To deepen your understanding, the Class 5 EVS RBSE Solutions and RBSE Class 5 EVS Chapter 9 Our Past and Present Question Answer in English Medium provided here offer valuable practice and clarity.
RBSE Class 5th EVS Chapter 9 Question Answer in English Our Past and Present
Our Past and Present Class 5 Questions and Answers
Our Past and Present Class 5 Question Answer – InText
Page No. 95
Question 1.
What would the schools and villages have been like during your grandparent’s childhood?
Answer:
Schools were of makeshifts buildings during grandparents’ childhood (1940-60), writings was done on slate or Takhti (wooden tablet), books were shared. Gurukul (Teacher – student) tradition was followed, girls education was limited. There was no electricity in villages, hand operated fans were used, lighting was done with diya and lantern, agriculture was main occupation. TempleStepwell were community centres. Fairs and folk songs were common on festivals.
Question 2.
How do you think people used to travel in the past?
Answer:
People travel through bullock cart, horse cart and on foot in past time. Boats in rivers and palanquins for rich people. Later bicycles was being invented. Travelling was slow, laborious and depending on weather. Limited belongings were taken and travelling in group was a common practice. Journeys was time taking but environment friendly. Traditions still connects us with past and nature.
Page No. 97
Now tell-
Question 1.
Which customs and traditions of our festivals are still the same today?
Answer:
Some customs in Indian festivals are still the same-
Like lighting diyas on festivals, traditional attires, Goddess Laxmi and Ganesha worship, colour and Gulal in holi, Rakhi tying on Rakshabandhan are still the same.
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Question 2.
Which tradition is being followed in your family for generations?
Answer:
In my family lighting earthen lamps (diya) and sharing sweets in relatives after worship is a tradition followed from many generation.
Question 3.
Are the ways of celebrating festivals the same in all states?
Answer:
No, ways of celebrating festivals are not the same in all states- For example, on Deepawali in north India crackers are bursted, and in South India it is celebrated with oil bath, Lathmar holi in Mathura, while with dry colour (Gulal) in Gujarat. Pongal celebrated in Tamilnadu with rice-jaggery dish while with kiting in Gujarat, Rajasthan. Despite geographical and cultural differences happiness, unity, and feeling of sharing sweets is same in all over India.
Page No. 98
Now tell-
Question 1.
What is the difference between your school and your parent’s school?
Answer:
There are digital boards, projector and online classes in my school while in my parents’ school there was slate and wooden tablet and limited books, their education was based on Guru-shishya (Teacher-Student) tradition. They have electric fans but not other technological facilities.
Question 2.
How did people travel earlier and how do they travel now?
Answer:
People in olden times, travel with bullock cart, horse cart or on foot or on a boat which have very slow speed and laborious. Now travelling is done with car. train or airplane which are very fast and comfortable.
Question 3.
Is there any change that you don’t like?
Answer:
I don’t like too much dependency on technology and reduction in traditional games like- gilli-danda because due to this physical activities are decreased and pressure on environment is increased.
Page No. 99
Activity-
What would have happened if electricity had not been invented? Can you tell?
1. What would our life be like without electricity?
2. What did people do for lights at night in olden times?
3. Are all changes necessary?
Answer:
If electricity had not been invented then our life would be difficult: We had to depended on diya, lantern and lamps. Due to this, it would be difficult to study during night time.
1. Without electricity life would be very difficult: No lighting would be in houses. equipment would not work and communication would be interrupted. Many activities of daily life like working, education and health services would be affected. Life would become uncomfortable and challenging.
2. People in olden times used diya (Earthen lamp), Lantern, dibbri and torch for lights in night time.
3. All changes are not necessary, e.g. Technique provides facilities but it causes some negative impact on traditional customs and environment.
Page No. 100
Activity-
Debate-Divide the class into two groups. One group shares its views on the benefits of electricity and the other group on the disadvantages.
So, can you tell now that-
Question 1.
What are the benefits of arrival of electricity?
Answer:
Arrival of electricity made life easy. Bulb, tubelight and L.E.D. made study possible in night time and other work easy. Machines, computer and internet increased productivity, communication and entertainment. Medicine (X-ray, ventilator) and transportation (Train, Airplane) brings revolution.
Question 2.
Are there any disadvantages of using electricity?
