Life Process

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1.
Which of the following statements about the autotrophs is incorrect?
A. They synthesize carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of
sunlight and chlorophyll

B. They store carbohydrates in the form of starch

C. They convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates in the absence of
sunlight

D. They constitute the first trophic level in food chains

Answer:
Those organisms which can make their own food from inorganic substances like
carbon dioxide and water in the presence of sunlight, are called autotrophs. All
green plants are the example of autotrophs.

Question 2.
In which of the following groups of organisms, food material is broken down outside
the body and absorbed?
A. Mushroom, green plants, Amoeba

B. Yeast, mushroom, bread mould

C. Paramecium, Amoeba, Cuscuta

D. Cuscuta, lice, tapeworm

Answer:
Saprophytes obtain their food from dead and decaying organisms by secreting
hydrolytic enzymes over food. Examples: Yeast, mushroom,

bread mould.
Question 3.
Select the correct statement
A. Heterotrophs do not synthesise their own food

B. Heterotrophs utilise solar energy for photosynthesis

C. Heterotrophs synthesise their own food

D. Heterotrophs are capable of converting carbon dioxide and water into

carbohydrates

Answer:
Those organisms which cannot make their own food from inorganic substances like
carbon dioxide and water and depend on other organisms for their food are called
heterotrophs. All the animals, fungi, and bacteria are examples of heterotrophs.

Question 4.
Which is the correct sequence of parts in human alimentary canal?
A. Mouth → stomach → small intestine → oesophagus → large intestine

B. Mouth →oesophagus → stomach → large intestine → small intestine

C. Mouth → stomach → oesophagus → small intestine → large intestine

D. Mouth → oesophagus → stomach → small intestine → large intestine

Answer:
The various organs of the human digestive system in sequence are: Mouth,
Oesophagus, Stomach, Small intestine and Large intestine.

Question 5.
If salivary amylase is lacking in the saliva, which of the following events in the
mouth cavity will be affected?
A. Proteins breaking down into amino acids

B. Starch breaking down into sugars

C. Fats breaking down into fatty acids and glycerol

D. Absorption of vitamins
Answer:
In the mouth, salivary glands secrete saliva. Saliva is a watery fluid which contains
an enzyme called salivary amylase which partially digests the starch and converts it
into maltose sugar.

Question 6.
The inner lining of stomach is protected by one of the following from hydrochloric
acid. Choose the correct one
A. Pepsin

B. Mucus

C. Salivary amylase

D. Bile

Answer:
The mucus helps to protect the stomach wall from its own secretions of
hydrochloric acid.

Question 7.
Which part of alimentary canal receives bile from the liver?
A. Stomach

B. Small intestine

C. Large intestine

D. Oesophagus

Answer:
In humans, small intestine is the site of complete digestion of food like
carbohydrates, proteins and fats. It receives the secretions of two glands, liver and
pancreas through a common duct.

Question 8.
A few drops of iodine solution were added to rice water. The solution turned blue-
black in colour. This indicates that rice water contains
A. Complex proteins

B. Simple proteins

C. Fats

D. Starch

Answer:
A few drops of iodine solution were added to rice water. The solution turned blue-
black in colour. This indicates that rice water contains starch because iodine turns
blue-black on reacting with starch.

Question 9.
In which part of the alimentary canal food is finally digested?
A. Stomach

B. Mouth cavity

C. Small intestine

D. Large intestine

Answer:
In humans, small intestine is the site of complete digestion of food like
carbohydrates, proteins and fats. It receives the secretions of two glands, liver and
pancreas through a common duct.

Question 10.
Choose the function of the pancreatic juice from the following
A. Trypsin digests proteins and lipase carbohydrates

B. Trypsin digests emulsified fats and lipase proteins

C. Trypsin and lipase digest fats

D. Trypsin digests proteins and lipase emulsified fats

Answer:
Pancreas secretes pancreatic juice which contains trypsin, lipase and pancreatic
amylase. Trypsin digests the proteins, lipase emulsifies the fats and pancreatic
amylase breaks down the starch.

