MODEL ANSWERS

CBSE PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q1. Which one of Spirogyra and Planaria reproduces by regeneration and why? Give one
more example. (2)
Answer:
Planaria will reproduce by regeneration because its body is made of highly organised cells(stem
cells) that can divide and differentiate to form an entire organism from a body fragment.
Example: Hydra, starfish.
Q2. Name the reproductive parts of a flowering plant. Where are these located? Explain
the structure of its male reproductive part. (2)
Answer:
Reproductive parts: Stamen (male) and Carpel/Pistil (female).
These are located in the flower.
Male reproductive part – Stamen:
It has two parts:
Anther – Produces pollen grains (male gametes).
Filament – A stalk that supports the anther.
Q3. (i) List any two contraceptive methods used by women. How do they prevent
pregnancy? (2)
Answer:
i. Copper-T / IUD – Prevents implantation and inhibits sperm movement.
ii. Oral contraceptive pills – Q3 ii part , oral pills change hormonal balance ..thus delaying
ovulation ..thereby preventing pregnancy
(ii) Write two roles performed by testes in human males.(2)
Answer:
Produce sperms.
Produce testosterone, which regulates male secondary sexual characters.
Q4. Name the part/organ of the human male reproductive system:(2)
(i) Common passage for sperms & urine → Urethra
(ii) Formation of sperms → Testis
(iii) Blocked to prevent sperm transfer → Vas deferens
(iv) Provides nutrition to sperms → Seminal vesicles
Q5. Mention the functions of:
(i) Placenta – Provides nutrients, oxygen and removes waste between mother and embryo.
(ii) Fallopian tubes – Site of fertilisation; carry egg to uterus.
(iii) Uterus – Nourishes embryo and supports foetal development.
(iv) Ovary – Produces ovum and female hormones (oestrogen, progesterone).
Q6. What is regeneration? Explain regeneration in Planaria.(2)
Answer:
Regeneration is the ability of an organism to regrow its lost body parts.
In Planaria, if the body is cut into pieces, each piece contains specialised cells that divide and
differentiate to form a complete organism.
Q7. State post-fertilisation changes that lead to fruit formation in plants.(2)
Answer:
● Zygote develops into embryo.
● Ovule develops into seed.
● Ovary develops into fruit.
● Ovule integuments form seed coat.
Q8. Explain with diagram the process of reproduction in Hydra by budding. Name the
cells used.(3)
Answer:
Hydra reproduces asexually by budding. A small bud develops on the parent body by repeated
cell division. It grows, develops tentacles and mouth, and detaches to form a new Hydra.
Cells used: Regenerative cells.

