CLASS – VIII

SUBJECT - BIOLOGY
CHAPTER-1 (TRANSPORT OF FOOD AND MINERALS IN PLANT)
A. Name the following:
1. The membrane which allows the solvent to pass through it but
not the solute.
Ans: Semi-permeable

2. The process by which solid, liquid and gases move from a place
of higher concentration to a place of lower concentration.
Ans: Diffusion

3. The upward movement of water and minerals from roots

towards the top of the plant.
Ans: Ascent of sap

4. The pull which helps in conduction of water in case of tall

trees.
Ans: Transpiration

5. The tissue which helps in conduction of water and minerals in

the plant.
Ans: Xylem
 6. An apparatus used to measure the rate of transpiration.
Ans: Potometer

7. An antitranspirant.
Ans: Silicon oil/ Wax

8. A plant having hydathodes.

Ans: Water hyacinth, rose, balsam.

9. The tissue which helps in conduction of food in plants.

Ans: Phloem

10. Name the disease caused due to deficiency of nitrogen

nutrient in plants.
Ans: Chlorosis

B. Short answer questions:

1. Define the term osmosis.

Ans: Movement of water molecules from the region of their
higher concentration to the region of their lower
concentration through a semi permeable membrane.

2. What is a semi permeable membrane?

Ans: The membrane that allows the diffusion of water
molecules through them but resist the movement of solute
molecules.
3. What is the importance of water to plants?
 Ans: It is used by the plant in producing food and absorb
minerals and gases dissolved in water.

4. How are root hairs adapted for absorbing water from the soil?
Ans: Root hair cells are adapted for taking up water and
mineral ions by having a large surface area to increase the rate
of absorption.
5. What is diffusion?

Ans: Movement of molecules o

of solids, liquids, and gases

from a place of higher

concentration to a place of

lower concentration.

6. Distinguish between root

pressure and turgor pressure.

Ans:
Root pressure Turgor pressure
The pressure developed in The pressure exerted on
the root which helps in the cell wall due to
pushing the sap upwards. turgidity.

7. Write the importance of turgor pressure.

Ans: It keeps leaves, flowers, fruits of the plant expanded and
decrease in turgor pressure of the cell leads to wilting.

8. What do roots

absorb from the

soil?

Ans: Water and

minerals.

9. How does an exosmosis

differ from an endosmosis?

Ans:
Exosmosis Endosmosis
Withdrawal of Inflow of water/solvent
water/solvent molecules molecules from an
from a cell into an external external dilute solution
concentrated solution. into a cell.
10.What is plasmolysis?
Ans: Shrinkage of protoplasm of a cell from its wall due to the loss of
water by exosmosis when placed in the concentrated solution.

11.Write down the factors which

control transpiration.

Ans: Sunlight, temperature, humidity

and air movements.

12.What is a potometer?

Ans: It is an apparatus used to measure

the rate of transpiration.

13.Define wilting.
Ans: The drying out, drooping and withering of the leaves of a plant
due to inadequate supply of water, excessive transpiration or vascular
diseases.
14.Write one disadvantage of transpiration.
Ans: A lot of energy is wasted in absorbing and lifting of extra water
which is lost through transpiration. It causes the wilting and shedding of
leaves.
15.What are hydathodes?
Ans: Hydathodes are water stomata which are used to secrete
excess water through them. They are usually present in the margin
of leaves.
16.What is the importance of antitranspirants?
Ans: They are compounds applied to the leaves of plants to reduce
transpiration. They help to preserve and protect plants from drying out
too quickly.
17.What is root pressure?
Ans: The pressure developed in the root which helps in pushing the
plant sap upward.
18.Name different elements of xylem tissue.
Ans: Tracheids, vessels or tracheae, xylem or wood parenchyma and xylem
sclerenchyma or wood fibres.

19.What are functions of Xylem in plants?

Ans: (a) The main function is the upward movement of water and
dissolved minerals .

(b) Tracheids, vessels and xylem sclerenchyma provide mechanical

strength to the plant body.
(c) Xylem parenchyma stores food and helps in conduction of water.
20.Name different elements of Phloem tissue.
Ans: Sieve tubes, companion cells, phloem parenchyma and phloem
fibres.

21.What are the functions of phloem tissue in plants.

Ans: A)) It helps in the transportation of organic food to all the parts of a
plan
B) Phloem parenchyma helps in the lateral
conduction and the storage of food
C) Phloem fibres are used by man for making
ropes and rough clothes.
22.Differentiate between macronutrients and
micronutrients.
Ans:

Macronutrients Micronutrients
➢ They are those ➢ They are those
essential elements essential elements
which are present in which are present in
plants in large quantity. plants in small quantity.
➢ They take part in ➢ They are involve in
synthesis of organic functioning of
molecules and enzymes.
development of osmotic
potential.

