Evolution of Communication: ICSE Class 5 (Social Studies) notes, questions and answers.
Development of communication over time
:- In earlier times, people used smoke signals (in America) and beating drums (in Africa) to communicate messages.
- Drawing was the earliest form of writing. The earliest humans made pictures on the walls of caves in which they lived.
- Overtime humans simplify the pictures by using signs and symbols (pictographic script).
- People trained pigeons to carry messages to different places. Pigeon post was the earliest method of sending messages.
Inventions in communication
:- The printing press was invented by Johann Gutenberg of Germany.
- Telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell and it soon became the easiest and the quickest way to communicate.
- The Telegraph was another means of sending urgent messages using electricity.
- The radio was invented by Marconi and soon became an important instrument for spreading awareness and providing entertainment.
- Today computers and the internet are used for communicating.
- Artificial satellites are now used for long-distance communication.
Answer the following questions
Question: How were goods for trades transported in ancient times?
Answer: Wheeled vehicles, like carts, could transport goods from place to place. The muscle power of bullocks or horses was used to move the vehicles.
People also transported goods by water. Boats used the muscle power of the rowers, while sail boats used wind power.
Question: What power was used by early ships and how was this different from the power used in ships of 19th century?
Answer: For thousands of years human being used the power of the wind or muscle power for vehicles. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the power of steam was discovered, which changed travelling.
New steam ships used this power in engines fitted in their ships. Sea journeys became faster.
Question: How has travel between India and Britain changed in the type of transport and the time the journey takes? Explain in two or three sentences.
Answer: A journey from England to India, that took several months by sailing ships, could be made in six weeks. Steam was also used to power locomotives(engines) of the first trains, which were invented in the early 19th century in England.
Question: What does communication mean?
Answer: Communication means to be in touch with others through speaking, writing, reading or travelling.
Question: Arrange these ‘power’ words in the right time order: electricity, muscle, petrol, steam.
Answer: i) muscle; ii) steam; iii) petrol; iv) electricity;
Question: Write one sentence each about the advantages of the following inventions – printing press; telegraph; telephone; and radio and TV.
Answer:
i) The printing press made it possible to print many copies of books and newspapers, so knowledge and information became available to many people.
ii) The telegraph made it possible to send important messages much quicker than sending a letter.
iii) With the telephone, people who were far way from each other could have a conversation.
iv) Radio and television made it possible to deliver news, information and entertainment to thousands of people at the same time. They became very popular all over the world.
Question: Give five ways in which the Internet can be used.
Answer: With computers, laptops, tablets or smartphones, the internet is used to:
i) Send and receive emails; ii) Get information from any part of the world; iii) Use social networking sites; iv) Upload and download pictures; v) Book travel tickets and shop online.
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