Chapter 12 

                                                  What's in the Mailbox?


1. Why do human beings need to move from one place to another?

Answer: Human beings are social creatures and need to meet relatives, friends, and attend to work or personal matters. They also transport goods, which makes movement essential for daily life and trade.


2. Why is it difficult for humans to live alone?

Answer: Humans are social by nature. Living alone limits interaction, help, and communication. Transport allows them to connect with society and maintain relationships.


3. What is the main purpose of transportation?

Answer: The main purpose of transportation is to move people and goods efficiently from one place to another. It helps in trade, travel, and social connectivity.


4. How has transportation helped humans in daily life?

Answer: Transportation helps humans reach schools, offices, hospitals, and markets quickly. It also allows goods to reach different places, improving trade and economic development.


5. What did humans use as transport in ancient times?

Answer: In ancient times, humans used animals like donkeys, camels, and horses for transportation of people and goods.


6. How did the invention of the wheel change transportation?

Answer: The wheel enabled the creation of carts that could be pulled by animals. This made transportation faster, easier, and cheaper than carrying goods by hand.


7. What are some examples of land transport vehicles?

Answer: Land transport vehicles include buses, trucks, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, auto rickshaws, and trains that run on tracks.


8. How are trains different from other land vehicles?

Answer: Trains move on iron tracks and can carry large numbers of passengers or heavy goods over long distances efficiently.


9. Why is air transport considered the fastest?

Answer: Air transport, using aeroplanes and helicopters, travels above obstacles and long distances quickly, making it faster than land or water transport.


10. Who are credited with inventing the aeroplane?

Answer: The Wright Brothers are credited with inventing the aeroplane, which revolutionized air transport.


11. Name some means of water transport.

Answer: Water transport includes ships, steamers, boats, cruises, and motorboats, which carry passengers and cargo across rivers, seas, and oceans.


12. What is cargo in the context of transportation?

Answer: Cargo refers to goods that are transported from one place to another, often by ships, trucks, or trains.


13. How does water transport help trade?

Answer: Water transport allows heavy goods to move economically across long distances, connecting ports and countries, thus supporting trade.


14. Name the means of air transport mentioned in the lesson.

Answer: Aeroplanes, helicopters, and rockets are means of air transport used for travel, cargo, and special purposes like space exploration.


15. Why do we need different types of transport?

Answer: Different terrains and purposes require different transport. Land transport is for roads and tracks, water transport for rivers and seas, and air transport for speed and long-distance travel.


16. Give examples of vehicles used on land.

Answer: Buses, cars, motorcycles, bicycles, auto rickshaws, and trains are examples of land vehicles.


17. How do ships and boats differ from each other?

Answer: Ships are generally larger, carry more passengers or cargo, and can travel in seas and oceans, whereas boats are smaller and often used in rivers or near coasts.


18. What role does air transport play in emergencies?

Answer: Air transport is crucial during emergencies for quick travel, transporting medicines, rescue operations, and evacuations.


19. Why is transport important for social reasons?

Answer: Transport allows people to visit family, friends, and cultural or religious events, supporting social connections.


20. How did transport evolve over time?

Answer: Transport evolved from walking and animal rides to wheel-driven carts, then to motor vehicles, trains, ships, and aircraft, improving speed, efficiency, and comfort.


21. What makes modern transport faster than ancient methods?

Answer: Modern vehicles use engines, electricity, or fuel, allowing faster travel compared to walking or using animals.


22. Why is it important to choose the right means of transport?

Answer: The choice depends on distance, speed, terrain, cost, and purpose. Using the right transport saves time, money, and effort.


23. How do bicycles help in transport?

Answer: Bicycles are eco-friendly, cheap, and ideal for short distances. They also provide exercise for the rider.


24. What are some advantages of trains for transporting goods?

Answer: Trains can carry large quantities of goods at lower cost, are energy-efficient, and suitable for long-distance land transport.


25. How does water transport affect international trade?

Answer: Water transport connects countries through ports, allowing large-scale movement of goods, reducing transportation costs, and enabling global trade.


26. Name some modern land transport vehicles that use fuel.

Answer: Cars, buses, motorcycles, trucks, and auto rickshaws use fuel such as petrol, diesel, or CNG to operate.


27. What makes air transport reliable for long distances?

Answer: Air transport avoids traffic, natural obstacles, and geographical barriers, making it the fastest and most reliable for long distances.


28. How do transport systems affect daily life?

Answer: Transport systems enable commuting to school, office, markets, hospitals, and recreational places, making daily life convenient.


29. Why is it important to maintain vehicles properly?

Answer: Proper maintenance ensures safety, longevity, fuel efficiency, and reduces the risk of accidents.


30. How did the wheel impact human civilization?

Answer: The wheel made carts possible, enabled trade, improved agriculture transport, and paved the way for the development of modern vehicles.


31. What is the role of helicopters in transport?

Answer: Helicopters are used for emergencies, traffic monitoring, rescue operations, and accessing places where planes cannot land.


32. How do rockets differ from aeroplanes?

Answer: Rockets travel into space at high speed, while aeroplanes travel within the Earth’s atmosphere.


33. Why do trains move on tracks instead of roads?

Answer: Tracks guide trains, support their weight, reduce friction, and allow heavy goods to move safely over long distances.


34. What is the main difference between land and water transport?

Answer: Land transport moves on roads or tracks, whereas water transport moves on rivers, lakes, or seas.


35. How do ships and airplanes complement each other in cargo transport?

Answer: Ships carry heavy goods slowly but economically; airplanes carry smaller cargo quickly, ensuring goods reach destinations faster.


36. Give examples of vehicles that use both air and water transport.

Answer: Amphibious vehicles can move on land and water, but mostly separate vehicles like seaplanes are used for both purposes.


37. How does transport affect trade and economy?

Answer: Efficient transport allows goods to reach markets faster, reduces costs, creates jobs, and boosts economic growth.


38. Why is air transport expensive compared to land or water transport?

Answer: Air transport requires fuel, maintenance, and sophisticated technology, making it costlier than land or water transport.


39. What are some eco-friendly means of transport?

Answer: Bicycles, electric vehicles, and walking are eco-friendly, producing little or no pollution.


40. Summarize the three main types of transport.

Answer: Transport is classified as land, water, and air. Land includes cars, buses, trains; water includes boats, ships, and cruises; air includes aeroplanes, helicopters, and rockets, each serving different purposes for passengers and goods.

Answer by Mrinmoee