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NCERT Solutions Curiosity Chapter 3 Activity 3.1: Let us read — Health: Is It More Than Not Falling Sick?

Book page 29 Updated on2026-09-05

Q1.
What was the cause of the boy’s health problems?
Answer

The cause was loneliness — not any pathogen.

Trace the chain the passage gives:

  1. He moved to a new school in another city, so he had no friends in his new environment.
  2. His parents were busy, so he had little company at home either.
  3. To cope, he spent more time on his phone and social media — but this made him feel worse, not better.
  4. He then stopped trying to make friends, which cut him off further.
  5. The physical symptoms followed: headaches, weight loss and disturbed sleep.
Why it happens: health includes social well-being. When that part is missing, the mind is affected, and a troubled mind shows up in the body as real physical symptoms. Screen time did not cause the loneliness, but it replaced the thing that would have cured it — actual company — so the problem deepened.
Note: feeling lonely after moving to a new place is common and is nothing to be ashamed of. In the story it was solved not by medicine but by help: the doctor advised less screen time and a counsellor, and the school counsellor arranged support so that he could make friends. Asking for help was the step that worked.
Q2.
How did his habits and surroundings affect his well-being?
Answer

His surroundings created the problem and his habits made it worse — and both then damaged all three aspects of his health.

AspectSurroundingsHabitsEffect on him
SocialNew city, new school, no friends; parents busyStopped trying to make friendsComplete isolation
MentalNo one to talk toLong hours on phone and social mediaFelt worse, not better
Physical—Screen time late into the night, poor routineHeadaches, weight loss, could not sleep well
Why it happens: social media looks like company but does not provide it — there is no conversation, no laughter, no shared game. So the loneliness stayed while the hours that could have been spent meeting people were used up. On top of that, screen use at night disturbs sleep, and poor sleep brings headaches, tiredness and loss of appetite. That is how a social problem became a physical illness.

The recovery followed the same logic in reverse: less screen time (removing the harmful habit), a counsellor (treating the mental strain) and help in making friends (repairing the social gap).

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