AWARE_G06_GK_MB_Book.pdf by Uolo

AWARE Navigate the Rapidly Changing World

6 General Knowledge Textbook

21st Century Skills

NEP 2020 Aligned

AWARE Navigate the Rapidly Changing World

To Pare nt s an d Te ac h e rs

In the dynamic and ever-changing world of the 21st century, knowledge is a beacon that guides us through the myriad challenges and opportunities that come our way. In this age of information, possessing a keen sense of general knowledge and awareness has become more critical than ever before. This awareness becomes a compass that helps us navigate through the complexities of our modern existence, allowing us to make informed decisions, think critically, and appreciate the world’s diversity. On that note, we are delighted to present to you this comprehensive and engaging General Knowledge and Current Affairs book, designed specifically for learners in grades 1 to 8. This book, which spans eight thoughtfully curated themes, will serve as your constant companion in your quest for knowledge and awareness. The world is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and it’s crucial that young minds are well-informed about the happenings around them. Topics in The Year Gone By theme offer insights into the significant events and milestones of the previous year. In Science and Technology, learners explore groundbreaking innovations and discoveries that are actively defining and shaping our future. In Earth and Environment, learners explore topics related to sustainability and environmental conservation. Recognizing the delicate balance in our planet’s ecosystem and the paramount importance of preserving it are vital 21st-century skills. In International Affairs, learners explore landmark global events of the past and the present, and developments across the world. The theme Incredible India will help learners to explore the rich tapestry of our nation’s history, culture and heritage. In Sports, Entertainment and Culture, we explore human creativity and athleticism that transcend borders. Life Skills and Financial Literacy provide learners with valuable practical skills essential for navigating through their lives with confidence and competence. This book is crafted to offer informative and enjoyable learning experiences, incorporating clear explanations, captivating visuals and abundant questions for interactive classroom engagement. This book is supplemented by a free of cost digital interactive learning platform. QR codes in each topic facilitate compatibility with smart classrooms and enable at-home access. The digital resources include topic-specific videos and learning experiences on current affairs and developments around the world. Welcome to the world of General Knowledge and Current Affairs! We wish the best to all the teachers and learners!

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Topic Number

Topic Title

QR Code

Theme Title

Incredible India

Fabrics and Patterns of India

Explore More

Since ancient times, India has been known for its fabrics and patterns. Textile has always played an important role in trade and business in India. Let us learn about some of the beautiful fabrics, patterns and embroidery of India. Ikat is a fabric made by tying the threads in specific patterns, followed by dyeing them and using different colours. After the threads are dyed, they are woven into different geometric patterns. Today, Telangana is one of the main hubs for ikat weaving in India. Chanderi is a traditional fabric. It comes from the small town of Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh. It is known for its light weight, sheer texture and a very fine feel. It is produced by weaving silk and golden zari together. Chanderi fabric is used to make sarees, kurtas, duppattas, etc. Pashmina is manufactured from the finest quality Cashmere wool. The wool is obtained from the Changthanghi goat also known as Kashmir Goats. Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, is famous for producing Pashmina shawls. Pashmina shawls are world-famous for their softness, warmth and beauty. These shawls are hand embroidered, making them one of the most expensive fabrics.

Banarasi silk is produced in Banaras, or Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh. Its history can be traced back to the Mughal era. Banarasi silk sari is famous all over India for its fine quality silk. It is known for its golden and silver brocade or zari, fine silk and embroidery. Khadi is a hand-spun and handwoven fabric. It is made by spinning the fibre into yarn on a spinning wheel known as a charkha. Then the yarn is woven into a fibre using a loom. Khadi is not only made of cotton but is also made of silk and wool. Pondru in Andhra Pradesh is famous for producing handwoven khadi cotton.

Scan this QR code to learn more about the art of Bandhani and how it is created. Also, learn about the weaving of Banarasi silk sari.

Let’s Practise �� 1 In which state of India are the following made? a Banarasi Silk

b Pashmina

Kalamkari

d Cotton Khadi

Bandhani

Jamdani is a weaving technique that originated in Bangladesh. It involves the hand weaving of fine cotton fabric with beautiful and decorative patterns. It is mostly used in making saris and scarves. This art of weaving was included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list 2013. In India, West Bengal is famous for Jamdani.

g Chanderi

Chikankari

Ikat

h Jamdani Phulkari

2 Fill in the blanks. a Bandhani is also known as

b Khadi is made on a spinning wheel called

Chikankari was introduced in India, during the

d The wool from the

is a form of Kalamkari which involves vegetable-dyed block painting. art of weaving was included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list of 2013.

f g In

Kalamkari is a type of hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile produced in Andhra Pradesh. There are two styles of Kalamkari art in India. The Srikalahasti style is done using a pen for freehand drawing of patterns and filling in the colours. Machilipatnam style involves vegetable-dyed block-painting of a fabric.

era. goat is used to make Pashmina.

the threads are woven in different geometric patterns after they are dyed. style of Kalamkari is done using a pen for free-hand drawing and filling in of colours.

h Bandhani is a type of tie and dye textile. It is also known as Bandhej and is usually made on superfine cotton and muslin. It involves dyeing the fabric which is tied with threads at various points to produce a variety of designs and patterns. Bright colours, such as red, yellow and green are used. It is an ancient art that is mainly practised in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Explore More QR Code

Banarasi silk saris are known for their

Apart from cotton, khadi can also be made of

and

brocade. and

3 Write if True or False. a Banarasi saris originated in Bangladesh. b Machilipatnam is a style of Chikankari. c

Chikankari is known for its delicate and intricate white thread work. It is done on fine muslin fabric to create beautiful patterns and designs. It is believed to have been introduced in India during the Mughal era. It is a popular choice for clothing, accessories and home furnishings. Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh is known worldwide for this kind of embroidery.

Bandhani is a type of tie-and-dye textile.

d Patan is the famous producer of Patola saris in India. e

Pashmina is the finest quality silk used to make saris.

Topic 4 • Fabrics and Patterns of India

Themes 11

The Year Gone Discoveries andByInventions

Explore More A discovery is finding something that already exists for the first time. An invention is creating something new with a new idea. Let’s read about some recent discoveries and inventions around the world. Scan this QR code to find out more about Khelo India Youth Games 2023 and watch its opening ceremony. Also, find out all events in Athletics.

Earth and Environment Exoplanets Webb Telescope Wonders of the James World 22 The Discovery7of New In 2015, The National In December 2021, Let’s Practice Aeronautics and Space Name the place where the given events took place in 2023. Administration (NASA)

NASA launched 1 the James Webb Explore Morethe New 7 Wonders On 7-07-2007, Foundation (an official partner of the UN now) declared the new 7 wonders of the confirmed the discovery of Telescope (JWST) a ICC T20 Women’s Cricket World Cup: world. These wonders are chosen by the votesplanet of more than 10 crore people across the world. a near-Earth-sized to conduct space Scan this QR code to explore more about the amazing animals of the named Kepler-22b that research. JWST Olympic World Games: b Special tropical rainforests. exists beyond our solar and Space Launch The Taj Mahal The Colosseum c Asian Athletics Championship: system and is therefore, System (SLS) Incredible India Agra, India Rome, of Italy an exoplanet. By August 2023, NASA scientists have rocket NASA Khelo India Youth Games: d Let’s declared Practice the discovery over 5,500 were named TIME Inventions of theItYear It isexoplanets. made of white is the2022. largest marble and is located amphitheatre ever e inFIFA World Cup: number. theWomen’s box with the correct 1 Fill on the banks of the built. It could host Explore More f Hockey Men’s Hockey World Cup: sportriver is a widely popular in India. It is played by Sloths have about inches longmain claws. Yamuna. The about 80,000 people a two QR teams ofto 11 learn players each. The playersclassical use four J-shaped structure has pillars forms. at once. It was built by Scan this code more about Indian dance The Australian Open Tournament: Anacondas grow as big as g sticks b to hit acan ball intoTennis the opposite team’s goal. it. It metres (minars) around was the Romans to be an Agricultural Robots World’s Largest Waterlily built by Emperor Shah entertainment venue c Orangutans have an armspan of up to metres. Robots for agriculture 2022, scientists the playercan or countries that In won these events.at the 2 Name Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. So, it is Skills and for hosting human fights and animal hunts. Life were first thought Royal Botanic Gardens, Okapi sleep for about minutes but many times in a day. d viewed as a symbol of love. ICC T20 Women’s Cricket World Cup: a Let’s Practice of in the year 1920. United Kingdom e Sloths can swim times than they move on land. Since then, many declared the faster discovery Single inGreat Wimbledon Championship: b Women’s the classical dance formWall of the following The of Chinastates. 1 Name Christ the Redeemer robots have been of the world’s largest f Money The bills of toucans can be part in fulfilling our day-to-day times the size of their Explore More plays an important needs. So,heads. it is important to know howinvented to manage it. by various waterlily FIFA Women’s World Cup: China species. It Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ac Kerala companies to is named Victoria thisdo QRI live? code to learn more aboutThis yoga and 21,196 its popularity in India. Also, Where about km This 30 m tall statue 2 Scan Men’s Hockey World Cup: d b Odisha perform nearly all Its huge, explore the yoga poses that you canBoliviana. do easily practice long walland is the largestevery day. Earning Money of Jesus Christ with Major Dhyan Chand Singh is known as the father of activities disc-shaped pads can are found in rainforests of a Orangutans Arun‘s dad got hisinsalary today. He is happy and so is Arun. farming Men’s Single in Australian Open Tennis Tournament: human-made thing openOlympic arms stands ce Assam Indian hockey. irrigation He was a and three-time gold on such as sowing, harvesting. grow up to 3 m in diameter. theArun: world.Dad, Itofspreads the top of Corcovado why is it that only you get a salary but I don’t? b Slow lorises are mostly found in rainforests medallist. On 29 August every year, his birthday is Andhra Pradesh d Give a reason for this statement. Let’s Practice 3 from the(laughed eastern and explained): You need to earn it, Arun! We work Mountain. is viewed Dad to earn It the celebrated as the National Sports Day. Malaysian Hockey Team Indian Hockey Team c Toucans are mostly found in rainforests of seaside to we theget western a or symbol of run money as salary. When you grow up, you can work, like as I do, you can ea West Athletes with a sentences special disability compete with each in this event: the Bengal following and write if it is for Yoga orother Meditation. 1 Read desert northern hope for yourinown business, like your mother. Doing these things will help you and earnpeace money. d Sloths are mostly found in the rainforests of China.Pradesh The first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang ordered humanity after World fa Uttar Arun: Oh, I see! All these are different ways to earn money. It has different asanas. New Species World’s first Wireless Television India has 4Octopus National Hockey TeamsIt construction to protect people from War I. e its Okapi are only found in thehis rainforests of nomads. The Men’s National Hockey Team Dad: That is right. Now, let us get ready. We have to go to the market, remember lifemen’s is vast and time in 2023: Scientists are were in •Ocean this event for the team first over 2,000included yearsthoughts. ago. In Men’s this, you monitor your b was •Water team Junior dobuilt I sports live? 2 Where Nickname: Men in Blue every year, scientists innovating many features.team Write the names the animals of the tropical rainforests. 3 Read • the Women’s • of Junior women’s team Some International Achievements It is quite time for the mind. dance is performed by men for female roles. areeven making discoveries advanced machines ac This It istrees: the most successful team in the Olympics with spends most the time clinging to•the a It is a slow-moving animal that Spending Money about it. On 28 of June each year. In August Machu Picchu Machu Picchu Machu Picchu c It Germany wonof and Belgium played in the finals in which Germany won the event: 8 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals. After 6 gold is the union body and mind. d

Hockey in India

Manage Your Money

Science and Technology Explore More Scan this QR code to explore more discoveries and innovations.

International Affairs Let’s Practice 1 Is it a Discovery or an Invention?

Explore More

a A new species of catfish was found in January 2023. Scan this QR code to learn more about the selection campaign of A robotic Also, drone built tomore understand voice commands. theb7 wonders. explore about Chichen Itza.

c Thomas Edison built the very first bulb. Sports, Entertainment and Culture Let’s Practice July 2023, the most distant supermassive black hole was seen for the first time with JWST. d In CITIES new wonders located?that store heat energy. 1 Ine which Finland builtare thethese world’s first sand batteries

Explore More a Taj Mahal

b The Colosseum f Scientists first identified the coronavirus in 1965. Scan QRthe code to learn more about the hockey field and the c this Christ Redeemer In this 2011,game. Google created the first smart glasses. g of rules

2 In which COUNTRIES are these new wonders located?

Financial Literacy Picchu a Chichen Itza b Machu Let’s Practice 2 Write the names of these inventions/discoveries. h In 1900, Karl Landsteiner identified three groups of human blood. c Petra

in the boxes with the correct answer. 1 Fill a The world’s largest waterlily: Fill the blank with the correct name of the wonder of the world. More 3 Explore a The number of players in a hockey team:

b The first near-Earth-sized exoplanet: a 30-metre-tall statue. and ways to a Scan code of to Indian learnismore about importance The QR number hockey teams: b this c money. save The telescope launched by NASA in around December has four pillars it. 2021: b c The shape of a hockey stick is like this letter: c in the blanks. has a famous temple pyramid. 3 Fill d The only side of the hockey stick that should touch the ball: is the largest amphitheatre ever built. d Practice Let’s of robots in agriculture dates to the the knee: year . a The idea only shoot in which the ball can goback above e The e the longest of all the wonders the brackets and7fill in the blank. 1 Choose the correct wordisfrom of years which TIME the men’s national hockey team won consecutive . NASA’s JWST wasin named Inventions in the Year of f The number b f is made with white marble. Olympic wegold work,medals: we money as salary. (spend/earn) a When c World’s largest waterlily’s disc-shaped pad can grow up to metres. was a part of Maya City. g g The number of times Major Dhyan Chand won Olympic gold medals: money. (save/spend) b When we buy grocery, we h In , 2023 company launched the world’s first wireless television. was built over 2000 years ago. d h The number of Olympic gold medals won by the men’s national hockey team: c Keeping money aside for future needs is money. (saving/lending) was part scientists of an Arabdeclared kingdom. ei By , NASA the discovery of over exoplanets. YEAR can did Indian National Teamsinachieve this? 2 In what Children save money at home a . (gullak/bank account)

iii

C o nt e nt s

1 Global Leaders, 2023 �� 2 2 Amazon Rainforest �� 4 3 Smart Devices �� 6 4 Fabrics and Patterns of India �� 8 5 SAARC Nations �� 10 6 Basketball �� 12 7 Emergency and First Aid �� 14 8 Disastrous Floods and Earthquakes in 2023 �� 16 9 Animals of Extreme Places �� 18 10 Modern Energy Resources �� 20 11 Superlatives of India �� 22 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites �� 24 13 Chess �� 26 14 Food Nutrients and Health �� 28 15 G20 �� 30 16 Life on Earth �� 32 17 Indian Space Missions �� 34 18 Major Ore Mines of India �� 36 iv

19 New Silk Road �� 38 20 Famous Books Made into Films �� 40 21 Surya Namaskar �� 42 22 India in Space, 2023 �� 44 23 The 17 Goals of Sustainable Development �� 46 24 Wireless Technologies �� 48 25 Indian Handicrafts �� 50 26 The UN Headquarters �� 52 27 Renowned Poets and Authors �� 54 28 National Schemes for Skill Development �� 56 29 Sports Awards, 2023 �� 58 30 Natural Disasters �� 60 31 Vaccines and Immunization Programmes �� 62 32 Folk Music and Dances of India �� 64 33 Embassies and Ambassadors �� 66 34 Dance Forms Around the World �� 68 35 Get Your Money �� 70 Answers �� 72

Contents

Global Leaders, 2023

Here are some women politicians of 2023 who have made significant impact globally. Let us learn more about them.

