NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Science (Curiosity) Chapter 11: Nature’s Treasures

These Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 11 solutions cover Nature’s Treasures from the new NCF-2023 textbook (2026–27). The chapter introduces the natural resources that nature gives us — air, water, energy from the Sun, forests, soil, rocks, minerals and fossil fuels — and explains how to classify them as renewable or non-renewable and why we must use them wisely. Every “Let us enhance our learning” question is reproduced verbatim and answered in clear, exam-ready style.

Class: 6 Subject: Science Book: Curiosity Chapter: 11 Type: Natural resources & conservation Session: 2026–27
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Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 11 Solutions – Overview

In Nature’s Treasures, Bhoomi and Surya visit their Ajji’s village on the edge of a forest in the Western Ghats and discover the many gifts of nature. The chapter explains that air is a mixture of gases (78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% argon, carbon dioxide and others) and supplies the oxygen we need to survive; moving air is wind, which can turn a firki or a windmill to generate electricity. Water covers about two-thirds of Earth, but most is salty, so we must conserve precious freshwater through methods like rainwater harvesting. The Sun is the main source of energy for all living beings. Forests, soil, rocks, minerals and fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas) are other natural treasures. Resources are classified as renewable (renewed in a reasonable time, e.g. air, water, forests) or non-renewable (limited and not replenished quickly, e.g. minerals, soil, rocks, fossil fuels). The big message: use natural resources judiciously.

Key Concepts & Definitions

Natural resources: resources we get from nature that are essential to sustain life — air, water, energy from the Sun, forests, soil, rocks, minerals and fossil fuels.

Human-made resources: useful things created by human beings, such as electric bulbs, furniture, solar panels and bicycles.

Composition of air: a mixture of gases — nitrogen 78%, oxygen 21%, and argon, carbon dioxide and other gases together 1%.

Wind: moving air; it rotates a firki and the wings of a windmill, which can run flour mills, pull up water or generate electricity.

Freshwater & rainwater harvesting: most water on Earth is saline; only a small fraction is usable freshwater. Collecting and storing rainwater (e.g. stepwells — Bawadi in Rajasthan, Vav in Gujarat) for later use is rainwater harvesting.

Fossil fuels: petroleum, natural gas and coal, formed over millions of years from the buried remains of microorganisms and plants; found in limited quantities.

Renewable resources: resources that get renewed, replenished or restored by natural processes within a reasonable time — air, water, forests.

Non-renewable resources: resources in limited quantities that are not replenished within a reasonable time — minerals, soil, rocks, coal, petroleum, natural gas.

“Let us enhance our learning” — NCERT Solutions

All questions below are reproduced exactly as they appear in the NCERT Curiosity textbook; the answers are original and exam-ready.

1. Fig. 11.9 shows items related to natural resources. Match them with their jumbled up names. Make another table and write the names of these resources. Classify these resources as renewable or non-renewable.

ANSWER The jumbled names are unscrambled as follows: ocrk → rock, refost → forest, ndiw → wind, atwre → water. The names and their classification are shown below:
Jumbled nameResource (correct name)Renewable / Non-renewable
ocrkRockNon-renewable
refostForestRenewable
ndiwWind (air)Renewable
atwreWaterRenewable

2. State whether the following statements are True [T] or False [F]. If False, correct them.

(i) Nature has all the resources to meet human needs. [ ]

ANSWERTrue [T]. Nature provides the resources required for our survival, such as air, water, sunlight, forests, soil and minerals.

(ii) Machines are a resource found in nature. [ ]

ANSWERFalse [F]. Correction: Machines are human-made resources; they are made by human beings and are not found in nature.

(iii) Natural gas is a non-renewable resource. [ ]

ANSWERTrue [T]. Natural gas is a fossil fuel that takes millions of years to form and is found in limited quantities, so it is non-renewable.

(iv) Air is a renewable resource. [ ]

ANSWERTrue [T]. Air is renewed by natural processes within a reasonable period of time, so it is a renewable resource.

