A VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. What is a forest?
A forest is a large area covered with trees, plants and animals living together.

2. Name any two products obtained from forests.

Timber and medicinal plants.

3. What do green plants provide to animals in a forest?

Green plants provide food and oxygen.

4. Name the process by which plants prepare their food.

Photosynthesis.

5. Which gas is released by plants during photosynthesis?

Oxygen.

6. What are decomposers?

Decomposers are micro-organisms that convert dead plants and animals into humus.

7. Name one herbivore found in forests.

Deer.

8. What is humus?
Humus is a dark-coloured substance formed from decaying plants and animals.

9. Why are forests called “green lungs” of the Earth?

Because they release oxygen and maintain the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

10. Name one abiotic component of a forest.

Soil.

B. SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Define canopy. Why is it important?

The canopy is the roof-like covering formed by the branches of tall trees. It is important because
it protects the forest floor, slows down rainwater and provides shelter to many animals.

2. What role do decomposers play in forests?

Decomposers break down dead plants and animals into humus and return nutrients to the soil,
helping plants to grow.

3. Write any two functions of forests.

• Forests provide oxygen.
• Forests provide habitat to plants and animals.

4. How do forests help in preventing soil erosion?

The roots of trees bind the soil firmly and prevent it from being washed away by rain or wind.

5. Explain the interdependence between plants and animals in a forest.

Plants provide food and oxygen to animals, while animals provide carbon dioxide to plants and
help in seed dispersal, making them interdependent.

6. Why is humus important for soil fertility?

Humus increases soil fertility by providing nutrients and improving the water-holding capacity of
the soil.

7. Differentiate between biotic and abiotic components of a forest.

Biotic components- Living components
-Plants, animals,microbes
Abiotic components- Non-living component
-Soil, water, air, sunlight

8. What happens when forests are destroyed?

Destruction of forests increases carbon dioxide, causes soil erosion, floods, loss of wildlife and
disturbs the environment.

9. How do forests help in maintaining the water cycle?

Forests release water vapour through transpiration and help rainwater seep into the ground,
maintaining the water table.

10. Name the different layers of a forest.

The different layers of a forest are:
• Canopy
• Understorey
• Forest floor

C. LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Explain how forests are a lifeline for living organisms.

Forests are a lifeline for living organisms because they support life in many ways. They provide
oxygen, food, shelter and habitat to a wide variety of plants and animals. Forests maintain the
balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through photosynthesis. They also
regulate the water cycle by allowing rainwater to seep into the soil and maintain the water table.
Forests recycle nutrients with the help of decomposers and thus keep the ecosystem healthy.

2. Describe the role of forests in maintaining ecological balance.

Forests help maintain ecological balance by linking plants, animals and decomposers. Green
plants prepare food and form the base of food chains. Animals depend on plants and other
animals for food. Decomposers break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the soil.
Forests also control climate, prevent soil erosion, regulate rainfall and maintain the balance of
gases in the atmosphere.

3. Explain the food chain in a forest ecosystem with an example.

A food chain shows how food energy is transferred from one organism to another. In a forest,
green plants prepare food. Herbivores eat plants and carnivores eat herbivores.
Example:
Grass → Insect → Frog → Snake → Eagle
All food chains in a forest are interconnected and depend on each other.

4. What are the consequences of deforestation?

Deforestation leads to an increase in carbon dioxide and a decrease in oxygen in the
atmosphere. It causes soil erosion, floods and droughts. Animals lose their habitat and food.
The water cycle gets disturbed and the environment becomes unbalanced. Deforestation
endangers life on Earth.

5. How do forests help in controlling floods and droughts?

Forests act as natural absorbers of rainwater. The canopy slows down raindrops and the forest
floor absorbs water like a sponge. Tree roots help water seep into the soil and maintain the
water table. This prevents floods during heavy rainfall and droughts during dry seasons.

