NCERT Solutions Class 5 Environmental Studies Chapter 10 Walls tells stories

1. Why were bestions made in the fort wall?

Ans. Bastions were made in the front wall to ensure security of the fort.

2. Why were big holes made in them.

Ans. Big holes were made in them to increase the viewing area and thus the soldiers peeping through it could have a better vigilance.
 

3. What difference would be there if you were to look form a straight flat wall or a bestion at a height? How would the soldiers find peeping from the holes in the bastions useful while attacking?

Ans. Bastions are made in such a manner that soldiers can peep through its holes safely and can have a better vantage point is not possible in case of a straight flat wall.

4. How would the fountains have worked?

Ans. Fountains would have run through the water supplied by large tanks.

5. What arrangements would have been made in the building for air and light?

Ans. Large windows, doors and ventilators would have been for air and light.

6. Look carefully at the picture of the beautiful carving on the wall. What kind of tools would have been used for such fine carving.

Ans. Chisel and hammer made up of iron would have been used for such fine carving.

7. We still do not have any electricity at many places in our country. Even at places which do not have electricity, imagine what would happen if there were no electricity for one week. What are the things that would be difficult to manage without it?

Ans. If there is no electricity in our city, there would be great scarcity of water. We would not able to use TV, computers etc. Even the mobile phone would not work. Work in offices etc. cannot be possible either. In other words, life will come to a stand-still.

8. At the place you are, where does the sunrise? Where does it set? Where you are standing, find out what all there to your east? What all is there to your west? Also find out, what places are to you north and south?

Ans. Sun arises in the east and sets in the west. Right now I am standing in my classroom and from here the main gate of the school is in the east and playground is in west. In the north, there are other classrooms and in the south there is the administrative block.

9. If you are peeping inside from Bodli Darwaja, in which direction form you is Katora Hauz?

Ans. Katora Hauz is in north of Bodli Darwaja.

10. If someone is entering from Banjara Darwaja, in which direction form her is Katora Hauz?

Ans. In west direction.

11. In which direction will you walk from Bala Hissar to reach Moti Mahal?

Ans. If he walk in the east of Bala Hissar, we will reach Moti Mahal.

12. How may gates can you see on the outer walls of the fort?

Ans. There are nine gates on the outer walls of the fort.

13. Count how many palaces are there in the fort?

Ans. There are three palaces in the fort.

14. What arrangements for water can you see inside the fort? For example, wells, tanks, step wells.

Ans. For water, five baolis and three hauz have been made. On the map 1 cm distance is equal to a distance is equal to a distance of 110 metres on the ground.

15. On the map the distance between Bala Hisar and Fateh Darwaja is eight cm. On the ground the distance between the two would be 880 metre. How far is Makai Darwaja from Fateh Darwaja?

Ans. About 1000 metres.

16. Have you recently read or heard about any country attacking or going to war with another country?

Ans. Yes, recently I heard that United States has attacked Iraq.

17. Find out what was the reason for this war?

Ans. The United States wanted to topple the Iraqi president Saddam Hussain.

18. What kind of weapons were used in this war.

Ans. In this war, many sophisticated fighter planes, tanks, helicopters, machine guns, explosive etc. were used.

19. What kind of destruction was caused because of this?

Ans. There was a huge of life and property. Many people were killed and a large number of buildings etc. were ruined.

20. The big gun that Shreedhar saw made of bronzes. Have you seen anything made of bronze? What?

Ans. Yes, I have seen idols, medals, cannon and decorative goods made up of bronze.

21. Find out from your elders about some of the things made from bronze that were, or are still used in your house. From its colour try to identify which one of them is made from copper, which from brass, and which from bronze?

Ans. There are many idols and decorative goods, which are still used in our house. Goods made up of copper are of raddish-brown in colour, brass goods are yellow while those made up of bronze are shiny grey black in colour.

22. The picture shown here is made after seeing a very old painting of those times. Can you think why bullocks have been used here?

Ans. Bullocks are used to uplift the water.

23. Use your hand movement to show in which direction in the drum attached on the rod moves when the bullock move?

Ans. The drum will move in anticlock direction.

24. In which direction would the ‘toothed wheel’ move?

Ans. It will move in clock wise direction.

25. Now imagine, how would this garland of pots lift water from the well?

Ans. The bullocks move the drum, which in turn moves the toothed wheel. From this wheel garland wheel is connected through a rod. So as the toothed wheel moves, it rotates the garland wheel and thus water is lifted form the well.