Nirmala Sitharaman Finance Minister of India since May, 2019 She is the second woman to hold this position after Indira Gandhi. She was in charge of the COVID-19 Economic Response Task Force during the pandemic in India. India became the fifth-largest economy in the world in 2022, during her tenure.

Kamala Harris Vice President of the United States since January, 2021 She is the first woman and the first South Asian-American to be elected as the vice president. She has contributed significantly in the growth of the US economy. She has also helped remove many challenges faced by women at work.

Giorgia Meloni Prime Minister of Italy since October, 2022 She is the first Italian woman to hold the position of prime minister. She has made significant contributions in improving the political and economic position of Italy in the world.

Ursula von der Leyen President of the European Commission since December, 2019 She is a German physician and politician and is the 13th president of the European Commission. She is the first woman to hold this position. She played a notable role during the COVID–19 pandemic by securing vaccines from Pfizer. She has been praised for her leadership during the Ukraine war and has made several trips to Kyiv to meet the Ukrainian president. She has been a vocal advocate for democracy and human rights.

Jacinda Ardern Prime Minister of New Zealand from October 2017 to January 2023 She is an ex-politician who served as the 40th prime minister of New Zealand. She was the country’s youngest prime minister, at the age of 37. She has been praised for leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. She received global praise for supporting the victims of the mosque shootings in Christchurch in March 2019. She is also a strong advocate for women’s rights and environmental protection.

Sheikh Hasina Prime Minister of Bangladesh since January, 2009 She has served as the 10th prime minister of Bangladesh. She has been the president of the Bangladesh Awami League, a major political party since 1981. In 2018, she was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world. She has played a leading role in local and global politics, making life better for the people of Bangladesh, improving education, healthcare and the economy. 2

The Year Gone By Explore More Scan this QR code to learn the names of the nations led by women in 2023 and famous women leaders in politics from different countries.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Name the following women politicians. a

is the first woman prime minister of Italy.

was the 40th prime minister of New Zealand.

has been the prime minister of Bangladesh since 2009.

is the first woman vice president of the United States of America.

is the first female president of the European Commission.

is the second female to hold the position of finance minister of India.

was the world’s first female prime minister.

2 Write the dates when these women started their role, as political leaders. a

Kamala Harris as the vice president

Giorgia Meloni as the prime minister

Jacinda Ardern as the prime minister

Nirmala Sitharaman as finance minister

Sheikh Hasina as the prime minister

Ursula von der Leyen as the president of the European Commission

3 Fill in the blanks. has been praised for her support of the victims of the mosque

a shootings in Christchurch. b

made contributions in the US to support women at work.

made several trips to Ukrain during the war to meet the Ukrainian president.

Jacinda Arden became the youngest prime minister of New Zealand at the age of

, the prime minister of Bangladesh, was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2018.

India became the

largest economy in the world in

during the tenure

of Nirmala Sitharaman.

Topic 1 • Global Leaders, 2023

Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon Rainforest is a massive forest in South America. It plays a very important role on our planet. Let us read more about it.

The Amazon Forest has one of the largest varieties of flora and fauna in the world. It helps control air pollution and the rise in temperature, globally. Native people across 9 countries in South America depend on the forest for their livelihood.

The Amazon Rainforest extends across nine countries: Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. The most of it is located within Brazil. It covers a huge area of about 6.7 million square kilometres and represents more than half of the world’s remaining rainforests. The Amazon River flows through the Amazon rainforest.

The Amazon Forest has diverse and unique animals. Some of the land animals include jaguars, pumas, tapirs, sloth bears, howler monkeys and anacondas. In the river, we can find piranhas, pink river dolphins and giant otters. Parrots, toucans and harpy eagles are some unique birds found there.

There are hundreds of thousands of plant species in the Amazon Forest. Towering trees like the Brazil nut, rubber and kapok trees are common. There are also many orchids and many medicinal plants. The cocoa trees also grow in the Amazon. The seeds of the cocoa trees are used to make chocolate. Giant water lilies can also be found growing in the rivers.

The Amazon Rainforest is home to many tribes, like the Yanomami, Kayapo and Munduruku. All these tribes depend on the rainforest for hunting, fishing and farming. Their traditional wisdom in using the forest’s resources helps protect this vital ecosystem.

The Amazon Rainforest is vital for several reasons: · It is often called the ‘Lungs of the Earth’ as it absorbs a massive amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. · It affects weather and rainfall patterns, thereby impacting on agriculture and water resources for millions of people. · It has many plants with medicinal properties.

Earth and Environment Explore More Scan this QR code to learn more about the Amazon Rainforests and different rainforests on the Earth.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Name any 6 countries across which the Amazon Rainforest extends.

2 Write the names of the following. a

Any 3 tribes of the Amazon Rainforest: ,

, and

Any 3 plants found in the Amazon Rainforest: ,

, and

Any 3 birds found in this rainforest

Any 3 animals found in the Amazon Rainforest: ,

, and

3 Fill in the blanks a

The Amazon Rainforest is located in

The

The Amazon spreads over a huge area of about

The major part of the Amazon Rainforest is located in the country of

The seeds from the cocoa plant are used to make

The Amazon Rainforest soaks up carbon dioxide which helps to fight

The

The Amazon Rainforest has many plants with

Topic 2 • Amazon Rainforest

. river flows through the Amazon Rainforest. square kilometres. . . .

dolphins are found in the Amazon River. properties.

Smart Devices

Smart devices are devices and appliances that have been upgraded. They have internet connectivity, advanced sensors and even computing power. Here are some examples of smart devices available today.

Smart Beds allow users to lift up their heads or feet using a remote control. This feature is good for people with back pain. These beds can also make sure you sleep at a comfortable temperature, which is helpful if you have trouble sleeping when it is too hot or too cold. Some of these smart beds even come with a built-in massager to help you relax before you sleep.

Smart Mirrors look like regular mirrors, but they are so much more than regular mirrors. They can tell you about the weather, time, current news, traffic and your schedule. You can also use them to control your lights, adjust the temperature in your home, and play music. Some smart mirrors even have cameras that let you try on virtual makeup and check your skin. They can also help you keep track of your fitness and tell you about your dressing and posture.

A Smart Water Bottle is a high-tech way to stay hydrated. It can measure how much water you are drinking. These bottles can remind you to drink, have cool sensors to track your water intake, and even play music. They help you drink more water, are leak-proof, simple to clean, and make drinking water rewarding.

Smart Glasses are special glasses that display information in front of your eyes. These glasses can help you with lots of things, like finding a location, nearby places, showing your social media updates and searching for information. Most of them display information with just a touch. Some can even work with your voice commands.

Smart Toilets use technology to make your bathroom experience better. They can flush by themselves, warm the seat up and even clean themselves. Some extra features include night lights and air purifiers. You can control them with a remote or your voice. These toilets are not just convenient to use but also help to save water.

Science and Technology Explore More Scan this QR code to explore more smart home devices.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Name any 6 smart devices.

2 Fill in the blanks with the names of the correct smart devices. a

can measure your water intake and remind you to drink water.

use technology to make the bathroom experience better with features like self-flushing and warming the seat.

are designed to adjust the head or foot position and maintain a comfortable temperature for better sleep. can display weather, news and traffic, and can keep you aware of your

d body posture. e

display information in front of your eyes and can be controlled by talking, moving your hands, or pressing buttons.

3 Write a feature of each of these devices. a Smart Toilets: b Smart Beds: c Smart Mirrors: d Smart Gardens: e Smart Glasses: f

Automatic Blinds:

g Smart Water Bottles: h Smart Shower:

Topic 3 • Smart Devices

Fabrics and Patterns of India

Chanderi is a traditional fabric. It comes from the small town of Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh. It is known for its light weight, sheer texture and a very fine feel. It is produced by weaving silk and golden zari together. Chanderi fabric is used to make sarees, kurtas, duppattas, etc.

Khadi is a hand-spun and handwoven fabric. It is made by spinning the fibre into yarn on a spinning wheel known as a charkha. Then the yarn is woven into a fibre using a loom. Khadi is not only made of cotton but is also made of silk and wool. Pondru in Andhra Pradesh is famous for producing handwoven khadi cotton.

Pashmina is manufactured from the finest quality Cashmere wool. The wool is obtained from the Changthanghi goat also known as Kashmir Goats. Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, is famous for producing Pashmina shawls. Pashmina shawls are world-famous for their softness, warmth and beauty. These shawls are hand embroidered, making them one of the most expensive fabrics. Bandhani is a type of tie and dye textile. It is also known as Bandhej and is usually made on superfine cotton and muslin. It involves dyeing the fabric which is tied with threads at various points to produce a variety of designs and patterns. Bright colours, such as red, yellow and green are used. It is an ancient art that is mainly practised in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Jamdani is a weaving technique that originated in Bangladesh. It involves the hand weaving of fine cotton fabric with beautiful and decorative patterns. It is mostly used in making saris and scarves. This art of weaving was included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list 2013. In India, West Bengal is famous for Jamdani.

Phulkari is a form of thread embroidery which originated in Punjab. Phulkari work is usually done on dupattas (scarves) and shawls. This type of thread embroidery is created with colourful silken thread and darning stitches. These are often worn for special occasions, such as weddings and festivals. It is known for its geometric patterns and natural motifs. Kalamkari is a type of hand-painted or block-printed cotton textile produced in Andhra Pradesh. There are two styles of Kalamkari art in India. The Srikalahasti style is done using a pen for freehand drawing of patterns and filling in the colours. Machilipatnam style involves vegetable-dyed block-painting of a fabric. Chikankari is known for its delicate and intricate white thread work. It is done on fine muslin fabric to create beautiful patterns and designs. It is believed to have been introduced in India during the Mughal era. It is a popular choice for clothing, accessories and home furnishings. Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh is known worldwide for this kind of embroidery.

Incredible India Explore More Scan this QR code to learn more about the art of Bandhani and how it is created. Also, learn about the weaving of Banarasi silk sari.

Let’s Practise �� 1 In which state of India are the following made? a Banarasi Silk

b Pashmina

c Kalamkari

d Cotton Khadi

e Bandhani

g Chanderi

h Jamdani

Chikankari

Ikat

Phulkari

2 Fill in the blanks. a Bandhani is also known as

b Khadi is made on a spinning wheel called

c Chikankari was introduced in India, during the d The wool from the

era. goat is used to make Pashmina.

is a form of Kalamkari which involves vegetable-dyed block painting. art of weaving was included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list of 2013.

f g In

the threads are woven in different geometric patterns after they are dyed. style of Kalamkari is done using a pen for free-hand drawing and filling in of colours.

h i

Banarasi silk saris are known for their

Apart from cotton, khadi can also be made of

and

brocade. and

3 Write if True or False. a Banarasi saris originated in Bangladesh. b Machilipatnam is a style of Chikankari. c Bandhani is a type of tie-and-dye textile. d Patan is the famous producer of Patola saris in India. e Pashmina is the finest quality silk used to make saris.

Topic 4 • Fabrics and Patterns of India

SAARC Nations

International governmental organisations are very useful. They work to ensure that the member-countries work peacefully in their regions. One such organisation is the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC). Let us learn more about SAARC. The SAARC was established on 8 December 1985. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were the founding member-countries of SAARC. They signed the SAARCh Charter in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The secretaries of these seven founding countries met for the first time, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 1981. The objective of SAARC was to promote regional cooperation, economic growth, improve living standards and address shared challenges of the member-countries. Afghanistan became the newest member of SAARC in 2005. The Headquarters and the Secretariat of the association are in Kathmandu, Nepal. The SAARC heads of state meet at the Annual Summits. The following are SAARC-specialised bodies in some of the member countries of the association: • South Asian University (SAU), India • South Asian Regional Standard Organisation (SARSO), Bangladesh. • SAARC Development Fund (SDF), Bhutan • SAARC Arbitration Council (SARCO), Pakistan Some of the Achievements of SAARC to Promote Trade • SAARC established the Free Trade Area (FTA) to increase internal trade among the member countries. • The South Asia Preferential Trading Agreement (SAPTA) was set up in 1995 to promote trade among member countries. • The South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA) was signed to reduce custom duties on trade goods to zero by 2016. Services like Information Technology are excluded from this. • The SAARC Agreement on Trade Services (SATIS) was signed to promote trade cooperation, economic cooperation and integration. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the SAARC designed and implemented the SAARC COVID-19 emergency fund to help its member countries.

The SAARC Countries

Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Bhutan

India

Maldives

Nepal

Pakistan

Srilanka

International Affairs Explore More Scan this QR code to learn more about the SAARC.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Write the correct year of the following events. a SAARC was established: b 8th Asian country joined the SAARC: c SAPTA was set up to promote trade: d SAFTA was signed to reduce custom duties on trade goods: e The seven founding countries met for the first time:

2 Write the full form. a FTA: b SAU: c SDF: d SAPTA: e SAFTA: f

SARCO:

g SARSO: h SATIS:

3 Fill in the blanks. a SAARC stands for

b The SARSO is located in

c The SARCO is located in

d The newest member of the SAARC is

e The SAU is located in

The SDF is located in

g The founding members of the SAARC met for the first time in h During COVID-19, the SAARC designed the i

The Headquarters and the Secretariat of the association are in

Topic 5 • SAARC Nations

. to help the member countries. , Nepal.

Basketball

Basketball is a game played by two teams with five players in each. The goal is to score points called ‘baskets’ by throwing a large ball in the other team’s basket, which is about 3 metres above the ground. The ball used in this game is also referred to as a ‘basketball’. Basketball was invented by James Naismith in 1891. He was a physical education instructor at the International Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) training school in Springfield, Massachusetts. The first college basketball game was played between the University of Chicago and the University of Iowa, in January 1896.

The game is played with a ground ball and two hoops, or baskets, placed at the opposite ends of a court.

International basketball became more popular when men’s basketball was added to the Olympic Games in 1936.

James Naismith created the basketball game to be played as an indoor game. Basketball is a game in which two teams of five players each try to throw a ball into the other team’s hoop to score points. The team with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.

Basketball is played on a rectangular court, with a basket on both sides. It is a game played for a total of 48 minutes, with four quarters of 12 minutes each.

Women’s basketball was introduced in 1892 by Senda Berenson. The first women’s basketball game was played in 1893, featuring two women’s college teams.

Organisations of Basketball The National Basketball League (NBL) was the first professional league formed in 1898. It was known for its unique court setup.

The Basketball Association of America (BAA) was established in 1946. It later merged with the NBL in 1949 to form the National Basketball Association (NBA).

The association of national organisations that governs the sport of basketball is called the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). It makes the rules, sets up basketball tournaments like the World Cup and the Olympics.

Sports, Entertainment and Culture Explore More Scan this QR code to learn the rules of basketball and how to get better at aiming and hitting the target quickly!

Let’s Practise �� 1 Mention the year of the following milestones. a The year in which the NBL was set up: b The first college basketball game: c The year in which the NBA was formed: d The year in which basketball was invented: e International basketball was added to the Olympics: f

The year in which women’s basketball was introduced:

2 Write the full form of the following abbreviations. a YMCA b NBL c BAA d FIBA

3 Fill in the blanks. a A basketball court is

in shape.

b There are

players in each basketball team.

c Basketball was invented by

d Women’s basketball was introduced by

e Basketball is a team game played by f

teams at a time.

The NBL was known for its

g The basketball is a game played for a total of

minutes with four quarters of

minutes each. h The first college basketball game was played between the

and

Topic 6 • Basketball

Emergency and First Aid

Injuries like fractures and sprains require immediate care and attention. First aid, in case of these emergencies, can provide quick help to the injured person. Let us learn how to give first aid in some of these cases.

Fracture In a fracture, bones may crack or break. The part that is hurt cannot be moved normally, may not have the normal shape, is painful to touch or apply pressure on it, and becomes swollen. Here are the steps to provide first aid in case of a fracture.

