Life Processes Question & Answers

Q1. Why is diffusion insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multicellular

organisms like humans?

Ans: In multicellular organisms like humans, all the body cells are not in direct contact
with the surrounding environment. Therefore, every cell of the body will not get
oxygen as per need by the process of diffusion from the environment. Therefore
diffusion is insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multicellular organisms.

Q 2. What criteria do we use to decide whether something is alive?

Ans:The main criteria used to decide whether something is alive are breathing and
respiration. However, living beings also show growth and movement.

Q 3. What are outside raw materials used by an organism?

Ans:Any organism uses organic molecules as raw material. Heteroptrophs use food
and autotrophs use carbon dioxide, minerals, water and all organisms use oxygen (for
respiration) as raw materials.

Q 4. What processes would you consider essential for maintaining life?

Ans: Processes essential for maintaining life are :

(i) Nutrition

(ii) Respiration

(iii) Transportation

(iv) Excretion

Q5. Where do plants get each of the raw materials required for photosynthesis?

Ans: (i) Carbon dioxide : Plants get carbon dioxide from the environment/atmosphere
through stomata.

(ii) Water : Plants absorb water from the soil through roots and transport to leaves.

(iii) Sunlight : Plants get sunlight from the sun.

(iv) Chlorophyll : It is present in chloroplast found in green leaves and green parts of
plants.
Q6. What is the role of the acid in our stomach?

Ans: Role of acid in our stomach is:

(i) To make acidic medium this is necessary for the activation of the enzyme pepsin.

(ii) To kill bacteria which the food may contain.

Q7.What is the function of digestive enzymes?

Ans: The food we eat is complex in nature, i.e., it contains complex molecules.
Digestive enzymes break down these complex molecules into smaller simpler
molecules so that they can be absorbed by the walls of the intestine.

Q8.What is the difference between autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic

nutrition?

Ans:

Autotrophic Nutrition Heterotrophic Nutrition

Organism prepares its own food and An organism that does not prepare its own
is not dependent on any other food and is dependent on other organisms
organism. for food.

Food is prepared from CO2, water, Food cannot be prepared from CO2, water,
and sunlight. or sunlight.

Chlorophyll is required for food Chlorophyll is not required for food

preparation. preparation.

Green plants and certain bacteria All animals and fungi, most bacteria, have
have autotrophic modes of heterotrophic modes of nutrition.
nutrition.
Q9.How is the small intestine designed to absorb digested food?

Ans:The small intestine is designed to provide maximum area for absorption of

digested food and its transfer into the blood for its circulation into the body. For this
the inner lining of the small intestine has numerous finger-like projections called villi.
The villi are richly supplied with blood vessels which take the absorbed food to each
and every cell of the body.

Q10. What advantage over an aquatic organism does a terrestrial organism have
with regard to obtaining oxygen for respiration?

Ans: Terrestrial organisms breathe by using atmospheric oxygen, whereas aquatic

organisms take oxygen dissolved in water. The oxygen level is high in the atmosphere
when compared to oxygen in the water. Hence, terrestrial organisms need not
breathe fast to obtain organisms, whereas aquatic organisms need to breathe faster
to get the required oxygen.

Q11. What are the different ways in which glucose is oxidised to provide energy in
various organisms?

Ans: In the cytoplasm, Glucose is first broken down into two 3 carbon compounds
called pyruvate by the process known as Glycolysis. Further breakdown takes place in
different organisms by different processes.

(i) Anaerobic respiration : The anaerobic respiration in plants (like yeast) produces
ethanol and carbon dioxide as end products.

(ii) Aerobic respiration : In aerobic respiration breakdown of pyruvate takes place in

presence of oxygen to give rise three molecules of carbon dioxide and water. The
release of energy in aerobic respiration is much more than in anaerobic respiration.

(iii) Lack of oxygen : Sometimes, when there is lack of oxygen especially during
physical exercise, in our muscles, pyruvate is converted into lactic acid (3 carbon
molecule compound). Formation of lactic acid in muscles causes cramp.

Q12.How is oxygen and carbon dioxide transported in human beings?

Ans:(i) Transport of oxygen : Haemoglobin present in the blood takes up the oxygen
from the air in the lungs. It carries the oxygen to tissues which are deficient in oxygen
before releasing it.
(ii) Transport of carbon dioxide: Carbon dioxide is more soluble in water. Therefore, it
is mostly transported from body tissues in the dissolved form in our blood plasma to
lungs. Here it diffuses from blood to air in the lungs.

