CHAPTER:9 REPRODUCTION

A.Choose the most appropriate answer:

Question 1: Which of these are the male reproductive organs in humans?

(a) sperms

(b) ova

(c) testes

(d) ovaries

ANSWER:(c) testes

Question 2: Which of the following is a hermaphrodite animal?

(a) frog

(b) cow

(c) dog

(d) earthworm

ANSWER:(d) earthworm

Question 3: In __________, the offspring grows out of the parent's body.

(a) Hydra

(b) Amoeba

(c) Paramecium

(d) human

ANSWER:(a) Hydra

Question 4: In humans, fertilization occurs in

(a) oviduct.

(b) uterus.

(c) ovary.

(d) vagina.
ANSWER:

(a) oviduct

Question 5: In a mosquito, the eggs hatch to produce

(a) pupa.

(b) larva.

(c) embryo.

(d) adult mosquito.

ANSWER:(b) larva

Question 6: Which of the following reproduces by splitting into two?

(a) Hydra

(b) mosquito

(c) Amoeba

(d) frog

ANSWER:(c) Amoeba

Question 7: The fusion of sperm and egg produces

(a) zygote.

(b) larva.

(c) pupa.

(d) embryo.

ANSWER:(a) zygote

Question 8: Humans start becoming sexually mature at the ages of

(a) 10−16.

(b) 3−5.

(c) 13−18.
(d) 25−30.

ANSWER:(a) 10-16

B. Answer the questions in one word:

Question 1:An earthworm, being a hermaphrodite, can reproduce on its own without the need of a
partner. True or false?

ANSWER: False.

Question 2 What is the onset of sexual maturity in animals known as?

ANSWER: The onset of sexual maturity in animals is known as puberty.

Question 3 In humans, which organ produces the ovum?

ANSWER: In humans, an ovary produces the ovum.

Question 4 Fertilization in humans takes place in the uterus. True or false?

ANSWER: False.

Question 5 Females of all mammals produce a single ovum at a time. True or false?

ANSWER: False.

Question 6: In mosquito, the life cycle is as follows: egg → pupa → larva → mosquito. True or false?

ANSWER: False.

Question 7:The process of cells changing their size, shape and form to form specialized cells is called
__________

ANSWER: The process of cells changing their size, shape and form to form specialised cell is called
differentiation.

Question 8:The transformation of the larva into an adult through drastic changes is called __________

ANSWER: The transformation of the larva into an adult through drastic changes is called metamorphosis.

C. Answer in one or two sentences:

Question 1: Why is reproduction important?

ANSWER: Reproduction is important for living organisms to maintain their population and to ensure the
continuance of their own kind, generation after generation. Without reproduction, the life would not
exist.

Question 2: How is sexual reproduction different from asexual reproduction?

ANSWER: Difference between sexual and asexual reproduction:

SEXUAL REPRODUCTION ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

It is the process that involves two parents (i.e. a male It is the process that requires only one parent.
and a female).

The offspring produced are not identical to their parent. The offspring produced are identical to their parent.

It gives rise to diversity among living organisms. It does not gives rise to diversity among living
organisms.

Question 3: What is menstruation?

ANSWER:Menstruation is the process in which blood and mucus flow out every month through the
vagina due to the rupture of the lining of uterus if fertilisation does not occur.

Question 4: What is cell division?

ANSWER: Cell division is a process of cell multiplication where a parent cell divides into two or more new
daughter cells.

Question 5: What is metamorphosis?

ANSWER: Metamorphosis is a biological process of transforming larva into an adult. The process involves
relatively abrupt changes in the animal's structure through cell growth and development.

Question 6:List the various stages in the life cycle of a mosquito.

ANSWER: The various stages in the life cycle of a mosquito are as follows:

Egg → larva → pupa → adult mosquito

D. Answer the questions in short:

Question 1:Differentiate between external and internal fertilization, giving two examples of each.
ANSWER:

Difference between external and internal fertilisation

EXTERNAL FERTILIZATION INTERNAL FERTILIZATION

Fertilisation that takes place outside the female body is Fertilisation that takes place inside the female body is
called external fertilisation. called internal fertilisation.

Large number of eggs are produced. Less number of eggs or a single egg is produced.

Examples include fish, frog, starfish, etc. Examples include humans, cows, hens, etc.

Question 2: How does fertilization occur in frogs?

ANSWER:In frog, fertilisation takes place outside the female body. This type of fertilisation is known as
external fertilisation.

During rainy season, the female frog lays hundreds of eggs in water. As the eggs are laid by females, the
male frog releases sperms close to it. These sperms swim in water, reach the eggs and fertilise them.

Question 3: How and where does fertilisation take place in human beings?

ANSWER: Fertilisation is the process in which the sperm (male gametes) fuses with the ovum (female
gametes) to form a single cell called zygote. During sexual intercourse, sperm cells enter the women's
vagina, swim through the uterus (womb) and enter the oviduct, where a ripe egg may be present. When
they reach a potential egg, one of the sperms fuses with the egg to form a zygote. The zygote undergoes
division and specific changes to grow into a new individual.

Question 4: What happens in the female body if the ovum is not fertilized by a sperm?