1. Do not move the injured. It is painful and may worsen the injury.

2. Tie a splint on the broken part. Provide padding to keep it still. Hang the injury from a sling.

3. Apply an ice pack but not directly on the skin. It helps to reduce the swelling and the pain for a little while.

4. Take the injured person to the doctor.

Sprain A sprain is when the ligaments that connect a bone to another bone get damaged. This injury is common among athletes. Someone who misses a step while walking may twist their ankle and sprain it. It often does not require emergency care. It can be treated easily if you remember the steps called RICE.

1. Rest the injured part

2. Apply an ice pack on the sprain every 2–3 hours. This should be done for 2 days.

3. Apply sprays or creams that reduce pain and wrap the area with a bandage. This keeps the area compressed to make it heal faster.

4. Keep the injured part a little raised, or elevated, and rest it on a pillow/ cushion.

Fainting When there is not enough blood flowing to the brain, it may cause a person to fall down. He/she may no longer respond. This is called fainting. Follow these steps to help the sick person:

1. Lay the person on his/her back.

2. Elevate their legs to restore blood flow to the brain.

3. Loosen any tight clothing.

4. Shake the person or yell his/ her name to see if he/she comes round. At the same time, call for an ambulance to quickly take the person to the nearest doctor.

Life Skills Explore More Scan this QR code to learn how to use splints on the fractured part.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Correctly number the steps of first aid (1–4) in case of a sprain. a

Apply an ice pack.

Rest the injured part.

Elevate the injured part.

Apply a compression bandage.

2 Correctly number the steps of first aid (1–4) for fainting. a

Shake the person to see if he/she is coming round.

Lay the person on his/her back.

Elevate the legs.

Loosen any tight clothing.

3 Correctly number the steps of first aid (1–4) in case of a fracture. a

Apply an ice pack.

Keep the injured part still

Take the injured person to the doctor.

Use a splint to support the broken bone.

4 Fill in the blanks. a We should b A

the legs of a person who has fainted. is when the bones of a person has cracked or broken.

c We should lay a fainted person on their d A person does not

when he/she faints.

e A sprain can occur if a f

is damaged.

An ice pack should be applied to a sprain every

g If a fracture is suspected, we must not

the injured part. Doing so can worsen the injury.

h Try to revive a person who has fainted by

his/her name or

provides support to a sprained area and reduces swelling.

i j

him/her.

RICE stands for

Topic 7 • Emergency and First Aid

Disastrous Floods and Earthquakes in 2023

In the year 2023, the world experienced a number of devastating floods and earthquakes. These natural disasters caused severe damage and loss of life, and also displaced a large number of people.

Disastrous Floods in 2023 On 10 September 2023, the Mediterranean storm Daniel hit Libya, Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria. Strong winds of 70 to 80 km/h and heavy rainfall caused flooding and major damage to infrastructure. Libya was severely impacted. The collapse of two dams and four bridges resulted in the loss of thousands of lives. Pakistan experienced weeks of heavy rainfall in the month of August 2023. This resulted in floods due to the overflowing of the Sutlej River. The high flood destroyed villages, submerging acres of land with crops, and damaged houses and shelters. The areas that suffered the most damage are Punjab, Sind and Baluchistan. Starting from 29 July, over 16 cities and provinces in north-eastern China had heavy rain and flooding because of Typhoon Doksuri. It was the fifth typhoon in the Pacific in 2023. Beijing experienced the most rain it has seen in 140 years. August brought more devastating rains and typhoons causing several incidents of flash floods and mudslides. Heavy rainfall caused flash floods and landslides in northern India beginning on July 9, 2023. It resulted in flooded roads, destroyed buildings, and severe loss of lives. Red alerts were issued for Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Delhi and Haryana.

Disastrous Earthquakes in 2023 On 7 October 2023, an earthquake with a magnitude of about 6.3 hit western Afghanistan. Another 6.3-magnitude earthquake occurred on 11 October and a 6.4-magnitude earthquake occurred on 15 October. More than 1,400 people lost their lives, and more than 150,000 people lost their homes. A 5.4-magnitude earthquake occurred in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, India, on 13 June 2023. Fortunately, there were no casualties. Its tremors were felt in several parts of North India.

On 6 February 2023, two major earthquakes occurred in Turkey and Syria, with magnitudes of 7.8 and 7.5. More than 50,000 people lost their lives due to these earthquakes. Many buildings were damaged, and many people had to evacuate their homes to stay safe.

The Year Gone By Explore More Scan this QR code to learn how floods and earthquakes happen.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Write the correct months when the following natural disasters occurred. a Storm Daniel: b Flash flood in North India: c Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria: d Earthquakes in western Afghanistan: e Earthquake in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir:

2 Read the instruction and write the details. a

Name any 2 countries affected by the storm Daniel.

and

Name any 2 states in Pakistan that were affected the most by the floods in 2023.

The magnitude of the earthquakes that hit Jammu and Kashmir on 13 January 2023.

The magnitude of the earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria in February.

The magnitude of the earthquakes that hit western Afghanistan in October.

and

and ,

and f

Name 4 states where red alerts were issued for heavy rainfalls in North India.

3 Fill in the blanks. a

Pakistan experienced heavy floods in the month of August due to the overflowing of the river

China experienced heavy rainfall and floods due to a typhoon

The Mediterranean storm

A 5.4 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Doda district of

On 9 July 2023, heavy rainfall triggered

Typhoon Doksuri was the

hit Libya on 10th September 2023. dams and

Topic 8 • Disastrous Floods and Earthquakes in 2023

bridges collapsed in Libya during the floods. on 13 June 2023. and

in northern India.

typhoon in the Mediterranean Sea in the year 2023.

Animals of Extreme Places

There are places on earth with extreme conditions: too much heat or cold, or deep underwater. However, animals have adapted to live even in such extreme conditions. Let us learn about some such animals and their adaptations to such extreme places. Emperor penguins live on the permanently frozen continent of Antarctica. Thick feathers and a thick layer of fat under their skin, called blubber, help them stay warm. They huddle together in a large group to protect themselves from the freezing cold.

Wood frogs live in the northern part of the North America, where winters are freezing cold. To survive the cold, these frogs have an interesting form of hibernation. They let the winter freeze them without killing them. This is because important tissues and organs—like the liver, heart, brain, etc.—are covered with a thick layer of glucose. This helps them not to suffer damage when they are frozen in winter and then thaw in spring. Camels are animals found in the hottest places on the planet—deserts. These places have very little food and even less water. But camels can go without food and water for very long periods. Camels store fat in their hump which gives them energy for that period of time. It also helps them change their body temperature to survive the desert. Their toes have also evolved to walk on sand without sinking. This is why a camel is also called the ‘ship of the desert’.

The Saharan silver ant survives a scorching hot desert because of the hair on it that protects it from the extreme heat. They also have long legs that help them move quickly on the extremely hot sand.

The deep sea anglerfish may look scary, but it eats mostly shrimp. These fish dwell on the ocean floor, which is extremely cold and dark and has unimaginable water pressure. These fish have adapted to their environment in unique ways. They have an angler-like fin which glows in the dark and attracts other small fish. This way of hunting gives the anglerfish its name. Its body is also nearly flat, like paper, which allows it to withstand the pressure and the cold. The giant squid is another example of how marine animals adapt to the deep ocean environment. It grows to a huge size, with some of them growing up to more than 40 feet. These squids are harmless, even if films show them drowning ships. They are rarely seen on the surface and most whales eat them as food.

The pompeii worm lives near underwater volcanoes where water temperatures can go up to 80°C. Their bodies have hairlike spines that support a strange kind of bacteria. These bacteria and the hairlike needles help these worms to survive in scalding hot water near the underwater volcanic vents.

Tardigrades are remarkable microorganisms. They are also known as water bears. They can withstand very high temperatures. When conditions become too harsh, they almost die. Once they get wet again, they come back to life. 18

Earth and Environment Explore More Scan this QR code to learn about the strongest animals on Earth—Tardigrades. Also, learn about the animals that can survive in extreme cold.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Guess the animals and write their names. a The frogs that can be frozen but cannot die in the cold: b An animal with a hump that lives in the desert: c A worm that lives near underwater volcanoes: d Birds that huddle together in large groups to stay warm in Antarctica: e The microorganism that can come back to life if they are made wet again: f

This fish hunts with an angler-like fin:

2 Write if True or False. a Penguins cannot fly. b The giant squid is actually very small. c Camels store food in their hump after eating food. d Tardigrades cannot survive in hotter temperatures. e The wood frog cannot survive in extremely cold weather. f

The Saharan silver ant cannot move quickly on the sand.

3 Fill in the blanks. a Tardigrades are also known as b The

. live near underwater volcanic vents.

c The thick feathers and

under the skin help the emperor penguins stay warm.

d The tiny

of the Saharan silver ant protect them from the heat.

e When the wood frogs freeze, important organs are covered with

Topic 9 • Animals of Extreme Places

Modern Energy Resources

Energy resources refer to things that can be used as a source to generate energy. They are used to produce heat, electricity and power in the entire world. For a long time, we have been dependent on non-renewable energy sources such as coal and petroleum. However, they are limited in amount and cannot be replaced once used. In modern times, we are slowly transitioning to renewable energy sources that do not run out when we use them. Let us learn about some of them. Wind Turbine Solar Panels

Solar energy converts sunlight and heat into electricity. The energy from the sun is stored using solar panels, which convert it into electricity. In 1883, the first solar panel was invented by Charles Fritts, an American inventor. Since then, many nations have built solar energy power plants, and it has become a global phenomenon. As of 2023, China is leading the world by having the highest capacity for solar energy generation. The largest solar farm in the world is in India, in the Jodhpur district of Rajasthan.

Wind energy is the energy of wind that can be used to generate electricity. The wind energy is converted to electricity using wind turbines. A wind turbine blade can be around 90 metres long and has around 8,000 different parts. The first known wind turbine was used in 1887 in Scotland. As of 2023, the Gansu Wind Farm in China is the world’s largest wind farm with 7,000 turbines. India’s largest wind farm is located in Kanyakumari, with 3,000 turbines. Undoubtedly, wind energy is one of the fastest-growing options in modern sources of energy.

Hydroelectric energy is produced by moving water that is used to generate electricity. By generating 40% of the total capacity, it is the world’s biggest source of renewable energy. In 1882, the world’s first hydroelectric power plant was built in the United States along the Fox River. The first hydroelectric power plant in India was installed in Darjeeling, West Bengal, in the year 1897. The Three Gorges Dam in China is the world’s largest hydroelectric power plant. Biomass energy is the power made from organic materials like wood, crop waste and other wet waste. By burning, these materials are turned into energy. Biomass is the largest form of renewable energy in Europe. The Drax Power Station in the United Kingdom is the biggest biomass power plant in the world. It is also known as the Iron Bridge. India produces about 450–500 million tonnes of biomass per year.

Geothermal energy is the energy of heat from the Earth that is used to generate electricity and heat. Usually, the hot water reservoirs are used as geothermal resources. It is one of the oldest types of resources still in use. The first geothermal energy plant was built in Tuscany, Italy, in 1904. The Geysers Geothermal Complex in the United States is the biggest geothermal plant in the world. In India, around 350 geothermal energy locations had been discovered by 2023.

Science and Technology Explore More Scan this QR code to learn how much land it takes to power the world! Also, explore the idea of what if the whole world ran on clean energy?

Let’s Practise �� 1 Write any 4 examples of renewal energy.

2 Write the locations of the following. a The largest solar farm in the world: b The largest wind farm in the world: c The largest wind farm in India: d The biggest geothermal plant in the world: e The biggest biomass power plant in the world: f

The first hydroelectric power plant in the world:

g The first hydroelectric power plant in India: h The largest hydroelectric power plant in the world: i

The first geothermal energy plant in the world:

The first known wind turbine:

3 Fill in the blanks. a The largest wind farm in India has

turbines.

b The world’s largest wind farm has

turbines.

c By burning crop waste,

energy is generated. are used to generate electricity by wind.

e The blades of a wind turbine blade can be around f

The first known wind turbine was used in the year

g The first geothermal energy plant was made in the year h India’s first hydroelectric power plant was installed in the year i

Around

Topic 10 • Modern Energy Resources

long. . . .

location of geothermal energy have been discovered in India by 2023.

Superlatives of India

The superlatives of India include things such as the highest mountain, the longest river, the longest coastline, the biggest caves, the largest lake, islands, desert and plateau. Let us learn about them. Kangchenjunga is the highest mountain peak in India. At an altitude of 8586 metres, this peak is ranked third among the highest peaks in the world. Kanchenjunga is located in Sikkim.

The Deccan Plateau is the largest plateau in India. It is lies south of the river Narmada and extends up to It and covers 8 states. It is triangular in shape. The Satpura range forms its northern point, while it is bounded on the east and west by the Ghats. The plateau’s climate is dry, with little or no rain in places.

The Ganga River is India’s longest river. It originates in the Himalayas and flows down into the Bay of Bengal. The river flows through the states Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The overall length of the Ganga River is about 2525 km.

The Wular Lake is the largest freshwater lake in India, located in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The lake is the second largest freshwater lake in Asia. This lake lies at the north end of the Kashmir valley. The Wular lake is almost 24 km in length while its breadth is 10 km and spreads over an area of 189 square kilometres.

The Thar Desert, also known as the Great Indian Desert, is the largest desert in India. It is mostly in Rajasthan but also spreads to parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat. The Thar desert covers an area of over 2,00,000 square kilometres. The Ajanta and Ellora Caves are in Maharashtra. These caves are the biggest in India. They have been declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The unique Buddhist rock-cut architecture of these caves is famous for its wall paintings. Kailasa is the most remarkable of the cave temples in Ellora. Each year, the caves attract large crowds of tourists.

The Andaman and Nicobar Island group is the largest island group in India. These islands are in two groups— Andaman and Nicobar. The Andaman comprises more than 300 islands, and the Nicobar consists of 19 islands. The total area of this island group is about 8249 square kilometres. The Longest coastline of India is in Gujarat, along its Kathiawar region. The coastline is about 1214 kilometres in length, along the Arabian Sea. This coastline has diverse habitats, such as mangroves, salt marshes, coral reefs, wetlands and seagrasses. This coast is useful for international trade.

Incredible India Explore More Scan this QR code to explore views of Mount Kangchenjunga and the Ajanta caves of India.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Where are these superlatives located in India? a Lake Wular:

b The Ajanta and Ellora Caves:

c Mount Kangchenjunga:

d The longest coastline:

2 Which superlative of India is it? a It is the largest plateau in India. b It is the longest river in India. c It is the largest freshwater lake in India. d It is also known as the Great Indian Desert. e It is the largest island group in India. f

It is the highest mountain peak in India.

3 Write the correct number. a Thar Desert covers an area of about

square km.

b Wular Lake spreads over an area of

square km.

c Andaman and Nicobar Islands have a total area of about

square km.

d The Kangchenjunga Mountain summit is at an altitude of

kilometres.

e The length of River Ganga in India is approximately

kilometres.

The longest coastline of India stretches for about

Topic 11 • Superlatives of India

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

UNESCO World Heritage Sites, located in 168 countries, include 1,199 places of remarkable cultural or natural importance. Here are some of the popular UNESCO World Heritage Sites as of 2023. The Pyramids of Giza are in Egypt. The largest one is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It took over 20 years to build them using around 23 lakh stone blocks. It is set up in such a manner so that each of its sides points directly to the north, south, east and west like a compass. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

The Colosseum is an ancient structure in Rome. So far it is the largest amphitheatre ever built. It is also known as the Flavian amphitheatre, as it was built under the Flavian emperors. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.

