Living Creatures: Exploring their Characteristics NCERT Class 6th Science Chapter 10 Question Answer

Let Us Enhance Our Learning – Questions and Detailed Answers


1. List the similarities and differences in life cycles of plants and animals.

Similarities:

  • Both begin life with a reproductive process (seed in plants, egg or live birth in animals).
  • Growth and development occur in both plants and animals.
  • Both complete life cycles with reproduction and eventual death.

Differences:

  • Plants germinate and grow into mature plants through stages like flowering and fruiting, while animals grow into adults with distinct physical transformations (e.g., metamorphosis in frogs).
  • Plants are stationary, while most animals are mobile.
  • In plants, reproduction often involves seeds, while animals can reproduce through eggs or live births.

2. Study the data in the table and provide examples for the conditions.

S. No. Does it grow? Does it respire? Example Remarks
1 No No Rock Non-living, no biological activity.
2 No Yes Yeast in dormant state Dormant living organisms respire but don’t grow.
3 Yes No Example not possible Growth requires respiration for energy.
4 Yes Yes Human or Tree Living beings exhibit both growth and respiration.

3. How can the knowledge of seed germination be used for proper storage of grains and pulses?

  • Store grains and pulses in dry and airtight containers to prevent moisture accumulation, which may trigger germination.
  • Maintain cool storage conditions to minimize fungal or bacterial growth.
  • Use silica gel or natural desiccants to absorb excess moisture.

4. Why do tadpoles have tails, and why does it disappear as they grow into frogs?

  • The tail helps tadpoles swim efficiently in water during their aquatic stage.
  • As they transition into frogs, their habitat shifts to both land and water, where strong legs replace the tail for jumping and movement.

5. Charan says a wooden log is non-living, while Charu says it is living. Whose argument is valid?

  • Charan’s Argument: A wooden log is non-living because it no longer shows growth, respiration, or reproduction.
  • Charu’s Argument: While a wooden log originated from a living tree, it is now non-living since it no longer exhibits life processes.

Conclusion: Charan is correct; the wooden log is non-living.


6. What are the similarities and distinguishing features in the life cycles of a mosquito and a frog?

Similarities:

  • Both undergo distinct stages (egg, immature stages, adult).
  • Both involve significant physical transformations (metamorphosis).

Distinguishing Features:

  • Mosquito larvae and pupae develop in water but remain entirely aquatic, while frogs transition from aquatic (tadpole) to amphibious (adult frog) life.
  • Mosquitoes pass through larva and pupa stages, while frogs have stages like tadpole and froglet.

7. Predict the growth of a plant under suitable conditions.

Observation:

  • The shoot will grow upwards toward sunlight, while the root will grow downward due to gravity. Reason:
  • Shoots exhibit phototropism (movement toward light), and roots show geotropism (movement toward gravity).

8. What do you think Tara and Vijay want to find out with their experiment? How will they know if they are correct?

  • Aim: They want to test the effect of water, air, and sunlight on seed germination.
  • Verification: If seeds germinate in the container with the right amount of water and sunlight, their hypothesis is correct.

9. Design an experiment to check if temperature affects seed germination.

Steps:

  1. Take three pots with identical soil and seeds.
  2. Place Pot A in a warm room, Pot B in a refrigerator, and Pot C at room temperature.
  3. Water each pot equally and observe over 10 days.
  4. Record the germination rates and compare the results.

Observation: Seeds in the warm room and room temperature will germinate faster than those in the refrigerator, demonstrating temperature’s role in germination.


Learning Further


1. How can plants grow without seed germination? Provide examples.

  • Plants can grow via vegetative propagation methods such as:
    • Cuttings: Roses and money plants.
    • Runners: Strawberries.
    • Tubers: Potatoes.
    • Bulbs: Onions.

2. Compare the life cycle of a butterfly or moth with that of a mosquito.

  • Both undergo four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
  • While a mosquito’s larva lives in water, a butterfly or moth’s larva (caterpillar) lives on land and feeds on leaves.

3. Does the environment affect insect life cycles? List the factors.

Factors:

  • Temperature: Affects growth rates and metamorphosis.
  • Humidity: Essential for molting and egg-laying.
  • Food availability: Dictates survival during larval stages.
  • Pollution: Can disrupt habitats and reproduction.

Let Us Create – Poem on Frog’s Life Cycle

In shaded and grassy bogs,
There lived a group of frogs.
They happily sang from dusk to dawn,
In double bass going on and on.

One day sitting beside a reed,
Female frogs think it’s time to breed.
Eggs were laid in a jelly spawn,
Soon tadpoles swam at early dawn.

Tadpoles danced with tails so fine,
Eating plants, growing in time.
Legs appeared, their tails grew small,
Froglets emerged, ready for landfall.

