CHAPTER – 6

LIFE PROCESSES
LIFE PROCESS
The maintenance of living organisms must go on even at the conditions, when they are not
physically active. Even when we sit idle and during sleeping, this maintenance job through
cells functioning has to go on. The life process includes the activities performed by the
different organs to maintain the body.

Some of the life processes in the living beings are described below:

Nutrition
The process of obtaining energy through consumption of food is called as nutrition.

Respiration
The process of acquiring oxygen through breathing and make it available to cells for
the process of breaking down of organic substances into simpler compounds is called as
respiration.

Transportation
Transportation is the process by which the food and oxygen is carried from one organ
to other organs in the body.

Excretion
It is the process by which the metabolic waste by-products are removed from the
different organs and released out from the body.

INTEXT QUESTIONS PAGE NO. 95

Question 1: Why is diffusion insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multi-

cellular organisms like humans?
Answer : Multicellular organisms such as humans possess complex body designs. They have
specialised cells and tissues for performing various necessary functions of the body such as
intake of food and oxygen. Unlike unicellular organisms, multicellular cells are not in direct
contact with the outside environment. Therefore, diffusion cannot meet their oxygen
requirements.
Question 2: What criteria do we use to decide whether something is alive?
Answer : Any visible movement such as walking, breathing, or growing is generally used to
decide whether something is alive or not. However, a living organism can also have
movements, which are not visible to the naked eye. Therefore, the presence of life processes is
a fundamental criterion that can be used to decide whether something is alive or not.

Question 3: What are outside raw materials used for by an organism?

Answer : An organism uses outside raw materials mostly in the form of food and oxygen. The
raw materials required by an organism can be quite varied depending on the complexity of the
organism and its environment.
Question 4: What processes would you consider essential for maintaining life?
Answer : Life processes such as nutrition, respiration, transportation, excretion, etc. are
essential for maintaining life.

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NUTRITION

The process by which an organism takes food and utilizes it is called nutrition.

NEED OF NUTRITION
Organisms need energy to perform various activities. The energy is supplied by the nutrients.
Organisms need various raw materials for growth and repair. These raw materials are provided
by nutrients.

NUTRIENTS
Materials which provide nutrition to organisms are called nutrients. Carbohydrates, proteins
and fats are the main nutrients and are called macronutrients. Minerals and vitamins are
required in small amounts and hence are called micronutrients.

TYPES OF NUTRITION:
 Autotrophic Nutrition: The mode of nutrition in which an organism prepares its own
food is called autotrophic nutrition. Green plants and blue-green algae follow the
autotrophic mode of nutrition.
 Heterotrophic Nutrition: The mode of nutrition in which an organism takes food from
another organism is called heterotrophic nutrition. Organisms; other than green plants
and blue-green algae follow heterotrophic mode of nutrition.

AUTOTROPHIC NUTRITION
Autotrophic organisms are able to produce organic matter from simple inorganic materials.
They consequently create their own food—but require a source of energy to do this.
Photoautotrophs harvest energy from light to produce organic matter.
Chemoautotrophs use energy from inorganic reactions in the environment to drive the
creation of organic matter.

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HETEROTROPHIC NUTRITION
Heterotrophic nutritrion is typical of animals. These organisms eat organic matter in other
organisms—either alive (as hunters) or dead (as scavengers).
Saprotrophic organisms are the decay organisms. They digest dead materials using enzymes
that they secrete externally. Fungi and many bacteria are saprotrophes.
Parasites (biotrophs) feed on living organisms without killing them.

Heterotrophic nutrition can be further divided into two types, viz. saprophytic nutrition and
holozoic nutrition.
o Saprophytic Nutrition: In saprophytic nutrition; the organism secretes the digestive
juices on the food. The food is digested while it is still to be ingested. The digested
food is then ingested by the organism. All the decomposers follow saprophytic
nutrition. Some insects; like houseflies; also follow this mode of nutrition.
o Holozoic Nutrition: In holozoic nutrition; the digestion happens inside the body of
the organism, i.e. after the food is ingested. Most of the animals follow this mode of
nutrition.

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PLANT NUTRITION
Green plants prepare their own food. They make food in the presence of sunlight. Sunlight
provides energy, carbon dioxide and water are the raw materials and chloroplast is the site
where food is made.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS: The process by which green plants prepare food is called

photosynthesis. During this process; the solar energy is converted into chemical energy and
carbohydrates are formed. Green leaves are the main sites of photosynthesis. The green portion
of the plant contains a pigment chloroplast; which contains chlorophyll. The whole process of
photosynthesis can be shown by following equation:

STEPS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS:
 Sunlight activates chlorophyll; which leads to splitting of water molecule.

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  The hydrogen; released by splitting of water molecule is utilized for reduction of
carbon dioxide to produce carbohydrates.
 Oxygen is the byproduct of photosynthesis.
 Carbohydrate is subsequently converted into starch and is stored in leaves and other
storage parts.
 The splitting of water molecules is part of the light reaction.
 Other steps are part of the dark reaction during photosynthesis.

HOW DO RAW MATERIALS FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS BECOME AVAILABLE TO

THE PLANT?
 Water comes from soil; through the xylem tissue in roots and stems.
 Carbon dioxide comes in the leaves through stomata.

SIGNIFICANCE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS:
 Photosynthesis is the main way through which the solar energy is made available for
different living beings.
 Green plants are the main producers of food in the ecosystem. All other organisms
directly or indirectly depend on green plants for food.
 The process of photosynthesis also helps in maintaining the balance of carbon dioxide
and oxygen in the air.

ANIMAL NUTRITION
Heterotrophic Nutrition: When an organism takes food from another organism, it is called
heterotrophic nutrition. Different heterotrophic organisms follow different methods to take and
utilize food. Based on this, heterotrophic nutrition can be divided into two types:
 Saprophytic Nutrition: In saprophytic nutrition, the digestion of food takes place
before ingestion of food. This type of nutrition is usually seen in fungi and some other
microorganisms. The organism secretes digestive enzymes on the food and then ingests
the simple substances. Saprophytes feed on dead materials and thus help in
decomposition dead remains of plants and animals.
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  Holozoic Nutrition: In holozoic nutrition, the digestion of food follows after the
ingestion of food. Thus, digestion takes place inside the body of the organism. Holozoic
nutrition happens in five steps, viz. ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation and
egestion.

STEPS OF HOLOZOIC NUTRITION

 Ingestion: The process of taking in the food is called ingestion.
 Digestion: The process of breaking complex food substances into simple molecules is
called digestion. Simple molecules; thus obtained; can be absorbed by the body.
 Absorption: The process of absorption of digested food is called absorption.
 Assimilation: The process of utilization of digested food; for energy and for growth and
repair is called assimilation.
 Egestion: The process of removing undigested food from the body is called egestion.

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NUTRITION IN AMOEBA:

Amoeba is a unicellular animal which follows holozoic mode of nutrition. The cell membrane
of amoeba keeps on protruding into pseudopodia. Amoeba surrounds a food particle with
pseudopodia and makes a food vacuole. The food vacuole contains the food particle and water.
Digestive enzymes are secreted in the food vacuole and digestion takes place. After that,
digested food is absorbed from the food vacuole. Finally, the food vacuole moves near the cell
membrane and undigested food is expelled out.

NUTRITION IN HUMAN BEINGS

Human beings are complex animals; which have a complex digestive system. The human
digestive system is composed of an alimentary canal and some accessory glands. The
alimentary canal is divided into several parts, viz. oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large
intestine, rectum and anus. Salivary gland, liver and pancreas are the accessory glands which
lie outside the alimentary canal.

STRUCTURE OF THE HUMAN DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Mouth or Buccal Cavity: The mouth has teeth and tongue. Salivary glands are also present in
the mouth. The tongue has gustatory receptors which perceive the sense of taste. Tongue helps
in turning over the food, so that saliva can be properly mixed in it.
Teeth help in breaking down the food into smaller particles so that swallowing of food
becomes easier. There are four types of teeth in human beings. The incisor teeth are used for
cutting the food. The canine teeth are used for tearing the food and for cracking hard
substances. The premolars are used for coarse grinding of food. The molars are used for fine
grinding of food.
Salivary glands secrete saliva. Saliva makes the food slippery which makes it easy to swallow
the food. Saliva also contains the enzyme salivary amylase or ptyalin. Salivary amylase digests
starch and converts it into sucrose.

