Chapter 2

Microorganisms: friend and foe

EXTRA QUESTIONS (Write in Notebook)

Q1 What are viruses?

Ans: The microorganisms which reproduce only inside the cells of the host
organism, which may be bacterium, plant or animal.

They show living as well as non living characters. Till they are independent,
they are non living. As soon as they come in contact with any living
organism, they shows characteristics of living organism. They are
absolutely parasites.

Q2 Define Nitrogen cycle.

Ans: Nitrogen cycle is a cyclic process in which atmospheric nitrogen
enters the soil and becomes a part of living organisms, before returning to
the atmosphere.
Q3 What are communicable diseases? Give three examples.
Ans: Microbial diseases that spread from an infected person to a healthy
person through air, water, food or by physical contact are called
communicable diseases.
Examples: cholera, common cold, chicken pox and tuberculosis.
Q4 Name two diseases caused by microorganisms in animals and plants.

Ans: IN animals: Anthrax and Rinderpest

In plants: Citrus canker and Apple scab

Q5 Name two of each:

Ans: Protozoa: Amoeba, Paramecium and Euglen

Fungi: Yeast, Mushrooms and Mould

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Algae: Chlamydomonas, volvox and seaweeds.
Virus: HIV virus, Corona virus and TMV virus.
Q6 What do you mean by food poisoning and food preservation?
Ans: Food poisoning: When microorganisms like bacteria and fungi grow
on food items then they produce harmful and poisonous substances and
spoil them. Those food items are unfit for consumption. If consumed, those
food items can cause illness .which is known as food poisoning.

Food preservation: The process of treating and handelling food items to

stop or slow down their spoilage, while maintaining their nutritional value,
texture and flavor is known as food preservation.

Q7 How are microorganisms useful in cleaning environment? Explain with

an example.

Ans: Microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi act as decomposers as

they feed on dead and decayed material and convert them into simpler
substances. These substances are used by plants and animals. Thus dead
and decayed material is removed and planet is cleaned.

Also aerobic bacteria is used in sewage treatment plant, where they help in
the decay of organic matter(produced by living organisms) mixed in the
water to be treated.
Q8 Write a short note on food preservation.
Ans: Most of the food materials consumed by us are perishable, means
they can be destroyed easily by microorganisms. Like: fruits, vegetables
and milk. Microbes like bacteria and fungi grow easily on those food items,
in presence of moisture and suitable temperature and destroy the
nutritional values of those items.so they need to be preserved.

There are various methods of food preservation. We can preserve the food
by dehydration method, by deep freezing method, by heating method, by
using chemicals and by canning.Pasteurization is another technique of food
preservation.
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By these methods either microbes are killed or their growth is prevented.

Q9 What do you mean by pasteurization?

Ans: When we heat a food item to a very high temperature about 70

degrees for 15 to 30 seconds, and then rapidly cool it, microbes get killed.
This process is called pasteurization and is very effective to preserve food
like milk.

Q10 Draw two diagrams of each:

Bacteria, Algae, Protozoa, Fungi and Virus (Draw from text book).

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