Solutions-NCERT-Class-7-Science-Curiosity-Chapter-6-Adolescence: A Stage of Growth and Change-CBSE

(i) Health Problems :

• Deficiency of iron or vitamin B₁₂ can cause anaemia.
• Anaemia means low haemoglobin in the blood.
• Common symptoms include:
• Tiredness and weakness
• Pale skin
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath

(ii) Management of Iron Deficiency :

• Eat iron-rich foods like:
• Leafy vegetables (spinach)
• Jaggery (gud)
• Pulses and beans
• Meat, fish, eggs
• Include vitamin C foods (like oranges, lemon) to help absorb iron.
• Take iron supplements if advised by a doctor.
• Maintain a balanced diet regularly.

(iii) Government Schemes :

• Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB): Aims to reduce anaemia among children, adolescents, and women.
• Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS): Provides iron tablets to school-going adolescents.
• Mid-Day Meal Scheme: Provides nutritious meals to improve health of students.

Vitamin B₁₂ is essential for proper functioning of the body.

It helps in:

• Formation of red blood cells
• Proper functioning of the brain and nervous system
• Preventing anaemia

Vitamin B₁₂ is mainly found in animal-based foods such as:

• Milk and dairy products
• Eggs
• Meat and fish
• Some fortified foods (like cereals) also contain vitamin B₁₂.
• Vegetarians may need supplements if there is deficiency.

(i) Possible Reasons: During adolescence, there is an increase in oily secretions from the skin. These secretions can clog skin pores, leading to infections and the development of reddish pimples, a manifestation of the condition known as acne.

(ii) Relief: Maintaining personal hygiene, specifically keeping the face and body clean, is crucial to protect against infections and manage these skin changes.

Better Option: Food group (ii)

Why: Adolescence is a period of rapid growth and development that requires a nutritious diet.

• Food group (ii) includes balanced healthy foods like vegetables, pulses. These foods provide proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and fibre, which are important for proper growth and development during adolescence.
• Option (i) contains junk food like burgers, fries and pizza which are high in fats, sugar and salt, but low in nutrition and can harm health if eaten often.

• (i) nstmnoiaretu: Menstruation
• (ii) iceov xob: Voice box
• (iii) urtypeb: Puberty
• (iv) lahoclo and srugd: Alcohol and drugs

Shalu is not completely correct. Adolescence does involve physical changes, but it is much more than just that.

You could improve her description like this:

• “Adolescence is a stage of life in which a person undergoes not only physical changes (like increase in height and body hair) but also emotional, mental, and social changes.”
• Teenagers begin to develop independent thinking, experience mood changes, become more aware of relationships, and form their own identity.

So, instead of saying “only physical changes,” it should include:

• Emotional changes (mood swings, feelings)
• Mental changes (thinking ability, decision-making)
• Social changes (relationships, behavior with others)

In short, adolescence is a period of overall development, not just physical growth.

To check whether these statements are correct, you can ask thoughtful questions that make students reflect:

(i) “Adolescents do not need to worry about behavioural changes.”

• Do mood swings or sudden anger affect relationships with family and friends?
• Can behavioural changes influence decision-making and future choices?
• Is it important to learn self-control and good habits during adolescence?
• What might happen if negative behaviours are ignored?

(ii) “If someone tries a harmful substance once, they can stop anytime they want.”

• Do all substances have the potential to cause addiction even after limited use?
• Why do some people find it difficult to stop after trying once?
• What effects do harmful substances have on the brain and body?
• Are there real-life examples where people struggled to quit after starting?

These questions help students think critically and understand that both statements are not entirely correct.

Along with mood swings, adolescents often show several other behavioural changes as part of growing up. These include:

• Desire for independence – wanting to make their own decisions and not always depend on parents
• Increased self-awareness – becoming more conscious about appearance and what others think
• Changing interests – shifting hobbies, likes, and dislikes
• Peer influence – giving more importance to friends’ opinions and spending more time with them
• Emotional sensitivity – getting easily hurt, excited, or upset
• Curiosity and risk-taking – wanting to try new things, sometimes without fully thinking about consequences
• Development of personal identity – trying to understand “Who am I?” and forming their own values and beliefs

These changes are a normal part of adolescence and reflect overall emotional, social, and mental development.

That situation would upset anyone—good that Mohini spoke up.

Here are some simple, healthy menstrual hygiene habits you can suggest:

• Use clean sanitary pads or cloth during periods.
• Change the pad every 4–6 hours.
• Wash your hands before and after changing the pad.
• Keep the private parts clean by washing with water.
• Wrap used pads in paper and throw them in a dustbin. Do not leave them in the toilet.
• Wear clean and dry underwear.
• If using cloth, wash it properly and dry it in sunlight before using again.
• Talk openly about menstrual hygiene and do not feel shy.

These habits help us stay clean, healthy, and safe during periods.

• Manoj: His bump is likely the Adam’s apple, which is a normal growth of the voice box in adolescent boys. The doctor called it a part of growing up because it is a standard secondary sexual characteristic for males.
• Mary: While a girl's voice box grows slightly, it is not usually noticeable as a bump. The doctor’s advice for an iodine-rich diet suggests her bulge was related to a nutritional deficiency (such as goiter) rather than a normal developmental change.