Question 11.
When air is blown from mouth into a test-tube containing lime water, the lime water

turned milky due to the presence of

A. Oxygen

B. Carbon dioxide

C. Nitrogen

D. Water vapour

Answer:
When air is blown from mouth into a test-tube containing lime water, the lime water
turns milky due to the presence of carbon dioxide.

Question 12.
Which of the following is most appropriate for aerobic respiration?
A. Glucose (in mitochondria) → Pyruvate (in cytoplasm) → CO2 + H2O + Energy

B. Glucose (in cytoplasm) → Pyruvate (in mitochondria) → CO2 + H2O + Energy

C. Glucose (in cytoplasm) → Pyruvate + Energy(in mitochondria) → CO2 + H2O

D. Glucose (in cytoplasm) → Pyruvate + Energy(in mitochondria) → CO2 + H2O +

Energy

Answer:
In the absence of oxygen, a six- carbon molecule, glucose break-down into three
carbon molecule called pyruvate. This process takes place in the cytoplasm.
Further, pyruvate may be converted into carbon dioxide and water in the presence
of oxygen. This process takes place in the mitochondria.

Question 13.
Which of the following statement(s) is (are) true about respiration?

1. During inhalation, ribs move inward and diaphragm is raised

2. In the alveoli, exchange of gases takes place i.e., oxygen from alveolar air
diffuses into

blood and carbon dioxide from blood into alveolar air

3. Haemoglobin has greater affinity for carbon dioxide than oxygen

4. Alveoli increase surface area for exchange of gases

A. (1) and (4)

B. (2) and (3)

C. (1) and (3)

D. (2) and (4)

Answer:
The tiny air-sacs at the end of the smallest bronchioles are known as Alveoli. Alveoli
provides a large surface area for the exchange of gases.

Question 14.
Which is the correct sequence of air passage during inhalation?
A. Nostrils → larynx → pharynx → trachea → lungs

B. Nasal passage → trachea → pharynx → larynx → alveoli

C. Larynx → nostrils → pharynx → lungs

D. Nostrils → pharynx → larynx → trachea → alveoli

Answer:
The correct sequence of air passage during inhalation is :

nostrils pharynx larynx trachea alveoli

Question 15.
During respiration exchange of gases take place in
A. Trachea and larynx
B. Alveoli of lungs

C. Alveoli and throat

D. Throat and larynx

Answer:
The tiny air-sacs at the end of the smallest bronchioles are known as Alveoli. Alveoli
is the place where gaseous exchange take place.

Question 16.
Which of the following statement (s) is (are) true about heart?

1. Left atrium receives oxygenated blood from different parts of body while right
atrium receives deoxygenated blood from lungs

2. Left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to different body parts while right ventricle
pumps deoxygenated blood to lungs

3. Left atrium transfers oxygenated blood to right ventricle which sends it to different
body parts

4. Right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from different parts of the body while
left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to different parts of the body.
A. (1)

B. (2)

C. (2) and (4)

D. (1) and(3)

Answer:
Left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to different body parts while right ventricle
pumps deoxygenated blood to lungs. Whereas right atrium receives deoxygenated
blood from different parts of the body while left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to
different parts of the body. Hence, Deoxygenated blood flows through the right side
of the heart. Oxygenated blood flows through the left side of the heart.

Question 17.
What prevents backflow of blood inside the heart during contraction?
A. Valves in heart

B. Thick muscular walls of ventricles

C. Thin walls of atria

D. All of the above

Answer:
Valves prevent the backflow of blood inside the heart during contraction. They allow
the flow of blood in only one direction.

Question 18.
Single circulation i.e., blood flows through the heart only once during one cycle of
passage through the body, is exhibited by
A. Labeo, Chameleon, Salamander

B. Hippocampus, Exocoetus, Anabas

C. Hyla, Rana, Draco

d.Whale, Dolphin, Turtle

Answer:
Single circulation is found in fishes. Hippocampus, Exoceotus, Anabas exhibit
single circulation of blood because these animals belong to pisces.

