GK Book 5_2077

KGnoewnleerdagle KNOW MORE AND GROW MORE Mini Encyclopaedia As fascinating facts and informative comprehensive text in the series are primarily for self-reading and to develop students’ inquisitiveness, teachers are requested to help students read such text on their own, rather than explaining the lessons in the classroom. 5BOOK S. N. Mukhiya

Published By Preface Kuleshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal. This is a series of general knowledge designed for Phone: 4672071, 5187226, 5187211 Fax: 4672073 school students of Nepal for classroom and self E-mail: [email protected] study use. Each textbook of the series contains www.readmorenp.com carefully selected and graded materials, illustrations and amazing facts; and aims to take into account the changing needs of young readers. © Copyright, Publisher, 2071 BS To capture readers’ attention and make the series classroom friendly, the reading materials of the Reprint : 2073 BS series are presented in simple to complex order. Revised and Updated : 2077 BS The series provides young readers with a wealth of interesting and amazing reading materials of general knowledge that arouse curiosity and interest in them to get to know more and more about the word, and modern advancements. We are highly grateful to for its support in bringing out this series. always welcomes constructive suggestions regarding our textbooks. We are always interested to hear comments and constructive suggestions from our readers for the Layout: improvement of this series. Readmore Desktop Printed in Nepal Author You can exchange this book from your nearest book shop if any binding errors are found. Read to help others read! We are pleased to inform that certain amount from each book is allocated to Charity Fund. The fund is provided to the deserving and needy students all over Nepal. The charity always welcomes cooperation and support from all the well wishers and agencies.

UNIT 1 Animals Contents n Mammals .....................................6 UNIT 5 Science and Technology n Birds ............................................8 n Reptiles ......................................10 n Computers .................................76 n Amphibians ...............................12 n Famous Discoveries ..................78 n Sensitive Creatures ....................14 n Aquatic Animals ........................16 Test Yourself Test Yourself UNIT 6 Language and Literature UNIT 2 Plants n Awards .......................................84 n Mythology ..................................86 n Amazing Plants ..........................26 n Famous Books ...........................88 n Giant Trees .................................30 n Famous Animation Movies ....... 89 n Flowers ......................................32 n Legendary Characters ................90 n Carnivorous Plants .....................34 n Famous Epics ............................92 n Nobel Laureates .........................93 Test Yourself UNIT 7 Games and Sports UNIT 3 Nepal n Football ......................................94 n Administrative Divisions ...........42 n Cricket .......................................96 n Our History ................................44 n Basketball and Volleyball ..........98 n Modern Nepal ...........................46 n Olympics ...................................100 n Geography of Nepal ..................48 n South Asian Games 2019..........102 n Politicians of Nepal ..................50 n Film Actors of Nepal. .................51 Test Yourself n Nepali Literature ......................52 n National Heritages .....................54 UNIT 8 Universe Test Yourself n Universe ..................................108 Test Yourself UNIT 4 World UNIT 9 Human Body n Asia and Europe ........................60 n Facts and Figures .......................64 n Human Body ...........................112 n Great People ..............................66 Test Yourself n World Superlatives ....................68 n Capitals and Currencies ...........69 UNIT 10 Disease n International Days .....................70 n Famous Discoveries ..................71 n Disease ....................................114 n Amazing Festivals .....................72 Test Yourself n Famous Personalities ...............73 n Wonders of the Worlds ..............74 n Famous Places ...........................75

1UNIT ANIMALS The animal kingdom consists of millions BIRDS are warm-blooded animals. They lay eggs and of species. It is divided into two groups – have feathers and wings. vertebrates and invertebrates. There are They have beaks or bills to eat food. The peacock many different animal classes and every is a bird that has the most colorful feathers. animal in the world belongs to one of them. n All animals with backbones are called vertebrates. n All animals without backbones are called invertebrates. n Vertebrates are further split into five groups - amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish and mammals. MAMMALS are warm-blooded AMPHIBIANS are cold-blooded animals. They suckle their young ones animals. They have soft slimy skin with milk. Most mammals give birth and live both on land and in water. A to their young ones instead of laying frog is an amphibian that is born in and hatching eggs. A kangaroo is a the water with gills and tails. As it mammal that has a pouch to carry its grows, it develops lungs and legs for baby. its life on land. 4 BOOK FIVE REPTILES are cold-blooded animals with dry scaly skin and lay eggs. The saltwater crocodile is the largest of all living reptiles in the world.

HERBIVORES are animals which only eat plant material. An adult elephant can consume up to 136 kilograms of food in a single day. INVERTEBRATES starfish lobster OMNIVORES eat both snail centipede plants and meat. Chickens are ladybird omnivores. They eat seeds, but earthworm they can also eat worms. Animals that eat other animals millipede scorpion urchin are called carnivores. Sharks jellyfish bee spider are fierce carnivores. crab FISH are cold-blooded animals. They live in water and have gills, scales and fins on their body. A shark is a fish that has five to seven gills and six fins. BOOK FIVE 5

Mammals POLAR BEAR Bears are the largest flesh-eating land mammals. They live in all parts of the world except Antarctica, Africa and Australia. They are basically omnivorous. They also go to water bodies to catch fish. Polar bears live in Arctic region. They are the biggest of all bears. They are about 3 meters long and weigh about 800 kilograms. They eat fish and seals. MUSK OX FLYING SQUIRREL Musk oxen and yaks have the longest Flying squirrels are omnivorous fur of any animal. These bulky animals animals. Although they are called can survive in extreme cold climates ‘flying squirrels’, they do not because of their thick fur. Both animals actually fly. They only glide through are very protective of their babies. the air with the help of the furry membrane (called patagia) that serves as a parachute. Did you know? Human beings are the mammal with the largest numbers in the world - more than six billion. We have hairy bodies, large brains and special mammary glands for feeding our young with milk. 6 BOOK FIVE

