Mention any two measures related to protection of food items during floods. (½ + ½ = 1)
Mention any two measures related to protection of food items during floods. (½ + ½ = 1)
(i) Eat freshly cooked food and dry food items. (ii) Always keep food covered to protect it from contamination.
Marking Scheme
- 1½ mark: Any one correct measure (e.g., eat freshly cooked/dry food).
- 2½ 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.
Analysis & 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.
Common Mistakes
- 1Giving only one measure when the question explicitly asks for two, losing half the mark.
- 2Repeating the same idea in two different sentences instead of citing two genuinely distinct precautions.
- 3Confusing food-safety measures with water-safety or evacuation measures from other parts of the passage.
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.
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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.