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Stomach: Stomach is a bag-like organ. Highly muscular walls of the stomach help in churning
the food. The walls of stomach secrete hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid kills the germs
which may be present in food. Moreover, it makes the medium inside stomach as acidic. The
acidic medium is necessary for gastric enzymes to work. The enzyme pepsin; secreted in
stomach; does partial digestion of protein. The mucus; secreted by the walls of the stomach
saves the inner lining of stomach from getting damaged from hydrochloric acid.

Small Intestine: It is a highly coiled tube-like structure. The small intestine is longer than the
large intestine but its lumen is smaller than that of the large intestine. The small intestine is
divided into three parts, viz. duodenum, jejunum and ileum.

Liver: Liver is the largest organ in the human body. Liver manufactures bile; which gets stored
in gall bladder. From the gall bladder, bile is released as and when required.

Pancreas: Pancreas is situated below the stomach. It secretes pancreatic juice which contains
many digestive enzymes.
Bile and pancreatic juice go to the duodenum through a hepato-pancreatic duct. Bile breaks
down fat into smaller particles. This process is called emulsification of fat. After that, the
enzyme lipase digests fat into fatty acids and glycerol. Trypsin and chymotrypsin are enzymes
which digest protein into amino acids. Complex carbohydrates are digested into glucose. The
major part of digestion takes place in the duodenum.
No digestion takes place in jejunum. The inner wall in the ileum is projected into numerous
finger-like structures; called villi. Villi increase the surface area inside the ileum so that
optimum absorption can take place. Moreover, villi also reduce the lumen of the ileum so that
food can stay for longer duration in it; for optimum absorption. Digested food is absorbed by
villi.

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Large Intestine: Large intestine is smaller than small intestine. Undigested food goes into the
large intestine. Some water and salt are absorbed by the walls of the large intestine. After that,
the undigested food goes to the rectum; from where it is expelled out through the anus.

Flow chart of human digestive system

INTEXT QUESTIONS PAGE NO. 101

Question 1: What are the differences between autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic
nutrition?
Answer :
Autotrophic nutrition Heterotrophic nutrition
1. Food is synthesised from simple 1. Food is obtained directly or indirectly
inorganic raw materials such as CO2 from autotrophs. This food is broken
and water. down with the help of enzymes.
2. Presence of green pigment 2. No pigment is required in this type of
(chlorophyll) is necessary. nutrition.
3. Food is generally prepared during 3. Food can be prepared at all times.
day time.
4. All green plants and some bacteria 4. All animals and fungi have this type
have this type of nutrition. of nutrition.

Question 2: Where do plants get each of the raw materials required for photosynthesis?
Answer : The following raw materials are required for photosynthesis:
The raw material CO2 enters from the atmosphere through stomata.
Water is absorbed from the soil by the plant roots.
Sunlight, an important component to manufacture food, is absorbed by the chlorophyll
and other green parts of the plants.

Question 3: What is the role of the acid in our stomach?

Answer : Following are the roles of acid in our stomach:
1. The hydrochloric acid present in our stomach dissolves bits of food and creates an acidic
medium. In this acidic medium, enzyme pepsinogen is converted to pepsin, which is a
protein-digesting enzyme.

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2. The hydrochloric acid kills the harmful microbes that enter with food and thus prevents
infection of digestive tract.

Question 4: What is the function of digestive enzymes?

Answer : Digestive enzymes such as amylase, lipase, pepsin, trypsin, etc. help in the breaking
down of complex food particles into simple ones. These simple particles can be easily absorbed
by the blood and thus transported to all the cells of the body.

Question 5: How is the small intestine designed to absorb digested food?

Answer : The small intestine has millions of tiny finger-like projections called villi. These villi
increase the surface area for more efficient food absorption. Within these villi, many blood
vessels are present that absorb the digested food and carry it to the blood stream. From the
blood stream, the absorbed food is delivered to each and every cell of the body.

RESPIRATION
The process by which a living being utilizes the food to get energy is called respiration.
Respiration is an oxidation reaction in which carbohydrate is oxidized to produce energy.
Mitochondrion is the site of respiration and the energy released is stored in the form of ATP
(Adenosine triphosphate). ATP is stored in mitochondria and is released as per need.

STEPS OF RESPIRATION:
 Breaking down glucose into pyruvate: This step happens in the cytoplasm. Glucose
molecule is broken down into pyruvic acid. Glucose molecule is composed of 6 carbon
atoms, while pyruvic acid is composed of 3 carbon atoms.
 Fate of Pyruvic Acid: Further breaking down of pyruvic acid takes place in
mitochondria and the molecules formed depend on the type of respiration in a particular
organism. Respiration is of two types, viz. aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration.

TYPES OF RESPIRATION:
 Aerobic Respiration: This type of respiration happens in the presence of oxygen.
Pyruvic acid is converted into carbon dioxide. Energy is released and water molecule is
also formed at the end of this process.
 Anaerobic Respiration: This type of respiration happens in the absence of oxygen.
Pyruvic acid is either converted into ethyl alcohol or lactic acid. Ethyl alcohol is usually
formed in case of anaerobic respiration in microbes; like yeast or bacteria. Lactic acid is
formed in some microbes as well as in the muscle cells.

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Pain in Leg Muscles on Running: When someone runs too fast, he may experience a
throbbing pain in the leg muscles. This happens because of anaerobic respiration taking place
in the muscles. During running, the energy demand from the muscle cells increases. This is
compensated by anaerobic respiration and lactic acid is formed in the process. The deposition
of lactic acid causes the pain the leg muscles. The pain subsides after taking rest for some time.

Exchange of Gases: For aerobic respiration; organisms need a continuous supply of oxygen,
and carbon dioxide produced during the process needs to be removed from the body. Different
organisms use different methods for intake of oxygen and expulsion of carbon dioxide.
Diffusion is the method which is utilized by unicellular and some simple organisms for this
purpose. In plants also, diffusion is utilized for exchange of gases. In complex animals,
respiratory system does the job of exchange of gases. Gills are the respiratory organs for fishes.
Fishes take in oxygen; which is dissolved in water; through gills. Since availability of oxygen
is less in the aquatic environment so the breathing rate of aquatic organisms is faster. Insects
have a system of spiracles and tracheae which is used for taking in oxygen.

Terrestrial organisms have developed lungs for exchange of gases. Availability of oxygen is
not a problem in the terrestrial environment so breathing rate is slower compared to what it is
in fishes.

HUMAN RESPIRATORY SYSTEM:

The human respiratory system is composed of a pair of lungs. These are attached to a system of
tubes which open on the outside through the nostrils. Following are the main structures in the
human respiratory system:

Nostrils: There two nostrils which converge to form a nasal passage. The inner lining of the
nostrils is lined by hairs and remains wet due to mucus secretion. The mucus and the hairs help
in filtering the dust particles out from inhaled air. Further, air is warmed up when it enters the
nasal passage.

Pharynx: It is a tube like structure which continues after the nasal passage.

Larynx: This part comes after the pharynx. This is also called the voice box.
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Trachea: This is composed of rings of cartilage. Cartilaginous rings prevent the collapse of
trachea in the absence of air.

Bronchi: A pair of bronchi comes out from the trachea; with one bronchus going to each lung.

Bronchioles: A bronchus divides into branches and sub-branches; inside the lung.

Alveoli: These are air-sacs at the end of bronchioles. Alveolus is composed of a very thin
membrane and is the place where blood capillaries open. This is alveolus; where oxygen mixes
with the blood and carbon dioxide exits from the blood. The exchange of gases; in alveoli;
takes place due to pressure differential.

Breathing Mechanism: The breathing mechanism of lungs is controlled by the diaphragm and
the intercostalis muscles. Diaphragm is a membrane which separates the thoracic chamber
from the abdominal cavity. When diaphragm moves down, the lungs expand and air is inhaled.
When diaphragm moves up, the lungs contract and air is exhaled.

INTEXT QUESTIONS PAGE NO. 105

Question 1: What advantage over an aquatic organism does a terrestrial organism have
with regard to obtaining oxygen for respiration?
Answer : Terrestrial organisms take up oxygen from the atmosphere whereas aquatic animals
need to utilize oxygen present in the water. Air contains more O2 as compared to water. Since
the content of O2 in air is high, the terrestrial animals do not have to breathe faster to get more
oxygen. Therefore, unlike aquatic animals, terrestrial animals do not have to show various
adaptations for better gaseous exchange.