DOLPHIN Some dolphin species can swim up to 25 miles an hour for long periods, more than three times faster than the best human swimmers. Dolphins swallow fish whole, despite the 100 teeth in their mouths. The teeth are used to grasp prey. Dolphins are good jumpers and swimmers. They can jump as high as 20 feet out of the water. KANGAROO The largest kangaroo, as well as the largest marsupial, is the red kangaroo. The smallest kangaroo is the musky rat-kangaroo. A newborn red kangaroo, called a joey, is about 2 cm long – just about the size of a jellybean. BACTRIAN CAMEL The Bactrian camel is most famous for the two large humps on its back. It is a huge camel that can grow to over seven feet tall at the shoulder. It can grow to over eleven feet long and weigh over 2000 pounds. Did you know? Platypus and echidna are the two mammals that lay eggs and suckle their young ones. Platypus Echidna BOOK FIVE 7

Birds KORI BUSTARD Flight becomes virtually impossible for birds Birds are wonderful weighing over 15kg. The heaviest flyers are the kori bustard and the mute swan. These birds creatures. They are nature’s average weight is about 12-15kg. A swan is so heavy that it needs a running start from the supreme flyers and have surface of a lake in order to reach a sufficient their superb aerial skills. speed for take-off. Birds come in a great variety of sizes, from the tiniest hummingbirds weighing no more than a small coin to ostriches taller and heavier than an adult human. HUMMING BIRD Most experts agree that the bee hummingbird is the tiniest bird. It is more than 5.7cm long and weighs just 1.6g. It would take 100,000 of these birds to equal the weight of an ostrich. OSTRICH The tallest and the heaviest bird alive today is the ostrich. The bird can grow to 2.74m tall and can weigh 160kg. However, it is not the largest bird that has ever lived. Dromornis stirtoni, another flightless giant, lived in Australia about 15 million years ago. It reached 3m in height and weighed up to 500kg. 8 BOOK FIVE

WHY DO BIRDS FLY? Flight enables birds in many ways. It enables them to find food that cannot be reached by other animals. It helps them to wonder over a huge area, locating the best food in the shortest time. And if the food runs out in one place, the bird flies off to new areas. It also helps them escape from ground-based predators. SONGBIRDS Of the approximately 9,200 bird species in the world, 5,425 are passerines, known also as songbirds or perching birds. Passerines include most familiar garden birds, such as warblers, finches and tits, and thrushes. Crows are among the largest passerines. NUMBER OF BIRDS Bird experts guess that there are 300 billion birds alive in the world today - 50 birds for every person on the planet. They believe that since the first birds appeared on Earth many millions of years ago, as many as 150,000 species have existed. About 8,500-10,000 species survive today. reptile fish ARE BIRDS CLEVER? bird mammal Animals with large complex brains such as mammals and birds are able to learn and adapt to new conditions. Animals with simpler, smaller brains, such as fish and reptiles, rely far more heavily on instinct. BOOK FIVE 9

Reptiles Reptile skin is covered with rigid plates called scales. The scales provide protection. This layer of skin is good at keeping moisture inside so that reptiles can survive in hot, dry places. SENSIBLE OUTFITS Skinks and snakes have smooth, flexible scales for burrowing or moving across the ground. The leathery scales of caimans are strengthened by bony plates on the back and belly while tortoises have a tough, warty covering on their head and legs. caiman skink lizard basilisk tortoise SPINES AND CRESTS Many reptiles have rough scales that gecko rise into spiked points along their back. The sharp spines are good for defense and often form beautiful crests, which are useful for attracting a mate. Basilisks are also known as a Jesas Christ Lizards and they have beautiful crests. 10 BOOK FIVE

GRASS SNAKE The European grass snake pretends to be dead so that predators leave it alone. It rolls into its back, wriggles as if dying, and lies still with its mouth open and its tongue hanging out. It even releases a liquid from its anus that mimics the smell of a rotting corpse. LEATHERBACK TURTLE Leatherback is the largest turtle on Earth. It can grow up to seven feet (two meters) long and exceeding 900 kilograms. While all other sea turtles have hard, bony shells, the inky-blue carapace of the leatherback is somewhat flexible and almost rubbery to the touch. IGUANA There are more than 700 species of iguana lizards. Like most other reptiles, iguanas hatch from eggs. Just like in other lizards, the iguana’s ‘broken’ tail will soon heal and reach its previous size. Green iguana has a third eye. This retina-like structure is located on the top of the head and is used for detection of predators above the head.  BOOK FIVE 11

Amphibians The word ‘amphibian’ comes from the Greek word ‘amphibious’ which means ‘double life’. It refers to the fact that these animals can live both on land and in water. When the weather turns especially cold, amphibians often hibernate. They burrow into mud at the bottom of Water holding frogs can hibernate underground ponds or under stones or logs. for very long periods of time. They make a Amphibians have bare skin, with no cocoon with their skin to live in. hairs or scales. They possess poison glands in their skin. Some amphibians can change the colour of the skin in response to changes in temperature or light levels. GOLIATH FROG Goliath Frog The Goliath frog of Western Africa is the largest frog in the world, measuring up to 32 cm long and weigh up to 4 kg. It lives along jungle streams, and is an excellent swimmer, diver, with powerful hind legs and long-webbed toes. It rarely emerges from the water, and quickly jumps back in if disturbed. It eats small reptiles, other frogs and mammals. BLACK MAMBA The black mamba is one of the world’s deadliest snakes. It is the fastest land snake in the world and the longest species of venomous snake in Africa and the second longest in the world. Black mambas are actually brown in colour. They get their name from the blue-black of the inside of their mouths, which they display when threatened. 12 BOOK FIVE

