Learning Today…… Leading Tomorrow GRADE: 8

APOLLO INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SCIENCE

` CLASS WORK(2023-24)

CH–2 MICROORGANISMS

A. Short answer questions.

1. Explain the classification of bacteria into different groups depending on the shape.
Ans:Bacteria are grouped into four groups based on their shapes.
• Cocci (spherical in shape)
• Bacilli (rod-shaped)
• Spirilla (spiral in shape)
• Vibrio (curved or comma-shaped)

2. What are probiotics?

Ans:Probiotics are foods or supplements that contain live microorganisms which are intended to have health
benefits when consumed or can be introduced into the digestive system.

3. Explain the method to prepare curd.

Ans: Method to prepared curd.
1. Take some milk in a kitchen pan or steel bowl with a lid
2. Slowly heat the milk on the burner until it is around 35 0 C. Do not boil.
2. Cool till the milk is warm.
3. Add a teaspoon of curd and mix well.
4. Cover the bowl with the lid.
5. Leave it undisturbed for 4 –5 hours.

4. How does yeast help in preparing alcoholic beverages?

Ans: Yeast is used in the production of alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer, and whiskey. Yeast acts on
the natural sugars present in barley, wheat, rice, and crushed fruit juices, and converts them into alcohol. This
process of converting sugar into alcohol is known as fermentation. The fermented mixture is purified,
pasteurized, and stored in bottles.

5. Define antibiotics and vaccines.

Ans:Medicines which are manufactured by growing specific microorganisms to cure various diseases are
called antibiotics. Vaccines are preparations of weakened or killed disease-causing microorganisms.

6. How do microbes help in agriculture?

Ans: Certain microbes play an important role in agriculture mainly by carrying out nitrogen fixation. The
process by which nitrogen in the atmosphere is converted into compounds which can be used by plants and
animals is called nitrogen fixation.
For example, Rhizobium is a nitrogen-fixing bacterium that is found in the roots of leguminous plants. It is
able to fix atmospheric nitrogen into useful compounds, which can be used by plants to produce proteins.
When these plants are eaten by animals, the fixed nitrogen is used by them to make proteins and amino acids.

B. Distinguish between the following.

Apollo International School/2023-2024/Grade-8/Science/Ch-2/Classwork
1. Communicable and non-communicable disease
Ans:

Communicable diseases Non-communicable diseases

1. Diseases that are spread from an
infected persons to healthy ones.
2. Examples are chicken pox, common
cold, tuberculosis, typhoid, and
cholera.
1. Diseases that cannot be transmitted from
one person to another. They develop when
the body is not functioning properly.
2. Examples are cancer diabetes, nutrient
deficiency diseases, allergies, and mental
illness.

2. Dehydration and pasteurization

Ans:

Dehydration Pasteurization

1. Dehydration is the method of food 1. Pasteurization is the method of food

preservation where moisture is
removed from food by drying the food
item in the sun, heating, or baking.
2. This method is used to preserved
fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood,
grains, legumes, herbs, and nuts.
preservation which consists of heating a
liquid (usually milk) at 700 0 C for 15 to 30
seconds, and then cooling it rapidly;
followed by storing in sterilized bottles or
Tetra Paks in cool places.
2. This method is used to preserved Milk and
dairy products, fruit juices, and yoghurt.

C. Long answer questions.

1. Name the different types of microorganisms. Write a short note on each and name two examples.
Ans: Microorganisms can be divided into five major types: bacteria, protozoa, fungi, algae, and viruses.
Bacteria:
Bacteria are unicellular microorganisms. They are one of the earliest forms of life on Earth. They have
evolved over the years. Bacteria can withstand extreme temperatures (very hot or very cold). They are also
able to utilize different substances such as sunlight, sulphur, and iron to produce their food. Bacteria are
grouped into four groups based on their shapes.

• Cocci (spherical in shape)

• Bacilli (rod-shaped)
• Spirilla (spiral in shape)
• Vibrio (curved or comma-shaped)

Protozoa:
Protozoa are unicellular microorganisms too. They can be oval, spherical, or elongated in shape. They feed on
other tiny animals. Protozoa are found mostly in aquatic regions or in areas that are moist. Amoeba, Euglena,
and Paramoecium are examples of protozoa.

Fungi:
Apollo International School/2023-2024/Grade-8/Science/Ch-2/Classwork
Fungi are a group of plant-like non-green organisms that grow on decaying surfaces. They may be unicellular
and microscopic, like yeast, or multicellular and macroscopic, like mushroom. They come in different shapes
and sizes. They get their nutrition from decaying plant and animal matter. Fungi are responsible for breaking
down organic matter and releasing substances into the soil and the atmosphere. Fungi can be found in many
places such as rising bread, mouldy bread, stale food in the refrigerator, and on forest floors.

