Tick (P) the correct option.

1. The total number of languages enlisted in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India

are

a. 200 b. 28 c. 22

Ans. c. 22

2. The total number of physical divisions in India are

a. Two b. Four c. Six

Ans. c. Six

3. The main occupation of people in the Northern plains is

a. Agriculture

b. Trade

c. Cattle and sheep herding

Ans. a. Agriculture

4. Diversity has

a. Made our life difficult

b. Made our life monotonous

c. Enriched our lives

Ans. c. Enriched our lives

5. India is a unique example of

a. Unity in diversity

b. Diversity in unity

c. Conflict in diversity

Ans. a. Unity in diversity

II. State whether the following statements are true or false. Rewrite the statements to correct them.

1. Yak is an important livestock reared in the western part of Rajasthan. False

Ans. Camel is an important livestock reared in the western part of Rajasthan.

2. Hinduism is the only religion practised in India. False

Ans. Hinduism is the oldest religion practised in India.

3. Diversity teaches us to be respectful and open-minded. True

4. People adapt their lives to geographical areas. True

5. The Constitution of India states that the Right to Equality is a Fundamental Right. True

III. Answer the following in one sentence.

1. Define diversity.

Ans. Diversity means the quality or state of being different or varied.

BIJENDRA PUBLIC SCHOOL

Class - 6

Subject - SOCIAL STUDIES (CIVICS)

Chapter - 20 UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY

2. Give one example to show how geographical conditions determine food habits.

Ans. People adapt their lives to the geographical areas in which they live.

Example :- People living in coastal areas eat rice, fish and coconut, which is locally

found.

3. What is meant by a secular country?

Ans. The country where its citizens enjoy right to freedom of religion as a fundamental

right.

4. Name a few religions practised in India.

Ans. The main religions that thrive in India are Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and

Sikhism.

5. How does diversity enrich our life?

Ans. Diversity helps the people to communicate and learn from one other people of

diverse races, ethnic, origins, beliefs and social groups.

IV. Answer the following questions in brief.

1. Discuss the geographical diversity of India.

Ans. There are six main physical divisions in the country. People adapt their lives to the

geographical areas in which they live. Not only does it make people dress differently,

but it also determines the kind of food they eat, what they do for a living and the

customs they follow. People living in different regions also have different food habits.

In cold places such as Kashmir, people eat meat and milk products, especially in
winters as few crops are grown here. People living in coastal areas eat rice, fish and

coconut, which is locally found.

2. Write a brief note on economic diversity in India.

Ans. The economic activities of an area are influenced by the area's geographical

conditions. In different regions of India different crops are grown. Agriculture is the

primary occupation of people residing in the fertile Northern plains. While Kerala,

Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu mainly grow rice, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and

Madhya Pradesh mainly grow wheat. For people living in coastal areas such as

Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Maharashtra, fishing is an important

economic activity.

3. What is cultural diversity?

Ans. The term diversity implies differences rather than inequalities. When we say that

India is a nation of great cultural diversity, we mean that there are many different

types of social groups and communities living here, they have different types of food

and they celebrate different festivals. There are 22 languages listed in the Eighth

Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which reflects the culture diversity of India.

4. State and explain two positive effects of diversity.

Ans. Two positive effects of diversity include:

i. It helps people to come in contact with different culture, tradition, language

and develop new ideas and perception.

ii. It helps people to gain new experiences and interactions among people

become more stronger.

V. Answer the following questions in detail.

1. Why is India referred to as a land of 'Unity in diversity'?

Ans. It is amazing that in spite of all our geographical, economic or religious differences.

We, Indians share some strong similarities. The vastness of our country or the

physical barriers have never been able to discourage the movement of people from

one part of the country to another. Unity was exhibited clearly during the struggle for

independence from the British rule. Thousands of Indians from various parts of the
country and from diverse cultural backgrounds, fought against the British

exploitation of India and finally forced them to leave our country. Thus, by coming

together, the Indians demonstrate how, despite being different, they constitute one

nation 'Unity on diversity'. So India is called as a land of 'Unity in diversity'.

