Name: PRITI PAUL
KUID: KU2407U359
ASSIGNMENT 1
2 Marks
1. Define the environment.
Ans. Environment refers to everything that surrounds living organisms,
including air, water, land, and all living and non-living things. It influences the
growth, development, and survival of life.
2. Name the four major components of the environment.
Ans. The four components of the environment are atmosphere, hydrosphere,
lithosphere, and biosphere. Together they support and maintain life on Earth.
3. What is meant by the atmosphere?
Ans. The atmosphere is the blanket of gases surrounding the Earth. It protects
life by providing air and regulating temperature.
4. Define hydrosphere.
Ans. Hydrosphere includes all forms of water found on Earth such as oceans,
rivers, lakes, groundwater, and glaciers. It supports aquatic life and the water
cycle.
5. What is the lithosphere?
Ans. The lithosphere is the solid outer layer of the Earth consisting of rocks,
soil, and landforms. It provides minerals, nutrients, and habitat for many
organisms.
6. Define biosphere.
Ans. The biosphere is the zone of Earth where life exists, including land, water,
and air. It contains all living organisms and their interactions with the
environment.
7. Who are called producers in an ecosystem?
Ans. Producers are green plants and algae that prepare their own food by
photosynthesis using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. They form the base
of the food chain.
8. Define consumers.
Ans. Consumers are organisms that cannot make their own food and depend on
other plants or animals for energy. They include herbivores, carnivores, and
omnivores.
9. What are decomposers?
Ans. Decomposers are organisms such as bacteria and fungi that break down
dead plants and animals. They recycle nutrients back into the environment.
10. What is a food chain?
Ans. A food chain is a sequence that shows how food and energy pass from one
organism to another. It usually starts with producers and ends with top
consumers.
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11. What is an ecological pyramid?
Ans. An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation of the number,
biomass, or energy at different trophic levels in an ecosystem. It usually
narrows toward the top.
12. Define the carbon cycle.
Ans. The carbon cycle is the continuous movement of carbon between the
atmosphere, plants, animals, oceans, and soil. It occurs through processes like
photosynthesis and respiration.
13. What is the nitrogen cycle?
Ans. The nitrogen cycle is the circulation of nitrogen between the atmosphere,
soil, plants, animals, and microorganisms. It involves processes like nitrogen
fixation and decomposition.
14. What is the water cycle?
Ans. The water cycle is the continuous circulation of water through
evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. It maintains the
availability of fresh water on Earth.
15. What is meant by carbon footprint?
Ans. Carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases, especially
carbon dioxide, released by human activities. It is mainly produced from
transport, industry, and electricity use.
16. Expand SDGs.
Ans. SDGs stand for Sustainable Development Goals. They are global goals set
by the United Nations to promote peace, prosperity, and environmental
protection.
17. What is India’s LiFE Movement?
Ans. India’s LiFE Movement means “Lifestyle for Environment.” It encourages
people to adopt eco-friendly habits such as saving water, reducing waste, and
conserving energy.
18. Name any one UN Sustainable Development Goal related to the environment.
Ans. SDG 13 – Climate Action aims to reduce climate change and its impacts.
Other examples include SDG 14 Life Below Water and SDG 15 Life on Land.
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3 Marks
1. Explain the components of the environment briefly.
Ans. The environment is made up of four main components.
The atmosphere is the blanket of gases around Earth that supports life and
weather.
The hydrosphere includes all water bodies such as oceans, rivers, lakes, and
groundwater.
The lithosphere is the land part consisting of soil and rocks.
The biosphere contains all living organisms and their interactions with air,
water, and land.
2. Describe the structure of an ecosystem.
Ans. An ecosystem consists of biotic components (plants, animals,
microorganisms) and abiotic components (air, water, soil, sunlight).
The biotic components are arranged into trophic levels such as producers,
consumers, and decomposers.
Energy flows from producers to consumers through food chains and food webs.
Nutrient cycles such as carbon and nitrogen cycles maintain balance in the
ecosystem.
3. Differentiate between producers, consumers, and decomposers.
Ans. Producers like green plants prepare their own food through
photosynthesis and form the base of the food chain.
Consumers cannot make food and depend on plants or other animals; they
include herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.
Decomposers such as bacteria and fungi break down dead organisms and
return nutrients to the soil, completing the cycle of matter.
4. Explain the food chain with a suitable example.
Ans. A food chain shows how energy and nutrients are transferred from one
organism to another.
It begins with producers, followed by primary, secondary, and tertiary
consumers.
For example: Grass → Deer → Tiger.
Here, grass is the producer, deer is the herbivore (primary consumer), and tiger
is the carnivore (top consumer).
