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Rivers

NCERT Class 5 · EVS Based on NCERT Class 5 EVS textbook · Free CBSE study kit

Chapter Notes

**River Journey Overview**

River = flowing water from mountains to sea

Tributaries = small streams joining the main river

Perennial river = flows all year

Seasonal river = flows only during rain

Delta = river branches at the sea

Reservoir = water stored behind a dam

**Godavari River Facts**

  • Second longest river in India
  • Starts at Brahmagiri Hills, Western Ghats, Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra
  • Travels 1,465 km to Bay of Bengal
  • Called Dakshina Ganga (flows through southern India, sacred)
  • Over 900 dams store its water
  • **How Rivers Help People**

  • Drinking water and cooking water
  • Irrigation for crops (rice, sugarcane)
  • Electricity generation (dams)
  • Transport and fishing
  • Religious and cultural importance
  • **River Pollution Problems**

  • Plastic and waste → animals choke or get sick
  • Chemicals and soap → hide in water even when it looks clean
  • Fertiliser → causes green blanket (too many plants) → fish cannot breathe
  • Things dissolve (sugar) vs. do not dissolve (oil, plastic)
  • **Dam Impact**

  • Benefit: water storage, electricity, dry season supply
  • Cost: homes flooded, people displaced, forests destroyed, river flow changed
  • **Diagrams to Remember**

    River path: mountain → streams join → tributaries → wider river → delta at sea

    Dam structure: river blocked → water held back → reservoir forms

    **Don't Confuse**

    Perennial (always has water) ≠ Seasonal (only monsoon water)

    Tributaries (join the river) ≠ Delta (river spreads at end)

    Clean-looking water ≠ clean water inside (may have hidden pollution)

    MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

    Q1. Where does the Godavari river begin its journey?

    • A. In the Brahmagiri Hills of the Western Ghats at Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra ✓
    • B. In the Eastern Ghats of Odisha
    • C. In the Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh
    • D. In the Deccan Plateau of Karnataka

    Answer: A — The chapter clearly states that Godavari's journey begins high up in the Western Ghats at Trimbakeshwar in Maharashtra.

    Q2. What is a tributary?

    • A. A large lake that stores water
    • B. A small stream that joins a main river and makes it wider and stronger ✓
    • C. A wall built across a river
    • D. A type of fish found in rivers

    Answer: B — The chapter defines tributaries as small streams joining the main river that make it wider and stronger as the journey continues.

    Q3. How long is the Godavari river?

    • A. 865 kilometres
    • B. 1,200 kilometres
    • C. 1,465 kilometres ✓
    • D. 2,000 kilometres

    Answer: C — The chapter states that Godavari travels 1,465 kilometres before joining the Bay of Bengal.

    Q4. Which of the following is a perennial river?

    • A. A river that flows only during the rainy season
    • B. A river that flows all year round and never dries up completely ✓
    • C. A river that stops flowing when there are no rains
    • D. A river that changes its path every year

    Answer: B — The chapter explains that a perennial river flows all year round, while seasonal rivers flow only when receiving water in the rainy season.

    Q5. What is a delta?

    • A. A tall mountain where a river starts
    • B. A wall built to stop a river
    • C. The place where a river spreads out into many small streams when it reaches the sea ✓
    • D. A type of water storage in the ground

    Answer: C — The chapter states that when Godavari reaches the sea, it spreads out into many small streams that form a delta, like the Coringa Mangrove Forests.

    Q6. What is a dam and why do people build it?

    • A. A dam is a small bridge across a river to help people cross
    • B. A dam is a giant wall that blocks a river's flow and stores water so people can use it during dry seasons for drinking, growing crops, and making electricity ✓
    • C. A dam is a type of fish found in rivers
    • D. A dam is a forest that grows near rivers

    Answer: B — The chapter explains that a dam is like a giant wall that blocks a river's flow and stores water in a reservoir for many uses including drinking, farming, and electricity.

    Q7. When you open a tap at home and water comes out, where does that water likely come from?