2. Discuss the various forms of diversity in India.

Ans. Some important forms of diversity in India are as follows:-

i. Geographical Diversity - The geography of India is extremely diverse people

adapt their lives to the geographical areas in which they live.

ii. Economic Diversity - The economic activities of an area are influenced by the

area's geographical conditions.

iii. Religious Diversity - India has been home to various religions, from olden

times. Our Constitution declares that India is a secular country where all its

citizens enjoy Right to Freedom of Religion as a Fundamental Right.

iv. Cultural Diversity - People living in different regions of India speak different

languages; they have different types of food and they celebrate different

festivals.

3. What does diversity add to our lives? Explain with examples.

Ans. Diversity is dissimilarity in the way of our life. It is observed in religious functions, in

festivals, in languages etc. One thing that is unique about diversity is that it teaches

us to live and adjust ourselves in broad society. Our Constitution believes in respect

of all human beings in a similar way. Diversity makes us tolerant and just. We know

how to behave with other people belonging to different caste, creed, or culture.

When humans are not able to live in diverse societies, it might create problem. Such

as: let's imagine a region in which 85% are Hindus and rest 15% are Muslims. If

people live peacefully in this region then it will be good. But if there is any clash

among them then people will consider that diversity is responsible for this. So,

diversity teaches us to compromise and live with unityCIVICS CH-1 UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY

Q1.On which source do the people of Ladakh depend for drinking water?

Q2. Which region/state produces the Pashmina wool?

Q3. Where are the pashmina shawls woven?

Q4. What is dzos?

Q5. Name the state located in Southwest corner of India.

Q6. Who wrote the travelogue in which the writer described the lives of Muslims’?

Q7. Which is the major product grown in Kerala?

Q8. In which city of India is Jallianwalla Bagh situated?

Q9. Who wrote the Discovery of India? Who coined the phrase ‘Unity in diversity’ to

describe the country?

Q10. Who composed our National Anthem?

Question 1. What does diversity add to our lives?

Answer:Diversity is dissimilarity in the way of our lives. It is observed in religious functions, in the
festivals, in language, etc. One thing is unique about diversity is that it teaches us to live and adjust
ourselves in broad society. Our Constitution believes in respect to all human beings in a similar way.
Diversity makes us tolerant and just. We know how to behave with other people belonging to different
caste, creed or culture.

Question 2. How did India become like this?

Answer:India is home to different to cultures, languages, religions, traditions because of its rich cultural
heritage from past. India was ruled by many different kings with varied diversities. India embraced all
those diversities into its culture.

India’s diversity is a source of its strength. Women and men from different cultural, religious and
regional backgrounds came together to oppose British Rule in India. India’s freedom movement involved
thousands of people from different backgrounds.

Question 3. Are all kinds of difference a part of diversity?

Answer:No, not all kinds of difference a part of diversity. Diversity appears in social context, physical
appearances, cultural, racial, religious, age, gender, disability, etc.

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Question 4. Can diversity also be a part of unity?

Answer:Yes, India is the best example to this. Indian unity is not imposed from the outside but rather, “It
was something deeper and within its fold, the widest tolerance of belief and custom was practised and
every variety acknowledged and even encouraged.” It was Nehru, who coined the phrase, “unity in
diversity” to describe the country.

Question 5. Fill out the following information about yourself

Answer:

When I go out I like wearing Salwar Kameez.

At home, I speak in the Telugu language.

My favorite sport is Chess.

I like reading books about the great people.

Question 6. Name three ways in which Samir Ek and Samir Do were different? Did these differences
prevent them from becoming friends?

Answer:The three ways in which Samir Ek and Samir Do different were:

Samir Ek goes to school every day. Samir Do doesn’t know about the school. He is a newspaper seller on
the roadside.

Samir Ek is a Hindu where as Samir Do is a Muslim.

