──────────────────────────────────────────────────────── IN-TEXT QUESTIONS ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Question:
“Which characteristics help you in differentiating yourself from a car? For instance, a car does not grow. Does it mean it is non-living?”
Answer:
• We can grow and breathe on our own, but a car cannot.
• Because a car does not grow, breathe, or show other living features, it is non-living.
Question:
“Do plants also show movement? They do not move from place to place, so how can they be considered living?”
Answer:
• Plants cannot walk or run, but some parts of plants move in different ways – flowers may open or close, insectivorous plants can move to trap insects, and climbers can curl or wind around supports.
• Hence, plants also have some movement and are living.
Question:
“In which category would you place a seed—living or non-living? Why?”
Answer:
• A seed is considered living because it can grow into a new plant when given water, air, and the right conditions.
• If a seed did not grow or change under the correct conditions, it would be considered non-living.
Question:
“Which conditions do you think are required for seed germination? Do you think the absence of one or more of these conditions will affect seed germination?”
Answer:
• Most seeds need air, water, and suitable light or dark conditions to germinate.
• If one is missing, seeds usually do not sprout (for example, too little water or no air prevents germination).
Question:
“How would you now categorize a seed, as living or non-living?”
Answer:
• A seed is living because it has the potential to grow into a new plant.
Question:
“Which of the following are essential for seed germination – air, water, and sunlight?”
Answer:
• Generally, seeds need air and water.
• Most seeds do not need sunlight to start germinating (they can germinate in the dark), but after sprouting, plants need sunlight to grow well.
Question:
“How do plants respond to sunlight? If a plant is placed in different positions, in which direction do the root and shoot grow?”
Answer:
• Shoots usually grow upward toward the sunlight, and roots grow downward into the soil, no matter if the plant is upright or inverted.
Question:
“Do you think sunlight is necessary for germination of seeds? Do the seeds in all pots receive air, water, and sunlight? Which seeds germinate and why?”
Answer:
• In many cases, seeds do not require sunlight to start sprouting.
• However, they do need proper air and water.
• The pots with enough air and water (but not over-watered) have seeds that germinate.
Question:
“What other conditions might affect seed germination?”
Answer:
• Proper temperature, good soil, and nutrients also help seeds germinate well.
Question:
“Do you think birds also show significant changes in the various stages of their life cycle? How does the life cycle of animals differ from that of plants?”
Answer:
• Yes, birds go through stages (egg → chick → adult).
• Animals move from one place to another, while plants remain in one place; also, animals’ life cycles often involve babies that grow into adults, while plants start from seeds, sprout, and later produce new seeds.
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ACTIVITY QUESTIONS ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Activity 10.1 (Let us record)
Question:
“List objects around you in Table 10.1 and identify them as living or non-living. Give a reason for your choice.”
Answer (sample):
• Pencil → Non-living → It does not grow, breathe, or need food.
• Pigeon → Living → It grows, breathes, reproduces, and responds.
Activity 10.2 (Let us experiment)
Question:
“Sow bean seeds in four pots (A, B, C, D) and vary conditions: no water, excess water, dark, sunlight, etc. Which seeds germinate and why?”
Answer (sample):
• Seeds need the right amount of water, air, and suitable temperatures.
• Pot D with moist soil and sunlight has the best germination results.
• Too much or no water prevents proper germination, and complete lack of air also stops germination.
Activity 10.3 (Let us design)
Question:
“Grow seedings on blotting paper in beakers A, B, and C. Keep them upright or inverted, and give sunlight from certain directions. In which direction do the shoot and root grow?”
Answer:
• Shoots grow upward (toward sunlight) and roots grow downward (toward soil) regardless of the orientation.
• Plants respond to gravity and light, so they bend to grow in those directions.
Activity 10.4 (Let us explore)
Question:
“Plant a bean seed. Observe it for three months and record the changes: how long does it take for flowers to appear, for pods to form, etc.?”
Answer (sample):
• After about 1–2 weeks, the seed sprouts.
