Section A - Multiple Choice Questions

* Which part of the brain maintains posture and balance of the body?

The correct answer is (b) Cerebellum. The cerebellum, located at the back of the brain, is crucial
for coordinating voluntary movements, posture, balance, coordination, and speech, resulting in
smooth and balanced muscular activity.

* Which hormone is secreted by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar level?

The correct answer is (c) Insulin. The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that allows your
body to use glucose (sugar) from carbohydrates in the food you eat for energy or to store
glucose for future use. It helps keep your blood sugar level from getting too high (hyperglycemia)
or too low (hypoglycemia).

* The bending of shoot towards light is due to:

The correct answer is (b) Auxins. Auxins are a class of plant hormones that promote cell
elongation. When a plant shoot is exposed to light, auxins move to the shaded side of the shoot,
causing the cells there to elongate more than the cells on the lighted side. This differential
growth causes the shoot to bend toward the light, a process called phototropism.

* Reflex action is controlled by:

The correct answer is (b) Spinal cord. A reflex action is an automatic, involuntary, and rapid
response to a stimulus. The pathway of a reflex arc typically involves a sensory neuron, an
interneuron in the spinal cord, and a motor neuron, bypassing the brain for a faster response.

* Which of the following shows positive geotropism?

The correct answer is (b) Root. Geotropism, also known as gravitropism, is the growth of a plant
in response to gravity. Positive geotropism is growth towards the force of gravity, which is
characteristic of roots. Shoots, on the other hand, show negative geotropism, growing away from
gravity.

Section B - Assertion & Reason

* Assertion (A): Adrenaline prepares our body for emergency situations.

Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of A. When
you encounter a stressful or dangerous situation, your adrenal glands release adrenaline. This
hormone triggers the "fight or flight" response, which includes increasing your heart rate and
breathing rate, and diverting blood to the muscles, preparing your body for immediate action. The
increased oxygen supply to the muscles provides them with the energy they need.

* Assertion (A): Synapse ensures unidirectional transmission of nerve impulses.

Reason (R): Neurotransmitters are secreted only by axonal ends.

Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of A. A
synapse is a junction between two nerve cells. The transmission of a nerve impulse across a
synapse is chemical, carried out by neurotransmitters. These chemical messengers are released
only from the axon terminal of the presynaptic neuron and bind to receptors on the dendrite of
the postsynaptic neuron. This one-way release and reception mechanism ensures that the nerve
impulse can only travel in a single direction.

Section C - Case Study

* A boy accidentally touches a hot pan and immediately withdraws his hand. Which type of action
took place here? Why is it important?

This is a reflex action. It's important because it is an immediate and involuntary response that
protects the body from harm. The quick withdrawal of the hand from the hot pan prevents a more
severe burn by minimizing the duration of contact with the harmful stimulus.

* Draw and label the pathway involved in this action.

The pathway for this reflex action is called a reflex arc. It includes the following components:

* Receptor: The nerve endings in the skin of the hand detect the heat.

* Sensory Neuron: Carries the nerve impulse from the receptor to the spinal cord.

* Spinal Cord: Contains an interneuron that relays the impulse directly to a motor neuron.

* Motor Neuron: Carries the impulse from the spinal cord to the effector muscle.
* Effector: The muscle in the arm contracts, causing the hand to be withdrawn.

Section D - Short Answer Questions

* Differentiate between voluntary, involuntary, and reflex actions with examples.

| Feature | Voluntary Action | Involuntary Action | Reflex Action |

| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Control | Conscious, controlled by the cerebrum. | Unconscious, controlled by the midbrain and
hindbrain. | Unconscious, controlled by the spinal cord. |

| Speed | Relatively slow. | Relatively slow. | Very fast, almost instantaneous. |

| Examples | Writing, walking, talking. | Heartbeat, breathing, digestion. | Coughing, blinking,

* Name the hormone responsible for phototropism in plants. Explain how it causes bending of
the shoot towards light.

The hormone responsible for phototropism is auxin. Auxins are produced at the tip of the plant
shoot. When a shoot is exposed to unilateral light, the auxins migrate to the shaded side of the
stem. The higher concentration of auxins on the shaded side stimulates the cells there to
elongate more rapidly than the cells on the lighted side. This unequal growth causes the shoot to
bend towards the light source.

* What is the function of the cerebrum? Write any three functions.

The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and is responsible for many higher-order functions.
Three of its key functions are:

* Thinking and consciousness: It is the center of thought, learning, memory, and consciousness.