Question 19.
In which of the following vertebrate group/groups, heart does not pump oxygenated
blood to different parts of the body?
A. Pisces and amphibians

B. Amphibians and reptiles

C. Amphibians only

D. Pisces only
Answer:
In fishes, heart sends the blood to gills from where blood is circulated to different
organs.

Question 20.
Choose the correct statement that describes arteries.
A. They have thick elastic walls, blood flows under high pressure; collect blood from
different organs and bring it back to the heart

B. They have thin walls with valves inside, blood flows under low pressure and
carry blood away from the heart to various organs of the body

C. They have thick elastic walls, blood flows under low pressure; carry blood from
the heart to various organs of the body

D. They have thick elastic walls without valves inside, blood flows under high
pressure and carry blood away from the heart to different parts of the body.

Answer:
Arteries have thick elastic walls without valves inside, blood flows under high
pressure and carry blood away from the heart to different parts of the body.

Question 21.
The filtration units of kidneys are called
A. Urethra

B. Ureter

C. Neurons

D. Nephrons

Answer:
The functional unit of human excretory system is nephrons. Urine formation takes
place in nephrons of kidneys.

Question 22.
Oxygen liberated during photosynthesis comes from
A. Water
B. Chlorophyll

C. Carbon dioxide

D. Glucose

Answer:
The oxygen liberated during photosynthesis by green plants comes from water.

Question 23.
The blood leaving the tissues becomes richer in
A. Carbon dioxide

B. Water

C. Haemoglobin

D. Oxygen

Answer:
The blood leaving the tissues becomes richer in carbon dioxide. When the
oxygenated blood passes through the capillaries of the tissue, it gives oxygen to the
body cells and takes carbon dioxide, produced during respiration. Thus, it becomes
richer in carbon dioxide.

Question 24.
Which of the following is an incorrect statement?
A. Organisms grow with time

B. Organisms must repair and maintain their structure

C. Movement of molecules does not take place among cells

D. Energy is essential for life processes

Answer:
Movement of molecules does not take place among cells
Question 25.
The internal (cellular) energy reserve in autotrophs is
A. Glycogen

B. Protein

C. Starch

D. Fatty acid

Answer:
The food prepared in the plant(autotroph) by the process of photosynthesis is
glucose then it gets stored in plant leaves in the form of starch.

Question 26.
Which of the following equations is the summary of photosynthesis?
A. 6CO2 + 12H2O → C6H12O6 + 6CO2 + 6H2O

B. 6CO2 + H2O + Sunlight → C6H12O6 + O2 + 6H2O

C. 6CO2 + 12H2O + Chlorophyll + Sunlight → C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O

D. 6CO2 + 12H2O + Chlorophyll + Sunlight → C6H12O6 + 6CO2 + 6H2O

Answer:
Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants make their own food by using
simple substances like CO2 and water in the presence of sunlight.

Question 27.
Choose the event that does not occur in photosynthesis
A. Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll

B. Reduction of carbon dioxide to carbohydrates

C. Oxidation of carbon to carbon dioxide

D. Conversion of light energy to chemical energy

Answer:
The process of photosynthesis takes place in the following three steps:

• Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll

• Conversion of light energy to chemical energy and splitting of water molecules into
hydrogen and oxygen.

• Reduction of carbon dioxide to carbohydrates.

Question 28.
The opening and closing of the stomatal pore depends upon
A. Oxygen

B. Temperature

C. Water in guard cells

D. Concentration of CO2 in stomata

Answer:
The guard cells regulate the opening and closing of stomatal pores. They swell,
when water flows into the guard cells and stomatal pores get opens. Similarly, when
the guard cells lose water, they shrink, become straight and the stomatal pores get
closed.

Question 29.
Choose the forms in which most plants absorb nitrogen

1. Proteins

2. Nitrates and Nitrites

3. Urea

4. Atmospheric nitrogen
A. (1) and (2)

B. (2) and (3)

C. (3) and (4)

D. (1) and (4)

Answer:
Plants take up nitrogen from the soil in the form of inorganic salts called nitrates (or
nitrites), or in the form of organic compounds which are produced by bacteria from
the atmospheric nitrogen.

Question 30.
Which is the first enzyme to mix with food in the digestive tract?
A. Pepsin

B. Cellulase

C. Amylase

D. Trypsin

Answer:
Saliva is a watery fluid which contains an enzyme called salivary amylase. Salivary
amylase acts on starch and breaks down it into sugar.

Question 31.
Which of the following statement(s) is (are) correct?

