CBSE Class 5 Environmental Studies: Super Senses NCERT Solutions

Reviewed by NCERT Help Editorial Team · Updated on 29 Jul 2026

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 5 PDF

This chapter, 'Super Senses,' for CBSE Class 5 Environmental Studies, delves into the fascinating world of how animals perceive their surroundings. Through a series of questions and activities, students explore the concept of senses beyond sight and hearing, focusing particularly on the sense of smell. The solutions explain how ants communicate using smell, how dogs use their superior olfactory abilities, and how humans also rely on smell in various situations. This resource provides clear, step-by-step answers to textbook questions, helping young learners understand the importance and diversity of senses in the animal kingdom and their own lives, aiding in effective exam revision.

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Quick info

Board	CBSE
Class	Class 5
Subject	Environmental Studies
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	1 Super Senses

Chapter summary

Chapter 1, 'Super Senses,' of the CBSE Class 5 Environmental Studies curriculum focuses on understanding the diverse sensory abilities of animals, with a special emphasis on the sense of smell. The NCERT Solutions cover topics like ant communication, the keen sense of smell in dogs, and how humans utilize these senses. It encourages observation and critical thinking about how different creatures navigate and interact with their environment, providing clear answers to textbook exercises.

Learning outcomes

Understand that animals possess various senses like smell, hearing, and touch.
Explain how ants use smell to communicate and follow trails.
Recognize the enhanced sense of smell in dogs and its applications.
Identify situations where the sense of smell is helpful to humans.
Compare the sensory abilities of different animals and humans.
Appreciate the role of smell in recognizing people and objects.

Topics covered

Paper topics

Animal Senses
Sense of Smell
Ant Communication
Dog's Sense of Smell
Human Senses
Smell and Food
Smell and Danger
Animal Recognition by Smell
Sensory Perception
Environmental Studies Concepts

Important topics

Ants and their sense of smell for communication
The superior olfactory abilities of dogs
How humans use their sense of smell
Comparing senses across different species
The role of smell in survival and recognition

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1

How did the ant know that the other ants were not from its group?

Solution: Ants, like many other animals, possess a range of senses including sight, hearing, smell, and touch. The ant was able to distinguish the other ants from its own group primarily through its highly developed sense of smell. Each ant colony has a unique scent, and ants can detect if an approaching ant belongs to their colony or is an intruder based on this smell.

Question 2

How did the guard ant recognise this ant?

Solution: The guard ant recognised the specific ant by its unique smell. Ants have a strong sense of smell that allows them to identify members of their own colony and differentiate them from outsiders.

Try This and Write - Question 1

Drop some sugar, jaggery or anything sweet on the ground. Wait until the ants come there. How long did it take for the ants to come?

Solution: After dropping some sweet substance on the ground, it typically took about 15 to 20 minutes for the ants to arrive at the location. This time can vary depending on factors like the distance of the ant colony and environmental conditions.

Try This and Write - Question 2

Did one ant come first or a group of ants came together?

Solution: Usually, one ant discovers the food source first and then returns to the colony. Following this scout ant, a group of ants then comes together to carry the food back.

Try This and Write - Question 3

What did the ants do with the food? Where do they go from there?

Solution: The ants worked together to carry the food item they found. They transported it all the way back to their colony, which is their home or hole, to share with other ants.

Try This and Write - Question 5

Do they move in a line? Now carefully, without harming the ants, block their path for a while with a pencil. Now, observe, how do the ants move?

Solution: Yes, ants typically move in a straight line, following each other. When their path is blocked with a pencil, the ants do not scatter. Instead, they climb over the obstacle, like the pencil, and continue to move in a line, trying to maintain their original path.

Try This and Write - Question 7

Now can you guess why the ants behaved like that when you blocked their path?

Solution: Ants behave this way because as they move, they leave behind a specific smell on the ground. This scent acts as a trail that other ants follow to find their way. When their path was blocked, they climbed over the pencil to try and pick up the scent trail again on the other side, thus maintaining their line of movement.

Try This and Write - Question 8

Have you ever been troubled by mosquitoes? Just think, how do they know where you are?

Solution: Yes, mosquitoes can be very troublesome. They are able to find us primarily by detecting the smell of our body, specifically the carbon dioxide we exhale and other body odours. They are also attracted to the heat that our bodies give off.

Try This and Write - Question 9

Have you seen a dog sniffing here and there? What do you think it is trying to smell?

Solution: Yes, dogs are often seen sniffing around. They are usually trying to smell and gather information about their surroundings. Dogs use their powerful sense of smell to detect the presence of other animals, identify territory markers (like urine or faeces left by other dogs), and understand if a new dog has entered their area.

Write - Question 1

In what ways do human beings make use of this special sense of smell of dogs? List some examples.