Samir Ek comes from a well to do family. Samir Do has to earn his living since childhood. He belongs to
poor family.

No, this difference does not prevent them from becoming friends. They became friends and shook
hands warmly.

Question 7. Make a list of the festivals that might have been celebrated by the two boys.

Samir Ek:

Samir Do:

Answer:The festivals that might have been celebrated by the two boys were:

Samir Ek:
Diwali

Holi

Dusshera

Sri Rama Navami

Ganesh Chaturdhi

Samir Do:

Bakrid

Muharram

Id-ul-Zuha

Birthday of Prophet Mohammad

Question 8. Can you think of a situation inwhich you made friends withsomeone who was very
differentfrom you? Write a story thatdescribes this.

Answer:Every day I go to the park to play in the evening. I saw a girl, about my age, sitting under a tree
and studying. I was returning home, and we passed a smile. The next day, I asked her name and
exchanged greetings, in which school does she study and in which class. She was studying in a nearby
school and she was fond of reading storybooks. I lent my storybooks and I saw that she read a story
every day.

Question 9. Why do you think Samir Do did not attend school? Do you think it would have been easy for
him to attend school if he wanted to? In your opinion is it a fair situation that some children get to go to
school and others don't?

Answer:Samir Do did not attend school because he has to earn money for his living from childhood. He
has no idea about school. His parents cannot afford for his schooling.

I think it is not easy for Samir Do to attend school if he wanted because his parents do not have enough
money to join him in school. In my opinion it is not a fair situation where some children get
opportunities to study and others do not. Right to education is the primary right of children. They should
get equal opportunities to attend school.

Question 10. Make a list of the food that you have eaten from different parts of India.

Answer:The food eaten from different parts of India are:

Kawhatea
Sarson ka sag and Makai ki roti

Bajra ki roti and jaggery

Dhokla and Khandvi

Rasogolla

Idli and Dosa

Question 11. Make a list of the languages besides your mother tongue that you can speak at least one or
two words of.

Answer: Odia- Odisha

Tamil- Tamilnadu

Malayalam- Kerala

Kannada- Karnataka

Question 12. Imagine that you are a writer or an artist who lives in the place described above. Either
write a story or draw a picture of your life here. Do you think you would enjoy living in a place like this?
List five different things that you would miss the most if you lived here.

Answer: The story of the writer will be like-

Once upon a time there lived a small farmer in Avanti Kingdom. He sowed potatoes in his field. He has
two pet animals Cat and Deer. The farmer used to exchange his sack of potatoes for red and white
cotton clothes. In the same way other people in the kingdom lived very happily and peacefully. They
used to play snake and ladders in their pass time.

Suddenly, one day there occurred a famine which destroyed the potatoes crop. The whole kingdom
went into food crisis. Our small farmer also sold his pet animals cat and deer. Still he couldn’t come out
of the crisis. So he went to his relatives house in the neighbouring kingdom where he saw different
coloured clothes, wide variety of food crops and animals.

He immediately realised the main reason for crisis in his kingdom. So, he went back to his kingdom and
explained the king about the importance of diverse food items, animals which helps in the kingdom to
come out of the crisis. The thoughtful king listened to him carefully and agreed to his words. He
immediately ordered all farmers to cultivate different crops. He rewarded our small farmer with lots of
gold. Thereafter, his kingdom never went into crisis.

I don’t enjoy living in that place.

I would surely miss -

mobile

telephone

colourful nature like butterflies, rainbow, etc.,.

Dresses and

Varieties of food

Question 13. List at least three different ways in which people in India do the following. One of the
possible answers has been provided for you already.

Answer:

Different ways in which people pray. Through singing a hymn. People close their eyes and join
their hands and recite the prayers for themselves. People sit in rows on the ground and the Maulvi
leads leads the prayer.

Different ways in which people get married. Through exchange of garlands and taking seven pheras
around a sacred fire in presence of relatives and friends.Through singing a register in the court. Nikah,
in which the boy and girl confirm that they want to get married.

