Life Processes

5
NCERT SOLUTIONS

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– In-Chapter Q's (solved)
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 IN-CHAPTER QUESTIONS

Test Yourself
1. Why is diffusion insufficient to meet the oxygen requirement in multicellular
organisms like us?
Ans. Multicellular organisms such as humans possess complex body designs. They
have specialised cells and tissues for performing various necessary functions
of the body such as intake of food and oxygen. Unlike unicellular organisms,
multicellular cells are not in direct contact with the outside environment.
Therefore, diffusion cannot meet their oxygen requirements.
2. What criterion would we use to determine if an object is alive?
Ans. Common proofs of being alive are breathing, growth, movement etc.
3. What raw materials are used by an organism?
Ans. Oxygen, water and food are used by an organism as a raw material.
Food : Used by organisms as energy and sources of substances.
Oxygen: Organisms get energy from the breakdown of substances like food, for
this they have to undergo respiration.
Water: Water is essential for the digestion of food and biological processes.
4. What processes would you consider essential for the maintenance of life?
Ans. All those processes which together do the work of maintenance are called
biological processes. In this, nutrition, respiration, transport, excretion are
essential processes.
Test Yourself
1. What is the difference between autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic
nutrition?
Ans. Autotrophic nutrition Heterotrophic nutrition
1. Green plants make their own food in the Heterozygous organisms are unable to
presence of sunlight and chlorophyll to prepare their own food, they depend on
make carbohydrates using CO2 and water, the food prepared by others.
they prepare their own food.
2. They do not depend on anyone else Heterotrophs depend on plants such as
humans and fungi.
2. Where does the plant get the raw material needed for photosynthesis?
Ans. Plants get the raw materials needed for photosynthesis from different sources :
(1)Chlorophyll : From chloroplast of leaf.
(2)Carbon dioxide: from the atmosphere.
(3) Water: From the soil.
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3. What is the role of acid in our stomach?
Ans.Role of acid in our stomach :
(1) The enzymes found in the stomach digest food in an acidic medium. The acid
in the stomach makes the food acidic so that the enzymes found in the gastric
juice can digest it.
(2) Many germs also come with food, which are destroyed by the effect of acid.
4. What is the function of digestive enzymes?
Ans. Enzymes break down complex components of food into simpler parts by catalytic
action, so that they become soluble and are absorbed in the body.
5. How is the small intestine designed to absorb digested food?
Ans. The small intestine has millions of tiny finger-like projections called villi. These
villi increase the surface area for efficient food absorption. Within these villi,
many blood vessels are present that absorb the digested food and carry it to the
bloodstream. The absorbed food from the bloodstream is delivered to every cell
of the body.
Test Yourself
1. How is a terrestrial organism advantageous over an aquatic organism in
obtaining oxygen for respiration?
Ans. Organisms that live in water use oxygen dissolved in water because the amount
of dissolved oxygen in water is very less, so the respiration rate of organisms is
faster than that of terrestrial organisms. Terrestrial organisms use oxygen in the
atmosphere for respiration. In different organisms, this oxygen is absorbed by
different organs. All organs have a composition that increases the surface area.
Terrestrial organisms are exposed to oxygen rich atmosphere.
2. What are the different ways in which glucose is oxidised to provide energy in
various organisms?
Ans.There are several pathways for obtaining energy in organisms other than the
oxidation of glucose:
Glycogenolysis : This is the breakdown of glycogen, a storage form of glucose,
into glucose molecules. This process can occur in liver and muscle cells and
provides a source of glucose for energy production.
Lipolysis : This is the breakdown of stored fats into fatty acids and glycerol. The
fatty acids can then be used for energy production via beta-oxidation, a process
that occurs in the mitochondria of cells.
Proteolysis : This is the breakdown of proteins into amino acids, which can then

