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NCERT VII textbook answer key

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CoNCERT 7 workbook answer key

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CoNCERT SCIENCE 7

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 NCERT Science VII
Textbook Answer Key
Chapter 1 Nutrition in Plants
1. Living organisms need food: (a) to build their bodies and
grow; (b) to repair damaged parts of their body; and (c)
for energy to carry out their activities.
2. A parasite takes its food from another living organism
without harming it; a saprophyte gets its food from dead
and decaying organisms.
3. You can test for the presence of starch in leaves by using
the iodine test as described in book VI. Dip the leaf in
spirit in a glass tube and heat it till the green colour
disappears. Then wash and lay the leaf on a glass sheet
and add a few drops of iodine solution. Iodine reacts
with starch on the leaf to produce a blue-black colour.
4. Synthesis of food in a plant takes place in the following
way:
(i) Water is drawn up from the roots through the stem
and into the leaves.
(ii) The leaves take in carbon dioxide from the air.
(iii) The leaves make starch from water and carbon
dioxide in the presence of sunlight, with the help of
the chlorophyll (green pigment) that the leaves
contain. Oxygen is released into the air.
(iv) The above process is called ‘photosynthesis’
(‘photo’ means ‘light’).
(v) Apart from starch, the plant also needs minerals,
which it gets from the soil through its roots.
5.
 
6. (a) autotrophs; (b) starch; (c) chlorophyll;
(d) (take in) carbon dioxide, (release) oxygen
7. (i) Cuscuta; (ii) pitcher plant (insectivorous); (iii) stomata
8. (a) (ii) parasite; (b) (iii) pitcher plant
9. Chlorophyll—leaf; Nitrogen—bacteria;
Cuscuta—parasite; Animals—heterotrophs;
Insects—pitcher plant
10. (i) False; (ii) False; (iii) True; (iv) True
11. (ii) Stomata
12. (iv) Leaves
1
13. A greenhouse is a large glass house in which plants are
grown. Heat from sunlight is trapped inside the
greenhouse, which makes it possible to grow fruits and
vegetables in cold places even in winter. The inside of a
greenhouse is also protected from weather changes
such as rain or snow.
Chapter 2 Nutrition in Animals
1. (a) ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation,
egestion; (b) liver; (c) digestive; (d) villi; (e) food vacuole
2. (a) False; (b) True; (c) True; (d) True
3. (a) (iii) small intestine; (b) (iv) large intestine
4. Carbohydrates—Sugar; Proteins—Amino acids;
Fats—Fatty acids and glycerol
5. The villi are small, finger-like growths on the inner wall
of the small intestine. They help with absorption of
nutrients from the food.
6. Bile is produced in the liver. It helps in the digestion of
fats.
7. Cellulose is a type of starch that can be digested by
ruminants but not by humans. This is because they are
digested only with the help of certain bacteria that are
present in ruminants but not in humans.
8. Glucose is already a simple sugar which need not be
broken down like starch. So it can be absorbed and
converted into energy quickly.
9. (i) small intestine; (ii) mouth/buccal cavity; (iii) stomach;
(iv) small intestine (the process is completed here
though it starts even in the mouth); (v) large intestine
10. Similarity: In both amoeba and humans there is a
process of ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation
and egestion.
Difference: The amoeba is a single-celled organism
which has no alimentary canal, unlike humans.
11. (a)—(iii); (b)—(iv); (c)—(i); (d)—(ii), (vii);
(e)—(v); (f)—(vi)
12. Refer to Fig. 2.2 on p. 12 of the textbook.
13. We humans cannot survive for long on only raw leafy
vegetables/grass because these do not contain all the
essential nutrients that our bodies require. For instance,
they do not contain proteins and fats, and only a small
amount of carbohydrates.
Chapter 3 Fibre to Fabric (iii) Dark coloured clothes are preferred during—
(b) winter;
1. (a) The wool of the black sheep is obtained from its (iv) Light coloured clothes are preferred during—
fleece, which is the hair on its outer skin. (a) summer
(b) The white fleece of the lamb is the hair on its outer 5. When we wear layers of clothing, some air is trapped
skin. between each of the layers and acts as an extra insulator,
2. (iii) Both (a) and (b) preventing body heat from escaping.
3. (iv) Woolly dog 6. Conduction: metal saucepan to water; convection:
4. (i) Rearing is breeding, raising and looking after water; radiation: burner to metal saucepan
(animals). 7. White surfaces reflect more light (and therefore more
(ii) Shearing is shaving the outer skin of an animal for its heat) than dark surfaces. In summer, white outer walls
fleece/wool. would reflect away more of the sun’s heat than darker
(iii) Sericulture is the process of producing silk from walls. This is why white or light-coloured walls are
silkworms. advised in hot climates.

5. Shearing, scouring, sorting, picking out burrs, dyeing, 8. (d) between 30° C and 50° C. (If liquids of different
straightening, combing and rolling into yarn temperatures are mixed, the temperature of the
resultant liquid will be the average of all the
6. Refer to parts (c) (Larvae) and (d) (Cocoons) of Fig. 3.10 temperatures.)
on p. 30 of the textbook.
9. (b) there will be no heat flow between the water and
7. Sericulture, moriculture (the raising of mulberry trees) the iron ball. (Neither one is hotter than the other.)
8. 1.—(e); 2.—(c); 3.—(b); 4.—(d), (a) 10. (d) does not become cold. (Wood is a good insulator of
9. Across: 1—Wool; 2—Mulberry; 3—Caterpillar heat.)
Down: 1—Scour; 2—Silk; 3—Fibre 11. (c) copper is a better conductor of heat than stainless
steel. (So the food will cook faster.)

Chapter 4 Heat
1. Similarities between laboratory thermometer and Chapter 5 Acids, Bases and Salts
clinical thermometer: 1. Differences between acids and bases:
(i) They measure temperature.
Acids Bases
(ii) They are made of glass and have a bulb at one end
(i) Usually sour to the (i) Usually bitter and
of a thin tube.
taste soapy
(iii) They have markings (gradations) along the tube to
(ii) Turn blue litmus red (ii) Turn red litmus blue
indicate temperature readings.
(iii) Combined with base, (iii) Combined with acid,
(iv) They measure temperature when the bulb is
form salt form salt
placed in contact with the object.
2. Ammonia is a base.
Differences between the laboratory thermometer and
the clinical thermometer: 3. Litmus solution is made from lichens. Litmus is an
indicator that can be used to identify acids and bases.
Laboratory thermometer Clinical thermometer
(i) Scale is –10° C to (i) Scale is 35° C to 42° C 4. Distilled water is neutral. This can be verified with litmus
110° C tests using red and blue litmus papers. Neither of them
(ii) Longer tube (ii) Shorter tube will change colour.
(iii) Must be held upright (iii) Need not be held 5. Neutralisation is the process by which an acid and a base
upright react to form a salt and water, giving out heat.
(iv) No kink in tube (iv) Has a kink in tube An example of a neutralisation reaction is:
just above bulb HCl + NaOH → NaCl + H₂O
2. Conductors: Examples: iron, aluminium. Insulators: (hydrochloric acid + sodium hydroxide
Examples: wood, cork. → sodium chloride + water)
3. (a) temperature; (b) clinical; (c) Celsius (or Fahrenheit— 6. (i) False; (ii) False; (iii) True; (iv) True; (v) False
old scale); (d) radiation; (e) conduction; (f) dark 7. Dorji should take a few drops of the drink out of each
4. (i) Land breeze blows during—(d) night; bottle in turn and test with both blue and red litmus
(ii) Sea breeze blows during—(c) day; paper. The acidic drink will turn blue litmus paper red
and leave the red litmus paper unchanged; the basic
2
 drink will change the red litmus paper blue and leave
the blue litmus paper unchanged; the neutral drink will
have no effect on the colour of either litmus paper.
8. (a) During an attack of excess stomach acidity (causing a
burning sensation), an antacid, which is basic, will
neutralise the excess acid and provide relief.
(b) Calamine solution contains zinc carbonate, which is a
base. When rubbed over an ant bite on the skin, it
neutralises the acid injected by the ant, and gives
relief from itching and burning sensations.
(c) Factory waste may contain harmful (toxic) acids and
bases, which may pollute water and be harmful to
living organisms. That is why it is neutralised before
it is discharged into water bodies.
9. Apply the turmeric indicator on strips of paper. (Spread
a thin layer of turmeric paste on filter paper, dry it
thoroughly and then cut the paper into thin strips. You
can also use toilet paper for the experiment.) Dip a strip
into each of the liquids. The liquid that turns the yellow
turmeric paper red is the base, sodium hydroxide; the
other two solutions, hydrochloric acid and sugar
solution (neutral), will not change the colour of the
yellow paper.
To find which one is hydrochloric acid and which one is
sugar solution, dip two strips first into sodium hydroxide
so that the ends turn red. Then dip the red ends into
each liquid. The liquid that removes the red colour from
the paper is the acid. The neutral sugar solution will
have no effect on the red turmeric paper.
10. The solution is either a base or is neutral. A base has no
effect on the colour of blue litmus. A neutral solution
has no effect on the colour of either blue or red litmus.
11. Only option (d) is correct.
Chapter 6 Physical and Chemical Changes
1. (a) Chemical; (b) Physical; (c) Chemical; (d) Physical;
(e) Physical; (f) Chemical
2. (a) False. Cutting a log of wood causes a physical change;
(b) False. Manure is formed by the decay of dead leaves,
which is a chemical change; (c) True; (d) False. Iron is a
metal, while rust is a chemical which is the oxide of iron;
(e) True
3. (a) calcium carbonate; (b) sodium hydrogen carbonate;
(c) galvanising, painting; (d) physical; (e) chemical
4. This is a chemical change. Baking soda reacts with lemon
juice releasing carbon dioxide gas and forming a salt and
water.
5. When a candle burns, some of the candle wax melts.
This is a physical change. Some of the wax is burnt by
the flame, releasing heat and chemical vapours. This is a
chemical change.
3
Another example of physical and chemical changes
taking place at the same time is: when a gas stove is lit,
the liquefied gas (LPG) in the cylinder gets converted to
gaseous form (physical change) and is then burnt in the
burner (chemical change).
6. Take a spoon of milk and a spoon of old curd (not freshly
formed curd). You know that old curd is sour, which
indicates that it is probably acidic. Test the two
substances using blue litmus paper. Curd will turn blue
litmus paper red, whereas milk will only cause a slight
change, if any. This indicates that acid has been formed
during the formation of curd from milk. Formation of a
new substance can only happen in a chemical reaction,
and hence the setting of curd is a chemical reaction.
7. When wood is cut into small pieces, the pieces retain
the appearance and properties of wood. This is a
physical change. When wood is burnt, it is converted
into vapours of various substances, giving out heat and
leaving ash behind. Burning always produces new
substances and is therefore a chemical change.
8. (i) Take water in a beaker and add a few drops of dilute
sulphuric acid to it. (ii) Heat the water. (iii) Add copper
sulphate powder slowly to the boiling water, stirring
continuously. (iv) When no more powder can dissolve
and it starts settling at the bottom of the beaker in spite
of stirring, stop adding the powder. (v) Filter the solution.
(vi) Leave the solution undisturbed for some hours.
Crystals of copper sulphate will start forming as the
solution cools.
9. Rust forms on the surface of iron objects due to the
presence of oxygen and moisture in the air. If the air
cannot touch the surface of the iron, rust cannot form.
Therefore, painting the surface will prevent rusting of
the iron gate.
10. Rusting of iron objects is faster in coastal areas than in
desert areas, because the air in coastal areas contains
much more moisture (water), which is necessary for rust
to form. (Iron + Oxygen + Water → Rust (iron oxide))
11. (ii) Process B is a chemical change.
12. (iii) Both processes A and B are chemical changes.
Chapter 7 Weather, Climate and
Adaptations of Animals to Climate
1. The main elements of weather are temperature,
humidity, rainfall and wind speed.
2. The maximum temperature occurs usually in the
afternoon, and the minimum temperature in the early
morning.
3. (i) climate; (ii) hot and dry; (iii) the Arctic region and
Antarctica
4. (a) Jammu and Kashmir: moderately hot and wet for
part of the year; cold for part of the year
(b) Kerala: very hot and wet
(c) Rajasthan: hot and dry; cold in winter
(d) North-east India: warm and wet; cooler in winter
5. Weather changes frequently, sometimes within the
same day.
6. In the following answers, T stands for tropical
rainforests and P stands for polar regions.
(i) True; (ii) P; (iii) P; (iv) True; (v) True; (vi) P; (vii) P; (viii)
True; (ix) True; (x) True
7. Tropical rainforests support a large population of
animals because the warm and wet climate is suitable
for a variety of plants and animals to survive. Because
there are plants in abundance, many kinds of herbivores
live in the forests. Therefore, many predators can also
live in the forests. Apart from large animals, there are
many kinds of smaller animals such as insects, frogs,
birds and reptiles, which are found in large numbers.
8. Certain kinds of animals are found in a geographical area,
depending on the climate and habitat available there.
The ones in the tropical rainforests, for example, are
adapted to life in a forest. There are tree animals such
as monkeys, birds, snakes and frogs, and also land
animals such as deer, elephants, tigers and lions. Each
living thing has an adaptation to help it survive, either by
running fast, or climbing trees, or seeing well at night, or
having strong long beaks. The ones in polar regions have
adapted to the extreme cold and the white background
of snow and ice. Polar bears are white-furred so as to
blend into the background. They also have thick fur and
a layer of fat to protect them because they have to swim
in the icy water to catch fish for their food. Penguins
also have thick skins and layers of fat. They have
webbed feet for swimming.
9. The elephant is well adapted to life in a tropical
rainforest. Its trunk helps it to smell, and also to pick up
food, including tearing down branches from a height. Its
tusks, which are modified teeth, help it to tear the bark
of trees, which it eats, and also to protect itself. Its large
ears help it to hear soft sounds and help it to keep cool.
10. (iv) tropical rainforests (it is likely to be a tiger.)
11. (i) White fur, fat below the skin, a keen sense of smell.
12. (i) hot and humid
Chapter 8 Winds, Storms and Cyclones
1. (a) moving; (b) uneven; (c) warm, cold; (d) high, low
2. Wind direction can be found by observing:
(i) a weathervane (it rotates in the wind and points out
directions); (ii) a windsock (a free-hanging, large, sock-
shaped piece of fabric which moves in the direction of
4
the wind). At home, you can find out the wind direction
using fine sand or chalk powder. Take some in your hand
and let it go slowly. Observe the direction in which it is
blown. You can use lightweight strips of paper, ribbons,
silk cotton seeds, etc., as well.
3. Experiences that show that air exerts pressure:
(i) If you continue to blow air into a balloon the balloon
will burst because it can no longer resist the pressure of
the air inside. (ii) If you insert a drinking straw in a glass
of water and suck out the air in the straw, the outside
air will press upon the surface of the water in the glass
and push it up the straw.
4. In a warm climate, it is better to have windows as well
as ventilators. Warm air inside the house will rise up and
can escape through ventilators, keeping the inside of the
house cooler. In a cold climate, we may not want the
warm air inside to escape, and so we would have only
windows.
5. Hanging banners and hoardings often have holes cut out
in them so that air can move through them without
pushing them over or tearing them due to pressure.
6. In case a cyclone is expected, here are some ways we
can help our neighbours: (i) We can tell them about the
cyclone in case they are unaware of it. (ii) if they are
elderly or have no help at home, we can offer to go to
the store for them and buy candles, torch cells, water,
medicines and other emergency supplies. (iii) We can
give them a list of useful telephone numbers to call in an
emergency. (iv) We can help them to secure their
windows and doors and bring their pets and belongings
indoors. (v) We can help them to move if their house is
in a low-lying place and might become flooded.
7. In order to deal with cyclones, governments and local
authorities have to: (i) have a cyclone forecasting and
warning service ready; (ii) give periodic warnings to
government agencies, ports, ships and fisherfolk and
also to the public through the media; (iii) construct
cyclone shelters; (iv) make arrangements to move
people to these shelters if needed; (v) have emergency
services and supplies ready; (vi) give the public
important telephone numbers that they can call for help.
The public should: (i) keep track of warnings issued by
the meteorological department; (ii) shift household
goods etc. to safe places if needed; (iii) keep emergency
contact numbers ready; (iv) ensure that the doors,
windows and roofs of their houses are secure; (v) buy
and store emergency equipment, food and water at
home; (vi) stay indoors when the cyclone is about to
strike; (vii) not drive or walk through flooded areas;
(viii) not drink contaminated water or touch electrical
equipment; (ix) cooperate and not hinder recue forces.
8. Amritsar. It is inland (well away from the coast) and a
cyclone is very unlikely to reach it.
9. (i) In winter the winds flow from the land to the ocean.
Chapter 9 Soil anaerobically to compensate for the oxygen shortage.
But the body soon has to replace its oxygen and energy
1. (iii) minerals, organic matter, air and water supplies. Even after the race is over, breathing remains
2. (ii) clayey soil rapid for some time till the body has recovered.
3. (i)—(b); (ii)—(c); (iii)—(a); (iv)—(e); (v)—(d) 2. The similarities between aerobic and anaerobic
4. Soil is a mixture of rock particles and humus. Soil is respiration are: (i) Both processes take place within cells
formed by the breaking down of rocks by wind, water, and result in by-products. (ii) In both types of respiration,
sunlight and other climatic factors over a long time. The glucose (food) is broken down.
process is called ‘weathering’. These rock particles get The differences are:
mixed with humus formed from dead leaves and Aerobic respiration Anaerobic respiration
decaying organisms. (i) Occurs in the (i) Occurs in the absence of
5. Clayey soil is useful for growing crops in general because presence of oxygen. oxygen.
it holds large quantities of water. Plants that need (ii) Products of (ii) Products of respiration
plenty of water (such as rice) grow very well in clayey respiration are are carbon dioxide,
soil because their roots get all the water they need. carbon dioxide, alcohol and energy (e.g.,
6. Differences between clayey soils and sandy soils: water and energy. in yeast) or lactic acid
and energy (in muscles).
Clayey soil Sandy soil
(iii) Mostly in animals (iii) Mostly in yeast, bacteria,
(i) Contains more fine (i) Contains more large
and plants etc., and in muscles
particles particles
(ii) Particles are packed (ii) Particles are packed 3. When air enters the nostrils, the fine hairs in the nostrils
closely together loosely filter the dust particles in it and prevent them from
(iii) Holds a lot of water (iii) Holds air but less entering the airway. But when there is a lot of dust in
but less air water the air, some dust gets through into the airway, where it
(iv) Heavier (iv) Lighter irritates the tissues. This causes us to sneeze in order to
(v) Suitable for crops (v) Suitable for crops for throw out the dust particles.
requiring more water which water needs to 4. The test tube with the snail alone would contain the
be drained well most carbon dioxide if they are all placed in sunlight.
The reason is: Both the snail and the water plant respire
7. Refer to Fig. 9.3 on p. 98 of the textbook.
by taking in oxygen and giving out carbon-dioxide. But
8. rate of percolation (mL/min) the plant also carries out photosynthesis in sunlight by
= amount of water (mL) / percolation time (min) taking in carbon dioxide and giving out oxygen.
= 200 mL / 40 min = 5 mL/min Therefore, wherever there is a plant, the carbon dioxide
The rate of percolation was 5 mL per minute. level will be lower than where there is no plant.
9. Pollution of soil can be prevented by: (i) not throwing 5. (a) (iii) spiracles; (b) (ii) lactic acid; (c) (ii) 15–18;
away plastic items such as bags, because these remain (d) (ii) downwards
in the soil and are harmful to organisms; (ii) not letting
6. (a)—(iii); (b)—(iv); (c)—(i); (d)—(v); (e)—(ii); (f)—(vi)
waste products, chemicals and pesticides out into the
soil without treating them to make them harmless. 7. (i) False (it speeds up); (ii) False (respiration occurs
during both day and night); (iii) True; (iv) False (they
Erosion of soil takes place naturally due to wind and
have gills); (v) True
water. But humans add to the problem by cutting down
trees. Without tree roots to hold it, the soil slips down 8. (i) trachea; (ii) ribs; (iii) diaphragm; (iv) stomata;
hillsides, causing landslides and floods. It can also be (v) spiracles; (vi) lungs; (vii) nostrils; (viii) yeast; (ix) ant
blown away or washed away by wind and water. So we
S V M P L U N G S
should plant more trees and avoid cutting any.
C Z G Q W X N T L
10. Across: 2—Erosion; 5—Pesticide; 7—Earthworm
Down: 1—Wind; 3—Wheat; 4—Sandy; 5—Profile R M A T I D O T C
I Y R X Y M S R A
B R H I A N T A Y
Chapter 10 Respiration in Organisms S T P T B Z R C E
1. When an athlete runs a race, his/her body uses up M I A M T S I H A
oxygen and energy at a faster rate since the muscles
S P I R A C L E S
work harder. Therefore the breathing and the heart rate
become faster. The muscles may begin to work N E D K J N S A T