1. Pyruvate can be converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide by yeast

2. Fermentation takes place in aerobic bacteria

3. Fermentation takes place in mitochondria

4. Fermentation is a form of anaerobic respiration

A. (1) and (3)

B. (2) and (4)

C. (1) and (4)

D. (2) and (3)

Answer:
Fermentation is a form of anaerobic respiration. Pyruvate can be converted into
ethanol and carbon dioxide by yeast during fermentation.

Question 32.
Lack of oxygen in muscles often leads to cramps among cricketers. This results due
to
A. Conversion of pyruvate to ethanol

B. Conversion of pyruvate to glucose

C. Non conversion of glucose to pyruvate

D. Conversion of pyruvate to lactic acid

Answer:
Due to the lack of oxygen, anaerobic respiration takes place in the human muscles
that leads to conversion of Pyruvate (prepared after breakdown of Glucose during
cellular respiration) into Lactic acid, which leads to muscle cramps.

Question 33.
Choose the correct path of urine in our body
A. kidney → ureter → urethra → urinary bladder

B. kidney → urinary bladder → urethra → ureter

C. kidney → ureters → urinary bladder → urethra

D. urinary bladder → kidney → ureter → urethra

Answer:
Urine formation takes place inside the kidney. Ureter carries urine from kidneys to
bladder. Bladder stores the urine temporarily. Then the urine is discharged out of
the body through urethra.

Question 34.
During deficiency of oxygen in tissues of human beings, pyruvic acid is converted
into lactic acid in the
A. Cytoplasm

B. Chloroplast

C. Mitochondria

D. Golgi body

Answer:
In the absence of oxygen, pyruvic acid is converted into lactic acid in the cytoplasm
of the cell.

Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
Name the following:

(1) The process in plants that links light energy with chemical energy
(2) Organisms that can prepare their own food

(3) The cell organelle where photosynthesis occurs

(4) Cells that surround a stomatal pore

(5) Organisms that cannot prepare their own food

(6) An enzyme secreted from gastric glands in stomach that acts on proteins.

Answer:
(1) Photosynthesis

(2) Autotrophs

(3) Chloroplast

(4) Guard cells

(5) Heterotrophs

(6) Pepsin

Question 2.
“All plants give out oxygen during day and carbon dioxide during night”. Do you
agree with this statement? Give reason.

Answer:
No, this statement is not completely justified. The process of respiration occurs
throughout the day and night as well like other living things. During the day through
respiration carbon dioxide is produced which is used in process of photosynthesis
by leaves. The process of photosynthesis does not take place in the night, hence it
occurs only in the day time. Oxygen is produced by plants only during the day time.

Question 3.
How do the guard cells regulate opening and closing of stomatal pores?

Answer:
The guard cells regulate the opening and closing of stomatal pores. They swell,
when water flows into the guard cells and stomatal pores get opens. Similarly, when
the guard cells lose water, they shrink, become straight and the stomatal pores get
closed.

Question 4.
Two green plants are kept separately in oxygen free containers, one in the dark and
the other in continuous light. Which one will live longer? Give reasons.

Answer:
Plant which is placed in continuous light will live longer because it can do the
process of photosynthesis by using light and produce oxygen which is required for
the respiration. While plant which is placed in dark does not do the process of
photosynthesis due to lack of light.
Question 5.
If a plant is releasing carbon dioxide and taking in oxygen during the day, does it
mean that there is no photosynthesis occurring? Justify your Solution.

Answer:
If plant is releasing CO2 and taking in O2, it doesn’t mean that no photosynthesis is
happening in the plant. In day time, plants perform both respiration and
photosynthesis simultaneously. Plants use up all carbon dioxide released by
respiration in the process of photosynthesis. Similarly, some of the oxygen
produced during photosynthesis is used up in respiration.

Question 6.
Why do fishes die when taken out of water?

Answer:
Fishes do not have lungs which can take oxygen from air. Hence, they die when
taken out of water. They have gills which can only take oxygen dissolved in water.

Question 7.
Differentiate between an autotroph and a heterotroph.

Answer:
Differences between an autotroph and a heterotroph:
Question 8.
Is ‘nutrition’ a necessity for an organism? Discuss.