Now grown frogs jump and play,
Croaking songs by night and day!Living Creatures: Exploring Their Characteristics — 30 Questions and Answers


1. What is the main characteristic that differentiates living and non-living things?

Living things show movement, growth, respiration, reproduction, excretion, response to stimuli, and eventually die, unlike non-living things.


2. Can a car move on its own, and is it considered a living thing? Why?

No, a car cannot move on its own. It is non-living because it lacks characteristics such as growth, reproduction, and respiration.


3. Do all living things grow over time?

Yes, all living things grow as a result of cellular processes and development, a feature absent in non-living things.


4. Why is movement considered a characteristic of living beings?

Movement, whether visible (in animals) or internal (in plants), signifies life processes like growth and response to stimuli.


5. Do plants move like animals?

No, plants do not move from one place to another like animals, but they show movements like the opening of flowers or the movement of climbers.


6. How do insectivorous plants like Drosera capture insects?

Drosera has sticky hair-like projections on its leaves that trap insects when they land on them.


7. What is respiration in living beings?

Respiration is the process by which living beings take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide to generate energy.


8. How do plants respire?

Plants respire through tiny pores called stomata present on the surface of leaves, allowing air exchange.


9. What is excretion, and do plants also excrete?

Excretion is the removal of waste products from the body. Yes, plants excrete excess water and minerals as droplets, as seen in grasses and roses.


10. Can living beings reproduce, and why is it necessary?

Yes, reproduction is essential for the continuity of species and maintaining life on Earth.


11. What is a stimulus in the context of living beings?

A stimulus is an event or change in the environment that triggers a response in living beings, like touching a hot object.


12. Do plants respond to stimuli?

Yes, plants like the touch-me-not fold their leaves when touched, showing a response to stimuli.


13. Is a seed considered living or non-living?

A seed is living because it shows characteristics like growth and reproduction under favorable conditions.


14. What conditions are essential for seed germination?

Air, water, and the right temperature are essential for seed germination.


15. Why does water play an important role in germination?

Water softens the seed coat, activates enzymes, and helps the embryo inside the seed grow.


16. Do seeds need sunlight for germination?

Most seeds do not require sunlight for germination but need it for further growth after sprouting.


17. How do shoots and roots of plants respond to gravity and sunlight?

Shoots grow upward towards sunlight, while roots grow downward, responding to gravity.


18. Who was Jagadish Chandra Bose, and what did he invent?

Jagadish Chandra Bose was an Indian scientist who invented the crescograph to study plant responses to stimuli.


19. What is the life cycle of a plant?

A plant’s life cycle includes stages like seed, germination, growth, flowering, fruiting, and seed production for the next generation.


20. What are the four stages in the life cycle of a mosquito?

The stages are egg, larva, pupa, and adult.


21. Why is stagnant water a breeding ground for mosquitoes?

Stagnant water provides a habitat for mosquito eggs to hatch and develop into larvae and pupae.


22. How does kerosene oil kill mosquito larvae and pupae?

Kerosene forms a layer over water, cutting off air supply and killing the larvae and pupae.


23. What is the life cycle of a frog?

The life cycle includes stages like egg (spawn), embryo, tadpole, froglet, and adult frog.


24. How do tadpoles adapt to water?

Tadpoles have tails and gills that help them swim and breathe in water.


25. What is the role of a frog’s legs in its life cycle?

As frogs mature, their legs become strong, allowing them to jump and live both on land and in water.


26. Why is reproduction important in living beings?

Reproduction ensures the survival and continuation of a species.


27. How do climbers like money plants move?

Climbers wind themselves around objects for support, showing movement in plants.


28. What happens to a plant when it completes its life cycle?

After producing seeds and fruit, the plant gradually dies, marking the end of its life cycle.


29. How do adult mosquitoes emerge from pupae?

Adult mosquitoes rest briefly on the water surface after emerging from pupae and then fly away.


30. Do birds show distinct changes in their life cycles?

Yes, birds undergo changes from egg to chick to adult, similar to how other animals grow and develop.


Tag Questions:

1. Plants also need air and water for growth, don’t they?

Yes, plants need air, water, and nutrients for growth and survival.

2. A car doesn’t grow like a living being, does it?

No, a car is non-living because it cannot grow or reproduce.

3. Mosquitoes begin their life cycle in water, don’t they?

Yes, mosquitoes start their life cycle in stagnant water.

4. A seed won’t germinate without water, will it?

No, water is essential for a seed to germinate.

5. Tadpoles can’t survive without water, can they?

No, tadpoles need water to live and grow into frogs.

6. All living beings eventually die, don’t they?

Yes, death is a natural part of the life cycle for all living beings.

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