5
9. (b) The amount of air available to a person is less than
that available on the ground.
Chapter 11 Transportation in Animals
and Plants
1. (i)—(b); (ii)—(d); (iii)—(a); (iv)—(c)
2. (i) arteries; (ii) red blood; (iii) capillaries; (iv) heartbeat;
(v) urea (in urine); (vi) salts; (vii) urine; (viii) transpiration
3. (a) (i) xylem; (b) (iii) under the fan
4. Different parts of the organism (plant or animal) have
different functions, but they all need food and water to
carry out those functions. So it is necessary to have a
transportation system that will carry food and water to
all parts of the living organism. The functions of the
organism result in waste products that must be excreted.
Here also a transportation system is needed to take the
waste material from all parts of the body and excrete it.
5. If there are no platelets in the blood, the blood would
not clot if a blood vessel is cut or broken by accident or
injury. Then the blood would be lost continuously and
the organism would die.
6. Stomata are tiny openings on the lower surfaces of
leaves. The two main functions of stomata are:
(i) transpiration (letting out the extra water) and
(ii) respiration (taking in oxygen from the air and giving
out carbon dioxide)
7. Yes, transpiration serves a very useful purpose in plants:
(i) it removes excess water; (ii) it provides a suction pull
to draw up water and minerals from the soil through the
roots and the xylem.
8. The main components of blood are: (i) plasma; (ii) red
blood cells; (iii) white blood cells; and (iv) platelets.
9. In order to carry out their functions properly, all the
parts of the body need blood. Blood carries oxygen and
nutrients to all the parts, and takes away waste material.
Blood circulation also helps to keep the organism at a
constant temperature.
10. Blood appears red because of the haemoglobin (red
pigment) that is present in red blood cells.
11. The heart is an important organ in the body. It is a
muscular organ that acts as a pump, contracting and
relaxing regularly. (i) It receives oxygen-rich blood from
the lungs (after inspiration) and returns carbon dioxide
and some waste products back to the lungs for
elimination (expiration). (ii) It circulates the blood
throughout the body through arteries, capillaries and
veins, so that oxygen and food are delivered to all parts
of the body and waste products are removed.
12. It is essential to excrete waste products because
otherwise they would be harmful to the system and
would damage the organs.
6
13. Refer to Fig. 11.6 on p. 127 of the textbook.
Chapter 12 Reproduction in Plants
1. (a) vegetative propagation; (b) unisexual; (c) pollination;
(d) fertilisation; (e) wind, water, animals
2. The different kinds of asexual reproduction are:
(i) Vegetative propagation; examples: rose plant
(cuttings); potato (eyes); Bryophyllum (leaf buds);
sweet potato (roots); cactus (detached parts)
(ii) Budding; example: yeast
(iii) Fragmentation; example: Spirogyra
(iv) Spore formation; example: fungus, fern
3. Sexual reproduction in plants takes place through seeds.
It involves the fusion of a male and a female gamete
(fertilisation) through pollination to form a zygote. The
zygote grows into an embryo, which then matures in the
ovary of the flower. The other parts of the flower fall off.
The fruit is the ripened ovary and the seeds develop
from the ovules. The mature seeds can give rise to new
plants if they get the right conditions for growth.
4. Sexual reproduction involves fertilisation and the
formation of seeds, while asexual reproduction does not.
5. Refer to Fig. 12.9 on p. 137 of the textbook.
6. Self-pollination is when the pollen from the anther of a
flower is transferred to the stigma of the same flower.
Cross-pollination is when the pollen from one flower is
transferred to the stigma of another flower of the same
or a different plant.
7. The process of fertilisation in plants is:
(i) Pollination to bring male gametes (from pollen
grains) and female gametes (ovules) in contact
(ii) Fusion of the male and female gametes to form a
zygote
(iii) Development of the zygote into an embryo in the
ovary
8. Seeds can be dispersed by: (i) wind; (ii) water;
(iii) animals; (iv) humans (deliberately or unknowingly)
9. (a)—(iii); (b)—(v); (c)—(ii); (d)—(i); (e)—(iv)
10. (a) (iv) flower; (b) (i) fertilisation; (c) (iv) fruit; (d) (ii)
bread mould; (e) (ii) leaves
Chapter 13 Motion and Time
1. (i) oscillatory; (ii) straight line; (iii) circular;
(iv) oscillatory; (v) oscillatory; (vi) straight line
2. (ii) and (v) are not correct.
3. 1.6 seconds (32 divided by 20)
4. 60 km/h (240 divided by 4)
5. The distance covered between 8.30 a.m. and 8.50 a.m. is
57336 – 57321 = 15 km.
The speed in km/min is (15 / 20) = 0.75 km/min.
The speed in km/h is (60 × 0.75) = 45 km/h.
6. The speed of the bicycle is 2 m/s. The time travelled is
15 min = 900 s (15 × 60 s). The distance travelled in
900 s is (900 × 2) = 1800 m. This is the same as 1.8 km.
So the distance between Salma’s house and her school
is 1.8 km.
7. (i)
distance
time
(ii)
distance
time
8. (ii) speed = distance / time
9. (iv) m/s
10. (ii) 25 km. In the first 15 minutes the car travels
40 × 0.25 = 10 km. In the next 15 minutes it travels
60 × 0.25 = 15 km. The total is 25 km.
11. On visual inspection of the cars visible in both pictures
and by approximation, the green car seems to have
travelled the farthest. We can measure the approximate
distance the green car may have travelled by using a
centimetre scale. We can take it as about 3.5 cm. Since
1 cm on the photographs shows 100 m (given), the
distance travelled is 350 m. It has travelled this distance
in 10 s (given). So the speed is 350 / 10 = 35 m/s.
12. A is moving faster than B (it is covering larger distances
in the same intervals of time).
13. (iii) shows non-uniform speed because the
distance–time graph is curved and not straight.
Chapter 14 Electric Current and its Effects
1. Refer to Table 14.1 on p. 161 of the textbook.
2. Refer to Fig. 14.9 on p. 163 of the textbook.
3.
7
4. The cells are placed such that their positive terminals
touch each other. If the position of one of the cells is
reversed so that the positive terminal of one touches
the negative terminal of the other, the bulb will glow.
5. Two important effects of electric current are: (a) the
heating effect; (b) the magnetic effect.
6. When a current flows through a wire, a magnetic field is
created around it. The compass needle responds to the
magnetic field by getting deflected.
7. No. There is no cell/battery and therefore no source of
electricity.
8. (a) positive; (b) battery; (c) gives out heat; (d) fuse
9. (a) False; (b) True; (c) False; (d) True
10. No. Plastic is not a magnetic substance and will not be
attracted to magnets or electromagnets.
11. It is not safe to replace fuses with ordinary wires. Fuses
melt easily when a high current flows through them
(due to the heating effect of current). They are meant to
protect appliances against damage and provide safety
for persons in case of excess current coming through the
circuit. Ordinary wires have higher melting points.
Therefore they will not block current at safe levels.
12. Zubeda should check the following: (i) Are the
components of the circuit connected properly? (ii) Are
the terminals of the cells oriented correctly? (iii) Is there
a break in any of the wires? (iv) Is there enough
electricity storage in the cell/battery? (v) Is the bulb
filament fused?
13. (i) No, the bulbs will not glow with the switch in the
OFF position, because there will be no electricity
flowing through the circuit.
(ii) If the circuit is complete and the switch is turned ON,
all three bulbs will glow together.
Chapter 15 Light
1. (a) virtual image; (b) mirror; (c) plane; (d) real; (e) lens
2. (a) False; (b) True; (c) True; (d) False; (e) False
3. (a)—(v); (b)—(ii); (c)—(i); (d)—(iii); (e)—(vi)
4. The characteristics of the image formed by a plane
mirror are: (i) It is virtual and therefore cannot be
captured on a screen. (ii) It is erect. (iii) It is the same
size as the object. (iv) It is as far behind the mirror as the
object is in front of it. (v) It shows lateral inversion.
5. In English, the capital letters A, I, M, O, T, U, V, W, X and
Y will look unchanged when reflected in a plane mirror,
whereas P, R and S, for example, would look different.
The letters or patterns that are symmetrical on both
sides of a vertical mid-point line will look unchanged,
because though there is lateral inversion the two sides
are exactly interchangeable.
6. A virtual image is one that cannot be captured on a
screen. An example of such an image is the one formed
by a plane mirror.
7. Two differences between concave and convex lenses
are: (i) A concave lens is thinner at the centre, while a
convex lens is thicker in the centre. (ii) A concave lens
diverges the light that falls on it, while a convex lens
converges the light.
8. Concave mirrors are used as reflectors in torch lights.
Convex mirrors are used as side mirrors in cars to
capture a wide view of vehicles coming from behind.
9. A concave mirror can form real images.
10. A concave lens always forms virtual images.
11. (ii) concave mirror
12. (iii) 6 m
13. (iii) 4 m/s
Chapter 16 Water: A Precious Resource
1. (a) True; (b) False; (c) False; (d) True
2. Rainwater as well as water from streams, rivers and
ponds seeps below the ground and fills the cracks and
empty spaces. This process, known as ‘infiltration’,
recharges groundwater.
3. Although groundwater is being continuously recharged,
shortages can arise due to overuse. In the example given,
50 households (say 200–250 people) are using the water
from the 10 tube wells placed close together. In the long
term, this may cause the water table to fall, leading to
water shortage for these families.
4. The methods to minimise the use of water in a garden
are: (i) Use watering cans rather than hoses pipes
wherever possible. (ii) Carry out the watering in the
early mornings or late evenings to minimise evaporation.
(iii) Deliver the water close to the roots of the plants. (iv)
Use drip irrigation systems.
5. Depletion of the water table may be due to overuse,
insufficient recharge, or both. Reasons for overuse
include: increasing population, agricultural needs,
construction needs and industrial needs. Reasons for
insufficient recharge include: insufficient rainfall,
draining of nearby ponds for use as fields or housing
area and deforestation.
6. (a) wells, hand pumps (other answers are possible, e.g.,
tube wells); (b) solid, liquid, gas; (c) aquifer
(underground water layer); (d) infiltration
7. (iii) Heavy rainfall
8. (iv) of the world remains constant.
9. Refer to Fig. 16.7 on p. 198 of the textbook.
8
Chapter 17 Forests: Our Lifeline
1. Animals living in a forest help it to regenerate in the
following ways: (i) They carry seeds from plants to other
parts of the forest, allowing new plants to grow. (ii)
Their droppings turn into manure, which provides
nutrients for the plants. (iii) When they die, their bodies
(carcasses) are either eaten by other animals/birds or
are turned into rich humus by decomposers.
2. The branches and leaves of trees break the force of
falling rainwater and stop it from washing away soil.
Forests are also a natural absorber of rainwater. Since
their roots hold soil together, they prevent flooding by
allowing rainwater to seep into the ground instead of
running on the surface and causing damage.
3. Decomposers are microorganisms in the soil that turn
decaying plant and animal matter into humus which is
rich in nutrients and can be used by plants. Two
examples of decomposers are bacteria and fungi.
4. Forests contain plants of various sizes and types. They
all carry out photosynthesis during the daytime, taking
in carbon dioxide from the air and giving out oxygen.
They also carry out respiration both day and night,
taking in oxygen from the air and giving out carbon
dioxide. In this manner, forests help to maintain the
balance of these gases in the atmosphere.
5. Nothing is wasted in a forest. Water fills up forest ponds
and is available to animals, or it seeps underground and
is available to plants. Plants are eaten by some animals,
which are eaten by other animals. Dead animals and
plants become food for vultures, jackals and so on.
Animal droppings and dead plants and animals decay
due to the action of decomposers and form manure and
humus, which serve as fertilisers for plants.
6. Examples of products we get from forests are: (i) wood
and wood products; (ii) herbs and medicinal products;
(iii) oils; (v) spices; (vi) wild honey; (vii) fodder for
animals; (vii) gum from the barks and sap of trees;
(viii) sealing wax (other products may be mentioned)
7. (a) pollination (they also help in seed dispersal); (b) air,
water; (c) lowest; (d) soil
8. The conditions in forests should be of concern to us
even if the forests are not near where we live because:
(i) forests are the ‘lungs’ that keep oxygen and carbon
dioxide in the air well balanced; (ii) they prevent floods;
(iii) they prevent soil erosion; (iv) they provide a habitat
for animals and birds so that both humans and animals
can live in safety; (v) they provide many products which
are useful in our lives.
9. Any forest that develops naturally always has variety.
This happens in nature because living things depend on
one another for survival and growth. Tall trees provide a
canopy and shorter plants provide ground cover. Tree
animals and ground animals use the habitat completely.
 A variety of both plants and animals ensures that there and then scraping away these contaminants (sludge);
is increased availability of food. Decomposers and (iv) skimming floatable contaminants like oil and grease..
scavengers turn dead matter into useful forms. This 5. Sludge is the solid waste scraped off from the bottom of
wide variety helps forests to regenerate. the tank during the process of treating waste water. It
10. atmosphere consists of faeces and other solid impurities. It is
carbon oxygen clouds transferred to a tank and decomposed using anaerobic
dioxide bacteria. The process produces biogas that can be used
as a clean fuel or to produce electricity. Activated sludge
plants rain at the bottom of the clarified water in the aerator tank is
dried and used as manure.
animals
6. Untreated human excreta encourages the breeding of
soil harmful bacteria and microbes that spread infectious
roots
diseases in humans and animals. It may pollute the soil
water table
and the water, including ground water. When people
drink or use such water they may fall seriously ill with
diseases such as cholera, typhoid and dysentery.
11. (iv) Kerosene 7. Two chemicals used for purifying water are chlorine and
12. (ii) Plants and animals in a forest are not dependent ozone.
on one another. 8. The bar screens in a waste water treatment plant hold
13. (iii) humus back large solid contaminants such as plastic bags, rags,
sticks, etc.
9. There is a close cause-and-effect relationship between
Chapter 18 Wastewater Story poor sanitation and infectious diseases. Poor sanitation
results in polluted air, water and surroundings,
1. (a) pollutants/impurities; (b) sewage; (c) sludge; encouraging the growth of harmful bacteria and
(d) cooking oils/fats, solid food remains, solids that microbes. If these are ingested in food and water or
cannot dissolve in water such as soft toys, plastic items, breathed in with the air, we can fall ill with serious
sanitary towels, etc. diseases such as cholera, typhoid and dysentery.
2. Sewage is waste water released by homes, offices, 10. We can play our roles as responsible citizens in
hospitals, industries and wherever there is human
promoting sanitation in the following ways. (i) In our
activity. It contains suspended impurities or homes, we can keep our homes and gardens clean,
contaminants that are harmful not only to humans but dispose of garbage properly and cover wells and
also to organisms that live in the water. That is why overhead tanks. (ii) In our street, we can encourage
untreated sewage should not be released directly into
neighbours to follow waste disposal rules, and not litter
water bodies. the street. (iii) In our cities/towns, we can alert the
3. Oils and fats can harden and clog the drainpipes. That is authorities when we see overflowing drains or mounds
why they should not be thrown into the drain. of garbage anywhere. (iv) We can support projects and
4. The steps to get clarified water from waste water are: publicity campaigns to promote sanitation.
(i) filtration through screens to remove large objects; 11. Across: 3 Sewage; 4 Sludge; 6 Sanitation; 8 Excreta
(ii) removal of sand and grit by allowing these to settle Down: 1 Wastewater; 2 Sewer; 5 Bacteria; 7 Ozone
to the bottom of a tank; (iii) allowing solids like faeces to
12. (ii) (b) and (c)
settle at the bottom of a tank sloped towards the middle,