• After some more time, leaves appear.
• Flowers may appear after several weeks.
• Then, pods with seeds form.
• Finally, the plant may dry out after forming seeds.
Activity 10.5 (Let us analyse – Mosquito)
Question:
“You have a container with mosquito larvae and pupae. How can you figure out which stage changes into which next?”
Answer (sample):
• Separate the larvae and pupae in different containers.
• Larvae eventually transform into pupae, and pupae into adult mosquitoes.
• Observe daily; whichever group changes into the next form shows you the correct order.
Activity 10.6 (Let us analyse – Frog)
Question:
“Observe a shallow pond in the rainy season. Note the different frog stages (eggs, tadpoles, froglet, adult). Record changes and sequence them.”
Answer:
• Frog eggs (spawn) → embryo → tadpole (no legs) → tadpole with hind legs → froglet → adult frog.
• Tadpoles breathe underwater using gills; adult frogs have lungs and live on land and in water.
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────── EXERCISE QUESTIONS (“Let us enhance our learning”) ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Question:
“List the similarities and differences in life cycles of plants and animals.”
Answer (sample):
• Similarities: Both start small, grow, and produce young ones (seeds or babies).
• Differences: Many plants begin with seeds that stay in one place; most animals move, and some have very different stages (like larvae or tadpoles).
Question:
“The table below shows some data about growing and respiring. If you think an example for any row is not possible, say why.
S. no. Does it grow? Does it respire? Example Remarks
1 No No ? ?
2 No Yes ? ?
3 Yes No ? ?
4 Yes Yes ? ?”
Answer (sample reasoning):
• (1) No growth, no respiration → A rock (non-living).
• (2) No growth, yes respiration → Hard to find, because respiration usually indicates life. So likely no example.
• (3) Yes growth, no respiration → Probably no example, because anything that grows must get energy (needs respiration).
• (4) Yes growth, yes respiration → All living things (like a plant or an animal).
Question:
“How can we use our knowledge of conditions needed for germination when storing grains or pulses?”
Answer:
• If we keep grains or pulses in a dry place without moisture, they won’t germinate or spoil.
• We must protect them from water and keep them in airtight containers.
Question:
“A tadpole has a tail, but when it grows into a frog, the tail disappears. What advantage does having a tail give to a tadpole?”
Answer:
• It helps the tadpole swim efficiently in water.
• When it becomes an adult frog, strong legs are used instead of the tail for movement.
Question:
“Charan says a wooden log is non-living because it cannot move. Charu says it is living because it came from a tree. Which do you agree with?”
Answer (sample):
• A wooden log is no longer growing, respiring, or showing other signs of life.
• The tree was alive, but once cut, the wood is considered non-living.
Question:
“What are the similarities and distinguishing features in the life cycles of a mosquito and a frog?”
Answer (sample):
• Similarities: Both have egg stages, then young stages (larva/tadpole), and then adults.
• Differences: Mosquito has a pupa stage, while frog has a tadpole that gradually changes into a froglet.
• Frog young ones (tadpoles) have tails and live in water; mosquito pupae transform into adults in water and then fly away.
Question:
“A plant is provided with all the needed conditions (Fig. 10.9) but is placed with its shoot near the ground. After one week, in which directions do the shoot and roots grow?”
Answer:
• The shoot will bend upward toward the sunlight;
• The root will curve downward into the soil.
• This happens because of the plant’s response to light and gravity.
Question:
“Tara and Vijay set up the experiment shown in Fig. 10.10. What do you think they want to find out?”
Answer (sample):
• Possibly they want to see if seeds need air or moisture to germinate, or observe how sprouts grow toward light.
• They will know if their guess is correct by noticing which seeds sprout and how they grow.
Question:
“Design an experiment to check if temperature affects seed germination.”
Answer (sample):
• Take two sets of pots with seeds. Place one set in a warm place (like near a window with sunlight) and the other in a cooler place (perhaps in a shaded, cooler area).
• Keep water and other conditions the same.
• Check which seeds germinate faster.