6. Describe the importance of forests to humans.

Forests provide humans with oxygen, food, medicines, timber, fuel wood, gum and oils. They
help in bringing rainfall, keeping the air cool and reducing noise pollution. Forests prevent soil
erosion and floods. Many people and tribes depend on forests for their livelihood.

7. Explain the relationship between soil, plants, and animals in forests.

Plants take nutrients and water from the soil to grow. Animals depend on plants for food and
shelter. When plants and animals die, decomposers convert them into humus, which enriches
the soil. Thus, soil, plants and animals are closely interlinked and depend on one another in a
forest.

[Link] Reasons :

1. Forests are called our lifeline.

Forests are called our lifeline because they provide oxygen, food, shelter and medicines to living
organisms. They help in maintaining the balance of gases in the atmosphere, regulate the water
cycle and support a large variety of plants and animals. Without forests, life on Earth would not
be possible.

2. Decomposers are important in forests.

Decomposers are important because they break down dead plants and animals into simple
substances called humus. This humus enriches the soil with nutrients and helps plants grow
better. Thus, decomposers recycle nutrients and keep the forest ecosystem balanced.

3. Forests help in bringing rainfall.

Forests help in bringing rainfall because trees release water vapour into the atmosphere
through transpiration. This water vapour forms clouds and causes rainfall. Forests also help
maintain humidity and prevent extreme climatic conditions.

4. Cutting trees affects wildlife.

Cutting trees destroys the natural habitat of animals and birds. It reduces their sources of food
and shelter, forcing them to migrate or face extinction. This disturbs the food chains and the
balance of the forest ecosystem.

5. Forests prevent desertification.

Forests prevent desertification because the roots of trees bind the soil and prevent soil erosion.
Forests also help retain moisture in the soil and maintain the water cycle, preventing land from
becoming dry and barren.

E. Case-based
A. forest area was cleared to build a highway. After a few years, floods became common
in that area.

a) Why did floods occur?

Floods occurred because trees were cut down, so rainwater could not be absorbed by the soil.
Without tree roots and forest floor, rainwater flowed rapidly, causing floods.
b) Which forest function was disturbed?
The function of forests in controlling the water cycle and preventing floods was disturbed.
c) Suggest one solution.
Plant more trees in the area through afforestation to absorb rainwater and reduce flooding.

[Link] a forest, all insects were killed using pesticides.

a) What effect will this have on the food chain?

The food chain will be disturbed because insects are an important link between plants and
higher animals. Animals that feed on insects will suffer from lack of food.
b) Which organisms will be most affected?
Frogs, birds, reptiles and insect-eating animals will be most affected.
c) Why are insects important in forests?
Insects are important because they help in pollination, form a major part of food chains and help
decomposers in breaking down organic matter.

F. ASSERTION AND REASON

1. Assertion: Forest soil is rich in nutrients.
Reason: Decomposers convert dead plants and animals into humus.
Correct option: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
Explanation: Decomposers form humus from dead matter, which adds nutrients to the soil,
making forest soil rich and fertile.

2. Assertion: Forests help maintain the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Reason: Animals release oxygen and plants release carbon dioxide.
Correct option: (c) A is true but R is false.
Explanation: Forests maintain the gas balance because plants release oxygen and animals
release carbon dioxide, not the other way round.

G. DIAGRAM BASED
1. Draw and label the layers of a forest.

2. Draw a forest food chain.

H. Value-Based Questions

1. Why should we protect forests for future generations?

We should protect forests for future generations because forests provide oxygen, food, shelter
and medicines. They help maintain ecological balance, control climate, prevent floods and
support wildlife. Protecting forests ensures that future generations can live in a healthy and safe
environment.

2. How can students contribute to forest conservation?

Students can contribute to forest conservation by planting trees, avoiding wastage of paper, and
spreading awareness about the importance of forests. They should protect plants, discourage
deforestation and participate in cleanliness and tree-plantation drives.