    • A. From rain falling directly into pipes
    • B. From a river through pipes and canals carried from dams and water bodies ✓
    • C. From under the ground only, never from rivers
    • D. From the sea mixed with fresh water

    Answer: B — The chapter states that water for all houses comes from rivers; it is carried in pipes and canals and shared by many through dams and water storage.

    Q8. What problem occurs when too much fertiliser from farms washes into a river?

    • A. The river becomes too warm
    • B. Plants and organisms grow so fast that they cover the river surface like a 'green blanket', making it hard for fish to breathe and water unsafe to drink ✓
    • C. The river becomes too salty
    • D. The river dries up completely

    Answer: B — The chapter explains that fertilisers make plants grow very fast until they cover the surface like a 'green blanket', choking life inside and making water unsafe.

    Q9. In the experiment with two glasses of water, sugar and oil were added. Which substance dissolved in water?

    • A. Oil dissolved in water and became invisible
    • B. Sugar dissolved in water and the glass became clear, while oil did not dissolve and the glass remained cloudy ✓
    • C. Neither sugar nor oil dissolved in water
    • D. Both sugar and oil dissolved equally well

    Answer: B — The chapter's Activity 3 shows that sugar dissolves in water (like salt and some chemicals), while oil does not dissolve; this shows why some pollutants hide in water.

    Q10. What is the greatest problem that occurs after a dam is built on a river?

    • A. The river becomes too clean
    • B. Fish population increases greatly
    • C. Land gets flooded, forests are destroyed, and many people and animals lose their homes and have to move away ✓
    • D. The river stops flowing completely forever

    Answer: C — The chapter clearly states that while dams help store water for use, they also flood land that was once home to animals and people, forcing many to leave their homes.

    Flashcards

    What is a river?

    A river is a large flowing body of water that travels from mountains or highlands to the sea.

    What are tributaries?

    Tributaries are small streams that join a main river and make it wider and stronger.

    What is a perennial river?

    A perennial river is one that flows all year round, never drying up completely.

    Name the river mentioned in this chapter.

    The river is Godavari, which is the second longest river in India.

    What is a delta?

    A delta is where a river spreads out into many small streams as it reaches and meets the sea.

    What is a dam?

    A dam is a giant wall built across a river to block its flow and store water in a large body called a reservoir.

    How does a river help people?

    Rivers provide water for drinking, cooking, washing, growing crops, making electricity, and supporting jobs like fishing.

    What is the green blanket problem in rivers?

    When too much fertiliser washes into a river, plants grow so fast they cover the water surface, making it hard for fish to breathe.

    Why is river pollution dangerous even when water looks clean?

    Harmful chemicals and dirty soapy water can hide in rivers; some things that pollute do not dissolve, so the river looks clean but is actually unsafe.

    What happens to people when a dam is built across a river?

    Lands get flooded, forests are destroyed, and many people and animals have to leave their homes and move elsewhere.

    Important Board Questions

    What is the Godavari river also called and why? [1 mark]

    Look for the name given to Godavari in the beginning section. The reason is related to where it flows and why people consider it sacred.

    Name two ways in which rivers help people in their daily life. [2 marks]

    Think about what you use water for at home and in farms. The chapter lists drinking, cooking, washing, farming, and electricity generation.

    Explain what happens to the river and the people living near it when a dam is built. Give one example. [3 marks]

    A dam blocks a river and stores water in a reservoir. This helps many people but also floods land and forces people to move. Think about what animals and forests face.

    Describe three problems that river pollution causes and explain how people can help reduce river pollution. Draw and label a simple diagram showing a clean river with its wildlife. [5 marks]

    Pollution problems include: plastic and waste harm animals; chemicals hide in water making it unsafe; fertilisers create a green blanket that stops fish breathing. Solutions: use eco-friendly products, reduce waste, keep rivers clean. Draw a river with fish, birds, trees, and clean water.

    True or False: A seasonal river flows all year round like Godavari. Give a reason for your answer. [2 marks]

    Read the section about perennial and seasonal rivers. A seasonal river only flows when it receives water in the rainy season; a perennial river flows all year.

    Next chapterFood and Preservation →

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