INTERNATIONAL INDIAN SCHOOL, JEDDAH

SCIENCE
CLASS-8 L2-MICROORGANISMS: FRIEND AND FOE
I. TEXT BOOK EXERCISES
Q.1. Fill in the blanks
(a) Microorganisms can be seen with the help of a ____________.
(b) Blue green algae fix __________ directly from air and enhance fertility of soil.
(c) Alcohol is produced with the help of __________.
(d) Cholera is caused by __________.
Answer:
(a) Microorganisms can be seen with the help of a Microscope.
(b) Blue green algae fix Nitrogen directly from air and enhance fertility of soil.
(c) Alcohol is produced with the help of Yeast.
(d) Cholera is caused by Bacteria.
Q.2. Tick the correct answer.
Q.2. (a)Yeast is used in the production of
(i) sugar (ii) alcohol (iii) hydrochloric acid (iv) oxygen
Answer:
(a) Yeast is used in the production of (ii) Alcohol
Q.2(b). The following is an antibiotic
(i) Sodium bicarbonate (ii) Streptomycin (iii) Alcohol (iv) Yeast
Answer:
(b) The following is an antibiotic (ii) Streptomycin
Q.2(c). Carrier of malaria-causing protozoan is
(i) female Anopheles mosquito (ii) cockroach (iii) housefly (iv) butterfly
Answer:
(c) Carrier of malaria-causing protozoan is (i) female Anopheles mosquito
1
Q.2(d). The most common carrier of communicable diseases is
(i) ant (ii) housefly (iii) dragonfly (iv) spider
Answer:
(d) The most common carrier of communicable diseases is (ii) housefly.
Q.2(e). The bread or idli dough rises because of
(i) heat (ii) grinding (iii) growth of yeast cells (iv) kneading
Answer:
(e) The bread or idli dough rises because of (iii) The growth of yeast cells.
Q.2(f). The process of conversion of sugar into alcohol is called
(i) nitrogen fixation (ii) moulding (iii) fermentation (iv) infection
Answer:
(f) The process of conversion of sugar into alcohol is called (iii) Fermentation
Q.3. Match the organisms in Column A with their action in Column B
A B
(i) Bacteria (a) Fixing nitrogen
(ii) Rhizobium (b) Setting of curd
(iii) Lactobacillus (c) Baking of bread
(iv) Yeast (d) Causing malaria
(v) A protozoan (e) Causing cholera
(vi) A virus (f) Causing AIDS
(g) Producing antibodies
Answer:
Column A Column B
Bacteria Causing Cholera
Rhizobium Fixing nitrogen
Lactobacillus Setting of curd
Yeast Baking of bread

2
A protozoan Causing malaria
A virus Causing AIDS
Q.4. Can microorganisms be seen with the naked eye? If not, how can they be seen?
Answer:
No, the microorganisms cannot be seen with the human naked eye because they are too
small to be seen. Microorganisms can be seen with the help of a scientific instrument
called microscope.
Example- fungus on bread.
[Link] are the major groups of microorganisms?
Answer:
The major groups of microorganisms are as follows-
(i) Bacteria- unicellular organisms. most common examples of bacteria are Salmonella
typhi, Rhizobium, Mycobacterium etc. Typhoid and tuberculosis (TB) are bacterial
diseases.
(ii) Fungi- Multicellular organisms which feed on dead and decaying matter. Bread
mould is common examples.
(iii) Protozoa- Unicellular organisms which are mostly parasitic. Organisms like Amoeba,
Plasmodium etc. are under this category. Dysentery and malaria are caused by
protozoans.
(iv) Virus- Acellular organisms which reproduce only inside the cells of the host
organism. These cause diseases like chicken pox and polio.
(v) Algae- They are unicellular or multicellular organism. Spirogyra, Chlamydomonas,
Ulva are some of the examples of algae.
Q.6. Name the microorganisms which can fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil.
Answer:
The microorganism that can fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil are bacteria such as
Rhizobium, and blue-green algae. These converted nitrogenous compounds can be easily
used by plants for the plant protein synthesis and other purposes.
Q.7. Write 10 lines on the usefulness of microorganisms in our lives.
Answer:

3
Microorganisms are useful for us in following ways-
Microorganisms are used to increase the fertility of the soil by fixing the atmospheric
nitrogen with the help of blue-green algae and Rhizobium.
Antibiotics which are obtained from microorganisms are used to control the diseases.
There are some bacteria which can turn nitrogen compounds found in the soil into
nitrogen gas which is further released into the environment.
Bacterium Lactobacillus reproduces in milk and promotes the formation of curd.
Microorganisms especially yeast can be used for the industrial production of alcohol,
wine and acetic acid (vinegar).
Microbes are used to reduce pollution. example- bacteria and fungi break down the dead
bodies and excreta to form inorganic compounds which are absorbed by plants
Yeast reproduces rapidly and produces carbon dioxide during respiration. Bubbles of the
gas fill the dough and increase its volume. Thus they are used in making of bread.
[Link] a short paragraph on the harmful effects of microorganisms.
Answer:
The harmful effects of microorganisms are given below-
Microorganisms cause diseases in humans as well as animals. For example, cholera and
TB are caused by bacteria in humans.
In plants also diseases are caused by microorganisms. For example, citrus canker in
plants is caused by bacteria and rust of wheat is caused by fungi.
Food poisoning is also caused by the microorganisms that spoils our food by producing
some toxic substances. For example- when the bread is left in under moist condition gets
spoilt by fungus.
Q.9. What are antibiotics? What precautions must be taken while taking antibiotics?
Answer:
Antibiotics- These are medicines that kill or stop the growth of the disease-causing
microorganisms. There are a lot of antibiotics which are produced with the help of
bacteria and fungi. Streptomycin, tetracycline and erythromycin are some of the
commonly known antibiotics which are made from fungi and bacteria.
Precautions that must be taken while using antibiotics-
Antibiotics must be taken only on the prescription of a doctor.

4
We must finish the course prescribed by the doctor.
An antibiotic should be taken in the right amount only. Antibiotics taken unnecessarily
may kill beneficial bacteria in the body.
II. WORK SHEET ANSWERS
1. Name any two diseases caused by Protozoans.
Ans: Dysentery, malaria
2. Name any two diseases caused by Bacteria.
Ans: Typhoid, tuberculosis
3. What is the function of antibodies?
Ans: The function of antibodies is to fight against the microbe that enters our body.
4. Write the function of the microorganisms present in the roots of the leguminous plants.
Ans. Microorganisms are used to increase the fertility of the soil by fixing the
atmospheric nitrogen.
5. Name the plant disease caused by (i) Bacteria (ii) Virus (iii) fungi
(i) Bacteria- citrus canker
(ii) Virus- Yellow vein mosaic of bhindi
(iii) Fungi- Rust of wheat
6. Mention the preventive measures for the following diseases –
(a) Hepatitis A – Drink boiled drinking water. Vaccination
(b) Malaria – Use mosquito net and repellents. Spray insecticides and control breeding of
mosquitoes by not allowing water to collect in the surroundings.
(c) Typhoid- Maintain personal hygiene and good sanitary habits. Consume properly
cooked food and boiled drinking water. Vaccination.
(d) Cholera- Maintain personal hygiene and good sanitary habits. Consume properly
cooked food and boiled drinking water. Vaccination.
(e) Chicken Pox- Keep the patient in complete isolation, Keep the personal belongings of
the patient away from those of the others. Vaccination to be given at suitable age.
(f) Tuberculosis- Keep the patient in complete isolation, Keep the personal belongings
of the patient away from those of the others. Vaccination to be given at suitable age.

5
7. Why salts and vegetable oils are called preservatives? List any two chemical
preservatives.
Ans: Salts and edible oils are the common chemicals generally used to check the growth
of microorganisms. Therefore, they are called preservatives.
Two chemical preservatives- Sodium benzoate and sodium metabisulphite
8. Who discovered Pasteurization? What is it?
Ans: The milk is heated to about 70℃ for 15 to 30 seconds and then suddenly chilled and
stored. By doing so, it prevents the growth of microbes. It is called pasteurization. This
process was discovered by Louis Pasteur.
9. What differentiates viruses from other microorganisms?
Ans: They reproduce only inside the cells of host organism, which may be a bacterium,
plant or animal.
10. How does sugar act as a preservative?
Ans: Sugar reduces the moisture content which inhibits the growth of bacteria which
spoil food.
11. What are ‘carriers’? Name any two carriers and the diseases spread by them.
Ans: Carriers are insects or animals which carries and transfer pathogen or disease
causing microbes. Eg: - Anopheles mosquito which carries the parasite of malaria, Aedes
mosquito acts as carrier of dengue virus.
12. What are pathogens?
Ans. Disease causing microorganisms are called pathogen.
13. How is the nitrogen (in the soil in the form of nitrogenous compounds) useful for the
plants after nitrogen fixation?
Ans. Nitrogen is then used for the synthesis of plant proteins and other compounds.
14. Name the dangerous human and cattle disease caused by a bacterium.
Ans: Anthrax
15. Name three antibiotics made from fungi and bacteria.
Ans. Streptomycin, tetracycline, and erythromycin
16. How are vaccines different from antibiotics?