3. Fill in the blanks using the most appropriate option—

(i) A fuel that is commonly used in two wheelers like scooters or bikes is……… (a) Kerosene (b) Petrol (c) Diesel (d) LPG

ANSWER(b) Petrol. Two-wheelers such as scooters and bikes most commonly run on petrol.

(ii) An example of a renewable resource is ……………… (a) Coal (b) Water (c) Natural gas (d) Petrol

ANSWER(b) Water. Water is renewed through natural processes (such as the water cycle), while coal, natural gas and petrol are fossil fuels and are non-renewable.

4. Classify the following as renewable or non-renewable resources—coal, natural gas, forests and minerals.

ANSWER
ResourceClassification
CoalNon-renewable
Natural gasNon-renewable
ForestsRenewable
MineralsNon-renewable

5. Why do we say that petroleum is a non-renewable resource?

ANSWERPetroleum is formed from the remains of microorganisms and plants buried deep inside the Earth, and this formation takes millions of years. It is found in limited quantities, and once it is used up, it cannot be produced or replenished within a reasonable period of time. Because it gets exhausted and is not renewed quickly, petroleum is called a non-renewable resource.

6. It is difficult to regrow forests. Justify this statement.

ANSWERA forest is not just a group of trees — it is a complex natural home for many plants, animals, birds and insects living together in balance. Trees take many years to grow tall and mature, and it takes even longer for a whole forest, with its rich soil and variety of life forms, to develop. When a forest is cut down on a large scale, it cannot be restored quickly; it takes many years, sometimes decades, for the lost forest to regenerate. That is why it is difficult to regrow forests, and we must preserve and use them responsibly.

7. Make a list of five daily activities in which you use natural resources. Suggest ways by which you can reduce their use.

ANSWER
Daily activityNatural resource usedWay to reduce its use
BathingWaterTake a bucket bath instead of a long shower; turn off the tap.
Travelling to schoolFossil fuel (petrol/diesel)Walk, cycle, carpool or use public transport.
Lighting and fans at homeCoal (electricity) / energy from the SunSwitch off lights and fans when not needed; use solar energy.
Cooking foodNatural gas / LPGUse a lid on pots and a solar cooker; cook efficiently.
Using paper / notebooksForests (wood)Use both sides of paper and recycle paper to save trees.
(Your own list of activities is accepted.)

8. List four activities that are possible due to the presence of air.

ANSWER Four activities possible due to the presence of air: (i) Breathing — living beings breathe in the oxygen present in air to survive. (ii) Rotating a firki or windmill — moving air (wind) turns the wings of a windmill to generate electricity, pump water or run flour mills. (iii) Drying of clothes — air helps wet clothes dry faster. (iv) Burning of fuel — the oxygen in air is needed for fuels to burn, for example in cooking and in vehicles.

9. How can you contribute towards enhancing the green cover of your locality? Make a list of actions to be taken.

ANSWER Actions to enhance the green cover of my locality: (i) Plant trees and saplings in my school, home garden and community parks, and take part in events like Van Mahotsav. (ii) Water and care for newly planted trees so that they survive and grow. (iii) Stop people from cutting trees unnecessarily and create awareness about protecting forests. (iv) Grow plants in pots, balconies and terraces (kitchen gardens) where there is little space. (v) Avoid littering and keep green areas clean so that plants stay healthy.

10. In the given illustration, we see that food is being cooked.
Answer the following questions—

(i) What type of energy is being used for cooking?

ANSWERIn the illustration, food is being cooked using solar energy (energy from the Sun), as in a solar cooker.

(ii) Name one benefit and one drawback of using this type of energy for cooking.

ANSWER Benefit: Solar energy is clean, free and renewable — it does not cause pollution and does not use up fossil fuels. Drawback: It can be used only when there is bright sunlight, so it does not work on cloudy days or at night, and cooking is usually slower.

