Short & Long Questions: The World of Growing Knowledge | Be an Explorer 5: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets - Class 5 PDF Download

Short Answer Questions.

Q1: What is pictographic communication?
Ans: Pictographic communication involves using pictures and symbols to convey messages.

Q2: How did Native Americans communicate in the past?
Ans: Native Americans used smoke signals for communication.

Q3: What was the Sumerians' contribution to writing?
Ans: The Sumerians developed the cuneiform script using clay tablets.

Q4: Who developed the Braille script, and when?
Ans: Louis Braille of France developed the Braille script in 1825.

Q5: What did Egyptians use to convey meaning in their writing?
Ans: Egyptians used hieroglyphs, a form of writing based on pictures.

Q6: What was the first Indian script, and when did it develop?
Ans: The first Indian script was in the Indus Valley around 2600 BCE, but its content remains undecoded.

Q7: What discovery is attributed to Indians around 3000 BCE in Egypt?
Ans: Indians introduced the concept of 'zero' for measurement.

Q8: What plant did Egyptians use to make paper?
Ans: Egyptians used the papyrus plant to make paper.

Q9: Who invented the printing press, and in which decade?
Ans: Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 1450s.

Q10: What marked the beginning of 3D printing, and when did it start?
Ans: 3D printing began around 2010, allowing the reproduction of physical objects.

Long Answer Questions.

Q1: Describe the Sumerians' contribution to writing and the development of the cuneiform script.
Ans: The Sumerians were the first to develop the art of writing using clay tablets with designs, known as the cuneiform script. These clay tablets, probably used for counting animals or grain, were hardened by baking.

Q2: Explain the significance of the Braille script and its impact on visually challenged individuals.
Ans: The Braille script, developed by Louis Braille in 1825, consists of raised dots on thick paper, enabling visually challenged individuals to read through touch. It revolutionized the lives of those without the gift of eyes.

Q3: Discuss the evolution of writing in India, highlighting the development of the Brahmi script.
Ans: The first Indian script in the Indus Valley around 2600 BCE remains undecoded. The Brahmi script, developed about 2000 years ago, influenced many modern Indian scripts, including Devanagari for Hindi and Gurmukhi for Punjabi.

Q4: Trace the history of numbers, from the Roman system to the discovery of the decimal system.
Ans: The Roman system used symbols like I, II, III, while Indians introduced the concept of zero for measurement around 3000 BCE. This led to the discovery of the decimal system, a significant development in mathematics.

Q5: Explain the invention of paper, its origins, and the role of the Chinese in perfecting the process.
Ans: Egyptians invented paper about 4000 years ago using the papyrus plant. However, the Chinese perfected the paper-making process around 1500 years ago, cutting patterns in wooden blocks and pressing them on paper with ink.

Q6: Detail the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg and its impact on book production.
Ans: Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 1450s, revolutionizing book production. Molds of letters were used to form words and sentences, with the Bible being the first book printed at the Gutenberg printing press.

Q7: Explore the development of printing technology, from handwritten books to the latest computerized systems.
Ans: Initially, books were handwritten, but the slow process and expense led to the invention of the printing press. Over time, technology evolved, with electronic printers like the HP Laser Jet in 1984 and the advent of 3D printing around 2010.

Q8: Discuss the significance of hieroglyphs in Egyptian writing and how they evolved into letters.
Ans: Egyptians used hieroglyphs, pictures conveying meanings, to create a writing system. These hieroglyphs eventually evolved into 24 letters, marking a transition from pictorial communication to a more abstract script.

Q9: Explain the role of smoke signals and drum beats in communication among different cultures.
Ans: Native Americans used smoke signals, and some African cultures used drum beats for communication. These methods allowed people to convey messages over distances before the advent of written language.

Q10: Analyze the impact of the decimal system on counting and mathematics.
Ans: The use of fingers for counting led to the discovery of the decimal system. The introduction of zero around 3000 BCE in Egypt marked a significant development in mathematics, facilitating more advanced counting and record-keeping.