The Great Barrier Reef is on the north-eastern coast of Australia and is the world’s biggest coral system. It is spread over 900 islands and is visible from space! It is the world’s largest single structure made by living organisms. In 1981, it became a World Heritage Site and is one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

The Taj Mahal is a beautiful monument in India made of white marble, on the banks of the river Yamuna. It took around 20 years to complete it. The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan during the Mughal period. The Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Stonehenge is an ancient monument in Wiltshire, England. It is around 5,000 years old. It consists of a circle of big stones, each weighing around 25,000 kg, about as heavy as a truck. While it’s unknown why it was built, it is believed to have been used for important ceremonies or religious purposes. The name ‘Stonehenge’ possibly means hanging stones or stone enclosure. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1986.

Machu Picchu is a famous city situated in the Andes Mountains of Peru, built in the 15th century. It is over 500 years old. Its name means ‘Old Peak.’ It is also one of the Seven Wonders of the World. In 1983, UNESCO declared Machu Picchu as a World Heritage Site.

The Great Wall of China is the world’s largest man-made structure. It was built by emperors to protect their territory. The entire route stretches approximately 20,000 kilometres. It extends to 15 northern provinces, from the Bohai Sea to the Gobi Desert. It took over 2000 years to construct the wall. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

International Affairs Explore More Scan this QR code to learn more about UNESCO natural heritage sites and explore some UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Fill in the table. Landmark

The year it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The country it is located in

a Stonehenge b Pyramids of Giza c Taj Mahal d Colosseum e Great Wall of China f

Machu Picchu

g Great Barrier Reef

2 Write the names of the World Heritage sites. a It is situated on the bank of river Yamuna. b The name of this place means ‘Old Peak.’ c It is also known as the Flavian amphitheatre. d It is the largest single structure made by living organisms. e It is built in such a way that it faces all the four directions of North, South, East and West.

3 Fill in the blanks with the name of correct UNESCO World Heritage Site. a

is a white marble monument in India.

is the largest ancient amphitheatre in the world.

was built using around 23 lakh stone blocks.

is the official residence of the president of Russia.

is an ancient site in England with big rocks arranged in a circle.

is a famous city in Peru built in the 15th century on top of a mountain.

is a long wall built by the Chinese rulers to protect their land.

is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and is the biggest coral system.

Topic 12 • UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Chess

Chess is one of the oldest and most popular board games in the world. It originated in India about 1400–1500 years ago. It was then known as Chaturanga. It is an indoor game that is challenging and enhances problem-solving skills. Two participants are required to play chess. The person who captures the opponent’s king, wins. Let us learn more about the game. Chess is played on a checkerboard. It is made up of 64 squares that are black and white in colour. They are arranged in 8 rows and 8 columns.

The chess pieces used in the game are usually black and white in colour. There are 32 chess pieces in all: 16 white pieces and 16 black pieces. There are six different types of chess pieces. Each colour has 8 pawns, 2 bishops, 2 knights, 2 rooks, 1 queen and 1 king.

Moves of Chess Pieces King: Moves 1 square in any direction. Queen: Moves any number of squares in any direction. Rook: Moves any number of squares horizontally or vertically. Bishop: Moves any number of squares diagonally. Knight: Moves in L-shape. It is the only piece that can jump over other pieces. Pawns: Moves 1 square forward. On its first move, it can move 2 squares

Pieces

Points

1. QUEEN

2. ROOK

3. KNIGHT

4. BISHOP

5. PAWN

The king does not have a point.

Some Interesting Facts! Vishawanathan Anand is the first Indian Chess Grandmaster. He earned this title in 1988. He started learning chess from the age of six. He also earned the title of International Master after winning the 1984 Asian Junior Championship. Koneru Humpy is the youngest woman ever to achieve the title of Grandmaster. She achieved it at the age of 15, in 2002. She has won the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix eight times. India won two medals in Chess—silvers in the men’s and women’s team events—at the Asian Games 2023, Hangzhou which took place from 24 September to 7 October.

Sports, Entertainment and Culture Explore More Scan this QR code to explore more about the history of chess and see a game of chess.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Which chess piece is it? a This piece moves in an L-shape. b This piece has the highest points. c This piece does not have any point. d This piece can jump over another piece. e This piece can move two squares in the first move. f

This piece can move any number of squares diagonally.

g This piece can move any number of squares in any direction. h This piece can move only one square in any direction.

2 Fill in the blanks. a Chess is a board game that originated in

around 1400 to 1500 years ago.

participants are required to play chess.

b c There are a total of

squares on a chessboard.

d The total number of pieces used to play chess is

e Chess was known as

in India.

Chess pieces are usually

and

g To win the game of chess, you need to capture h i

Topic 13 • Chess

in colour. . is the first Indian chess grandmaster.

was the youngest woman ever to win the title of Grandmaster.

Food Nutrients and Health

Food nutrients play an important role in maintaining good health. The human body requires a variety of nutrients to function properly, and consuming a balanced diet with the right mix of nutrients is essential for overall well-being. There are more than 40 types of food nutrients which can be divided into 7 main categories. Let us learn about them.

CARBS

Carbohydrates are like fuel for our body. They give us energy to run and play. We get them from food sources such as wheat and rice, vegetables like potato and corn, and fruit like banana, apple and mango.

Proteins help our body grow, stay strong and repair muscles. We can get them from food sources such as eggs, meat, fish, milk, beans and nuts. PROTEIN

FAT

Healthy Fats help us keep our skin healthy and give us energy. Fat from food such as avocados, nuts and olive oil are healthy fats. They are good for our brain and for getting nutrients into our body. Eating unhealthy fats, such as fried chips, can be injurious to our health, and it might affect the heart.

Fibre is found in food sources such as whole grains, fruit and vegetables. It helps with digestion, keeps our weight balanced, and lowers the chance of getting sick with diseases such as constipation and diabetes.

FIBRE

Minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium make our bones strong, muscles move and help the nervous system function well. Different food contains different minerals. Milk contains calcium, and bananas and green vegetables contain potassium.

Vitamins are our body’s guard against diseases. They perform different roles to keep us healthy. For example, vitamin C from oranges fights sickness, and vitamin D from the sun makes our bones strong.

Water makes up the most important part of our body and is important for our health. A normal human body contains about 70% of water. It helps control our body temperature, carries food, absorbs nutrients and removes waste that our bodies do not need. It builds the base of fluids that lubricate and cushion our joints.

Life Skills Explore More Scan this QR code to learn more about the essential nutrients our bodies need and the most nutrient-filled food sources.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Fill in the blanks.

are like the fuel for our body.

help our body grow, and repair our muscles.

keep our skin healthy.

are needed for maintaining strong bones.

are like guards for your body against diseases.

helps to digest your food and balance your weight.

makes up 70% of the human body.

2 Write any 3 food sources from which we get the nutrients. a Carbohydrates:

b Proteins:

c Healthy Fats:

d Minerals:

Fibre:

e Vitamins: f

, ,

3 Write if True or False. a We get vitamin D from oranges and lemons. b Eating fibre keeps our heart healthy. c Fats remove the waste that our body does not need. d Bananas are rich in potassium. e Eating fibre helps us to keep our weight balanced.

Topic 14 • Food Nutrients and Health

G20

The G20 is a group of 19 countries and the European Union. Recently, even the African Union has been added to it. These countries are the world’s biggest economies and include most of the world’s population. Let us learn more about them.

The Group of Twenty (G20) works together to solve problems that affect the whole world, like climate change and terrorism. Even though these countries are different in many ways, they work together for the common goal of global peace and well-being. The G20 does not have a permanent secretariat or staff; instead, the G20 Presidency rotates annually among its members. The G20 Presidency is responsible for setting the G20 agenda in consultation with other members.

India held the G20 Presidency from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023. In G20, the last, current and the next countries for presidency are together called the Troika Countries. The last troika countries were Indonesia, India and South Africa. A sherpa in the G20 summit represents the countries. They work on important things like farming, anti-corruption, climate change, the internet economy, learning, jobs, power, nature, health, tourism and trade. The G20 group started in 1999 because of a monetary issue in Asia. When G20 leaders take pictures together, they don’t wear the same clothes, but they might wear clothes from the country that’s hosting the meeting.

The Year Gone By Explore More Scan this QR code to learn about India’s G20 Presidency logo, the theme announcement video and the welcome of G20 summit leaders.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Fill in the blanks. a The G20 is a group of

countries and the

b The G20 countries meet to discuss global issues such as c In 2023, the presidency was held by d A

Unions.

and

in G20 represents the countries.

e The G20 group was established in f

and the

In 2023, the Troika countries were

. ,

and

2 Answer the following a

Why was the G20 initially established?

What is the role of the sherpa G20?

What is the G20 Presidency responsible for?

What are the Troika Countries? Which were the troika countries of 2023?

Topic 15 • G20

Life on Earth

What Sustains Life on Earth? Our planet’s atmosphere is like a warm and safe blanket. It is formed by gases, nitrogen (about 78%) and oxygen (about 21%). We breathe in oxygen, which our bodies need to function. Oxygen helps us get energy through a process called respiration. Even though nitrogen doesn’t help us breathe, it is vital for making the things we need to live, like proteins that build our muscles and body parts. There are also a few other gases, like water vapour, argon and carbon dioxide. These gases help control the Earth’s temperature, weather and water cycle, which provides the water we need to live. Now, let us explore how life first began and what keeps life going on Earth.

The Birth of Earth: Around 4.5 billion years ago, Earth was born from a spinning cloud of dust and gas. The small particles present collided to form a larger body. This larger body came to be known as Earth. It was very hot and rocky. The Dawn of Life: Life began around 3.5 billion years ago with single-celled bacteria in the oceans. These organisms were able to survive in the presence of water. Dinosaurs’ Reign: Around 230 million years ago, dinosaurs ruled the land. They are believed to have been big creatures! Earth’s climate was warm, and the continents were joined together in one big landmass called the Pangaea. The Age of Ice: Around 2.4 million years ago, the Ice Age began. Much of the land was covered by huge glaciers. Due to this, the world became very cold, but life continued to exist. Some animals, like woolly mammoths and sabre-toothed cats, adapted to this chilly world. The Rise of Mammals: The dinosaurs went extinct about 6.5 million years ago. This is when mammals emerged. The Saga of Humanity: Around 6 million years ago, our ancestors, known as hominids, began walking on two legs. The human kind evolved over time and about 200,000 years ago modern humans, like us, appeared. Life Today: The Earth is now home to a variety of plants and animals, from the smallest insects to the largest whales, to humans. We have built bigger cities, technology and a better understanding of our world than ever before.

Earth and Environment Explore More Scan this QR code to learn more about the era of the dinosaurs. Also, learn the unique reasons behind Earth being the only planet to support life.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Answer the following questions in one word or phrase. a When did the Earth form? b When did modern humans appear? c When did mammals first appear? d When did life begin on Earth? e Where did the first life forms live? f

When did the Ice Age begin?

g What event led to the rise of mammals? h What were our ancestors known as? i

What were the first living organisms on Earth?

What was the Earth made up of in the beginning?

k What is the process of obtaining energy from oxygen called?

2 Fill in the blanks. a Nitrogen helps build our

and body parts.

b Gases like water vapour, argon and

help control the Earth’s temperature.

c The continents were joined together in one big landmass called d Our human ancestors started walking on two legs around e The atmosphere consists mainly of gases, with nitrogen making up about

. million years ago. % and

oxygen about

We breathe in

to get the energy our bodies need through a process called .

Topic 16 • Life on Earth

Indian Space Missions

India has a great history of exploring space. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has sent more than 125 spacecraft into space through 94 launch missions. Let’s read about some of ISRO’s milestone missions.

Aryabhata was India’s first satellite, launched on 19 April 1975. It was created by India’s space agency, ISRO, and named after the famous Indian astronomer, Aryabhata. The Soviet Union (Russia) helped the ISRO launch it into space. Aryabhata was used for space experiments related to X-rays, the Earth’s atmosphere and the Sun.

The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), was India’s first mission to Mars. The spacecraft was launched by the ISRO on 5 November 2013. With that, the ISRO became the 1st Asian agency and the 4th space agency in the world to successfully send a spacecraft into Mar’s orbit. It was also a big achievement for the ISRO, as it successfully did so on its first attempt. MOM completed 7 years in orbit on 24 September 2021.

Chandrayaan-1 was India’s first mission to the Moon, launched on 22 October 2008 from Sriharikota. The satellite orbited the Moon more than 3400 times and explored the water, ice and volcanoes of the Moon. We lost communication with it in August 2009.

AstroSat, also known as the Astronomical Satellite, is India’s first space telescope that studies black holes, stars and galaxies using X-ray and UV spectral bands. It was launched on 28 September 2015 and is still functional. Its main goals are to learn more about space objects and find new ones.

Chandrayaan-2 was India’s second mission to the Moon which began on 22 July 2019. It had a spacecraft that orbited the Moon, a spacecraft that was supposed to land on the Moon, and a rover to explore the Moon’s surface. The spacecraft orbiting the Moon worked well, but the landing failed. The main goal was to learn more about the Moon’s surface and look for water and ice.

The ISRO is currently planning several upcoming space missions. One such program is Gaganyaan. It will be India’s first human spaceflight program that is planning to send three Indian astronauts into space in 2026. Gaganyan means ‘sky vehicle’ in Sanskrit.

Science and Technology Explore More Scan this QR code to learn about the journey of India into space and the rise of the ISRO in space missions.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Write the launch dates of these spacecraft. a Aryabhata: b Chandrayaan-1: c Chandrayaan-2: d AstroSat: e MOM: f

Gaganyaan:

2 Name the correct space missions. a India’s first satellite b India’s first mission to the Moon c India’s Mars mission d India’s first space telescope e India’s second mission to the Moon f

India’s first human spaceflight program

3 Fill in the blanks. a MOM completed 7 years of orbit on

b Chandrayaan-1 lost communication with the ISRO in

c The word Gaganyan means

in Sanskrit.

d With MOM, India became the

Asian country to reach the Mars orbit.

e With MOM, India became the

country in the world to reach the Mars orbit.

The ISRO launched the Aryabhata with the help of

Topic 17 • Indian Space Missions

Major Ore Mines of India

India is rich in mineral resources, and it has a wide variety of ores and mines spread across the country. Some of the major ores and mines in India include: Kolar Gold Fields (K.G.F) was founded in the 1880s by the John Taylor & Sons Company. It is located in Kolar district in Karnataka. It was once one of the deepest gold mines in the world, reaching a depth of over 3 km. It is also the oldest gold mine in India and produced gold for over a century. The mine was nationalised in the year 1956. But due to economic and environmental reasons the mine was closed down on 28 February 2001.

Panna Diamond Mines in Majhgawan, Panna, Madhya Pradesh, started mining diamonds in 1971-72. It is one of the oldest diamond mines in the world. It is the only diamond mine in India that uses machines for mining. Panna is famous for its coloured diamonds, especially green ones. The mine is managed by the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC).

Jharia Coalfield is one of the largest coal fields in India. It is located in Jharia, Dhanbad district, Jharkhand. It lies in the Damodar River Valley. Coal mining began in Jharia in 1894. Dhanbad is also known as the ‘Coal Capital of India’ while Jharia is known as ‘the Burning City’ due to the occurrence of over 70 coal fires. The first known coal fire started in 1916. Most of India’s coal comes from Jharia. Raniganj Coal Mine, located in West Bengal, is one of the oldest and largest coal mines in India. It was first opened in 1774. In the 1800s, it supplied about 88% of India’s coal, but now it contributes less than a tenth of the country’s total coal. In 1989, an incident took place in the mine, where the coal mine was flooded, trapping over 200 mine workers. The mine is currently operated by Eastern Coalfields Limited, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited.

Malanjkhand Copper Mines in Madhya Pradesh was established in 1982. It is located near Kanha National Park. It is one of the largest copper mines in India, owned by Hindustan Copper, and it produced approximately 175.5 lakh kg of copper in 2022 and will continue operating until 2036.