9
 CoNCERT Science 7
Workbook Answer Key
Chapter 1 Nutrition in Plants sunlight

STEP IN
1. (i) (b); (ii) (a); (iii) (b); (iv) (a); (v) (a)
oxygen
2. (i) True. (ii) False; fungi are saprotrophs. (iii) True.
(iv) False; saprotrophs are not autotrophs because they
cannot synthesise their own food. carbon
dioxide
3. (i)—(e); (ii)—(c); (iii)—(d); (iv)—(b); (v)—(a)
4. (i) Nutrition is the mode by which an organism takes in
food and utilises it.
water
(ii) Nutrients are the components of food that are
necessary for the survival, growth and health of an 7. (i) A symbiotic relationship is one in which two (or
organism. more) different organisms live together and share
shelter and nutrients.
(iii) Proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals are
important nutrients that our body needs. (ii) Lichen (which consists of an alga and a fungus) is an
example of a symbiotic relationship, because the
(iv) (a) growth; (b) energy; (c) cell repair
fungus provides shelter, water and minerals to the
(v) Plants cannot move, but they prepare their own alga, which makes food for both organisms through
food. They require a different set of nutrients, to photosynthesis.
build their bodies, to grow, to repair damaged body
(iii) Yes, bedbugs, lice and leeches are parasites because
parts and gain energy to carry out life processes that
they depend on a host for food.
are different from animals.
8. (i) Bacteria such as rhizobium (which lives in the roots
5. (i) Small openings on the undersides of leaves are
of certain plants) trap nitrogen from the air and
called stomata.
convert it into a soluble form which can be absorbed
(ii) Transpiration (release of water vapour into the by plant roots. This is how nitrogen is used by plants.
atmosphere after water is absorbed by the roots and
(ii) Nutrients travel up the stem from the roots to the
transported to the leaves) and respiration are two
leaves through the xylem. The food substances made
functions of the stomata.
by photosynthesis are taken to the rest of the plant
(iii) Guard cells surround the stomata and are by phloem. (Xylem and phloem vessels are
responsible for regulating the opening and closing of continuous tubes formed by rows of cells to create a
the stomata. transportation system.)
6. (i) The process by which autotrophic plants make their (iii) When crops are grown, the level of nutrients in the
own food (starch) from water and atmospheric soil becomes lower; these have to be replaced by the
carbon dioxide in the presence of sunlight and use of fertilisers before the next sowing. Hence,
chlorophyll is called photosynthesis. farmers add fertilisers to their fields before sowing
(ii) The green pigment present in leaves of autotrophic the next crop.
plants is called chlorophyll.
STEP UP
(iii) Photosynthesis requires sunlight. Hence, plants will
1. (i) Fungi are saprotrophic organisms that get their
not be able to make their own food and die if they
nutrients from dead or decaying matter. Examples
are not exposed to the sunlight.
are bread mould and mushrooms.
(iv) Yes, plants with orange and red leaves can also carry
(ii) Fungi grow on dead and decaying matter in warm
out photosynthesis because the leaves have
and moist places.
chlorophyll.
(iii) Fungi spread through spores that float in the air and
(v) carbohydrate, oxygen
land on other dead or decaying matter.
(vi)
(iv) Warmth and humidity (moisture in the air) are ideal
conditions for fungi to grow.
10
 (v) No, bread with fungus growing on it is not safe for
humans to eat because it may contain toxins that
will harm the body.
(v) Some mushrooms are fungi that are edible.
2. (i) Yes. (ii) Yes. (iii) Nitrogen and phosphorus
(iv) There are not enough nutrients for the pitcher plant
in the soil, so the roots cannot absorb enough
quantities. Hence, the pitcher plant cannot obtain
nutrients like other plants do.
(v) The leaf of the pitcher plant is modified to form a
pitcher with an open top. When an insect enters the
pitcher, the top closes, and the hairs inside trap the
insect. Digestive juices secreted by the plant digest
the insect. The plant then absorbs the nutrients.
(vi) In a sense, insectivorous plants may be termed
carnivorous, since they feed on insects.
3. (ii), (iv) and (v) are the most important things that a
gardener needs to know. Sunlight, soil and water are the
main factors that determine whether a plant will grow
and stay healthy. (vi) The thickness of the stem decides
how far apart it should be planted from other plants. (i)
The colour of the flowers will be important if the garden
is planned according to colour.
4. (i) Plants make starch during photosynthesis because
starch (carbohydrate) is the product of the reaction
between water and carbon dioxide. Proteins contain
nitrogen, and photosynthesis does not involve
nitrogen.
(ii) Chlorophyll helps the reaction to take place, but
does not undergo any change. (Such a substance is
called a catalyst.)
(iii) Sunlight is important for photosynthesis, because
the reaction needs the energy provided by sunlight.
5. (i) The bacterium rhizobium lives in the roots of
leguminous plants. It converts atmospheric nitrogen
into soluble forms that can be taken up by the roots.
This helps the growth of legume plants. Thus, there
is a symbiotic relationship between rhizobium and
the roots of the plant.
(ii) Because the rhizobium bacteria produce soluble
nitrogen for the plants, farmers need to use much
less nitrogenous fertilisers on their fields where
legumes are grown. This is how the symbiotic
relationship helps farmers.
Chapter 2 Nutrition in Animals
STEP IN
1. (i) All animals need carbohydrates, proteins, fats,
minerals and vitamins. (According to the species
they belong to, they may be able to produce some of
these in their body.)
(ii) (a) Hummingbird: sucks nectar from flowers
(b) Python: swallows small animals alive
11
(c) Elephant calf: drinks mother’s milk and later eats
the plant foods that other elephants eat
2. (i) (a); (ii) (a); (iii) (b); (iv) (a); (v) (c)
3. (i)—(c); (ii)—(d); (iii)—(e); (iv)—(b); (v)—(a)
4. (i) A: Incisor, used for biting and cutting.
B: Canine, used for piercing and tearing.
C: Molar, used for chewing and grinding.
(ii) Structure: The tongue is a fleshy muscular organ
attached to the back of the mouth. It is free in front
and has the full range of movement. It has taste
buds that can identify different tastes in food.
Functions of the tongue in digestion are: (a) to move
the food around inside the mouth to make it easier
for the teeth to chew; (b) to taste the food to
identify whether it is safe to eat; (c) to mix the food
with saliva to aid digestion; (d) to help in swallowing
the food.
5. (i) Salivary glands, stomach, pancreas and liver are
organs that secrete digestive juices.
(ii)
buccal
cavity
salivary
gland
oesophagus
liver stomach
gall bladder
pancreas
large
intestine
small
intestine
rectum
anus
6. (i) fatty acids and glycerol, bile; (ii) amino acids, digestive
juices in the stomach and from the pancreas; (iii) simple
sugars such as glucose, saliva and pancreatic juice
(iv) Nutrients need to be broken down to make them
available in useful and simpler forms to the body.
7. (i) Ruminants are animals that chew cud or swallow the
food and bring it back to the mouth later, to chew.
(ii) rumen, caecum, grass, oesophagus
(iii) Ruminants have a large sac-like structure called the
caecum between the small and large intestines,
which has bacteria that can digest cellulose. Humans
do not have these bacteria in their digestive system,
and so cannot digest cellulose. (Note: The caecum is
between the small and large intestines and not
between the oesophagus and the small intestine.)
(iv) Cud is food swallowed by ruminants and partially
digested in the rumen. This is later brought back into
 the mouth and chewed for a long time before being
swallowed again.
8. (i) False; it has only one cell. (ii) True. (iii) False; it feeds
on other microscopic organisms. (iv) False; it has a
nucleus. (v) False; it is found in ponds and lakes.
9. (i) ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation,
egestion
(ii) Ingestion is the process of taking food into the body.
(ii) Digestion is the process of breaking down the food
into forms that can be used by the body.
(iii) Absorption is the process of taking in nutrients in
usable forms from the digestive system.
(iv) Assimilation is the process of making the nutrients
available to the various organs for conversion into
complex substances needed by the cells.
(v) Egestion is the process of eliminating waste products
that the body does not need.
STEP UP
1. (i) The alimentary canal is the path taken by food as it is
digested, from the buccal cavity at one end to the
anus at the other.
(ii) Buccal cavity, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine,
large intestine, rectum and anus
(iii) The maximum digestion of food takes place in the
small intestine.
(iv) Egestion takes place from the anus.
2. (i) The first teeth, called baby teeth or milk teeth, fall
out between the ages of 6 and 8 years. This is
because they are pushed out by the permanent
teeth that are growing out. Before that age, the jaws
of children are not large enough to accommodate
the permanent teeth.
(ii) (a) Milk teeth do not last more than a few years
before they fall out. (b) Usually, there are only 20
milk teeth but 32 permanent teeth. (The premolars,
and one more set of molars, are found only in the
permanent set.) (c) The sizes of milk teeth are
generally smaller and the shapes may be different
from those of permanent teeth. (d) The enamel that
covers milk teeth is thinner than that of permanent
teeth, and so milk teeth are more easily affected by
sugary foods.
(iii) Because the enamel on the milk teeth is thin, these
teeth are more likely to develop cavities (tooth
decay) if they are not properly cleaned, as compared
to permanent teeth.
(iv) A person with no teeth can easily eat only liquids or
mashed or soft food that can be swallowed easily.
3. (i) Yes the human stomach has strong muscles that
work to move the food around and mix it with the
digestive juices to help digestion. The stomach
muscles are also responsible for food being thrown
upwards when we vomit.
12
(ii) Yes, the human intestine, especially the small
intestine, has strong muscles which contract and
expand to push the food downwards. This process is
called ‘peristalsis’.
(iii) Villi are small finger-like projections on the inner
walls of the small intestine. There are many
thousands of them, and they increase the surface
area of the intestine available for the absorption of
nutrients. They have a network made up of many
thin blood vessels close to their surface, which
absorb the nutrients from the food as it is digested.
(iv) Roughage is good for digestion because it adds bulk
to the food and helps to move it through the
alimentary canal a little faster.
4. (i) A person whose liver is not working will have
difficulty in digesting fats. This is because the bile
secreted by the liver is mainly responsible for the
digestion of fats.
(ii) Without saliva, digestion of starch into sugars cannot
start in the mouth.
(iii) Yes, even without taste buds we would digest food.
Taste buds play no role in digestion.
5. (i) Caecum. (ii) Between the small intestine and the
large intestine. (iii) Goat, sheep, buffalo, deer, antelope.
(Other examples may be given.)
Chapter 3 Fibre to Fabric
STEP IN
1. (i)—(d); (ii)–(e); (iii)—(f); (iv)—(b); (v)—(a); (vi)—(c)
2. (i) True. (ii) True. (iii) False; scouring is the process of
cleaning the wool after shearing. (iv) False; the cocoons
are sorted before spinning. (v) True.
3. (i) Kashmir, Ladakh; (ii) Kashmiri goats;
(iii) South America; (iv) pulses, corn, jowar, oil cake and
minerals, besides grass; (v) leaves, grain and dry fodder
4. (i) Fleece is the hair of sheep or other animals that are
sheared to make wool.
(ii) Nali is a breed of sheep found in Rajasthan, Haryana
and Punjab.
(iii) A yarn is a bundle of thin, long strings of twisted
fibre.
(iv) The pupa is the stage before the caterpillar becomes
the moth, during which it spins a cocoon.
(v) Eri is a type of silk from Assam.
5. (i) (d); (ii) (a); (iii) (c)
6. (i) Sorting is the process of separating different textures
of hair in wool, after scouring.
(ii) Reeling (of silk) is the process of taking threads from
the silk cocoon.
(iii) Boiling is the process of putting silk cocoons in
boiling water before reeling.
 (iv) Scouring is the process of cleaning fleece before
sending for sorting.
(v) Rolling is the process of making woollen yarn from
straightened fibres of wool.
7. (i) Rearing is looking after, feeding and raising sheep.
(ii) Breeding is the raising of male and female sheep to
produce lambs, and caring for them.
(iii) Selective breeding is the selection of particular types
of sheep as parents to produce lambs with particular
kinds of fleece. This is important for controlling the
quality and characteristics of the fleece, which can