GIANT SALAMANDER The Chinese giant salamander is the largest salamander and largest amphibian in the world, reaching a length of 6 ft. The giant salamander is known to vocalize, making barking, whining, hissing, or crying sounds. Some of these vocalizations bear a striking resemblance to the crying of a young human child, and as such it is known in the Chinese language as the ‘infant fish’. NEWT Newts have the ability to regenerate limbs, eyes, spinal cords, hearts, intestines, and upper and lower jaws. Adult frog LIFE CYCLE OF A FROG Embryo Eggs Tadpoles cling to water-plants. Young frog It has external gills for breathing. Its tail keeps Its tail becomes on growing. shorter. It lives from food Hind legs appear. stored in the tail. BOOK FIVE Its front legs appear. 13

Sensitive Creatures Reptiles and amphibians find out about the world by using their senses such as sight, smell and touch. Some animals have lost senses that they do not need. Worm-like amphibians called caecilians, for example, spend their whole lives underground, so they do not have any use for eyes. However, some animals have developed new senses which are very unusual. A pit viper such as rattlesnakes can detect the heat given off by their prey even in complete Frogs and toads have developed darkness. new senses. They have an organ Snakes have poor hearing and in the roofs of their mouths, that eyesight but they make up for it in helps them to ‘taste’ and ‘smell’ other ways. They can find prey by the outside world. This organ is picking up its vibrations travelling also found in snakes and some lizards. through the ground. Some snakes have pits in their faces that detect heat given off by prey. In contrast to snakes, eye frogs and toads have large and well- nostril developed eardrums and very good hearing. Jacobson’s organ tongue ear 14 BOOK FIVE

The fiji banded iguana lives on the island of Fiji and Tonga in the Pacific Ocean. Geckos and iguanas have large Did you eyes and very good eyesight. know? They are a type of lizard that cannot blink. Instead of having movable One African gecko has such thin skin eyelids like human, they have fixed over its ear-openings that if you were transparent ‘spectacles’ over their to look at it with the openings lined eyes. Most lizards have very good up precisely, you would see light sight-they need it to hunt down their coming through from the other side small and fast insect prey. of its head. This is a web-footed gecko from southwest Africa. It lives in the Namib Desert, where it hardly ever rains. It licks dew from the stones, and also licks its own eyes. Geckos lick their eyes to keep them clean. Large eyes give excellent vision. BOOK FIVE 15

Aquatic Animals DOLPHIN Most dolphins live in oceans or sea but some are adapted to life in freshwater. A group of dolphins is called a pod. Groups of dolphins, travelling and feeding together, may be up to 2000 individuals. They have been known to follow boats and ships and aid humans in the water by keeping them afloat and driving away sharks. STARFISH Starfish or sea stars do not have legs, only arms called rays. Most species have five arms, but there are sea stars with ten, twenty or even forty arms. Sea star with forty arms is called ‘sun star’. Starfish mouth is located on the underside of its body. Anus is located on the upper side of the body. ELECTRIC EEL This is an electric fish. It is known to produce electricity sufficient enough to light up 10 electric bulbs. SEA ANEMONE Sea anemones are strange sea creatures. Their bodies are cylindrical, and have an array of tentacles surrounding a central mouth. The tentacles are triggered by the slightest touch, injecting a paralyzing poison into their victim. The helpless prey is then guided into the mouth by the tentacles. 16 BOOK FIVE

OYSTER Oysters can change from one gender to another and back again depending on which is best for mating. SEA CUCUMBER The sea cucumber is an echinoderm with an elongated body and leathery skin. It is found on the sea floor worldwide. It is so named because of its cucumber-like shape. OCTOPUS Octopuses are mollusks that live in all of the world’s oceans. They have eight arms, and if they loose one, another will grow in its place. Octopuses live alone in dens they build for themselves out of rocks. They like to feed on crabs, lobsters, and shrimp. Octopuses have the ability to change colour to camouflage themselves. SEAHORSE Seahorses are fish that can be from two to twelve inches long. There are 25 different kinds of seahorses. Their bodies are covered in spiny plates and they have a tail that curls to help them attach to sea plants. Seahorses eat tiny organisms floating in the ocean water. Male seahorses carry the eggs in a pouch until they hatch. BOOK FIVE 17

Test Yourself Tick ( ) the correct answer. a. Which of the following is not a fish? i. goldfish ii. lungfish iii. silverfish b. Which is the smallest flightless bird in the world? i. kiwi ii. hummingbird iii. emu c. Which bird is found only in Nepal? i. robin ii. spiny babbler iii. dove d. Which reptile cannot move its tongue? i. frog ii. snake iii. iguana e. Which animal always sleeps one-eye opened? i. dolphin ii. shark iii. blue whale f. What is the percentage of water in a jelly fish? i. 85 % ii. 59% iii. 95% g. Which animal is the mascot of WWF? i. panda ii. kangaroo iii. bald eagle h. Which is the fastest marine mammal? i. dolphin ii. shark iii. killer whale i. Which bird’s eye is bigger than its brain? i. ostrich ii. bald eagle iii. peacock j. Which animals cannot walk backwards? i. emus ii. kangaroos iii. both of them 18 BOOK FIVE

Test Yourself Complete the sentences with the words from the box. a. A ....................... can clean its ears with its long tongue. b. It is possible to lead a ................... upstairs but not downstairs. c. ....................... taste with their feet. d. ....................... do not have brains. e. A ....................... has a heart in its head. f. ....................... and cows sleep while standing up. g. ....................... are the only mammals that cannot jump. h. ....................... have three hearts. i. The ....................... is the only mammal that can fly. j. The Australian ....................... has the largest beak of any bird. k. A ....................... can fly upside down. l. ....................... are nocturnal animals. m. The African ...................... has got its name from the blue-black of the inside of its mouth. n. ...................... grow legs and change into froglets. o. The ...................... is the largest bird of prey. bat black mamba butterflies condor cow horses hummingbird octopuses elephants giraffe shrimp starfish tadpoles owls pelican BOOK FIVE 19