Q13. How are the lungs designed in human beings to maximize the area for
exchange of gases?

Ans: Within the lungs, the air passage divides into smaller and smaller tubes, called
bronchi which in turn form bronchioles. The bronchioles terminate in balloon-like
structures, called alveoli. The alveoli present in the lungs provide maximum surface
for exchange of gases. The alveoli have very thin walls and contain an extensive
network of blood vessels to facilitate exchange of gases.

Q14. What are the components of the transport system in human beings ? What
are the functions of these components?

Ans: The transport system (circulatory system) in human beings mainly consists of
heart, blood and blood vessels.

(i) Function of heart : The heart receives deoxygenated blood from the body parts
and pumps it to lungs for enriching with oxygen. It receives purified blood from lungs
and pumps it around the body.

(ii) Function of blood : Blood transports oxygen, carbon dioxide, digested food,
hormones and nitrogeneous waste like urea. It also protects the body from diseases
and regulates the body temperature.

(iii) Function of blood vessels : The blood pushed by the heart flows through the
blood vessels (arteries, veins and capillaries) and also comes back to the heart
through them.

Q15. Why is it necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in

mammals and birds?

Ans: Separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood allows good supply of oxygen
to the body. This system is useful in animals that have high energy requirement.
Mammals and birds constantly need oxygen to get energy to maintain their body
temperature constant.

Q16. What are the components of the transport system in highly organised plants?

Ans: In highly organised plants there are two conducting tissues xylem and phloem.
Xylem consists of vessels, tracheids and other xylem tissues. The interconnected
vessels and tracheids form a continuous system of water conducting channels
reaching all parts of the plant. Xylem carries water and minerals.

Phloem conducts soluble products of photosynthesis from leaves to different parts of

the plant body.

Q17. How is food transported in plants?

Ans: The movement of food in phloem (or translocation) takes place by utilizing
energy. The sugar (food) made in leaves is loaded into the sieve tubes of phloem
tissue by using energy from ATP. Water now enters the sieve tubes containing sugar
by the process of osmosis due to which the pressure in the phloem tissue rises. This
high pressure produced in the phloem tissue moves the food to all parts of the plant
having less pressure in their tissues. This allows the phloem to transport food
according to the needs of the plant.

Q18. How are water and minerals transported in plants?

Ans: 1. Water and minerals are transported through xylem cells from soil to the
leaves.

2. The xylem cells of roots, stem and leaves are interconnected to form a conducting
channel that reaches all parts of the plant.

3. The root cells take ions from the soil. This creates a difference in the concentration
of these ions between the root and the soil.

4. Thus there is a steady movement of water into root xylem, creating a column of
water that is steadily pushed upwards.

5. An osmotic pressure is formed and water and minerals are transported from one
cell to the other due to osmosis.

6. A continuous loss of water takes place from leaves due to evaporation of water
molecules or transpiration.

7.Thus, a suction pressure is created due to which water is forced into the xylem cells
of roots. The effect of root pressure in transport of water is more important at night.
During the day, the transpirational pull becomes the major driving force in the
movement of water in the xylem.

Q19. Describe the structure and functions of nephrons.

Ans: Nephrons: The nephron is the functional unit of the kidney. Each kidney
possesses a large number of nephrons (approx. 1-1.5 million).

Structure of nephrons:

1. The components of the nephron are glomerulus, Bowman's capsule and Long renal
tubule.

2. The Bowman’s capsule is a cup-shaped structure present at the upper end of a

nephron. A tubule is present at the lower end of the nephron

3.The Bowman’s capsule and the collecting duct get attached to the tubule on either
side

4. Bowman’s capsule has numerous blood capillaries known as the glomerulus

Functions of nephron:

1. The blood enters the kidney through the renal artery (which branches into
capillaries associated with the glomerulus).

2. Water and solute are transferred to Bowman's capsule.

3. In the proximal convoluted tubule, glucose and salts are selectively

reabsorbed.

4. Now filtrate moves down into the loop of Henle and then move upward to
the distal convoluted tubule and finally into the collecting duct.

Q20.What are the methods used by plants to get rid of excretory products?

Ans:(i) The plants get rid of gaseous products-through stomata in leaves and lenticels
in stems.

(ii) The plants get rid of stored solid and liquid waste by the shedding off leaves,
peeling off bark and felling off fruits.

(iii) The plants get rid of wastes by secreting them in the form of gums and resins.

(iv) Plants also excrete some waste substances into the soil around them.

Q21. How is the amount of urine produced regulated?