then be used for specific purposes. For instance the
Lohi variety of sheep yields high-quality wool.
8. (i) A: Spinning; B: Shearing; C: Scouring
(ii) Shearing, Scouring, Sorting, Removing burrs, Dyeing,
Rolling, Spinning
9. (i) 3 (yarn), 1 (silkworm), 4 (silk fabric), 2 (cocoon)
(ii) The silkworm weaves a net, swings its head and
secretes fibre. This fibre hardens in the air and the
worm gets completely covered with fibre.
(iii) Heating, boiling or steaming the cocoons; reeling the
fibre off the cocoons; and spinning fibres into yarn is
the procedure for obtaining silk yarn from cocoons.
STEP UP
1. (i) Australia, China, New Zealand
(ii) Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh
(iii) Kashmiri goat
2. (i) Sorting is for separating hairs of different textures.
This is important for producing wool of specific
qualities for specific purposes.
(ii) The best use of coarse wool is to make a carpet. This
is because just like the material, a carpet does not
have to be very soft, only smooth and strong.
(iii) Long fibres are best used for knitting sweaters. This
is because long fibres are more suitable for knitting.
3. (i) Kancheepuram (Tamil Nadu), Sualkuchi (Assam),
Mysuru (Karnataka) are a few cities famous for their
silk fabrics.
(ii) China. (India is the second-largest producer.)
(iii) Tassar (produced in Bihar and West Bengal), mooga
(produced in Assam), kosa (produced in Chattisgarh)
and eri (produced in Assam) are some of the
varieties of silk found in India.
4. (i) The fibre of the silkworm’s cocoon is soft, shiny and
strong.
(ii) The spider, like the silkworm, secretes a substance
that is drawn into fine threads and spins its web. The
fibre of the spider web is also strong (strong enough
to trap and hold small insects), but sticky unlike silk.
5. (i) Artificial silk is also called rayon. It is made from
wood pulp and has the general appearance of silk,
though not its properties.
13
(ii) The fabric is artificial silk. This is because burning
mulberry silk gives out the odour of burning hair.
6. (i) No, there is no silk in silk cotton.
(ii) It is called so because it is soft and shiny, like silk.
(iii) It grows in many states in India; there is a name for
the tree in many Indian languages.
(iv) The fluffy, soft fibre is used for stuffing mattresses,
jackets and quilts. In some parts of the world, the
seeds are used for oil extraction or for medicinal
purposes.
Chapter 4 Heat
STEP IN
1. (i) degrees; (ii) Celsius, Fahrenheit; (iii) Celsius;
(iv) 35° C and 42° C; (v) 37° C
2. (i) The precautions to be taken to get an accurate
reading are:
(a) Place the bulb of the thermometer below the
level of the water.
(b) Wait for some time till the mercury level in the
thermometer reaches a steady state.
(c) Without removing the thermometer from the
water, take the reading with the eye at the same
level as the mercury level in the thermometer.
(ii) (b) Time should be given for the temperature to be
properly recorded. If the thermometer is removed
before the reading is taken, the reading will be
incorrect because the laboratory thermometer does
not have a bend (kink) to keep the mercury level
steady.
3. (i) bulb kink thread of mercury
(ii) Glass
(iii) The kink or bend in the mercury column just above
the bulb prevents the mercury from dropping back
into the bulb easily unless it is shaken.
4. (i) The precautions to be taken to an get accurate
reading on a clinical thermometer are:
(a) Place the bulb of the thermometer such that it is
completely surrounded by the body part (under
the tongue, under the armpit, etc.).
(b) Wait for at least a minute for the temperature
to record properly.
(c) Take the thermometer out and hold it level with
the eye to see the reading.
(ii) The clinical thermometer can be prevented from
damage by (a) not dropping it; (b) avoiding
scratching it; (c) not immersing it in hot liquids;
(d) washing it with antiseptic after use; and
(e) drying it with a soft cloth before it is stored.
 (iii) When a digital thermometer is used, (a) there is no
risk of mercury being spilled in case of breakage; and
(b) the reading is directly shown as a display instead
of having to be read on the glass.
5. (i) Heat transfer by conduction takes place when
objects are in direct contact, without a medium in
between, or when heat travels along the same
object from a point at a higher temperature to a
point at a lower temperature.
(ii) Heat transfer by convection takes place in unevenly
heated fluids (liquids or gases) when areas at a
higher temperature move upwards and displace the 3.
cooler parts downwards, till mixing takes place and
the temperature becomes the same throughout the
fluid.
(iii) Heat transfer by radiation takes place without the
need for a medium. For instance, the heat of the sun
reaches the Earth through space by radiation.
4.
6. (i) The different kinds of heat transfers taking place in
the picture are: conduction from flame to bowl;
conduction from bowl to water; conduction from
5.
flame to air; convection in water; conduction from
water to air; convection in air; conduction from air to
lid; and conduction from lid to tongs and tongs
handle.
(ii) Convection is not possible in solids because the
particles of the solid are not free to move around
like those in fluids.
(iii) The handle should be covered with wood and not
iron or copper. This is because metals are good
conductors of heat and will make the handle too hot
to hold. Wood is a heat insulator and the handle can
be held easily without causing burns.
7. (i) Light-coloured clothes reflect more of the heat
that falls on them, thereby keeping the body cooler. Chapter 5 Acids, Bases and Salts
(ii) When we wear two woollen sweaters, air is trapped STEP IN
between them. Air is a good insulator against heat 1.
loss. Hence, two thin sweaters keep us much warmer
than one thick sweater.
8. (i) A: Night time, land breeze. The warm air over the
water rises and a cool breeze from the land blows 2.
towards the sea. B: Day time, sea breeze. The warm
air over the land rises and cool air from the sea
blows inland.
(ii) Both are examples of heat transfer by convection.
STEP UP
1. (i) Yes (ii) No (there is no such concept as transfer of
cold). (iii) Heat is transferred from the finger to the
water; as the heat leaves it, the finger starts feeling cold.
2. (i) Heat is transferred from the sun to the earth by
radiation. 3.
(ii) Heat is transferred from the surrounding air to the 4.
packet of peas by conduction.
14
(iii) Heat is transferred from the milk to the surrounding
air by conduction.
(iv) Heat is transferred from flame to vessel by
conduction, from vessel to milk by conduction, inside
the milk by convection, from flame to air by
conduction, from vessel to air by conduction and
from milk to air by conduction. (The air is warmed by
the flame, the vessel and the milk in the vessel.)
(v) Heat is transferred from the fire to the hands by
radiation (also conduction from fire to air and from
air to hands).
(i) The plastic handle is the insulator used to keep heat
out from the body.
(ii) The woollen cap is the insulator used to keep heat in
the body.
(iii) The glove is the insulator used to keep heat in the
body.
(i) Melting of snow; (ii) Warm and cold oceanic currents;
(iii) Land and sea breezes; (iv) The heat from the sun
reaching the earth
(i) Copper is a better conductor of heat than steel as it
takes up heat faster than steel does. So the copper
vessel becomes hot earlier and transfers heat to the
water earlier.
(ii) The car with slightly open windows will be less hot
because it enables convection of air.
(iii) Thermocol is a heat insulator; a Thermocol box
keeps the outside heat from reaching the ice inside.
(iv) In a hot-air balloon, the air under the balloon is
heated with a flame. The hot air being lighter than
the cool air surrounding the balloon, the hot-air
balloon rises.
(i) False; litmus testing is more accurate (It could be
dangerous to taste everything). (ii) True. (iii) False; it is a
salt (neutral). (iv) True. (v) False; bases form soapy
solutions with water. (vi) True.
(i)
Food item Acid found in the food item
Spinach Oxalic acid
Orange Citric acid
Vinegar Acetic acid
Tamarind Tartaric acid
Curd Lactic acid
(ii) Formic acid
(iii) Formic acid can cause itching, rashes and pain when
an ant bites us.
(i)—(d); (ii)—(e); (iii)—(a); (iv)—(b); (v)—(c)
(i) Litmus (solution or paper)
 (ii) Litmus solution is of a pale purple colour in pure breakages. (d) Dispose of chemicals as instructed by
water. It turns red when an acid is added, and blue the supervisor.
when a base is added. (Red litmus paper remains red 9. (i) The formic acid is neutralised by applying moist
in an acid and turns blue in a base, whereas blue baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) or calamine
litmus paper remains blue in a base and turn red in solution (zinc carbonate) to the burning skin.
an acid.) (ii) Acids in factory wastes are neutralised by adding
(iii)China rose petals can be used as acid/base indicators. basic substances before disposal.
To use China rose as an indicator, tear up the petals (iii) Quicklime (calcium oxide) or slaked lime (calcium
and place them in a glass. Add warm water and allow hydroxide) is added to soil which is too acidic.
the petals to soak. The solution obtained will turn
(iv) Organic matter (compost), which releases acids, is
dark pink in acidic solutions and green in basic
added to soil which is too basic.
solutions.
(iv) Turmeric STEP UP
(v) To use turmeric as an indicator, make a paste of 1. (i) Hydrochloric acid
turmeric powder with water. Spread the paste on (ii) Milk of Magnesia is an antacid which contains
blotting paper and allow it to dry. Cut strips of the magnesium hydroxide. Because it is basic, it
paper and use them as indicators. The strips turn red neutralises the effect of excessive acid in the
when exposed to a basic solution but retain their stomach.
colour when tested on an acid. (iii) Neutralisation reaction
5. (i) (a) No change. (b) Red litmus turns blue. (c) No (iv) Yes
change. (d) No change. (e) Blue litmus turns red. (v) The products formed are salt and water.
(ii) No, we cannot find out which is which based on this 2. (i) (d); (ii) (d); (iii) (b); (iv) (c)
test. Since both substances are acidic, there will be
3. The large circle represents bases, whereas the inner
no difference in the way phenolphthalein reacts with
circle stands for alkalis (which are bases that dissolve in
them.
water). Only the inner circle should be shaded.
6. (i) Colourless. (ii) Colourless. (iii) Colourless. (iv) Basic.
4. (i) Acid rain is the phenomenon whereby rainwater
Phenolphthalein turns pink when it is in a basic solution.
is acidic in nature.
(v) (b) (Add more acid like hydrochloric acid to neutralise
the base; phenolphthalein will turn colourless again.) (ii) The burning of fuels such as coal and petroleum
products in factories, vehicles and homes produces
7. (i) Neutralisation is the reaction between an acid and a
acidic, polluting gases such as carbon dioxide,
base. Heat is evolved as a result of the process and
sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Acid rain is
the products salt and water are formed.
formed because of the dissolution of these gases in
(ii) (a) salt, water; (b) warm, of the evolution of heat rainwater to form carbonic acid, sulphuric acid and
(iii) (d) The acid and base, when taken in adequate nitric acid, respectively.
quantities, will neutralise the effect of each other. (iii) Acid rain is harmful because it destroys historical
(iv) Hydrochloric acid (HCl) + Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) monuments, buildings, plants and animals. When it
 Sodium chloride (NaCl) + Water (H2O) enters water bodies, it can cause them to become
(Acid + Base → Salt + Water (heat is evolved)) acidic, which affects aquatic life.
8. (i) Concentrated acids can be harmful if part of the (iv) People can reduce the use of fuels that emit
body is directly exposed to them. Their reactions can pollutants into the atmosphere and switch to
generate a large amount of heat, which can cause an eco-friendly and alternative resources of energy.
explosion. To avoid accidents, we should use only 5.
diluted acids for experiments. Property Acid Base
(ii) Acids and bases are corrosive. They are irritating and (i) Identified using indicators  
harmful for the skin. Acid rain can cause damage to (ii) Feels soapy to the touch 
buildings, historical monuments, plants and animals. (iii) Sour to the taste 
(iii) Safety precautions to be taken when working with (iv) May be corrosive  
acids and bases: (a) Wear safety glasses and (v) Used in batteries  
overcoats while working with acids and bases. Use 
(vi) Used in detergents
plastic gloves to prevent skin contact. (b) When
(vii) Does not change colour of turmeric 
diluting acids, add acid to water and not vice-versa,
(viii) Part of proteins 
to avoid the generation of excess heat. (c) Inform the
(ix) Has a high pH value 
instructor immediately of any chemical spills or glass

