Get notes, summary, questions and answers, MCQs, extras, and PDFs of Chapter 19 “Preventive Measures” which is part of ICSE Class 9 Geography (Morning Star/Total) textbook/workbook answers. However, the notes should only be treated as references and changes should be made according to the needs of the students.
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Summary
Pollution harms our air, water, and soil. Fumes from industries and vehicles poison city air. Water gets dirty from factory waste. Soil is damaged by chemicals. We need to stop this. City air pollution is high due to many private cars, as public transport may be lacking. This causes crowded roads, traffic jams, and makes vehicles a big pollution source.
Car fumes cause climate change and air pollution, making people sick. Climate change happens from too much carbon dioxide. This gas acts like a blanket, trapping Earth’s heat. More carbon dioxide means a thicker blanket and a hotter Earth (this “blanket” is a metaphor for how these gases trap heat). Cars also release harmful carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, which cause acid rain. Carpooling, sharing rides, helps by reducing cars, pollution, and saving money.
Using public transport more also reduces pollution. Public transport includes buses, trains, and metros. One bus causes less pollution than many cars. Trains use less energy per person than cars. Public transport can be quieter, pollutes less, and saves fuel. It means less traffic and fewer accidents. In Delhi, the air was once described as being like “living in a gas chamber,” a metaphor for dangerously polluted air.
Smoking tobacco is harmful, causing diseases like cancer. It also harms nearby passive smokers who breathe the smoke. ‘No Smoking Zones’ in public places like cinemas, hospitals, and transport protect everyone. These zones mean less smoke for others, cleaner air, and can help smokers quit. They also reduce fire risks.
Fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas formed from ancient dead organisms. We use them for most energy, but burning them causes pollution, global warming, and acid rain. They are also running out. We need to use them less and find cleaner energy like solar or wind power. We can save energy by using blankets instead of heaters, or light clothes in summer for less air conditioning. Turning off unused lights also helps.
Organic farming grows food keeping soil healthy without harmful chemicals. It uses natural wastes to feed soil and crops, avoiding man-made fertilizers and pesticides. This is good for Earth and health. Organic farming works with nature, protects soil for the future, and aims to be fair to the environment and people. It helps keep many plant and animal types.
Textbook solutions (Morning Star/Total)
Multiple-Choice Questions
1. Climate change is a result of increasing ___________________ emissions.
(a) sulphur dioxide
(b) carbon dioxide
(c) oxygen
(d) hydrocarbons
Answer: (b) carbon dioxide
2. Vehicles account for most of the:
(a) carbon monoxide
(b) nitrogen oxides
(c) particulates
(d) carbon dioxide
Answer: (a) carbon monoxide
3. The sharing of car journeys by persons travelling on the same route to save money and fuel:
(a) carsharing
(b) shared cars
(c) carpooling
(d) poolingcar
Answer: (c) carpooling
4. Which of the following is NOT an advantage of carpooling?
(a) It helps to save money in buying fuel
(b) It helps to save money in maintenance cost of cars
(c) It increases traffic congestion
(d) It helps to use commuting time in useful pursuits
Answer: (c) It increases traffic congestion
5. Which amongst the following is NOT an advantage of Public Transport?
(a) It causes more noise
(b) It is an eco-friendly transport system
(c) It reduces fuel consumption
(d) It helps to save money spent on maintenance of personal vehicles
Answer: (a) It causes more noise
6. Non-smokers who breathe in the smoke exhaled by the smokers:
(a) Secondary smokers
(b) Active smokers
(c) Passive smokers
(d) Indirect smokers
Answer: (c) Passive smokers
7. The buried, combustible deposits of organic materials, formed as a result of heat and pressure in the earth’s crust over hundreds of millions of years:
(a) Fossil
(b) Fossil Fuel
(c) Crude
(d) Combustions
Answer: (b) Fossil Fuel
8. Coal : 28% :: Natural gas : ____
(a) 20
(b) 15
(c) 30
(d) 25
Answer: (a) 20
9. The major disadvantage of fossil fuels is:
(a) Water Pollution
(b) Radioactive Pollution
(c) Air Pollution
(d) Soil Pollution
Answer: (c) Air Pollution
10. A holistic system of farming, which is primarily aimed at cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way, as to keep the soil alive and in good health in an eco-friendly pollution free environment.
(a) Eco-friendly farming
(b) Organic farming
(c) Primary farming
(d) Preventive farming
Answer: (b) Organic farming
Short Answer Questions
1. State two negative effects of vehicular emissions.
Answer: Vehicular emissions have two negative effects on the environment: one is global climate change and the other is air pollution and its negative health repercussions.
2. Name any two gases emitted by vehicular emissions.
Answer: Two gases emitted by vehicular emissions are carbon dioxide (CO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO). Other gases include hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
3. What is meant by carpooling?
Answer: Carpooling refers to the sharing of car journeys by persons travelling on the same route.