Test Yourself Answer the following questions. a. Which bird makes the longest migration of any animal in the world? ................ b. Which is the biggest bird of prey? ...................... c. Which is the smallest reptile? ......................... d. Which is the world’s smallest turtle? ................................ e. Which reptile can move its eyes independently? ................. f. Which is the smallest land mammal? ............................. g. Which is the largest mammal on earth? .................................... h. Which animal is also called the king of the beasts? ............................... i. Which ox lives in Arctic? .................................... j. Which fish has no brain, no eyes, no ears, no bones and no heart? .................... k. Which is the world’s biggest fish? .............................. l. What animal is the fastest swimmer? ............................ m. Which Australian animal feeds on eucalyptus trees? .......................... n. Which is the largest cat in the world? .................................... gecko condor Siberian tiger chameleon arctic tern blue whale lion shrew sailfish padloper tortoise shark whale musk ox jellyfish koala 20 BOOK FIVE

Test Yourself Answer the following questions. a. Which is the biggest lizard? ............................................. b. What is the scientific study of birds called? ....................................... c. Which is the biggest snake? ............................................. d. Which reptile can change its colour according to the surrounding? ...................... e. Some snakes squeeze their victims to death before swallowing them whole. What are such snakes called? ............................................. f. Which is the biggest land mammal?.............................. g. Which mammal drinks blood only? ........................ h. Which animal’s heart is located in its head? ................ i. What do you call the group of fish? ..................................... j. What is the shape of the pupil of octopus’s eye? .......................... k. Which is the tallest of all animals? ...................................... l. Which bird is the national emblem of the United States of America? ............ m. Which is the world’s fastest mammal? ............................... n. Which is the earth’s largest land predator? ................................. vampire bite constrictors rectangular polar bear chameleons elephant komodo dragon ornithology giraffe cheetah school shrimp anaconda bald eagle BOOK FIVE 21

Test Yourself Write whether the following sentences are true or false. a. A cockroach can even live nine days without its head. True False b. A crocodile can move its tongue and can chew food. True False c. The emperor penguin is the largest of all penguins. True False d. One-horned rhinos inhabit Nepal. True False e. Both kangaroos and koalas have pouches. True False f. An ostrich’s egg is smaller than an emu’s egg. True False g. Hummingbirds can fly backwards. True False h. The African elephant is larger than the blue whale. True False i. The horn of a rhinoceros is made from hard bone. True False j. An ostrich is the fastest bird and can run faster than a horse. True False k. A snake cannot see when its eyelids are closed. True False l. The small car on the road is probably the size of the heart of a blue whale. True False m. There are crabs that are the size of a pea. There are known as ‘Humming crabs’. True False n. Humans are the only primates that do not have pigment in the palms of their hands. True False 22 BOOK FIVE

Test Yourself Write one interesting fact about each of the following animals. Kiwi Lizard Python Cobra Octopus Giraffe Elephant Lion Now change the above facts into questions and ask with your friends. …………………………………………………………………………………...… …………………………………………………………………………………...… ………..…………………………………………………………………………… ………………..…………………………………………………………………… ………………………..…………………………………………………………… ………………………………..…………………………………………………… ………………………………………..…………………………………………… ………………………………………………..…………………………………… Did you know? The ancient practice of snake ‘charming’ is famous in India, but the music has nothing to do with the apparent hypnoses. The highly venomous Indian cobra is used for the performance. Cobras cannot hear music – the snake is actually in a defensive stance. They view the charmer and the pungi (instrument) as a threat, and move their head in time with the charmer’s motions. BOOK FIVE 23

2UNIT PLANTS How do plants prepare food? There are millions of different kinds of living The process by which things on Earth. They fall into two main plants make food is called groups–animals and plants. Most plants use photosynthesis which means sunlight to make their food, while animals ‘building with light’. Plants feed on plants, or other animals that have need water, carbon dioxide eaten plants. and sunlight to prepare their food. The water is absorbed The sun provides A plant’s flowers contain parts by the roots and it then travels energy in the form of that make seeds grow into new up the stem to the leaves. light. plants. Tiny holes in the leaves called stomata take in carbon Leaves convert water dioxide. and carbon dioxide into glucose and Photosynthesis takes place oxygen. mainly inside a plant’s leaves. The leaves contain a green substance called chlorophyll, which absorbs sunlight and converts it into a form of energy. Then carbon dioxide and water are combined using this energy, and converted into glucose, a kind of sugar, which plants store as food. Oxygen is also produced. The leaf has tiny holes The stalk carries water called stomata that let from the roots to the carbon dioxide in, and leaves and flowers. water and oxygen out. 24 BOOK FIVE

IMPORTANCE OF PLANTS Plants are essential for life on Earth. Animals cannot make their own food in order to survive. Plants also give out oxygen, which animals and people need. Plants are important in many other ways too. We use them to make medicines, fabrics and perfumes, and we get wood from trees. Plants’ roots also hold soil together and stop it from being washed away into the sea. TYPES OF PLANTS The aloe is one of the thousands of plants we Different types of living things are called species. use to make cosmetics and There are about a million species of plants, natural medicines. from tiny herbs to enormous trees called giant sequoias, which are the biggest living things on Earth. Different species are suited, or adapted, to living in different parts of the world. In deserts, for example, many plants have very small spines which lose very little water. This enables these plants to make the most of the scarce water. PLANT EVOLUTION Algae Plants have been on the Earth for Spongy mosses many millions of years. The first plants Giant sequoia evolved more than 500 million years ago, which is well before the dinosaurs first appeared.The first plants only grew in water. Modern algae, which are simple plants without stems, roots and leaves, are related to these early water plants. Plants began to grow on land around 400 million years ago. The first land plants were spongy mosses. Then came giant tree ferns, which many dinosaurs relied on for food. Flowering plants only started to appear around 135 million years ago. Giant tree ferns BOOK FIVE 25