Answer:
Nutrition is a physical process by which living organisms obtain raw materials
(nutrients) to sustain their life. Carbohydrates, fats, proteins, minerals, vitamins and
water are examples of nutrients which organisms obtain from their surroundings.
Nutrition is necessary for organisms as it provides energy to them for metabolic
activities, growth and tissue repair.
Question 9.
What would happen if green plants disappear from earth?

Answer:
Green plants are the source of food for all living organisms. So, if all the green
plants disappear from the earth, then all the organisms will die because of
starvation.

Question 10.
Leaves of a healthy potted plant were coated with Vaseline. Will this plant remain
healthy for long? Give reasons for your Solution.

Answer:
The plant whose leaves are coated with vaseline will not remain healthy for long
because vaseline will make a coating on the leaves. This will close the stomata due
to which plant will stop exchange of gases and transpiration. This plant won’t be
able to get carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. Thus, the plant will not be able to
prepare its food. As a result, plant will die.

Question 11.
How does aerobic respiration differ from anaerobic respiration?

Answer:
Question 12.
Match the words of column A with that of column B

Answer:
(a) → (ii), (b) → (i), (c) → (iv), (d) → (iii)

Question 13.
Differentiate between an artery and a vein.

Answer:
Artery

(i) Thick-walled blood vessel

(ii) Blood flows from the heart to different parts of the body

(iii) Blood flows with high pressure with a high speed

(iv) Valves are absent

Vein

• Thin walled blood vessel.

• Brings blood from the different parts of the body to the heart.

• Blood flows with low pressure and with a low speed.

• Contains valves which permit blood flow only towards the heart.

Question 14.
What are the adaptations of leaf for photosynthesis?

Answer:
The adaptations of leaf for photosynthesis are as follows:

1. Leaf has numerous stomata on its surface to absorb carbon dioxide from the air.
2. Leaf has chloroplast inside the leaf cells. The process of photosynthesis takes
place in the chloroplast.

Question 15.
Why is small intestine in herbivores longer than in carnivores?

Answer:
Cellulose is a carbohydrate that is digested with difficulty. Herbivores animals like
cow, ox, and buffalo that eat only plants (grass) have a longer small intestine to
allow the cellulose, present in the plants to be digested completely.

Question 16.
What will happen if mucus is not secreted by the gastric glands?

Answer:
The mucus helps to protect the stomach wall from the secretion of hydrochloric
acid. If mucus is not secreted by gastric glands, hydrochloric acid will cause the
erosion of inner lining of stomach leading to the formation of ulcers in the stomach.

Question 17.
What is the significance of emulsification of fats?

Answer:
Emulsification is the process of breaking down of the large fat molecule into smaller
molecule and make them water soluble. Thus, it becomes easy for the related
enzyme to digest the fat.

Question 18.
Why does absorption of digested food occur mainly in the small intestine?

Answer:
The inner surface of small intestine has numerous finger-like structures, called Villi.
Villi increase the surface area of small intestine so that optimal absorption takes
place.

Question 19.
Match Group (A) with Group (B)

Answer:
(a) → (iv), (b) → (iii), (c) → (i), (d) → (ii)

Question 20.
Why is the rate of breathing in aquatic organisms much faster than in terrestrial
organisms

Answer:
The oxygen content of water is much less than the oxygen content of air and hence
rate of breathing is aquatic organisms is faster than in terrestrial organisms.

Question 21.
Why is blood circulation in human heart called double circulation?

Answer:
In double circulation, blood passes through the heart twice in one complete cycle of
the body.

Question 22.
What is the advantage of having four chambered heart?

Answer:
The four-chambered heart is found in all mammals, birds and in the crocodile. In
four chambered heart, left half is completely separated from right half by septa.
Thus, It prevents the mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.

Second, it allows the efficient supply of oxygenated blood to all parts of the body.
This is useful in animals that have high energy needs such as mammals and birds.

Question 23.
Mention the major events during photosynthesis.

Answer:
The process of photosynthesis takes place in the following three steps:

• Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll

• Conversion of light energy to chemical energy and splitting of water molecules into
hydrogen and oxygen.

• Reduction of carbon dioxide to carbohydrates.

