Classification of living things

Short Questions

1. Why are spiders not included in insects?

Ans. Spiders are not insects. They are Arachnids because they have eight legs. Insects have six legs.

2. Why are whale and dolphin classified as mammals?

Ans. Yes, dolphin and whale are mammals. Like all mammals they breathe air, warm blooded, birth to
live young, lactate and have hairs.

3. Why is Kiwi a running bird but not flying bird?

Ans. Kiwi, Emus, Rheas and ostriches can’t fly because their flat breastbones lack the keel that anchors
the strong pectoral muscles required to flight.

4.Why should we not purchase things made from the skin of endangered animals?

Ans. We should not purchase things made from the skin of endangered animals because,it’s not more
useful and also it is too costly and it also harms our environment.

Extensive Questions

1. What is the importance of classification?

Ans. Classification of living things is essential because;

 It helps in identification of an organism.

 It helps us to learn about different kinds of plants and animals, their features, similarities and
differences.
 It also helps in understanding the diversity of living organism.

2. Differentiate between dicot and monocot plants.

Monocot plants Dicot plants

 One cotyledon  Two cotyledons

 Long and narrow leaves  Broad leaves

  Parallel veins  Veins which form a network

 Number of petals: three or a multiple of  Number of petals: four or multiple of four

three

 Stem is generally unbranched  Generally branched stem

 Fibrous roots  Taproots

 e.g. wheat, oat, rice and maize  e.g. gram, peas, tomato and oak

3. Write two characteristics of each of the following:

1. Sponges 2.insects3. Worms 4.snails5. Sea stars

Ans.

Sponges: Simplest invertebrates that live in water. They have no mouth, no muscles, heart or brain.

Insects: They form the large group of invertebrates. Their bodies are divided into three parts (head,
thorax and abdomen)

Snails: They are the invertebrates having shells. They have muscular foot which helps them to walk.

Sea stars: They are invertebrates which have many arms. They live only in oceans.

4. What are the factors affecting biodiversity?

Ans. There are many factors affecting the biodiversity on Earth.

 Loss or destruction of naturally occurring habitat by man.

 Use of chemicals fertilizers to increase the production of crops.
 Overpopulation which leads to deforestation.
 Pollution due to waste products by industries.
 Increase in the temperature of environment due to human activities.

5. Suggest ways in which we can conserve biodiversity.

Ans. Conservation means protection of biodiversity.in order to save and protect the endangered species;
we must take some measure such as:

 Avoid hunting birds and other animals.

 Never purchase goods made from the fur or skin of endangered species.
 Reduce water consumption.
 Follow the(3R) Rule;(Reduce, reuse, recycle)
 Herbicides and pesticides are hazards pollutants that effect biodiversity, so make less use of
these.

Microorganism

Short questions

1. What are microorganisms?

Ans .The word microorganisms is a combination of two words, micro means very small and organisms
means living things. So microorganisms are very small living things that we cannot see with naked eye.
We can see micro organism with the help of a microscope.

2. Define viruses.

Ans.The word virus means poison. Viruses are the smallest microorganisms. Though viruses are micro
organisms, they are on the borderline of living and non living things.

3. Why are viruses considered to be non living things?

Ans. Viruses are made out of cells. They cannot keep themselves in a stable state. They don’t grow and
they can’t make their own food. So that’s why they are considered to be nonliving things.

4. How do bacteria and fungi help in decomposition?

Ans. When plants and animals die they become food for decomposers like bacteria, fungi and earth
worms. Decomposers recycle dead plants and animals into chemical nutrients.

Extensive Questions

1. How can we avoid infections? List any five ways.

Ans. There are some ways to avoid infections caused by micro-organisms.

 Keep your clothes, homes and schools clean.

  Take a bath daily.
 Brush your teeth twice a day.
 Trim your nails regularly.
 Eat safe and healthy food.

2. Name and draw different types of bacteria?

Ans. There are five types of bacteria.

1. Spherical bacteria 2.Rod-shaped bacteria 3.Comma shaped bacteria

4. Spiral shaped bacteria 5. Cork shaped bacteria

3. Describe the role of bacteria in decomposition and food industry.

Ans.

