd   68 09-06-2025   14:37:15
69
What a Tank!
C. Read the following
 1. That’s so creative! 
 2. He saw a rooster, a tractor, and a giant 
football, all made of cement!
A. Write the contractions for the following words.
 1. do not 
 2. is not 
 3. are not 
 4. cannot 
 5. could not 
 6. did not  
B. Rewrite the following underlined words using 
contracted forms.
 1. Partho is not feeling well today. His parents 
have decided that he will stay at home till 
he gets better. Partho is bored and cannot 
stay at home anymore. He decides to ask 
his grandmother if he can go outside, but he 
thinks she, too, would not agree.
 2. It is a rainy day, and Tina is not happy. She 
cannot go out to play with her friends. Her 
brother does not want to play indoors either. 
They have decided to watch a movie instead. 
Their mother says she will make popcorn 
for them.
Chapter 6.indd   69 09-06-2025   14:37:15