Question 24.
In each of the following situations what happens to the rate of photosynthesis?

(i) Cloudy days

(ii) No rainfall in the area

(iii) Good manuring in the area

(iv) Stomata get blocked due to dust

(v) What causes movement of food inside the alimentary canal?

Answer:
(i) The rate of photosynthesis decreases in cloudy days.

(ii) The rate of photosynthesis decreases in the area where there is no rainfall for a
considerable time.

(iii) There is no effect of manure on rate of photosynthesis.

(iv) The rate of photosynthesis decreases when dust gathers on the leaves.

(v) The contraction and expansion movements of the oesophagus called peristaltic
movements, push the food down inside the alimentary canal.

Question 25.
Name the energy currency in the living organisms. When and where is it produced?

Answer:
The energy currency in the living organisms is called as “ATP”. During anaerobic
respiration in lower organisms, it is produced in cytoplasm while in higher
organisms, which respire aerobically, it is produced in mitochondria.

Question 26.
What is common for cuscuta, ticks and leeches?

Answer:
All are parasites because they derive their food from other living organisms without
killing them.

Question 27.
Explain the role of mouth in digestion of food.

Answer:
In human beings, digestion of food starts from the mouth. Mouth opens into a
chamber or cavity called buccal cavity. The buccal cavity contains teeth, tongue and
salivary glands. The teeth cut the food into small pieces, chew and grind it. Thus,
teeth help in physical digestion. Salivary glands produce saliva which mixes with
the food. Saliva is a watery fluid that makes the food slippery for swallowing. These
glands help in chemical digestion of food.

The saliva contains an enzyme called salivary amylase which digests the starch
into maltose sugar.

Question 28.
Why do veins have thin walls as compared to arteries?

Answer:
Veins have thin walls because blood flows inside them with low pressure and with a
low speed. Whereas arteries have thick walls because blood flows inside them with
high pressure and with a high speed.

Question 29.
What are the functions of gastric glands present in the wall of the stomach?
Answer:
Gastric glands performs following functions:

(1) They release mucus which protect the stomach wall from its own secretions of
hydrochloric acid.

(2) They produce gastric acid which makes acidic medium inside the stomach.

(3) They release the gastric enzymes pepsin and rennin.

Question 30.
Match the terms in Column (A) with those in Column (B)

Answer:
(a) → (i), (b) → (iv), (c) → (ii), (d) → (iii)

Question 31.
Name the correct substrates for the following enzymes:

(a) Trypsin (b) Amylase (c) Pepsin (d) Lipase

Answer:
(a) Trypsin: peptide, (b) Amylase: starch, (c) Pepsin: protein, (d) Lipase: fat

Question 32.
What will happen if platelets were absent in the blood?

Answer:
The main function of platelets is to prevent bleeding. Platelets helps in the
coagulation of blood (clotting of blood) in a cut or wound. No blood coagulation
would take place in the absence of platelets. This would be a dangerous situation;
in case of an injury.

Question 33.
Plants have low energy needs as compared to animals. Explain.

Answer:
Plants have low energy needs as compared to animals because they do not move.
Moreover, in a large plant there are many dead cells like sclerenchyma because of
which they also need less energy.

Question 34.
Why and how does water enter continuously into the root xylem?

Answer:
Xylem tissue transports water and minerals in plants from the soil to leaves. Xylem
vessels and tracheids are elements of xylem tissues. They are interconnected in
roots, stem and leaves and form a continuous system of water-conducting channels
reaching all parts of the plant. Plants take in water from the soil through the roots.
The roots have root hairs to absorb water and minerals from the soil by diffusion.
Each root hair is single-celled structure. The absorbed water and minerals passes
from cell to cell by osmosis through epidermis, root cortex, endodermis and then
reach the root xylem. Root pressure is responsible for transport of water up to root
xylem.The water enters the root xylem into the stem xylem and then reaches the
leaves from the petioles.

Question 35.
Why is transpiration important for plants?

Answer:
The loss of water in the form of vapour from the aerial parts of the plant is known as
transpiration. Transpiration helps in the upward movement of water and dissolved
minerals from the roots to the leaves through the stem. Moreover, transpiration is a
way through which plants get rid of excess water. So, transpiration is important for
plants.

