Class 6 Science Chapter 11 Nature’s Treasures – Extra Questions with Answers

Air, water, soil, and sunlight are the resources Chapter 11 of Class 6 Science puts under the microscope, and these extra questions dig into details like the gas composition of air and the role of sunlight in photosynthesis.

Last Updated: September 23, 2026

Very Short Answer Questions (1 mark)

Q1. Name four natural resources mentioned in the chapter.
Ans: Air, water, soil, and sunlight (forests and minerals are also acceptable).

Q2. What are the two main gases present in air, and in what approximate proportion?
Ans: Nitrogen (about 78%) and oxygen (about 21%).

Q3. What process do green plants use sunlight for, to make their own food?
Ans: Photosynthesis.

Q4. Name one resource that is renewable and one that is non-renewable.
Ans: Renewable — sunlight/water/air; Non-renewable — coal/petroleum/minerals.

Q5. What do tree roots prevent by holding soil together?
Ans: Soil erosion.

Short Answer Questions (2–3 marks)

Q6. Explain why fertile soil is considered one of nature’s treasures, even though it looks like “just dirt.”
Ans: Soil supports plant roots, holds water and nutrients that plants need to grow, and forms very slowly over a long period through natural weathering. Since it takes so long to form, once fertile soil is lost to erosion or pollution, it is very hard to replace — making it a precious resource, not just dirt.

Q7. Why does cutting down forests affect more than just the trees themselves?
Ans: Forests hold soil together with their roots, so cutting them down increases soil erosion. Forests also affect the local water cycle and climate, and provide habitat for wildlife, so removing them disturbs all of these along with the loss of wood, fruits, and medicinal plants.

Q8. Give two reasons why air pollution is a concern even though air itself is a renewable resource.
Ans: Even though air is naturally replenished, pollution from vehicles, factories, and burning waste can make the air unfit or unhealthy to breathe, and pollutants can take time to clear from the atmosphere — so “renewable” does not mean pollution has no effect.

Q9. Distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources with one example each.
Ans: Renewable resources are naturally replenished in a relatively short time, e.g. sunlight. Non-renewable resources exist in limited amounts and take millions of years to form, e.g. coal.

Q10. List three everyday habits that help conserve natural resources.
Ans: Turning off taps when not in use, avoiding unnecessary use of vehicles (to reduce air pollution), and planting trees. (Not littering and reusing/recycling are also acceptable.)

Higher-Order Thinking / Application Questions

Q11. Ajji’s village is close to a forest, giving her family easy access to wood, water, and fertile soil. Explain, using the idea of natural resources, why villages near forests are often considered resource-rich.
Ans: Forests concentrate several natural resources in one place — wood and medicinal plants from trees, fertile soil built up by decomposing leaves and organic matter, clean air, and often a reliable water supply from streams or rainfall the forest helps regulate. Being close to a forest gives easy access to all of these resources together, which is why such villages are considered resource-rich.

Q12. A farmer uses river water for irrigation every day without any conservation measures. Predict what could happen over many years, and suggest one way to use the water more sustainably.
Ans: Even though water is a renewable resource, using it without care can lower river levels, especially in dry seasons, and affect other users and ecosystems downstream. A more sustainable approach would be drip irrigation or using water only as much as crops need, instead of continuous unchecked use.

Q13. Coal is often called a “fossil fuel.” Using the chapter’s classification of resources, explain why coal cannot simply be “grown back” once a coal mine is exhausted.
Ans: Coal is a non-renewable resource that forms over millions of years from the remains of ancient plants and organisms under heat and pressure. Since this process takes far longer than a human lifetime (or even many lifetimes), an exhausted coal mine cannot be replenished on any practical timescale, unlike renewable resources such as sunlight or water.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are forests often described as one of the most valuable natural resources on Earth?
Forests produce oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, provide timber and raw materials, support countless species, and help regulate rainfall and soil quality, making them extremely valuable natural resources.

What steps can individuals take to help conserve natural resources like water in their daily lives?
Simple steps such as turning off taps when not in use, fixing leaking pipes promptly, and reusing water for tasks like watering plants can all contribute to conserving water in everyday life.

Written by Satish

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