15
Chapter 6 Physical and Chemical Changes
STEP IN
1. (i) P; (ii) C; (iii) C; (iv) P; (v) C; (vi) P; (vii) C
2. (i) Tearing up paper is a physical change because it
produces no new substances. Burning it is a chemical
change, because it produces new substances.
(ii) No, it was a physical change. The heated iron did not
become a new substance or form any new
substances.
(iii) The chemical change took place when iron reacted
with oxygen in the air to form a new substance, rust
(iron oxide).
3. (i) (a) white; (b) magnesium oxide; (c) red litmus paper
turns blue
(ii) Magnesium (Mg) + Oxygen (O₂)
→ Magnesium oxide (MgO)
(This is not a balanced equation.)
4. (i) (a) iron sulphate; (b) copper
(ii) Copper Sulphate + Iron → Iron sulphate + Copper
5. (i) Vinegar (Acetic acid) + Baking soda (Sodium
bicarbonate) → Carbon dioxide + other substances
(ii) Pass the gas through lime water (calcium hydroxide).
If the lime water turns milky, it shows that the gas is
carbon dioxide.
(iii) Carbon dioxide (CO₂) + Lime water [Ca(OH)₂]
→ Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) + Water (H₂O)
6. (i) The presence of air and moisture are necessary for
the rusting of iron.
(ii) Painting, galvanising and storing away from air and
water are a few methods of preventing rusting.
(iii) Rusting of iron equipment should be prevented
because the chemical change slowly eats away the
iron and damages the equipment.
(iv) Galvanisation means depositing a layer of zinc on the
surface of iron through an electrochemical process.
7. (i) Crystallisation is the process by which a substance in
a solution forms solid crystals at the bottom when
the solution becomes very concentrated. It is a
physical change, because no new substances are
formed.
(ii) Yes, it is a reversible change. When more water (or
solvent) is added to the solution and stirred, the
crystals will dissolve again.
(iii) Steps taken to obtain copper sulphate crystals:
(a) Take water in a beaker; add drops of dilute
sulphuric acid to it. (b) Heat the water till it comes to
a boil. (c) Add copper sulphate powder gradually till
no more will dissolve. (d) Filter the solution into a
beaker and allow it to cool without disturbing it.
Crystals of copper sulphate will form at the bottom
of the beaker.
16
8. (i) Chemical change; the brownish colour is due to a
new substance.
(ii) Chemical change; the ozone is broken down by
ultraviolet light from the sun to form oxygen, which
is a new substance.
(iii) Physical change; no new substance is formed.
(iv) Physical change; no new substance is formed.
STEP UP
1. (i) Chemical change. The dirt on the clothes reacts with
the chemical in the detergent to form soluble
substances that are then washed away.
(ii) Physical change. Coconut is scraped and then
crushed, but is not a new substance. (Frying and
adding spices would be a chemical change.)
(iii) Physical change. No new substance is formed.
(iv) Physical change. If the paint only forms a layer on
top of the wood to protect it, no new substance is
formed.
(v) Physical change. The nail polish remover contains a
solvent such as acetone which can dissolve the hard
nail polish and make it possible to wipe it away
without forming any new substances.
2. (i) (b); (ii) (c); (iii) (b); (iv) (a)
3. (i) It is a physical change because no new substances
are formed. Salt is only separated from water.
(ii) It is a chemical change because sodium hydroxide
and hydrochloric acid have different properties
compared to common salt.
(iii) It is a chemical change because gaseous pollutants
form carbonic acid, sulphuric acid and nitric acid
when they react with water in the atmosphere.
(iv) It is a chemical change because the basic calamine
lotion neutralises the formic acid present in the
ant bite.
4. (i) a basic; (ii) calcium carbonate; (iii) Photosynthesis;
(iv) a chemical change; (v) higher
5. (i) Copper sulphate + Iron → Iron sulphate + Copper
(ii) Burning of magnesium ribbon
(iii) Lime water (calcium hydroxide) turning milky
(formation of calcium carbonate) when carbon
dioxide is passed through it
(iv) Vinegar (Acetic acid) + Baking soda (Sodium
bicarbonate) → Carbon dioxide + other substances
(v) Carbon dioxide + Lime water
→ Calcium carbonate + Water
(vi) Burning of any substance such as wood or coal (heat
is released); photosynthesis (heat from the sun’s
rays is absorbed)
Chapter 7 Weather, Climate and
Adaptations of Animals to Climate
STEP IN
1. (i) climate; (ii) climate; (iii) climate; (iv) weather;
(v) climate
2. (i) (a), (b), and (d)
(ii) Humidity is a measure of the moisture content of the
air at a particular place.
(iii) (c) 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
3. (i) The habitat of an animal means the surroundings,
including living and non-living things and climate, in
which an animal lives.
(ii) Tropical jungles, polar regions, deserts and
mountainous regions are four examples of habitats.
(iii) Adaptation is the natural process by which an
organism becomes suited to live and grow in its
habitat. Also, an adaptation is a feature or habit that
helps an organism to live in its habitat. A streamlined
body for easier swimming and gills for breathing
under water are two adaptations of fish, which live
in water.
(iv) No, animals belonging to polar regions cannot live in
tropical rainforests because all organisms are
adapted by nature to survive in their own specific
habitats.
4. (i) The polar bear needs to swim to keep cool and to
catch its prey.
(ii) Wide, large paws and the ability to close the nostrils
for long periods underwater enable polar bears to
swim long distances underwater.
(iii) Two thick layers of fur and a layer of fat help the
polar bear survive in icy water.
(iv) Seals and walruses are the polar bear’s natural prey.
5. (i) Penguins are partly white and merge with the white
background; they have thick skins and layers of fat;
they huddle together to keep warm.
(ii) Siberian cranes migrate during the winter to warmer
areas in Asia. (Note: Siberian cranes no longer
migrate to India.)
6. (i) The lion-tailed macaque is a good climber, and lives
mostly in the trees. It gets most of its food from
fruits, seeds, stems and flowers and from insects
under the barks of the trees. Since it gets its food on
trees, it does not need to climb down to the ground.
(ii) The elephant has a long nose (trunk) and an
excellent sense of smell; the trunk also helps in
lifting things. The tusks are useful for defence and
for tearing the branches or bark of trees. (Large ears
help it to hear soft sounds and also to keep cool.)
(iii) The toucan has a long, large beak to reach fruit on
higher, thinner branches of trees that would not
17
otherwise support its weight. (It nests in holes in
large trees.)
7. (i) (a) They may have a built-in sense of direction.
(b) They may be following landmarks.
(c) They may be guided by the Earth’s magnetic field.
(ii) (a) Bharatpur in Rajasthan; (b) Sultanpur in Haryana.
STEP UP
1. (i) (a) temperature; (b) rainfall; (c) humidity
(ii) (a) The sunlight directly raises the temperature of
the ground and the surrounding air.
(b) The sun causes water to evaporate from lakes,
seas and other water bodies and also causes
convectional air movements due to uneven
heating, together enabling the water cycle and
leading to rainfall.
(c) When the temperature of the air is higher, it can
take up more moisture. When the temperature
drops with high humidity in air, the water may
condense as dew.
2. (i) Three adaptations of leopards are a spotted or
patchy coat, a good sense of balance and sharp
hearing.
(ii) Camels can store fat in their body; they manage
without water for a week and without food for a few
months; they have wide feet that will not sink into
the sand; they have long eyelashes and nostrils that
can close, to protect against desert dust.
3. (i) The polar regions are north of the Arctic Circle and
south of the Antarctic Circle. Tropical rainforests lie
between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of
Capricorn.
(ii) Arctic polar region
(iii) Antarctic polar region.
4. (i) In India, tropical rainforests are situated in the
Western Ghats, Northeast India and the Andaman
and Nicobar Islands.
(ii) Since there are many animals and plants of different
kinds living in the same area, there is immense
competition among them for food and shelter.
(iii) The red-eyed frog is a tree frog has sticky pads on its
feet so that it can climb trees easily.
(iv) (a) tiger; (b) elephant; (c) eagle;
(d) lion-tailed macaque (Other answers are possible.)
Chapter 8 Winds, Storms and Cyclones
STEP IN
1. (i) False; a meteorologist studies the weather. (ii) True.
(iii) True. (iv) False; when a fixed volume of air is taken in
a container and heated, it exerts more pressure than
when it is cooled.
2. (i) (a); (ii) (b)
3. (i) Moving air is called wind.
 (ii) North Pole
66.5 N
23.5 N
0 Equator
23.5 S
66.5 S
South Pole
(iii) Wind directions are curved instead of aligned in the
north–south direction because of the rotation of the
earth from west to east.
(iv) The sun’s rays fall directly on the equatorial regions
and are slanted at the poles. Hence, the equatorial
region is warmer than the polar regions. This uneven
heating causes convection currents of air, leading to
the formation of winds.
4. (i) Refer to Fig. 8.9 on p. 8.6 of the textbook. The Indian
Ocean is to the south, the Bay of Bengal is to the
east and the Arabian Sea is to the west of India.
(ii) Southwest monsoon winds carry water mainly from
the Indian Ocean but also partly from Arabian Sea
and Bay of Bengal.
(iii) No. In winter, the land is cooler than the sea. Hence,
the winds blow from the land towards the sea.
(iv) No. The amount of rainfall is less in winter.
5. (i) Thunderstorms usually occur in the tropical latitudes.
(ii) During a thunderstorm, rising air and falling water
droplets within a cloud cause a discharge of energy
in the form of lightning, accompanied by a loud
sound (thunder).
(iii) Unsafe places during a thunderstorm: under a tree;
in a swimming pool; in a metal-roof shed.
(iv)
Heat is taken up by the water to form
vapour during cloud formation.
During precipitation, this heat is released into the atmosphere.
The air around the water droplets becomes warmer
and thus rises, causing a reduction in air pressure.
The cold air rushes in towards the centre of the storm.
This forms a cycle of high-speed winds revolving
around a low-pressure system.
(v) As the cyclone nears the land, it releases water in
the form of heavy rain. Due to high wind speed, high
waves also wash inland. These two factors together
cause coastal flooding.
18
6. A tornado is a dark, funnel-shaped cloud of cyclical
winds stretching from the sky to the ground. The winds
may be as fast as 300 km/h. As the tornado moves along
the ground, it can cause severe damage to trees,
buildings and other structures. A tornado may form
within a cyclone. Tornadoes generally do not occur in
India. They are not necessarily accompanied by rain.
7. (i) Anemometer
(ii) The anemometer is used to measure the speed of
wind. (Some can also record wind direction.)
(iii) The arrow indicates the direction of spinning of the
anemometer.
STEP UP
1. (i) True. (ii) False. (iii) False. (iv) True. (v) False.
2. (i) True. (ii) True. (iii) False; in a low-pressure area, air
rises to cooler areas above and forms clouds that bring
rain. (iv) False; land breezes do not contain as much
water vapour as sea breezes do. It is moist air that forms
clouds and causes rainfall. That is why land breezes are
not associated with rainfall. (v) True.
3. (i) Between May/June and August/September
(ii) Between October and December
(iii) The strength of cyclonic winds depends on the
pressure difference between its eye and the outer
parts. The low pressure at the centre is caused by
the condensation of water vapour, accompanied by
the heating and rising of air. As a cyclone moves over
the land, the pressure starts equalising because
there is less moisture, the temperature may be
cooler (especially at night), and geographical
features such as hills and trees hinder the winds.
4. (i) A meteorologist needs to know the temperature,
pressure, humidity and rainfall during the day to
predict the weather for the following day or days.
For predicting longer-term events like monsoons,
historical data over several years have to be studied
along with the current data.
(ii) Cyclones need an inner column of rising air to form a
low-pressure ‘eye’ around which cyclical high-speed
winds will form. Only warm air can rise, and only
warm oceans will have warm air over the surface.
(iii) Lightning is a discharge of electricity. It will be
attracted towards metal objects because they are
good conductors of electricity. An umbrella with a
metallic end is therefore dangerous for us to hold in
the open during a thunderstorm.
Chapter 9 Soil
STEP IN
1. (i) (a); (ii) (c); (iii) (b); (iv) (d)
2. (i) Refer to Fig. 9.2 on p. 97 of the textbook. (From
below: gravel, sand, clay, water and floating humus.)
 (ii) Humus is made of dead and decaying organic matter
and is the topmost layer of the soil. (It is the floating
layer in the jar.)
(iii) Loamy soil is likely to have all the layers shown.
3. (i) Weathering
(ii) The nature of a particular soil depends upon the
nature of the rocks from which it is formed and the
types of plants that grow in it.
(iii) Soil near riverbanks is a mixture of sand, clay and silt
(loamy soil), which is best for growing plants.
4. (i) Sandy soils have larger particles which are not tightly
packed. They allow water to seep through easily;
clayey soils consist of smaller particles packed tightly
together, which trap and retain water instead of
letting most of it percolate. Sandy soils therefore
provide better aeration to roots, but clayey soils
hold more water.
(ii) Loam has all the good properties of sand, clay and
silt, because it contains all three.
(iii) (a) clayey/loamy; (b) clayey; (c) loamy;
(d) sandy/loamy; (e) clayey
5. Heating of the soil removes water from it, and the soil
loses weight. The more the water removed, the more
the weight loss. Sample A has lost more of its weight, so
it must have contained more water. Sample A is the
clayey soil, and sample B is the sandy soil.
6. (i) The water retention capacity of the soil is being
measured here.
(ii) percentage of water absorbed = 100 × (volume of
water in the cylinder / volume of water poured)
(iii) It indicates that the soil in funnel B retains more
moisture than the soil in funnel A.
7. Soil erosion takes place due to natural causes such as
wind, rain and ice and also due to human activities such
as deforestation and incorrect agricultural practices. It
involves removal of soil, making tree roots less strongly
anchored and causing loss of nutrients for plants. Soil
erosion can be reduced by avoiding activities that cause
climate change such as deforestation and desertification,
and by planting more trees.
STEP UP
1. (i) Plastic bags, sewage and chemical wastes are three
possible pollutants of soil.
(ii) Yes, all these can also pollute the water, either
directly or through the soil by seepage, or by being
washed into lakes or other water bodies during rains
or floods.
2. (i) A soil profile is a vertical cross-section that shows
the different layers (horizons) of the soil.
(ii) Starting from the bottom, label the bedrock and
then the horizons as C, B and A, C being just above
bedrock. (At the top is a loose layer of dark organic
matter, which is humus being formed.)
19
(iii) The uppermost layer is dark because it consists of
dead and decaying organic matter (humus) and
minerals. This layer contains many nutrients that are
good for plants.
(iv) C horizon (with difficulty). Water hardly penetrates
at all through bedrock.
(v) Small insects and worms will be found in and just
under the topsoil (A horizon) because they need air
to breathe.
3. (i) (c) gravel > (a) sand > (d) silt > (b) clay
(ii) It will dry fastest in the desert because the soil is
sandy. (The other soils contain clay or loam, and will
retain water for a longer time.)
(iii) Factors affecting the depth of the water table of a
particular place are: (a) the amount of rainfall;
(b) the type of surface and soil; (c) the extent of use
(extraction with pumps).
4. (i) 25 ml (200 – 175)
(ii) 175 ml percolates in 30 min. (There is no change
after 30 min.)
Percolation rate = 175 / 30 = 5.83 ml/min
(iii) The soil is likely to be sandy because most of the
water has percolated through.
Chapter 10 Respiration in Organisms
STEP IN
1. (i)—(d); (ii)—(c); (iii)—(a); (iv)—(b)
2. (i) aerobic; (ii) inhalation; (iii) breathing rate; (or
respiratory rate) (iv) oxygen
3. (i) (b); (ii) (c); (iii) (c); (iv) (a)
4. (i) During vigorous exercise the demand for oxygen is
high but the supply may not be enough, and so after
a while the muscles start anaerobic respiration. In
the process, the muscles convert glucose into lactic
acid and release energy for their own use. As lactic
acid levels rise, they may cause sudden contractions
in the muscles, leading to painful cramps.
(ii) A hot bath or a gentle massage may relieve cramps
after a rest.
(iii) Both previously mentioned methods improve the
circulation of blood to the affected muscle, bringing
more oxygen to it and relieving the cramp.
5. (i) True. (ii) False; the chest is at its widest when the
lungs are full and the person is about to exhale. (iii)
False; exhaled air has more carbon dioxide than inhaled
air. (iv) True. (v) False; they can cause permanent
damage to the lungs and other organs.
6. (i) Fish have gills, which are projections of the skin
containing many blood vessels. As water flows
over the gills, gases are exchanged between the
water and the blood of the fish. In this way, the fish
takes in oxygen and eliminates carbon dioxide.
 (ii) The earthworm ‘breathes’ through its moist skin;
that is, gas exchange with the air takes place through
the skin.
(iii) A cockroach had small openings on the sides, known
as spiracles, through which it takes in air. These lead
to tracheal tubes that carry oxygen to all the tissues.
7. (i) The process of breakdown of food in the cell with
the release of energy is called cellular respiration.
(ii) Carbon dioxide and water are the products of
aerobic respiration.
(iii) If we breathe out against the surface of a mirror, we
can see moisture condense on the mirror from our
exhaled breath. If we breathe out through a tube
into a glass of lime water (calcium hydroxide), the
solution will turn milky, showing the presence of
carbon dioxide in the exhaled breath.
8.
Aerobic respiration Anaerobic respiration
 takes place in the presence  takes place in the absence
of oxygen of oxygen
 releases water during the  releases alcohol during the
breakdown of glucose breakdown of glucose
 releases carbon dioxide  releases carbon dioxide
during the breakdown of during the breakdown of
glucose glucose
 releases energy during the  releases energy during the
breakdown of glucose breakdown of glucose
 takes place in yeast
STEP UP
1. (i) We need more oxygen when we exercise so that
nutrients can be broken down to supply energy
to different parts of the body. The body also has to
get rid of the carbon dioxide produced. The lungs
work faster to gather as much air as possible, so that
more oxygen can be extracted from it, and to exhale
air rich in carbon dioxide. The heart pumps more
blood to supply oxygen to the body parts and to take
away carbon dioxide.
(ii) Regular exercise makes us more active because it
(a) improves lung capacity, (b) increases heart
function, (c) makes us take in more oxygen, and
(d) makes us eat better.
(iii) Breathing exercises help to expand the lungs and
improve their capacity to take in more oxygen; they
also teach the proper way to exhale so as to empty
out the lungs of all waste products.
(iv) ‘Aerobic’ means ‘in the presence of air’. When
applied to exercises, it means those that involve
more air being taken in by the body; examples are
walking, running, cycling and swimming.
2. (i) The nostrils contain fine hair that filters out much of
the dust from the inhaled air.
20
(ii) Breathing through the mouth sends unfiltered air
into the lungs. This air may contain dust particles
that will settle in the lungs and cause harm.
(iii) The man in the picture is wearing a mask. It is very
useful when the air is polluted with dust, smoke and
chemical fumes, because it is designed to filter these
from the inhaled air.
3.
Inhaled air Exhaled air
Contains 21% oxygen 
Contains 4.4% carbon