Question 36.
How do leaves of plants help in excretion?

Answer:
Leaves of plants help in excretion in many ways:

1. Excess of water in plant is discarded by the process of transpiration that takes

place through the leaves.

2. Gaseous waste i.e., carbon dioxide is removed through stomata present on the
leaves.

3. Some waste materials get accumulated in older leaves. When old leaves fall, the
waste materials are excreted along with the leaves.

Question 37.
Explain the process of nutrition in Amoeba.

Answer:
Nutrition in amoeba: Nutrition in amoeba involves the following steps-

(i) Ingestion: Amoeba is a unicellular organism which feeds on microscopic plants

and animals which float on water. The mode of nutrition in Amoeba is holozoic.
Amoeba has no mouth for ingestion of food. It ingests the food by using finger-like
extension of cell surface called pseudopodia. The food is engulfed with little water
to form a food vacuole.

(ii) Digestion: The food is digested in the food vacuole by digestive enzymes which
break down the food into small and soluble molecules by chemical reactions.

(iii) Absorption: The digested food, present in the food vacuole is absorbed directly
into the cytoplasm by diffusion. The digested food spreads out from the food
vacuole into the whole amoeba cell. After absorption, the food vacuole shrinks and
disappears.

(iv) Assimilation: In this step, the absorbed food is used to obtain energy through
respiration and other metabolic activities which lead to the growth of Amoeba.

(v) Egestion: Amoeba has no particular point from which the egestion takes place.
When considerable amount of undigested food collects inside the cell, then its cell
membrane ruptures at any place. Through this, the undigested food is thrown out of
the body.

Question 38.
Describe the alimentary canal of man.

Answer:
The human alimentary canal has following main parts:

Mouth: Alimentary canal starts from the mouth and ends in the anus. Mouth opens
into a chamber or cavity called buccal cavity. The buccal cavity contains teeth,
tongue and salivary glands. The teeth cut the food into small pieces, chew and
grind it.

Oesophagus: Buccal cavity opens into pharynx which leads to a long tube called
Oesophagus. Oesophagus is also known as food pipe. The walls of Oesophagus
are highly muscular. Digestion does not occur in the Oesophagus. It carries the
food down into the stomach.

Stomach: Stomach is a bag-like organ. Highly muscular walls of the stomach help
in churning the food.
Small Intestine: It is a highly coiled tube-like structure. The small intestine is longer
than the large intestine but its lumen is smaller than that of the large intestine. The
small intestine is divided into three parts, viz. duodenum, jejunum and ileum. In
humans, small intestine is the site of complete digestion of food like carbohydrates,
proteins and fats.

Large Intestine: Undigested food goes into the large intestine. Anus is the opening
at the end of the alimentary canal through which undigested food is thrown out.

Question 39.
Explain the process of breathing in man.

Answer:
Breathing is the process by which organisms takes oxygen from the air and
releases carbon dioxide. It is a simple process which is controlled by the diaphragm
and the intercostal muscles. Breathing in human has two phases- Inhalation and
exhalation.

During inhalation, the diaphragm contracts and flattened and the intercostal
muscles contracts to pull the ribs up and out. Thus, the lungs expand and air is
inhaled.

During exhalation, diaphragm relaxes and moves up, the lungs contract and air is
exhaled.

Question 40.
Explain the importance of soil for plant growth.

Answer:
Soil is important for plant growth because-

Soil serve as reservoir of water and mineral absorbed by plants roots to support
plant growth and development.

Soil holds the plants and provides the base on which all the terrestrial plants and
even some aquatic plants grow.
 Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
How do carbohydrates, proteins and fats get digested in human beings?

Answer:
(i) Carbohydrates - The digestion of carbohydrates occurs in the mouth, stomach
and small intestine. In the mouth, saliva mixes with the food. Saliva contains an
enzyme called salivary amylase which partially digests the carbohydrate and
converts it into maltose sugar. When the slightly digested food reaches into the
small intestine, pancreatic amylase present in the pancreatic juice breaks down the
starch. The walls of the small intestine secrete the intestinal juice which finally
converts it into glucose and completes the digestion of carbohydrates.