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5. What are ecological pyramids? Mention their types.
Ans. Ecological pyramids are diagrams that represent the number, biomass, or
energy of organisms at different trophic levels.
They are broad at the base and narrow at the top because energy decreases
upward.
Their types are: pyramid of numbers, pyramid of biomass, and pyramid of
energy.
They help us understand energy flow and population structure in ecosystems.
6. Explain the carbon cycle in brief.
Ans. The carbon cycle describes the circulation of carbon among the
atmosphere, plants, animals, soil, and oceans.
Plants absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and convert it into food.
Animals obtain carbon by eating plants.
Carbon returns to the atmosphere through respiration, decomposition of dead
organisms, and burning of fossil fuels.
7. Describe the nitrogen cycle.
Ans. Nitrogen present in the atmosphere is converted into usable forms in soil
by nitrogen-fixing bacteria and lightning.
Plants absorb these nitrogen compounds, and animals get nitrogen by eating
plants.
Dead plants and animals decompose, returning nitrogen to the soil.
Finally, denitrifying bacteria convert soil nitrogen back to atmospheric
nitrogen, completing the cycle.
8. Explain the water cycle.
Ans. In the water cycle, water from oceans, rivers, and lakes evaporates due to
the sun’s heat.
The water vapour cools and condenses to form clouds.
It then falls as precipitation such as rain, snow, or hail.
Water returns to oceans through runoff, rivers, and groundwater flow,
completing the continuous cycle.
9. What is carbon footprint? Mention any two ways to reduce it.
Ans. Carbon footprint is the total amount of carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases released by human activities such as transport, industry, and
electricity use.
It contributes to global warming and climate change.
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We can reduce it by using public transport, carpooling, cycling, or walking and
by saving electricity and using energy-efficient appliances.
10. Write a short note on India’s LiFE Movement.
Ans. LiFE stands for Lifestyle for Environment and was launched to promote
environmentally responsible behaviour.
It encourages people to adopt simple sustainable practices such as saving
water, reducing plastic use, and minimizing waste.
The movement focuses on changing daily habits rather than only depending on
government actions.
It aims to build a society that lives in harmony with nature.
11. Explain the role of individuals in sustainable living.
Ans. Individuals play a key role by reducing, reusing, and recycling materials to
minimize waste.
They can save electricity, use renewable energy, and conserve water in daily
life.
Using public transport, avoiding single-use plastics, and planting trees also
support sustainability.
Responsible consumption helps protect natural resources for future
generations.
12. How do SDGs support environmental protection?
Ans. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include goals directly related to
climate action, clean water, renewable energy, and biodiversity conservation.
They promote sustainable use of natural resources while ensuring social and
economic development.
SDGs encourage countries to reduce pollution, protect ecosystems, and control
climate change.
Thus, they help achieve long-term environmental protection at the global
level.
5 Marks
1. Explain the environment and its major components in detail.
Ans.
The environment refers to the surroundings in which living organisms exist. It
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includes both living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components. It provides air,
water, food, shelter and is essential for survival.
The environment has four major components:
1. Atmosphere
It is the blanket of gases surrounding the Earth. It contains nitrogen, oxygen,
carbon dioxide etc. It helps in climate regulation, protection from harmful rays,
and respiration.
2. Hydrosphere
It includes all water bodies such as oceans, seas, rivers, lakes, ponds,
groundwater and ice. It supports aquatic life and forms the basis of the water
cycle.
3. Lithosphere
It is the solid outer part of the Earth consisting of rocks, mountains, soil and
land. It supplies minerals, fuels, and provides habitat for terrestrial organisms.
4. Biosphere
It is the zone where all life exists on Earth. It includes plants, animals, and
microorganisms and their interactions with air, water, and land.
All these components are interdependent and together maintain ecological balance.
2. Describe the structure and functioning of an ecosystem.
Ans.
An ecosystem is a functional unit of nature where living organisms interact with each
other and with the physical environment.
Structure of an ecosystem:
1. Biotic components – plants, animals, and microorganisms.
○ Producers
○ Consumers
○ Decomposers
2. Abiotic components – soil, water, air, sunlight, temperature, minerals.
Functioning of an ecosystem:
● Energy flow: Energy enters through sunlight, captured by producers and
transferred through food chains.
● Food chains and food webs: Show feeding relationships among organisms.
● Nutrient cycling: Elements like carbon, nitrogen and water are recycled through
biogeochemical cycles.
● Ecological balance: Interactions between organisms maintain population
control and resource use.
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Thus, ecosystems function through energy flow and nutrient cycling, keeping life
processes continuous.
