Class 6 Science Notes Chapter 1 (Chapter 1) – Examplar Problem Book

Detailed Notes with MCQs of Chapter 1 from your Science Exemplar book, 'Food: Where Does It Come From?'. This chapter lays the foundation for understanding nutrition and ecosystems, which is crucial not just for your class but also for various competitive government exams. Pay close attention to the details.

Chapter 1: Food: Where Does It Come From? - Detailed Notes for Exam Preparation

1. Why Do We Need Food?

• Energy: Food provides energy to perform various activities like playing, studying, walking, etc.
• Growth: Nutrients from food help our bodies grow and build new cells.
• Repair: Food helps repair damaged tissues and cells in the body.
• Protection: Food helps maintain good health and protects the body from various diseases.

2. Variety in Food:

• People in different regions of India (and the world) eat different kinds of food.
• This variety depends on factors like climate, culture, and availability of ingredients.
• Even in a single meal, we usually have a variety of dishes made from different ingredients.

3. Food Ingredients:

• Definition: The materials needed to prepare any food item are called its ingredients.
• Examples:
  • To cook rice: We need raw rice and water (Ingredients: Rice, Water).
  • To make vegetable curry: We need different vegetables, salt, spices, oil, and water (Ingredients: Vegetables, Salt, Spices, Oil, Water).

4. Food Sources: Where do these ingredients come from?

• A. Plants: A major source of our food ingredients. We eat different parts of plants.

  • Roots: Carrot, Radish, Beetroot, Turnip, Sweet Potato.
  • Stems: Potato (underground stem), Sugarcane, Ginger (underground stem), Onion (modified stem), Garlic (modified stem).
  • Leaves: Spinach (Palak), Cabbage (Patta gobhi), Fenugreek (Methi), Mustard leaves (Sarson ka saag), Lettuce.
  • Flowers: Cauliflower (Phool gobhi), Broccoli, Banana flower, Pumpkin flower.
  • Fruits: Mango, Apple, Banana, Tomato, Brinjal (Eggplant), Cucumber, Pumpkin, Lady's finger (Okra). (Note: Many items we call vegetables are botanically fruits as they contain seeds).
  • Seeds:
    • Cereals: Rice, Wheat, Maize (Corn), Barley.
    • Pulses (Dal): Moong, Masoor, Arhar (Tur), Gram (Chana), Peas.
    • Oilseeds: Mustard, Groundnut, Sunflower, Soybean, Coconut.
    • Spices: Cumin (Jeera), Coriander (Dhania), Fenugreek seeds (Methi dana), Mustard seeds (Rai/Sarson).
  • Sprouts: Sometimes seeds (like Moong or Chana) are soaked in water and allowed to germinate. These sprouted seeds are very nutritious. The process involves soaking seeds, draining water, and leaving them wrapped in a wet cloth until small white structures (sprouts) grow out.

• B. Animals: Another major source of food.

  • Milk: Obtained from cows, buffaloes, goats, camels. Milk is used to make various products like curd (yogurt), butter, ghee (clarified butter), cheese (paneer), and ice cream. These are called dairy products.
  • Eggs: Obtained from hens, ducks, quail. Rich in protein.
  • Meat: Obtained from goats, sheep, chicken, fish, prawns.
  • Honey: Produced by honeybees. Bees collect nectar (sweet juices) from flowers, convert it into honey, and store it in their beehive. Honey is used as food and has medicinal properties.

5. What Do Animals Eat? - Classification Based on Food Habits:

• Animals cannot make their own food; they depend on plants or other animals.
• A. Herbivores: Animals that eat only plants or plant products.
  • Examples: Cow, Buffalo, Goat, Sheep, Deer, Elephant, Rabbit, Horse, Grasshopper.
• B. Carnivores: Animals that eat only other animals (flesh).
  • Examples: Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Wolf, Snake, Lizard, Eagle, Spider.
• C. Omnivores: Animals that eat both plants and animals.
  • Examples: Human beings, Dog, Cat, Crow, Bear, Rat, Cockroach.

Key Terms to Remember:

• Ingredients: Materials needed to prepare a dish.
• Edible: Parts of a plant or animal that can be eaten.
• Nectar: Sweet juice found in flowers, collected by bees.
• Sprouted Seeds: Seeds that have begun to grow after germination.
• Herbivore: Plant-eating animal.
• Carnivore: Flesh-eating animal.
• Omnivore: Animal eating both plants and flesh.

Important Points for Exams:

• Be able to classify common food items based on their source (plant/animal) and the part of the plant they come from (root, stem, leaf, etc.).
• Know the definitions and examples of Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores. This classification is frequently asked.
• Understand the process of making sprouts and their nutritional significance.
• Remember that honey comes from nectar collected by bees.
• Be aware of common dairy products and their source (milk).
• Distinguish between ingredients and food sources.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Here are 10 MCQs based on Chapter 1 to test your understanding. Try to answer them yourself first.

1. Which part of the mustard plant is edible?
   a) Seeds only
   b) Leaves only
   c) Seeds and Leaves
   d) Stem and Flowers

2. Which of the following is an example of a root vegetable?
   a) Potato
   b) Ginger
   c) Onion
   d) Radish

3. Honeybees make honey from:
   a) Pollen
   b) Nectar
   c) Petals
   d) Water

4. Which of the following is a complete list of Carnivores?
   a) Lion, Tiger, Cow
   b) Wolf, Snake, Eagle
   c) Bear, Crow, Dog
   d) Goat, Sheep, Deer

5. Roti (Chapati) is typically made using flour and water. The flour is usually obtained from which part of the wheat plant?
   a) Root
   b) Stem
   c) Leaf
   d) Seed (Grain)

6. Which of the following food items is NOT obtained from animals?
   a) Milk
   b) Ghee
   c) Spinach
   d) Eggs

7. Animals that eat both plants and other animals are called:
   a) Herbivores
   b) Carnivores
   c) Omnivores
   d) Producers

8. Sprouted seeds are considered healthy because they are rich in:
   a) Fats
   b) Sugars
   c) Vitamins and Proteins
   d) Oils

9. Potato and Ginger are examples of edible:
   a) Roots
   b) Leaves
   c) Stems (underground)
   d) Flowers

10. Which set contains only Herbivores?
    a) Cow, Goat, Rabbit, Deer
    b) Tiger, Wolf, Lion, Crow
    c) Human, Bear, Dog, Cat
    d) Eagle, Snake, Lizard, Spider

Answer Key:

1. c) Seeds and Leaves (Seeds for oil/spices, leaves as 'Sarson ka Saag')
2. d) Radish (Potato, Ginger, Onion are stems)
3. b) Nectar
4. b) Wolf, Snake, Eagle (Cow is herbivore; Bear, Crow, Dog are omnivores; Goat, Sheep, Deer are herbivores)
5. d) Seed (Grain)
6. c) Spinach (It's a plant leaf)
7. c) Omnivores
8. c) Vitamins and Proteins (Germination increases nutrient availability)
9. c) Stems (underground)
10. a) Cow, Goat, Rabbit, Deer

Study these notes thoroughly. Understanding the sources of our food and how different living beings obtain their nutrition is fundamental. Let me know if any part needs further clarification. Good luck with your preparation!