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 be used for energy production via gluconeogenesis, a process that converts amino
acids into glucose.
3. How is oxygen and carbon dioxide transported in humans?
Ans.(i) Transport of oxygen: Haemoglobin is found in red blood cells that carry
oxygen from the air in the lungs to the tissues where there is a lack of oxygen.
(ii) Transport of carbon dioxide: Carbon dioxide is more soluble in water, so it
is transported in a soluble state in our blood, it goes out through the nostrils.
4. How is the maximum area in the human lung envisaged for exchange of gases
?
Ans. There are innumerable alveoli in the human lung, if we calculate their combined
area, then it will be equal to about 80 square metres, so it is the design of these
alveoli that the area of our lungs becomes maximum.
Test Yourself
1. What are the components of the transport system in humans? What are the
functions of these components?
Ans. The following are the components of the transport system in human :
(a) Heart
(b) Blood
(c) Blood vessels
(a) Work of heart : Heart is a muscular organ that is the size of our fist. It carries
blood in the body, it receives deoxygenated blood from different parts of the
body and on the other hand, oxygenated blood is pumped throughout the body.
(b) Blood : Blood is a fluid connective organ in which 1. Plasma 2. Red blood
cells 3. white blood cells and platelets.
1. Plasma transports food, carbon dioxide and nitrogen containing excretory
substances.
2. Red blood cells transport respiratory gases and hormones.
3. White blood cells protect the body from infections.
4. Platelets form a blood clot at the site of bleeding and block the passage in
which the flow of blood stops.
(c) Blood vessels : Blood vessels carry blood from the heart to the different parts
of the body, their walls are thick and flexible.
2. Why is it necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in mammals
and birds ?
Ans. Separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in mammals and birds is
necessary because birds and mammals have high energy requirements. This is also
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 beneficial because they need constant energy to maintain their body temperature,
hence they need oxygen continuously to get energy.
3. What are the components of the transport system in highly organized
plants?
Ans. The transport system in highly organised plants has two components. 1. Xylem
and 2. Phloem
1. Xylem : In the xylem tissue, the ducts and vessels of the roots, stems and
leaves join together to form a continuous network of water conduction vessels.
These are attached to all parts of the plant. Xylem transports water and salts
from the soil to the leaves.
2. Phloem : Phloem consists of sieve and companion cells that transport food
from leaves to different parts of plants.
4. How are water and minerals transported in plants?
Ans. In plants, water and minerals are transferred from the soil to the leaves by the
xylem cells. Root cells obtain salts from the soil, this creates a difference in the
concentration of soil and root salts, due to which there is a constant movement
of water in the xylem. Due to transpiration, there is a continuous loss of water
and there is suction, due to which the constant movement of water is maintained,
thus water and minerals are transported.
5. How does food transfer in a plant?
Ans. The transport of food in plants starts from the leaves and takes place through the
phloem ducts throughout the plant body. The flow of food from high concentration
to low concentration through the sieve plate in the sieve tube of phloem vessels.
Test Yourself
1. Describe the structure and functioning of nephrons
Ans.Structure of nephron : Nephron is the constructive and functional unit of excretion,
its main parts are
1. Bowman capsule : The tip of the nephron is cup-like.
2. Cell bundle : A clump of blood cells formed by the repeated division of the
renal artery and renal vein.
3. Renal vein : Blood vessel carrying impure blood to the kidney.
4. Renal artery : Blood vessel carrying pure blood from Bowman's capsule.
5. Tubular part of nephron : The end of the nephron in front of the Hanel's loop
coils up to form this part. It has a network of blood cells on its surface.
6. Collecting duct : The end of the nephron meets a tube that leads to the
bladder.

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 Mechanism of action of the nephron :
1. Due to the high blood pressure in the cell clusters of Bowman Capsule,
excretory substances are filtered out of the blood. These substances go along
with the water into the collecting canal and reach the bladder.
2. Due to the high blood pressure of the cell cluster, some important substances
such as glucose, amino acids etc. are also filtered out, which are reabsorbed in
the hanel's loop and tubule car part. This is called reabsorption.
2. What methods do plants use to get rid of excretory products?
Ans. Plants use the following methods to get rid of excretory products:
1. They can get rid of the excess water by transpiration.
2. Many tissues in plants are made of dead cells, they get rid of by decaying
leaves.
3. Some excreted products are stored in the dormant xylem as gum.
4. The excretory substances tannins, resins, gums are stored in the bark which are
destroyed by the removal of the bark.
3. How is the amount of urine produced regulated ?
Ans. The amount of urine depends on the water intake by the body. The amount of
water absorbed by the nephron tubule depends on the following factors.
1. How much water is there in the body, how much water is to be excreted so that
there is no shortage of water in the body tissues
2. How much of the soluble excretory like urea and uric acid and salt etc. is to be
excreted from the body. When there is more excretion in the body, more water
is required. In this situation more urine is produced.
NCERT EXERCISES
1. The kidneys in human beings are a part of the system for
(a) nutrition. (c) excretion.
(b) respiration. (d) transportation.
Ans.(c)Excretion
2. Xylem in plant is responsible for :
(a) transport of water
(b) transport of food
(c) carrying amino acids
(d) carrying oxygen.
Ans.(a) transport of water