Solution: Humans utilize the exceptional sense of smell of dogs in numerous ways to assist them. Some key applications include:

Catching Criminals: Dogs can track scents to help police find suspects.
Detecting Stolen Goods: Their sense of smell helps locate items that have been illegally taken.
Detecting Bombs: Specially trained dogs can sniff out explosives, ensuring public safety.
Search and Rescue: Dogs can find people lost in disaster areas or wilderness.

Write - Question 2

When do you find your sense of smell helpful to you? List some examples.

Solution: Our sense of smell is helpful in many everyday situations. Some examples include:

Recognising that food has gone bad and is unsafe to eat.
Detecting a fire or something burning by the smell of smoke.
Identifying the aroma of delicious food being cooked.
Smelling pleasant fragrances like perfume or flowers.
Noticing a gas leak in the kitchen, which is a crucial safety warning.
Identifying the smell of incense sticks or other familiar scents.
Recognising the smell of sweaty clothes that need washing.

Write - Question 3

Name the animals that you would be able to recognise only by their smell, without seeing them.

Solution: We can often recognise several animals just by their distinct smell, even without seeing them. Some examples include:

Dogs
Cats
Cows
Buffaloes
Fish
Horses

Write - Question 4

Write the names of five things whose smell you like and five things whose smell you do not like.

Solution: Our preferences for smells are personal, but here are common examples:

Smells I like:

Tasty food (e.g., freshly baked bread, favourite dishes)
Flowers (e.g., roses, jasmine)
Perfume
Incense sticks
Fresh air

Smells I do not like:

Garbage
Rotten or stale food
Dead fish
Cow dung
Smell from a urinal or dirty toilet

Write - Question 5

Do you and your friends have similar answers?

Solution: Yes, it is likely that you and your friends will have similar answers for the smells you like and dislike. Many pleasant smells, like those from food or flowers, are generally liked by most people, while unpleasant smells, such as garbage or rotten items, are commonly disliked.

Do and Find Out - Question 1

From the smell of the clothes of your family members, can you say whom do they belong to? Try to recognise the clothes of any two members of your family in this way.

Solution: Yes, it is often possible to recognise the clothes of family members by their smell. Each person has a unique body odour, and their clothes absorb this scent over time. By carefully smelling the clothes of two family members, for example, a mother and a father, one can usually distinguish whose clothes they are.

Think and Discuss - Question 1

Sushila covered her nose when she cleaned Deepak's nappy, but not when she cleaned her daughter. Why do you think she did this?

Solution: Sushila likely covered her nose when cleaning Deepak's nappy because she perceived it as being particularly dirty or unpleasant, causing a strong, offensive smell. When cleaning her own daughter's nappy, she may not have found the smell as offensive, perhaps because she is more accustomed to it or because it was not as soiled. Our reaction to smells can be influenced by our perception of the source and our emotional connection to it.

Common mistakes

Assuming all animals have the same sensory capabilities as humans.
Not understanding the chemical basis of scent trails left by ants.
Underestimating the importance of smell in animal communication.
Confusing recognition by smell with recognition by sight or sound.

Revision tips

Focus on the examples of ants and dogs to understand how smell works for them.
List down all the situations where smell helps humans, as provided in the solutions.
Try to recall personal experiences related to strong smells, both pleasant and unpleasant.
Discuss with friends how different animals might use their senses differently.

Practice MCQs

Q1. How do ants primarily recognise other ants from their group?

Q2. What sense helps a guard ant recognise an ant approaching its colony?

Q3. When an ant's path is blocked, how do other ants manage to find their way?

Q4. How do mosquitoes find humans?

Q5. Which of these is NOT a way humans use the special sense of smell of dogs?

Q6. Which sense helps us identify if food has gone bad?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main topic of Chapter 1 for Class 5 EVS?

Chapter 1, 'Super Senses,' for CBSE Class 5 Environmental Studies focuses on the diverse sensory abilities of animals, particularly their sense of smell, and how it helps them interact with their environment.

How do ants communicate using their senses?

Ants primarily communicate using their sense of smell. They leave a scent trail for other ants to follow, helping them find food and navigate.

Why is a dog's sense of smell considered special?

Dogs have a much more developed sense of smell than humans, allowing them to detect faint odours and distinguish between many different smells, which is useful for tasks like tracking and detection.

How can the NCERT Solutions for 'Super Senses' help students?

These solutions provide clear, step-by-step answers to textbook questions, helping students understand complex concepts about animal senses and revise the chapter effectively for exams.

Can humans recognise animals just by their smell?

Yes, humans can often recognise certain animals, like dogs, cats, or farm animals, by their distinct smells without needing to see them.

What are some practical uses of a dog's sense of smell for humans?

Humans utilise a dog's sense of smell for various purposes, including catching criminals, detecting stolen goods, and identifying explosives like bombs.

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