ANSWER: If fertilisation does not takes place in the female body, the inner lining of uterus breaks down
slowly and is released out in the form of blood and mucus from the vagina. This process is known as
menstruation. This is usually a 28-day cycle.

Question 5: How does Hydra reproduce?

ANSWER: Hydra reproduces asexually through budding.

In Hydra, the cells divide rapidly at a specific site and develop as an outgrowth called bud. These buds
remain attached to the parent body and develop into smaller individuals. When these individuals
become fully mature, they detach from the parent body and develop as an independent individual.

Question 7: Explain what happens after a hen lays a fertilised egg.

ANSWER: After a hen lays a fertilised egg, the parent hen sits and warms the egg or keeps it safely in a
warm place till it hatches. After three weeks of development, the chick is completely developed and
bursts out opening the egg shell.

E. Answer these questions:

Question 1: Give details of two different ways in which a zygote develops in animals with internal
fertilisation.

ANSWER:The following are the two different ways in which a zygote develops in animals with internal
fertilisation:

(i) Fertilisation in reptiles, birds and mammals, including humans, takes place inside the female's
body. Millions of sperm cells from the male are transferred to the female body. When they reach the
egg, one of the sperm fuses with it to form a fertilised egg known as zygote.

(ii) Hermaphroditic animals like earthworm cannot fertilise on their own. They needs to mate with
another worm in order to exchange genetic material. Here, the eggs are fertilised internally with the
sperms received from the partner.

Question 2: What is puberty? What is it caused by? What changes occur in boys and girls during
puberty?

ANSWER: Puberty is the time of life when a boy or a girl becomes sexually mature. It happens at the age
group of 10–15 for girls and 11–16 for boys.

Puberty is caused by the release of hormones.

Changes that occur in boys during puberty:

(i) Deepening of voice

(ii) Growth of facial hair (beard and moustaches)

(iii) Development of muscles and broadening of shoulders

(iv) Production of sperms by the testes

Changes that occur in girls during puberty:

(i) Development of breast

(ii) Widening of pelvic region and broadening of hips

(iii) Start of menstrual cycle

Question 3: Discuss how a zygote develops into an individual in humans.

ANSWER: After the process of fertilisation, the zygote travels down in the oviduct and divides repeatedly
to give rise to a ball of cells. The cells then begin to form groups that develop into different tissues and
organs of the body. This developing structure is called embryo. The embryo gets embedded in the wall
of uterus for further development. The stage of embryo in which our body parts can be distinguished
easily is known as a foetus. The embryo/foetus grows in the mother's uterus for about nine month. After
nine months, the mother is ready to give birth to a fully developed foetus.

Question 4: Explain the life cycle of a frog with the help of a labelled diagram.

ANSWER: The life cycle of a frog has three distinct stages:Eggs → Tadpole (larva) → Adult frog

Female frogs lay eggs. These eggs hatch into larvae known as tadpoles. The tadpoles are fish-like and
have gills, a tail and a small circular mouth. They can swim freely within the water. After few weeks,
tadpoles grow and undergo some abrupt changes in their structure through cell growth and
development. As a result of such changes, the tadpoles are gradually transformed into frogs.

Hots Questions: Think and Answer.

Question 1:Can the process of a child changing into an adult be called metamorphosis?

ANSWER: No. The process of metamorphosis involves relatively abrupt changes in the animal's body.
Since, in human beings, body parts similar to the adult are present from the time of the birth, there are
no drastic changes. Hence, the process of a child changing into an adult cannot be called
metamorphosis.
Question 2: Why do you think it is necessary for frogs and fishes to lay so many eggs?

ANSWER: Yes, it is necessary for frogs and fishes to lay large number of eggs because they are exposed
to the external environment that may destroy many eggs. Hence, laying eggs in a large number promote
fertilisation and also increase the chances of survival of at least few of the fertilised eggs.

Question 3:What do you think would have happened if humans also gave birth to a large number of
babies at the same time?

ANSWER: If humans gave birth to a large number of babies at the same time, then our earth would have
overpopulated and our natural resources would have depleted.

Question 4: Can a woman with a blocked fallopian tube give birth to a child? Why?

ANSWER: No. A woman with a blocked fallopian tube cannot give birth to a child. It is because
fertilisation takes place in the woman's fallopian tube. If the fallopian tube is blocked, the egg released
from the ovary would not be able to pass through the blockage. As a result, the egg and sperm won't be
able to meet and fertilisation would not take place.

Question 5: Under what circumstances can twins be born in humans?

ANSWER: Under following circumstances twins can be born in humans:

(i) The zygote or fertilised egg is a single cell. Sometimes, a single fertilised egg or zygote splits into two,
each half developing into an embryo. This results in identical twins.

(ii) Sometimes, two eggs (instead of one egg) are released from the ovary. This may result into fraternal
twins, whereby two eggs are fertilised by two sperms. As a result, two zygotes are formed, which
separately develops into two embryos. Fraternal twins are also known as non-identical twins because
they are genetically different and may not be of same sex.

Question 6: Why is it that dogs always produce several puppies, whereas human beings usually produce
only one child at a time?

ANSWER: Dogs are poly-ovulatory species. In these species, more than one ovum is released from the
ovary at the time of ovulation. Therefore, they always produce several puppies. However, in humans, a
single ovum is released from the ovary every month. Thus, they usually produce only one child at a time.