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3. For autotrophic nutrition _________ is necessary.
(a) carbon dioxide and water
(b) chlorophyll
(c) sunlight
(d) all of the above.
Ans.(d) all of the above.
4. By fission of pyruvate, it gives carbon dioxide, water and energy and this reaction
takes place in :
(a) cytoplasm (b) mitochondria
(c) chloroplast (d) Nucleus.
Ans.(b) mitochondria
5. How does the digestion of fat take place in our body ? Where does this process
take place ?
Ans.Fat digestion takes place in the small intestine. The alkaline secretion of the
liver, bile is carried to the small intestine by the bile duct. The process starts with
emulsification (breakdown) of large fat globules by the salt of bile into smaller
micelles to facilitate further enzymatic reaction and digestion process. The fat-
digesting lipase enzyme in pancreatic juice and intestinal juices digest the fat in
micelles into triacylglycerol and then fatty acids and glycerol. These fat digestion
products are then absorbed by the intestinal mucosa and are carried to tissues by
the lymphatic system and blood where they either serve as energy fuel or are stored
after re-esterification.
6. What is the role of saliva in digestion of food?
Ans.The juice released from the salivary gland is called saliva. It makes the food very
soft. When we break the food into small pieces by chewing with the teeth, then
saliva enzyme gets mixed in it. This makes it easier to swallow food. This is called
salivary amylase. It also digests the food.
7. What are the conditions necessary for autotrophic nutrition and what are its by
products ?
Ans.The following are the conditions necessary for autotrophic nutrition:
zz Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll Conversion of light energy into

chemical form and hydrolysis water molecules into H2 and O2.

zz Reduction of carbon dioxide into carbohydrates.

The main products of nutrition are as follows :

zz Sugar

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 zz Water
zz Oxygen and its by-product

8. What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration? Name some
organisms which have anaerobic respiration.
Ans.
Aerobic Respiration Anaerobic Respiration
1. In the presence of oxygen In the absence of oxygen
2. CO2 and water Ethanol or lactic acid
3. Mainly plants and animals Anaerobic bacteria, yeast, airborne
muscles
4. Energy produced in high amount Energy produced in low amount
9. How are alveoli designed for maximum exchange of gases?
Ans.The tubules have a balloon-like structure in which the oxygen gas is transferred, it
has a surface in which the exchange of gases takes place. In the wall of the alveoli
there is a very wide network of blood vessels. The CO2 brought from the body
through the blood gives to the alveoli. The blood of the alveolar blood vessel carries
oxygen from the air to all the cells of the body.
10. What can be the consequences of the deficiency of hemoglobin in our body?
Ans.If the amount of hemoglobin in our body is less, then the carrying capacity of oxygen
decreases, so diseases caused by lack of oxygen start to suffer. Breathlessness occurs
especially due to lack of hemoglobin.
11. Describe the double circulation in human beings. Why is it necessary?
Ans.Blood has to pass through the human heart twice to reach once in the body, hence
it is called double circulation. There are two circulations under this :
(i) Systemic circulation
(ii) Pulmonary circulation

Fig. 5.23 : Double Circulation

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(i) Systemic circulation : Systemic circulation transfers oxygenated blood from the
left ventricles to capillaries in the tissue. The oxygen-rich blood is passed to the
aorta for distribution into various body parts. The veins and vessels later absorb the
deoxygenated blood, rich in carbon dioxide from different parts of the body. The
deoxygenated blood is transferred back to the superior vena cava, then on to the right
atrium. The right atrium transports blood to the right ventricle for pulmonary circulation
after receiving the deoxygenated blood.
(ii)Pulmonary circulation : The pulmonary artery receives the blood from the right
ventricle and carries it to the lungs for oxygenation. When the oxygenated blood
is pumped back to the left atrium via the pulmonary vein that is brought to the left
ventricles after the purification process. The left ventricles pump the oxygenated blood
to the aorta for systemic circulation.
The need for double circulation : The right and left sides of the human heart do not
allow oxygenated and deoxygenated blood to mix. Due to the separation of oxygenated
and deoxygenated blood, oxygen reaches the body effectively. It keeps on giving energy
to regulate the temperature of the body.
12. What is the difference between transport of materials in xylem and phloem?
Ans.The following is the difference between the transport of materials by xylem and
phloem :
Transport by Xylem Transport by Phloem
1. Xylem carries water and soluble The food substances are transported from the
salts to the trunk, branches and leaves to other parts of the plant in a dissolved
leaves of the tree. state.
2.The rise of water and dissolved This increases the osmotic pressure, which
salts is due to the pull caused transports substances from the phloem to the
by evaporation. tissues, and the pressure decreases.
3.It does not consume energy. It requires energy because it is an active
process.
13. Compare the structure and mechanism of alveoli in the lung and nephron in
the kidney.
Ans.
Alveoli Nephron
1. The alveoli are thin, fine, with a delicate It is a thin cup-shaped structure.
surface. It has a similar structure to a
balloon

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 2. It increases the surface area for the In this, the tubular parts carry urine to
exchange of gases in the lungs. the collecting duct.
3. There is a long and wide network of Its function is to filter. Due to this
blood cells for the exchange of gases. there is re-absorption of beneficial
substances and water.
4. In this, there is diffusion of carbon dioxide Its surface area also increases for filtering
from blood to air and oxygen from air to blood and for reabsorption of water. Urine
blood. remains as the end product

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