3. Explain producers, consumers, and decomposers with suitable
examples.
Ans.
Organisms in an ecosystem are classified based on how they obtain food.
1. Producers
They are green plants and algae which make their own food using sunlight
through photosynthesis.
Example: Grass, algae, trees.
2. Consumers
They depend on other organisms for food.
Types of consumers include:
● Primary consumers (herbivores) – cow, deer
● Secondary consumers (carnivores) – frog, snake
● Tertiary consumers (top carnivores) – lion, tiger
3. Decomposers
They break down dead plants and animals and recycle nutrients into the soil.
Example: bacteria and fungi.
These three groups are interconnected and form the basis of energy transfer in
ecosystems.
4. Describe food chains and ecological pyramids and explain their
significance.
Ans.
A food chain is the sequence of transfer of food and energy from one organism to
another.
Example: Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake → Eagle
Food chains link together to form food webs, which show complex feeding
relationships.
An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation of the number, biomass, or energy
at different trophic levels.
Types:
● Pyramid of numbers
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● Pyramid of biomass
● Pyramid of energy
Significance:
● Show energy flow in ecosystems
● Help understand population structure
● Explain stability of ecosystems
● Show loss of energy at each level
Thus, food chains and pyramids explain who eats whom and how energy decreases
upward.
5. Explain the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles with neat diagrams.
Ans.
Carbon cycle:
Carbon moves between atmosphere, plants, animals, oceans, and soil. Plants absorb
CO₂ during photosynthesis; animals obtain carbon by eating plants. Carbon returns
through respiration, decay, and burning of fossil fuels.
Nitrogen cycle:
Atmospheric nitrogen is fixed into soil by bacteria and lightning. Plants absorb
nitrogen compounds; animals get nitrogen by eating plants. Decomposition and
denitrifying bacteria return nitrogen to the air.
Water cycle:
Water evaporates from water bodies, condenses into clouds, and falls as rain or snow.
It returns to oceans and rivers by runoff and groundwater flow.
(Draw simple circular arrows for each in exam.)
6. Discuss the importance of biogeochemical cycles in maintaining
ecological balance.
Ans.
Biogeochemical cycles recycle essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen,
and water in nature.
Importance:
● Maintain supply of nutrients for living organisms
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● Prevent depletion of natural resources
● Control concentration of gases like CO₂ and O₂
● Maintain soil fertility and plant growth
● Support energy flow and food chains
● Help in climate regulation
Without these cycles, life would not be sustainable as nutrients would either get
accumulated or exhausted.
7. Explain India’s LiFE Movement and its role in promoting sustainable
lifestyles.
Ans.
LiFE stands for Lifestyle for Environment. It aims to encourage people to adopt eco-
friendly daily habits.
Objectives:
● Promote mindful consumption
● Reduce waste and pollution
● Encourage resource conservation
Key actions promoted:
● Saving electricity and water
● Reducing single-use plastics
● Using public transport
● Sustainable food habits
LiFE movement shifts focus from “use-and-throw” to “reduce–reuse–recycle” and
motivates every citizen to take climate-friendly decisions.
8. What is carbon footprint? Discuss its causes, effects, and control
measures.
Ans.
Carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted due to human
activities.
Causes:
● Burning fossil fuels
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● Transportation and industries
● Deforestation
● Electricity consumption
Effects:
● Global warming
● Climate change
● Melting of glaciers
● Extreme weather events
Control measures:
● Use renewable energy
● Public transport, carpooling, cycling
● Tree plantation
● Energy-efficient appliances
● Waste reduction and recycling
Thus reducing carbon footprint helps combat climate change.
9. Explain the role of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in
achieving environmental sustainability.
Ans.
The UN SDGs are global goals to ensure social, economic, and environmental
development.
Environmental SDGs include:
● SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
● SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
● SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
● SDG 13: Climate Action
● SDG 14 & 15: Life Below Water and Life on Land
They promote renewable energy, pollution control, conservation of biodiversity,
sustainable cities, and climate action.
They guide countries to use resources wisely and protect ecosystems for future
generations.
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10. Discuss how human activities affect ecosystems and suggest measures
for sustainable development.
Ans.
Human activities such as deforestation, industrialization, mining, construction, and
overuse of resources disturb ecosystems.
Effects on ecosystems:
● Loss of biodiversity
● Pollution of air, water, and soil
● Climate change
● Habitat destruction
● Imbalance in food chains
Measures for sustainable development:
● Afforestation and forest conservation
● Use of renewable energy
● Environmental laws and awareness
● Reduce, reuse, recycle
● Eco-friendly agriculture and industry
Sustainable development meets present needs without harming future generations.
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