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Solutions

Overview

Step-by-step NCERT solutions for The Mystery of Food (Chapter 3, NCERT Class 5 The World Around Us) — every question and answer worked out in full, not just the final result. You can also read the The Mystery of Food textbook chapter.

Solved

What these solutions cover

All 18 questions in The Mystery of Food are solved in the PDF. Here's what's inside, exercise by exercise:

Think — Upset stomach

  1. Have you ever had an upset stomach? What could have caused it? What could happen if spoiled food is eaten by mistake? What did you do to get well?

Write — Why food gets spoiled

  1. Why do you think food gets spoiled?

Write — Things dried to remain unspoilt

  1. What other things are dried so that they remain unspoilt throughout the year?

Activity 1 — Mango products

  1. What items can be made from mangoes to enjoy them for longer durations? Write their names.

Let us observe — Tomato drying activity

  1. Cut a tomato into slices and place them on a tray in sunlight. What changes did you observe in the tomato slices? Can you think of a way to preserve tomatoes?

Discuss — Pickle without oil

  1. What would happen to the pickle if no oil had been added?

Discuss — Butter and ghee refrigeration

  1. Why does butter need refrigeration but ghee does not?

Activity 3 — Food preservation practices at home

  1. Find out about food preservation practices at your family by asking the elders at home. Write at least one such practice.

How are Idlis made?

  1. How are idlis made? What makes the idli batter fluffy?

Think — Home remedies for indigestion

  1. Have you ever had an upset stomach, vomiting, or indigestion? Did you use any home remedies? Write about the home remedy given to you.

Activity 4 — Finding #9 from market visit

  1. Go with an elder to buy vegetables and fruits. Observe how they select fruits and vegetables. Write one thing you learnt as a Finding #9.

Write — Seasonal fruits and vegetables

  1. Name three seasonal fruits or vegetables of your region. For example, amla in winter and jamun in summer.

Activity 5 — Teeth and chewing

  1. Chew each food item properly. Which teeth did you use to cut and chew? Look at the diagram of teeth and name them.

Write — How to avoid choking

  1. How can you avoid choking?

Let us reflect

  1. Why do some food items last for weeks and others spoil in just a few days?
  2. You are going on a field trip for two days. List five food items you will carry. How will you keep them from getting spoiled?
  3. What if food cannot be preserved? Imagine a world without food preservation and discuss the consequences.
  4. Match the following: Which method is used to preserve the food item (A) to make the final product (B)? Item (A): Roti, Papad, Mango, Lemon, Butter, Juice, Chillies, Fish Products (B): Khakhra, Dried papads, Aam papad, Lemon pickle, Ghee, Canned juice, Chilli powder, Dried fish (The Methods of Preservation column is to be filled in by students using chapter concepts: Dehydration and Dried in sun…
Sample

Worked examples

3 questions from The Mystery of Food, solved step by step.

Think — Upset stomach

Have you ever had an upset stomach? What could have caused it? What could happen if spoiled food is eaten by mistake? What did you do to get well?

Yes, an upset stomach can happen when spoiled food is eaten. Spoiled food contains harmful microbes that disturb the stomach.

If someone eats spoiled food by mistake, they may get stomach pain, vomiting, loose motions, or indigestion.

To get well, drinking plenty of water helps. Eating curd or buttermilk (which contain good microbes) can also soothe the stomach. For a severe problem, a doctor's advice and medicines are needed.

Answer: Eating spoiled food introduces harmful microbes into the body, causing stomach pain, vomiting, or loose motions. Drinking water and eating curd or buttermilk with good microbes helps in recovery. (Answers about personal experience will vary.)

Write — Why food gets spoiled

Why do you think food gets spoiled?

Food gets spoiled because tiny living things called microbes grow on it.

Microbes need moisture, air, and the right temperature to grow.

When food is left in warm, moist, or open conditions, microbes multiply quickly and change the taste, smell, and appearance of the food.

Answer: Food gets spoiled because microbes (tiny living things) grow on it when there is moisture, air, and warmth. They change the taste and smell of food, making it unfit to eat.

Write — Things dried to remain unspoilt

What other things are dried so that they remain unspoilt throughout the year?

Drying removes moisture from food so microbes cannot grow.

Many foods are dried to preserve them: red chillies, coriander seeds, fenugreek leaves (methi), fish, amla (Indian gooseberry), ginger, tamarind, coconut, papad, and various lentils (dals).

In many homes, raw mango is dried to make aam papad or dried mango powder (amchur).

Answer: Red chillies, coriander seeds, methi (fenugreek) leaves, fish, amla, tamarind, papad, and raw mango are dried to keep them unspoilt throughout the year.

All 18 questions in The Mystery of Food are solved step by step in the Solutions PDF above.

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More NCERT Solutions for Class 5

Read the The Mystery of Food textbook chapter / PDF, or browse all NCERT Class 5 The World Around Us solutions.

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