Question 2: What are the different ways in which glucose is oxidized to provide energy in
various organisms?
Answer : Glucose is first broken down in the cell cytoplasm into a three carbon molecule
called pyruvate. Pyruvate is further broken down by different ways to provide energy.
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The breakdown of glucose by different pathways can be illustrated as follows.

In yeast and human muscle cells, the breakdown of pyruvate occurs in the absence of oxygen
whereas in mitochondria, the breakdown of pyruvate occurs in the presence of oxygen.

Question 3: How is oxygen and carbon dioxide transported in human beings?

Answer : Haemoglobin transports oxygen molecule to all the body cells for cellular
respiration. The haemoglobin pigment present in the blood gets attached to four O2 molecules
that are obtained from breathing. It thus forms oxyhaemoglobin and the blood becomes
oxygenated. This oxygenated blood is then distributed to all the body cells by the heart. After
giving away O2 to the body cells, blood takes away CO2 which is the end product of cellular
respiration. Now the blood becomes de-oxygenated.

Since haemoglobin pigment has less affinity for CO2, CO2 is mainly transported in the
dissolved form. This de-oxygenated blood gives CO2 to lung alveoli and takes O2 in return.

Question 4: How are the lungs designed in human beings to maximize the area for
exchange of gases?
Answer : The exchange of gases takes place between the blood of the capillaries that surround
the alveoli and the gases present in the alveoli. Thus, alveoli are the site for exchange of gases.
The lungs get filled up with air during the process of inhalation as ribs are lifted up and
diaphragm is flattened. The air that is rushed inside the lungs fills the numerous alveoli present
in the lungs.

Each lung contains 300-350 million alveoli. These numerous alveoli increase the surface area
for gaseous exchange making the process of respiration more efficient.

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TRANSPORTATION IN ANIMALS

Circulatory System: The circulatory system is responsible for transport of various substances
in human beings. It is composed of the heart, arteries, veins and blood capillaries. Blood plays
the role of the carrier of substances.

HEART
Heart is a muscular organ; which is composed of cardiac muscles. It is so small that it can fit
inside and adult’s fist. The heart is a pumping organ which pumps the blood. The human heart
is composed of four chambers, viz. right auricle, right ventricle, left auricle and left ventricle.

Systole: Contraction of cardiac muscles is called systole.

Diastole: Relaxation of cardiac muscles is called diastole.

Arteries: These are thick-walled blood vessels which carry oxygenated blood from the heart to
different organs. Pulmonary arteries are exceptions because they carry deoxygenated blood
from the heart to lungs; where oxygenation of blood takes place.

Veins: These are thin-walled blood vessels which carry deoxygenated blood from different
organs to the heart. Pulmonary veins are exceptions because they carry oxygenated blood from
lungs to the heart. Valves are present in veins to prevent backflow of blood.

Capillaries: These are the blood vessels which have single-celled walls.

Blood: Blood is a connective tissue which plays the role of the carrier for various substances in
the body. Blood is composed of plasma, blood cells and platelets.

Blood Plasma: Blood plasma is a pale coloured liquid which is mostly composed of water.
Blood plasma forms the matrix of blood.

Blood Cells: There are two types of blood cells, viz. Red Blood Cells (RBCs) and White
Blood Cells (WBCs).

Red Blood Corpuscles (RBCs): These are of red colour because of the presence of
haemoglobin which is a pigment. Haemoglobin readily combines with oxygen and carbon
dioxide. The transport of oxygen happens through haemoglobin. Some part of carbon dioxide
is also transported through haemoglobin.

White Blood Corpuscles (WBCs): These are of pale white colour. They play important role in
the immunity.

Platelets: Platelets are responsible for blood coagulation. Blood coagulation is a defense
mechanism which prevents excess loss of blood; in case of an injury.

Lymph: Lymph is similar to blood but RBCs are absent in lymph. Lymph is formed from the
fluid which leaks from blood capillaries and goes to the intercellular spaces in the tissues. This
fluid is collected through lymph vessels and finally returns to the blood capillaries. Lymph also
plays an important role in the immune system.

Double Circulation: In the human heart, blood passes through the heart twice in one cardiac
cycle. This type of circulation is called double circulation. One complete heart beat in which all
the chambers of the heart contract and relax once is called cardiac cycle. The heart beats about
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72 times per minute in a normal adult. In one cardiac cycle, the heart pumps out 70 mL blood
and thus about 4900 mL blood in a minute. Double circulation ensures complete segregation of
oxygenated and deoxygenated blood which is necessary for optimum energy production in
warm-blooded animals.

Circulation of Blood through the heart:

Systemic Vein → Sinus Venosus → Right Auricle → Right Ventricle → Pulmonary Artery →
Lungs → Pulmonary Vein → Left Auricle → Left Ventricle → Trunchus Arteriosus → Systemic
Circulation

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TRANSPORTATION IN PLANTS
Plants have specialized vascular tissues for transportation of substances. There are two types of
vascular tissues in plants, viz. xylem and phloem.

Xylem: Xylem is responsible for transportation of water and minerals. It is composed of

trachieds, xylem vessels, xylem parenchyma and xylem fibre. Trachieds and xylem vessels are
the conducting elements. The xylem makes a continuous tube in plants which runs from roots
to stem and right up to the veins of leaves.

Phloem: Phloem is responsible for transportation of food. Phloem is composed of sieve tubes,
companion cells, phloem parenchyma and bast fibres. Sieve tubes are the conducting elements
in phloem.

Ascent of Sap
The upward movement of water and minerals from roots to different plant parts is called ascent
of sap. Many factors are at play in ascent of sap and it takes place in many steps. They are
explained as follows:

Root Pressure: The walls of cells of root hairs are very thin. Water; from soil; enters the root
hairs because of osmosis. Root pressure is responsible for movement of water up to the base of
the stem.

Capillary Action: A very fine tube is called capillary. Water; or any liquid; rises in the
capillary because of physical forces and this phenomenon is called capillary action. Water; in
stem; rises up to some height because of capillary action.

Adhesion-cohesion of Water Molecules: Water molecules make a continuous column in the

xylem because of forces of adhesion and cohesion among the molecules.

Transpiration Pull: Loss of water vapour through stomata and lenticels; in plants; is called
transpiration. Transpiration through stomata creates vacuum which creates a suction; called
transpiration pull. The transpiration pull sucks the water column from the xylem tubes and thus
water is able to rise to great heights in even the tallest plants.

Transport of Food: Transport of food in plants happens because of utilization of energy.

Thus, unlike the transport through xylem; it is a form of active transport. Moreover, the flow of
substances through phloem takes place in both directions, i.e. it is a two-way traffic in phloem.

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INTEXT QUESTIONS PAGE NO. 110

Question 1: What are the components of the transport system in human beings? What
are the functions of these components?
Answer : The main components of the transport system in human beings are the heart, blood,
and blood vessels.

Heart pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body. It receives deoxygenated blood from the
various body parts and sends this impure blood to the lungs for oxygenation.

Being a fluid connective tissue, blood helps in the transport of oxygen, nutrients, CO2, and
nitrogenous wastes.

The blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries) carry blood either away from the heart to
various organs or from various organs back to the heart.

Question 2: Why is it necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in

mammals and birds?
Answer : Warm-blooded animals such as birds and mammals maintain a constant body
temperature by cooling themselves when they are in a hotter environment and by warming
their bodies when they are in a cooler environment. Hence, these animals require more oxygen
(O2) for more cellular respiration so that they can produce more energy to maintain their body
temperature.

Thus, it is necessary for them to separate oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood, so that their
circulatory system is more efficient and can maintain their constant body temperature.

Question 3: What are the components of the transport system in highly organised plants?
Answer : In highly organised plants, there are two different types of conducting tissues −
xylem and phloem. Xylem conducts water and minerals obtained from the soil (via roots) to
the rest of the plant. Phloem transports food materials from the leaves to different parts of the
plant body.

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Question 4: How are water and minerals transported in plants?
Answer : The components of xylem tissue (tracheids and vessels) of roots, stems, and leaves
are interconnected to form a continuous system of water-conducting channels that reaches all
parts of the plant. Transpiration creates a suction pressure, as a result of which water is forced
into the xylem cells of the roots. Then there is a steady movement of water from the root xylem
to all the plant parts through the interconnected water-conducting channels.

Question 5: How is food transported in plants?

