Grade-6, Social Science, Understanding Diversity

Understanding Diversity

 

 

EXERCISES

 

1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words. 

 

(a)Diversity is the state of being different from one another.

 

(b) We all look different from one another. 

 

(c) There are five main physical divisions in India.

 

(d) The constitution declares India to be a secular nation.

 

(e) India is referred to as a land of unity in diversity.

 

2. Choose the correct answer.

 

(a) Diversity is important because 

 

(i) it makes life boring.

(iii) it teaches us to be selfish.

(ii) it enriches our lives. 

(iv) it makes our life dull.

 

(b) Which of the following statements is not an example of diversity?

 

(i) We all wear uniforms in school

(ii) We celebrate many festivals in our country.

(iii) We speak different languages at home. 

(iv) The food and dress of the people of India vary from place to place.

 

(c) What does wealth sometimes create? 

 

(i) social differences 

(ii) economic differences

(iii) physical differences 

(iv) both (1) and (1)

 

(d) The word secular means

 

(i) freedom to work anywhere. 

(ii) giving equal respect to every religion.

(iii) all people above the age of 18 years can vote.

(iv) the right to move anywhere in the country. 

 

(e) Rita has lost her legs and is confined to a wheelchair. She seeks admission in your school.

What should the school do to accommodate her? 

 

(i) Deny her admission because she will not be able to play games.

(ii) Give her admission and shift the classroom to the ground floor.

(iii) Ensure that no one is around her when she needs help.

(iv) Hide the fact that she is a person with disability.

 

3. Write true or false. Correct the false sentences in your notebook. 

 

(a) There are only three languages spoken in India. False

      There are 122 spoken languages in India.

 

(b) There are no variations in the geography of India. False

There are five main geographical regions in India. 1-The Northen Mountains 2-The Northen Plains 3- The Peninsular Plateau 4-The Great Indian Desert 5-Coastal Plains and Islands

 

(c) The Constitution of India declares India to be a secular nation. True

 

(d) India is a land of unity in diversity. True

 

(e) Diversity teaches us to be tolerant. True

 

4.Match the column

(a) diversity	(i) ancient religion
(b) social differences	(ii) secular
(c) dialects	(ii) caste system
(d) Buddhism	(iv) more than1,600
(e) respect to all religions	(v) variety

 

Ans-

(a) diversity	(v) variety
(b) social differences	(ii) caste system
(c) dialects	(iv) more than1,600
(d) Buddhism	(i) ancient religion
(e) respect to all religions	(ii) secular

Fill in the blanks with the words given in the bracket:

(inequality, caste, integral, variety, untouchability)

1.    Our world is interesting because there is variety in our surroundings.

2.    The constitution of our country prohibits discrimination on the basis of caste.

3.    Difference in income leads to inequality.

4.    Untouchability is a crime and has been abolished by the constitution.

5.    Diversity is an integral part of our lives.

 

Answer the following questions in one or two sentences. 

 

(a) What do you mean by economic differences?

 Ans- Differences generated in society due to income are called economic differences. This difference in income leads to inequality and affects the life of people in many ways. Many a times, they prevent people from meeting their basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, access to medical facilities, education, entertainment etc.

 

(b) What is the linguistic diversity of India?

Ans- Linguistic diversity in India- 

India is the land of linguistic diversity. There are 122 spoken languages in our country. If we count the number of dialects, It would be about 1600. 

 

(c) What are the five main physical divisions of India?

Ans- Five main physical divisions of India-

1.     The Northern Mountains

2.     The Northern Plains

3.     The Peninsular Plateau 

4.     The Great Indian Desert

5.     Coastal Plains and Islands

 

(d) Why is India known as a secular nation?

Ans- India is known as a secular nation because the constitution of India declares it to be a secular nation with respect being given to each religion.

 

(e) Why is India called a land of unity in diversity? 

Ans- India is called a land of unity in diversity because of following reasons :

1.    People in India have different cultural religious and regional backgrounds yet there is intermingling of different ways of life which leads to unity and diversity.