dioxide
Contains moisture  
Matches the outside

temperature
Matches the body

temperature
Contains 78% Nitrogen  
4. (i) Oxygen is absorbed into the blood stream by the
blood vessels in the lung. The oxygen-rich blood is
then taken back to the heart, from which it is
pumped out to all parts of the body through a
network of arteries and capillaries.
(ii) Underwater swimmers have to carry oxygen or air
tanks because they cannot breathe otherwise.
Mountaineers also need extra air/oxygen at high
altitudes, because the air at those heights is very
thin and ordinary breathing may not supply enough
oxygen for the effort (exertion) involved in climbing.
(iii) Spiracles are tiny openings along the side of an
insect’s body, allowing air to enter. They are
connected to a tracheal system of thin tubes that
take the air to all parts of the insect’s body. They
also eliminate waste air. Therefore, spiracles are
involved in gas exchange in insects.
(iv) When fish open and shut their mouths they take in
water, which is pressed out through the gills. During
this process, the oxygen dissolved in the water is
absorbed and the rest of the water is eliminated
along with wastes. That is, gas exchange takes place
in the gills.
(v) The stomata on the leaves take in oxygen from the
air. Root cells also take in oxygen from the soil.
(vi) Gardeners loosen the soil around the roots to allow
more air into the soil for the roots to take in.
Chapter 11 Transportation in Animals and
Plants
STEP IN
1. (i)–(c); (ii)–(d); (iii)–(b); (iv)–(e); (v)–(a)
2. (i) vein; (ii) vein; (iii) artery; (iv) vein; (v) artery
3. (i) ‘Pulse’ is the throbbing that can be felt by placing
one’s fingertips against the skin where an artery is
 just under it (such as the inner wrist). One throb is
generated for every heartbeat.
(ii) The pulse rate is the number of beats (pulsations) in
a minute.
(iii) The normal pulse rate for an adult human at rest is
72–80 beats per minute.
(iv) 26 × 60 / 20 = 72 beats per minute.
4. (i) false; (ii) true; (iii) false; (iv) false; (v) true
5. (i) Refer to Fig. 11.4 on p. 124 of the textbook.
(ii) The upper chambers of heart are called atria
(singular: atrium).
(iii) Pulmonary artery carries carbon dioxide-rich blood
from the heart to the lungs.
6. (i) Stethoscope
(ii) Refer to Fig. 11.5(a) on p. 125 of the textbook.
(iii) The stethoscope is used for amplifying sounds from
the heart, so that the doctor can determine whether
there is any problem.
7. (i) (a) digestive system; (b) respiratory system;
(c) excretory (urinary) system.
(ii) Sweating also helps to maintain the temperature of
the body. The evaporation of sweat cools down the
body.
(iii) (a) Birds excrete a semi-solid uric acid.
(b) Fish excrete ammonia.
8. (i) The kidneys filter blood, remove waste products
from it, and eliminate the wastes through the
excretory system. They retain useful substances,
which are absorbed back into the blood.
(ii) kidneys  ureters  urinary bladder  urethra
(iii) The artificial process that is used to filter wastes
from blood when the kidneys fail to function
properly is called dialysis.
9. (i) A plant absorbs water and nutrients from the soil
through its roots. The water is transported upwards
through the stem to the leaves through the vascular
tissue known as xylem. Excess water is eliminated by
the plant by the process of transpiration through its
stomata. This process creates a suction effect, which
pulls more water up through the stem.
(ii) The phloem transports food from the leaves to all
parts of the plant.
(iii) Root hairs help the plant in: (a) increasing the area
of the root available for the absorption of water and
nutrients from the soil; (b) respiration by taking in
oxygen from the soil and eliminating carbon dioxide.
STEP UP
1. (i)—(c); (ii)—(d); (iii)—(a); (iv)—(a); (v)—(b); (vi)—(b);
(vii)—(c); (viii)—(d)
2. (i) Refer to Fig. 11.3 on p. 123 of the textbook.
(ii) The pulmonary vein, unlike other veins, carries
oxygen-rich blood to the heart.
21
(iii) The aorta transports blood to all parts of the body;
this blood has more oxygen. The pulmonary artery
and transports blood from the heart to the lungs;
this blood has less oxygen.
3. (i) Platelets are responsible for the clotting of blood.
(ii) If blood does not clot at the site of a wound or injury,
the person will continue to bleed and may even die.
The clot also closes the blood vessel and prevents
foreign material like dirt from entering the
bloodstream and causing infection.
(iii) (a) exercise; (b) excitement or fear; (c) fever (Other
answers are possible, e.g., heart disease.)
(iv) The heart muscles are richly supplied with arteries
(called coronary arteries) arising from the aorta just
above the point where it leaves the left ventricle.
These arteries supply the heart with oxygen and
nutrients.
4. (i) The two kidneys are located one on either side in the
abdominal area against the back muscles.
(ii) Waste products that are filtered out of the blood by
the kidneys have to be eliminated in a solution with
water; that is why we need to drink sufficient water
so that enough water will be available to dissolve the
wastes and eliminate them.
(iii) Kidney stones are hard deposits of salts in the urine.
They form in the kidneys and may travel to the
bladder. Usually, they are cause by the urine being
too concentrated (not dilute enough), but there are
also other causes.
5. (i) Water from the soil is absorbed by the roots and
root hairs through the process of osmosis, and then
reaches the xylem vessels.
(ii) Starch (food) is transported to all parts of the plant
through the system of vascular tissues called phloem.
(iii) Oxygen is given out through the stomata during
photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide is given out mainly
through the stomata and the root hairs during
respiration. Water vapour is given out through the
stomata during transpiration and respiration.
Chapter 12 Reproduction in Plants
STEP IN
1. (i)—(d); (ii)–(a); (iii)–(e); (iv)–(b); (v)–(c)
2. (i) rose; (ii) Bryophyllum; (iii) yeast; (iv) corn, papaya;
(v) drumstick
3. (i) Reproduction is the production of new individuals
from their parents.
(ii) Vegetative propagation is a type of asexual
reproduction in which new plants are produced from
a part of the parent plant itself.
(iii) Fertilisation is the process of fusion of male and
female gametes to form a zygote.
4. (i) Asexual reproduction is reproduction that takes
place without the need for fertilisation and seeds.
(ii) Three methods of asexual reproduction are:
(a) cutting (e.g., rose); (b) root propagation (e.g.,
sweet potato); (c) budding (e.g., yeast).
(iii) The ‘eye’ of a potato is a scar-like part on its skin
that contains a vegetative bud. If a piece of potato
with an eye is planted in soil and watered, a new
potato plant will grow from it. In this manner, we
can grow many potato plants.
5. (i) Fungus. Label the hypha, sporangium and spores
(Refer to Fig. 12.7 on p. 136 of the textbook.)
(ii) The fungus forms spores, which are released and
float around in the air. When they land on a suitable
host (like a moist piece of bread or chapatti), they
grow and reproduce.
6. (i) The male reproductive part of a flower is the
(stamen / pistil). It consists of a (filament / stigma)
and an (ovary / anther). The female reproductive
part of a flower is the (pistil / stamen). It consists of
a (stigma / pollen tube), a (sorus / style) and
an (ovary / anther). In sexual reproduction, male
and female (gametes / ovules) fuse to form a
(zygote / sporangium).
(ii) Unisexual flowers are those that contain either only
pistils (female) or only stamens (male). Examples are
the cucumber and papaya.
(iii) Bisexual flowers are those that contain both pistil
and stamen. Examples are the rose and mustard.
7. (i) Pollination is the process of transfer of pollen from
the anther of a flower to the stigma of the same
flower or another flower.
(ii) (a) insects; (b) wind; (c) water (Other answers are
possible, e.g., other animals.)
(iii) Refer to Figs. 12.9 and 12.10 on p. 137 of the
textbook.
8. (i) Fertilisation takes place in the ovary.
(ii) After fertilisation, the ovary develops into a fruit,
and the other parts of the flower fall off. The ovules
in the ovary form the seeds of the fruit.
(iii) The ovules form the seeds.
(iv) The ovary usually forms the fruit.
9. (i) Plants of a certain species should grow at many
different locations; this will ensure the survival of
the species. For this to happen, the seeds have to be
dispersed away from the parent plant. If the
seedlings grow too close to the parent plant, there
will be severe competition for water, nutrients and
minerals among themselves and with the parent.
Hence, none of them will grow well.
(ii) (a) wind; (b) water; (c) animals (Other answers are
possible, e.g., explosion.)
22
(iii) Coconut: Coconut trees often grow on the banks of
lakes, rivers and ponds. The coconuts fall into the
water, and their spongy outer coat allows them to
float away to a new location where they may take
root and grow into a new plant.
Balsam: The fruit bursts open with a sudden jerk,
scattering the seeds over a distance.
STEP UP
1. (i) False. (Note: In some species, a plant may have both
male and female flowers. Rarely, in some other species,
unisexual and bisexual flowers may be seen on the same
plant.) (ii) False. (Answer as for the previous question.)
(iii) False; the zygote develops into an embryo. (iv) False;
in science, a fruit is what develops from the ovary of the
flower. Nuts (which are dry) are also fruits. (v) True.
2. (i) In asexual reproduction, there is only one parent.
(ii) Advantages of vegetative propagation: (a) Many new
plants can be created at the same time from a single
plant. (b) It is usually quicker to grow a new plant
through this mode, for instance, from a cutting than
from a seed. (c) Every new plant will be exactly like
the parent plant.
(iii)Sexual reproduction results in the formation of fruits.
(iv) A spore is a ‘kind of seed’, only in the limited sense
that it can give rise to a new plant. But it is
unicellular, whereas a seed is multicellular with a
developing embryo. So a spore is different from a
seed.
3.
Plants formed through Plants formed through sexual
asexual reproduction reproduction
(i) Produced without (i) Produced from embryos
fertilisation after fertilisation
(ii) Exactly like their single (ii) Have characteristics of
parent plant both parent plants
(iii) No seeds and fruits (iii) Seeds and fruits
4. (i) roses: cuttings; petunias: seeds; beans: seeds;
tomatoes: seeds/cuttings; crotons: cuttings;
hibiscus: cuttings/seeds; coconut: seed;
papaya: seeds/cuttings
(ii) The alternative methods shown are the ones
possible for some varieties of the plant. However,
the ones that work best for each plant are the
alternatives listed first. Even plants that usually
propagate through seeds can sometimes be
propagated through cuttings, and those that
propagate more easily through cuttings can be
raised from seeds, though these methods require
proper conditions and care and do not work for all
varieties of the plants.
(iii) Seedlings are from seeds that have germinated
successfully. If properly planted, they will grow into
plants more quickly. Buying and planting of seeds
 involves waiting to see which ones will germinate, STEP UP
and then transplanting them. 1. (i) The time period is the time taken for one oscillation.
5. (i) Wind; wing seeds In this case, it is y/x seconds.
(ii) Wind; feathery bristles on seeds (ii) There is friction between the bob of the pendulum
(iii) Animals (on their coats); hooks and the surrounding air, and so the pendulum will
(iv) Animals (eat and excrete); fleshy fruit slow down and stop after a while.
(v) Water; spongy fibre and waterproof coat 2. (i) A sundial has a circular flat stone dial with markings.
At the centre is a gnomon in the form of a wedge or
a raised needle. The gnomon casts a shadow on
Chapter 13 Motion and Time different parts of the dial depending on the position
STEP IN of the sun, thereby giving a clue to the time of day.
1. (i) (a) time; (b) speed; (c) distance; (d) time; (e) distance; (ii) The time interval is calculated using photographs.
(f) speed; (g) time; (h) time (Intervals below one-tenth of a second cannot be
(ii) (a) A nanosecond is one-billionth of a second. measured accurately even with a stopwatch. In
athletics, the usual practice is to automatically start
(b) A century is one hundred years.
a special clock at the beginning of the race, take a
2. (i) circular and periodic; (ii) rectilinear; (iii) circular and series of photographs at the finish line and check the
rectilinear; (iv) circular; (v) periodic athletes’ timings on the clock. In a swimming race,
3. (i) (a) hours; (b) months; (c) seconds; (d) hours; the swimmer’s touch on a pad at the finish line stops
(e) years a clock so that the timing can be read.)
(ii) The earth moves about 2.6 million km in one day 3. (i)
(940 million km / 365 days).
4. (i) In uniform motion, equal distances are covered in
equal intervals of time. In non-uniform motion,
different (unequal) distances are covered in equal
intervals of time.
(ii) In a uniform motion, average speed is equal to
actual speed at any point in time.
5. (i)

(ii) The bus covered 2000 m (2 km) in 2 hours (7200 s).

The speed of vertical descent is 0.28 m/s or 1 km/h.
4.

car
(ii) The car has travelled 80 km in 2 hours.
The average speed is 80 / 2 = 40 km/h.
6. (i) A speedometer in a car is an instrument that
measures the speed of the car. The unit is truck
kilometres per hour (km/h).
(ii) An odometer is an instrument that measures the
distance travelled. The unit is kilometres (km).
7.