Answer : Phloem transports food materials from the leaves to different parts of the plant body.
The transportation of food in phloem is achieved by utilizing energy from ATP. As a result of
this, the osmotic pressure in the tissue increases causing water to move into it. This pressure
moves the material in the phloem to the tissues which have less pressure. This is helpful in
moving materials according to the needs of the plant. For example, the food material, such as
sucrose, is transported into the phloem tissue using ATP energy.

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EXCRETION
Removal of harmful waste from the body is called excretion. Many wastes are produced during
various metabolic activities. These need to be removed in time because their accumulation in
the body can be harmful and even lethal for an organism.

HUMAN EXCRETORY SYSTEM

The human excretory system is composed of a pair of kidneys. A tube; called ureter; comes out
of each kidney and goes to the urinary bladder. Urine is collected in the urinary bladder, from
where it is expelled out through urethra as and when required.

Kidney: Kidney is a bean-shaped organ which lies near the vertebral column in the abdominal
cavity. The kidney is composed of many
filtering units; called nephrons. Nephron
is called the functional unit of kidney.

Nephron: It is composed of a tangled

mess of tubes and a filtering part; called
glomerulus. Glomerulus is a network of
blood capillaries to which renal artery is
attached. The artery which takes blood
to the glomerulus is called afferent
arteriole and the one receiving blood
from the glomerulus is called efferent
arteriole. Glomerulus is enclosed in a
capsule like portion; called Bowman’s
capsule. The Bowman’s capsule extends
into a fine tube which is highly coiled.
Tubes from various nephrons converge
into collecting duct; which finally goes
to the ureter.

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Filtration in Glomerulus: Filtration happens because of very high pressure inside the
glomerulus. The lumen of efferent arteriole is smaller than that of afferent arteriole. Due to
this, the blood entering the glomerulus experiences very high pressure and due to this, the
waste products are filtered out through the thin membrane of capillaries in the glomerulus. The
filtered blood is sent to the systemic circulation through efferent arteriole and the filtrate goes
to the Bowman’s capsule. That is how urine is formed inside the kidneys. Reabsorption of
water and some other filtrates takes place in the tubular part of the nephron. This increases the
concentration of urine. The human urine is mainly composed of water and urea.

EXCRETION IN PLANTS

Plants have no special organs for removal of wastes. The waste products of respiration and
photosynthesis are used as raw materials for each other. Oxygen gas produced as a by-product
of photosynthesis is used up during respiration and carbon dioxide produced during respiration
is used up during photosynthesis.

Excretion is carried out in the plants in the following ways:

The gaseous wastes, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapour are removed through
stomata of leaves and lenticels of stems.
Some waste products collect in the leaves and bark of trees. When the leaves and bark
are shed, the wastes are eliminated.
Some waste products are rendered harmless and then stored in the plant body as solid
bodies. Raphides, tannins, resins, gum, rubber and essential oils are some such wastes.

INTEXT QUESTIONS PAGE NO. 112

Question 1: Describe the structure and functioning of nephrons.

Answer : Nephrons are the basic filtering units of kidneys. Each kidney possesses large
number of nephrons, approximately 1-1.5 million. The main components of the nephron are
glomerulus, Bowman’s capsule, and a long renal tubule.

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Functioning of a nephron:
The blood enters the kidney through the renal artery, which branches into many capillaries
associated with glomerulus.

The water and solute are transferred to the nephron at Bowman’s capsule.

In the proximal tubule, some substances such as amino acids, glucose, and salts are selectively
reabsorbed and unwanted molecules are added in the urine.

The filtrate then moves down into the loop of Henle, where more water is absorbed.

From here, the filtrate moves upwards into the distal tubule and finally to the collecting duct.
Collecting duct collects urine from many nephrons.

The urine formed in each kidney enters a long tube called ureter. From ureter, it gets
transported to the urinary bladder and then into the urethra.

Question 2: What are the methods used by plants to get rid of excretory products?
Answer : Plants can get rid of excess of water by transpiration. Waste materials may be stored
in the cell vacuoles or as gum and resin, especially in old xylem. It is also stored in the leaves
that later fall off.

Question 3: How is the amount of urine produced regulated?

Answer : The amount of urine produced depends on the amount of excess water and dissolved
wastes present in the body. Some other factors such as habitat of an organism and hormone
such as Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) also regulates the amount of urine produced.

EXERCISE QUESTIONS PAGE NO. 113

Question 1: The kidneys in human beings are a part of the system for
(a) nutrition.
(b) respiration.
(c) excretion.
(d) transportation.
Answer : (c) In human beings, the kidneys are a part of the system for excretion.

Question 2: The xylem in plants are responsible for

(a) transport of water.
(b) transport of food.
(c) transport of amino acids.
(d) transport of oxygen.
Answer : (a) In a plant, the xylem is responsible for transport of water.

Question 3: The autotrophic mode of nutrition requires

(a) carbon dioxide and water.
(b) chlorophyll.
(c) sunlight.
(d) all of the above.
Answer : (d) The autotrophic mode of nutrition requires carbon dioxide, water, chlorophyll
and sunlight.

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Question 4: The breakdown of pyruvate to give carbon dioxide, water and energy takes
place in
(a) cytoplasm.
(b) mitochondria.
(c) chloroplast.
(d) nucleus.
Answer : (b) The breakdown of pyruvate to give carbon dioxide, water and energy takes place
in mitochondria.

Question 5: How are fats digested in our bodies? Where does this process take place?
Answer : Fats are present in the form of large globules in the small intestine. The small
intestine gets the secretions in the form of bile juice and pancreatic juice respectively from the
liver and the pancreas. The bile salts (from the liver) break down the large fat globules into
smaller globules so that the pancreatic enzymes can easily act on them. This is referred to as
emulsification of fats. It takes place in the small intestine.

Question 6: What is the role of saliva in the digestion of food?

Answer : Saliva is secreted by the salivary glands, located under the tongue. It moistens the
food for easy swallowing. It contains a digestive enzyme called salivary amylase, which breaks
down starch into sugar.

Question 7: What are the necessary conditions for autotrophic nutrition and what are its
by-products?
Answer : Autotrophic nutrition takes place through the process of photosynthesis. Carbon
dioxide, water, chlorophyll pigment, and sunlight are the necessary conditions required for
autotrophic nutrition. Carbohydrates (food) and O2 are the by-products of photosynthesis.

Question 8: What are the differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration? Name
some organisms that use the anaerobic mode of respiration.
Answer :
Aerobic respiration Anaerobic respiration
1. It occurs in the presence of O2. 1. It occurs in the absence of O2.

2. It involves the exchange of gases 2. Exchange of gases is absent.

between the organism and the
outside environment.
3. It occurs in cytoplasm and 3. It occurs only in cytoplasm.
mitochondria.
4. It always releases CO2 and H2O. 4. End products vary.

5. It yields 36 ATPs. 5. It yields only 2 ATPs.

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Anaerobic respiration occurs in the roots of some waterlogged plants, some parasitic worms,
animal muscles, and some micro-organisms such as yeasts.

Question 9: How are the alveoli designed to maximise the exchange of gases?
Answer : The alveoli are the small balloon-like structures present in the lungs. The walls of the
alveoli consist of extensive network of blood vessels. Each lung contains 300−350 million
alveoli, making it a total of approximately 700 million in both the lungs. The alveolar surface
when spread out covers about 80 m2 area. This large surface area makes the gaseous exchange
more efficient.

Question 10: What would be the consequences of a deficiency of haemoglobin in our

bodies?
Answer : Haemoglobin is the respiratory pigment that transports oxygen to the body cells for
cellular respiration. Therefore, deficiency of haemoglobin in blood can affect the oxygen
supplying capacity of blood. This can lead to deficiency of oxygen in the body cells. It can also
lead to a disease called anaemia.

Question 11: Describe double circulation in human beings. Why is it necessary?

Answer : The human heart is divided into four chambers − the right atrium, the right ventricle,
the left atrium, and the left ventricle.

Flow of blood in the heart:

The heart has superior and inferior vena
cava, which carries de-oxygenated blood
from the upper and lower regions of the
body respectively and supplies this de-
oxygenated blood to the right atrium of the
heart.

The right atrium then contracts and passes

the de-oxygenated blood to the right
ventricle, through an auriculo-ventricular
aperture.

Then the right ventricle contracts and passes

the de-oxygenated blood into the two
pulmonary arteries, which pumps it to the
lungs where the blood becomes oxygenated.
From the lungs, the pulmonary veins transport the oxygenated blood to the left atrium of the
heart.