11. Cutting down trees on a large scale impacts the quality of the soil. Why do you think it is so?

ANSWERThe roots of trees hold on to the soil and prevent it from being washed away by rain or blown away by wind. The leaves that fall from trees decay and enrich the soil with nutrients, keeping it fertile. When trees are cut on a large scale, the roots no longer bind the soil, so the fertile top layer is easily washed or blown away (soil erosion). There are also fewer fallen leaves to decay and add nutrients. As a result, the soil loses its fertility and becomes poor in quality.

12. Explain two ways in which human activities pollute the air. Propose one action which can help in reducing air pollution.

ANSWER Two ways human activities pollute the air: (i) Burning fossil fuels in vehicles releases smoke and carbon dioxide into the air. (ii) Smoke and harmful gases released from factories and industries pollute the air. One action to reduce air pollution: Use public transport, cycling or walking, and switch to electric vehicles that do not release smoke, so that fewer fossil fuels are burnt.

13. A family uses solar panels to generate electricity, a gas stove to cook food and a windmill for pumping water from a well. What would happen if there were no sunlight for a week?

ANSWERIf there were no sunlight for a week, the solar panels would not work, because they capture the Sun’s energy to produce electricity. So the family would have very little or no electricity from the panels and might have to depend on artificial lighting and other power sources. The gas stove would still work, because it uses natural gas (not sunlight). The windmill would also keep pumping water, as it runs on wind energy, not sunlight. Indirectly, without sunlight plants cannot make food, which would affect the food chain over a longer time.

14. Fill up the blanks using the following terms—(fossil fuels, forest, air, petroleum, coal, water and non-renewable resource)

ANSWER The natural-resources flow chart can be completed as follows:
Position in chartCorrect term
Natural Resources → Renewable Resources (examples)air, water and forest
Natural Resources → Non-renewable resource (category)non-renewable resource
Non-renewable resource → Fossil fuels (group)fossil fuels
Fossil fuels (examples, with Natural gas)coal and petroleum
So: Renewable resources = air, water, forest; the other branch is the non-renewable resource group called fossil fuels, whose examples are coal, petroleum and natural gas.

15. There is an increasing demand of trees to meet the requirements of industries and for housing. Therefore, trees are being felled. Is it justified? Discuss and prepare a brief report.

ANSWERBrief report: Cutting trees on a large scale only to meet the needs of industries and housing is not fully justified. While some wood is needed for our daily life, forests give us pure air, hold the soil together, provide food and shelter to wild animals and birds, and help bring rain. Large-scale felling reduces the green cover, causes soil erosion, increases air pollution and destroys the homes of many living beings. It takes many years to regrow a forest. Therefore, instead of cutting trees freely, we should use wood carefully, recycle paper and wood, plant new trees for every tree cut, and use forests responsibly so that they get enough time to regenerate. Sustainable use, not unlimited felling, is the right path. (Your own reasoned report is accepted.)

16. Propose a plan to use less water in your school. What steps would you take to make this plan happen and how would it help the environment?

ANSWER Plan to use less water in school: (i) Fix all leaking taps and pipes immediately so no water is wasted. (ii) Install taps that close automatically and put up reminders to turn off taps after use. (iii) Set up rainwater harvesting to collect rooftop rainwater for gardening and cleaning. (iv) Reuse water used for washing to water the school plants. (v) Form a “water monitor” group of students to check wastage and create awareness. How it helps the environment: Saving water conserves precious freshwater, reduces the energy needed to pump and treat water, and ensures that more water is available for plants, animals and people, especially in places facing water shortage. (Your own plan is accepted.)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Watch out for these

  • Calling soil, rocks and minerals renewable — they form over thousands to millions of years, so they are non-renewable.
  • Mixing up the air composition — remember nitrogen 78%, oxygen 21%, and argon + carbon dioxide + others = 1%.
  • Thinking we can live longest without oxygen — we can survive days without food or water but only minutes without oxygen.
  • Confusing natural and human-made resources — machines, bulbs and bicycles are human-made, not natural.
  • Believing all water on Earth is usable — most water is saline; only a small fraction is accessible freshwater.
  • Forgetting that fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas) are all non-renewable and cause air pollution when burnt.