Amazing Plants RAFFLESIA The world’s largest bloom is the rafflesia. It can grow to be 3 feet across and weigh up to 7 kg. It is a parasitic plant, with no visible leaves, roots, or stem. When in bloom, the rafflesia emits a repulsive smell, similar to that of rotting meat. This smell attracts insects that pollinate the plant. The rafflesia was found in the Indonesian rain forest by a group of Indonesian trekkers and was named after Sir Thomas Raffles, the leader of the expedition. The rafflesia does not have chlorophyll, as all the green plants have and so it cannot undergo photosynthesis. CACTUS Cactuses or cacti are desert plants. They grow in dry places where other plants have trouble living. Their ability to store water keeps them alive. Cacti are also protected by sharp spines, or needles. These discourage animals from eating them. Cardon is the tallest cactus species in the world. It can grow to the 63 feet. It has a stout trunk that bears several erect branches. It is also called an elephant cactus. Cardon closely resembles the saguaro cactus, which is the largest cactus in the United States, and will normally reach heights of 40 feet tall. The flowers appear on the saguaro when the cactus is 35 years old. The flower of the cactus is Arizona’s state flower. Cardon 26 BOOK FIVE

SMALLEST FLOWER The wolffia angusta is the world’s smallest flower. It is commonly known as watermeal. It is a floating plant of 0.6 mm long and 0.33 mm wide. It can be seen clearly when viewed under a magnifying glass. FRUIT SALAD TREE A fruit salad tree is a tree that grows up to 6 different types of fruit all on the one tree. They are multi-grafted trees with different fruits from the same family grafted together and all the fruits retain their own flavour and appearance. Did you know? Chocolate is made by grinding the kernels of cocoa beans to a paste called chocolate liquor. The liquor is hardened in moulds to make chocolate. BOOK FIVE 27

CYCAS REVOLUTE A cycas revolute is cultivated for the production of sago. Thus, this plant is also called ‘sago palm’ or ‘king sago’. Sago is a starch extracted from the spongy centre (pith) of various palm stems. This is also a popular ornamental plant because of its dark green leaves and a thick shaggy trunk. Did you know? One pomegranate can hold more than 1,000 seeds. The fruit is good source of fibres, vitamins and other nutrients. Fresh fruits make fantastic refreshing juice. PAPAYA Papaya plants are not trees, but giant herbs. They grow on sandy, well-drained soil in areas that provide enough direct sunlight and moisture. These plants originate from Mexico and America and now they are grown cultivated in tropical regions throughout the world. The papaya fruit is packed with numerous health benefiting nutrients. One serving of papaya will provide you all the vitamin C that you need in one day. Did you know? It is believed that jackfruit and grapefruit can cause dangerous reactions with some prescription medications. So it is advisable not to eat these two fruits when you are using medicine or other drugs. 28 BOOK FIVE

BANYAN A banyan tree is native to India and part of the mulberry family. It is an enormous tree that puts forth roots, which form secondary trunks to support the expansive limbs. The biggest-known banyan is in the Botanical Gardens in Calcutta. It has more than 1500 hanging roots, and its huge canopy covers an area the size of a small forest. It is over two hundred and fifty years old. Did you know? The seeds of apple, peach, plum, apricot, cherry and almonds are toxic due to the component related to hydro- cyanic acid. So the seeds of these fruits are not edible. TITAN ARUM Titan arum is a flowering plant with the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world. This flower is found in the rain-forests of Sumatra, Indonesia. It stands three metres high and the single leaf grows to the size of a small tree. While it is in bloom, the flower emits a strong smell similar to rotting meat. So this plant is also called a decaying corpse. BOOK FIVE 29

Giant Trees GIANT SEQUOIA The world’s most massive tree is the giant sequoia. It grows to an average height of 164 to 279 feet and 20 to 26 feet in diameter. One giant sequoia, known as General Sherman, is the world's largest tree. COAST REDWOOD giant sequoia The world’s tallest tree is the coast redwood, reaching up to 379 feet in height without the roots and up to 29.2 feet in diameter. It is as tall as a 26-story building. It is called nature’s skyscraper. A redwood called Hyperion is the tallest of all. BAOBAB The world’s widest tree is the baobab tree. It can reach heights of 16 to 98 feet and has a trunk diameter of 23 to 36 feet. The baobab is the national tree of Madagascar. Baobabs store large volumes of water in their trunks – which is why elephants, eland and other animals chew the bark during dry seasons. baobab tree coast redwood 30 BOOK FIVE

ELEPHANT GRASS Elephant grass is mostly cultivated as animal fodder. It originates from Africa, but it can be found around the world today. It grows in dense clumps of up to 10 feet tall and resembles sugarcane. It is also called giant king grass or Napier grass. MAPLE TREE The maple tree is best known for two things. First, it has helicopter seeds which fall to the ground spinning like the blades of a helicopter, and the syrup or sugar which is made from its sap. The helicopters are actually the fruit of the maple tree. Second, the leaves of the maple tree change colour from green to different shades of yellow, orange and red during the autumn. GREAT BASIN BRISTLECONE PINE BOOK FIVE 31 The world’s longest live tree is the Great Basin bristlecone pine. It is found in the higher mountains of the southwest United States. It can reach up to the height of 16 to 49 feet with a trunk diameter of up to 8 to 11 feet. Did you know? Oxygen Production The amount of oxygen produced by an acre of tree per year equals the amount consumed by 18 people annually. One tree produces nearly 260 pounds of oxygen each year. A single tree produces approximately 260 pounds of oxygen per year. That means two mature trees can supply enough oxygen annually to support a family of four.

