Water: The Elixir of Life

Write brief answers to the following questions:

1. What makes water one of the most powerful and wonderful thing on the earth?

A: - Humankind always searches in vain for an imaginary elixir of life, the divine Amrita, which is believed to give us eternal life. But the true elixir of life lies near our hands. It is nothing but the commonest of all liquids, the plain water! There is a lot of difference between the climatic and geographical area of the Libyan dessert (in which we find no signs of vegetation and living atmosphere) and the Valley of the Nile in Egypt in which we can notice the most fertile and densely populated areas. This remarkable difference is responsible only due to the water of the river Nile! Geologists also tell us that the entire soil of the Nile valley is the creation of the river itself. Egypt country, in fact was made by the Nile river water.

Water has been played a vital role in shaping the course of the earth's history and continues to play the leading role on earth. There is, In fact, nothing which adds so much to the beauty of the countryside as water. Hence it is apt to consider water as the most potent and wonderful thing on the face of our earth.

 

2. How does water help in the formation of fertile land?

A: - Fertile lands can be made with the help of water as it has power to carry silt in suspension. Swiftly flowing water can carry fairly large and heavy particles. The finest particles, however, remain floating within the liquid in spite of their greater density and are carried to great distances. In this manner, large areas of fertile land have been formed by the silt that was deposited. Such land, consisting of fine soil is very fertile for agriculture.

 

3. How does soil erosion happen and what are its main causes?

A:-the transformation of a large amount of silt, soil from any particular area is called soil erosion. Soil erosion is dangerous to agriculture. The problem of soil erosion is of major significance in various countries and especially in many parts of India. Soil erosion occurs in successive steps. The earliest of which may easily pass unnoticed. In the later stages, the cutting up and washing away of the earth is apparent results in the formation of deep gullies and ravines, which make all agriculture impossible. Excessively heavy rain in a large run of surplus water is the principal factor in causing soil erosion. The slop of the land, removal of the natural protective coat of vegetation, the existence of deep narrow marks made in the ground, and the absence of any checks of such flow are also causes of soil erosion.

 

4. What are some measures that are used to prevent soil erosion?

A: - As soil erosion is very harmful to agriculture, we need to take strict measures to prevent it. The terracing of the land, construction of bunds to check the flow of water, the practice of contour cultivation, in which ploughing and planting across the slope is made, and the planting of appropriate types of vegetation are the measures that can be used to check soil erosion. The systematic plantation of trees in every possible place is also an important measure to prevent soil erosion.

 

5. How, according to Sir C. V. Raman, can rainwater as well as the water of rivers be prevented from going to waste?

A: - It is true that much of Indian agriculture depends on seasonal rainfall. So the conservation of rainwater is of utmost important for us. In the countries like India, much of the rainwater flows down into the streams and the rivers and ultimately finds its way to the sea. Thus incredibly large quantities of the precious fluid are lost to the country.

          We need to harness our rivers and the waters of which now mostly run to waste. The systematic planting of suitable trees in every possible place is one of the most urgent needs of India. Such plantation would directly prove a source of untold wealth to the country. The trees would check soil erosion and conserve the rainfall of the country from flowing away to waste. Vast areas of land can be turned into fertile land by courageous and well-planned action.

6. Why does the writer say that the study of the nature and properties of water still has plenty of scope for scientific research?

A: - Water is the basis of all life. It's a naked fact that without having water the existence of life is impossible. The conservation and appropriate utilization of water is, thus, fundamental to human welfare. In one sense, water is the commonest of liquids. In another sense, it is the most uncommon of liquids with amazing properties which are responsible for its unique power of maintaining flora and fauna.

          As we have innumerous advantages of water, the investigation of nature and properties of water is of the highest scientific interest and is far from being an exhausted field of research.