Textbook Solutions: We Must Act Now! | New English Ferry: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets - Class 5 PDF Download

A. Tick (✔) the correct options to complete the sentences.

1. This poem is about ____________.
(a) not using polythene
(b) walking or cycling more
(c) not wasting food
(d) all of the above
Ans: (d)
The poem addresses multiple environmental issues, including avoiding the use of polythene, promoting walking or cycling, and discouraging food wastage.

2. Using polythene bags is ____________.
(a) good for the earth
(b) bad for the earth
(c) something we can boast about
(d) none of the above
Ans: (b)
The poem suggests that using polythene is not good for the earth and encourages the use of permanent bags instead.

3. The speaker in the poem believes that it is better to ____________.
(a) build houses on the moon
(b) live on Mars
(c) provide shelter to each person on earth
(d) provide shelter to some people
Ans: (c)
The speaker emphasizes the importance of prioritizing shelter for everyone on Earth before considering endeavors like building houses on the Moon or living on Mars.

4. Humanity can be saved by ____________.
(a) caring for air, water, animals, and trees
(b) consuming more plastics
(c) buying more things than we need
(d) thinking about the past
Ans: (a)
The poem suggests that humanity can be saved by taking care of the environment, including air, water, animals, and trees, and not by irresponsible consumption.

B. Answer these questions.

1. For what should we not expect a medal and why?
Ans: We should not expect a medal for walking or pedaling. The poem implies that these actions are good for everyone, but they are ordinary activities that do not warrant special recognition or awards.

2. Why is it important not to waste food?
Ans: It is important not to waste food because the food we waste could feed a destitute. The poem encourages individuals to contribute by avoiding food wastage.

3. What is the best way to develop the human community?
Ans: The best way to develop the human community, according to the poem, is to give priority to sustainability at every step of development. This implies considering the long-term impact on the environment and society in all our actions.

4. What is the balance that the speaker refers to in the last stanza?
Ans: The balance referred to in the last stanza is the ecological balance that needs to be preserved. It involves caring for the air, water, animals, and trees, and by doing so, we can save humanity.

C. Think and answer.

In what way are all the elements of nature like air, water, and trees our trustees?
Ans: All the elements of nature are like trustees because they sustain life on Earth. Air provides oxygen, water is essential for survival, and trees contribute to the overall balance by producing oxygen and supporting ecosystems. As trustees, they require our care and protection to ensure their sustainability for future generations.