Flowers The flowers of a plant contain its organs of reproduction (producing new life). In hermaphrodite plants, e.g. buttercups and poppies, each flower has both male and female organs. Monoecious plants, e.g. corn have two types of flowers on one plant- staminate flowers, which have just male organs, and pistillate flowers, which have just female organs, dioecious plants, e.g. holly, are staminate flowers on one plant and pistil late flowers on a separate plant. n Receptacle is the expanded tip of the flower stalk, or peduncle, from which the flower grows. n Petals are the delicate, usually brightly Sepal Stamen colored structures around the reproductive Petal Carpel organs. They are often scented (to attract insect) and are known collectively as the poppy Receptacle corolla. Penduncle n Sepals are the small, leaf-like structures around a bud known collectively as the calyx. In some flowers like buttercups, they remain as a ring around the opened petals. In others like poppies, they wither and fall off. n Nectaries Bud Areas of cells at base of the petals which Nectar held Unopened produce a sugary liquid called nectar. This at base of petal Petals attracts insects needed for pollination. It Sepal is thought that the dark lines down many petals are there to direct an insect to the nectar, and they are called honey guides. 32 BOOK FIVE

Did you Flower Facts know? Tulip bulbs can be Saffron, the world’s The juice from bluebell substituted for onions most expensive spice, flowers was once used in recipe. comes from a type of to make glue. crocus flower. Foxglove is an old Blue cohosh, also Gas plants produce a English name, derived known as squaw root or clear gas on humid, from the belief that papoose root, was used warm nights. This is foxes slipped their feet by Native American said to be ignitable into the leaves of the women to ensure with a lit match. plant to sneak up on an easy labor and prey. childbirth. Sunflowers move through the day Scientists discovered in response to the the world’s oldest movement of the sun flower in 2002, in from east to west. northeast China. The flower named Archaefructus sinensis bloomed around 125 million years ago and resembles a water lily. BOOK FIVE 33

Carnivorous Plants Carnivorous plants trap and digest small animals. More than 500 different carnivorous plants are found throughout the world. Carnivorous plants tend to grow in places where the soil is thin or lacking in nutrients. So these plants must get some of their nutrients by trapping and digesting animals, especially insects. When these trigger Drops of sweet nectar are hairs are touched found along the edge of twice in a row, the the leaf. leaf slams shut. These spots are Calia are hairs that glands that make close over the top of digestive fluids the trap to keep insects and soak up from escaping. nutrients from the prey. Venus Flytrap PITCHER PLANTS Pitcher plants are shaped like a pitcher. The top and inside of the pitcher is covered with a slippery, but sweet-smelling nectar. When insects come to take a sip, they slip and fall into the pitcher. There, the plant breaks them down. Some pitcher plants are so large, they can catch and consume rats or frogs. 34 BOOK FIVE

SUNDEWS Sundews get their name from glistening, sticky, glandular hairs with secrete enzymes that digest insects that come in contact with the plants. The sundew eats all kinds of insects – including flies, spiders and mosquitoes. COBRA LILY The cobra lily attracts insects with its scent and the sweet nectar on its ‘tongue’, which is cleverly highlighted by sunlight shining through a transparent area on its upper lid. Once an insect has ventured inside the lily’s tube-like leaf structure, the plant’s slippery secretions and downward hairs cause the insect to fall into the lily’s trap, where it is then slowly digested. BLADDERWORT A bladderwort’s trap works by pumping water out through its walls, which builds pressure and ‘sets’ the trap like a spring. Long hairs attached to the trap act like levers and, when an insect touches one of them, the bladder’s door will open and suck in a stream of water – and the insect along with it. When the trap is full of water, the door closes again and the plant digests its prey. BUTTERWORT The bright yellowish-green leaves of a butterwort plant have numerous glands that secrete a sticky fluid which attracts insects. When the insects become trapped, the leaves slowly curl inwards and digest the insects. BOOK FIVE 35

Test Yourself Write whether the following sentences are true or false. a. Which of the following is not a carnivorous plant? Monkey cap Red pitcher Sundew b. Which flower always faces the sun? Sunflower Daisy Rose c. Which one of the following is the oldest living tree? Bristlecone pine Giant sequoia Coast redwood d. Which one of the following is the fastest growing plant? Raffia palm Bamboo Saguaro e. Which one of the following is the world’s tallest flower? Rafflesia Titan arum African baobab f . The most diverse group of plants in the world are: Flowering plants Ferns Conifers g. Which of the following statements is correct? Plants absorb carbon dioxide and only release oxygen. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen and carbon dioxide. Plants absorb oxygen and only release carbon dioxide. h. The scientific study of plant life is known as what? Botany Chemistry Zoology i. Many flowers have both male and female parts. Which is the male part of a flower? Pistil Stamen Stigma j. The process of plants using energy from sunlight to turn carbon dioxide into food is known as what? Photosynthesis Pollination Germination 36 BOOK FIVE

Test Yourself Write whether the following statements are true or false. a. Humans were on Earth before plants. b. Plants get energy from sunlight. c. Orchids have spines instead of leaves. d. Fungi are not plants because they have no chlorophyll to make their food. e. Mushrooms reproduce by releasing millions of tiny spores. f. Pebbles plants have thick round leaves that look like stones and pebbles. g. Evergreen plants shed their leaves seasonally. h. The Christmas tree is an evergreen plant. i. Maple trees never shade their leaves. j. Acacia trees provide welcome shelter for animals on Africa’s savanna grasslands. k. Fungi kill many trees as they feed on food made by the tree. Did you know? The oil of Citronella Grass is the primary ingredient in most natural insect repellents sold in stores. BOOK FIVE 37

Test Yourself Fungi Bamboo Math each question with its answer. Strawberry a. Which berry has seeds on the outside? Deciduous b. Which plant has the biggest leaves? Horse chestnut Amla c. Which tree gives us chewing gum? Gum tree d. Which plants have no chlorophyll and decay dead Raffila palm organic matter or grow on other organisms? Xerophytes Bristlecone pine e. What are the plants that grow in deserts called? North America f. Which is the fastest growing tree? g. What do we call the plants that shed their leaves before winter? h. Which is the oldest known tree? i. In which country did the sunflower originate? j. Which plant is called herbal Indian doctor? k. Which flower spikes look like candies? 38 BOOK FIVE

