Hinglish

Making Adolescence a Joyful Experience

Class 7 Science · Chapter 6: Adolescence: A Stage of Growth and Change · NCERT Curiosity section 6.4–6.5

Learn

A growing body needs good fuel. Proteins and carbohydrates give growth and energy; calcium (milk, curd, paneer, ragi) builds strong bones; iron (spinach, rajma, raisins, figs) helps form blood. Teenage girls in particular can become anaemic from too little iron or vitamin B12, so a varied diet matters.

Hygiene keeps infections away: bathe daily, wash the armpits and private parts, and wear clean clothes. During periods, girls can use sanitary pads or reusable cloth pads, changing them regularly; used pads should be wrapped in paper and put in a dustbin. The government provides pads free or cheaply in many places, and schools should have clean toilets with bins.

Daily exercise, sport or yoga builds stamina and lifts the mood. Online, be kind, think before posting, and protect your privacy: never share personal photos or your address with strangers. Spreading rumours or harassing someone online is cyberbullying; if it happens to you, don't feel helpless, tell a parent or teacher.

Some people may pressure teenagers to try tobacco, gutka, alcohol or drugs. These damage the lungs, brain and memory, and they are addictive: a habit that begins with "just once" becomes hard to stop. Say a firm NO, the first time and every time. Anyone who is struggling should talk to family, a teacher or a counsellor; India's de-addiction helpline is 14446.

Explore: build a healthy plate.

  1. Sort each food by its main nutrient.

Remember

  • Eat a balanced diet rich in protein, calcium and iron; keep clean and exercise daily.
  • Be responsible online, report cyberbullying, and say NO to tobacco, alcohol and drugs.

Quick check

Someone you just met online asks for your home address. You should …

  1. refuse and tell a parent or teacher
  2. share it politely
  3. share only the street
  4. send a photo of the house
Answer

refuse and tell a parent or teacher. Personal information should never go to strangers.

Think about it

A classmate says, "Everyone in the senior class smokes, so it must be fine." What would you reply?

One answer

Many people doing something does not make it safe. Smoking harms the lungs and is addictive no matter how many people do it; it is braver to say no.

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.