Algae:
Algae are simple plant-like organisms that are usually aquatic. Unlike other microbes, they contain
chlorophyll, and therefore carry out photosynthesis. However, unlike plants, algae do not have true roots,
stems, or leaves. Algae can be found in freshwater or saltwater, and in damp and moist places. On land, they
may grow on rock surfaces, the bark of trees, in stagnant water, and on rotting wood. Algae range in size from
unicellular microscopic forms, such as Chlorella, Chlamydomonas, and diatoms, to multicellular macroscopic
forms such as marine seaweeds, for example, kelp.

Viruses:
Viruses are the simplest and tiniest of microorganisms and can only be seen with the help of a powerful
microscope—the electron microscope. Viruses cannot grow or multiply on their own. They need to enter a
living cell to be able to multiply. That is why some scientists have classified viruses as non-living organisms.

2. Discuss the process of nitrogen fixation in detail.

Ans: Nitrogen in its atmospheric form cannot be used by plants. It needs to be converted into nitrogen-
containing compounds for easy utilization by plants. The process by which nitrogen in the atmosphere is
converted into compounds which can be used by plants and animals is called nitrogen fixation. As nitrogen is
required by all forms of life including plants and animals, nitrogen fixation is essential.

Rhizobium is a nitrogen-fixing bacterium that is found in the roots of leguminous plants. It is able to fix
atmospheric nitrogen into useful compounds, which can be used by plants to produce proteins. When these
plants are eaten by animals, the fixed nitrogen is used by them to make proteins and amino acids.

3. Draw a labelled diagram of the nitrogen cycle and explain the various processes involved in it.
Ans:

1. The process by which nitrogen in the atmosphere is converted into compounds which can be used by
plants and animals is called nitrogen fixation.
2. Rhizobium is a nitrogen-fixing bacterium that is found in the roots of leguminous plants. It is able to
fix atmospheric nitrogen into useful compounds, which can be used by plants to produce proteins.
3. When plants are eaten by animals, the fixed nitrogen is used by them to make proteins and amino
acids.
4. After plants and animals die, decomposers act on the proteins and amino acids to return nitrogen
compounds back to the soil.
5. Chemical fertilizers also add nitrogen compounds in the soil. These nitrogen compounds can be either
taken up directly by plants through their roots, or converted to nitrate gases and released back into the
atmosphere. These gases react with water in the atmosphere and return to soil through rainwater.
6. Certain special bacteria present in the soil also help to return nitrogen back into atmosphere.
The nitrogen cycle is a continuous series of natural processes by which atmospheric nitrogen passes to
the soil, and then to organisms, and back to air or soil, involving nitrogen fixation and decay.

Apollo International School/2023-2024/Grade-8/Science/Ch-2/Classwork

4. Write a short note on any five diseases in humans that are caused by microbes.
Ans:
Five examples of diseases in humans that are caused by microbes are cholera, typhoid, malaria , polio, and
chickenpox.

Disease Pathogen Mode of transmission Preventive measures

Cholera Bacteria Contaminated food & water Avoid eating uncovered food; boil drinking water;
maintain proper sanitation
Typhoid Bacteria Contaminated food & water Avoid eating uncovered food; boil drinking water;
maintain proper sanitation
Polio Virus Contaminated air and water Vaccination
Chicken Virus Contaminated air and direct Vaccination
pox contact

Malaria Protozoa Mosquitoes Use mosquito nets, repellents and sprays.

5. What do you understand by food spoilage? What are the characteristics that indicate that food is
spoilt?
Ans:
Food spoilage is the process where food gets damaged by the growth of microorganisms and becomes
inedible for humans. Food items which are capable of spoilage are called perishable foods.

Characteristics that indicate that food is spoilt are:

Apollo International School/2023-2024/Grade-8/Science/Ch-2/Classwork

 1. An unpleasant smell, change in colour, slimy appearance, sour taste, or a furry coating—and becomes
inedible.
2. Apart from microbial activity, spoilage of food can also occur due to physical injury (e.g., squashing
or bruising of tomatoes or fruits while being transported in bulk), insect damage, or chemical effects
(e.g., oxidation of the cut surfaces of vegetables and fruits).

6. What is food preservation? List the methods used and explain at least two methods in detail.
Ans:
The process of preparing food that involves the prevention of the growth of microorganisms so that it can be
stored for longer is called food preservation. This method either slows down the activity of microorganisms or
kills them completely, but, at the same time, retains the original flavour and nutritional value of food.

The different methods of food preservation are: boiling, dehydration, refrigeration or freezing, canning,
chemical preservatives, pickling, pasteurization, fermentation, sealing, and smoking.

1. Refrigeration or freezing:
 Refrigeration involves storing food at a low temperature below 20 0 C.
 Freezing involves chilling foods below 0 0 C (or freezing). Large scale storage for freezing is done in
cold storage facilities.
 Foods that are stored using this method are Fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, grains, nuts, dairy,
eggs, and prepared food

2. Chemical preservatives: Some foods are preserved by the addition of chemicals or preservatives, such as
sodium benzoate, sodium metabisulphite, ascorbic acid, and benzoic acid. Type of food that are stored by this
method are fruit juices, squashes, ketchup, jams, and jellies.

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Apollo International School/2023-2024/Grade-8/Science/Ch-2/Classwork