(ii) At 2.5 hours, the truck would have travelled 100 km

and the car would have travelled 150 km. (Refer to
dotted lines on the graph above.)
23
5. (i) (a) bar graph; (b) bar graphs (bars for teams side by
side, with different colours for each team); (c) pie
diagram; (d) line graph
(ii) studying
playing with friends
playing sports
watching television
reading
eating meals
bathing and getting
ready for school
Method: Draw straight lines to divide the ‘pie’ into
four equal segments; then divide again to make
eight segments and then 16 segments. Each segment
represents an hour for the pie diagram. Select seven
different colours or patterns (dots, stripes, etc.) for
the seven activities listed. Fill in the proper number
of segments for each.
Chapter 14 Electric Current and its Effects
STEP IN
1. Refer to Table 14.1 on p. 161 of the textbook.
2. (i)–(c); (ii)–(e); (iii)–(d); (iv)–(b); (v)–(a).
3. (i) A. Incorrect; the circuit is not closed (switch is open).
B. Incorrect; the circuit has no cell/battery (no
source of electricity). C. The circuit is correct.
(ii) Yes. As long as current flows through the circuit, the
bulb will glow.
4. (i) The heating element in an electrical appliance is a
coil of thin wire that becomes red hot and gives out
heat when an electric current passes through it.
(ii) The electric stove, electric iron, electric water heater
and electric radiator are examples of appliances that
contain heating elements. (Other answers are
possible, e.g., electric kettle, rice cooker, toaster,
oven.)
(iii) No, different types of wires are used in electric
circuits and electric heating elements. In a circuit,
copper wire is generally used because it is a good
conductor and will not heat easily; in a heating
element, nichrome wire is used because it offers
resistance to the current and becomes very hot, and
yet does not melt.
5. (i) A ‘short circuit’ means that the electric current is
taking a different, shorter path than what was
intended. This could be caused by accidental
contact between components due to the insulation
wearing off, reduction of the resistance in the circuit
and increase in the current flowing through it.
Overloads can be caused either by a short circuit or
24
by switching on too many appliances in the circuit at
the same time.
(ii) Short circuits and overloads are dangerous because
they cause sudden heating in the circuit and can
damage appliances or start fires.
(iii) A miniature circuit breaker has switches that turn off
when there is excessive flow of current in the circuit.
The circuit breaker prevents the increase in current
from damaging appliances or causing fires.
6. (i) Refer to Fig. 14.3 on p. 161 of the textbook.
(ii) The statement means that current can no longer
pass through the filament of the bulb.
(iii) An electric fuse is a device which breaks the circuit
and thus cuts off electricity supply when there is a
short circuit or an overload. The fuse wire is made of
material that melts at quite a low temperature,
thereby stopping the current before damage is done.
(iv) It is unsafe and dangerous to replace fuse wire with
copper wire because copper is a good conductor and
will allow the current to keep passing through easily
even when there is a short circuit or overload. Also,
copper melts at a high temperature and will not
break the circuit when required.
7. (i) (a) They are used in cranes for lifting heavy metallic
items (made of iron or steel) in ports and junkyards.
(b) They are used in electric bells. (c) They are used
in motors and generators. (Other answers are
possible, e.g., microphones, computers, mobile
phones, MRI machines.)
(ii) An electromagnet has magnetic properties only
while electricity is passing through the circuit; its
magnetic field disappears when the current is
switched off. Permanent magnets have permanent
magnetic fields and permanent magnetic properties.
STEP UP
1. (i) The filament is made of a thin wire which gets very
hot when an electric current is passed through it.
This makes the filament of the light bulb glow.
(ii) (d)
(iii) The current flowing in the circuit may be too weak to
heat the filament wire to a temperature high enough
to make it glow.
(iv) Adding an extra cell or cells will increase the
electricity in the circuit and might make the bulb
glow.
2. (i) Nichrome is an alloy of nickel and chromium.
(Sometimes other metals may be present.)
(ii) Nichrome wire is used as a heating element in many
appliances because it can become very hot without
melting easily.
(iii) Tungsten (because of its high tensile strength and
high melting point)
3. (i) Draw the switch in the ‘ON’ position. Perform the
experiment to observe the deflection. The needle
will point towards the right.
N magnifying glass, camera.)
S
(ii) The needle deflects towards the right (east).
(iii) If the terminals of the battery are reversed, the
needle will deflect towards the left (west).
4. (i) Refer to Fig. 14.9 on p. 168 of the textbook.
(ii) The electromagnet may work, but poorly. Coiling
allows us to increase the length of the wire used,
which increases the strength of the magnetic field.
But if the wire is not insulated, current will flow
directly from one end to the other, cancelling the
effect of the coils.
(iii) The rod would be magnetised, but with the poles
switched.
(iv) When the circuit is switched on, bring the north pole
of a light bar magnet close to one end of the
electromagnet and test for attraction/repulsion.
Attraction indicates that it is the south pole of the
electromagnet, and repulsion indicates that it is the
north pole.
Chapter 15 Light
STEP IN
1. (i) True. (ii) False; it is unsafe to view a source through a
magnifying glass because concentrated bright light can
damage the eyes. (iii) False; when it is rotated rapidly,
the eye can no longer make out the separate colours
and they appear to merge into white. When the disc
slows down, we can see all the colours separately.
2. (i) The image formed by a plane mirror is: (a) virtual;
(b) as far behind the mirror as the object is in front
of it; and (c) upright.
(ii)
3. (i) erect; (ii) 4 cm; (iii) 10 cm; (iv) 16 cm (8 cm+8 cm);
(v) Yes
25
4. (i) lenses and prisms; (ii) real; (iii) smaller; (iv) the
distance of the object from the mirror; (v) erect and
virtual
5. (i) Convex lens
(ii) Arrows lead from object to image. Label accordingly.
(iii) The convex lens is used in spectacles, telescopes and
microscopes. (Other answers are possible, e.g.,
6. (i) (a) plane mirror; (b) concave mirror; (c) convex
mirror; (d) convex lens
(ii) Refer to Fig. 15.24 on p. 184 of the textbook.
7. If a ray of sunlight is passed through a glass prism, the
light is split into seven colours as it emerges from the
prism. These can be seen on a screen. (Refer to Fig.
15.30 on p. 186 of the textbook.) Even in nature, we can
sometimes see many colours on a spilt patch of oil. The
rainbow also indicates that natural light is made up of
several colours.
8.
STEP UP
1. (i) All the light falling on a bathroom mirror is reflected
because the mirror has a layer of silver compound at
the back; so the image formed by reflection is clear.
In a windowpane, only some of the light is reflected
while most of it passes through; so we see only a
dimmer, less clear image.
(ii) (b)
(iii) A virtual image is an image that cannot be captured
on a screen.
(iv) A real image can be captured on a screen, whereas a
virtual image cannot be captured on a screen.
2. (i) concave mirror; (ii) convex lens
3. (i) In an electric torch, the shiny concave surface
(mirror) with the bulb at its centre is just behind the
front glass. When the torch is switched on the light
from the bulb is reflected and spreads outwards as a
wide, bright beam.
(ii) The driver/rider has to see the vehicles approaching
from behind. The image formed by a convex mirror
is smaller than the object, and so more of the field of
view is visible even on a small mirror surface.
(iii) Convex lens.
(iv) Yes, a convex lens is used in a mobile phone camera.
(v) The image in a mobile phone camera is electronically
stored.
4. (i) False; the image cannot be captured at all, because it
is a virtual image. (ii) True. (iii) False; for instance, a
 convex lens forms real and inverted images of distant
objects. (iv) False; the image of a spectrum can be
captured on a screen. (v) False; if a spectrum of colours
is passed through a glass prism, the colours will combine
into white light as they emerge.
5. When you look at the spoon from various angles above
the surface of the water, you are looking at the paths of
rays that are emerging after passing through the water.
The part of the spoon under the water will appear to be
bent at an angle and also vary in size, although it is
actually straight. This shows that the light beam bends
at the surface of the water, both when entering the
water from the air and also when coming out of the
water into the air. Carry out the activity and draw what
you see.
Chapter 16 Water: A Precious Resource
STEP IN
1. (i) (c); (ii) (c) (minimum amount); (iii) (b); (iv) (c)
2. (i) The water table is the upper layer of groundwater.
(ii) Infiltration of water is the process of seepage of
water into the ground from rainwater and from lakes
and ponds.
(iii) An aquifer is a layer of water between layers of hard
rock beneath the water table.
(iv) A bawri is a traditional water storage system, also
known as a step well.
(v) Drip irrigation is a method of watering plants that
uses minimum water; water pipes with holes at
regular intervals are laid between rows of plants,
and the water is supplied only near the roots.
3. (i) (a) Solid form: snow, ice, hail
(b) Liquid form: water in lakes, rivers, oceans, dew,
rain
(c) Gaseous form: steam, water vapour, cloud, fog,
mist
(Other answers are possible.)
(ii) Yes, every form of water is a part of the water cycle
and is converted to other forms. Snow and ice melt
into water and form rivers which flow to the sea;
water from water bodies evaporates and forms
water vapour which rises to form clouds; clouds
release water as rain, snow and hail.
4. (i) Many villages do not have water supply in pipes and
taps.
(ii) Wells in the villages become dry with overuse.
5. (i) Groundwater in India is used for: (a) irrigation;
(b) industries; (c) construction.
(ii) Groundwater shortage can occur due to: (a) overuse;
(b) drought; (c) contamination by harmful substances.
6. Refer to Fig. 16.8 on p. 200 of the textbook.
7. (i) (c)
26
(ii) Drip irrigation offers the following advantages to the
farmer: it minimises the water needed, and once the
pipes are laid, it does not require effort to water the
plants because the farmer only needs to turn a tap
on or off to control the water flow.
(iii) Refer to Fig. 16.9 on p. 202 of the textbook as a
guide and modify it as needed.
8. (i) A check dam is a simple structure built across a small
stream or drainage canal to store water and reduce
the speed of the water, so that the soil is not washed
away. It also helps to recharge groundwater nearby.
(ii) A check dam is much smaller than an irrigation or
hydroelectricity dam, and is not built across a major
river. The large dams are built to withstand high
water pressure and can store huge amounts of water
in their reservoirs. They have sluices to let out the
stored water when needed. Check dams do not store
that much water, do not generate electricity and
cannot irrigate large areas of land.
(iii) The Alwar region of Rajasthan is a drought-prone
area with water scarcity. The building of check dams
all across the region has improved the availability of
water in the area. The check dams in Alwar are
called johads.
9. Refer to Fig. 16.7 on p. 198 of the textbook.
STEP UP
1. (i) (a) 2.5%; (b) 1.7%; (c) 0.006%; (d) 0.75% (Add the
values of (c) and (d) and subtract from the value of
(a) to get the approximate value of (b).)
(ii) Icebergs are made of fresh water; they are not
formed from sea water, because they are pieces that
have broken away from glaciers. Sea water may also
freeze on the surface, but it does not form icebergs.
(iii) Deforestation reduces the number of trees. This
could lower the moisture content in the air, reducing
rainfall. Long periods of deficient rainfall will lower
the water table. Also, if there is no tree cover, water
flows away rather than seep through the soil.
(iv) Yes. The pipes lead rainwater directly into aquifers
underground. (This method has been tried
successfully in drought areas. It has worked even on
ordinary farmland.)
(v) Though the wells were of the same depth, the water
table might have been at a different depth, or one
house might have been on higher ground.
2. (i) Rainwater and water from rivers and ponds seeps
into the soil and sinks down between layers of rock
till it cannot descend any further. Here it collects and
forms an aquifer.
(ii) Factors that affect the level of the water table are:
(a) rainfall; (b) groundwater use; (c) ground available
for water seepage.
 (iii) More porous soils such as sandy soils allow water to
seep further down, whereas clayey soils do not allow
much percolation.
3. Pollution of water sources takes place through:
(i) dumping of untreated human waste into them;
(ii) allowing untreated industrial waste to flow into
them; and (iii) disposal of non-biodegradable waste such
as plastic items into them. (Other answers are possible,
e.g., bathing animals, washing, etc., in them.)
4. (i) In cities, much of the ground area has either roads or
buildings or cemented areas. Therefore, the ground
area available for rainwater seepage is low.
(ii) Flooding in cities can be prevented by allowing more
ground area for seepage, clearing drains and sewers
so that water flows easily, and making extra
arrangements for water drainage in low-lying areas.
(iii) Yes. Swimming pools use freshwater. They have to
be cleaned regularly and the water must be replaced.
Requirements of drinking, cooking and hygiene are
more important and should be given priority.
(iv) During water scarcity, the farmer’s crops may not
grow well and so the family may not have enough
money and food for their needs; they have to walk
even longer distances to fetch water for household
needs; if they own farm animals, those too will suffer.
Chapter 17 Forests: Our Lifeline
STEP IN
1. (i) False; the canopy of branches at the top layer blocks
much of the sunlight. (ii) False; the understoreys are
imaginary horizontal levels below the canopy, each
representing trees of a certain height. The tallest trees
are the highest level. (iii) True. (iv) True. (v) False; the
forest floor allows seepage of water. (vi) False; forests
tend to increase the amount of rainfall.
2. (i) If we go deep into forest all by ourselves, there is a
chance of getting lost and danger from wild animals.
(ii) Some of the trees found in Indian forests are sal,
teak, neem, bamboo and amla. (Other answers are
possible, e.g., sandalwood, pine.)
(iii) Some of the useful products we get from forests are
wood, gum, rubber, oils and medicinal herbs. (Other
answers are possible, e.g., honey, spices.)
(iv) The layers of a forest are the canopy, the
understoreys, and the lowest layer, formed of herbs.
(v) No, different types of trees and animals are found in
different forests. The types of living things depend
on factors of the habitat such as climate and the
availability of food.
(vi) The plants in a forest generate oxygen through
photosynthesis and thus help to keep a healthy
balance of gases in the air. That is why forests are
called ‘green lungs’.
27
3. (i) (c); (ii) (b); (iii) (a); (iv) (c)
4. (i) Herbivorous animals can find a variety of foods
(leaves, stems, fruits) to eat.
(ii) Carnivorous animals will have enough of their
natural prey in the jungle.
(iii) Insects and small animals are also part of the food
chain and have enough food for survival.
(iv) Microorganisms thrive because there is a variety of
living organisms as well as dead and decaying
organic matter.
5. Herbivores: giraffe, buffalo, antelope, grasshopper.
Carnivores: lion, panther, snake, vulture, small bird.
Omnivores: rat, monkey, fox.
6. (i) Forests help the environment by protecting wildlife,
preserving the soil, improving rainfall, purifying the
air, maintaining the water table and preventing
floods.
(ii) Forests preserve biodiversity and ensure that all the
plants and animals in the habitat survive.
(iii) Tribal people who live in the forests have
traditionally relied only on forest produce for food
and medicines.
(iv) People who do not live in forests benefit from forest
products such as wood, oil, rubber, gum and
medicinal plants.
7. (i) Deforestation leads to soil erosion and
desertification.
(ii) It lowers the water table.
(iii) It lowers rainfall.
(iv) It makes air less clean and balanced.
(v) It increases noise pollution.
8. A forest is like a living organism. Even if parts of it are
killed or damaged, it can regenerate and revive itself. It
has a wide diversity of plants and animals including
insects and microorganisms that will help in
regeneration and restoring the food cycle. For example,
after a storm or forest fire in which many trees and
plants and even animals may be killed, new plants and
trees will grow and the food chain will be restored.
STEP UP
1. (i) The carcasses (dead bodies) of animals are the food
for scavengers (animals and birds that feed on dead
matter). Whatever is not eaten by the scavengers
decays and later becomes manure for the plants and
trees.
(ii) Hyenas, jackals, vultures, crows and insects act as
scavengers of animal carcasses in Indian forests.
(iii) Scavengers eat dead organisms hence are at the end
of the food cycle.
2. (i) Poaching of animals and birds is harmful because it
reduces their numbers, upsets the food cycle and
 endangers the species themselves. It also disturbs 6. (i) Some of the main reasons why forests are destroyed
the wildlife in the area. are to acquire more farmland, for housing, and for
(ii) A tree is an organism that benefits the environment, construction purposes like building factories or roads.
people, animals and birds in many ways. That is why (ii) (a) 21.34%; (b) about 12% more
a tree should be cut only if it is absolutely necessary,
and only after getting permission. Chapter 18 Wastewater Story
(iii) Human activities such as camping (putting up tents,
STEP IN
lighting fires and making a noise) is a disturbance for
the animals of the forest. They will not be able to 1. (i) drinking; (ii) cooking; (iii) bathing; (iv) mopping floors;
sleep, hunt and eat properly when they are (v) watering plants
disturbed. They may leave the area and may also 2.
become aggressive if they think they are in danger. Type of contaminant Two examples
(iv) There is always a danger of starting a forest fire if 1. organic impurities human faeces, animal waste
one is careless with matchsticks or campfires in a 2. inorganic impurities nitrates, phosphates
forest. The results can be fatal for animals, birds and 3. nutrients phosphorus, nitrogen
trees, and it could take several years for the forest to 4. bacteria Vibrio and Salmonella bacteria
regenerate. If a fire is severe and widespread, the 5. other living organisms protozoa, algae
forest may not be able to regenerate to what it was 3. (i) A sewer is a pipe that transports sewage from the
before the fire. source to a treatment centre.
3. (i) A forest ranger is a person appointed by the (ii) Sewage is the waste water released by homes,
government to look after the forest and all the trees industries, hospitals, offices and other users.
and animals in it. He/she will guard against poachers (iii) Sewerage is the network of sewers that forms the
and be alert to look for forest fires. He/she will guide sewage removal system of a town or city.
visitors to the forest and instruct them about the
4. Manholes provide access to the sewers for cleaning and
rules they have to obey. Another duty of a forest
removal of clogging. (Manholes are located at regular
ranger is to keep track of endangered species of
intervals at ground level above major sewers running
animals and plants and report on their welfare.
underground. They are particularly found at junction
(ii) (a) An entomologist studies insects. points of sewers, and where a sewer changes direction.)
(b) A botanist studies plants. 5. (i) When water is passed through bar screens, large
(c) A mycologist study fungi such as mushrooms. objects are held back by the screen.
(d) An ornithologist studies birds. (ii) Water is led to a tank at a slow speed to allow sand
(iii) (a) Latex is used to make surgical gloves. and pebbles to sink to the bottom.
(b) Timber is used for furniture. (iii) The water is sent into a tank which slopes
(c) Bamboo is used for houses, furniture, food and downwards in the centre. Here, sinking solids like
medicine. excreta collect at the bottom and are scraped away.
4. (i) No. Only some forests in India are (iv) Floating substances like oil and grease are removed
sanctuaries/national parks. from the water surface using a skimmer.
(ii) No. Although most sanctuaries are forests, a few are 6. (i) False; aeration is done after the water has been
not. For example the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary in cleaned of major impurities. (ii) True. (iii) False; aerobic
Gujarat is a desert, the Govind Pashu Vihar National bacteria are used to consume human waste and food
Park in Uttarakhand which protects snow leopards is waste from water. (iv) False; activated sludge is about
at a high altitude in the mountains, and 97% water. (v) True.
Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary consists of a lake and 7.
its surroundings. Process to remove contaminants Impurities removed
5. (iii) Examples of protected areas are: (i) Physical processes:
Name of sanctuary Location Animals filtration through bar screen large objects like rags,
Corbett National Park Uttarakhand tiger, sambar deer cans, plastic bags and so
Ranthambore National Rajasthan leopard, wild boar on
Park sand settling tank sand, grit and pebbles
Bandipur National Park Karnataka elephant, langur sludge tank sinking solids like faeces,
Chilka Lake Bird Odisha eagle, flamingo floating substances like
Sanctuary oil and so on
Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary Goa kingfisher, heron (ii) Chemical processes:
disinfection with chlorine or ozone microbes