Test Yourself balsam bamboo Match the descriptions with the plants. cbamboo a. A plant whose dried flower bud is used as a spice neem b. A plant from which oil is extracted cacao tree c. A tree from which gum is obtained acacia d. A tree from which balm is obtained mustard e. A tree whose beans are used to make beverages coffee f. A plant from which paper is made clove g. A tree whose leaves are used to create hair dye henna h. A tree whose beans are used to make chocolate i. A tree whose hardwood is used to make baseball bats white ash j. A plant from which paper is obtained k. A tree whose bark, leaves, and seeds are used to make medicine BOOK FIVE 39

3UNIT NEPAL Nepal is a federal democratic republic. It is located in South Asia and is bordered by China to the north and by India to the south, east and west. NATIONAL FLAG Our national flag was officially adopted on December 16, 1962 and it is the only national flag that is not rectangle or square. RHODODENDRON The Rhododendron (Laligurans) is the most famous and attractive amongst over 30 species of rhododendrons found in the hills of Nepal. It is national flower of Nepal. The flowers bloom from late winter through to early summer. DANPHE Danphe is the national bird of Nepal. It is called Himalayan Monal or lophophorus. It is a bird of the pheasant family. Only the male lophophorus has multicoloured feathers and a long, metallic green crest. These beautiful birds are the inhabitants of high elevation of the Himalayan range. 40 BOOK FIVE

JANAKPUR Janakpur is a historical and religious city of Nepal being the birthplace of Hindu goddesses Sita. Janaki Mandir is often considered the most important model of architecture in Nepal. LUMBINI Lord Buddha was born in 623 BC in the famous gardens of Lumbini in Nepal, which soon became a place of pilgrimage. Among the pilgrims was the Indian emperor Ashoka, who erected one of his commemorative pillars there. MT EVEREST Nepal is the home of 8 out of ten highest peaks in the world. The world’s highest peak Mt Everest is located in south eastern part of Nepal. Its height is 8848 m above the sea-level. In Nepali, Mount Everest is called ‘Sagarmatha’ which means ‘Forehead in the Sky’. It is called ‘Chomolungma’ in Tibet, China. In 1841, Sir George Everest first recorded the location of Everest and the peak was named after this famous surveyor. Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Edmund Hillary became the first ever people on earth to climb Mount Everest in May 1953. BOOK FIVE 41

Administrative Divisions 276 Write the correct number in each box. 7 460 Federal Democratic 77 11 Republic of Nepal 6 Number of provinces Number of districts Number of Number of metropolitan municipalities cities Number of sub- metropolitan Number of cities rural municipalities SuPdruorvipnascehchim Karnali Province Province 5 Gandaki Province Bagmati Province Province 2 Province 1 42 BOOK FIVE

Test Yourself Write true or false a. Provinces are smaller than districts. b. Before 2015, Nepal was divided into developmental regions. c. Municipalities are bigger than districts. d. There are 75 districts in Nepal. e. Each province has its headquarters. f. Dang lies in province no. 5. g. There are 11 sub-metropolitan cities in Nepal. h. The number of municipalities in Nepal is much more than the number of rural municipalities. i. The district headquarters of Saptari District is Rajbiraj. Districts of Nepal Provinces Districts Province No. 1 Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Dhankuta, Terhathum, (14 districts) Ankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Khotang, Udayapur Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusa, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat Province No. 2 (8 districts) Bagmati Province Sindhuli, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Sindhupalchok, Kavrepalanchok, Lalitpur, (13 districts) Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading, Makwanpur, Chitwan Gandaki Province Gorkha, Lamjung, Tanahun, Syangja, Kaski, Manang, Mustang, Myagdi, (11 districts) Nawalpur, Parbat, Baglung Gulmi, Palpa, Rupandehi, Kapilvastu, Arghakhanchi, Pyuthan, Rolpa, Province No. 5 (12 districts) Eastern Rukum, Banke, Bardiya, Dang, Parasi Karnali Province Western Rukum, Salyan, Surkhet, Dailekh, Jajarkot, Dolpa, Jumla, Kalikot, (10 districts) Mugu, Humla Bajura, Bajhang, Achham, Doti, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Dadeldhura, Baitadi, Sudurpashchim Province Darchula (9 districts) BOOK FIVE 43

Our History DAVIS WATER FALL Witness a unique waterfall that Tick ( ) the correct answer: lies 2 Km from central Pokhara City. The water fall directly goes 1 Who is the first king of Nepal? into a deep and narrow canal King Mahendra with no ends. Dharmakar King Birendra It is believed that this deadly waterfall took the life of a tourist 2 Who is the first prime minister of named David, who fell down Nepal? into the canal and was never found, and hence the name David Lakhan Thapa waterfall, named in his memory Amar Singh Thapa by the people of Pokhara. Bhimsen Thapa This place has many nick names 3 When was Sugauli Treaty signed like Davy’s Fall, David’s Fall or between Britain, India and Nepal? Davis’s Fall, all mean the same thing The Davis Water Fall. 2nd Dec 1982 2nd Dec 1972 4 March 1816 4 Who was the last Prime Minister of Rana Dynasty? Chandra Shamsher Gehendra Shamsher Mohan Shamsher 5 Who introduced Indra Jatra? Gunakam Dev Jaya Prakash Malla Dev Shamsher 44 BOOK FIVE

Test Yourself Fill in the blanks: 1. Changunarayan temple was built by: ............................................................................ 2. The temple of Pashupatinath was built by: ............................................................................ 3. Araniko was a great .............................of Nepal. 4. .................................... is the birth date of King Prithivi Narayan Shah. 5. Bhandarkhal Parva was held in: .............................................................................. Did you 6. Pasang Lhamu Sherpa was the first Nepali know? woman to climb .................................................. GORKHA DURBAR 7. ..................................... was related to Deuthal War. The Gorkha Durbar is a historical palace. 8. The system of Ghode Jatra was introduced by: The east wing of the .............................................................................. Durbar is the palace, where King Prithvi 9. Changunarayan is also called: Narayan Shah was born. ................................................................................. It has some excellent 18th century brick and Fact Box Champak Narayan woodwork. It is well renovated. It is only First and last kings artist open on the 10th day of Dashain festival. Dynasty First King Last King Jay Prakash Malla Yakshya Gupta Gopal Bhuktaman Bhuwan Singh Bhaskar Barma Aabhir Var Singh Jayakamdev 27 poush 1779 SHankhar Dev Kirat Yalambar Harisingh Dev Mt.Everest Prithivipal Sen Surya Bhumi Barma Bijaykam Dev 12 Kartik 1903 Ranjeet Malla Thakuri Bhaskar Dev Karnatak Nanya Dev Prachanda Dev Sen Rudra Sen Mandev Lichchhavi Jayadev Bhakti Thapa Malla Aridev MAlla BOOK FIVE 45

