NCERT Solutions for Class 5 EVS Chapter 8 - A Treat for Mosquitoes

Find Out

Q.1. Do you know anyone who has had malaria?

Ans. Yes, once one of my friends suffered from malaria. 

Q.2. How did they find out that they had malaria?

Ans. It was found out by examining his blood.

Q.3. What problems did they have with malaria?

Ans. My friend when she was suffering from malaria got a high fever and became too weak. 

Q.4. What other diseases can be caused by mosquito bites?

Ans. Diseases like dengue, chikungunya, filaria, etc. are caused by mosquito bites.

Q.5. In which season is malaria more common? Why do you think this happens?

Ans. Malaria is more common during the rainy season. This is because water-logged and damp places provide a suitable breeding environment for mosquitoes.

Q.6. What do you do in your house to protect yourself from mosquitoes? Also, find out from your friends about what they do.

Ans. In our well as my friend’s house mosquito repellent devices and mosquito nets are used to protect ourselves from mosquitoes. Besides, we remain vigil that there should not be any water logging in our surroundings. We also keep our coolers, pots, etc. clean.

Q.7. Look at the report of the blood test given on the text page. Which words in the report help us to know that the patient has malaria?

Ans. It is clearly mentioned in the report that a malarial parasite has been found in a blood sample of the patient.

 Tell

Q.1. Look at Aarti’s blood report and find out the minimum haemoglobin required.

Ans. The minimum haemoglobin requirement is 12gm/dl. 

Q.2. How much did Aarti’s heamoglobin go up and how long did it take for that?

Ans. Aarti’s haemoglobin increased by 2.5 gm/dl i.e. around 30% in about three months. 

Q.3. What does the newspaper report say about the problems caused by anemia?

Ans. Newspaper report tells that anaemia is affecting both physical as well as mental health of the children suffering from it. Due to anaemia, children do not grow well, and their energy levels are low. This also affects their ability to study properly.

Q.4  Have you or anyone in your family ever needed to get a blood test? When and why?

Ans. Yes. Last year I got a blood test done. It was because doctors feared that I might be suffering from anaemia.

Q.5. What was found out by the blood test?

Ans. It was found that I was suffering from anaemia.

 Q.6. Have you had a health check-up in your school? What did the doctor tell you?

Ans. Yes, last month we had a health check-up in your school. The doctor told me I was healthy.

Find Out

Q1. Ask a doctor or elders about the food items which contain iron.
Ans.When I asked the doctor about the food items which contain iron the doctor suggested that green leafy vegetables like spinach, cabbage etc. contain iron.

Find Out and Tell

Q.1. Have you seen any poster like this put up anywhere?

Ans. Yes, such posters are put up near my school.

Q.2. Who do you think puts up such posters, or gives ads in the newspaper?

Ans. The government would have been putting up such posters and giving information in the newspaper. 

Q.3. What are the same important points given in the poster?

Ans. The important points given in the poster are:

• Warning alerts regarding the diseases caused by mosquito bites.
• Fill up the pits and don’t let water stagnate around your home.
• Every corner should be kept clean and no moisture should be there so that mosquitoes don’t get to breed.
• Protect yourself from mosquitoes by using mosquito repellents.

 Q.4. Why do you think pictures of a tank, cooler, and pots are shown in the poster?

Ans. Because these are the stuff where breeding of mosquitoes can take place if they are waterlogged or are not cleaned up regularly.

Think

Q.1. Why do you think it talks about putting fish in the tank? What do you think the fish eats?

Ans. It is told so because fishes eat up mosquito larvae that have been developing in the water.

 Q.2. What will happen when oil is spread on the water?

Ans. When oil is spread on water, the eggs and larvae of mosquitoes growing there would have been killed.

 Find Out

Q.1. Which diseases are spread by flies and how?

Ans. Flies spread dysentery, cholera, typhoid, anthrax, etc. Flies are easily attracted by filth. They used to sit on dirty and filthy matters. Again when these sit on the food, microbes are mixed in food. From there these can enter the human body.

Mosquito Check

Q.1 Divide your class into two or three groups. Each group will go around to check one area in the school or around it. It must carefully note if water has collected anywhere, and mark ✓ where it finds stagnant water. 

Ans. Pot, Cooler, Tang, Gutter, and Any other place- Drainage

Q.2. For how many days has the water been collected here?

Ans. For almost 8-10 days water has been collected there. 

Q.3. Who is responsible for keeping these places clean?

Ans. Within the school premises, it is the responsibility of the school authority while outside the school, the local municipality is responsible for the same.

Q.4. Who is supposed to get the gutters and drains repaired?

Ans. The local municipality is responsible to get the gutters and drains repaired.

Q.5. Can any larvae be seen in the collected water?

Ans. Yes, the larvae of mosquitoes can easily be seen in the collected water.

Q.6. Has it caused any problems in the area?

Ans. Yes, it is causing many problems. The entire area is turned into a mess and breeding place of mosquitoes and germs.

Make a Poster

Q.1. In your group, make a poster with a message to keep the cooler, tank, drains, and the area clean (wherever water collects). Put up your poster in and around your school.

Ans. 

Q.2. Find out who is responsible for keeping the area around your school clean. Write a letter from your class, reporting your findings and suggestions. Find out to whom the letter should be written, and to which office it should be sent.

Ans. The local municipality is responsible for keeping the area around our school clean. So, the letter should be addressed to the Mayor and be sent to the local municipal corporation office.

Letter to the Mayor

To

The Mayor

Municipal Corporation of Delhi

New Delhi

Subject: Request for better cleanliness around Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Rohini, Sector-8

Respected Sir,

Through this letter, we the students of Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Rohini, Sector-8 went to bring to your notice the fifth and garbage collection around the school. The entire area has been turned into a mess and become a haven for stray dogs and germs. Last week's heavy rains have only aggravated the situation. The drains and pits are waterlogged and became the breeding ground of mosquitoes.

So, you are requested to look into the matter immediately and order to clean up garbage in the area.

Thanking you,

Your Sincerely,

Student of Class V

Sarvodaya Vidyalaya

Sector-8 Rohini

Delhi

Tell

 If there is a pond or river around your house or school. Go and look around and observe these things:

Q.1.Can you see algae in or around the water?

Ans. Yes, I can see algae in or around the water.

Q.2. Where else have you seen algae?

Ans. We saw it near drains, handpumps, on damp walls, etc.

 Q.3. Are their plants growing on the side or in the water? Find out their names. Draw some of these in your notebook.

Ans. Yes, there are some small plants growing around the side or in the water. These are liverworts, mosses etc.

Fig: WortsFig: Mosses

Q.4. Do you think these were planted by someone or did they grow on their own?

Ans. These grow on their own.

 Q.5. What else can you see in the water? Make a list.

Ans. Besides algae, small fishes, frogs, larvae, floating insects and mosquitoes are also seen.

 What we have Learned

Q.1. What can you do so that mosquitoes do not breed in your house, school and neighbourhood?

Ans. This can be done by-

(i) Not allowing the area around us to get waterlogged.

(ii) Regularly cleaning the coolers and water tanks.

(iii) Spraying DDT and oil in drains, pits etc.

(iv) Cultivating fishes in nearby ditches, pits, ponds etc.

Q.2. How can you find out if someone has malaria?

Ans. If malarial parasites are found in a blood sample of that person, it means he or she has malaria, otherwise not.