Extra Practice Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. What is the composition of air?

ANSWERAir is a mixture of gases — about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% argon, carbon dioxide and other gases.

Q2. Why can we not survive without air even for a few minutes?

ANSWERThe air we breathe contains oxygen, which our body needs to perform its functions. Without oxygen for even a few minutes, the body cannot work, so we cannot survive without air.

Q3. What is rainwater harvesting? Give one traditional example.

ANSWERRainwater harvesting is collecting and storing rainwater in large quantities for later use. A traditional example is the stepwell — Bawadi in Rajasthan and Vav in Gujarat.

Q4. Differentiate between renewable and non-renewable resources with one example each.

ANSWERRenewable resources get renewed or replenished by nature within a reasonable time (e.g. water), while non-renewable resources are limited and are not replenished quickly (e.g. coal).

Q5. Why is the Sun called the main source of energy on Earth?

ANSWERThe Sun gives heat and light to all living beings. Plants use sunlight to make food, animals eat plants, and we get food from both plants and animals. Thus, all life on Earth depends on the Sun, making it the main source of energy.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. What are fossil fuels? How are they formed and why must we conserve them?

ANSWERFossil fuels are petroleum, natural gas and coal. They are formed from the remains of microorganisms and plants that got buried deep inside the Earth and were slowly converted into these fuels over millions of years. From petroleum we get petrol, diesel and kerosene. Fossil fuels are found in limited quantities and take an extremely long time to form, so they are non-renewable — once used, they get exhausted. Burning them also produces smoke and carbon dioxide, which pollute the air. Therefore, we must conserve fossil fuels by walking or cycling to nearby places, using public transport, and switching to cleaner alternatives so that they last longer and the environment stays healthy.

Q2. How can water get polluted, and what can we do to conserve and protect it?

ANSWERWater gets polluted when people throw trash, plastic bags and wrappers into rivers, ponds and lakes, and when waste from homes and industries is dumped into water sources. Polluted water is unfit for living beings. As freshwater is limited, we must use it judiciously: turn off taps when not in use, fix leakages, recycle water, and practise rainwater harvesting like stepwells (Bawadi, Vav). We should also stop dumping waste into water bodies so that water stays clean and fit for all living beings. Observing days like World Water Day (22nd March) reminds us of the importance of conserving water.

Q3. Describe how wind energy is useful to us.

ANSWERMoving air is called wind, and it carries energy. A firki (paper pinwheel) rotates when wind blows on it, and a windmill works in the same way — the wind rotates its wings. Windmills can be used to run flour mills, to pull up water from a well, and to generate electricity. A windmill farm is an area with a large number of windmills that use wind energy to produce electricity, such as the Muppandal Wind Farm in Tamil Nadu, the Jaisalmer Wind Park in Rajasthan and the Brahmanvel Wind Farm in Maharashtra. Wind is a clean, renewable source of energy that does not cause pollution.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. The gas present in the largest amount in air is:

(a) oxygen    (b) carbon dioxide    (c) nitrogen    (d) argon

2. The percentage of oxygen in air is about:

(a) 78%    (b) 21%    (c) 1%    (d) 50%

3. Moving air is called:

(a) breeze only    (b) wind    (c) storm only    (d) firki

4. Which of the following is a renewable resource?

(a) coal    (b) petroleum    (c) forest    (d) natural gas

5. Petrol, diesel and kerosene are obtained from:

(a) coal    (b) petroleum    (c) natural gas    (d) water

6. The main source of energy on Earth is:

(a) coal    (b) wind    (c) the Sun    (d) water

7. Stepwells known as Bawadi and Vav are used for:

(a) mining    (b) water harvesting    (c) generating electricity    (d) drying chillies

8. Which of the following is a human-made resource?

(a) air    (b) soil    (c) bicycle    (d) forest

9. Which of these is a non-renewable resource?

(a) water    (b) air    (c) minerals    (d) forest

10. The famous Chipko movement was associated with:

(a) saving water    (b) protecting trees    (c) reducing air pollution    (d) mining marble

Answer key: 1-(c), 2-(b), 3-(b), 4-(c), 5-(b), 6-(c), 7-(b), 8-(c), 9-(c), 10-(b).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.