Role in decomposition; this helps us in two ways,

 Harmful wastes are removed from earth.

 Soil becomes fertile for better plant growth.

Role in food industry; this helps in food products.

 Used for preparation of yogurt and cheese.

 (Yeast) for making bread.

Environmental pollution

Short questions

1. What are pollutants? Enlist the names of some common pollutants.

Ans. The substances that cause pollution are called pollutants e.g. smoke, wastes, industrial wastes, dust
etc.

2.Write two ways to avoid air pollution.

Ans.
  Reduce the use of electrical appliances(refrigerators, air conditioners containing
CFC’s(chlorofluorocarbons)
 Make less use of fossil fuels for burning

3(a) which way of travelling is better for the environment?

Ans. Bicycle of course is more environment friendly than bikes.

3(b) Give any two reasons for your choice.

Ans.

 There is no requirement of fuel in order to run bicycle.

 By not using any gases, cycles do not release harmful emissions that pollute the environment.

4. How oil spills in rivers and seas are harmful for the environment?

Ans. In case of shipwreck, oil spills from the ships and spread in sea water and blocks the oxygen supply.
This water causes death of many sea animals.

5. Differentiate between biodegradable and non biodegradable materials.

Ans.

Biodegradable materials Non-biodegradable materials

Biodegradable materials are those materials which Non biodegradable materials are those which
can be decomposed or broken down by bacteria or cannot be decomposed or broken down into
other natural materials. simpler substances by microorganisms.

Examples of biodegradable materials are food Examples of nonbiodegradable materials are

materials, kitchen wastes(peels of fruits and plastic, glass, aluminums cans, paints and treys.
vegetables) paper materials etc.

Extensive Questions

1. Describe the impact of non biodegradable materials on the environment.

Ans.
 Non biodegradable materials cannot be recycled in the environment by natural process.
 These materials can never decompose and remain as pollutants.
 Non biodegradable pesticides and chemicals can cause diseases in animals and plants.
 If not disposed off properly, non biodegradable materials block drain and harm animals.

2. List the ways to reduce pollution.

Ans. Pollution can be reduced by taking the following measures:
 Garbage should not be thrown in streets or open places. It should be disposed off
properly.
 Make less use of fossil fuels for burning.
 There should be more plantation as trees reduce air pollution by absorbing pollutants.
 Factories and industries should be moved away from the cities or residential areas.
 Sewage waste should not be added into the water bodies such as rivers and lakes.
3. What is air pollution? Write its causes.
Ans. Air pollution is the addition of harmful substances such as smoke and dust in air. Air
pollution causes by burning of fossil fuels in the engines of automobiles, in the industries and also
at homes. Air pollution releases carbon dioxide, carbon monoxides, oxides from sulphur and
nitrogen and other gases which cause air pollution.
4. Describe the effects of water pollution.
Ans.
 Polluted water affects the organisms that use it.
 When we drink polluted water, microbes and germs present in it because a number of
diseases like typhoid, diarrhohoea, cholera and dysentery.
 Bacteria and algae growing on the surface of polluted water use much of the oxygen from
the water due to which the fish and other aquatic life do not get enough oxygen to stay
alive.
5. Describe the 3R strategy to control pollution.
Ans. The 3R strategy i.e. Reduce, reuse and recycle.
Reduce:
We should reduce the use of non biodegradable materials such as plastic bags, aluminum cans etc
in order to avoid the pollution produced by them.
Reuse:
The things made up of non biodegradable materials should be reused again and again instead of
throwing them as wastes.
 Recycle:
The used plastic goods, broken glass, paper products and metals can be recycled easily. So we
should recycle these things instead of wasting them.
Physical and Chemical Changes of Matter
Short questions
1. All material things have mass and occupy space. Give three examples to justify this
statement.

Ans.Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Air, solids and liquids are the different types of
matter.
Air has a definite mass and it does occupy space around us.
A liquid like water has mass and it takes up space around us. For example, water in a beaker takes up
space inside the beaker.
Take a bucket filled with water till its brink. Put a rock in it. Some water will be spilled out.