Answer:
There are some disadvantages of using electricity which are like- Environmental pollution (from coal plants), too much dependency on techniques and effects on health (Problems in eyes due to screen time).
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Question 3.
Should we still use ancient objects today?
Answer:
Ancient objects like diyas and utensil made with clay are still useful because these are environmental friendly and keeps alive our cultural values. But it is essential to balanced them with modern facilities.
Page No. 101
Activity-
Bring any ancient object from your home (grandmother’s/grandfather’s objects, old coins, clay utensils, copper untensils, clay toys, old books) and discuss about them.
You tell me-
Question 1.
What is the difference between the utensils of ancient times and today’s untensils?
Answer:
In ancient times utensils are made up of clay, copper or brass which were handmade, longlasting and environmental friendly but heavy in weight so their maintainance was tough. But in today’s time utensils are mostly made up of stainless steel, aluminium. And non-sticky untensils are prevalent which are light weight, easy to clean but have adverse effects on environment.
Question 2.
What do old objects teach us about the past?
Answer:
Old objects teaches us so much about the past, clay utensils about sensitivity towards environment, old books about contemporary education and culture and coins showcase our economic system. These connect us with our roots, handicrafts and life full of simplicity.
Page No. 102
Fill this table with your classmates-

Answer:

RBSE Class 5th EVS Chapter 9 Question Answer – Practice Work
Write True/False-
1. The electric bulb is the oldest means of lighting.
Answer: False
2. People still light diyas on festivals.
Answer: True
3. There was no television in olden times.
Answer: True
Write your experience-
Write 10-12 lines on ‘changes in the means of lighting’.
Answer:
There is a big change in the means of lighting. My nanaji tells us that there was no electricity during their childhood. They used to study in light of diya. When the wind blew, the flame of diya used of flicker, sometimes the oil ran out and makes it difficult to study. Later electricity invented and Tubelight, C.F.L. and now L.E.D. are here which use less electricity and more lighting. Solar lights are also common nowadays. These changes made life comfortable, easy to study and easy to work during night. Infact lighting diyas on festival is still prevalent which connects us with our roots.
Draw a picture of any one of the following-
(Diya, Torch, Dibbri, Lantern, Torch, simple bulb, tube light, CFL, LED bulb, battery-powered bulb)

Answer:

Think and Tell-
Question 1.
How did people study at night before the invention of electricity?
Answer:
People used to study in lights of diya, lantern or torch. Diya was lighten up with oil and cotton wick, flame of diya was used to flicker when wind blew and light goes off when oil ran out. So it was so much tough to study in night due to light problems.
Question 2.
What is the difference between a diya and a bulb?
Answer:
Diya is made up of clay, lighten up with oil and wick, lighting is low and flicker, environmental friendly but have to fill oil many times. Diya is traditionally and culturally important.
Bulb-Lights with electricity, permanent and more lighting easy to maintain but needs electricity consumption and impacted environment.
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Question 3.
What changes have taken place in the means of lighting over time?
Answer:
Changes-
- In ancient time-Torch, lantern, diya (oil based, low lighting and unstable)
- In middle time-Gas lamp, battery torch
- In modern time-Electric bulb, tubelight, C.F.L., L.E.D. bulb, solar light (more lighting, less electricity consumption).
Question 4.
What effect did it have on our lives?
Answer:
Effects-
- Positive-Study, work and other night activities becomes easy, education and productivity increased, life becomes comfortable.
- Negative-Dependency on electricity, pollution (old bulbs, less use of traditional diya, lantern).
Activity-
Question 1.
Ask your grandparents what the means of lighting were in their childhood and compare them with today.
Answer:
My grandparents told me that there were no electricity in their village during their childhood. They use diya and lantern. They have to kept diya and lantern near during study in night and they feel uncomfortable with smell of oil. Today there are electric bulbs, tubelights and LED which provide more lighting and easy to use. Earlier lighting was limited, and now there are in lights in every house. Although they say that there was a sense of calmness in light of diya.
RBSE Class 5 EVS Chapter 9 Our Past and Present Question Answer
Multiple Choice Questions :
Question 1.
What was the main source of light in village during nanaji time?
(a) Diya and lantern
(b) Bulb
(c) Led lights
(d) Solar lights
Answer:
(a) Diya and lantern
Question 2.
What was used for transportation in old times?
(a) Car
(b) Bullock cart and horse cart
(c) Airplane
(d) Metro
Answer:
(b) Bullock cart and horse cart
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Question 3.
