Kulhads (disposable cups made of clay) and disposable paper cups both are used as an alternative for disposab…

Question

Kulhads (disposable cups made of clay) and disposable paper cups both are used as an alternative for disposable plastic cups. Which one of these two can be considered as a better alternative to plastic cups and why?

Accepted Answer

## Model Answer Disposable **paper cups** are a better alternative to plastic cups. - Kulhads, though biodegradable, require large amounts of fertile **top-soil** to produce on a large scale, leading to soil loss. - Paper cups are biodegradable and do not deplete top-soil. - Plastic cups are **non-biodegradable** and persist in the environment for a long time, harming the ecosystem. Source: Chapter 13, Section 13.2.2 (Think it over — Disposable cups in trains) --- ## Explanation The textbook's "Think it over" box directly addresses this comparison. The examiner expects you to mention **both** the drawback of kulhads (loss of fertile top-soil on large-scale production) and the advantage of paper cups (biodegradable, no soil depletion) over plastic (non-biodegradable). Simply saying "paper cups are better because they are biodegradable" without explaining the kulhad problem will likely cost you a mark. Stick to what the passage says — do not bring in outside points.

Science — CBSE Class 10 board question