Select the odd one out by giving suitable category:

1. Osmosis, Diffusion, Active transport, Transpiration pull.

Ans: Transpiration pull (Types of movement)

2. Meristematic zone, Shoot cap, Elongation zone,

Maturation zone.
Ans: Shoot cap (Types of zones)
3. Conduction, Translocation, Transpiration, Ascent of sap.
Ans: Translocation (Process of transpiration)

4. Root pressure, Transpiration pull, Turgor pressure,

Capillary force.
Ans: Turgor pressure (Ascent of sap)

5. Egg membrane, Parchment paper, Goat’s bladder, Litmus

paper.
Ans: Litmus paper (Types of membrane)

6. Cooling effect, Ascent of sap, Conduction of minerals,

Evaporation.
Ans: Evaporation ( Significance of transpiration)

7. Stomata, Xylem, Lenticel, Hydathodes.

Ans: Xylem (types of porous cell)

8. Sunlight, Temperature, Humidity, Hydathodes.

Ans: Hydathodes (Factors of transpiration)

9. Tracheids, Trachea, Xylem parenchyma, Sieve plates.

Ans: Sieve plates (Elements of xylem)

10.Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Copper.

Ans: Copper (Micronutrient)

E. Fill in the blanks:

1. Xylem tissue is involved in transportation of water in
plants.
2. The young growing tip of the root is protected by root cap
.
3. Osmosis occurs through a semipermeable membrane.
4. Water is the major component of protoplasm present in a
living cell.
5. A plant cell becomes turgid/swollen on
absorbing water from soil.
6. Root hairs absorb minerals/ions from
the soil by active transport.
7. Upward movement of water takes place through xylem
tissues/tracheids and vessels .
8. Root/vascular system of plants absorb water and minerals
from the soil.
9. Endosmosis is the inflow of water molecules from an
external solution into a cell.
10. A plasmolysed protoplasm swells when it is placed in
pure water.
11. Cactus does not have leaves for transpiration.
12. Sunken stomata decreases the rate
of transpiration.

F. Write true or false and correct the incorrect statements:

1. Osmosis plays an important role in the absorption of water

by plants.
Ans: True
2. A semipermeable membrane allows the passage to only
solvent molecules through it.
Ans: False, water

3. Root hairs do not help in absorption of water and minerals.

Ans: False, helps
4. Water is responsible for developing turgor pressure in the
soil.
Ans: True

5. Movement of molecules from the region of lower to that

of higher concentration is called diffusion.
Ans: False, active transport

G. Choose the correct answer:

1.Ascent of sap occurs due to:

(a) Root pressure
(b) Transpiration pull
(c) Capillary force
(d) All of these

2. Movement of molecules from a region of higher

concentration to lower concentration through a membrane:
(a) Diffusion
(b) Active transport
 (c) Osmosis
(d) All of these
3. The pressure developed in the root due continuous inflow
of water in it:
(a) Turgor pressure
(b) Root pressure
(c) Transpiration pull
(d) None of these

4. The upward movement of cell sap in the plants is called:

(a) Conduction
(b) Absorption
(c) Transpiration
(d) None of these

5. The tissue which helps in conduction of water and

minerals in the plant:
(a) Phloem
(b) Xylem
(c) Vein
(d) None of these

C) LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS:

1. Describe the structure of the root.

Ans. Root is typically non-green, underground part of the
plant. Morphologically the root system of the plant consists
of a main root, it gives out branches called lateral roots or
secondary roots. The lateral roots in turn bear large number
of fine outgrowths called root hairs or tertiary roots. The
absorption of water takes place through the root hairs.

2. Describe the various types of movement of molecule seen

during absorption of water and minerals from the soil by the
plant.
Ans. A) Diffusion: It is the movement of molecules of gases,
liquids or solids from the region of higher concentration to
that of lower concentration.
B) Osmosis : It is a special form of diffusion which
involves only the movement of water molecules from the
region of their higher concentration to their lower
concentration through a semi permeable membrane.
C) Active transport: Whenever the substances like ions,
salts and minerals move rom the region of their of higher
concentration, they use energy in the form of ATP from the
cell. This process is called active transport.

3. What is ascent of sap? Explain the various forces

responsible for rise of cell sap.
Ans. The upward movement of water or sap from roots
towards the top of the plant is called conduction or ascent of
sap.
There are many forces which can be suggested for the rise of
cell sap.
a) Capillary force: Xylem tissues function as fine
 capillary tubes through which water rises up by
capillary action.
b) Root pressure : The pressure developed in the root
due to continuous inflow of water into it and
responsible for pushing the sap upward.
c) Transpiration pull : Loss of water from the leaves
develop a force which pulls water from the root to
the top of the plant. The pull so set up is called
transpiration pull.