Different ways in which people dress. In Punjab women wear suits of salwar and kameez. In West
Bengal women wear sarees. In Manipur women wear a fanek.

Different ways in which people greet each other. In Punjab Sikhs say Sasriys kar. In Jharkhand
many adivasis say "johar" to greet each other. In Delhi people greet each other by saying 'Namaste'.

Different ways in which people cook rice. By making Biryani with meat or vegetables. By
making lemon rice, with some dal, fried in oil. By boiling rice in plain water.

Question 14. Look at the map of India in an Atlas and locate Kerala and Ladakh. Can you list three ways
in which the different geographical locations of these two regions would influence the following?

Answer:

The food people eat:

Kerala is situated near the sea and people may be eating rice and fish. Ladakh is a mountainous country
where little agriculture is available. People eat meat and milk products like cheese and butter.

The clothes they wear:

Kerala is near the sea where the climate is neither hot nor cold throughout the year. People wear light
cotton clothes.Ladakh: It is a mountainous country, where it is very cold and is covered with snow for a
large part of the year. They wear thick woolen clothes made of wool or animal skin.

Work they do:

In Kerala people are engaged in agriculture and fishing. In Ladakh people look after the animals, collect
wool from the sheep and sell them to the traders.

Question 15. India’s national anthem, composed by Rabindranath Tagore, is another expression of the
unity of India. In what way does the national anthem describe this unity?

Answer:The national anthem is the expression of India’s unity and sovereignty. It is sung in all parts of
India. It is our national anthem where people from varied backgrounds, irrespective of caste, creed,
religion or sex stand up and sing in unison, paying respect and gratitude to the country. It captures the
very essence of our country.

Whenever it is sung, in any part of the country, people stand in attention position, with their heads held
high. It is sung on the occasion of the celebration of national festivals in any part of the country.People
in all parts of the country follow the national anthem and do not do anything to dishonour it.

QUESTIONS

Question 1. Draw up a list of the different festivals celebrated in your locality. Which of these
celebrations are shared by members of differentregional and religious communities?

Answer:

Lohri Hindus

Holi Hindus

Id-ul-Zuha Muslims

Easter Christians

Raksha Bandhan Hindus

Dussehra Hindus

Diwali Hindus

Christmas Christians

Id-ul-Milad Muslims

Question 2. What do you think living in India with its rich heritage of diversity adds to your life?

Answer:India is a country with a rich heritage of diversity. People here belong to various religions, speak
different languages, wear different clothes, and eat different things, among other diversities. However,
despite all this, we unite together as Indians. We share the same national symbols, national virtues, and
feelings.
Being an Indian it adds ethical values like the divine ideal of “Sarva dharma sambhava”, which means
that we have the virtue of respecting all religions since all religions are one.

Question 3. Do you think the term "unity in diversity" is an appropriate term to describe India? What do
you think Nehru is trying to say about Indian unity in the sentence quoted above from his book
TheDiscovery of India?

Answer:‘Unity in Diversity’ is an appropriate term to describe India because India is a vast country with
lofty mountains on the north and seas and oceans on three sides. These geographical conditions have
helped to shape the lifestyle of the people. This diversity can be seen in

The language they speak

The food that they eat

The clothes that they wear

The type of houses that they live in

The types of occupation that they follow.

In spite of these geographical differences, they are influenced by similar historical developments. The
people from different parts of India rose up and protested against British rule. Both Hindus and Muslims
lay down their lives at the Jallianwallah Bagh, in Amritsar. When India got independence our
Constitution was framed by the Constituent Assembly whose membership consisted of people from
different sections of the society.

Nehru in his hook ‘Discovery of India’ wrote India was always united in spite of geographical, religious,
and cultural differences. Indian unity is not something imposed from outside but it is something deeper
and within its fold, the widest tolerance of beliefs and customs was practiced and variety acknowledged
and even encouraged.

Question 4. Underline the line in the poem sung after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which according to
you, reflects India's essential unity.