A-R 1. Assertion: Fossil fuels are called non-renewable resources.

Reason: They take millions of years to form and are found in limited quantities.

A-R 2. Assertion: We must conserve freshwater.

Reason: Most of the water on Earth is saline and only a small fraction of freshwater is easily accessible.

A-R 3. Assertion: A solar cooker does not work at night.

Reason: A solar cooker uses natural gas to cook food.

A-R 4. Assertion: Cutting trees on a large scale lowers the quality of soil.

Reason: Roots hold the soil and fallen leaves decay to enrich it, so removing trees causes soil to wash away and lose nutrients.

A-R 5. Assertion: Air is a non-renewable resource.

Reason: Air is renewed by natural processes within a reasonable period of time.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(A), 3-(C), 4-(A), 5-(D).

Quick Revision Summary

  • Resources we get from nature are natural resources: air, water, energy from the Sun, forests, soil, rocks, minerals and fossil fuels.
  • Things made by humans (bulbs, furniture, solar panels, bicycles) are human-made resources.
  • Air = 78% nitrogen + 21% oxygen + 1% (argon, CO₂ and others); moving air is wind, used in windmills.
  • Most water is saline; conserve freshwater by saving water and rainwater harvesting (Bawadi, Vav).
  • The Sun is the main source of energy; fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas) form over millions of years.
  • Renewable resources (air, water, forests) renew quickly; non-renewable resources (minerals, soil, rocks, fossil fuels) do not — use all of them judiciously.

Real-life Applications

The lessons of Nature’s Treasures appear all around us. Windmill farms like Muppandal in Tamil Nadu and the Jaisalmer Wind Park turn free wind into electricity; solar panels on rooftops, street lights and traffic signals harvest sunlight; and homes, schools and stepwells across India store rainwater for the dry season. Switching to CNG, LPG and electric vehicles reduces the smoke from fossil fuels, while events like Van Mahotsav and the spirit of the Chipko movement remind us to protect forests and soil. Practising small habits — turning off taps, walking or cycling, using both sides of paper, and planting trees — helps conserve nature’s treasures for the future, exactly as Gandhiji said: “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need but not for every man’s greed.”

How to score full marks in this chapter

Memorise the air composition (78% / 21% / 1%) and the two lists — renewable (air, water, forests) and non-renewable (minerals, soil, rocks, coal, petroleum, natural gas). In “justify” answers (e.g. why petroleum is non-renewable, why forests are hard to regrow), always give the reason of time taken to form/grow and limited quantity. For diagram questions like the natural-resources chart, place fossil fuels under non-renewable and list coal, petroleum and natural gas as examples. Use the textbook’s real examples — Bawadi, Vav, Chipko movement, Van Mahotsav — to show you have read the chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 11 about?

Chapter 11, Nature’s Treasures, is about natural resources — air, water, energy from the Sun, forests, soil, rocks, minerals and fossil fuels. It explains how to classify resources as renewable or non-renewable and why we should conserve and use them judiciously.

What is the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources?

Renewable resources get renewed, replenished or restored by natural processes within a reasonable period of time (for example air, water and forests). Non-renewable resources are limited in quantity and are not replenished within a reasonable time (for example minerals, soil, rocks, coal, petroleum and natural gas).

What is the composition of air according to this chapter?

Air is a mixture of gases — about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% argon, carbon dioxide and other gases together.

Are these Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 11 solutions free?

Yes. All solutions are free and follow the official NCERT Curiosity textbook for 2026–27.

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