Q9. In flowering plants, explain with diagram how male germ cell reaches ovary.(3)
Answer:
Pollen lands on stigma.
Pollen tube grows through style.
Male germ cell travels inside tube.
Tube reaches ovule in ovary and releases male gamete for fertilisation.
Q.10. Give reason for the following: [CBSE 2023 (31/6/3)] (5)
(i) During reproduction inheritance of different proteins will lead to altered body designs.
(ii) Fertilization cannot take place in flowers if pollination does not occur.
(iii) All multicellular organisms cannot give rise to new individuals through fragmentation or
regeneration.
(iv) Vegetative propagation is practised for growing only some types of plants.
(v) The parents and off-springs of organisms reproducing sexually have the same number of
chromosomes.
Answer:
(i) Inheritance of DNA controls the production of proteins. If the DNA changes, the proteins
formed will also change. These altered proteins may change the functioning of cells, which
ultimately results in variation or alteration in body design of the organism.
(ii) Pollination brings the pollen grains from the anther to the stigma. Without pollination, male
gametes cannot reach the female gamete (ovule). Hence, fertilization becomes impossible in
the absence of pollination.
(iii) Only simple multicellular organisms with repetitive and similar body parts (e.g., Hydra,
Planaria) can regenerate. Higher multicellular organisms have complex organ systems, so they
cannot reorganise their entire body from small fragments. Therefore, they cannot reproduce by
fragmentation or regeneration.
(iv) Only those plants that have the natural ability to develop new plants from vegetative parts
(root, stem, leaf) can be propagated this way. Many plants do not possess such meristematic
tissues or structures. Hence, vegetative propagation is possible only in selected plant types
(e.g., rose, potato, sugarcane).
(v) During sexual reproduction, gametes are formed by meiosis, which reduces the
chromosome number to half. When male and female gametes fuse during fertilization, the full
chromosome number is restored in the offspring. Therefore, both parents and offspring have the
same diploid number of chromosomes.
Q.11. (i) List three different categories of contraception methods. (3)
(ii) Unsafe sexual act can lead to various infections. Name two bacterial and two viral
infections caused due to unsafe sexual act. [CBSE 2020 (31/2/1)] (2)
Answer (i) Barrier Methods: These physical devices prevent the sperm from meeting the egg
(fertilization).
Examples: Condoms (for males), Diaphragms (for females).
Chemical Methods (Oral Contraceptives): These are drugs taken orally (pills) that change the
hormonal balance of the body so that eggs are not released and fertilization cannot occur.
Examples: Oral pills.
Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCDs): These are devices inserted by doctors or expert
nurses into the woman's uterus to prevent pregnancy.
Examples: Copper-T, Loop.
(iii) Bacterial Infections:
Gonorrhoea
Syphilis
Viral Infections:
Warts (Genital Warts)
HIV-AIDS
Q.53. (i) How are variations useful for species if there is drastic alternation in the niches? (ii)
Explain how the uterus and placenta provide necessary conditions for proper growth and
development of the embryo after implantation? [CBSE SQP 2023]

Q.12. Trace the changes that take place in a flower from gamete formation to fruit
formation. [CBSE SQP 2020]
Gamete formation:
The anthers produce pollen grains containing male gametes, and the ovary produces ovules
containing female gametes.
Pollination:
Transfer of pollen grains from anther to stigma takes place.
Fertilisation:
The pollen tube grows through the style and reaches the ovule. Male gamete fuses with the
female gamete forming a zygote.
Seed formation:
The zygote divides to form an embryo. The ovule develops into a seed.
Fruit formation:
The ovary grows and ripens to form a fruit, enclosing the seeds.

Q.13. (i) Describe the various steps involved in the process of binary fission with the help
of a diagram.
● Binary fission is a simple asexual reproduction seen in organisms like Amoeba.
● Steps involved:
● The parent cell grows and its nucleus elongates.
 ● The nucleus divides into two by mitosis.
● The cytoplasm divides (cytokinesis) into two parts.
Two identical daughter cells are formed.