Ans: The amount of urine is regulated by kidney. It depends on the quantity of excess
water and wastes dissolved in water.

(i) Quantity of water: When water is abundant in the body tissues, large quantities of
dilute urine is excreted out. When water is less in quantity in the body tissues, a small
quantity of concentrate urine is excreted.

(ii) Quantity of dissolved wastes : Dissolved wastes, especially nitrogenous wastes,

like urea and uric acid and salts are excreted from the body. When there is more
quantity of dissolved wastes in the body, more quantity of water is required to
excrete them. Therefore, the amount of urine produced increases.

(iii) Hormones: The amount of urine produced is also regulated by certain hormones
which control the movement of water and Na+ ions in and out of the nephrons.

Q22. How are fats digested in our bodies ? Where does this process take place?

Ans: Digestion of fats takes place in the small intestine.

Bile juice secreted by the liver poured in the intestine along with pancreatic juice. The
bile salts present in the bile juice emulsify fhe large globules of fats. Therefore, by
emulsification large globules break down into fine globules to provide larger surface
area to act upon by the enzymes.

Lipase enzyme present in the pancreatic juice causes break down of emulsified fats.
Glands present in the wall of small intestine secrete intestinal juice which contains
lipase enzyme that converts fats into fatty acids and glycerol.

Q23. What is the role of saliva in the digestion of food?

Ans: Saliva contains salivary amylase enzyme that breaks down starch into sugars like
maltose. Saliva keeps the mouth cavity clean and moistens the food that help in
chewing and breaking down the big pieces of food into smaller ones.

Q24. How are the alveoli designed to maximise the exchange of gases?

Ans: (i) The alveoli are thin walled and richly supplied with a network of blood vessels
to facilitate exchange of gases between blood and the air filled in alveoli.

(ii) Alveoli have balloon-like structure. Hence, provide maximum surface for exchange
of gases.
Q25. What would be the consequences of a deficiency of hemoglobin in our
bodies?

Ans:Due to the deficiency of haemoglobin in blood, its oxygen carrying capacity

decreases. As a result the production of energy by oxidation will become slower.
Therefore, one would fall sick and would feel fatigue most of the time.

Q26. Describe double circulation in human beings. Why is it necessary?

Ans: In our heart blood enters twice and also pumped out twice from the heart.

1. The deoxygenated blood from the body is brought to the right atrium through vena
cava from where it is sent to right ventricle.

2. From right ventricle, the blood is pumped to the lungs for oxygenation through
pulmonary artery.

3. The oxygenated blood from lungs again enters the left atrium of the heart through
pulmonary veins from left atrium it is send to left ventricle.

4. Oxygenated blood from left ventricle is pumped to different parts of body through
the arteries. In this way the blood flows through the heart twice, that’s why it is
called ‘double circulation’.

Necessity of double circulation:

· It is necessary as it separates oxygenated and deoxygenated blood

· This systematic manner of double blood circulation helps the body

maintain its constant body temperature

· It provides high energy demand for mammals

· It helps to maintain the high blood pressure in birds and mammals

· It also allows the pure blood to transfer to the different tissues and organs
of the body

· This circulation supplies oxygen to various organs of the body in high

quantities
Q27. Compare the functioning of alveoli in the lungs and nephrons in the kidneys
with respect to their structure and functioning.

Ans:

Alveoli Nephron

1. Alveoli are functional unit of lungs. 1. Nephrons are functional unit of

kidney.

2. A mature lung has about 30 crore 2. A kidney has about 10 lakh nephrons.
alveoli.

3. Alveoli provide a wide surface for 3. The surface area of a nephron is not
gaseous exchange. much more.

4. The exchange of O2 and CO2 takes 4. The Bowman’s capsule in nephron

place through the network of regulates the concentration of water
capillaries in alveoli. and salts.
Q28. What are the differences between the transport of materials in xylem and
phloem?

Ans:

Xylem Phloem

1. Xylem conducts water and 1. Phloem conducts prepared food

dissolved minerals from roots to material from leaves to other parts
leaves and other parts. of the plant in dissolved form.

2. In xylem, the transport of 2. In phloem, transport of material

material takes place through vessels takes place through sieve tubes
and tracheids which are dead with the help of companion cells,
tissues. which are living cells.

3. In xylem upward movement of 3. In translocation, material is

water and dissolved minerals is transferred into phloem tissue using
mainly achieved by transpiration energy from ATP. This increases the
pull. It is caused due to suction osmotic pressure that moves the
created by evaporation of water material in the phloem to tissues
molecules from the cells of a leaf. which have less pressure