Bailadila Iron Ore Mines is a surface mine located in Chhattisgarh. It was established in 1968. It is owned by NMDC and is known for its high-grade iron ore reserves. It produced approximately 1,252 crore kg of iron ore in 2022 and will continue operating until 2051. Bailadila Iron Ore Mines is one of the largest iron ore mines in India.

Incredible India Explore More Scan this QR code to see the inside of uranium mines in India. Also, learn about the rocks or minerals containing iron.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Write the dates of the following establishments. a Jharia Coalfield: b Bailadila Iron Ore Mines: c Raniganj Coal Mine: d Kolar Gold Fields: e Panna Diamond Mines: f

Malanjkhand Copper Mines:

2 Write the states of India in which the following mines are located. a Jharia Coalfield b Bailadila Iron Ore Mines c Raniganj Coal Mine d Kolar Gold Fields e Panna Diamond Mines f

Malanjkhand Copper Mines

3 Fill in the blanks. a The Bailadila Iron Ore mines are owned by

. is also known as the Coal Capital of India.

b c Kolar Gold Fields was nationalised in the year

d Bailadila Iron Ore Mines will continue operating until the year

e Malanjkhand Copper Mines will continue operating until the year f

Jharia is known as

because there are over 70 coal fires.

g A flood took place in the Raniganj Coal Mine in the year h Raniganj Coal Mine is currently operated by the i

. .

Panna Diamond Mines is currently operated by the

company established Kolar Gold Fields (K.G.F) in the 1880s.

mine shut down on 28 February 2001.

was one of the oldest diamond mines in the world, famous for

producing coloured diamonds. that has produced gold for over a century.

Topic 18 • Major Ore Mines of India

is the oldest gold mine in India 37

New Silk Road

The New Silk Road, also known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is a massive infrastructure and economic development project launched by the Chinese government in 2013.

Silk Roads—Old and New The original Silk Road was a trade route that connected East and West Asia, and event went into Europe. It was built mainly for merchants who came to buy silk from China. It led to a great exchange of culture and ideas. The New Silk Road or BRI aims to restart this trade route and also expand it by trading with more European countries, along with African countries, Australia and islands in the Pacific and Indian oceans. The BRI also aims to promote economic cooperation and connectivity among the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa.

The Two Components The Belt

The Road

The short name for the Silk Road Economic Belt, this part refers to the routes over land. A variety of projects come under this component, such as roads, railways, pipelines and power grids.

The short name for the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. This part refers to the routes over the sea. A variety of projects come under this component, such as building ports, shipping routes and undersea cables.

Objectives of the BRI •

Enhancing connectivity through transportation projects like roadways, railways and shipping routes.

•

Boosting trade to bring about better economic growth.

•

Promoting investment from the participating countries.

•

Promoting cultural exchange in the regions covered by the BRI.

•

Providing security and exchange of energy and resources.

•

Helping to remove economic challenges like poverty.

•

Promoting environmental cooperation.

International Affairs Explore More Scan this QR code to learn more about the Belt and Road Initiative or the New Silk Road of China.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Name 3 continents connected in the plan of the New Silk Road.

2 Fill in the blanks. a The new Silk Road was launched in the year

b The New Silk Road was launched by the government of

c The New Silk Road is also known as the

d The Belt or the land-based routes are also referred to as

e The Road or the sea-based routes are is also referred to as

The BRI stands for

3 Write if True or False. a Cultural exchange is not an objective of the BRI. b Some parts of Africa are a part of the BRI. c The original Silk Road connected the UK with the USA. d The New Silk Road was built to enhance economic cooperation between China and India. e The Silk Road Economic Belt includes a variety of components, like ports and shipping routes. f

The road component of the New Silk Road refers to the sea route connectivity from China to Europe.

Topic 19 • New Silk Road

Famous Books Made into Films

Many authors and playwrights have made significant contributions to literature. Many such works have been adapted into films. We will learn about some of this literature and the films that are based on them.

Harry Potter The Book: Harry Potter is a series of fantasy books written by J. K. Rowling. The story is about a young wizard, Harry Potter and his friends who study at Hogwarts—a school of witchcraft and wizardry. It has been published in more than 60 languages. The Films: The seven parts of the books were adapted into a series of eight equally popular films. For the seventh part of the book, two film segments were created. These were released between 2001 and 2011.

Life of Pi The Book: Life of Pi is a fantasy novel written by Yann Martel. The book became a bestseller and won the Booker Prize in 2002. The story revolves around a boy who manages to survive a shipwreck and finds himself on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. They remained stranded on the lifeboat for 227 days. The Film: The story was adapted into a film in 2012. This adventure film became a huge hit worldwide. The film won many awards at various film festivals. It was nominated in 11 categories at the Oscars and won 4 Oscars, including Best Motion Picture of the Year.

The Lord of the Rings The Book: The Lord of the Rings is an epic fantasy series of three books written by J. R. R. Tolkien. The books became bestsellers soon after they were published and have been translated in more than 38 languages so far. The story revolves around a powerful ring and the struggles faced by kings, elves, wizards and hobbits in order to destroy the ring. The Films: The books were adapted into three films, a trilogy, which became popular across the globe. The series has won many awards, including 17 Oscars. These were released between 2001 and 2003.

The Jungle Book The Book: The Jungle Book is a collection of stories by the English author Rudyard Kipling. A young boy named Mowgli is the main character of the book, who wanders in the jungle and is the only human there. All the other characters are animals. Baloo, the bear and Bagheera, the black panther, are two animal friends of Mowgli, whereas Sher Khan, the Lion, is his enemy. This story is about adventure, friendship and survival. The Film: The book was released as a film for the first time in 1967 by Walt Disney. It was recreated and released again in 2016. The latest was also produced by Walt Disney Pictures. Both series of films are very popular and successful worldwide.

Sports, Entertainment and Culture Explore More Scan this QR code to learn more about the famous books that have been adapted into films.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Who wrote these books? a The Lord of the Rings b Harry Potter c The Jungle Book d Life of Pi

2 Read the text and name these books. a This book won the Booker Prize award in 2002. b This series is about destroying a powerful ring. c This leading character lives in a jungle with animals. d It is a series of books about a boy attending a school named Hogwarts. e This book is about a boy who survived a shipwreck with a Bengal tiger.

3 Read the text and name these films. a The series was released in eight films between 2001 and 2011. b It was released first in 1967 and again in 2016 by Walt Disney. c Adapted into a film in 2012, this was nominated for 11 Oscars and won 4. d It is an epic fantasy trilogy that was released between 2001 and 2011 and won 17 Oscars.

4 Write if True or False. a Life of Pi was a bestseller book as well as a successful film. b Sher Khan is the best friend of Mowgli in The Jungle Book. c The Harry Potter series won Best Motion Picture of the Year at the Oscars. d 3 films based on the books were made into the series, The Lord of the Rings.

Topic 20 • Famous Books Made into Films

Surya Namaskar

Surya Namaskar is a popular yoga practice in India. It is also known as the Sun Salutation and is usually practised early in the morning. Let us learn more about it. Traditionally Surya Namaskar was practised to pay respect to the sun. The practice of Surya Namaskar dates back to the Vedic Period, which is many thousands of years ago. It is thought that it was to worship and venerate the Sun God. It became popular in India around the 1920s and is now practised worldwide. There are variations in Surya Namaskar, but the one that has been most practised since ancient times is the Hatha Surya Namaskar. It has 12 basic poses that are performed in two rounds. This is performed at a slow pace, with pauses between every posture.

Variations in Surya Namaskar •

Hatha Surya Namaskar

•

Shivananada Sun Salutation: Here the 12 poses are the same as the Hatha Surya Namaskar, but they are performed in continuation without pause.

• Ashtanga Surya Namaskar: This is a more intense form of yoga. It has two parts: Type A: It has 10 poses. Type B: It has 19 poses. Iyengar Yoga: It is similar to Hatha Yoga and has 12 poses but is done with more energy and a quicker pace.

12 Basic Poses of the Hatha Surya Namaskar 12. P ranamasana (Prayer Pose)

2. H asta Uttanasana (Raised Arms Pose)

11. Hasta Uttanasana (Raised Arms Pose) 10. Pada Hastasana (Standing Forward Bend)

3. Pada Hastasana (Standing Forward Bend Pose) 4. A shwa Sanchalanasana (Lunge Pose)

9. A shwa Sanchalanasana (High Lung Pose)

5. Dandasana (Plank Pose)

8. Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Dog Pose) 7. B hujangasana (Cobra Pose)

Some benefits of Surya Namaskar: •

Helps one to stay fit and healthy

•

Strengthens and stretches the muscles

•

Strengthens the heart

•

Improves digestion

•

Makes one calm and strong

•

Boosts energy

1. P ranamasana (Prayer Pose)

6. A shtanga Namaskara (Eight-limbed Pose)

Life Skills Explore More Scan this QR code to learn to perform poses of Surya Namaskar. Also, learn about the benefits of practising yoga.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Write the correct order for the poses of Hatha Surya Namaskar. Dandasana

Pada hastasana

Pranamasana

Ashtanga Namaskara

Ashwa Sanchalanasana

Bhujangasana

Adho Mukha Svanasana

Hasta Uttanasana

Ashwa Sanchalanasana

Pada hastasana

2 Fill in the blanks. a Surya Namaskar is also known as

. is an intense form of yoga.

b c It is best to do Surya Namaskar early in the

d Surya Namaskar gained popularity in India around

e Traditionally, Surya Namaskar was done to pay respect to the

is the traditional form of Surya Namaskar.

f g Type A and Type B Surya Namaskars are a part of

Surya Namaskar. is the first and last posture of Hatha Surya Namaskar.

h i

and Namaskar are similar to the Hatha Surya Namaskar.

variations of Surya

3 Write about the two benefits of doing Surya Namaskar daily.

Topic 21 • Surya Namaskar

India in Space, 2023

In 2023, India successfully conducted many space exploration missions. Let us read about some of them.

Chandrayaan-3 Chandrayaan-3 was India’s third mission to the Moon, and was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Chandrayaan-3 means “moon craft” in Sanskrit. The mission aims to study the rocks and minerals found on the Moon’s surface, as well as what lies beneath it, primarily the South Pole region.

India launched Chandrayaan-3 on 14 July 2023, from Andhra Pradesh, using a rocket called LVM3. On 23 August 2023, the lander, Vikram successfully soft-landed near the South Pole of the moon which is a significant achievement, making India the fourth country to do so. The Pragyan ramped down from the lander and walked on the Moon on 24 August, 2023. Both the lander and the rover went into a sleep mode on 4 September, 2023.

Aditya-L1 Aditya-L1 is an Indian satellite that will be used to observe and explore the Sun. This is India’s first space mission to the Sun. Aditya in Sanskrit means the Sun. This mission was launched on 2 September 2023 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre , Sriharikota. It is carrying seven different scientific tools that will help in its mission. It is expected to orbit the Lagrange Point 1 (L1) of the Sun–Earth system, in 2024. A satellite at this position will help to observe the solar activities and their effect on space weather in real time. One of the main aims of this mission is to study the Sun’s outer layer, its hot outer ring and its magnetic field. It hopes to understand why the outer layer is so hot, how solar explosions happen and their impact on climate change.

The mission will last for at least five years and provide us with important information that will help us conduct scientific research on the Sun.

The Year Gone By Explore More Scan this QR code to learn more about the upcoming Indian space missions by ISRO, and its mission to the Sun, Aditya-L1 in 2023.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Write the date of the following events. a The launch of Aditya-L1: b The launch of Chandrayaan-3: c The landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon: d Pragyan walked on the surface of the Moon: e Year by when Aditya-L1 was expected to reach its destination: f

Landers and rovers of Chandrayaan-3 mission went into a sleep mode:

2 Fill in the blanks. is India’s third mission to the Moon.

a b

ISRO stands for

is India’s first mission dedicated solely to studying the sun.

In Sanskrit, Chandrayaan means

Aditya-L1 mission is expected to last for

India launched Chandrayaan-3 on

rover of Chandrayaan-3

. . from is the lander and

. is the

3 Answer the following in 1 to 2 sentences. a

What were the primary goals of the Chandrayaan-3 mission?

What are the main aims of the Aditya-L1 mission?

How will the Aditya-L1 mission be helpful for scientists?

Topic 22 • India in Space, 2023

The 17 Goals of Sustainable Development

The Sustainable Development Goals, established by the United Nations in 2015, are a group of 17 worldwide objectives for all UN member nations. The entire scope of sustainability includes cultural, social, technical, economic, political, and environmental aspects. These goals will help the world develop better by 2030.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are as follows: 1.

To end poverty in all its forms everywhere by 2030.

To end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

To ensure quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

5. To achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. 6.

To ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

7. To ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. 8.

To promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all.

To build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

10. To reduce inequality within and among countries. 11.

To make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

12. To ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. 13. To take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. 14. To conserve and sustainably use the world’s ocean, seas and marine resources. 15. To protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss. 16. To promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. 17. To revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development.

Earth and Environment Explore More Scan this QR code to learn about the SDGs and how they can make the world a better place by 2030.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Arrange the SDGs (1-17) in the correct order. a It aims to end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition.

SDG

b It ensures healthy lives and promote well-being for all.

SDG

c It aims to end poverty in all its forms everywhere.

SDG

d It revitalizes the global partnership for sustainable development.

SDG

e It ensures sustainable consumption and production patterns.

SDG

It makes cities and human settlements inclusive, safe and resilient.

SDG

g It ensures affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy.

SDG

h It ensures the availability and sustainable management of water.

SDG

It promotes sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work.

SDG

It takes urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

SDG

k It promotes peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. l

It ensures gender equality and empowers all women and girls.

SDG SDG

m It reduces inequality within and among countries.

SDG

n It builds resilient infrastructure, and promotes inclusive and sustainable industrialization.

SDG

o It ensures equitable quality education and promotes lifelong learning opportunities.

SDG

p It conserves and sustainably uses the world’s ocean, seas and marine resources.

SDG

q It protects, restores and promotes sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, forest management and combat desertification.

Topic 23 • The 17 Goals of Sustainable Development

SDG

Wireless Technologies

Wireless technologies are methods and systems that transfer data, information or signals without any physical wires. Let us learn about some of the Wireless technologies in use.

Wi-Fi, which is short for Wireless Fidelity, is a wireless technology. It allows devices such as smartphones and laptops to connect to the internet without any physical cables. This is achieved by transmitting signals from a device known as a router.

Bluetooth is a wireless technology used for data exchange between devices within short distances. You can find Bluetooth in devices, like mobile phones, laptop and some speakers. It enables cable-free usage, fast data transfer and it is generally affordable.

Cellular networks help us in making calls, sending messages, using the internet and enabling machines to connect with each other. These networks are found across places, ensuring proper functioning of phones. They are generally affordable and play a important role in keeping our devices connected globally.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is like a big network of satellites in space. They send signals to devices on the Earth, like mobile phones, to tell the exact location on the map and real time location of devices using it. It works with the help of the internet and is very accurate, with most devices providing location information with accuracy. With GPS, travelling has become easy as it navigates the direction to reach the desired location.

Hotspots are virtual router that allows you to share internet, with your computers, smartphones and other smart devices. With the help of hotspot one access the internet wirelessly, with their family and friends in coffee shops, restaurants, airports, etc. They are user-friendly, sometimes offer free access, and provide fast internet connectivity.

Nearby sharing on Android lets nearby Android devices share files using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It is secure, quick and easy way of sharing data. The holder gets a notification to accept or decline the transferred data.