(ii) Fats - The digestion of fats begins in the stomach. In the stomach, gastric glands
secrete a small amount of gastric lipase that breaks down the fats present in the
food. In the small intestine, the pancreatic lipase breaks down the emulsified fats.
The intestinal juice, secreted by the walls of small intestine, finally converts the fats
into fatty acids and glycerol.

(iii) Proteins - The digestion of proteins begins in the stomach. In the stomach,
gastric glands secrete gastric juice which contains an enzyme called pepsin which
converts the proteins into peptones. Pancreatic juice contains trypsin which digests
the proteins into peptides and the intestinal juice completes the process of digestion
of proteins thus converting it into amino acids.

Question 2.
Explain the mechanism of photosynthesis.

Answer:
The process of photosynthesis can be represented as:
The process of photosynthesis takes place in the green leaves of a plant. Plants
need carbon dioxide and water for the process of photosynthesis. Plants take
carbon dioxide from the air. Carbon dioxide enters the leaves through tiny pores
present on the leaves’ surface called stomata. Plants take water from the soil
through their roots by the process of osmosis. The xylem vessels then transport the
water to the leaves where it reaches the chloroplast containing cells and is utilized
in photosynthesis. The process of photosynthesis takes place in the presence of
sunlight. The sunlight provides energy required to carry out the chemical reactions
involved in the preparation of food. This sunlight energy is absorbed by the green
pigment called chlorophyll. The process of photosynthesis takes place in the
following three steps:

• Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll

• Conversion of light energy to chemical energy and splitting of water molecules into
hydrogen and oxygen.

• Reduction of carbon dioxide to carbohydrates.

Question 3.
Explain the three pathways of breakdown in living organisms.

Answer:
At first, glucose is broken down into three carbon molecule called pyruvate. This
process happens in the cytoplasm of cells of all organisms. On the basis of
presence or absence of oxygen, it is two types- Aerobic respiration and Anaerobic
respiration.

Aerobic Respiration: This type of respiration happens in the presence of oxygen. In

this respiration, glucose is complete oxidized into carbon dioxide and water. Energy
is also released at the end of this process.

Anaerobic Respiration: This process takes place in the absence of oxygen. In this
case, pyruvic acid either converted into ethyl alcohol or lactic acid. Ethyl alcohol is
usually formed in case of anaerobic respiration in microbes; like yeast or bacteria.
Lactic acid is formed in some microbes as well as in the muscle cells.
Question 4.
Describe the flow of blood through the heart of human beings.

Answer:
Following steps are included in the flow of blood through the heart of human
beings:

(i) The pulmonary vein brings the oxygenated blood from the lungs in the left atrium
of the heart.

(ii) Left atrium contracts and pumps blood into the left ventricle through valve.

(iii) When the left ventricle contracts, the oxygenated blood enters the main artery
called aorta. The blood travels from the main artery to larger and smaller arteries
into the capillary network.

(iv) The aorta transports the blood to all the organs of the body except the lungs.
The oxygenated blood releases oxygen, nutrients and other substances and takes
on carbon dioxide and waste substances. The deoxygenated blood enters the vena
cava which carry it to the right atrium of the heart.

(v) Right atrium pumps deoxygenated blood into the right ventricle through the
valve.

(vi) When the right ventricle contracts, the deoxygenated blood enters the lungs
through pulmonary artery and releases carbon dioxide and absorbs fresh oxygen
from air. The blood becomes oxygenated again and is sent to the left atrium of heart
by pulmonary vein for circulation in the body. This whole process is repeated
continuously.
Question 5.
Describe the process of urine formation in kidneys.

Answer:
Urine formation: Urine is formed inside the kidney in the nephron. Nephron is a
functional unit of kidney. The blood containing waste like urea enters the glomerulus
which filters the blood. Water, urea, and other salts like glucose are filtered out in
renal tubule. The filtered fluid is called glomerular fluid. When the filtrate containing
useful substances as well as the waste substances passes through the tubule, the
useful substances like glucose, amino acids, most salts and water are reabsorbed
into the blood through blood capillaries surrounding the tubule. Certain substances
which are harmful and not needed by the body like urea, remain behind in the
tubule. This yellowish liquid is called urine.