6
Ans: Antibiotics- These are medicines that kill or stop the growth of the disease-causing
microorganisms. There are a lot of antibiotics which are produced with the help of
bacteria and fungi. Streptomycin, tetracycline and erythromycin are some of the
commonly known antibiotics which are made from fungi and bacteria.
Vaccines: -Vaccines consist of dead and weakened microbes. When these are swallowed
or injected into the body of a patient, the body produces antibodies to fight them. The
antibodies remain in the body and protect it from any future attack of disease germs.
17. What is the reason for the characteristic pungent smell after adding yeast and keeping
it under airtight conditions?
Ans. This is the smell of alcohol as sugar has been converted into alcohol by yeast.
18. Why do breads fluff and rise?
Ans. Yeast reproduces rapidly and produces carbon dioxide during respiration. Bubbles
of the gas fill the dough and increase its volume.
19. Mention one important reason of why the percentage of atmospheric nitrogen remains
intact.
Ans: Our atmosphere has 78% nitrogen gas. The atmospheric nitrogen cannot be taken be
directly by plants and animals. Certain bacteria like Rhizobium and blue green algae fix
nitrogen from the atmosphere and convert it into compounds of nitrogen and it can be
utilized by plants for the synthesis of plant proteins and other nitrogen compounds.
Certain other bacteria convert compounds of nitrogen into gaseous again. As a result, the
percentage of nitrogen remains more or less constant.
20. Give two examples each of every four groups of microorganisms.
Ans: The major groups of microorganisms are as follows-
(i) Bacteria- unicellular organisms. Most common examples of bacteria are Salmonella
typhi, Rhizobium, Mycobacterium etc. Typhoid and tuberculosis (TB) are bacterial
diseases.
(ii) Fungi- Multicellular organisms which feed on dead and decaying matter. Penicillium,
Aspergillus, Bread mould are common examples.
(iii) Protozoa- Unicellular organisms which are mostly parasitic. Organisms like Amoeba,
Plasmodium etc. are under this category. Dysentery and malaria are caused by
protozoans.

7
(iv) Virus- Acellular organisms which reproduce only inside the cells of the host
organism. These cause diseases like chicken pox and polio. Eg;- Influenza virus, corona
virus
(v) Algae- They are unicellular or multicellular organism. Spirogyra, Chlamydomonas,
Ulva are some of the examples of algae.
III. EXTRA QUESTIONS
Fill in the blanks:
1. ________ is a unicellular fungus.
2. ________ made the first vaccine.
3. ________ can kill disease causing microbes without causing injury to body.
4. _________ are on the borderline of living and non- living.
5. _______and ______ are two diseases caused by bacteria.
6. In legumes, the root nodules contain the bacterium_________.
7. Yeast is added to dough to produce _________which makes the dough rise.
Answers:
1) Yeast
2) Edward Jenner
3) antibiotics
4) viruses
5) cholera and Typhoid
6) Rhizobium
7) carbon di oxide
SHORT QUESTIONS
1. Name two parasitic protozoa that cause diseases in human?
Plasmodium (Malaria), Amoeba (Amoebic dysentery)
2. What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics can kill disease causing microorganism without causing any injury to body
tissue or disturbance of the body functions. Examples: penicillin, ampicillin.

8
3. What is fermentation?
The process of conversion of sugar into alcohol is called fermentation. Yeast is used to
ferments sugar in grapes to make wine.
4. What are vaccines? How does a vaccine work?
Vaccines consist of dead and weakened microbes. When these are swallowed or injected
into the body of a patient, the body produces antibodies to fight them. The antibodies
remain in the body and protect it from any future attack of disease germs.
5. Which microorganism acts as decomposers? How is this activity useful to us?
Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and protozoa help by decomposing the tissues of
dead organisms to get their food. The nutrient that were taken from the soil by plants and
animals and restored and are used again by living organisms.
6. Describe the role of Rhizobium in maintaining soil fertility?
Rhizobium bacteria are capable of converting the atmosphere nitrogen into nitrates and
nitrites thereby increasing soil fertility.
7. What is communicable disease?
Diseases that spread from an infected person to healthy individual through air, water or
direct contact is called communicable diseases.
8. Microbes will never grow on food kept inside refrigerator? Do you agree why?
Refrigeration only delays but do not completely eliminate the possibility of food
spoilage. If the food is taken out of the freezer, the microbes start growing again.
[Link]- Food preservation and Food poisoning
Food preservation: Processing of food to prevent their spoilage and retain their nutritive
value for long periods is called food preservation.
Food poisoning: Food has to be preserved for later use and should be kept fresh. If
microbes grow on it the food gets spoilt and many cause food poisoning.
Question 10: Which microbe is used for production of alcohol?
Answer: Yeast
Question 11: Who discovered Penicillin?
Answer: Alexander Fleming
Question 12: What is fermentation?

9
Answer: The process of conversion of sugar into alcohol by yeast through anaerobic
respiration is called fermentation.
Question 13: What is communicable disease?
Answer: A disease which can spread from one person to another is called communicable
disease.
Question 14: What is food preservation?
Answer: Use of some techniques to prolong the shelf life of a food is called food
preservation.
Question 15: What is nitrogen fixation?
Answer: The process of changing atmospheric nitrogen into compounds of nitrogen so
that plants can take up nitrogen is called nitrogen fixation.
Question 16: What is nitrogen cycle?
Answer: The sequence of events by which nitrogen is channelized to the living world and
back to atmosphere is called nitrogen cycle.

***********************

10