Science and Technology Explore More Scan this QR code to learn more how GPS works. Also, learn how to connect an Android phone to a smart TV.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Which wireless technology will be used in the following cases? a To help one to reach the exact location: b To exchange data with a device nearby: c To connect a laptop to the internet: d This is needed for proper functioning of a mobile phone: e To share files in Android devices using Bluetooth:

2 Fill in the blanks. is a wireless technology that allows devices to connect to the internet without

a the use of cables.

is a wireless technology used for data exchange between devices within short

b distances. c

enable us to make calls, send messages, and use the internet, and they are found everywhere.

is a network of satellites in space that provides accurate location information.

are places where you can access the internet wirelessly, such as in coffee shops, restaurants, and airports. on Android allows Android devices to share files using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

3 Write if True or False. a Cellular Networks do not help in making video calls. b GPS helps to connect devices and transfer data safely. c WiFi helps in using the internet without cable connections. d The router is a device that helps in transmitting signals. e Hotspots are locations where the internet can be used wirelessly. f

Nearby sharing does not require Bluetooth or WiFi to share files.

Topic 24 • Wireless Technologies

Indian Handicrafts

Indian handicrafts are a vibrant and diverse reflection of the country’s culture and history. Skilled artisans create a wide range of crafts, appealing to people from all backgrounds. Let us learn more about it. Pottery is a form of art using clay. It’s been part of the Indian culture since ancient times. Different regions have different styles and designs of pottery. For example, Uttar Pradesh uses bright colours, Himachal Pradesh uses dark colours, and Rajasthan has various unique pottery traditions. The people who make pottery are called potters. They are highly respected in India’s artistic traditions.

Woodwork involves crafting things from wood and is skilfully practised in various regions of India. Wood from Sal, Teak, Sheesham and Oak trees are used to make furniture which lasts for a long time. Rosewood and sandalwood are used for carving and artwork. These carved items are highly praised throughout the world.

Pashmina is a unique type of wool. It is mostly produced in the Kashmir region and is used as shawls. The weavers perform various tasks like combing, spinning, weaving and finishing entirely by hand. It takes around 3 to 4 days to create a single shawl. These shawls are known for their vibrant colours and designs, softness and warmth.

Jute craft in India includes various items made from jute, such as bags and jewellery. It is popular in West Bengal, Assam and Bihar. Jute sack exports started about 300 years ago. People worldwide visit India to purchase these crafts at fairs.

Shell work is a craft in which coastal shells are used to create intricate items. They are used to make jewellery, items of decoration and clothes. States like Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Goa are famous for jewelry and other items made of shells.

Brass is a durable material and is ideal for crafting by hand. In India, people use brass to make various items such as statues, vases, lamps and jewellery boxes. Moradabad in Uttar Pradesh is famous for its brass work and handicrafts. It is called the Brass City of India. Other states where brass handicraft is done are Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.

Bamboo handicrafts are popular all over India, especially in West Bengal, Assam and Tripura. The items are eco-friendly and durable. Various items like baskets, dolls and even furniture made of bamboo are produced. These crafts preserve India’s heritage while embracing innovation and culture.

Lac bangles come mainly from Rajasthan. Lac is a natural resin created by a tiny insect called the lac beetle. Skilled artisans use it to make bangles. These bangles are famous for their bright colours and detailed designs with mirrors and beads.

Incredible India Explore More Scan this QR code to learn more about art and crafts from India. Also, discover a family preserving the 400-year-old Rogan art tradition.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Fill in the blanks. a

is a form of art using clay.

is a unique type of wool.

are made using lac resin.

is known as the Brass City of India.

e In the coastal regions, f

are used to create beautifully-carved jewellery.

Lac resin, used to make

, is secreted by tiny insects. is known for making a wide range of items from jute.

g h

and

are usually used for making wood carvings.

2 Write any one location in India where these handicrafts belong. a Pashmina shawls: b Clay pots: c Lac bangles: d Jute bags: e Brass: f

Bamboo handicraft:

g Shell work:

3 Write if True or False. a Bamboo handicrafts are eco-friendly. b Moradabad is famous for its brass work. c Lac bangles are made of wood and glass. d Jute sack export started about 300 years ago. e It takes a month to make a Pashmina shawl.

Topic 25 • Indian Handicrafts

The UN Headquarters

The United Nations (UN) is an international organisation founded in 1945 after the Second World War. It was founded with an objective to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations, and promote social progress and better living standards for the future world. The UN’s membership has grown from 51 Member States (countries) in 1945 to 193 Member States by 2023. The UN has six main bodies: 1. The General Assembly 2. The Security Council 3. The Economic and Social Council 4. The Trusteeship Council 5. The International Court of Justice 6. The Secretariat The UN Headquarters is in New York, United States of America. These buildings were built on land donated by John D. Rockefeller Jr, an American financier and philanthropist. The United Nations Headquarters has 4 main structures from which the above bodies operate.

The Secretariat Building It is the tallest building of the UN headquarters. The Secretariat Building houses the offices of the UN Secretary-General and his staff, as well as other UN departments and offices. António Guterres is the current Secretary-General of the UN. He was appointed as the 9th Secretary-General on 1 January 2017.

The General Assembly Hall It is the largest room in the UN headquarters, with seating capacity for over 1,800 people. It is the main meeting place of the United Nations General Assembly. The General Assembly is the deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the United Nations. The General Assembly meets annually in New York City from September to December.

The Dag Hammarskjöld Library It is the central library of the UN. It provides information, research and journals to support the participation of the Member States in the UN. It was founded in 1946 and was named after the 2nd secretary general of the UN. The library’s collection includes over 1.5 million books. The library is not open to the public, however, it can be accessed with a valid pass and is used mainly for research purposes.

The Conference Building It is one of the main buildings of the United Nations Headquarters. The Conference Building is used for a variety of meetings and conferences, including those of the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, and the Trusteeship Council. The building is open to the public for guided tours.

International Affairs Explore More Scan this QR code to take a tour of the United Nations headquarters and learn more about the UN.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Write the names of 4 UN headquarters buildings.

2 Read the text and fill in the details. a Name of the 9th Secretary-General of the UN. b Name of the 2nd Secretary-General of the UN. c Name of the largest room in the UN headquarters. d Name of the reading room in the UN headquarters. e Name of the city where the UN headquarters is located. f Name of the building where policymaking takes place. g Name of the building which is used for a variety of meetings. h The seating capacity of the General Assembly Hall. i

Name of the building which contains the office of the UN Secretary-General.

Name of the building which is the home of staff and other departments.

k Name of the person who donated land for the UN Headquarters.

3 Write the 6 main bodies of the UN.

Topic 26 • The UN Headquarters

Renowned Poets and Authors

The world has numerous renowned poets and authors. Let us read about some of them.

ASIA

EUROPE

Rumi (1207–1273): Jalal al-Din Rumi, often referred to as simply Rumi, was a 13th-century Persian poet. His poetry is widely read and admired for its themes of love and devotion.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616): Often considered one of the greatest playwrights in English, he is also the national poet of England. He wrote about 37 plays, including the famous Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and Othello.

Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941): He was an Indian poet, playwright, composer and philosopher. He was the first Asian to be awarded a Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1913 for his collection of poems, Gitanjali.

AFRICA Chinua Achebe (1930–2013): He was a Nigerian author best known for his novel Things Fall Apart, which was a ground-breaking work in African literature. Wole Soyinka (1934–Present): He is a Nigerian playwright, poet and essayist who became the first African to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1986.

NORTH AMERICA Toni Morrison (1931–2019): She was an acclaimed author known for her works like Beloved and Song of Solomon. She was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.

Jane Austen (1775–1817): She was an English novelist who wrote about emotions and society. Her renowned works include Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.

AUSTRALIA Patrick White (1912–1990): He was a novelist and playwright, and the first Australian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1973. His novels Voss and The Tree of Man are important works of Australian literature. Banjo Paterson (1864–1941): He was one of Australia’s most famous and beloved poets. He is known for his iconic ballads, including Waltzing Matilda and The Man from Snowy River.

SOUTH AMERICA Gabriel García Márquez (1927–2014): He was known to write in a way that made magical things seem real. He wrote classics like One Hundred Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera.

Sports, Entertainment and Culture Explore More Scan this QR code to learn more about Tagore and Shakespeare.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Sort the given authors/poets based on their continent. Patrick White

Rabindranath Tagore

Wole Soyinka

Toni Morrison

Jane Austen

Gabriel García Márquez

Europe

South America

Asia

North America

Australia

Africa

2 Write the year when these authors/poets received a Nobel Prize in Literature. a Wole Soyinka:

b Toni Morrison:

c Patrick White:

d Rabindranath Tagore:

3 Name the author/poet of these works. a Beloved b Hamlet c Waltzing Matilda d Things Fall Apart e Gitanjali f

Pride and Prejudice

g Tree of Man h One Hundred Years of Solitude

4 Fill in the blanks. a Rumi was a

century Persian poet, Islamic jurist, and theologian.

was the first Asian to be awarded a Nobel Prize in Literature.

was the first Australian to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

was the first African to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

e Jane Austen’s novels explored the themes of f

The style of ‘magical realism’ was found in the works of

Topic 27 • Renowned Poets and Authors

and

. .

National Schemes for Skill Development

The Indian government has introduced several national programmes to enhance the skills of young people, and meet the increasing need for skilled workers in the job market. Let us read about some such programmes.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK) Launched by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in 2017 As part of the Skill India Mission, the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship is setting up high-quality training centres in every district of India. The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK) aims to generate employability by providing industrial training. The main objective of the scheme is to upgrade the skills of the youth which will help them to get more employment opportunities.

National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) Launched by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in 2016 This programme helps young people get practical job training to get better at their work. The training can be in various industries and can last from six months to three years. The government pays employers to help conduct such training and to apprentices as partial support during their training.

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) Launched by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in 2015 This programme was launched to encourage, teach and assist young people. Its goal is to train 10 million young Indians in practical skills within four years. It offers various courses that are relevant for jobs, assists in job placement and provides financial support for training. As of February 2022, over 53 lakh candidates have received certification through this programme.

Skill Loan Scheme Launched by the Ministry of Skill Development And Entrepreneurship in 2015 This programme provides loan facilities to individuals aged between 18 and 35 years. It helps in the development of skills that meet the National Occupational Standards (NOS). It covers work-skill gaps in India, giving people more opportunities to find good jobs. It is open to all banks in the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and other banks recommended by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushal Yojana (DDU-GKY) Launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in 2014 This programme helps young people in rural areas learn important skills. The programme falls under the National Rural Livelihood Mission. The aim is to teach young people, aged 15–35, from poor families from the countryside so that they can find better jobs, earn more money and reduce poverty.

Life Skills Explore More Scan this QR code to learn more about the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Write the launch year of the following. a PMKVY b PMKK c NAPS d DDU-GKY e Skill Loan Scheme f

GSDP

2 Write the full form of the following schemes. a PMKVY b PMKK c GSDP d NAPS e DDU-GKY

3 Read the text. Guess and write which programme it is. a It offers high-quality training centres in every district of India.

b It offers job training from 6 months to 3 years.

c It is open to all banks in IBA and banks recommended by the RBI.

d Its goal is to train 10 million young Indians in practical skills within four years.

e Its aim is to teach young people, aged 15–35, from poor families.

Topic 28 • National Schemes for Skill Development

Sports Awards, 2023

Sports awards appreciate the dedication and excellence of athletes. They also promote the sport itself. Let us learn about some sports awards.

Laureus World Sports Awards These awards annually celebrate outstanding athletes worldwide for their remarkable contributions and performances in sports. The first award ceremony took place in May 2000. Let us learn about some of the achievers of the Laureus World Sports Awards in 2023. Lionel Messi, who is a football player from Argentina, received the award for the Sportsman of the Year. He also collected the award on behalf of the Argentina national football team for Team of the Year. Argentina won the FIFA World Cup in 2022, led by Lionel Messi. Carlos Alcaraz is a Spanish professional tennis player. He received the Laureus Award for Breakthrough of the Year. In 2023, he also won his first Wimbledon title.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is a Jamaican sprinter. She has won the gold medal at the Olympics three times and the silver medal four times. She received the Laureus Award for Sportswoman of the Year.

Catherine Debrunner is a Swiss wheelchair track specialist. She received the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.

Indian Sports Honours The first award ceremony took place in 2017 and is awarded annually to outstanding sports personalities from India. Some of the winners of this award in 2023 are as follows: Neeraj Chopra won the award for Sportsman of the Year in track and field. He is the first Asian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo 20220. He also won the gold in the Asian Games 2023 for javelin throw. India U19 Women’s Cricket Team won the Team of the Year award. This team won the inaugural tournament in the under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup Pramod Bhagat won the Differently Abled Sportsman of the Year for badminton. In 2023, he won a gold medal in the men’s singles at the 4th Asian Para Games.

Mirabai Chanu won the award for Sportswoman of the Year in weightlifting. She lifted a total of 201 kg in CWG, 2022 that led her to win the gold medal.

Vijay Sharma won the Coach of the Year award for weightlifting. He coached Mirabai Chinu.

Avani Lekhara won Differently Abled Sportswoman of the Year for air rifle shooting. She is the first Indian female Paralympian who has won two medals in the history of Paralympics.

The Year Gone By Explore More Scan this QR code to watch Lionel Messi win in Ballon d’Or 2023 ceremony.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Write the sports the following people are associated with. a Carlos Alcaraz: b Lionel Messi: c Mirabai Chanu: d Pramod Bhagat: e Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce:

2 Guess the player. Write his/her name. a

He won Gold in the Asian Games 2023 for javelin throw.

She won the Indian Honours Award 2023 for air rifle shooting.

He was the captain of the team that won the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

He won the Wimbledon title and the Laureus World Sports Award in 2023.

She received the Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsperson of the Year with a disability.

She is sprinter who was awarded the Laureus World Sports Award 2023, for Sportswoman of the year.

3 Fill in the blanks. won the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

a b

The Laureus World Sports Award first took place in the year

Indian Sports Honours Awards started in the year

. .

won the Laureus Sports Award 2023 for Breakthrough of the year.

won Indian Sports Honours 2023 for Team of the Year.

won the Indian Sports Honours 2023 for Coach of the year.

won the India Sports Honours 2023 for the Sportsman of the year.

Mirabai Chanu won the award for Sportswoman of the Year in

The football team of Argentina won the Laureus Sports Award 2023 for

Topic 29 • Sports Awards, 2023

. .

Natural Disasters

A natural disaster is a naturally occurring event that causes a lot of damage and loss of lives. Tsunamis

Earthquakes An earthquake is the sudden shaking of the Earth’s surface caused by the movement of tectonic plates under the Earth’s surface. Its intensity is measured on a special scale called the Richter scale. Earthquakes of intensity more than 6 can cause infrastructure damage, loss of lives and fatalities. On 6 February 2023, two earthquakes with magnitudes 7.8 and 7.5 struck near the Turkey-Syria border. These led to the death of more than 50,000 people and huge loss of property.

Tsunamis are giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions in the sea. They speed along as fast as jet planes. As they approach the shore, they cause floods and widespread damage to human life, property and landscape. On 26 December 2004, an earthquake of magnitude 9.1 in the Indian Ocean triggered a tsunami. This was one of the largest natural disasters, killing more than 2,30,000 people across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, the Maldives and Thailand.

Volcanic Eruption A volcano is a crack in the earth’s crust that allows lava, volcanic ash and gases to escape. Lava is the melted form of rock and can have a temperature of up to 2,000 °C. Volcanic eruptions can cause mudslides, air pollution and wildfires. Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted three times in 2023. These eruptions caused high levels of volcanic gas in the area, posing a severe health risk to people.

Wildfires

Droughts

A wildfire is an uncontrolled fire in a forest or grassland. Naturally, they can be caused by lightning, excessive heat in a dryland, or due to volcanic eruption. Human activities also cause wildfires. It causes damage to forests, animals and humans. The smoke adds to air pollution.