Modern Nepal Tick ( ) the correct answer. SUSPENSION BRIDGE A suspension bridge is a type 1 Who was the first elected Prime of bridge where the main load- Minister of Nepal? bearing elements are hung from suspension cables. BP Koirala Girija Pd. Koirala Interesting Facts Matrika Pd. Koirala A cable car is a vehicle moved 2 Who is the first lady pilot of Nepal? by a constantly moving cable. Sony Ronyhar Some cable cars, such as ski Sahana Pradhan lifts, run on a cable suspended Rakshya Rana between towers. Other cable cars ride on rails in the street, 3 When was the Radio Nepal founded? while the cable runs in a 2006 BS channel beneath the street. 2008 BS The only cable car is to visit 2010 BS in Nepal at Kurintar, that is to visit the Manakamana Temple. 4 What is the voting age of Nepali citizen? 16 years old 15 years old 18 years old 5 Who was the first president of Nepal? Ram Baran Yadav Bidya Devi Bhandari Onsari Gharti Magar 46 BOOK FIVE

Test Yourself Fill in the blanks: 1. How many international airports are there in Nepal? ................................................................. 2. What is the length of Mahendra Highway? ............................................................................ 3. As Chitwan is famous for mustard, what is Bhojpur famous for? ............................................................................ 4. Who was the first woman minister of Nepal? ......................................................................... Did you 5. Who is the chief of police of Nepal? know? ............................................................................. THE NARAYANHITI 6. What is the full form of N.T.C.? PALACE MUSEUM ............................................................................ For centuries, the Narayanhiti Palace served 7. In which district is the Khimti hydroelectric as a primary residence project situated? .................................................. for the country’s monarchs. But in 2008, One (Kathmandu) Dolakha 1028 K.m. the 240 years’ old Shah Monarchy ended and the Khukuri Dwarika Devi Thakurani gates to the Narayanhiti Palace opened to the Inspector General of police public in February 2009. The Narayanhiti Palace is Nepal Telecommunication Coorporation now Narayanhiti Palace Museum. Fact Box Introducer in Nepal Mohar Mahindra Malla Mandev Copper Coins Ratna Malla Manank Ram Shah King Tribhuvan / Leather Coins Siddhinarsingh Malla Manapathi Juddha Shumsher Gold Coin Rana Bahadur Shah Paper note BOOK FIVE 47

DHARAHARA HISTORY Geography of Nepal Two tallest towers were built by Bhimsen Thapa. The first tower Tick ( ) the correct answer. was 11 stories high and was built in 1824 AD. The second tower 1 What is the height of (known as Dharahara) was 9 stories Mt. Kanchanjunga? high and was built in 1832 AD. During the earthquake of 1834 AD, 8,598m both the towers survived but the 8,848m first tower suffered severe damage. 8,470m Another earthquake on 15 January 2 Which is the headquarters 1934 completely destroyed the first tower. of Saptari District? The powerful earthquake of Rajbiraj magnitude 7.8 Richter scale on 25 Illam April 2015 collapsed the Dharahara Birgunj and only its base survived. The 3 What is the headquarters of tallest structure of Nepal is in memory of all Nepalese people and Province No. 1? they are hopeful of constructing it Biratnagar again. Jankapur Pokhara NUPTSE 4 Which is the longest bridge Nuptse is a mountain in the Khumbu region of the Mahalangur Himal, in of Nepal? Nepal. It lies two kilometres West- Kankai South-West of Mount Everest. Karnali Koshi It is 7,861 metres high from the sea 5 In which district is level. The main peak of the Nuptse was first climbed on May 16, 1961 by Mahendra Cave situated? Dennis Davis and Sherpa Tashi. Kashki Lamjung Surkhet 48 BOOK FIVE

Did you Test Yourself know? Fill in the blanks: RAFTING The Trishuli is the 1. Which is the smallest district in Nepal? most popular river for ............................................................................ rafting followed by the Sun Koshi river. 2. How many districts are there in Province No 1? The Trishuli has been ............................................................................ so popular because of its accessibility 3. What percentage of the earth is occupied by Nepal? of the road along its ............................................................................ major part. A Trishuli trip can be easily 4. Where is the origin of Kali Gandaki? managed to end at a ........................................................................... place where a wildlife tour begins. 5. What states of India does Jhapa district touch? ............................................................................. 6. Which river of Nepal is also known as the Sorrow of Bihar, India? .............................................................................. Interesting Facts 7. When was Nepal divided into 5 development regions? Gosainkunda Lake is the ................................................................................. site of an annual holy pilgrimage for Hindus 8. What type of climate is found in Kathmandu? and Buddhists. It is ................................................................................. regarded as the greatest lake of the 108 lakes in Mustang West Bangal and Bihar this area. The views of Temperate the Himalayas from here 14 2037 BS Bhaktapur are truly extraordinary. Langtang Gosainkunda Koshi river 0.03 % trekking is one of the most popular short BOOK FIVE 49 medium range trekking in Nepal.

Politicians of Nepal Name the following politicians. Bidhya Devi Bhandari Madhav Kumar Nepal Upendra Yadav Ram Baran Yadav Pushpa Kamal Dahal Gagan Thapa Baburam Bhattarai Sher Bahadur Deuba KP Sharma Oli 50 BOOK FIVE