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Then the left atrium contracts and through the auriculo-ventricular aperture, the oxygenated
blood enters the left ventricle.

The blood passes to aorta from the left ventricle. The aorta gives rise to many arteries that
distribute the oxygenated blood to all the regions of the body.

Therefore, the blood goes twice through the heart. This is known as double circulation.

Importance of double circulation:

The separation of oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood allows a more efficient supply of
oxygen to the body cells. This efficient system of oxygen supply is very useful in warm-
blooded animals such as human beings.

As we know, warm-blooded animals have to maintain a constant body temperature by cooling

themselves when they are in a hotter environment and by warming their bodies when they are
in a cooler environment. Hence, they require more O2 for more respiration so that they can
produce more energy to maintain their body temperature. Thus, the circulatory system of
humans is more efficient because of the double circulatory heart.

Question 12: What are the differences between the transport of materials in xylem and
phloem?
Answer :
Transport of materials in xylem Transport of materials in phloem
1. Xylem tissue helps in the transport of 1. Phloem tissue helps in the transport
water and minerals. of food.
2. Water is transported upwards from 2. Food is transported in both upward
roots to all other plant parts. and downward directions.
3. Transport in xylem occurs with the 3. Transport of food in phloem
help of simple physical forces such as requires energy in the form of ATP.
transpiration pull.

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Question 13: Compare the functioning of alveoli in the lungs and nephrons in the kidneys
with respect to their structure and functioning.
Answer : ALVEOLI
Structure
(i) Alveoli are tiny balloon-like structures present inside the lungs.
(ii) The walls of the alveoli are one cell thick and it contains an extensive network of blood
capillaries.

Function
(i) The exchange of O2 and CO2 takes place between the blood of the capillaries that surround
the alveoli and the gases present in the alveoli.

(ii) Alveoli are the site of gaseous exchange.

NEPHRON
Structure
(i) Nephrons are tubular structures present inside the kidneys.
(ii) Nephrons are made of glomerulus, bowman’s capsule, and a long renal tube. It also
contains a cluster of thin-walled capillaries.

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Function
(i) The blood enters the kidneys through the renal artery which branches into many capillaries
in the glomerulus. The water and solute are transferred to the nephron at Bowman’s capsule.
Then the filtrate moves through the proximal tubule and then down into the loop of henle.
From henle’s loop, filtrate passes into the distal tubule and then to the collecting duct. The
collecting duct collects the urine from many nephrons and passes it to the ureter. During the
flow of filtrate, some substances such as glucose, amino acids, and water are selectively re-
absorbed.

(ii) Nephrons are the basic filtration unit.

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 ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS SET – 1
CHAPTER – 6
LIFE PROCESSES
1. Define nutrition? What are the different modes of nutrition?

2. What is the mode of nutrition in fungi?

3. Name the pigment, which can absorb solar energy.

4. Name the two stages in photosynthesis.

5. Name the factors, which affect photosynthesis.

6. Define a herbivore and a carnivore.

7. What is compensation point?

8. Other than chlorophyll, which other pigment is necessary for photosynthesis?

9. Where does digestion begin?

10. What is the name given to the process of using the absorbed food for producing energy?

11. What happens to visible light of the Sun when it falls on chlorophyll?

12. Name the product and by product of photosynthesis.

13. In which biochemical form the photosynthetic moves in phloem tissue?

14. What are the raw materials of photosynthesis?

15. What is the similarity between chlorophyll and hemoglobin?

16. Name the products of photolysis of water.

17. What are the end products of light dependant reaction?

18. Which cell organelle is the site of photosynthesis?

19. What is the difference between digestion of heterotrophs and saprotrophs?

20. Give example of two plants and two animal parasites.

21. Name the enzyme present in saliva, what is its role in digestion?

22. Which chemical is used to test for starch? Which colour shows the presence of starch?

23. How does amoeba engulf its food?

24. Name the parts of the digestive system of a grasshopper.

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25. What are the functions of the liver and the pancreas?

26. Define breathing.

27. How is respiration different from breathing?

28. In which kind of respiration is more energy released?

29. Which part of the roots is involved in exchange of respiratory gases?

30. What are (i) stomata and (ii) lenticels?

31. Give two points of differences between respiration in plants and respiration in animals.

32. Name the respiratory organs of

(i) fish
(ii) mosquito
(iii) earthworm
(iv) dog

33. From where do the following take in oxygen? (i) prawn (ii) rat.

34. State the function of epiglottis.

35. Define photolysis.

36. What are the living organisms that cannot make their own food called?

37. What are chemotrophs?

38. Give the term- rhythmic contraction of alimentary canal muscle to propel food.

39. Name the three secretions of gastric glands.

40. What is the function of mucus in gastric gland?

41. Name the sphincter which regulates the exit of food from the stomach.

42. Give the functions of hydrochloric acid for the body.

43. What is the role of pepsin in stomach?

44. Why pancreas is called mixed gland?

45. Give two functions of bile juice, from which organ it is released?

46. Name the largest gland of our body.

47. Name any three important enzymes of pancreas and the food component on which they
act.\

48. Where from intestinal juice come to the small intestine?

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49. What is the function of intestinal juice?

50. What are the simplest digestive product of carbohydrate, fats and protein?

51. Name the finger like projections of small intestine and what is the necessity of such type of
projections in digestive system?

52. Why are intestinal villis highly vascular?

53. What is the function of anal sphincter?

54. Name the site of anaerobic and aerobic respiration in a cell.

55. A three carbon compound is the common product of both aerobic and anaerobic pathway.
What is that?

56. Why do we get muscle cramp after vigorous exercise?

57. Distinguish between lactic acid and alcoholic fermentation?

58. Name the energy currency molecule of cell?

59. The breathing rate of aquatic animals is high, why?

60. What is the function of mucus and fine hair in nostrils?

61. Give the function of network of capillaries on alveoli.

62. Name the main carrier of oxygen and carbon dioxide in man.

63. Why does haemoglobin molecule act as efficient carrier of oxygen than diffusion process?

64. Give example of any three substances transported by plasma.

65. Name the organ that- (a) pushes blood around body (b) make blood to reach to tissues.

66. Name the blood vessel that carries blood from heart to lungs and from lungs to heart.

67. How many heart chambers are there in (a) fish (b) frog (c) lizard (d) crocodile (e) birds (f)
man?

68. Name the device that measures blood pressure.

69. What is the normal blood pressure of man?

70. Why capillaries are thin walled?

71. Which cell of blood help in wound healing?

72. What is the other name of lymph?

73. Give two function of lymph.

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74. What is the direction of flow of water in xylem and food in phloem?

75. Why do plants need less energy than animals?

76. Which process acts as suction to pull water from xylem cells of roots.

77. Mention two functions of transpiration.

78. What are the two substances transported through phloem tissue?

79. Name the food component whose digestion produce nitrogenous waste?

80. Which is the functional unit of kidney?

81. What is the cup shaped structure of nephron called?

82. Which materials are selectively reabsorbed by nephron tubule?

83. What are the two important functions of kidney.

84. What is the other name of artificial kidney?

85. A key molecule NOT found in a chloroplast is...

i. Chlorophyll
ii. Carbon dioxide
iii. Water
iv. Steroids

86. Photosynthesis is a good example of...

i. Catabolism
ii. Anabolism

87. Chloroplasts are found in heterotrophic cells.

i. True
ii. False

88. Which of these choices is NOT in the structure of a chloroplast?

i. Granum
ii. Stroma
iii. Cristae
iv. Thylakoid

89. Only plants can conduct photosynthesis with chloroplasts.

i. True
ii. False

90. Chloroplasts convert solar energy into physical energy.

i. True
ii. False
91. What are nutrients?

92. Name the life process that provides energy.

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93. Which process provides all living things with raw materials for energy and growth?

94. Name the essential pigment that absorbs light.

95. Can you name the gaseous raw material of photosynthesis?

96. If grana of a chloroplast are removed then, which of the reaction of will not be carried out?

97. Name the gas that is produced as a by-product during photosynthesis.

98. Tick the correct statement.

i. Arteries carry blood away from the heart while veins carry blood towards heart.
ii. Veins carry blood away from the heart while arteries carry blood towards heart.
iii. Both of them carry blood in the same direction.
iv. Either of them can carry blood away from the blood.

