Chapter 3: The Mystery of Food Long Questions | Environmental Science - EVS Class 5 CBSE

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Chapter 3: The Mystery of Food Long Questions | Environmental Science - EVS Class 5 CBSE | ByteNotes.in

Long Answer

Medium difficulty • Structured explanation

Medium

Question 1

Long Form

Explain how microbes lead to food spoilage and how Disha discovered this process.

Microbes are tiny living things found everywhere that grow on food and change its properties.
When they multiply, they change the smell and taste of the food, making it unsafe to eat.
Disha discovered this when she found a forgotten tiffin box with uttapam from three days ago.
The food had developed coloured patches and a foul smell, which her brother identified as mould.
She learned that while we cannot see single microbes, a large colony or mould is easily visible.

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Long Answer

Medium difficulty • Structured explanation

Medium

Question 2

Long Form

Describe the factors necessary for microbe growth and how we can stop them.

Microbes need three main things to survive and grow: moisture, air, and the right temperature.
Moisture or water allows them to multiply rapidly, which is why dry foods last longer.
Air is needed for their survival, so sealing food in air-tight containers stops their growth.
They thrive in warm temperatures, so keeping food in cold places like a fridge slows them down.
For example, removing moisture by sun-drying chillies stops microbes in their tracks for a whole year.

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Long Answer

Medium difficulty • Structured explanation

Medium

Question 3

Long Form

Detail the method of sun-drying as a preservation technique with examples from the text.

Sun-drying is a natural method that uses the heat of the sun to remove moisture from food.
Without moisture, the microbes that cause spoilage cannot grow or survive on the food item.
Disha saw her parents drying chillies on a mat on the balcony to prepare them for storage.
This allows the family to make chilli powder that remains unspoilt and usable for an entire year.
Other items like papads or sliced tomatoes can also be preserved using this simple sun-drying technique.

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Long Answer

Medium difficulty • Structured explanation

Medium

Question 4

Long Form

How does pickling and oiling keep food safe from spoiling for a long time?

Pickling uses ingredients like salt, spices, and oil to create an environment where microbes cannot grow.
Oil specifically acts as a thick layer that prevents air from coming into contact with the food.
Since microbes need air to survive, they are unable to live in a jar filled with oil.
Grandmother explained to Disha that this is why pickles stay delicious even after two months.
In the past, spices like black pepper were so prized for this purpose that explorers crossed oceans for them.

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Long Answer

Medium difficulty • Structured explanation

Medium

Question 5

Long Form

Explain the role of refrigeration and freezing in modern food storage.

Refrigerators use cold temperatures to keep food safe by making it too cold for microbes to grow.
While it doesn't kill all microbes, the cold significantly slows down their activity and multiplication.
This helps keep perishable items like milk, vegetables, butter, and cakes fresh for much longer.
Disha's father explained that the fridge provides the cold temperature needed to stop food from rotting.
Freezing takes this further by making things even colder to preserve food for very long periods.

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Long Answer

Hard difficulty • Structured explanation

Hard

Question 6

Long Form

Discuss the different types of teeth humans have and their specific functions during eating.

Humans have four main types of teeth, each designed for a specific job in breaking down food.
Incisors are the sharp front teeth that we use to cut pieces of food like an apple.
Canines are the pointed teeth located next to incisors that help us tear through tough food.
Premolars are used for crushing food into smaller bits, while molars grind it into a fine paste.
Disha learned that using all these teeth together ensures food is well-chewed and ready for digestion.

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Long Answer

Medium difficulty • Structured explanation

Medium

Question 7

Long Form

Why is chewing food properly considered important for a healthy digestive system?

Chewing is the first step of digestion that breaks large food into small, manageable pieces.
The process releases saliva, which contains enzymes that help start the chemical breakdown of food.
Properly chewed food turns into a soft mush that is much easier for our stomach to process.
Eating slowly and chewing well also prevents us from choking on large, uncrushed pieces of food.
For example, chewing a dry roti for a long time makes it taste sweeter and feel more liquid.

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Long Answer

Medium difficulty • Structured explanation

Medium

Question 8

Long Form

In what ways can microbes be beneficial to our health and in food preparation?

Many microbes are helpful and are used to create popular food items like curd and buttermilk.
In the air, certain microbes help make idli batter rise, giving it a fluffy and light texture.
Inside our digestive system, good microbes work alongside our body to help break down and digest food.
When we have an upset stomach, eating curd adds more good microbes to help us get well.
Traditional foods like fermented rice are eaten across India because they are full of beneficial bacteria.

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Long Answer

Easy difficulty • Structured explanation

Easy

Question 9

Long Form

Describe the importance of oral hygiene and the steps one should take to prevent cavities.

Oral hygiene is essential because it prevents the growth of bad microbes that cause tooth decay.
If teeth are not cleaned, cavities or small holes can form, leading to severe pain and toothaches.
We should brush our teeth regularly and rinse our mouths with water after every single meal.
It is also important to eat fewer sugary sweets and visit a dentist for regular dental check-ups.
Disha learned this lesson after visiting a dentist who advised her on how to care for her aching tooth.

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Long Answer

Medium difficulty • Structured explanation

Medium

Question 10

Long Form

Explain the concept of seasonal fruits and the joy of eating them as described by Disha's family.

Seasonal fruits are those that naturally ripen during a specific time of year, like mangoes in summer.
Eating fruits in their correct season ensures they are at their freshest, tastiest, and most nutritious state.
Disha's father brought home lychees during the rain, a fruit they had to wait an entire year for.
The family shared a moment of great joy peeling and eating the delicious, fresh seasonal fruit together.
Appa also mentioned that local mangoes are better because they don't travel far and stay fresh longer.

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Chapter 3: The Mystery of Food | Long Questions

Explain how microbes lead to food spoilage and how Disha discovered this process.

Describe the factors necessary for microbe growth and how we can stop them.

Detail the method of sun-drying as a preservation technique with examples from the text.

How does pickling and oiling keep food safe from spoiling for a long time?

Explain the role of refrigeration and freezing in modern food storage.

Discuss the different types of teeth humans have and their specific functions during eating.

Why is chewing food properly considered important for a healthy digestive system?

In what ways can microbes be beneficial to our health and in food preparation?

Describe the importance of oral hygiene and the steps one should take to prevent cavities.

Explain the concept of seasonal fruits and the joy of eating them as described by Disha's family.

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