* Voluntary movement: It controls all voluntary muscular movements.

* Processing sensory information: It receives and interprets sensory input from various parts of
the body, such as sight, hearing, touch, and taste.

* Define feedback mechanism. Explain with the regulation of blood sugar in humans.

A feedback mechanism is a biological control system that maintains a stable internal

The regulation of blood sugar is a classic example of a negative feedback mechanism.

* High blood sugar: After a meal, blood sugar levels rise. This stimulates the pancreas to release
insulin. Insulin promotes the uptake of glucose by cells and its conversion into glycogen in the
liver, which lowers the blood sugar level back to the normal range.

* Low blood sugar: When blood sugar levels drop, the pancreas releases glucagon. Glucagon
stimulates the liver to convert stored glycogen back into glucose and release it into the
bloodstream, raising the blood sugar level back to normal.

* Write any three differences between nervous control and chemical control.

| Feature | Nervous Control | Chemical Control (Endocrine) |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Nature of signal | Electrical impulses (nerve impulses) | Chemical signals (hormones) |

| Speed of response | Very fast and immediate. | Slow, can take time to show effect. |

| Duration of effect | Short-lived and localized. | Long-lasting and widespread. |

Section E - Long Answer Questions

* What are plant hormones? Describe the functions of auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic
acid, and ethylene.

Plant hormones, also known as phytohormones, are chemical substances that regulate plant
growth and development. They are produced in minute quantities in one part of the plant and
transported to another part where they exert their effect.
* Auxins: Promote cell elongation, root initiation, and apical dominance (the main stem grows
more strongly than side stems).

* Gibberellins: Promote stem elongation, breaking seed dormancy, and flowering.

* Cytokinins: Promote cell division and delay leaf senescence (aging). They are often used in
tissue culture to stimulate cell proliferation.

* Abscisic Acid (ABA): A growth inhibitor. It promotes seed and bud dormancy and causes
stomata to close in response to water stress. It helps the plant survive unfavorable conditions.

* Ethylene: A gaseous hormone that promotes fruit ripening and senescence of leaves and
flowers.

* Explain the structure and functions of the human brain with a neat labeled diagram.

The human brain is a complex organ that controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills,
vision, breathing, and temperature. It is divided into three main parts:

* Forebrain: Includes the cerebrum, thalamus, and hypothalamus. The cerebrum is responsible
for voluntary actions, thinking, and memory. The thalamus acts as a relay station for sensory
information. The hypothalamus regulates body temperature, hunger, and thirst.

* Midbrain: Located between the forebrain and hindbrain, it's involved in relaying motor and
sensory information.

* Hindbrain: Includes the cerebellum, pons, and medulla. The cerebellum is responsible for
posture, balance, and coordination of movements. The pons and medulla control involuntary
functions like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

* What is meant by chemical coordination in humans? Explain the role of:

Chemical coordination in humans refers to the control and regulation of various body functions
through chemical messengers called hormones. This system is managed by the endocrine
system, which consists of glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.

(a) Thyroxine: This hormone is secreted by the thyroid gland. Its main function is to regulate the
body's metabolism, including the rate at which cells use energy. It also plays a crucial role in
growth and development.
(b) Adrenaline: Also known as the "fight or flight" hormone, it's secreted by the adrenal glands. It
prepares the body for stressful or emergency situations by increasing heart rate, breathing rate,
and blood flow to muscles.

(c) Growth hormone: Secreted by the pituitary gland, this hormone stimulates growth, cell
reproduction, and regeneration. It is essential for the normal growth of bones, muscles, and other
tissues.

(d) Insulin: Produced by the pancreas, insulin regulates blood sugar levels. It facilitates the
uptake of glucose from the blood into cells for energy and promotes the storage of excess
glucose as glycogen in the liver and muscles.

* Describe the mechanism of transmission of a nerve impulse across a synapse with the help of
a diagram.

A synapse is the junction between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite of another.
The transmission of a nerve impulse across this gap is a chemical process.

* When an electrical impulse reaches the axon terminal of the first neuron (pre-synaptic neuron),
it triggers the release of neurotransmitters from tiny sacs called synaptic vesicles.

* The neurotransmitters diffuse across the synaptic cleft (the gap between the two neurons).

* They bind to specific receptor molecules on the membrane of the second neuron (post-
synaptic neuron).

* This binding opens ion channels, allowing ions to flow into the post-synaptic neuron, which
generates a new electrical impulse that continues its journey.

* The neurotransmitters are then broken down by enzymes or