99. Artificial removal of nitrogenous wastes from the human body in the event of kidney
failure is
i. Plasmolysis
ii. Dialysis
iii. Diffusion
iv. Osmosis

100. The function of salivary amylase is to convert

i. Fats into fatty acids.
ii. Proteins into amino acids.
iii. Starch into sugar.
iv. Sugar into starch

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 ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS SET – 2
CHAPTER – 6
LIFE PROCESSES

1. Name the pore through which gaseous exchange takes place in older stems.

2. Why the blood is red ?

3. What is the functional unit of kidney?

4. Define translocation.

5. Name the vessel that brings oxygenated blood from lungs to heart.

6. Why the colour of lymph is yellow?

7. Name the reagent which is used to test the presence of starch.

8. Why walls of articles are thinner than ventricles?

9. The mode of nutrition in which digestive enzymes are secreted out side the body.

10. What is ATP?

11. The diagram below represents urinary system in the human body. Identify the structure
through which urine leaves the urinary bladder.

12. Which activity is illustrated in the diagram of an Amoeba shown below?

13. Why is the rate of breathing in terrestrial animals slower than aquatic animals?

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14. A student covered a leaf from a destarched plant with a black paper strip and kept it in the
garden outside his house in fresh air. In the evening, he tested the covered portion of the
leaf for presence of starch. What the student was trying to show? Comment.

15. The parts shown as A and B in the given diagram are

The parts shown as A and B in the given diagram are

A) A is epidermal cell, B is stomatal pore
B) A is guard cell, B is stomatal pore
C) A is epidermal cell, B is guard cell
D) A is guard cells, B is epidermal cell

16. The kidneys in human beings are a part of the system for
(a) nutrition.
(b) respiration.
(c) excretion.
(d) transportation.

17. The xylem in plants are responsible for

(a) transport of water.
(b) transport of food.
(c) transport of amino acids.
(d) transport of oxygen.

18. The autotrophic mode of nutrition requires

(a) carbon dioxide and water.
(b) chlorophyll.
(c) sunlight.
(d) all of the above.

19. The breakdown of pyruvate to give carbon dioxide, water and energy takes place in
(a) cytoplasm.
(b) mitochondria.
(c) chloroplast.
(d) nucleus.
20. Movement of food through oesophagus is due to
(a) Lubrication by saliva
(b) Peristalsis
(c) Gravitational Pull
(d) All of the above
21. Where is bile produced?
(a) Gall bladder (b) Blood
(c) Liver (d) Spleen

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22. In normal expiration, the diaphragm is
(a) Arched
(b) Flattened
(c) Perforated
(d) None of these

23. The correct pathway of blood in circulatory system is

(a) atria → ventricles → arteries → veins
(b) ventricles → atria → veins → arteries
(c) ventricles → veins → arteries → atria
(d) veins → ventricles → atria → arteries

24. Respiration is a process in which

(a) Energy is stored in the form of ADP
(b) Energy is released and stored in the form of ATP
(c) Energy is used up
(d) Energy is not released at all.

25. In Photosynthetic process, atmospheric carbon di oxide is _______ to carbohydrates

a) oxidised
b) Reduced
c) Neutralised
d) Burnt

26. When water enters the guard cells the stomata

a) Opens
b) Closes
c) Open or closes
d) No effect

27. Wastes concentrated in the tubules of Bowman’s capsule are called ____.
(a) salts.
(b) juices
(c) urine
(d) amino acids
28. On seeing good food our mouth waters. This fluid is actually
a) Water
b) Hormone
c) Enzyme
d) None of the above

29. The enzyme Pepsin is inactive in stomach without the presence of

a) Nitric Acid
b) Hydrochloric acid
c) Acetic acid
d) Butyric acid
30. Villi present on the inner lining of the intestinal wall
a) Secretes enzymes for digestion
b) Secretes hormones
c) Decreases the surface area for absorption
d) Increases the surface area for absorption

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31. During cellular respiration one molecule of glucose is first broken down into two
molecules of ________
a) Acetic acid
b) Pyruvic acid
c) Lactic acid
d) None of the above

32. Rajib was absent in the class because of muscle pain which he claims to be due to excess
physical exercise he had done yesterday. This pain is due to
a) Formation of lactic acid
b) Formation of acetic acid
c) Formation of Pyruvic acid
d) Formation of Hydrochloric acid

33. Right part of the human heart contains

a) Oxygenated blood
b) Mixed blood
c) Deoxygenated blood
d) No blood

34. The transport of soluble products of photosynthesis is called translocation and it occurs in
the part of the vascular tissue called
a) Xylem
b) Sclerenchyma
c) Phloem
d) Collenchyma

35. In human each kidney has large numbers of filtration units called ___
a) Neutrons
b) Neurons
c) Neptune
d) Nephrons

36. Haemoglobin is a type of

(a) Carbohydrate
(b) Skin Pigment
(c) Vitamin
(d) Respiratory Pigment

37. If kidney fails to reabsorb water, the tissues would

(a) remain unaffected
(b) shrink to shrivel
(c) absorb water from blood
(d) take more oxygen from blood

38. Name an organ which is part of two body systems.

39. Why do raw bread taste sweeter on mastication?

40. How are fats digested in our bodies? Where does this process take place?

41. What is the role of saliva in the digestion of food?

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42. Why will simple diffusion not meet the requirement of human beings?

43. What criteria do we use to decide whether something is alive?

44. After long running, you may experience cramps in your leg muscles. Whats the reason
behind this?

45. What processes would you consider essential for maintaining life?

46. How do villi enhance absorption of food in the intestine?

47. Why bile juice is considered important even though it does not contain any digestive
enzymes?

48. Which organs secrete the following enzymes:

(i) Trypsin
(ii) Pepsin

49. Name the factors that affect photosynthesis.

50. Name the vestigeal part of human alimentary canal?

51. What is the name given to rhythmic wave like manner occurring in alimentary canal?

52. The bark of woody plants is dead but the inner layers inside the bark are living. How do
they get oxygen and release carbon dioxide?

53. What are lenticels?

54. How does photosynthesis occur?

55. Name the mode of nutrition in an organism that uses simple substances like CO2 and
water to prepare food inside its body?

56. What are the differences between autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic nutrition?

57. Read following statements from A to E and identify the relevant life process from the
following word list.
growth, transport, synthesis, regulation, nutrition
A. A butterfly sucking the nectar from the flowers in a garden.
B. A boy shouts with excitement when his school team wins the match on the last ball.
C. After finishing lunch, Mohan's blood distributes the food molecules to different cells
of his body.
D. Green plants prepares starch (complex substance) from simpler chemicals.
E. Radha finds her height has increased by 4 cm since her last birthday.

58. What is osmoregulation?

59. What are the different ways in which glucose is oxidized to provide energy in various
organisms?

60. Which organ of the plant body helps in osmo-regulation?

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61. Which organelle of the cell in animals helps in osmo-regulation?

62. How does transpiration pull help in ascent of sap?

63. In what form excretion takes place in plants?

64. What are the components of the transport system in highly organised plants?

65. What is meant by double circulation? Mention its advantages.

66. Who has longer small intestine tiger or cow?

67. Leaves of a healthy potted plant are coated with Vaseline to block the stomata. Will this
plant remain healthy for long? State three reasons to support your answer.

68. Outline inhalation-exhalation cycle.

69. What are the components of the transport system in human beings? What are the
functions of these components?

70. Why is it necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in mammals and
birds?

71. Why is there extra air in our lungs after exhaling?

72. Which cell are the site of exchange of gases?

73. How are the lungs designed in human beings to maximize the area for exchange of gases?

74. Why blood is necessary for oxygen delivery to all parts of the body in larger animals?

75. Define homeostasis.

76. Name the organ systems that help us maintain homeostasis.

77. What in kidneys is analogous to alveloli in lungs?

78. State the role and function of lymph in human transport system.

79. What is the basic reason of urine production?

80. State the role of kidneys in human transport system.

81. Who discovered systemic blood circulation system in human body?

82. What is pulmonary circulation and systemic circulation?

83. Which fluid is also know as tissue fluid?

84. What is sphygmomanometer?

85. What is the function of ureter?

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86. Assertion and Reason Type
Assertion: Bile is essential for fat digestion
Reason: Fats cannot be digested without emulsification
Use the following Key to choose the appropriate answer.
(a) Both Assertion & Reason are True & Reason is a correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) If both Assertion & Reason are True but Reason is not a correct explanation of the
Assertion.
(c) If Assertion is True but the Reason is False.
(d) If both Assertion and Reason are False

87. Chyme is ____.

(a) Digestive enzyme secreted by stomach.
(b) Hormone secreted by islets of Pancreas
(c) food which enters into intestine from stomach.
(d) Part of bile juice which stores in gall bladder.