4. Name any three modes of public transport used in India.
Answer: Three modes of public transport used in India include city buses, passenger trains, and metro rail.
5. What is a ‘No Smoking Zone’?
Answer: A ‘No Smoking Zone’ refers to public places where smoking is prohibited, such as auditoriums, cinemas, hospitals, public transport and their related facilities, restaurants, hotels, offices, and parks, under the Prohibition of smoking in Public Places Rules 2008. By creating ‘No Smoking Zone’ in public places, an attempt has been made to save not only passive smokers but also to discourage smokers to give up smoking.
6. What are Fossil Fuels? Name any two fossil fuels.
Answer: Fossil fuels refer to buried, combustible deposits of organic materials, formed from decayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal, and natural gas by exposure to heat and pressure in the earth’s crust over hundreds of millions of years. Two fossil fuels are coal and petroleum.
7. State why should we use fossil fuels judiciously.
Answer: We should use fossil fuels judiciously because they are a non-renewable source of energy and are being depleted at a rate of 100,000 times faster than they are being formed. At the present rate of usage, coal reserves are likely to last for about 200 years, and the world’s crude oil reserves would be exhausted in just 50 years. Additionally, fossil fuels are the cause of environmental hazards like air pollution, global warming, and acid rain.
8. State any three measures to save energy.
Answer: Three measures to save energy are:
(i) Use extra blankets and sweaters instead of using room heaters. Likewise, in summer, dress in light cotton clothes to save on air-conditioning costs and energy.
(ii) Turn off equipment and lights at night and unplug appliances when they are not in use.
(iii) Use public transport or car pool, which helps to save energy costs, and extends the life of the vehicle.
9. What is Organic Farming?
Answer: Organic farming is a holistic system of farming, which is primarily aimed at cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way, as to keep the soil alive and in good health by use of organic wastes (crop, animal and farm wastes, aquatic wastes) and other biological materials along with beneficial microbes (biofertilisers) to release nutrients to crops for increased sustainable production in an eco-friendly pollution free environment. It excludes the use of synthetic inputs (such as fertilizers, pesticides, hormones and feed additives).
Structured Questions
1. (a) Explain how are vehicles a source of air pollution.
Answer: Vehicles are a major source of air pollution in cities. Vehicular emissions have two negative effects on the environment: one is global climate change and the other is air pollution and its negative health repercussions. Climate change is a result of increasing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. The greenhouse effect results from carbon dioxide, which acts like a blanket around the earth, keeping surface temperatures at warm levels; increasing CO₂ concentration effectively adds another blanket which warms the earth’s surface even more.
Besides CO₂ emissions, other vehicle emissions also contribute to air pollution. Vehicles account for most of the carbon monoxide (CO) and a large share of the hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulates found in the atmosphere in major urban areas. Nitrogen oxide (NO) is formed when nitrogen in the fuel or nitrogen of air heats to temperatures above 1200°F in the presence of oxygen, a reaction occurring in most car engines. Nitric oxide (NO) is the initial product and oxidizes to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). Nitrogen oxides also combine with water, leading to atmospheric acidification, specifically nitric acid (HNO₃), which in turn leads to acid rain. Vehicle emissions constitute the greatest individual source of nitrogen oxides in industrialised countries. Exhaust pollution from vehicle emissions, causing high levels of total suspended particulates, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide, has increasingly become the source of air pollution in cities.
(b) State any two advantages of carpooling.
Answer: Two advantages of carpooling are:
(i) It reduces air pollution by reducing the number of vehicles on the road and thereby, cutting down the vehicular emissions.
(ii) It helps to save money in buying fuel and maintenance cost of cars.
(c) Why do we need to have an efficient public transport?
Answer: We need to have an efficient public transport system because an increase in the purchasing power of the middle class, along with the lack of an efficient public transport system, has led to an upsurge in the number of cars per family in cities. Consequently, roads are choked with cars, blocking lanes and bylanes, creating heavy traffic jams, and these vehicles are the major source of air pollution. In recent years, an increasing trend for private vehicles has resulted in far more vehicles on the road, leading to more vehicle emissions and thus more pollution. If public transportation is used more frequently, this trend can be reversed and its subsequent harmful effects mitigated. Public transport reduces damage to the environment by reducing emissions, requires less energy per passenger per km, reduces fuel consumption, causes less noise, no air pollution, is an eco-friendly transport system, helps save money on personal vehicle maintenance, and reduces congestion on roads, thereby lessening traffic jams and travelling time.
(d) Who are passive smokers? How does smoking harm passive smokers?
Answer: Passive smokers are people nearby who breathe in the smoke exhaled by smokers. Smoking harms passive smokers, or those who unavoidably breathe in second-hand tobacco at public places, as they have an increased chance of many health problems such as lung cancer, asthma, bronchitis and sudden infant death syndrome in children.