26. Do you now get some idea about how the tanks could have been filled by lifting water from the wells?

Ans. Yes, the tanks could have been filled up by lifting water from the wells using this technique.

27. Where else have you seen such wheels attached to each other? For example, in the gear of a cycle or somewhere else?

Ans. Besides cycles, I have seen such attached wheels in old mechanical watches, clock, sewing machine, generators, and in heavy machines.

28. Look around and find out how water is pumped up from the ground to higher places.

Ans. These days water is pumped up using boring machines, windmill etc. Somewhere, especially in villages, traditional method like using bullocks are also used.

29. How is water pumped up using electricity? How is water lifted without electricity?

Ans. The electric machines absorb underground water through tube well and pumps it up. Without electricity, water can be lifted using buckets and ropes, windmill and also using bullocks.

30. What is the Sultan doing in the palace? What kind of clothes is he wearing? What dishes are being offered to him? But why does he seem so worried? And in what language is he talking?

Ans. Sultan is in a meeting with his ministers. He has worn an elegant dress and many jewels. Many types of sweet drinks and muglai foods are being offered to him. But he seems worried due to the invasion of enemies on the fort. He is talking in Persian.

31. Imagine the rooms in the palace … the beautiful carpets and curtains, the fountains on the terrace .. and the sweet smell of roses and chameli – where is the coming from?

Ans.  The palace is looking grand. The rooms are decorated by beautiful carpets and curtains. Fountains are running on the terrace. Sweet smell of roses and chameli are coming from the garden.

32. What are the different kind of factories you can see? How many people are working there? What are they doing? What are they wearing? How long do you think they work?

Ans. I can see the factories of clothes, utensils, idols, decorative goods and arms. On an average 20 people and working there. They are preparing the goods and have worn tight clothes. I think they would work early morning to late in the evenings.

33. Look there! See finely those craftsman are carving the stones using a chisel and hammer? Can you see the stone dust in the air? Do you think this stone dust would harm them in the same way?

Ans. No, this stone dust would not be causing any harm to them as they have wrapped a cloth around their nose and mouth.

34. What kind of pots have seen around you?

Ans. I have seen pots made up of steel, iron, brass, glass, fibre, aluminium and plastics.

35. Try to find out from your grandparents about the other kinds of pots and pans they used in their time?

Ans. In the time of our grandparents pots and pans made up of brass, clay, iron and copper were used.

36. Have you ever been to some museum or heard about it? What all the things are there in a museum?

Ans. Yes, once I visited a museum. Antiques of historical importance are kept in a museum.

37. Is there any old building or monument near house which people come to see? If yes, name it.

Ans. Yes, there is a tomb near my house. Many people come to see it.

38. Have you ever gone to see an old monument? Which was that? Did you feel it told you a story? What could you know about these time form it?

Ans. Yes, once I went to Agra to see Taj Mahal. I felt as if it was telling the story of its time. We could know about the culture, art, sculptures etc. of that times from it.

39. How old was it? How did you know?

Ans. It was about 350 years old. I came to know if from my history books. Though it was also mentioned on the inscription over there.

40. What was it made of?

Ans. It was made up of marbles.

41. What colour was it?

Ans. It was of white colour.

42. Who used to live there in the olden days?

Ans. Nobody used to live there.

43. What kinds of activities took place there?

Ans. Taj Mahal is a tomb where graves of Mughal emperor Shahjahan and his wife Mumtaj Mahal are based.

44. Do some people still live there?

Ans. No.

45. What kinds of work are people doing?

Ans. People are seen affixing bricks, carrying goods and water etc. for constructing.

46. How many men and women was working?

Ans. Thirty-six men and four women are working.

47. See, how they are taking the huge pillar up along the slope? Is it easier to lift a heavy thing straight up or along a slope.

Ans. It is easier to lift a heavy thing along a slope.

48. Were you able to see the man carrying water in a mashak (leather bag)?

Ans. Yes.

49. Sangeeta thinks it is useless to keep old things in a museum. How would you convince her that it is important to have a museum?

Ans. From the antiques kept in museum, we came to know about our culture and heritage. It helps us to know about our culture, art and literature, science and technology etc. and we can learn a lot of these. So, it is very important to have a museum.

50. Why do you think the chapter is named, “Walls Tell Stories’?

Ans. It is because every historical structure is a witness of the their art, culture science and technology and thus appears to tell the stories of that time.