2. How does increase in temperature affect the rate at which sugar dissolves in water?
Ans.An increase in temperature increases the rate of dissolution of a solute in a solvent. We
can notice this at home by doing simple experimentation. Try dissolving some sugar in a
glass of cold water, for example 1 teaspoonful. Then try to dissolve the same amount of sugar
in a glass of hot water. One can easily see that it is much easier and much faster to dissolve
sugar in hot water.
3. Why is filtration not as useful method to separate salt from its solution in water?
Ans. Because salt is dissolved in water and cannot be separated by filtration. The salt will not
settle down or be held back by a filter paper.
4. How can we obtain dissolved sugar from its solution?
Ans. We can obtain dissolved sugar from its solution by evaporation.
5. Burning is a chemical change. Why do we say that melting of candle is a physical
change although we burn it?
Ans. Burning of the candle is permanent because once it is burnt it cannot be converted into
the candle. A new product is also formed with a composition different from candle. Hence it
is a chemical change.
6. What is difference between boiling and evaporation?

Boiling Evaporation
The process of changing a liquid into Evaporation is a process by which liquids
 gaseous state by heating is called boiling. turn into gas/vapours.
Boiling takes place throughout the liquid. Evaporation only takes place at the surface of
a liquid.

7. Give three examples to explain the difference between a solute and solvent.
Ans.

Solute Solvent
A solute is a substance that can be dissolved The part of a solution in which solute is
into a solvent to form a solution.
dissolved.

The part of a solution that is present in a The part of a solution that is present in the
small amount is called a solute. greatest amount is called a solvent.
Example: salt, sugar , carbon dioxide, oxygen Example: Water, Ethanol, Methanol, Acetone
etc etc

Structure of the Earth

Short questions
1. What is mantle mostly made of?
Ans. Mantle is made of oxygen, silicon and magnesium.
2. What are main source of water on earth?
Ans. The main sources of water on earth are surface water and ground water.
Surface water
Water from different bodies such as lakes, seas, oceans, streams and rivers is considered as
surface water.
Ground water
Springs and wells are groundwater sources.
3. Where is most of the water on earth found? Why we cannot use it for drinking?
Ans.Oceans, which is the largest source of surface water, comprises approximately 97
percent of the Earth's surface water. However, since the oceans have high salinity, the water
is not useful as drinking water.
4. Define compost.
Ans. The natural process of recycling organic matter such asleaves and food scraps.
Extensive Questions
1. Describe the following:
a. The Earth Crust b. The Earth’s outer core
Ans. The Earth Crust
 The crust is the outermost layer of the Earth where we live.
 It is thin as compared to the other layers and is made up of solid rocks.

The Earth’s outer core

 The Earth’s outer core is made up of iron and nickel and is very hot.
 It is a liquid layer below the mantle as it is so hot that the iron and nickle metals
are present in a melted form.

2. What is soil? Describe its characteristics.

Ans. Soil is at the extreme outer part of the Earth’s crust. It is made up of various
materials.Soils are composed of organic matter (stuff that used to be alive, like plants
and animals) and small inorganic matter. There are three basic soil types: sand, silt,
and clay. Sand is comprised of tiny rock fragments and is the roughest in texture.
Clay becomes sticky or greasy when wet, and very hard when dry.

3. Differentiate between the characteristics of clay, sand, silt and loam soil.

Ans.

Clay Sand Silt Loam

It is silky and Sand is loose, It is smooth to It is combination of

smooth to touch coarse and dry touch sandy and clay soil.
and is finely
grained.

Its is sticky and It does not retain It is slippery when It is rich in organic
lumpy when it is much moisture and wet. materials and
wet but firm when nutrients. nutrients.
it dry.
4. What happen to the soil when it lacks organic matter, water or air?

Ans.When organic matter is lost; soils tend to lose their physical structure. The degradation of soil
structure makes the soil hard, compact and cloddy. The soil aeration, water-holding capacity and
permeability are also decreased. Decreased aeration means less oxygen available for plant roots to
grow.