A drought occurs when there is no rain for a long period of time. It leads to a shortage of water as a result of low rainfall and high temperature. Droughts cause a loss of vegetation and a shortage of food, leading to people dying of starvation. Many people are forced to migrate to other places.

On 30 January 2023, a series of wildfires that started in Chile, in South America, grew into a massive outbreak with several individual fires. These fires burned more than 4,30,000 hectares of land, injured thousands and left many people homeless.

By the end of March 2023, the lack of rain and high temperatures started causing loss of vegetation in Uruguay, northern Argentina and southern Patagonia. Thousands of people had no drinking water.

Earth and Environment Explore More Scan this QR code to learn more about different natural disasters. Also, learn how to prepare and stay safe during natural disasters.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Write the names of the natural disasters. a Sudden shaking of the Earth’s surface. b Uncontrolled sudden fires in the forest or bushes. c Giant ocean waves triggered by an earthquake. d Extended periods of extremely dry weather causing water shortage. e A massive spinning formation of a thunderstorm. f

Overflow of water on land leading to waterlogging.

g A crack in the Earth’s crust through which lava comes out.

2 Write the correct dates of the occurrence of these natural disasters. a

Wildfires in Chile in 2023

Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004

Turkey–Syria earthquake in 2023

3 Write down the correct numbers for the following. a

Magnitude of Turkey–Syria earthquake:

and

Area of the land destroyed by Chile wildfires:

Number of times Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted in 2023:

The magnitude of the earthquake that triggered the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004:

4 Read the text and write the correct information. a

2 events that can cause a wildfire:

2 things that come out of a volcanic eruption:

2 events that can cause a flood:

2 environmental effects of volcanic eruption:

2 causes of a tsunami:

2 factors that cause a drought:

Topic 30 • Natural Disasters

and and

and and and and

Vaccines and Immunization Programmes

Vaccination is the process of giving a person a substance containing a harmless form of germs, usually by injection. It prevents them from getting that disease. It is the world’s safest method to protect people from many life-threatening diseases. Let us learn about vaccination programmes.

Intensified Smallpox Eradication Programme, 1966–1980 This programme was launched to rid the world of the deadly smallpox virus. Mass vaccination camps, and house-to-house vaccinations helped to successfully remove smallpox infection completely by 1980.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), 1988 The Global Polio Eradication Initiative was launched by many organisations, like the WHO and UNICEF. It aimed to permanently remove polio infections around the world. India launched the Pulse Polio Immunization Programme on 2 October, 1994. India was declared polio-free by the WHO on 27 March, 2014. Every year, 24 October is observed as World Polio Day, to create awareness about the dangers of polio.

Tetanus and its Vaccination, 1940–to date The vaccine against this deadly disease, called the tetanus toxoid, was first introduced in 1924. By 1940, it was used in regular childhood vaccination programmes. The tetanus vaccine is given according to the age. In 2022, 84% of infants worldwide had received doses of the tetanus vaccine.

Worldwide Vaccination Programmes for Covid-19, 2020–to date The SARS-Cov-2 virus caused the COVID-19 pandemic. Around the world, the number of deaths due to the coronavirus reached millions. The first vaccine available in the world for COVID-19 was developed and approved in the USA. It was available for use from December 2020. The first COVID-19 vaccine in India was developed in January 2021. As of December 2023, India has administered over 220 crore doses of vaccine.

Science and Technology Explore More Scan this QR code to learn how a vaccine works in the human body. Also, learn about our body’s immune system.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Write the years for these vaccination programmes. a Intensified Smallpox Eradication Programme b The Global Polio Eradication Initiative c Tetanus Vaccination Programme d Covid-19 Vaccination Programme

2 Fill in the blanks. a The name of the tetanus vaccine is the

b Smallpox was eradicated from the world by c The GPEI was launched by the

. and the

d India launched its polio immunization programme on e India was declared polio-free by the WHO on

. .

is observed as World Polio Day.

g In

, 84% of infants worldwide had received doses of the tetanus vaccine.

h The

caused the Covid-19 pandemic.

The first Covid-19 vaccine in India was developed in

As of December 2023, India has administered over

. COVID-19 vaccine doses.

3 What is vaccination?

4 Are vaccinations useful? Give 1 reason to explain your answer.

Topic 31 • Vaccines and Immunization Programmes

Folk Music and Dances of India

India is a big country with a rich cultural diversity. Each state has its own language, cuisine, dance and music. There are multiple traditional dances and music styles in India. Let us learn about a few of them. Garba is a dance form which originates from Gujarat. It is performed during festivals and other special occasions. During Navratri, people across the country organise Garba dancing events. Men and women dress in traditional outfits and colourful garments to perform Garba. Women wear Chaniya Choli while men wear Dhoti and Kurta. It is performed in groups by going around in circles. It involves various hand and foot movements. Garba dance is included in UNESCO’s representative list of ‘intangible cultural heritage’ in 2023.

Lavani is a combination of folk dance and music from Maharashtra. It is performed by women dressed in their traditional nine-yard sarees. This dance is performed to the beats of dholak. Through this dance, the artists present various subjects such as politics, social issues or romance.

Bhangra is a folk dance and music from Punjab. It is performed during the Baisakhi—the harvesting festival and also on different occasions, such as weddings. It involves groups of men and women in traditional attire dancing to the beat of dhol or bhangra music. Male dancers often wear turbans.

Ghoomar is a folk dance from Rajasthan. It was the Bhil tribe who started performing this dance, and it was gradually adopted by other communities in Rajasthan. It is performed by a large group of women dressed in a traditional outfit: a full-length skirt (ghagra), top and dupatta. The word ghoomar is derived from the word ghoomna, which means twirling.

Baul Sangeet is sung by the Bauls, the wandering singers from West Bengal and Bangladesh. The Bauls are famous for their heartfelt music. The Baul sangeet, expresses love of and devotion to God. These songs are influenced by Sufi music and have strong ties to Bengali literature. Bauls are often invited to perform at various events, including religious ceremonies and weddings. It is performed by playing a single-stringed guitar, Ektara.

Maand is Rajasthani folk music. It involves singing, dancing and storytelling through songs. Initially, it was only performed in royal courts to praise the Rajput rulers and the local heroes. Allah Jilai Bai, from Bikaner, was a famous Maand singer who was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for this.

Incredible India Explore More Scan this QR code to learn more about the classical folk music and dances of India.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Which state of India does this dance form belong to? a Bhangra: b Ghoomar: c Garba: d Lavani:

2 Name the dance forms these dresses are associated with. a Turban: b Chaniya Choli: c Nine-yard saree: d Ghagra:

3 Fill in the blanks. a Maand is Rajasthani folk music that involves singing, dancing and b Ghoomar was first performed by

through songs. .

c The Bauls are a group of wandering

d When women perform Lavani, they dance to the beat of e During the festival of f

. , people perform Garba in groups.

Bhangra is performed by both men and women to the beat of

g Baul sangeet is performed by playing an instrument called h The word ghoomar is derived from the word ghoomna, which means i

Originally, Bhangra was performed during the festival of

. . . to celebrate

the harvest.

Topic 32 • Folk Music and Dances of India

Embassies and Ambassadors

Embassies are the official headquarters of a country’s diplomatic work with another country. They are headed by an ambassador, who is the country’s highest-ranking representative in the host country. Let us learn more about it.

Role of an Embassy Embassies are responsible for a wide range of tasks. They are important hubs for a country in another country. They are helpful in situations such as recovering lost, stolen or damaged passports, issuing birth or death reports of people living abroad, assisting with emergency situations and addressing employment-related issues. Moreover, embassies also work on the following: • They represent their home country in a foreign country. It is as if they speak for their country there. • The embassy helps citizens of its home country living, working or travelling abroad. If a citizen has a problem or needs information, they can turn to the embassy. • Usually, embassies are involved in the creation of treaties, receiving foreign dignitaries and other diplomatic functions. They also give information about the visits of foreign dignitaries to their country, so they know what to expect when they visit. • They keep an eye on the important political events happening in the foreign country and inform their home country about them.

More about Embassies • Nearly 89 embassies and 108 consulates are located all over the world, representing India as a whole. • About 100 foreign embassies and 135 consulates are located on Indian land. • The United States Embassy in New Delhi is one of the largest embassies in India. • The Embassy of the United States of America in Baghdad is the largest embassy in the world. • China is home to the greatest number of embassies, which is 171 in total. • The Embassy of Spain to the Holy See is the oldest embassy in the world. It was set up in 1480.

Role of an Embassy An ambassador is a country’s top official in another country. They are chosen by their home government. Their role and position are highly respected. Ambassadors also have a number of important responsibilities, such as: • Maintaining and developing diplomatic relations with the host country. • Representing their country at official events and ceremonies. • Negotiating treaties and other agreements. • The position of ambassador was first granted by the United States in 1893. • K. Asaf Ali was the first Indian ambassador. • Chonira Belliappa Muthamma was the first woman ambassador to India.

International Affairs Explore More Scan this QR code to learn how embassies work and about the 26th U.S. Ambassador to India.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Read the text. Write the correct details. a The head of an embassy who represents a country: b Country that started the position of ambassador: c The first female ambassador of Independent India: d The first ambassador of Independent India: e The official headquarters of a country’s diplomatic mission to another country:

2 Fill in the blanks. a About

foreign embassies are located in India.

b About

Indian embassies are located worldwide.

has the greatest number of embassies in the world.

d The oldest embassy in the world was set up in the year e The Embassy of f

The Embassy of embassies in India.

g The Embassy of the world.

to the Holy See is the oldest embassy in the world. in

is one of the largest

is the largest embassy in

3 Write any 2 roles of an ambassador in 1 to 2 sentences.

4 Write 3 situations during which embassies can provide help.

Topic 33 • Embassies and Ambassadors

Dance Forms Around the World

Dance is a universal form of expression. It takes on a variety of styles and forms across different cultures and regions. Let us learn about some of the popular dance forms from around the world. Ballet is a theatrical dance form. It originated in Italy in the 15th century. The name Ballet is derived from the Italian word “ballare” which means “to dance”. It is characterised by precise movements, costumes and is often accompanied by classical music.

Salsa is a lively and energetic dance style. It originated in the Caribbean, particularly in Cuba and Puerto Rico. This dance features intricate footwork and dynamic movements with a partner.

Kathak is a classical dance form from Uttar Pradesh, India. The word Kathak is derived from Katha, meaning story. So, this dance form emphasizes storytelling through rhythmic footwork, facial expressions and hand gestures. The footwork is highlighted by the bells worn around the dancers’ ankles.

Flamenco is a Spanish dance form that combines singing, dancing and handclaps to create a dramatic art form. It is usually accompanied by a singer and a guitar player. UNESCO recently included it in the list of the World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Hip-Hop emerged in the United States of America. This dance form was the result of a cultural movement. It includes dance styles like breaking, popping and locking. It is characterised by its urban and modern music and fashion.

Samba is a traditional African-Brazilian dance. It is the national dance of Brazil. It is a fun and lively dance that includes elaborate costumes. This dance form is usually performed during street festivals, parades and other celebrations.

Tap Dance originated in the United States. It involves wearing metal-tipped tap shoes to create rhythmic sounds by striking them on the floor. There are two different forms in tap dance: Broadway and Rhythm (jazz) tap.

Sports, Entertainment and Culture Explore More Scan this QR code to explore more dance forms from around the world.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Name the countries from which the following dances originate or belong to. a Flamenco b Kathak c Ballet d Samba e Hip-Hop f

Salsa

g Tap dance h Tinikling i

Haka

Saman

2 Name 2 different forms of tap dance.

3 Which dance forms are the following? a It is the national dance of Brazil. b It is associated with Spain. c It includes shoes fitted with metal to create rhythm. d It includes singing, guitar playing, dance and handclaps. e It includes dance styles like breaking, popping and locking. f

The name of this Indian dance form means storytelling.

g It is characterised by urban and modern music and fashion. h It includes wearing bells around the dancers’ ankles to highlight the footwork.

Topic 34 • Dance Forms Around the World

Get Your Money

The banks not only keep our money safe but also allow us to take it out or use it when we need it. There are several ways to withdraw money from bank accounts. Let us learn about them.

Sending Money with UPI Ravi’s Mom needs to send some money from her bank account to his Grandma. Ravi: Mom, will you be going to your bank to withdraw money today? Mom: No, Ravi! I can send money to Grandma, sitting right here at home. I don’t need to go to the bank for that. Ravi: Oh, how so? Mom: Well, I can send money to another person using UPI on my phone. Ravi: What is a UPI? How does it work?

Mom: It is the instant payment system, Ravi. It stands for Unified Payments Interface (UPI). There are several popular mobile payment applications, such as the Bhim app and Paytm that allow instant money transfers between bank accounts for free. Each user must have a UPI ID in order to send money. Ravi: Wow! That’s so cool, Mom! How do we use UPI to send money?

Mom: Good question, Ravi! It’s a simple process. To send money through UPI ID, all you need to do is open the mobile payment application and enter the receiver’s UPI ID or phone number. Ravi: Oh! And Grandma would receive the money in her bank account then? Mom: Yes, Ravi! She will receive it instantly!

Using an ATM Next week, Ravi’s Grandma came to visit them. Ravi: Grandma, do you also have a UPI app on your phone?

Grandma (smiling): Yes! Your Mom sent me money through UPI last week. Ravi: But, how did you take out that money, Grandma? Grandma Well, I withdrew the money from an ATM.

Ravi: Oh, I have seen an ATM. But I don’t know much about them.

Grandma: OK. Let me tell you about it. ATM stands for Automated Teller Machine, which is a self-service banking outlet. You can withdraw money, check your balance, or even transfer funds at an ATM. Banks provide their ATM services by installing cash machines at different locations. You need a debit card to use an ATM. Ravi (excitedly): Wow! The ATM is very useful, Grandma. Grandma (laughing): That’s right, Ravi!

Using a Cheque That weekend, Ravi saw Mom writing in a small booklet. Ravi: Mom, what are you doing? That doesn’t look like your daily planner. Mom: I am writing a cheque to pay for our cable connection. Ravi: Oh, is that also like a UP!?

Mom (chuckling): Not exactly, Ravi! Let me explain. A person with a bank account can write cheques to pay for things. A cheque is a draft to the bank to pay out money from that person’s account. So, I need to write the amount of money I need to pay, the date, and the receiver’s name on the cheque. Then, I will sign it. Ravi: OK, now I understand! Mom, can you give me a cheque too?

Mom (laughing): You need to have a bank account first! Wait till then! 70

Financial Literacy Explore More Scan this QR code to learn more about some safety tips while using UPI, and the way to use an ATM.

Let’s Practise �� 1 Write three ways using which we can withdraw or send money from our bank account.

2 Choose the correct word from the brackets and fill in the blanks. a You need a

to use an ATM. (debit card/UPI ID)

b This mobile payment option allows a person to send money to another person instantly

(ATM/UPI) c Different banks provide their

services by installing cash machines. (ATM/UPI)

d To send money through UPI, you need to enter the

UPI ID. (bank’s/receiver’s)

e You can withdraw cash and check your balance using a/an f

A person with a bank account can write a

. (cheque/ATM) to pay for things. (bill/cheque)

3 Write the full form of the following. a UPI:

b ATM:

4 Answer the questions in 1 to 2 sentences. a How is a UPI different from an ATM?

b How is a cheque different from an ATM?

