Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 3 Question Answer

Mindful Eating: A Path to a Healthy Body

Question 1. Pick the odd one out and give reasons:
(i) Jowar, Bajra, Ragi, Chana
(ii) Kidney beans, Green gram, Soya bean, Rice

Answer:

(i) Jowar, Bajra, Ragi, Chana

• Odd one out: Chana
• Reason: Jowar, Bajra, and Ragi are millets, while Chana is a pulse.

(ii) Kidney beans, Green gram, Soya bean, Rice

• Odd one out: Rice
• Reason: Kidney beans, Green gram, and Soya bean are pulses, while Rice is a cereal.

Question 2. Discuss traditional versus modern culinary practices in India.

Answer:

• Traditional culinary practices in India involved using natural methods such as cooking on a chulha (traditional stove), grinding ingredients with a sil-batta (stone grinder), and using seasonal, locally grown food items. These methods required more manual effort and time.
• Modern culinary practices have shifted towards using gas stoves, electric grinders, and processed foods. Convenience has increased with the use of modern technology, but there is also a loss of traditional methods and sometimes nutritional value due to the use of processed ingredients and fast-cooking methods.

Question 3. A teacher says that good food may act as medicine. Ravi is curious about this statement and has some questions for his teacher. List at least two questions that he can ask.

Answer:

• How does eating the right food prevent diseases?
• Are there any specific foods that can help cure certain health issues?

Question 4. Not all delicious foods are necessarily healthy, while not all nutritious foods are always enjoyable. Share your thoughts along with a few examples.

Answer:

• Delicious foods like candies, fried snacks, and fast food (like burgers and chips) are often high in sugar, fats, and salt, making them unhealthy if consumed regularly. They can lead to obesity and other health problems.
• On the other hand, nutritious foods like boiled vegetables, pulses, and whole grains provide essential vitamins and minerals but may not always be considered tasty. A balance is necessary between taste and health.

Question 5. Medu does not eat vegetables but enjoys biscuits, noodles and white bread. He often has stomach ache and constipation. What changes should he make in his diet to get rid of these problems? Explain your answer.

Answer: Medu should add more fiber-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains (like chapatis, brown bread) to his diet. These foods help in digestion and prevent constipation. Additionally, reducing his intake of processed foods like biscuits, noodles, and white bread will help improve his overall digestion and health.

Question 6. Reshma had trouble seeing things in dim light. The doctor tested her eyesight and prescribed a particular vitamin
supplement. He also advised her to include a few food items in her diet.

(i) Which deficiency disease is she suffering from?

Answer: She is suffering from night blindness.

(ii) Which food component may be lacking in her diet?

Answer: Reshma is likely lacking Vitamin A in her diet.

(iii) Suggest some food items that she should include in her diet to overcome this problem (any four).

Answer: Carrots, Papayas, Mangoes, Milk

Question 7. You are provided the following:

(i) Canned fruit juice
(ii) Fresh fruit juice
(iii) Fresh fruit

Which one would you prefer and why?

Answer: Fresh fruit is the best option because it contains natural fibers and nutrients in their unprocessed form. Canned fruit juice may have added sugar and preservatives, and fresh fruit juice might lose some fiber during processing.

Question 8. Gourav got a fracture in his leg. His doctor aligned the bones and put on a plaster. The doctor also gave him calcium tablets. On the second visit, the doctor gave him Vitamin D syrup along with calcium tablets. Refer to Fig. 3.5 and answer the following questions:

(i) Why did the doctor give calcium tablets to Gourav?

Answer: Calcium is important for bone health and helps in the healing of fractures.

(ii) On the second visit, why did the doctor give Vitamin D syrup along with calcium tablets?

Answer: Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium more effectively, which is essential for bone repair and strengthening.

(iii) What question arises in your mind about the choices made by the doctor in giving the medicines?

Answer: One might ask: “Why wasn’t Vitamin D given with calcium initially? Does Vitamin D deficiency affect bone healing?”

Question 9. Sugar is an example of carbohydrates. Sugar is tested with iodine solution but it does not change to blue-black colour. What can be a possible reason?

Answer: The iodine test is used to detect starch, a type of carbohydrate. Sugar does not contain starch, which is why it does not turn blue-black when tested with iodine​.

Question 10. What do you think of Raman’s statement, “All starches are carbohydrates but not all carbohydrates are starches.’’ Describe the design of an activity to test your answer.

Answer: Raman’s statement is correct. Carbohydrates can be simple (like sugars) or complex (like starches). To test this, we can use iodine solution on different carbohydrate sources like sugar and bread. Bread will turn blue-black due to the presence of starch, while sugar will not.

Question 11. While using iodine in the laboratory, a few drops of iodine fell on Mishti’s socks and a few fell on her teacher’s saree. The drops of iodine on the saree turned blue-black while the colour on the socks did not change. What can be a possible reason?

Answer: The saree is likely made of a material that contains starch (possibly cotton or silk), which reacts with iodine. Mishti’s socks may be made of synthetic fibers that do not contain starch, so there was no color change.

Question 12. Why are millets considered a healthy choice of food? Can eating just millets suffice for the nutritional requirements of the body? Discuss.

Answer: Millets are rich in essential nutrients like fiber, proteins, vitamins, and minerals, making them a healthy choice. However, eating only millets may not provide all the nutrients required for a balanced diet. It is important to include a variety of foods like fruits, vegetables, and dairy for a complete nutritional intake.

Question 13. You are given a sample of a solution. How would you check the possibility of it being an iodine solution?

Answer: To check if the solution is iodine, you can add it to a sample of starchy food like potato or bread. If the solution is iodine, the starchy food will turn blue-black​.