2. (a) Name any two legal provisions meant to deter smoking.
Answer: Two legal provisions meant to deter smoking are:
- A mandatory specific statutory health warning on cigarette packs was introduced in 1975.
- Smoking in public places was prohibited nationwide from October 2, under the Prohibition of smoking in Public Places Rules 2008, and a person caught smoking in public places has to pay a fine.
(b) State any two advantages of having a ‘No Smoking Zone’.
Answer: Two advantages of having a ‘No Smoking Zone’ are:
(i) It reduces the possibility of second-hand tobacco smoke being inhaled by non-smokers.
(ii) It reduces air pollution, as areas which have prohibited smoking have been found to have better indoor air quality as opposed to areas where smoking is allowed.
(c) Why do we need to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels?
Answer: We need to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels because they are the cause of environmental hazards like air pollution, global warming, and acid rain. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) released when fossil fuels are burnt is the primary gas responsible for global warming. Sulphur dioxide released from burning fossil fuels is a main cause of acid rain, which can lead to the destruction of monuments and damage crops. Pollution of air from vehicles and coal-powered power plants can cause serious health hazards like asthma, COPD, and lung cancer, and increase respiratory infections. Transportation of crude oil can cause oil spills, posing a hazard to aquatic life.
Furthermore, fossil fuels are a non-renewable source of energy and are being depleted at a rate 100,000 times faster than they are being formed. At the present rate of usage, coal reserves are likely to last for about 200 years, and the world’s crude oil reserves would be exhausted in just 50 years. These resources take millions of years to form.
(d) Describe the measures an individual can take to reduce consumption of energy and to create a cleaner environment.
Answer: An individual can take several measures to reduce consumption of energy and create a cleaner environment. To save energy, one can:
(i) Use extra blankets and sweaters instead of room heaters, and in summer, dress in light cotton clothes to save on air-conditioning costs.
(ii) Ensure houses are well insulated, keep windows and doors closed when heating or cooling, raise shades on winter days and lower them in summer, seal leaks, block windows and doors with weather-strip tape, and install blinds to reduce outside heat transfer.
(iii) Use products with an Energy Star label, which reduces energy bills and electric lighting charges while cutting pollution.
(iv) Use a low-flow shower-head to reduce water consumption and energy usage for heating water.
(v) Turn off equipment and lights at night and unplug unused appliances.
(vi) Replace light fixtures with energy-conserving CFL bulbs and tubes or LED lighting, which save energy, last longer, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
(vii) Regularly check and clean filters for furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps to make equipment last longer, avoid costly downtime, and improve indoor air quality.
(viii) Paint exterior and interior walls in light colours and window edges in white so more light is reflected, and open blinds during the day for natural light.
(ix) Use double-sided copying, reuse single-sided paper, and use electronic mail.
(x) Use public transport or carpool to save energy costs and extend vehicle life.
These measures, by reducing energy consumption (often from fossil fuels), inherently contribute to a cleaner environment by cutting pollution and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Supporting organic farming, which aims for production in an eco-friendly, pollution-free environment, also helps create a cleaner environment.
3. (a) Why is ‘Organic Farming’ so called?
Answer: ‘Organic Farming’ is so called because it is a holistic system primarily aimed at cultivating land and raising crops by using organic wastes (such as crop, animal and farm wastes, aquatic wastes) and other biological materials, along with beneficial microbes. It excludes the use of synthetic inputs like fertilizers and pesticides, and relies upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, off-farm organic waste, and biological systems of nutrient mobilization and plant protection. The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) defines organic agriculture as a system using on-farm agronomic, biological, and mechanical methods in exclusion of all synthetic off-farm inputs, focusing on organic matter and natural biological processes.
(b) State any two principles of Organic Farming.
Answer: Two principles of Organic Farming are:
(i) Organic farming should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plants, animals and humans as one and indivisible.
(ii) Organic farming should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them.
(c) What are the main characteristics of Organic Farming?
Answer: The main characteristics of Organic Farming are the following:
(i) Protecting the long term fertility of soils by maintaining organic matter levels, and creating optimised conditions for biological activity within the soil.
(ii) Providing crop nutrients indirectly using relatively insoluble nutrient sources which are made available to the plant by the action of soil micro-organisms.
(iii) Maintaining nitrogen self-sufficiency through the use of legumes and biological nitrogen fixation, as well as effective recycling of organic materials including crop residues and livestock manures.
(iv) Preventing weeds, disease and pests by relying primarily on crop rotations, natural predators, diversity, organic manuring, resistant varieties and limited (preferably minimal) thermal, biological and chemical intervention.
