Chapter 9: The Living Organisms and their Surroundings

Science

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 Chapter 9: The Living Organisms and their Surroundings

  Class: VI

NCERT solutions

Question 1 

What is a habitat?

Answer

Habitat means a dwelling place (a home). The surroundings where organisms live is called a habitat. The organisms depend for their food, water, air, shelter and other needs on their habitat. Several kinds of plants and animals may share the same habitat.

Question 2

How are cactus adapted to survive in a desert?

Answer

Cactus lose very little water through transpiration. The leaves in cactus plants are present in the shape of spines. This helps in reducing loss of water from the leaves through transpiration. Its stem is converted into a leaf-like structure. Photosynthesis in these plants is usually carried out by the stems. The stem is also covered with a thick waxy layer, which helps to retain water. Cactus plants have roots that go very deep into the soil for absorbing water.

Question 3

Fill up the blanks

(a) The presence of specific features, which enable a plant or an animal to live in a particular habitat, is called __________.

(b) The habitats of the plants and animals that live on land are called __________ habitat.

(c) The habitats of plants and animals that live in water are called __________ habitat.

(d) Soil, water and air are the __________ factors of a habitat.

(e) Changes in our surroundings that make us respond to them, are called__________.

Answer

(a) The presence of specific features, which enable a plant or an animal to live in a particular habitat, is called adaptation.

(b) The habitats of the plants and animals that live on land are called terrestrial habitat.

(c) The habitats of plants and animals that live in water are called aquatic habitat.

(d) Soil, water and air are the abiotic factors of a habitat.

(e) Changes in our surroundings that make us respond to them, are called stimuli.

Question 4

Which of the things in the following list are non-living?

Plough, Mushroom, Sewing machine, Radio, Boat, Water hyacinth, Earthworm

Answer

The Non-living things in the given list are:

Plough, Sewing machine, Radio, Boat.

Question 5

Give an example of a non-living thing, which shows any two characteristics of living things.

Answer

Bus and Machine both shows movement and consume energy.

Question 6

Which of the non-living things listed below, were once part of a living thing?

Butter, Leather, Soil, Wool, Electric bulb, Cooking oil, Salt, Apple, Rubber

Answer

Butter, Leather, Wool, Cooking oil, Apple, Rubber.

Question 7

List the common characteristics of the living things.

Answer

Living things have certain common characteristics as follows:

-they need food

-they respire and excrete,

-they respond to their environment,

-they reproduce, grow and show movement.

Question 8

Explain, why speed is important for survival in the grasslands for animals that live there. (Hint: There are few trees or places for animals to hide in grasslands habitats.)

Answer

In the grassland there are less number of trees and places to hide. The animals are vulnerable to predators (e.g. lions, tigers, wolves etc.). They can only survive and escape if they can run faster. Therefore speed is important for survival in the grasslands for animals (e.g. deer) that live there.