(ii) Why do multicellular organisms use complex ways of reproduction? [CBSE SQP
2020]
Ans:Multicellular organisms have specialised cells and complex body organisation. All their cells
cannot divide to form new individuals. Therefore, they require specialised reproductive cells
(gametes) and more complex mechanisms to ensure proper development of offspring.
Q.14. (i) Describe the process of seed formation in a flowering plant.
Answer: After fertilisation, the zygote develops into an embryo.
The ovule transforms into a seed containing the embryo, seed coat and stored food.
The seed becomes capable of germination under suitable conditions.
(ii) Give any three advantages of using a mechanical barrier over other contraceptive
measures to avoid pregnancy. [CBSE APQ 2023] (3)
1. Prevents sperm from reaching the egg, thus effectively avoiding pregnancy.
2. Prevents sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like AIDS.
3. No side effects on hormonal balance or health.
Q.15. (i) Variation in DNA is beneficial for the survival of species over time. Explain.
Variations help a species adapt to changing environmental conditions. Individuals with useful
variations survive and reproduce, ensuring long-term survival of the species.
(ii) Explain an instance where reproduction would be counterproductive to the
sustenance of species.
If resources like food, space or water become limited, producing more offspring would increase
competition and reduce survival. In such situations, reproduction would be harmful instead of
helpful for the species.
(iii) What is the sequence of events that take place in human reproduction when an egg is
not fertilised? [CBSE APQ 2023] (3)
● The egg released during ovulation is not fertilised.
● The thickened uterine lining breaks down.
 ● Blood and tissues are discharged through the vagina.
● This process is called menstruation, which occurs once every menstrual cycle.
Q16. In what respect is the human male game it different from the female gamete ?( 2)
Ans: The human male gamete (sperm) is small, motile and has a tail which helps in movement.
The human female gamete (ovum) is large, non-motile.
Q17. Ravi cultivated mustard, a plant with bisexual flowers, on his farm. His plants were
diseased due to a gene defect and therefore had reduced yield. Ravi removed the
stamens from the diseased plants and also planted fresh disease-free mustard plants
where he removed the pistils.
How will Ravi's strategy help in improving the yield of mustard ? (2)
Ans: Ravi removed the stamens from the diseased plants and the pistils from the healthy plants
to ensure cross-pollination between them.
By doing this, the healthy pollen grains from disease-free plants will fertilise the ovules of the
diseased plants, which still have healthy ovaries.
This method helps in:
● Introducing disease-resistant traits from the healthy plants, and
● Producing better quality seeds, thereby improving the yield of mustard.
Q18. (a) What is the difference between self-pollination and cross-pollination ? (2)
b) What happens to the pollen which falls on a suitable stigma ? Explain. (3)
Ans:
(a) Self-pollination
● Transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of the same flower or another
flower on the same plant.
● Occurs in flowers that are bisexual and increases chances of inbreeding.
Cross-pollination
● Transfer of pollen grains from the anther of one plant to the stigma of a different plant of
the same species.
● Encourages genetic variation since pollen comes from a different plant.
(b) When pollen falls on a compatible (suitable) stigma, the following events occur:
Germination of pollen grain:
The pollen grain absorbs moisture from the stigma and germinates.
Formation of pollen tube:
A pollen tube grows from the pollen grain through the style toward the ovary.
Transport of male gametes:
The pollen tube carries the male gametes and enters the ovule through the micropyle.
Fertilisation:
One male gamete fuses with the egg cell to form the zygote, and the other fuses with the
polar nuclei to form the endosperm (double fertilisation in flowering plants).
Q19. Give reasons for the following:
(a) Placenta has villi on embryo's side.
(b) Uterine linings are thick and spongy.
(c) Oral pills are hormonal preparations (3)
(a) Placenta has villi on embryo's side.
Placental villi on the embryo’s side increase the surface area for the exchange of oxygen,
nutrients, and waste materials between the mother and the developing embryo.
(b) Uterine linings are thick and spongy.
The uterine lining becomes thick and spongy to provide a nutrient-rich surface for the
implantation of the embryo and to support its growth and development.
(c) Oral pills are hormonal preparations.
Oral contraceptive pills contain hormones that alter the functioning of the reproductive system—
they prevent ovulation and make fertilisation difficult, thereby preventing pregnancy.
Q20 Give reasons:
(a) Insects act as pollinating agents.
(b) Variation is beneficial to a species.
(c) Male-female ratio has been disturbed. (3)
Ans: (a) Insects act as pollinating agents.
Insects visit flowers for nectar and pollen. While moving from one flower to another, they carry
pollen grains stuck to their bodies, helping in cross-pollination. Thus, insects act as effective
pollinating agents.
(b) Variation is beneficial to a species.
Variation provides differences in traits among individuals, which helps a species adapt to
changing environmental conditions. It increases the chances of survival, especially during
diseases or climate changes, and is essential for evolution.
(c) Male–female ratio has been disturbed.
The male–female ratio is disturbed mainly due to sex-selective practices, female foeticide, and
social preference for male children. These practices reduce the number of females in the
population, leading to an imbalanced sex ratio.