Unfriendly Nature Class 7 English Lesson 20
Natural disasters are sudden changes in the environment, which cause damage and destruction. These include earthquakes, droughts, land slides and cyclones.
प्राकृतिक आपदाएं पर्यावरण में अचानक परिवर्तन होती हैं, जो क्षति और विनाश का कारण बनती हैं। इनमें भूकंप, सूखा, भूमि स्लाइड और चक्रवात शामिल हैं।
When The Earth Shook
28th Jan., 2001
More than 13,000 people were killed, at least 15 lakh injured and 7.8 lakh houses destroyed in Gujarat in the earthquake of 26th Jan, 2001.
26 जनवरी, 2001 के भूकंप में गुजरात में 13,000 से अधिक लोग मारे गए थे, कम से कम 15 लाख घायल और 7.8 लाख घर नष्ट हो गए थे।
An earthquake is a series of shocks that results from sudden movements below the surface of the earth. Earthquakes take place when large plates of land collide with each other releasing energy. The strength of an earthquake is measured using a Richterscale by an instrument called Seismograph.
भूकंप एक झटके की श्रृंखला है जो पृथ्वी की सतह के नीचे अचानक आंदोलनों से उत्पन्न होता है। भूकंप तब आते हैं जब भूमि की बड़ी प्लेटें एक दूसरे को ऊर्जा मुक्त करती हैं। भूकंप की ताकत को सिस्मोग्राफ नामक यंत्र द्वारा रिचर्सकेल का उपयोग करके मापा जाता है।
| Do () | Don’t do ( X ) |
| Bend down under a desk or cot, stay there till the shocks stop. | Do not push others orstand under fans. |
| Stay away from glass windows. | Don’t use the lift in big buildings. |
| Outside, move away from trees, signboards, buildings and electric poles and stop driving during tremors. | Don’t light fires. |
| Don’t rush out of stadiums. | |
| Don’t travel just after an earthquake. |
A flood occurs when water flows or rises above its normal level. It can be caused by heavy rainfall, high tide with a storm or melting snow flowing into the river. The Ganga and the Brahmaputra rivers cause the largest floods in India. Other areas in the west, east and south are also attacked by floods. Floods are the results of soil erosion, the silting of riverbeds or collapse of a dam.
बाढ़ तब होती है जब पानी अपने सामान्य स्तर से ऊपर बहता है या ऊपर उठता है। यह भारी वर्षा, तूफान के साथ उच्च ज्वार या नदी में बहने वाली बर्फ पिघलने के कारण हो सकता है। गंगा और ब्रह्मपुत्र नदियाँ भारत में सबसे बड़ी बाढ़ का कारण बनती हैं। पश्चिम, पूर्व और दक्षिण के अन्य क्षेत्रों में भी बाढ़ का हमला होता है। बाढ़ मिट्टी के कटाव, नदी के तलवों के खिसकने या बांध के गिरने के परिणाम हैं।
| Do () | Don’t do ( X ) |
| Know the route to the nearest safe shelters. Keep medicines, strong ropes, radio, torch, batteries. Store clothes, dry food, fresh water, kerosene, candles and match boxes in polythene bags in a kit. Listen to the local radio and watch TV for warnings. Drink boiled water. | Don’t eat food that has got wet in flood waters. Do not remain on empty stomach. Do not get into water of unknown depth andcurrent. Do not drink tapwater without boiling |
Drought happens when an area receiveslesser rainfall than normal levels. It is a condition of acute scarcity of water, food, fodder and employment. The serious results of drought are crop-failure and lack of drinking water.
सूखा तब होता है जब कोई क्षेत्र सामान्य स्तर से अधिक वर्षा करता है। यह पानी, भोजन, चारे और रोजगार की तीव्र कमी की स्थिति है। सूखे के गंभीर परिणाम फसल-विफलता और पीने के पानी की कमी हैं।
| Do () | Don’t do ( X ) |
| Grow plants and care for them. Protect and restore degraded land Collect and store rain water | Don’t misuse or waste water. Don’t destroy forests, pastures and trees. Don’t let domestic animals overgraze. |
Complete the table with the help of the information in the lesson.
| S.N. | DISASTER | CONDITIONS | RESULTS |
| 1 | Earthquake | large plates of land collide with each other below earth surface. | violent shocks,release of energy |
| 2 | Earthquake | using lift in big buildings | could be dangerous. |
| 3 | Flood | heavy rainfall | results in high tide, destroys transport and kills people. |
| 4 | Drought | less rainfall | acute scarcity ofwater, food and fodder. |
| 5 | Flood | using tap water without boiling | cholera and dysentry in people especially, children. |
2. Write phrases or words to tell how the following are affected during natural calamities.One is done for you.
3. State True or False.
(i) The earthquake in Gujarat in 2001 killed 13,000 people. (True)
(ii) We should run out of homes as soon as we feel tremors. (True)
(iii) We should bend down under cots and desks during floods. (False)
(iv) 70,000 people became homeless in Assam due to earthquake. (False)
(v) Eating food that has got wet in flood water is harmful. (True)
(vi) The local radio warns us about earthquakes and floods. (True)
(vii)People in Bikaner always enjoy rains. (False)
(viii) The villagers become poor and unemployed due to drought. (True)
Vocabulary
Tick (✔) the word that is not related to those written in capitals.
Grammar
Write your sentences using ‘must’. What could you suggest in the following situations?
Example is given for you.
Example: I worked hard today. I feel tired now.
You must take rest now.
1. My mother will get angry. I am getting late.
Suggestion – You must go home now.
2. I have a headache. I can’t work now.
Suggestion – You must stop your work and go to sleep.
3. She wants to be a singer in future. She doesn’t sing very well now.
Suggestion – She must practice hard for singing.
4. She is a very naughty girl. She doesn’t obey elders.
Suggestion – She must obey elders.
5. My younger brother is looking for a good job. He has no job now.
Suggestion – He must try hard to get a good job.
6. My handwriting is very poor. I feel it.
Suggestion – You must practice to improve your handwriting.