Subject: Science

Grade: VI
Topic: Components of Food (Answer Key)

Short Answer Questions:

Q1. Into which classes are nutrients divided? Which of these provide energy to the
body?
Ans. Nutrients are divided in five classes:
1. Carbohydrates
2. Fats
3. Proteins
4. Vitamins
5. Minerals

Q2. What are protective food?

Ans. Vitamins and minerals are called as protective food as they protect our body
against the diseases by making our immune system strong.

Q3. How are the proteins important for the body?

Ans. Proteins are ‘Body Building Food’. They help our body to grow, to repair worn-out
tissues and to make new cells.

Q4. Mention two cooking methods that destroy nutrients in food.

Ans. Two methods that can destroy nutrients while cooking food are:
1. Cooking food in excess water dissolves many nutrients, particularly water soluble
vitamins, in the water. When the extra water is thrown away, the nutrients dissolved
in the water are also lost.
2. Cooking food at high heat can destroy vitamin C.

Q5. Name the two kinds of carbohydrates. Which of these provides us quick energy?
Ans. Sugars and starch are two kinds of carbohydrates. Sugars are easier to break down
and they provide us with quick energy.

Q6. Which nutrients are needed by our body in small quantities only?
Ans. Vitamins and minerals are needed by our body in small quantities.
 Q7. Write the symptoms of rickets.
Ans. Rickets occur due to the deficiency of vitamin D.
Symptoms are:
1. Reduced growth and short height
2. Softening of bones
3. Pain in the bones of arms and legs
4. Deformities in teeth

Q8. What are the symptoms of marasmus?

Ans. Marasmus is a deficiency disease happen due to the deficiency of proteins, fats
and carbohydrates.
Symptoms are:
1. Weight loss
2. Stunted (reduced) growth
3. Dry skin and eyes
4. Grey skin and hair
5. Pigeon chest

Q9. The incidence of goitre among the people living in the Himalaya region was quite
high. Why?
Ans. There is a lot of snow in Himalayan region. Snow extracts the iodine from the soil
that makes soil lack in iodine minerals. Hence people in Himalaya region were suffering
from goitre due to iodine deficiency.

Long Answer Questions:

Q1. Explain the importance of the following vitamins for the body.
a. Vitamin A: It is necessary for normal growth and it keeps the eyes and skin healthy.
b. Vitamin C: It is necessary for the growth, development and repair of all body
tissues.
c. Vitamin D: The body uses vitamin-D to absorb calcium for the formation of strong
bones and teeth.
d. Vitamin K: It helps to make various proteins that are needed for blood clotting and
the building of bones.
Q2. Explain the importance of the following minerals for the body.
a. Calcium: Calcium is essential for the formation of healthy bones and strong teeth.
b. Sodium: Sodium is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system.
c. Potassium: Potassium is essential for normal growth and also to keep cells and blood
healthy.
d. Iron: Iron is an important part of haemoglobin, which is the substance in red blood
cells that carries oxygen to all the cells of the body.

Q3. Why should you drink 6-8 glasses of water every day even when water does not
provide any energy?
Ans. We should drink 6-8 glasses of water every day because 70% of our body is water
and it helps in digestion of food and removal of toxins (poisonous substance) from the
body through sweat, excretion, urination.

Q4. What do you mean by a balanced diet? Is it same for everybody? Why?
Ans. A balanced diet is a diet that has all the required nutrients in right quantity for the
healthy functioning of the body. A balanced diet is individual specific. It cannot be the
same for everybody and varies depending upon the age, gender and type of work of
an individual.

Q5. What are deficiency diseases? Name four deficiency diseases and the associated
nutrients.
Ans. Diseases that occur due to lack of nutrients are called deficiency diseases.
Four deficiency diseases are:
1. Scurvy: It is caused by a deficiency of vitamin C.
2. Rickets: It is caused by the deficiency of vitamin D.
3. Anaemia: It is caused by the deficiency of iron.
4. Goitre: It is caused by the deficiency of iodine.

Q6. Discuss the importance of roughage in our diet.

Ans. Roughage is dietary fibres which is mainly provided by plant products in our body.
Roughage it is necessary for the proper digestion of food. It prevents
constipation and helps in proper bowel movement.
HOTS Questions:
Q1. It is observed that consumption is constipation is common among people in
western countries which eat more meat and processed food than us. What can be the
reason for this?
Ans. Roughage helps in the proper digestion of food. Processed food and meat contain
very less amount of roughage that leads to constipation in people living in western
countries.

Q2. An overworked computer software engineer works on the computer the whole
day. He gets very tired after work. Somebody advised him to eat more carbohydrates
and fats to get more energy. Do you think this will help him? Why?
Ans. A computer engineer works sitting at a place and he does not expend a lot of
energy to work. In this situation, carbohydrate and fat intake may cause him to gain
weight and then become obese. Thus a diet high in carbohydrates and fats won't be
beneficial.

Q3. Will you remain healthy if you only drink milk? Why?
Ans. No because milk provides us mainly with protein and calcium. Our body also needs
other nutrients in a sufficient amount which are carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and
minerals. Therefore, our body cannot be healthy only by drinking milk.

Q4. Explorers going to the North or South Poles must carry green vegetables and fruit
juices with them. Why is this necessary?
Ans. Deficiency of vitamins and minerals can lead to deficiency diseases. That is why
explorers who are going to the North Pole or the South Pole should carry green
vegetables and fresh juice with them to maintain the vitamins and minerals in their
diet.