28
 Process to remove contaminants Impurities removed
(iii) Biological processes:
use of anaerobic bacteria sludge
use of aerobic bacteria human waste, food
waste, soap and so on
8. (i) mosquitoes, malaria; (ii) skin diseases; (iii) cholera,
dysentery and other water-borne diseases; (iii) nauseous
and ill; (iv) toxic waste substances
9. (i) Cooking oil and fats: They can harden and block the
drainage pipes. (ii) Paints, insecticides, medicines: They
may kill microbes that help to purify the water. (iii) Solid
items that will not dissolve such as used tea leaves, food
waste, sanitary towels: These may clog the sewers and
stop the free flow of oxygen through the water.
10. (i) Septic tanks, chemical toilets, composting pits and
toilets connected to biogas plant are some of the
on-site sewage disposal systems to dispose of waste
where there is no sewerage system.
(ii) Chemical toilets would be most practical and
convenient in large fairs and exhibition grounds.
(iii) Without a safe sewage disposal system, diseases
such as cholera, typhoid and dysentery will spread
fast in places where many people live together in
crowded conditions.
STEP UP
1. (i) Improper: Instead, dispose of fats in the dustbin.
(iv) Improper: Rainwater can be used for watering plants
rather than pouring it into the drain.
2. (i) Chlorination disinfects water by killing bacteria,
protozoa, algae and viruses.
(ii) Advantages for chlorinating drinking water: The
treatment with chlorine is not harmful to humans;
after chlorination, the water is purer, with fewer
bacteria and viruses. Disadvantages of chlorinating
drinking water: Many people may not like the taste
of chlorinated water. Chlorine is a hazardous
substance to store and use. Even in the form of
bleaching powder, it needs to be used carefully.
(iii) Advantages of chlorinating water in swimming pools:
Chlorine destroys bacteria and other microorganisms
in the swimming pool water, thereby preventing
diseases from spreading among the users. It also
destroys algae and mould that grow in water tanks.
Disadvantages of chlorinating water in swimming
pools: Chlorine in the water stings the eyes and dries
the skin; it is difficult to carry out chlorination safely.
3. (i) Open defecation is dangerous because untreated
human excreta pollutes the soil and water around
the area and spreads diseases to everyone in the
area.
(ii) A chemical toilet is one which is not connected to a
sewerage system. The excreta is collected in a small
tank and treated with chemicals to reduce the smell.
29
It is a temporary method and is useful in places like
large fairs and exhibition grounds. Often they can be
set up quickly and may even be movable. The tank is
later emptied and the contents are treated at a
sewage treatment plant.
(iii) (b) a proper sewage disposal system (like a septic
tank)
(c) education and persuasion for people to use the
toilets instead of open areas
4. (i) Untreated or partially treated sewage has
contaminants such as toxic chemicals and
disease-causing microorganisms. Releasing this into
water bodies will affect the health of many people,
maybe even thousands.
(ii) Train toilets in India have been releasing excreta
directly onto the tracks below. Recently there is a
proposal to change the toilets to bio-toilets. These
will be connected to collection tanks containing
special bacteria to degrade the excreta and make it
harmless. The tanks will be emptied out regularly
and cleaned.
ANSWER KEY TO THE TEST PAPERS
Test 1
Section A
Very short answer questions
1. Sericulture is the rearing of silkworms for obtaining silk.
2. The Kelvin scale is used for measuring temperature for
scientific purposes.
Short answer questions—I
3. Absorption is the process by which nutrients (produced
by the digestion of food) enter the blood vessels in the
intestines. Assimilation is the process by which the
absorbed nutrients are used by the body to build
complex substances such as proteins.
4. Heat will be transferred between the blocks by
conduction. The direction of heat transfer will be from A
to B.
Short answer questions—II
5. Saprotrophs get their nutrition by digesting dead and
decaying matter. Autotrophs make the food they need
from simple substances found around them. A fungus is
an example of a saprotroph. All green plants are
autotrophs.
6. The pitcher plant carries out photosynthesis, which is an
autotrophic mode of nutrition. It also traps and digests
insects with the help of its pitcher-like modified leaves.
This mode of nutrition is heterotrophic. Therefore, the
pitcher plant can be called a partial heterotroph.
7. (i) Caring for your family (Other answers are possible,
e.g., helping others, compassion.)
(ii) No, Kusum was not correct. The first set of teeth in
humans (milk teeth) fall out between the ages of six
and eight. They are replaced by the second set
(permanent teeth), but the second set will not be
replaced.
8. The stomach secretes the following substances.
(i) Digestive juices: They break down proteins in food
into simpler substances.
(ii) Hydrochloric acid: It kills bacteria that enter the
body with the food.
(iii) Mucus: It protects the stomach lining.
9. (i) (a) egg; (b) caterpillar or larva or silkworm; (b) pupa
or cocoon; (d) adult moth
(ii) The cocoons of silkworms are either kept in sunlight,
boiled or exposed to steam. This makes the silk
fibres separate.
10. The solution is acidic. Phenolphthalein does not change
colour in acidic or neutral solutions. Blue litmus turns
red when dipped in an acidic solution.
Long answer questions
11. The fleece of the sheep is removed by shearing. The
sheared fleece is thoroughly washed to remove grease,
dust and dirt, a process called scouring. Next, the fleece
is sorted based on the texture of the hair. Small fluffy
fibres called burrs are picked out; the wool is scoured
again and dried. This wool is drawn into fibres and dyed
in various colours. The fibres are straightened, combed
and rolled into yarn.
12. The clinical thermometer can be used to measure the
temperature of water at 40 °C. The laboratory
thermometer can be used to measure the temperature
of water in both the bowls. This is because the clinical
thermometer only has a range of 35 °C to 42 °C. But the
laboratory thermometer, which has a range of –10 °C to
110 °C, can be used to measure the temperature of
water in both bowls.
Section B
Practical based questions
13. The leaves will not turn blue-black when tested for
starch. This is because the starch manufactured earlier
when the plant was in sunlight has been used up.
14. (c) lime water
15. (a) The solution will turn pink and remain so.
Half Yearly Examination
Section A
Very short answer questions
1. The liver secretes bile juice.
2. citric acid, tartaric acid, formic acid, oxalic acid, lactic
acid (any two)
30
Short answer questions—I
3. The process of selecting parent animals to get specific
characters in their offspring is called selective breeding.
For example, some breeds of sheep are selectively bred
to get offspring with soft under-hair.
4. The penguin enclosure at the Delhi zoo should include
the following:
(i) air-conditioning or a cold environment
(ii) a water body for the penguins to swim in
5. Two precautions that the people in the neighbourhood
should take are:
(i) collect essential household goods and medicines in
case of an emergency
(ii) keep the contact numbers of ambulances, the police
and the fire brigade ready
Short answer questions—II
6. (i) Nutrition is the mode by which food is taken in and
utilised by an organism.
(ii) Stomata are the tiny pores on the surface of a leaf
through which gases are exchanged.
(iii) Saprotrophs are organisms that digest dead and
decaying matter to take in nutrients in the form of a
solution.
(OR)
The four factors that are necessary for photosynthesis to
take place are chlorophyll, sunlight, carbon dioxide and
water.
The process can be represented by the equation:
sunlight
 carbohydrate + oxygen
carbon dioxide + water chlorophyll
7. Some herbivores quickly swallow their food and store it
in a part of the stomach called the rumen. The food is
partially digested into a form called cud. It is later
brought back to the mouth in small lumps for the animal
to chew. This process is called rumination. Two
organisms that show rumination are cows and buffaloes.
8. The heat from the Sun reaches the Earth by radiation.
Most of the space between the Earth and the Sun does
not have any medium. So, the heat of the Sun cannot
reach the Earth by either conduction or convection as
both these processes need a medium. The transfer of
heat by radiation does not require any medium.
9. When the flame is directly under the crystal, we see pink
coloured water rise from near the crystal in the flask.
This is because of convection. When the water near the
crystal (in which some potassium permanganate gets
dissolved) gets heated, it rises and cold water from the
sides of the flask moves down to take its place.
10. Mini’s father should drink Milk of Magnesia and not
lemon juice. Milk of Magnesia contains magnesium
hydroxide, a base, which can neutralise the effect of the
 excessive acid in the stomach. Lemon juice, however, is
acidic and could make Mini’s father feel worse.
11. Oxygen and water (or water vapour) have to be present
for rusting of iron to take place. This rusting can be
prevented by:
 applying a coat of paint or grease on the iron object
 depositing a layer of a metal such as chromium or
zinc on the iron object
(OR)
When carbon dioxide is passed through lime water, it
reacts with calcium hydroxide in lime water to form
calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is insoluble in
water and hence the solution appears milky.
The word equation for the reaction is:
carbon dioxide + lime water  calcium carbonate
12. The sheet of paper undergoes three changes.
(i) The paper is folded. This is a physical change.
(ii) The paper is torn into pieces. This is a physical
change.
(iii) The paper is set on fire. It will burn to form ash, a
new substance. This is a chemical change.
13. We can only use phenolphthalein to find out whether a
colourless solution is basic. This is because it remains
colourless in both acidic and neutral solutions, and turns
pink only in basic solutions. It will not be possible to find
out if a solution is acidic or neutral.
Another indicator we could use is China rose indicator.
14. (i) working with others, listening to someone else’s
opinion, thinking analytically, being fair and
open-minded, being willing to change one’s mind
(any two) (Other answers are possible.)
(ii) Yes, a car or a bus is a safe place to take shelter
during a thunderstorm.
15.
Sandy soil Clayey soil
It has a greater proportion of It has a greater proportion of
large particles. fine particles.
There are large spaces The particles are tightly
between the particles. packed.
It does not hold water well. It holds more water than
sandy soils.
Long answer questions
16. Lichens are an example of algae and fungi in a symbiotic
relationship. The algal part prepares food by
photosynthesis; the fungal part gets its food from the
alga, but gives shelter, water and minerals to the alga.
Therefore, both organisms benefit. However, in a
parasitic relationship, the parasite gets nutrients from
the host without helping the host. For example, the
parasitic plant Cuscuta cannot make its own food and
absorbs nutrients from the host plant but gives nothing
in return. Therefore, only one organism benefits.
31
17. Take some rice that has been chewed for 3–5 minutes in
a test tube. Add 3–4 ml of water to it. Now add 2–3
drops of iodine to the test tube. The mixture will not
change colour, which shows that no starch is present in
the test tube. This is because saliva has acted on the
starch and converted it into sugars.
18. The stages in the process of wool manufacture are:
(i) shearing of sheep
(ii) scouring of sheared hair
(iii) sorting of the hair
(iv) separation of burrs from the hair
(v) dyeing of the fibres
(vi) straightening, combing and rolling of fibres into yarn
Sorters in the wool industry are at risk of infection by
the bacterium anthrax, which causes a fatal blood
disease called sorter’s disease.
19. Tropical rainforests are found in places near the equator,
e.g., the Western Ghats and Assam in India, Southeast
Asia, Central America and Central Africa.
 Red-eyed frog: It has sticky pads on its feet to help
it climb trees.
 Toucan: It has a long, large beak with which to
reach fruits on weak branches.
 Lion-tailed macaque: It is a good climber and gets
all its food while in the trees.
(OR)
(i) The weather at a place is the day-to-day condition of
the atmosphere and can vary greatly. Climate is the
average weather pattern of a place measured over a
long period of time (over years).
(ii) The polar regions are covered with snow and are
cold for most of the year. At the poles, the Sun does
not set for six months and then does not rise for six
months. In the winter, temperatures drop to as low
as –37 °C.
20. Water takes up heat from the environment, changes
into water vapour, and rises upwards. When it
condenses into raindrops, heat is released back into the
atmosphere, warming the air in that area. The warm air
then rises, causing a drop in pressure. Air from around
this area rushes in to take its place. This chain of events
forms a low-pressure centre with high-speed winds
revolving around it. This system is called a cyclone.
21. (i) (a) A-horizon; (b) B-horizon; (c) C-horizon;
(d) bedrock
(ii) The topsoil or A-horizon is the topmost layer.
 It is dark in colour and rich in humus.
 It is soft and porous.
 It can retain water.
 The roots of plants are embedded in this layer.
 It provides shelter for organisms such as worms,
rodents, beetles, etc.
(any three)
Section B (iii) The time taken by a pendulum to complete one
Practical based questions oscillation is called its time period.
22. (d) Allow Rhizobium to grow in the root nodules of the 9. coil of insulated wire
plants.
23. I should wear the khaki shirt because it will reflect most iron core
of the heat that falls on it. The khaki shirt will therefore
keep me cool in the hot desert.
24. (c) lemon juice
switch battery
25. Droplets of water will form on the surface of the plate
facing the steam. This is because the water vapour in
the steam condenses in contact with the cool surface. It
therefore changes into liquid water. 10. No, it is not a good idea. A thin wire is used in a fuse
because it melts quickly when a large amount of current
26. (b) The nail will turn green due to a deposit of iron
passes through it. This prevents damage to electric
sulphate.
circuits and appliances and prevents fires. A thick wire
27. (d) 60 will not melt easily and will not protect circuits from a
sudden increase in electric current.
Test 2
Section A Long answer questions
Very short answer questions 11.
1. snakes, birds, lizards (any two) kidney
2. (a) electric battery; (b) switch in ‘ON’ position
Short answer questions—I ureter

3. White blood cells fight against germs that enter the

body. Without them, we would fall sick very easily.
urinary bladder
Platelets help in the formation of clots. Without them,
we would bleed continuously from cuts or wounds.
4. Two benefits of seed dispersal in plants are as follows. urethra
 It prevents competition between the plant and its
seedlings for water, nutrients and sunlight. urinary opening
 It allows plants to distribute their kind in new 12. For the first 10 min, the speed of the car = 60 km/h
habitats. = 60 km/60 min = 1 km/min
Short answer questions—II The distance covered in 10 min
= 1 min × 10 km/min = 10 km
5. (i) Yes, Nisha’s idea would help. Cramps are caused by
the accumulation of lactic acid in muscles during For the next 5 min, the speed of the car = 0 km/h
exercise. Massaging the muscles improves the supply The distance covered in 5 min = 0
of oxygen to the muscles and helps break down For 25 min, the speed of the car = 120 km/h
lactic acid. = 120 km/60 min = 2 km/min
(ii) caring for others, helping a friend, problem-solving The distance covered in 25 min
6. Plants exchange gases through their stomata on the = 25 min × 2 km/min = 50 km
lower surfaces of their leaves. Applying Vaseline or wax Therefore, the total distance covered during the journey
would block the stomata. This will affect gas exchange in = 10 + 0 + 50 km = 60 km
the plants and will therefore also affect photosynthesis.
The total time taken for the journey = 10 + 5 + 25 min
7. A flower that has either only the pistil or only stamens is = 40 min
called a unisexual flower. The papaya plant has
Therefore, the average speed of the car
unisexual flowers. A flower that has both stamens and
= (total distance covered)/(total time taken)
the pistil is called a bisexual flower. The rose plant has
= 60 km/40 min = (60 × 60)/40 km/h = 90 km/h
bisexual flowers.
8. (i) The distance covered by a moving object in unit Section B
time is called its speed. Practical based questions
(ii) Non-uniform motion is the state of motion in which 13. (d) water vapour
the speed of a moving object moving is not constant. 14. (c) Pieces with eyes will grow into new plants.
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15. The bus has non-uniform motion. Aerobic respiration is the process by which glucose is
broken down in the presence of oxygen.
in the presence of oxygen
Final Examination glucose carbon dioxide + water + energy
Section A Anaerobic respiration is the process by which glucose is
Very short answer questions broken down in the absence of oxygen.
in the absence of oxygen
1. sundials, sand clock, water clock (any two) glucose alcohol + carbon dioxide + energy
2. An aquifer is a place where groundwater is stored 10.
70
between layers of hard rock below the water table.
60
Short answer questions—I
3. Add a pinch of yeast from yeast cake to some water in a 50

Distance (km)
container. Then dissolve a spoonful of sugar in the water, 40
and keep the container in a warm place for an hour.
4. Convex mirrors are used to make the side mirrors in 30
scooters. This is because they can form images of 20
objects spread over a large area. This helps the riders to
see the traffic behind them. 10

5. Biogas is generated when sludge that is separated from

waste water is decomposed by anaerobic bacteria. This
is used as a fuel and can be used to produce electricity.
Dried sludge can be used as manure.
Short answer questions—II
6. Aluminium is a good conductor of heat. Therefore,
aluminium will conduct heat away from the hot food to
the outside of the container, and the food will cool
quickly. Plastic, however, is a poor conductor of heat. It
will not conduct the heat of the food easily and will help
keep it warm for longer.
7. Water is boiled to produce water vapour or steam. This
is an example of a physical change. A small strip of
magnesium is burned using a candle flame. The product
is a powdery ash of magnesium oxide. This is an example
of a chemical change. Thus, heat can cause both physical
and chemical changes. (Other answers are possible.)
8. (i) acting responsibly, concern for others, selflessness
thinking of actions and consequences (any two)
(Other answers are possible.)
(ii) Two other precautions we should take during a
thunderstorm with lightning are:
 to not sit near a window
 to not use an umbrella with a metallic end
 to not take shelter under a tall tree
 to come out of the water if we are swimming
(any two)
9. During inhalation, the ribs move up and outwards and
the diaphragm moves down. This increases the space in
the chest cavity, allowing air to rush into the lungs.
During exhalation, the ribs move down and inwards,
while the diaphragm moves back into its normal position.
This reduces the size of the chest cavity and pushes air
out of the lungs.
(OR)
1 2 3 4
Time (h)
11. (i) distance moved by object
= distance moved by image
Lata moves away from the mirror by 5 –3 = 2 m.
Therefore, her image moves from the mirror by 2 m.
(The image moves from Lata by 4 m.)
(ii) The distance between Lata and her image
= 5 + 5 = 10 m
(OR)
A magnifying glass has a convex lens. It converges light
as shown.
12. Three factors that contribute to the depletion of the
water table are as follows.
(i) Industrial activities, agricultural activities and an
increase in the population result in a lot of
groundwater being used up.
(ii) Groundwater cannot be replenished naturally if
rainfall is scanty.
(iii) Deforestation and a decrease in open areas that
allow water to seep into the ground also lead to a
depletion of groundwater.
13. Forests have a wide variety of plants. This variety
provides food and a suitable habitat for many different
herbivores. A greater variety of herbivores means there
is more food available for a variety of carnivores. Thus,
forests support a wide diversity of animals.

33
14. Three things we can do at home to reduce the
pollutants we release into the sewerage system of our
cities are as follows.
(i) We should not pour cooking oil and fats down the
drain, but should throw them into the dustbin.
(ii) We should not throw solid food waste, tea leaves,
cotton and so on down drains as they can clog them.
(iii) We should dispose of chemicals like paints,
medicines and insecticides carefully.
15. Sewage is waste water that is released by homes,
industries, hospitals, offices and so on. It is mostly water
with dissolved and suspended impurities.
 Two examples of organic impurities are human
faeces and vegetable oil.
 Two examples of inorganic impurities are nitrates
and metals.
(Answers may vary.)
Long answer questions
16. The heat of the Sun warms the Earth, which in turn
warms the air. This makes the air lighter and leads to the
warm air rising and cooler air from the surroundings
moving in. This is the principle that leads to the
formation of winds. This shows how the heat of the Sun
‘fuels’ the winds on Earth.
17. (i) A cockroach has small openings called spiracles on
the sides of its body. The spiracles are connected to
a network of air tubes in the body called tracheae.
Air enters the tracheal tubes through the spiracles,
diffuses into the body tissue and reaches the cells.
Similarly, carbon dioxide from the cells passes
through the tracheae and spiracles and out of the
body.
(ii) Other insects have the same system of gas exchange
as the cockroach.
18. (i) (a) right atrium; (b) aorta; (c) pulmonary veins;
(d) left ventricle
(ii) The two parts labelled (c) carry oxygen-rich blood.
(iii) The rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the heart
is called the heartbeat.
(iv) The sound of the heart is amplified using the
stethoscope.
19. (i) Vegetative propagation is the mode of reproduction
by which a plant reproduces through its vegetative
parts.
(ii) Budding is a kind of asexual reproduction in which a
small bud, grows from the cell, gets detached and
then forms a new cell.
34
(iii) A spore is an asexual reproductive body that
germinates under favourable conditions into a new
individual.
(iv) The transfer of pollen in flowers from the anther to
the stigma is called pollination.
(v) The fusion of male and female gametes to form a
zygote is called fertilisation.
(OR)
A bisexual flower contains both the male reproductive
part, or stamen, and the female reproductive part, or
pistil. Each stamen has an anther and a filament. The
anther contains pollen grains which produce male
gametes. A pistil is made up the stigma, style and ovary.
The ovary contains one or more ovules. The female
gamete or the egg is formed in the ovule.
20. Wind an electric wire around the cardboard tray of a
matchbox. Connect the free ends of the wire to an
electric cell through a switch. Place a small compass in
the tray of the matchbox. Bring a bar magnet near the
compass. Note the change in the position of the needle.
Turn the switch on and then off. There will be changes in
the needle’s position, showing that wire with electricity
passing through it is acting as a magnet.
21. Plants take in water and nutrients from soil to make
their food. All animals—herbivores, carnivores and
omnivores—ultimately depend on plants for food. When
plants and animals die, their remains are decomposed
into simple substances by the decomposers. These
substances are released into the soil and can be used by
plants again. Thus, nutrients are cycled in a forest.
Section B
Practical based questions
22. The sugar solution will turn blue with blue litmus, but
the vinegar solution will turn red. This is because the
sugar solution is neutral and vinegar is acidic.
23. (c) The level of sugar solution will go up.
24. Shilpa should take a reading from the odometer as it
measures the distance moved by the vehicle.
25. (b) It stops glowing immediately and its surface feels
warm.
26. No, an image will not form on the vertical screen. This is
because the image formed by a plane mirror is virtual
and cannot be obtained on a screen.
27. (d) use drip irrigation