NCERT Solutions for Class 5 EVS Chapter 2: Journey of a River – Free PDF Download

Chapter 2 of Class 5 EVS, Our Wondrous World, Journey of a River, follows the real Godavari River from its source in the Western Ghats to the Bay of Bengal, teaching the stages of a river’s journey.

Last Updated: August 26, 2026

NCERT Solutions for Class 5 EVS Chapter 2: Journey of a River

What this chapter teaches.
The three stages of a river’s journey — the upper course (mountainous, where the river begins as a stream), the middle course (where tributaries join and the river widens), and the lower course (flowing slowly across plains before reaching the sea); key river vocabulary — source, tributary, and mouth; and the real journey of the Godavari River, which begins at Trimbakeshwar in Maharashtra and flows through Maharashtra, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh before reaching the Bay of Bengal.

Write & Discuss (Textbook Questions)

What problems can arise after a dam is built? How can they be solved?
Problems: villages and forests get submerged, people are displaced, the natural river flow is blocked, and fish migration is disrupted. Solutions: proper rehabilitation and compensation for displaced families, fish ladders to let fish move upstream, and careful planning of dam height and water-release schedules to reduce ecological damage.

Where do the plastic wrappers and bags that we litter end up?
They are often blown or washed into drains, then into rivers, and finally into the sea, where they can choke drains (causing flooding), harm fish and other river and marine animals that swallow or get tangled in them, and take hundreds of years to break down.

What kinds of soaps, shampoos or floor cleaners are used in your home? Where does the unclean water mixed with these cleaners go?
(Answers vary by household.) Most homes use detergents, dishwashing liquid, shampoo, and floor cleaners. This used, chemical-laden water usually flows out through household drains into larger sewers or directly into nearby streams and rivers, where the chemicals can harm fish, plants, and other river life if the water is not treated first.

Ask your parents or elders about the condition of water bodies near your home when they were your age. What is the status of those water bodies today?
(Open-ended, family-interview task.) Many elders report that rivers, ponds, and lakes were cleaner, had more fish, and were used for bathing or drinking decades ago, and have since become more polluted due to sewage, garbage, and industrial waste — students should record their own family’s specific account.

Activities

Activity 1 — Make a poster on the uses of rivers.
A good poster would show rivers being used for drinking water, irrigation of crops, fishing, transport, generating hydroelectricity, and recreation/festivals.

Activity 2 — List things thrown into waste bins and their effect on a river.
Items like plastic bags, food waste, batteries, and chemical bottles, if thrown into a river instead of a bin, can poison fish and plants, block the water’s flow, and make the water unsafe for animals and people to use.

Activity 3 — Sugar and oil in water.
Sugar dissolves completely in water and the water stays clear; cooking oil does not dissolve — it floats on top as a separate layer, making the water look cloudy or streaked. This shows that not everything that enters water actually “disappears” into it — oil-based pollutants like this can coat the surface of a river and stop oxygen and sunlight from reaching life below.

Activity 4 — Which river looks healthy?
A healthy river is generally clear, has visible fish and plants, and does not have excess floating algae, foam, or litter. Too many plants (algal bloom) growing in a river is often a sign of pollution from fertilisers or sewage, and can eventually use up the oxygen in the water and harm fish.

Let Us Reflect (End-of-Chapter Questions)

1. Find out which river(s) flow through your state. What are they used for? Are there any dams on them? (Open-ended, region-specific.) Students should name their local river(s), list uses such as drinking water, irrigation, or fishing, and note any known dams or barrages on it.
2. Ask your grandparents or parents to share any story or festival related to rivers in your region and present it in class. (Open-ended, family/community task.) Examples across India include river-goddess worship, boat festivals, and harvest festivals celebrated on riverbanks.
3. Ask an elder in your family: (a) What was the condition of rivers when you were a child? (b) What has changed since then? (Open-ended interview task.) Typical answers describe cleaner water, more fish, and safe bathing/drinking in the past, versus pollution, reduced flow, and garbage today.
4. Why do you think people built houses and cities near rivers in the past? Are rivers still important today in the same way? Rivers provided a steady source of drinking water, fertile soil for farming, and a means of transport, so early settlements grew along their banks. Rivers remain important today for water supply, irrigation, and industry, though modern cities also rely on pipelines, borewells, and reservoirs, so the dependence is less direct than in the past.
5. If you could create one new rule to protect rivers in your city or village, what would it be? (Open-ended.) Sample answer: a strict rule banning the dumping of plastic and untreated waste into rivers, enforced with community river-clean-up drives.
6. Think about a time when you wasted water. What could you have done differently? (Open-ended, personal reflection.) Sample answer: leaving a tap running while brushing teeth — turning it off between uses would have saved water.
7. Can you design a simple water filter using everyday materials? What would you include and why? A simple layered filter can be made in a bottle with, from top to bottom: cloth (to catch large particles), sand (to trap fine particles), charcoal (to remove odours and some impurities), and gravel/small stones (to support the layers and allow water to flow through) — each layer removes a different kind of impurity as the water passes through.
8. Imagine you are planning a new city near a river. What steps would you take to (a) keep the river clean, (b) prevent floods during heavy rains, and (c) ensure there is always enough water for everyone, even during summers? (a) Treat sewage before releasing it, ban dumping of waste, and maintain green buffer zones along the banks. (b) Build proper drainage systems, avoid construction on floodplains, and maintain wetlands that can absorb excess water. (c) Build reservoirs and rainwater-harvesting systems, use water efficiently, and recycle wastewater for non-drinking purposes.

Why This Chapter Matters

Rivers support agriculture, drinking water, and daily life for millions of people — understanding their journey builds appreciation for these vital resources.

How to Use These Solutions

Look up a map of India together and trace a few major rivers, including one near your own home. Download the full chapter from our Class 5 EVS NCERT book page, or browse the Class 5 hub.

More on This Chapter

See also the Extra Questions and Revision Notes for this chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a tributary?
A smaller stream or river that joins a larger river.

Where does the Godavari River begin?
In the Brahmagiri Hills of the Western Ghats, at Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra.

What does the “Let Us Reflect” section of this chapter ask students to do?
It is the textbook’s own set of eight end-of-chapter reflection tasks — researching a local river, interviewing family about how rivers have changed, and designing solutions to protect and manage river water — answered in full above.

Written by Satish

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