4. How is water important to the plant?

Ans. Water is important to plants in many ways:
a)Water is used by the plant in producing food by the process
of photosynthesis.
b)Plants absorb minerals and gases dissolved in water.
c)Water helps in the transportation of the substances from
one region to another in the plant.

5. How do roots absorb water from the soil?

Ans. The inside of root has higher concentration than soil
solution. Root hairs are in contact with soil interspaces
having capillary water. The root hairs pick up water that is
transferred inward due to still higher osmotic concentration
since the root hair cells have vacuole which contains a high
concentrated solution of cell sap in it. It reaches the cells
surrounding xylem channel. Salt accumulated in basal part of
Xylem channel causes osmotic entry of water and creates
positive pressure known as root pressure.

6. How does transpiration occur in a plant?

Ans. The xylem vessels sends the water into the cells and a
cell to cell movement of water takes place till it reaches
substomatal air spaces where they get evaporated due to
the heat of the sun and moves out of the stomata in the
form of vapour.

7. Describe the various factors affecting the rate of

transpiration.
Ans. a) Sunlight : In daylight, the stomata of the leaves are
open . This allows the water vapour in the leaves to diffuse
out into the atmosphere. At night when the stomata close,
transpiration greatly reduce .
b) Temperature: Increase in temperature increases the
capacity of the air for more water vapours and thus the rate
of transpiration increases. Whereas with decrease in
temperature, the rate of transpiration slows down.
c) Humidity: A humid air contains a great deal of water
vapours, it can accept very little of water vapours from the
plants and so transpiration slows down. In dry air, the
diffusion of water vapours from the leaf to the atmosphere
will be rapid.

8. Distinguish between transpiration and evaporation.

Sr no. Transpiration Evaporation
1. It is a physiological It is a physical
process process.

2. Occurs in plants Occurs on any free

surface

3. Water moves Evaporation of any

through stomata liquid can take
place

9. Why is transpiration regarded as a necessary evil?

Ans. Transpiration causes wilting and shedding of leaves in
case of reduced availability of water in the soil. It has more
disadvantages than advantages, therefore, regarded as a
necessary evil to the plants.

10.What are plant nutrients and their sources?

Ans. Plant nutrients are inorganic raw materials that the
plant absorb from surrounding and utilise the same in
building up their organic matter.
Plant nutrient and their sources:
a)Air – carbon, oxygen
b)Water – hydrogen
c)Soil – i) nitrogen, phosphorus potassium, calcium,
magnesium, Sulphur.
ii) iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper,
molybdenum, chlorine.

11.Describe the structure of xylem tissue and phloem tissue

with its function.
Ans. Xylem: It is a vascular and mechanical tissue. Xylem cells
are thick walled. They are found in the form of tubular
passages. Xylem consists of four types of cells called xylem
elements.
a)Tracheids: Single-celled elongated angular dead cells; walls
thick due to deposition of lignin.
b)Vessels: Much elongated multicellular tubes; the cell wall
0f vessels is moderately thick, lignified and lumen is wide.
c)Xylem parenchyma: they are living parenchymatous cells
with thin cellulose wall.
d)Xylem sclerenchyma: They are long narrow cells tapering at
both ends. They are dead cells with lignified walls.
Phloem : Phloem is a living conducting or vascular tissue. It
contains tubes, like xylem but it performs no mechanical
function. It consists of four elements or cells.
a)Sieve tubes : These are slender tube like structures made
up of elongated, thin-walled cells placed end to end.
b)Companian cells : These are thin walled and elongated cells
attached to the lateral sides of the sieve tubes.
c)Phloem parenchyma : They are thin walled living cells.
d)Phloem fibres : These are sclerenchymatous fibres which
provide mechanical strength to the plant.

12. Describe the deficiency diseases caused by lack of

essential nutrients in plants.
Ans. i)Chlorosis : Yellowing of leaves can be seen and they
die due to deficiency of nitrogen.
ii) Maturity may be delayed due to deficiency of phosphorus.
iii) Stem gets cracked due to deficiency of boron.

13. What are the main differences between xylem and

phloem tissue.
Sr no. Xylem Phloem
1. It consists of three It consists of three
dead cells and one living cells and one
living cell dead cell.
2. It consists of It consists of sieve
Tracheids, vessels, tubes companion
Xylem cells, phloem
parenchyma and parenchyma and
Xylem fibres. phloem fibres
3. It conducts water It translocates
and dissolved organic food from
minerals from the leaves to the
roots to the aerial storage organs
parts in upward and growing parts
direction. of the plant.