What is included in present education?
(a) Slate-Takhti
(b) Gurukul
(c) Digital class and smart boards
(d) Letter-writings
Answer:
(c) Digital class and smart boards
Question 4.
What was the main source of sending messages during Nanaji’s time?
(a) Mobile
(b) E-mail
(c) Whatsapp
(d) Letter and telegram
Answer:
(d) Letter and telegram
Question 5.
What was the main cause of changes?
(a) Development of science and technology
(b) Traditional games
(c) Monarchy
(d) Clay utensils
Answer:
(a) Development of science and technology
Question 6.
Which is the negative impact of use of electricity?
(a) Study becomes easy
(b) Pollution increased
(c) Fast transportation
(d) Better communication
Answer:
(b) Pollution increased
Question 7.
What does ancient objects teaches us?
(a) Modern technology
(b) Use of mobile
(c) Lifestyle in past
(d) History of internet
Answer:
(c) Lifestyle in past
Question 8.
Which kind of house were there during Nanaji’s time?
(a) Multi-storey flats
(b) Smart homes
(c) Concrete buildings
(d) Kaccha (makeshift) houses
Answer:
(d) Kaccha (makeshift) houses
Fill in the blanks :
1. Society ________ with time.
Answer: changes
2. Earlier schools used to be in ________ buildings.
Answer: Kaccha
3. Old means consumed more ________ hence, new means were adopted.
Answer: resources
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4. New ________ were made due to the development of science and technology.
Answer: objects
State whether the following statements are true or false-
1. Lighting diyas on festivals is still in practice.
Answer: True
2. Ancient utensils were environmental friendly.
Answer: True
3. Gilli-danda is a traditional Indian game.
Answer: True
4. Ancient objects help to understand history.
Answer: True
Match the following correctly :
| Column ‘A’ | Column ‘B’ |
| 1. Entertainment in present | (a) Video games and mobile games |
| 2. Entertainment earlier | (b) Gilli-danda and Kabaddi |
| 3. Games earlier | (c) OTT platform and smartphones |
| 4. Games in present | (d) Folksongs and fairs |
Answer:
| Column ‘A’ | Column ‘B’ |
| 1. Entertainment in present | (c) OTT platform and smartphones |
| 2. Entertainment earlier | (d) Folksongs and fairs |
| 3. Games earlier | (b) Gilli-danda and Kabaddi |
| 4. Games in present | (a) Video games and mobile games
|
Very Short Answer Type Questions-
Question 1.
Tell one positive impact of use of electricity.
Answer:
It made study easy and comfortable.
Question 2.
What ancient coins tells us?
Answer:
About ancient currency system.
Question 3.
What was used for study when there were no electricity?
Answer:
Diya was used.
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Question 4.
What were the old pots made of?
Answer:
Clay, copper and brass.
Question 5.
How was the administration in old times?
Answer:
Ruled by Kings.
Question 6.
What is an environmental cause of change?
Answer:
Resource conservation.
Question 7.
What were the earlier sources of water?
Answer:
Wells and stepwells.
Question 8.
What is a positive perspective of change?
Answer:
Fast moving transportation.
Question 9.
What was used in school for writing?
Answer:
Takhti (wooden tablet).
Question 10.
How was the life without electricity?
Answer:
Difficult and limited.
Short Answer Type Questions-
Question 1.
How did the invention of electricity made study easy?
Answer:
Invention of electricity brought bulb and tubelight, which provide a stable lighting in night. It was better than flickering light of diya, which makes study easy and effective.
Question 2.
What knowledge do we get from ancient objects?
Answer:
Ancient object like coins, clay pots and books, past-currency shows environmental friendly lives and education which gave us knowledge about olden lifestyle and culture.
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Question 3.
How was the lifestyle of village during Nanaji’s time?
Answer:
There were no electricity in Nanaji’s time. People used to lit earthen lamps and lantern. Practices agriculture and lived in Kaccha houses. Temple and stepwell (Bawdi) were community centres.
Question 4.
Why does changes are necessary?
Answer:
Changes are necessary to solve problems and making life easier. Science and technology made education, communication and transportation better which makes saving of work and time.
Question 5.
What does old books and letters tells us?
Answer:
Old books and letters showcases the contemporary education, communication and culture. They provide us knowledge about past, writing style and information about social system.
