Living Creatures: Exploring their Characteristics
Fill in the Blanks:
1. Living beings need __________ for their growth and development.
- Answer: food
2. The removal of waste products from the body is called __________.
- Answer: excretion
3. In plants, tiny pores called __________ help in the process of respiration.
- Answer: stomata
4. __________ is the process by which living beings produce young ones of their kind.
- Answer: Reproduction
5. A __________ shows movement in response to a touch stimulus by folding its leaves.
- Answer: touch-me-not (Mimosa)
6. __________ is one of the conditions necessary for the germination of seeds.
- Answer: Water
7. The life cycle of a mosquito includes four stages: egg, __________, pupa, and adult.
- Answer: larva
8. __________ are the hair-like projections with sticky ends that help Drosera trap insects.
- Answer: Hairs
9. The process of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide is known as __________.
- Answer: respiration
10. Plants grow towards __________ as a response to light.
- Answer: sunlight
True / False
1. Non-living things can grow and reproduce.
- Answer: False
2. All living beings require water to survive.
- Answer: True
3. A car moving on the road is considered a living being.
- Answer: False
4. Plants do not need food to grow.
- Answer: False
5. Excretion is a characteristic of living beings.
- Answer: True
6. Only animals show movement, plants do not.
- Answer: False
7. All living beings respond to stimuli.
- Answer: True
8. Respiration occurs in plants as well as animals.
- Answer: True
9. A seed is considered non-living because it does not move.
- Answer: False
10. A mosquito’s life cycle does not include a pupa stage.
- Answer: False
Question / Answers
1. What are the main characteristics that differentiate living beings from non-living things?
Answer : Living beings move, grow, need food (nutrition), respire, excrete, respond to stimuli, reproduce, and die.
2. Why is movement considered a characteristic of living beings?
Answer : Movement is a characteristic of living beings because they can change their position. For example, animals move to find food or shelter, while plants show movement in their growth or response to light.
3. Do plants move? If yes, how?
Answer : Yes, plants show movement. For instance, climbers wind themselves around objects, and insectivorous plants like Drosera move to trap insects. Additionally, plants grow towards light, showing movement over time.
4. What is respiration, and do plants respire?
Answer : Respiration is the process of inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide. Plants respire through tiny pores on their leaves called stomata, which help in exchanging gases with the environment.
5. What is excretion, and do plants excrete?
Answer : Excretion is the removal of waste from the body. Plants excrete excess water and minerals through small droplets on their leaves.
6. What is a stimulus, and how do living beings respond to it?
Answer : A stimulus is anything that triggers a reaction from living beings. For example, touching a hot object causes an immediate withdrawal of the hand.
7. Give an example of a plant that responds to a stimulus.
Answer : The touch-me-not (Mimosa) plant folds its leaves when touched, showing a response to the stimulus of touch.
8. What is reproduction, and why is it essential for living beings?
Answer : Reproduction is the process of producing offspring. It is essential for the continuity of life and maintaining species populations.
9. What are the essential conditions required for seed germination?
Answer : Seeds require water, air, and the right temperature for germination. Sunlight is necessary for the growth of seedlings but not for germination itself.
10. How does the direction of sunlight affect plant growth?
Answer : Plants grow towards the direction of sunlight. In experiments, shoots grow upward toward the light, while roots grow downward regardless of the light direction.
11. What is the life cycle of a plant?
Answer : A plant’s life cycle starts with a seed, followed by germination, growth into a plant, flowering, fruit production, and the creation of new seeds.
12. What are the stages in the life cycle of a mosquito?
Answer : The mosquito life cycle has four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
13. Why is it important to prevent stagnant water accumulation?
Answer : Stagnant water serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, where they lay eggs, leading to the growth of larvae and the spread of diseases like malaria and dengue.
14. Describe the life cycle of a frog.
Answer : The life cycle of a frog includes the stages: egg (spawn), embryo, tadpole, froglet, and adult frog.
15. What is the importance of reproduction in the life cycles of plants and animals?
Answer : Reproduction is vital for the survival of species. It ensures that plants and animals can produce offspring, thus maintaining the population across generations.
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