Answer: According to me, the following line reflects India’s essential unity:

“O,friend!

The blood of Hindus and Muslims flows together today.”

Question 5. Choose another region in India and do a similar study of the historical and geographical
factors that influence the diversity found there. Are these historical and geographical factors connected
to each other? How?
Answer:The two regions are:

Rajasthan: It is a desert country, it is one of the border states of India. Rajputs are a martial race.
Agriculture is very difficult and coarse grains like Jowar and Bajra are grown. The main means of
transport are camels. People build houses with flat roofs and verandahs to keep the dusty winds away.

Tamilnadu: It is a state on the seacoast of India. It has a moderate climate throughout the year, with
rainfall during the winter season. It is fertile land and people grow rice and vegetables. Fishing is the
main occupation of the people. Rice and fish are the staple diet of the people. They build houses on
higher ground with slanting roofs, so that the rainwater can easily drain.

Yes, the historical and geographical factors are closely connected. Rajasthan is a border state and
Rajputs are a martial race. Tamilnadu is located on the Bay of Bengal, far away from the influence of the
invaders. People are peace-loving and gentle. Class 6. Social Science ( Civics )

Lesson 1. DIVERSITY ( Part 2)

ASSESSMENT ZONE

I. Explain the following terms :

1. DIVERSITY :- Diversity means that each individual is unique, having individual differences.

2. UNITY IN DIVERSITY :- This phrase was given by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. It means that despite all

our differences we are one.

II. Fill in the blanks :-

1. Diversity ___________ our lives. ( enriches)

2. Most of the Indian languages belong to ___________ broad language groups. ( Info Aryan family)

3. The phrase'Unity in Diversity' was given by ____________. ( Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru)

4. ___________ grown in Kerala attracted traders to this region. ( Spices)

5. People in Ladakh product __________ shawl. ( Pashmina)

6. Ladakh is some times called __________. (Little Tibet)

III. Write True or False

1. India has 25 official languages. ( False)

2. There are about 400 spoken languages in India. ( True)

3. Sanskrit belongs to the Dravidian Language group. ( False)

4. Hindi is a direct descendent of Sanskrit. ( True)

5. Ladakh is one of the highest and the driest place on the earth. ( True)
IV. Answer the following questions :

Q1. What is Diversity ?

A1. Diversity means that each individual is unique, having individual differences.

Q2. What is Economic diversity ?

A2. Economic diversity in India is clearly visible from the life style of the people living in different

regions or states in India. The lifestyle of upper, middle and lower class in the society and the

favourable geographical conditions greatly effect the economic diversity.

Q3. What do you mean by Racial Diversity in India ?

A3. Racial Diversity means that each individual is unique and have differences based on genetic or

ethnic origins. Race is genetically determined. Ethnicity refers to people's background.

Q4. What do you mean by Cultural diversity. In what form does cultural diversity exist in India.

A4. The culture of India is one of the oldest in the world. Though India has preserved it's traditions it

has been absorbing customs and traditions from several Invaders who settled down in India. Many

cultural practices, languages and customs are a result of this intermingling over centuries.

Q5. What are the two broad language groups in India ? Give examples of three languages in each

language group.

A5. The two broad language groups in India are

(a) The Info Aryan languages, spoken by 73% of the Indians mostly in North India. Eg. Hindi, Punjabi,

Gujarati.

(b) The Dravidian Languages spoken by 22% of the population in the south India. Eg. Tamil, Telugu,

kannada.

Q6. What are the advantages of diversity ?

A6. Advantages of diversity in India are:-

1. It helps us to learn about the variety of rich culture, languages and way of life.

2. It teaches us that there are different ways of doing the same thing.

3. It teaches us to be more tolerant of others.

4. It helps in building a progressive society.

5. Indian culture has become richer.

Q7. Who coined the slogan " Unity In Diversity" ? How has India gained from it during struggle for
freedom from the British Empire ?