Long Answer Type/Essay Type Questions
Question 1.
How does the traditions of festivals remains with time and why it is important?
Answer:
Traditions of festivals like lighting diyas on Diwali, playing with colours in Holi, and tying Rakhi on Rakshabandhan are still in practice. These traditions keep cultural and religious values alive, connect family and community and provide an opportunity of happiness. It keeps us connected with our roots and teaches us importance of unity and simplicity in modernity.
Question 2.
Compare between Nanaji’s lifestyle and today’s lifestyle.
Answer:
In Nanaji’s time people lived with simplicity. People lived in kaccha houses, lit earthern lamps or lanterns and travel on bullock cart. Agriculture was main occupation. Today, there are permanent houses, electricity and internet. Car, mobile and digital education made our life fast and comfortable. In fact, environment was clean then and pollution has increases now.
Question 3.
Imagine life without electricity and discuss its impacts.
Answer:
Our life would have been difficult without electricity. We would have been depended on diya-lantern for lighting, bullock cart for transportation, letters for communication. Education, medical and production would have been limited. Life would have been slow and laborious but environment would have been clear. Electricity made education, communication and health easier but in its absence we would have been feel more connected with nature and community co-operation. So balance is necessary.
Question 4.
Elaborate causes and impacts of changes with time.
Answer:
Changes with time came due to science and technology, demand for facility and resource conservation. Electricity, internet and machines made education, health and communication better. Resulting, in easy life, progress in health services, and global connectivity.
Negative impacts are pollution, decrease in values of traditional customs and increased busy life, physical activities decreased due to dependency on technique.
RBSE Class 5 EVS Chapter 9 Notes Our Past and Present

Schools and Villages in grandparent’s childhood-
- Schools-There were makeshift buildings, writings was done on slate and wooden tablet (Takhti), and limited resources.
- Village-No electricity, use of Diya (Earthen lamp) and lanterns, Travelling by bullock cart, water from Bawadi (stepwell) and wells and Mansions are still the glory of these days.
- Lifestyle-Simple, close to nature and hard work based.
Changes in transportation means-
- Earlier people used to travel by bullock carts, horse carts.
- Now there are fast moving cars, buses, trains and airplanes.
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Story: From earthern lamp to bulb-
- Experience of Nanaji-
- There was no electricity in childhood, there was light from earthern lamp and lantern, hence study was difficult.
- After invention of electricity bulbs came, then L.E.D. and solar powered lights came.
- Transportation-It has changed from bullock cart to car, then train and now Airplanes.
- Fan-From hand fan to Air conditioners.
- Message- Every change made life easy, every thing has its own history.
Changes and continuity in society-
- Which have not changed-Lighting diyas on festivals, traditional attires, region specific customs and values in life etc.
- Which has changed-
- Education-From makeshift buildings to permanent buildings, digital classrooms, smart boards, and online education.
- Transport-From bullock cart, horse cart to fast moving cars, buses, trains and airplanes.
- Lighting-From diya, lantern and torch to bulbs, tubelights and L.E.D.
- Games and entertainment-From gilli-danda, Kabaddi to video games and mobile games.
- Communication-Letter to mobile and e-mails.
- Source of water-From stepwells and wells to tap and borewells.
5. Causes and effects of change-
Causes-
- Science and technology-New objects were made (TV, Electric cars).
- Convenience and comfort-Fast and easy ways are searched (changes in trains).
- Environments and resources-New means to conserve environment were adopted (Electric cars).
Effects-
- Positive-Easy life, better education and health, and faster travelling.
- Negative-Traditional customs weakened, increased pollution and busy lifestyle.
Perspectives of change-
- Positive-Machines made work easier, fast internet, global connectivity through internet.
- Negative- Dependency on technology, reduction in physical activity, problem of pollution and garbage, traditional games decreasing.
Understanding the present from old objects-
Historical evidence-
- Old coins and notes- Currency prevalent earlier
- Copper and clay utensils- Environmental-friendly things
- Old books and letters- Means of education and communication
Examples-
- Lighting- Diya, torch → Bulb, L.E.D.
- Transport- Bullock cart → Motor cars
- Education-Gurukul → School, online classes
- Communication- Letters → Mobile, e-mail
- Fan- Hand fan → Electric fan
- Water resource- Bawdi, Pond wells → Tap, tubewell
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