(v) Providing attentive care and management of livestock, paying full regard to their evolutionary adaptations, behavioural needs and animal welfare issues with respect to nutrition, housing, health, breeding and rearing.
(vi) Careful attention to the impact of the farming system on the wider environment and the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats.
(d) State why is Organic Farming gaining popularity in recent times.
Answer: Organic farming is gaining popularity in recent times because it is a holistic system aimed at cultivating land and raising crops in such a way as to keep the soil alive and in good health, for increased sustainable production in an eco-friendly, pollution-free environment. It promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. Its principles focus on sustaining the health of soil, plants, animals, and humans; basing practices on living ecological systems; ensuring fairness regarding the common environment and life opportunities; and managing resources in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment. These benefits contribute to its increasing appeal.
Thinking Skills
1. Preventive measures being taken to check all types of pollution are too slow and too less. What do you think needs to be done to check the menace of pollution before it is too late?
Answer: To check pollution effectively before it becomes unmanageable, a combination of government policy and public action is needed. More people should adopt carpooling and make greater use of public transport to reduce the number of vehicles on the road, which are a major source of air pollution. There should be stricter enforcement of ‘no smoking’ zones to improve air quality and protect public health. The government must also work towards reducing our dependence on fossil fuels by promoting alternative sources of energy like solar and wind power. In addition, saving energy in our daily lives—by using energy-efficient appliances and turning off unused lights—can reduce the demand for power and decrease pollution from power plants. Organic farming should also be encouraged to prevent soil and water pollution caused by chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
2. The daily grind leaves no room to think about the haze and the smog or other types of pollution. In this scenario, how can the preventive measures be implemented to check pollution? Give reasons to support your answer.
Answer: Even in a busy lifestyle, preventive measures can be built into our routine. For example, instead of driving alone, people can form carpools with colleagues or neighbours, which helps cut down vehicle emissions and saves money. Using public transport is another practical option—it is often faster during peak hours and reduces the number of vehicles on the road. At home and in offices, simple actions like switching off unused devices and using energy-saving bulbs can reduce energy consumption. Smoking bans in public places must be strictly enforced to protect non-smokers and discourage the habit. By choosing organic products, individuals can support farming methods that are healthier for the environment. These small changes, when adopted by many, can lead to a significant reduction in pollution.
Practical Work
1. Make a Power Point presentation showing the advantages of using Public Transport.
Answer: Do it yourself. Here are the instructions:
- Start your presentation with a title slide: “Advantages of Using Public Transport”.
- Add a slide for Introduction: Explain briefly what public transport is and why it matters.
- Create slides for each of the following advantages (one point per slide for clarity):
- Reduces emissions and air pollution.
- Saves fuel and foreign exchange.
- Is more energy-efficient (uses 1/5th energy per passenger per km).
- Reduces traffic congestion and saves commuting time.
- Lowers the need for parking space.
- Is cost-effective compared to owning a personal vehicle.
- Is generally safer and helps prevent road accidents.
- Add statistics or visuals (like images of metro, buses, traffic jams) to support each point.
- Include a slide showing examples like DTC in Delhi or BEST in Mumbai.
- End with a Conclusion slide reinforcing the importance of using public transport for a cleaner, safer environment.
2. Make a Case Study of two States in India showing the success of Organic Farming.
Answer: Do it yourself. Here are the instructions:
- Choose two states known for organic farming success, such as Sikkim (India’s first fully organic state) and Kerala (well-known for promoting sustainable agriculture).
- Begin with a title page: “Case Study on Success of Organic Farming in Indian States”.
- Add an introduction slide explaining what organic farming is and why it’s important.
- For each state, include:
- Overview of the state’s geography and farming practices.
- Steps taken to implement organic farming (e.g. government initiatives, training, bans on chemical inputs).
- Results and benefits: Increase in soil fertility, reduced input costs, better market value for crops, environmental benefits.
- Challenges faced and how they were overcome.
- Include pictures of organic farms or maps for visual appeal.
- Add a comparison slide summarising similarities and differences in approach and outcomes.
- Conclude with a reflection slide on why organic farming is a sustainable choice.
Extras
Additional MCQs
1. Which gas acts like a blanket around the earth, trapping heat and contributing to global warming?
A. Carbon dioxide
B. Oxygen
C. Nitrogen
D. Argon
Answer: A. Carbon dioxide
45. Organic farming should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of whom?
A. Current and future generations
B. Machinery
C. Soil only
D. Farmers only
Answer: A. Current and future generations
Additional Assertion and Reason
1. Assertion (A): Vehicular emissions have two negative effects on the environment.
Reason (R): Climate change is a result of increasing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
Answer: (b) Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.
10. Assertion (A): Organic farming relies heavily on synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
Reason (R): Organic farming is a holistic system aimed at keeping the soil alive and in good health.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
Answer: (d) A is false but R is true.
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