A7. The phrase'Unity In Diversity' was given by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Unity In Diversity was strongly displayed by the Indians during the freedom struggle. People

belonging to different regions, religions, cast and communities joined the freedom struggle keeping

only one thing in mind - that they all were Indians first !

Q8. Give four examples of Geographic diversity in India.

A8. Geographic diversity in India :-

1. The regions of Info Gangetic Valley are amongst the most fertile regions of the world, while some

parts of Rajasthan are so barren that nothing grows there.

2. The Himalayan ranges are covered with snowfall most part of the year and are extremely cold

while the deserts of Rajasthan are unbearably hot.

3. Areas like Mawsynram get the highest annual rainfall in the world (467 inches in a year) while

some areas of Rajasthan like Shahgarh, district Jaisalmer gets less than 1 inch of rain annually.

4. Ladakh is a desert in the mountains in the Eastern part of Jammu and Kashmir. It is land of high

passes. While Kerala is a state in South West corner of India. It is surrounded by the sea on one side

and hills on the other.

Question 1 :

Choose another region in India and do a similar study of the historical and geographical factors that
influence the diversity found there. Are these traditional and geographical factors connected to each
other? How?

Answer :

Students are advised to compare their region with any other region in India and study the factors that
influence diversity

Question 2 :

Draw up a list of the different festivals celebrated in your locality. Which of these celebrations are
shared by members of different regional and religious communities?
Answer :

Some of the festivals celebrated are Onam, Diwali, Holi, Krishna Janmasthami and Christmas. People
across religious lines celebrate festivals like Onam, Holi, and Christmas.

Question 3 :

What do you think living in India with its rich heritage of diversity adds to your life?

Answer :

We learn different languages from our friends. We enrich our lives by getting to know the different
cultural traditions. We learn from the different religious rituals that are observed by our friends and
neighbors.

Question 4 :

Do you think the term “unity in diversity” is an appropriate term to describe India? What do you think
Nehru is trying to say about Indian unity in the sentence quoted above from his book The Discovery of
India?

Answer :

It is definitely an appropriate term. Our country has a huge population with people from many different
cultural backgrounds, different religions, people speaking different languages and people following
different traditions. Yet, this large, diverse nation is always united and moves forward on the path of
progress. Nehru is trying to say that tolerance is very much ingrained in every Indian citizen.

Question 5 :

Underline the line in the poem sung after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which according to you,
reflects India’s essential unity.

Answer :

‘The blood of Hindus and Muslims flows together today’ is the line in the poem which reflects India’s
essential unity.

WORKSHEET NO-1

CLASS-VI SUBJECT- SOCIAL STUDIES

LESSON NO 1- Understanding Diversity (Civics)

Q1. Fill in the blanks:-

a. Samir Do’s family lived in ___________.

b. The caste system is a form of _____________.

c. A British General opened fire on a public meeting in _______ on April13,

1919.

d.___________ was the first Prime Minister of India.

e. Ladakh is a desert in the state of _____________.

Q2. Choose the correct option:-

a. Samir Do thought SamirEk did not know_______.

(i) English (ii) Hindi (iii) Punjabi (iv) Urdu

b. A country’s custom, religion, art, and history constitute its_______.

(i) citizen (ii) people (iii)culture (iv) none of these

c. The Tibetan national epic________ are performed and sung by Muslims and

Buddhist.

d. In Jharkhand many adivasis say _____ to greet each other.

( i)Hello (ii) Namaste (iii) Johar (iv)none of these

e. The Apostle of Christ,__________ came to India and began Christianity.

(i) St. Francis (ii)St. John (iii) St. Peter (iv )St. Thomas

Q3. Give one example of diversity in India.

Q4. Give one example of unity in diversity among Indians.

Q5. How was the India flag used during the freedom struggle?

Q6. Who wrote the book ‘Discovery of India’?

Q7. Who composed the India’s national anthem?

Q8. What is Ladakh known as?

Q9. Where did Jallianwalla Bagh massacre took place?

Q10. What does diversity add to our lives?