8   Year 9 Science Learning Workbook

How plants respond to their environment (page 35)

Part One
1. Gravity.
2. Gravity.
3. Up.
4. In any direction.
Part Two
1. Gravity.
2. Light.
3. By placing a light directly ‘over’ them.
4. Downwards.
5. a. Grows towards a light source. Shoot
Grows away from a light source. Root
Grows with the pull of gravity. Root
Grows against the pull of gravity. Shoot

b. P lants need to grow so that the leaves are exposed to sunlight. Roots need to grow down to find
water, nutrients and anchorage. Seeds are often covered in soil, so, in the absence of light, both
shoots and roots rely on gravity to tell them which way is up or down.
6. Water.
Part Three
Results
The leaves fold together.
1. Touch.
2. a. It may repel herbivores.
b. The folding leaves trap insects which provide nutrients.

The problem with MRS GREN (page 38)

1. Characteristic Harakeke (flax) Mako shark Tui Fire
Movement Yes – it moves food Yes – eg swims. Yes – eg walks, Yes – flickers.
and water around flies.
its ‘body’.
Respiration Yes. Yes. Yes. No – it releases
energy from fuel,
but it has no cells.
Sensitivity Light, water, gravity. Light, sound, smell/ Light, sound, smell/ Water, wind, petrol!
taste, touch. taste, touch.
Growth Yes – from seed to Yes – from baby to Yes – from egg to Yes – from spark to
adult. adult. adult. inferno.