Topic 35 • Get Your Money

A n swe rs 1: Global Leaders, 2023

1. a. Giorgia Meloni b. Jacinda Ardern c. Sheikh Hasina d. Kamala Harris e. Ursula von der Leyen f. Nirmala Sitharaman g. Sirimavo Bandaranaike 2. a. January, 2021 b. October, 2022 c. October, 2017 d. May, 2019 e. January, 2009 f. December 2019 3. a. Jacinda Ardern b. Kamala Harris c. Ursula von der Leyen d. 37 e. Sheikh Hasina Wazed f. fifth, 2022

2: Amazon Rainforest

1. The answers may vary. Sample answers: Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia 2. The answers may vary. Sample answer: a. Yanomami, Kayapo, Munduruku b. Brazil nut trees, Rubber trees, Kapok trees c. Parrots, Toucans, Harpy eagles d. Jaguars, Tapirs, Anaconda 3. a. South America b. Amazon d. Brazil e. chocolate f. global warming/climate change h. medicinal

c. 6.7 million g. pink river

1. The answers may vary. Sample answers: Smart Beds, Smart Mirrors, Smart Glasses, Smart Water Bottles, Smart Toilets, Automatic Blinds 2. a. Smart water bottles b. Smart toilets c. Smart beds d. Smart mirrors e. Smart glasses 3. The answers may vary. Sample answers: a. They can flush by themselves. b. They have a built-in massager. c. They can tell you about posture. d. It can make watering of plants automatic. e. It can tell you where to go. f. They can open and close based on schedule. g. It can track our water intake. h. It can monitor water usage. 1. a. Uttar Pradesh b. Jammu and Kashmir c. Andhra Pradesh d. Andhra Pradesh e. Gujarat, Rajasthan f. Telangana g. Madhya Pradesh h. West Bengal i. Uttar Pradesh j. Punjab

1. a. 1985

b. 2005

c. True

d. True

e. False

c. 1995

d. 2016

e. 1981

2. a. Free Trade Area b. South Asian University c. SAARC Development Fund d. South Asia Preferential Trading Agreement e. South Asian Free Trade Area f. SAARC Arbitration Council

1. a. 1898 e. 1936

b. January 1896 f. 1892

c. 1949

d. 1891

2. a. Young Men’s Christian Association b. National Basketball League c. Basketball Association of America d. International Basketball Federation g. 48, 12

7: Emergency and First Aid 1. a. 2

b. 1

c. 4

d. 3

2. a. 4

b. 1

c. 2

d. 3

3. a. 4

b. 1

c. 3

d. 2

4. a. elevate b. fracture c. back d. respond e. ligament f. 2–3 hours g. move h. yelling, shaking i. A compression bandage j. Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation

8: Disastrous Floods and Earthquakes in 2023 1. a. September, 2023 b. July, 2023 d. October, 2023 e. June, 2023

c. February, 2023

2. The answers may vary. Sample answers are: a. Libya and Turkey b. Punjab and Sindh c. 5.4 d. 7.8, 7.5 e. 6.3, 6.3 and 6.4 f. Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana 3. a. Sutlej b. Doksuri e. Jammu and Kashmir g. fifth

c. Daniel d. 2, 4 f. flash floods, landslides

9: Animals of Extreme Places

2. a. True

2. a. Bandhej b. charkha c. Mughal d. Changthangi e. Machilipatnam f. Jamdani g. Ikat h. Srikalahasti i. golden, silver j. silk, wool

5: SAARC Nations

6: Basketball

1. a. Wood frogs b. Camel c. The Pompeii worm d. Emperor Penguins e. Tardigrades f. The deep sea anglerfish

4: Fabrics and Patterns of India

b. False

3. a. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation b. Bangladesh c. Pakistan d. Afghanistan e. India f. Bhutan g. Colombo h. SAARC COVID-19 emergency fund i. Kathmandu

3. a. rectangular b. five c. James Naismith d. Senda Berenson e. 2 f. unique court setup h. University of Chicago, the University of Iowa

3: Smart Devices

3. a. False

g. South Asian Regional Standard Organisation h. SAARC Agreement on Trade Services

b. False

c. True

d. False

3. a. water bears b. The Pompeii worms d. hair e. glucose

e. False

f. False

c. blubber

10: Modern Energy Resources

1. The answers may vary. Sample answer: Geothermal energy, Biomass energy, Wind energy, Solar energy 2. a. Jodhpur, Rajasthan b. Gansu Wind Farm, China c. Kanyakumari d. Geysers Geothermal Complex, US e. Drax Power Station, UK f. Fox River, US g. Darjeeling, West Bengal h. Three Gorges Dam, China i. Tuscany, Italy j. Scotland 3. a. 3,000 b. 7,000 c. biomass e. 90 metres f. 1887 g. 1904

d. Wind turbines h. 1897 i. 350

11: Superlative of India 1. a. Jammu and Kashmir d. Gujarat

b. Maharashtra

c. Sikkim

2. a. The Deccan Plateau b. The Ganga river c. The Wular Lake d. The Thar desert e. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands f. Kangchenjunga 3. a. 2,00,00 f. 1,214

b. 189

c. 8,249

d. 8,586

e. 2,525

12: UNESCO World Heritage Sites

1. a. 1986, England b. 1979, Egypt c. 1983, India d. 1980, Rome e. 1987, China f. 1983, Peru g. 1981, Australia 2. a. Taj Mahal b. Machu Picchu c. Colosseum d. Great Barrier Reef e. Pyramids of Giza 3. a. Taj Mahal b. Colosseum c. Pyramids of Giza d. Red Square e. Stonehenge f. Machu Picchu g. The Great Wall of China h. Great Barrier Reef

13: Chess

1. a. Knight f. Bishop

b. Queen g. Queen

c. King h. King

d. Knight

e. Pawn

i. Single-celled bacteria k. Respiration

j. Spinning cloud of dust and gas

2. a. proteins b. carbon dioxide e. 78, 21 f. oxygen, respiration

c. Pangaea

d. 6 million

17: Indian Space Missions

1. a. 19 April 1975 b. 22 October 2008 c. 22 July 2019 d. 28 September 2015 e. 5 November 2013 f. Planned for 2026 2. a. Aryabhata b. Chandrayaan-1 c. Mars Orbiter Mission d. AstroSat f. Gaganyaan

e. Chandrayaan-2

3. a. 24 September 2021 b. August 2009 c. sky vehicle d. 1st e. 4th f. the Soviet Union (Russia)

18: Major Ore Mines of India 1. a. 1894 b. 1968 c. 1774 e. 1971–72 f. 1982 2. a. Jharkhand d. Karnataka

d. 1880s

b. Chhattisgarh c. West Bengal e. Madhya Pradesh f. Madhya Pradesh

2. a. India b. Two c. 64 d. 32 e. Chaturanga f. black, white g. the opponent’s king h. Vishwanathan Anand i. Koneru Humpy

3. a. NMDC b. Dhanbad c. 1956 d. 2051 e. 2036 f. the Burning City g. 1989 h. Eastern Coalfields Limited i. NMDC j. John Taylor & Sons k. Kolar Gold Fields (K.G.F) l. Panna Diamond Mines m. Kolar Gold Fields

14: Food Nutrients and Health

19: New Silk Road

1. a. Carbohydrates b. Proteins c. Healthy fats d. Minerals e. Vitamins f. Fibers g. Water 2. The answers may vary. Sample answer: a. Wheat, Rice, Potatoes b. Eggs, Meat, Beans c. Avocados, Nuts, Olive oil d. Milk, Bananas, Spinach e. Orange, Almonds, Sunlight f. Whole grains, fruits, Vegetables 3. a. False

b. True

c. False

d. True

e. True

15: G20

1. a. 19, African, European b. climate change, terrorism c. India d. Sherpa e. 1999 f. Indonesia, India, South Africa 2. a. The G20 was initially established to solve a monetary issue in Asia in 1999. b. A G20 Sherpa represents countries and works on important issues like farming, anti-corruption, climate change, the internet economy, education, jobs, energy, environment, health, tourism, and trade. c. The G20 Presidency is responsible for setting the G20 agenda in consultation with other members. d. In G20, the last, the current and the next countries for presidency are together called the Troika Countries. The troika countries of 2023 were Indonesia, India and South Africa.

16: Life on Earth

1 a. Around 4.5 billion years ago b. About 200,000 years ago c. Around 6.5 billion years ago d. Around 3.5 million year ago e. In the oceans f. Around 2.4 million years ago g. Extinction of dinosaurs h. Hominids

Answers

1. Asia, Europe, Africa 2. a. 2013 b. China c. Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) d. the Silk Road Economic Belt e. 21st Century Maritime Silk Road f. the Belt and the Road initiative 3. a. False e. False

b. True f. True

c. False

d. False

20: Famous Books Made into Films 1. a. J. R. R. Tolkien c. Rudyard Kipling

b. J. K. Rowling d. Yann Martel

2. a. Life of Pi b. The Lord of the Rings c. The Jungle Book d. Harry Potter

e. Life of Pi

3. a. Harry Potter b. The Jungle Book c. Life of Pi d. The Lord of the Rings 4. a. True

b. False

c. True

d. True

21: Surya Namaskar

1. 5, 3, 1, 12, 6, 4, 7, 8, 2, 10, 9, 11 2. a. the Sun Salutation b. Ashtanga Surya Namaskar c. morning d. the 1920s e. Sun God f. Hatha Surya Namaskar g. Ashtanga Surya Namaskar h. Pranamasana i. Iyengar and Shivananada Surya Namaskar 3. The answers may vary. Sample answers: 1. It helps in staying fit and healthy. 2. It boosts energy.

22: India in Space, 2023

1. a. 2 September 2023 b. 14 July 2023 c. 23 August 2023 d. 24 August 2023 e. 2024 f. 4 September, 2023

2. a. Chandrayaan-3 b. Indian Space Research Organisation c. Aditya-L1 d. moon craft e. 5 years f. 14 July 2023, Andhra Pradesh g. Vikram, Pragyan

28: National Schemes for Skill Development

3. a. Its aim is to study rocks and minerals found on the Moon’s surface.

2. a. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana b. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra c. Green Skill Development Programme d. National Apprenticeship Promotion e. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushal Yojana

b. Its aim is to study the Sun’s outer layer and its magnetic field. c. It will help scientists understand the space weather and how it affects Earth.

23: The 17 Goals of Sustainable Development 1. a. 2 h. 6 p. 14

b. 3 c. 1 i. 8 j. 13 q. 15

d. 17 k. 16

e. 12 l. 5

f. 11 m. 10

g. 7 n. 9

o. 4

24: Wireless Technologies

1. a. GPS b. Bluetooth c. Wi-Fi d. Cellular networks e. Nearby sharing 2. a. Wi-Fi d. GPS

b. Bluetooth e. Hotspots

3. a. False d. True

b. False e. True

c. Cellular networks f. Nearby sharing

c. True f. False

1. a. Pottery b. Pashmina c. Lac bangles d. Moradabad e. Shell f. natural resin g. West Bengal h. Rosewood, sandalwood 2. The answers may vary for parts b, d, e, f and g. Sample answers are given. a. Kashmir, India b. Himachal Pradesh c. Rajasthan d. Bihar e. Andhra Pradesh f. Tripura g. Tamil Nadu b. True e. True

c. False

1. The Secretariat Building, The General Assembly Hall, The Dag Hammarskjöld Library, The Conference Building 2. a. António Guterres b. Dag Hammarskjöld c. General Assembly Hall d. The Dag Hammarskjöld Library e. New York f. The General Assembly Hall g. The Conference Building h. 1,800 i. The Secretariat Building j. The Secretariat Building k. John D. Rockefeller Jr 3. The General Assembly, The Security Council, The Economic and Social Council, The Trusteeship Council, The International Court of Justice, The Secretariat

27: Renowned Poets and Authors

1. Europe: William Shakespeare Asia: Rabindranath Tagore Australia: Patrick White South America: Gabriel García Márquez North America: Toni Morrison Africa: Wole Soyinka b. 1993

c. 1973

d. 1913

3. a. Toni Morrison b. William Shakespeare c. Banjo Paterson d. Chinua Achebe e. Rabindranath Tagore f. Jane Austen g. Patrick White h. Gabriel García Márquez 4. a. 13th b. Rabindranath Tagore c. Patrick White d. Wole Soyinka e. feelings, society f. Gabriel García Márquez

c. 2016 f. 2017

b. NAPS c. Skill Loan Scheme e. DDU-GKY

29: Sports Awards, 2023

1 a. Tennis b. Football c. Weightlifting d. Badminton e. Sprinting 2. a. Neeraj Chopra

b. Avani Lekhara

c. Lionel Messi

d. Carlos Alcaraz e. Catherine Debrunner f. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce 3. a. Argentina b. 2000 c. 2017 e. India U19 Women’s Cricket Team g. Neeraj Chopra h. weightlifting

d. Carlos Alcaraz f. Vijay Sharma i. Team of the Year

1. a. Earthquake b. Wildfires c. Tsunamis e. Tornado f. Floods g. Volcanic eruption 2. a. 30 January 3. a. 7.8, 7.5

d. Droughts

b. 26 December

c. 6 February

b. 4,30,000 hectares

c. 3 times

d. 9.1

4. The answer may vary. Sample answers: a. Lightning, Human activities b. Lava, Volcanic ash c. Heavy rainfall, Dam breakage d. Air pollution, Wildfires e. Earthquakes, Volcanic eruptions f. High temperature, low rainfall

31: Vaccines and Immunization Programmes

26: The UN Headquarters

2. a. 1986

3. a. PMKK d. PMKVY

b. 2017 e. 2015

30: Natural Disasters

25: Indian Handicrafts

3. a. True d. True

1. a. 2015 d. 2014

1. a. 1996–1980

b. 1988

c. 1940–till date

d. 2020–till date

2. a. tetanus toxoid b. 1980 c. WHO, UNICEF d. 2 October 1994 e. 27 March 2014 f. 24 October g. 2022 h. SARS-Cov-2 i. January 2021 j. 220 crore 3. Answers may vary. Sample answer: Vaccination is the process of giving a person a substance containing a harmless form of germs, usually by injection. 4. Answers may vary. Sample answer: Yes. It prevents them from getting diseases.

32: Folk Music and Dances of India 1. a. Punjab

b. Rajasthan

2. a. Bhangra

b. Garba

c. Gujarat

c. Lavani

3. a. storytelling b. the Bhil tribe d. dholak e. Navratri f. dhol h. twirling i. Baisakhi

d. Maharashtra d. Ghoomar

c. singers g. Ektara

33: Embassies and Ambassador

1. a. Ambassador b. The United States of America c. Chonira Belliappa Muthamma d. K. Asaf Ali 2. a. 100 b. 89 c. China f. United States, New Delhi

e. Embassy

d. 1480 e. Spain g. United States, Baghdad

3. The answers may vary. Sample answers: 1. Maintaining and developing diplomatic relations with the host

country. 2. Representing their country at official events and ceremonies. 4. The answers may vary. Sample answers: 1. Recovering lost, stolen, or damaged passports. 2. Assisting with emergencies. 3. Addressing employment-related issues.

34: Dance Forms Around the World

1. a. Spain b. India c. Italy d. Brazil e. the United States f. Cuba and Puerto Rico g. United States h. Philippines i. New Zealand j. Indonesia 2. Broadway, Jazz 3. a. Samba e. Hip-Hop

Answers

b. Flamenco f. Kathak

c. Tap dance d. Flamenco g. Hip-Hop h. Kathak

35: Get Your Money

1. The answers may vary. Sample answers: UPI, ATM, Cheque 2. a. debit card d. receiver’s

b. UPI e. ATM

c. ATM f. cheque

3. a. Unified Payments Interface

b. Automated Teller Machine

4. The answers may vary. Sample answers: a. UPI allows instant transfers between bank accounts through mobile apps, while ATM is a self-service banking outlet used for cash withdrawals, balance checks and fund transfers. b. A cheque is a written order requesting the bank to transfer a specific amount of money from your account, while an ATM is a machine that allows you to withdraw cash.

About the Book Aware empowers learners with general knowledge, awareness of global developments, functional competencies and the 21st-century skills essential for life today. The book covers learning across eight key themes, which are shown below.

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