88. What is the nature of Chyme? Acidic or Basic or Neutral?

89. During daytime transpiration and photosynthesis are interlinked. What do you mean by
this statement?

90. 'Sweating in animals' is equivalent to what in plants?

91. What factor contribute to rate of transpiration?

92. How does transpiration help plants?

93. Name the mineral required for healthy growth of teeth.

94. Name the chemical used to detect presence of starch.

95. What is the function of mucus secreted in stomach during digestion?

96. What is the optimum temperature for photosynthesis?

97. Differentiate between Blood and Lymph

98. How does diaphragm help in inhalation?

99. Which activity is basic to living?

100. Give one term-science that deals with life processes.

101. What is the similarity between chlorophyll and haemoglobin?

102. Define Chemosynthesis.

103. What is photolysis of water? What are its products?

104. What are the important enzymes of pancreatic juice and their function?

105. Give reasons of dental caries in people.

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106. With schematic diagram explain double circulation in man.

107. Explain mechanism of urine formation.

108. Why is diffusion insufficient to meet oxygen requirement of multicellular organisms like
us?

109. Explain the role of HCl in our stomach.

110. What is the advantage of terrestrial organisms over aquatic organisms for obtaining
oxygen for respiration?

111. How are lungs designed to maximize area for gaseous exchange?

112. Describe fat digestion in human body and the organ where it occurs.

113. How are water and minerals transported in plants?

114. How are food and other substances transported in plants?

115. Give labeled Diagrams for the following.

[Link] system of man.
[Link] system of man.
[Link] of Nephron.
[Link] of Stomata.
[Link] of Heart.
[Link] of Brain.
[Link] action and reflex arc.

116. Due to availability of less water, how does the plant cope up with lack of water in desert
conditions?

117. After a vigorous exercise, you may experience cramps in your leg muscles. Why does
this happen?

118. What will happen if carbon monoxide combines with haemoglobin?

119. Food moves down the gut by peristalsis. Which region of brain controls peristalsis?

120. Name the pigment present in plants, which can absorb solar energy.

121. Name the respiratory organs of (i) fish (ii) mosquito (iii) earthworm.

122. Which of the four chambers of the human heart has the thickest muscular walls?

123. What will be the outcome if a farmer floods his field everyday?

124. Which part of visible spectrum is absorbed by chlorophyll pigments?

125. How does respiration in plants differ from that in animals?

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126. Name the cartilaginous flap which closes the glottis to check the entry of food into it
during swallowing.

127. Which equipment is used to facilitate breathing during serious breathing problems?

128. Chloroplast are called energy convertors. Explain.

129. Why is the rate if breathing much faster in aquatic organisms than those of terrestrial
organisms?

130. Why are glomeruli considered as dialysis bags?

131. Autotrophs synthesise food for the living world. Justify this statement in one sentence
only interconnecting autotrophs and heterotrophs.

132. Veins and arteries carry blood. Which of these carry blood?
a) Away from the heart?
b) Back to the heart?

133. Which of the organs perform the following functions in humans?

1. Absorption of food.
2. Absorption of water

134. Name the areas in a woody stem through which respiratory exchange of gases take
place.

135. Tooth enamel is one of the hardest substances in our body. How does it undergo damage
due to eating chocolates and sweets?

136. A certain tissue in a green plant somehow get blocked and the leaves wilted. What was
the tissue that got blocked?

137. Write one feature which is common to each of the following pairs of the
term/organs.
i) glycogen and starch
ii) chlorophyll and haemoglobin
iii) gills and lungs
iv) arteries and veins.

138. Why doesn’t the lungs collapse even after forceful expiration?

139. The two openings of the pharynx, one leading to trachea and the other leading to
oesophagus, lie very close to each other. Yet food we swallow normally does not enter
into our trachea. Why?

140. How would it affect the digestion of proteins and carbohydrates if the duodenum of man
if there is a blockade in the pancreatic duct?

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 ASSIGNMENT QUESTIONS SET – 3
CHAPTER – 6
LIFE PROCESSES
1. Which of the following statements about the autotrophs is incorrect?
(a) They synthesise carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of
sunlight and chlorophyll
(b) They store carbohydrates in the form of starch
(c) They convert carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates in
the absence of sunlight
(d) They constitute the first trophic level in food chains

2. In which of the following groups of organisms, food material is broken down outside the
body and absorbed?
(a) Mushroom, green plants, Amoeba
(b) Yeast, mushroom, bread mould
(c) Paramecium, Amoeba, Cuscuta
(d) Cuscuta, lice, tapeworm

3. Select the correct statement

(a) Heterotrophs do not synthesise their own food
(b) Heterotrophs utilise solar energy for photosynthesis
(c) Heterotrophs synthesise their own food
(d) Heterotrophs are capable of converting carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates

4. Which is the correct sequence of parts in human alimentary canal?

(a) Mouth →stomach →small intestine →oesophagus →large intestine
(b) Mouth →oesophagus →stomach →large intestine →small intestine
(c) Mouth →stomach →oesophagus →small intestine →large intestine
(d) Mouth →oesophagus →stomach →small intestine →large intestine

5. If salivary amylase is lacking in the saliva, which of the following events in the mouth
cavity will be affected?
(a) Proteins breaking down into amino acids
(b) Starch breaking down into sugars
(c) Fats breaking down into fatty acids and glycerol
(d) Absorption of vitamins

6. The inner lining of stomach is protected by one of the following from hydrochloric acid.
Choose the correct one
(a) Pepsin
(b) Mucus
(c) Salivary amylase
(d) Bile

7. Which part of alimentary canal receives bile from the liver?

(a) Stomach
(b) Small intestine
(c) Large intestine
(d) Oesophagus

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8. A few drops of iodine solution were added to rice water. The solution turned blue-black in
colour. This indicates that rice water contains
(a) complex proteins
(b) simple proteins
(c) fats
(d) starch

9. In which part of the alimentary canal food is finally digested?

(a) Stomach
(b) Mouth cavity
(c) Large intestine
(d) Small intestine

10. Choose the function of the pancreatic juice from the following
(a) trypsin digests proteins and lipase carbohydrates
(b) trypsin digests emulsified fats and lipase proteins
(c) trypsin and lipase digest fats
(d) trypsin digests proteins and lipase emulsified fats

11. When air is blown from mouth into a test-tube containing lime water, the lime water turned
milky due to the presence of
(a) oxygen
(b) carbon dioxide
(c) nitrogen
(d) water vapour

12. The correct sequence of anaerobic reactions in yeast is

 Ethanol + Carbondioxide
 Pyruvate mitochondria
(a) Glucose cytoplasm
(b) Glucose cytoplasm
 Pyruvate cytoplasm
 Lactic acid
 Lactic acid
 Pyruvate mitochondria
(c) Glucose cytoplasm
(d) Glucose cytoplasm
 Pyruvate cytoplasm
 Ethanol + Carbondioxide

13. Which of the following is most appropriate for aerobic respiration?

 Pyruvate cytoplasm
(a) Glucose mitochondria  CO2+H2O + Energy
 CO2+H2O + Energy
 Pyruvate mitochondria
(b) Glucose cytoplasm
 CO2+H2O
 Pyruvate + Energy mitochondria
(c) Glucose cytoplasm
 CO2+H2O+ Energy
 Pyruvate + Energy mitochondria
(d) Glucose cytoplasm

14. Which of the following statement(s) is (are) true about respiration?

(i) During inhalation, ribs move inward and diaphragm is raised
(ii) In the alveoli, exchange of gases takes place i.e., oxygen from alveolar air diffuses into
blood and carbon dioxide from blood into alveolar air
(iii) Haemoglobin has greater affinity for carbon dioxide than oxygen
(iv) Alveoli increase surface area for exchange of gases
(a) (i) and (iv) (b) (ii) and (iii)
(c) (i) and (iii) (d) (ii) and (iv)

15. Which is the correct sequence of air passage during inhalation?

(a) Nostrils →larynx →pharynx →trachea →lungs
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 (b) Nasal passage →trachea →pharynx →larynx →alveoli
(c) larynx →nostrils →pharynx →lungs
(d) Nostrils →pharynx →larynx →trachea →alveoli

16. During respiration exchange of gases take place in

(a) trachea and larynx
(b) alveoli of lungs
(c) alveoli and throat
(d) throat and larynx