2.     in spite of a strong cultural regional and religious differences we have our unique Identity as Indians.

3.    There is a strong feeling of oneness among citizens which has been proven in the past in our struggle for freedom from the British rule.

4.    The feeling of oneness is a strong even today and can be seen in international sporting events like Olympic games.

 

6. Answer the following questions in four or five sentences. 

 

(a) What do you understand by the term diversity?

 Ans- Diversity-  Diversity is the state of being veried or the state of being different from one another.

We find people around us who are different from one another in many ways- they have different cultures, they celebrate different festivals, follow different religions, speak different languages and so on. Each one is different from others.

 

(b) Explain physical, social and economic differences among people.

 Ans- Physical Differences- We all look different from each other some are tall some are short some have curly hair some have straight hair some a brown eyes and some have black eyes we speak different languages, follow different religions, come from different states, celebrate different festivals, wear different types of clothes, eat different types of foods.  All these differences are called physical differences.

 Social Differences - Social difference has existed in our country largely due to the caste system. Earlier a child born in a particular caste could only take up the job of his father. However now the constitution of the country prohibits discrimination on the basis of caste.

 Economic Differences- Differences generated in society due to income are called economic differences. This difference in income leads to inequality and affects the life of people in many ways. Many a times, they prevent people from meeting their basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, access to medical facilities, education, entertainment etc.

 

(c) How are geography and diversity interrelated?

Ans- The land of India has been divided into 5 geographical regions. The northern mountains, the northern plains, the peninsular plateau, the great Indian desert and Coastal Plains and Islands

People living in one region develop their own culture, language, food habits and even their means of livelihood. For example, people living near the sea take fishing and trade as their profession. Now a days due to the development of transport and communication, we see more intermingling these aspects.

 

(d) How does diversity enrich our lives?

Ans- Diversity in rich enriches our lives in in following ways: 

1.     Diverse food, clothes, religion, customs, traditions and region shows the mixture of several influences over the ages. Now they are a part of our wonderful heritage

2.    Diversity teaches us that there are different ways of doing the same thing and add to the richness of our society. 

3.    Diversity helps the people to communicate and learn from one another.

4.    Indian culture has a Unique Identity because of diversity 

 

(e) How are diversity and tolerance linked?

Ans- When we come across people with different religious beliefs, cultures, traditions, social customs and values, we learn to accept these differences.  When we accept them without any discrimination, we make space for sustenance of diversity. And this process of acceptance, makes us more understanding and tolerant.

 

(f) India is a land of diversity. Explain.

Ans- (1) Diversity exists in the form of culture, tradition, caste, community, region, religion, language, festivals etc.

(2) There are 122 spoken languages and about 1600 dialects in the country.

(3) India has a wide geographical diversity. There are five main physical divisions-  the Northern Mountains, the Northern Plains, the Peninsular Plateau, the Great Indian Desert and the Coastal Plains and Islands.

(4) The varied topography of India has influenced the climate and in turn the diet, dress, custom and culture of the people.

 

(g) How is diversity related to means of communication and transport.

Ans- Earlier, due to the lake of developed means of transport and communication,  people could not move out from one place to another easily.  So, a group of people living in a particular place developed their own culture, language, food habits and even their means of livelihood.

 Now, since means of transport and communication have the developed, we see mixed influences in various regions of India.

 

(h) Mixed influences are seen in various regions of India. Give reason.

1- Due to the development of means of transport and communication  in recent times, we see mixed influences on the culture, language, food habits etc. in various regions of India.

2- Foreign Travellers and invaders who made this land their home have also contributed elements of their culture and tradition here.

 

(i) What do you know about religious diversity in India?

Ans- India is home to many religions-  Hinduism,  Islam,  Sikhism,  Christianity,  Buddhism,  Jainism, etc.  our constitution declares India to be a secular Nation with equal respect being given to each religion.