CBSE Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 3 – Health: The Ultimate Treasure

Class 8 Science Chapter 3 Health: The Ultimate Treasure is part of the new NCERT Curiosity textbook. It explains that health is not just the absence of disease but complete physical, mental and social well-being. Students learn about a balanced diet, personal hygiene, physical fitness, mental health, the importance of sleep and exercise, and how a clean environment protects us from diseases such as dengue, malaria, cholera and typhoid.

These CBSE important questions for Class 8 Science Chapter 3 cover designing a health awareness campaign, the reasons behind childhood obesity and diabetes, the meaning of balanced diet and personal hygiene, outdoor games versus screen time, why a clean environment matters, daily health habits, why dengue and malaria increase in the rainy season, and assertion-reason questions on social connections and sleep. Every question has a clear step-by-step answer in simple English, so students can practise on their own, parents can check the answers, and teachers can use them for class tests.

Q1. Explain how you would design a health awareness campaign for your school to promote good health habits among students.

Answer: A health awareness campaign can be planned like this:
1. Make colourful posters showing the benefits of healthy eating, exercise and good hygiene.
2. Organise demonstrations on the correct way to wash hands and on preparing healthy snacks.
3. Set up activities the students can join in, such as a health quiz and fitness challenges.
4. Invite a doctor or a health worker to give a simple talk on common health problems and how to prevent them.
5. Start regular programmes such as a 'Healthy Tiffin Day' and morning exercise sessions.
6. Give out simple pamphlets that students can take home to their families.
The campaign should use simple language and fun activities, and should involve both students and teachers so that it really works.

Q2. Many children today are becoming overweight and developing diabetes at a young age. Explain the main reasons for this trend and suggest solutions.

Answer: Main reasons: eating too much fast food and sugary drinks, sitting for long hours watching television or playing video games, lack of physical activity and outdoor play, irregular meal timings, and in some cases family (genetic) factors.
Solutions: encourage home-cooked healthy meals, cut down junk food and sugary drinks, make daily physical activity and sports a habit, reduce screen time, keep regular meal timings, and teach families about healthy living. Schools and communities should also provide healthy food choices and safe places to play.

Q3. Define the following health-related terms:
I. Balanced diet
II. Personal hygiene
III. Physical fitness
IV. Mental health

Answer: I. Balanced diet means eating the right amounts of different food groups, such as cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits, milk and fats, so that the body gets all the nutrients it needs for growth and health.
II. Personal hygiene means keeping our body clean by bathing regularly, brushing our teeth, washing our hands and wearing clean clothes, so that diseases are kept away.
III. Physical fitness means having strong muscles, a healthy heart and good stamina, built up through regular exercise and activity.
IV. Mental health means thinking positively, handling stress well, feeling happy and confident, and keeping good relationships with other people.

Q4. Ravi's grandfather practises yoga and meditation daily, eats home-cooked meals, sleeps early and stays active. He rarely falls sick compared to others his age. Explain this observation.

Answer: Ravi's grandfather follows very good health habits, and together these keep his body strong and his immunity high.
Yoga and meditation reduce stress and improve flexibility and peace of mind. Home-cooked meals are more nutritious and more hygienic than food from outside. Sleeping early gives the body enough rest to repair itself and recover energy. Staying active keeps the muscles strong and the heart healthy.
All these choices together help his body fight disease better, so he stays healthy even in old age.

Q5. Compare the health benefits of outdoor games versus spending time on mobile phones and computers.

Answer: Outdoor games strengthen the muscles and bones, improve heart health, give fresh air and vitamin D from sunlight, build social skills through playing with friends, and reduce stress and lift the mood.
Too much screen time can cause eye strain, headaches and poor posture, reduces physical activity and so can lead to obesity, disturbs sleep because of the blue light, and leaves less time for meeting people face to face.
Balance is the key: some screen time is fine, but outdoor play is necessary for healthy growth.

Q6. Why is it important to live in a clean environment? Give three reasons with examples.

Answer: A clean environment is important because:
1. It prevents diseases. Clean water and clean surroundings reduce waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
2. It gives better air quality. Less pollution means fewer breathing problems such as asthma and cough.
3. It reduces disease carriers. Clean areas have fewer mosquitoes, flies and rats, which spread diseases such as malaria and plague.
Together, these keep us healthier and help us feel better every day.

Q7. State whether these statements are true or false. Give reasons.
I. Health means only not having any disease.
II. Polluted air can cause breathing problems.
III. Stress only affects adults, not children.

Answer: I. False. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health means complete physical, mental and social well-being, not just the absence of disease.
II. True. Polluted air contains harmful particles and gases that irritate the lungs and can cause asthma, coughing and other breathing problems, especially in children and the elderly.
III. False. Children also feel stress, from school pressure, family problems or big changes in life, and it can affect their sleep, appetite and behaviour.

Q8. List four good health habits that everyone should follow daily and explain why each is important.

Answer: 1. Eating balanced meals with fruits and vegetables gives the body the nutrients it needs for growth and energy.
2. Washing hands regularly stops germs from spreading and prevents infections.
3. Getting enough sleep (8 to 10 hours for children) lets the body repair itself and helps the brain develop.
4. Doing some physical activity such as playing or walking keeps the muscles strong and the heart healthy.
Together these habits keep both the body and the mind healthy.

Q9. During the rainy season, cases of dengue and malaria increase in many areas. Explain why this happens and suggest preventive measures for families.

Answer: In the rainy season, water collects and stands still in places such as flowerpots, coolers, old tyres and open containers. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in this stagnant water and multiply very fast. When these mosquitoes bite people, they spread dengue and malaria.
Preventive measures: empty out any standing water around the house, sleep under a mosquito net, wear full-sleeved clothes, use mosquito repellents, and keep the surroundings clean and dry.

Q10. Amit moved to a new city and school. He has no friends, spends most of his time on his phone, feels lonely, and has started getting headaches and sleeping poorly. Explain how his situation affects his health and suggest ways to improve it.

Answer: Amit's case shows that health includes mental and social well-being, not only physical health. His loneliness and his long hours on the phone are affecting his mind, and this is showing up as headaches and poor sleep, which are physical problems.
Ways to improve: he should try to make new friends at school, join a sport or an activity group, cut down screen time especially before bed, and talk to a teacher or counsellor if he feels low. Keeping in touch with old friends also helps. Schools can support new students by starting buddy systems or group activities.

Q11. Read the Assertion (A) and Reason (R) and choose the correct option.
Assertion (A): Spending time with family and friends is good for our health.
Reason (R): Social connections help reduce stress and improve mental well-being.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.

Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
Being with family and friends gives us support and someone to share our feelings with. This lowers stress and keeps the mind healthy, which is exactly why such time is good for our health. So the Reason explains the Assertion.

Q12. Read the Assertion (A) and Reason (R) and choose the correct option.
Assertion (A): Getting enough sleep is important for good health.
Reason (R): During sleep, our body repairs itself and our brain processes information.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.

Answer: (a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
While we sleep, the body repairs worn-out tissues and the brain sorts and stores what we have learnt during the day. This is the very reason why enough sleep is needed for good health, so R correctly explains A.

Related Study Material on Extramarks

• CBSE Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 1
• CBSE Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 2
• CBSE Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 4
• CBSE Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 5
• CBSE Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 6
• CBSE Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 7
• CBSE Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 8
• CBSE Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 9
• CBSE Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 10
• CBSE Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 11
• CBSE Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 12
• CBSE Important Questions Class 8 Science Chapter 13