17. Which of the following statement (s) is (are) true about heart?
(i) Left atrium receives oxygenated blood from different parts of body while right atrium
receives deoxygenated blood from lungs
(ii) Left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to different body parts while right ventricle
pumps deoxygenated blood to lungs
(iii) Left atrium transfers oxygenated blood to right ventricle which sends it to different
body parts
(iv) Right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from different parts of the body while left
ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to different parts of the body
(a) (i) (b) (ii)
(c) (ii) and (iv) (d) (i) and (iii)

18. What prevents backflow of blood inside the heart during contraction?
(a) Valves in heart
(b) Thick muscular walls of ventricles
(c) Thin walls of atria
(d) All of the above

19. Single circulation i.e., blood flows through the heart only once during one cycle of passage
through the body, is exhibited by
(a) Labeo, Chameleon, Salamander
(b) Hippocampus, Exocoetus, Anabas
(c) Hyla, Rana, Draco
(d) Whale, Dolphin, Turtle

20. In which of the following vertebrate group/groups, heart does not pump oxygenated blood
to different parts of the body?
(a) Pisces and amphibians
(b) Amphibians and reptiles
(c) Amphibians only
(d) Pisces only

21. Choose the correct statement that describes arteries.

(a) They have thick elastic walls, blood flows under high pressure; collect blood from
different organs and bring it back to the heart
(b) They have thin walls with valves inside, blood flows under low pressure and carry
blood away from the heart to various organs of the body
(c) They have thick elastic walls, blood flows under low pressure; carry blood from the
heart to various organs of the body
(d) They have thick elastic walls without valves inside, blood flows under high pressure
and carry blood away from the heart to different parts of the body.

22. The filtration units of kidneys are called

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 (a) ureter
(b) urethra
(c) neurons
(d) nephrons

23. Oxygen liberated during photosynthesis comes from

(a) water
(b) chlorophyll
(c) carbon dioxide
(d) glucose

24. The blood leaving the tissues becomes richer in

(a) carbon dioxide
(b) water
(c) heamoglobin
(d) oxygen

25. Which of the following is an incorrect statement?

(a) Organisms grow with time
(b) Organisms must repair and maintain their structure
(c) Movement of molecules does not take place among cells
(d) Energy is essential for life processes

26. The internal (cellular) energy reserve in autotrophs is

(a) glycogen
(b) protein
(c) starch
(d) fatty acid

27. Which of the following equations is the summary of photosynthesis?

(a) 6CO2 + 12H2O →C6H12O6 + 6O2+ 6H2O
(b) 6CO2 + H2O + Sunlight→ C6H12O6 + O2+ 6 H2O
(c) 6 CO2 + 12 H2O + Chlorophyll + Sunlight→ C6H12O6 + 6O2+ 6H2O
(d) 6 CO2 + 12 H2O + Chlorophyll + Sunlight→ C6H12O6 + 6 CO2+ 6 H2O

28. Choose the event that does not occur in photosynthesis

(a) Absorption of light energy by chlorophyll
(b) Reduction of carbon dioxide to carbohydrates
(c) Oxidation of carbon to carbon dioxide
(d) Conversion of light energy to chemical energy

29. The opening and closing of the stomatal pore depends upon
(a) oxygen
(b) temperature
(c) water in guard cells
(d) concentration of CO2 in stomata

30. Choose the forms in which most plants absorb nitrogen

(i) Proteins
(ii) Nitrates and Nitrites
(iii) Urea
(iv) Atmospheric nitrogen
(a) (i) and (ii) (b) (ii) and (iii)
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 (c) (iii) and (iv) (d) (i) and (iv)

31. Which is the first enzyme to mix with food in the digestive tract?
(a) Pepsin
(b) Cellulase
(c) Amylase
(d) Trypsin

32. Which of the following statement(s) is (are) correct?

(i) Pyruvate can be converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide by yeast
(ii) Fermentation takes place in aerobic bacteria
(iii) Fermentation takes place in mitochondria
(iv) Fermentation is a form of anaerobic respiration
(a) (i) and (iii) (b) (ii) and (iv)
(c) (i) and (iv) (d) (ii) and (iii)

33. Lack of oxygen in muscles often leads to cramps among cricketers. This results due to
(a) conversion of pyruvate to ethanol
(b) conversion of pyruvate to glucose
(c) non conversion of glucose to pyruvate
(d) conversion of pyruvate to lactic acid

34. Choose the correct path of urine in our body

(a) kidney →ureter →urethra →urinary bladder
(b) kidney →urinary bladder →urethra →ureter
(c) kidney →ureters →urinary bladder →urethra
(d) urinary bladder →kidney →ureter →urethra

35. During deficiency of oxygen in tissues of human beings, pyruvic acid is converted into
lactic acid in the
(a) cytoplasm
(b) chloroplast
(c) mitochondria
(d) golgi body

36. Name the process in plants that links light energy with chemical energy

37. Name the Organisms that can prepare their own food

38. Name the cell organelle where photosynthesis occurs

39. Name the Cells that surround a stomatal pore

40. Name the Organisms that cannot prepare their own food

41. Name an enzyme secreted from gastric glands in stomach that acts on proteins.

42. “All plants give out oxygen during day and carbon dioxide during night”. Do you agree
with this statement? Give reason.

43. How do the guard cells regulate opening and closing of stomatal pores?

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44. Two green plants are kept separately in oxygen free containers, one in the dark and the
other in continuous light. Which one will live longer? Give reasons.

45. If a plant is releasing carbon dioxide and taking in oxygen during the day, does it mean that
there is no photosynthesis occurring? Justify your answer.

46. Why do fishes die when taken out of water?

47. Differentiate between an autotroph and a heterotroph.

48. Is ‘nutrition’ a necessity for an organism? Discuss.

49. What would happen if green plants disappear from earth?

50. Leaves of a healthy potted plant were coated with vaseline. Will this plant remain healthy
for long? Give reasons for your answer.

51. How does aerobic respiration differ from anaerobic respiration?

52. Differentiate between an artery and a vein.

53. What are the adaptations of leaf for photosynthesis?

54. Why is small intestine in herbivores longer than in carnivores?

55. What will happen if mucus is not secreted by the gastric glands?

56. What is the significance of emulsification of fats?

57. What causes movement of food inside the alimentary canal?

58. Why does absorption of digested food occur mainly in the small intestine?

59. Why is the rate of breathing in aquatic organisms much faster than in terrestrial organisms?

60. Why is blood circulation in human heart called double circulation?

61. What is the advantage of having four chambered heart?

62. Mention the major events during photosynthesis

63. In each of the following situations what happens to the rate of photosynthesis?
(a) Cloudy days
(b) No rainfall in the area
(c) Good manuring in the area
(d) Stomata get blocked due to dust

64. Name the energy currency in the living organisms. When and where is it produced?

65. What is common for cuscuta, ticks and leeches?

66. Explain the role of mouth in digestion of food.

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67. What are the functions of gastric glands present in the wall of the stomach?

68. Name the correct substrates for the following enzymes

(a) Trypsin (b) Amylase (c) Pepsin (d) Lipase

69. Why do veins have thin walls as compared to arteries?

70. What will happen if platelets were absent in the blood?

71. Plants have low energy needs as compared to animals. Explain.

72. Why and how does water enter continuously into the root xylem?

73. Why is transpiration important for plants?

74. How do leaves of plants help in excretion?

75. Explain the process of nutrition in Amoeba.

76. Describe the alimentary canal of man.

77. Explain the process of breathing in man.

78. Explain the importance of soil for plant growth.

79. Draw the diagram of alimentary canal of man and label the following parts.
Mouth, Oesophagus, Stomach, Intestine

80. How do carbohydrates, proteins and fats get digested in human beings?

81. Explain the mechanism of photosynthesis.

82. Explain the three pathways of breakdown in living organisms.

83. Describe the flow of blood through the heart of human beings.

84. Describe the process of urine formation in kidneys.

85. Why is the process of diffusion insufficient to meet the oxygen requirement of human
beings?

86. Draw a diagram of human alimentary canal showing duodenum, small intestine, liver and
pancreas.
87. Draw a diagram of the human urinary system and label in it.

88. What do you mean by double circulation of blood?

89. “If there were no algae there would be no fish in the sea”. Comment.

90. Write the functions of the following in the digestive process :

(i) Bile (ii) Bicarbonate secreted by the duodenal wall. (iii) Pancreatic amylase.

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