Question 281 markVery Short AnswerSection B

Mention any two measures related to protection of food items during floods. (½ + ½ = 1)

Disaster Management (Floods)
Disaster Management — Floods: Food Protection

Official answer

(i) Eat freshly cooked food and dry food items. (ii) Always keep food covered to protect it from contamination.

Answer keywords:freshly cooked fooddry foodcovered foodfood safetyfloodshygiene

Marking scheme

  1. 1.½ mark: Any one correct measure (e.g., eat freshly cooked/dry food).
  2. 2.½ mark: A second, distinct correct measure (e.g., keep food covered) — total 1 mark for two valid measures.

Hint

Give two separate, clearly distinct points from the source's food-safety guidance, not two versions of the same idea.

Quick oral answer

During floods, eat only freshly cooked or dry food, and always keep food covered to avoid contamination.

Common mistakes

  1. 1.Giving only one measure when the question explicitly asks for two, losing half the mark.
  2. 2.Repeating the same idea in two different sentences instead of citing two genuinely distinct precautions.
  3. 3.Confusing food-safety measures with water-safety or evacuation measures from other parts of the passage.

Analysis and explanation

This question splits 1 mark into two half-marks, so the student must give exactly two distinct, source-based measures rather than one elaborated point.


Concept

  • Food contamination during floods occurs because stagnant/flood water carries silt, sewage and pathogens, and normal storage/cooking infrastructure may be disrupted.
  • The passage's guidance — eat only freshly cooked or dry food, and keep all food covered — reduces the risk of illness like food poisoning or diarrhoea.

Common mistakes

  • Giving two measures that are really the same idea reworded (e.g., 'eat clean food' and 'eat hygienic food') may be scored as one point, not two.

Interesting facts

Post-flood food poisoning outbreaks are common in relief camps when perishable, uncovered food is consumed after even short exposure to contaminated air or insects.

Dry ration kits (rice, pulses, biscuits) are a standard part of Indian disaster-relief food distribution precisely because they resist flood-related spoilage.

The NDMA's household emergency kit guidance (also referenced in this source) recommends stocking dry food items in advance of flood season for exactly this reason.

Question details

Q28 of 57 questions

Board
CBSE
Class
Class 10
Subject
Social Science
Year
2026
Section
Section B
Marks
1
Type
Very Short Answer
Chapter
Disaster Management (Floods)
Topic
Disaster Management — Floods: Food Protection
Bloom's level
remember
Syllabus topic
Disaster Management: Floods — Food Safety and Hygiene Measures
Author
CBSE
Reviewed by
Padhantu Academic Team

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Frequently asked questions

Why should food be kept covered during floods?

Uncovered food can be contaminated by floodwater splashes, dust, insects, and vermin that proliferate in flood conditions, increasing the risk of food-borne illness.

Why is dry food specifically recommended over fresh perishables?

Dry food (like biscuits, dry rations) has a longer shelf life and lower contamination risk when refrigeration and clean cooking facilities may be unavailable during a flood emergency.