NEET Foundation

Chapter 6 Improvement In Food Resources Short Answer Type Question And Answers

Question 1. What are the advantages of organic farming?
Answer.

Advantages of organic farming:

• There is no use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides in organic farming.
• Organic farm wastes can be recycled in the form of manure.
• It also maintains the soil fertility.
• It controls the attack of pests and the growth of weeds through a cropping system.
• There is no toxicity released during organic farming which can harm our environment.

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Question 2. Explain any one method of crop production which ensures high yield.
Answer.

Method of crop production:

The one method used for crop production which ensures high yield is plant breeding. It is the science involved in improving the varieties of crops by breeding plants. The plants from different areas/places is picked up with desired traits and then hybridization or cross-breeding of these varieties is done to obtain a plant/crop of desired characteristic.

The high yielding crop variety shows the following characteristics, namely high yield, early maturation, less water for irrigation, better quality seeds are produced, less fertilizers required and adapts itself to the environmental conditions.

Question 3. Discuss the differences between compost and vermicompost.
Answer.

The differences between compost and vermicompost:

Question 4. Discuss the different types of biofertilizers with their examples.
Answer.

The different types of biofertilizers with their examples:

• Nitrogenous fertilizers are those organisms that provide nitrogen to the plants.
  Example: Rhizobium, Azotobacter, BGA (blue-green algae).
• Phosphate solubilizing microbes provides phosphorous to the plants.
  Example: Azospirilium, Acetobacter and Azotobacter.
• Mycorrhizal fungi lives in symbiotic relationship with a plant and increases the nutrient and water uptake of the plant, making it disease and drought resistant.

Question 5. What do you understand by water management?
Answer.

Water management:

The arrangement and supply of required water to the crop plants without disturbing the water table and soil aeration and causing soil salinity and water logging problem is defined as water management.

Improvement In Food Resources

Question 6. What are the irrigation system?
Answer.

Irrigation system:

• The irrigation system provides fresh water to crop plants that are enriched in hydrogen and oxygen. Hence, it provides two important elements to crops that are essential for their growth and development.
• Irrigation provides sufficient water and minerals dissolved in the water to the crop plants and hence, a number of aerial branches increases in the crop plants leading to an increase in the crop yield.
• Irrigation water from river basins even carries slit with them which are nutrient rich thereby, improving soil fertility and crop yields.
• Irrigation allows the cultivation of crops throughout the year rather than being restricted to a specific season.

Question 7. How do you differentiate between capture fishing, mariculture and aquaculture?
Answer.

Difference between capture fishing, mariculture and aquaculture

• Capture fishing: It is the fishing in which fishes are captured from natural resources like pond, sea water and estuaries.
• Mariculture: It is the culture of fish in marine water. Varieties like prawns’, oysters, bhetki and mullets are cultured for fishing.
• Aquaculture: It is done both in fresh water and in marine water.

Question 8. For increasing production, what is common in poultry, fisheries and beekeeping?
Answer.

Through cross-breeding, the production of poultry, fisheries and beekeeping can be increased.

Question 9. How do biotic and abiotic factors affect crop production?
Answer:

The factors responsible for loss of grains, during storage and production are as follows.

• Biotic factors like rodents, pests, insects, etc.
• Abiotic factors like temperature, humidity, moisture, etc. Combination of both biotic and abiotic factors are responsible for the following parameters.
• • Infestation of insects
  • Weight loss
  • Poor germination ability
  • Degradation in quality
  • Discolouration
  • Poor market price

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Question 10. What are the desirable agronomic characteristics for crop improvements?

The desirable agronomic characteristics for crop improvements are as follows.

• Tallness and profuse branching are the desirable characters for fodder crops.
• Dwarfness is desired in cereals, so that less nutrients are consumed by these crops.

Answer: Diseases in plants are caused by pathogens. To get rid of pathogens, some preventive measures and biological control methods are used as they are simple, economic and minimize pollution without affecting the soil quality.

Question 11. What is genetic engineering?
Answer:

Genetic Engineering:

Introduction of desired gene with specific characteristics in the genome of a plant also produces improved quality of crop. Such crops are known as genetically modified crops (GMO) and the technique employed is known as genetic engineering.

Question 12. What is hybridization?
Answer:

Hybridization:

Hybridization is a process of crossing between genetically dissimilar plants that result in the production of a new variety.

Question 13. What factors may be responsible for losses of grains during storage?
Answer:

The factors responsible for losses of grains during storage are as follows.

• Abiotic factors like moisture (present in food grains), humidity (of air) and temperature.
• Biotic factors like insects, rodents, birds, mites, bacteria and fungi.

Question 14. What is nutrient management?
Answer:

Nutrient Management:

The selection of time, nutrient and amount of nutrient is controlled under the system called nutrient management.

Question 15. What do you understand by farm yard manure?
Answer:

Farm Yard Manure:

It is the oldest manure composed of the decomposed mixture of dung, urine of farm animals, remains of roughages or fodder fed to the cattle.

Question 16. What are macronutrients and why are they called macronutrients?
Answer:

Macronutrients:

Macronutrients are the essential elements which are utilized by plants in large quantities. Many macronutrients are required by the plants for the following functions.

• As the constituent of protoplasm.
• N, P and S are present in proteins.
• Ca is present in cell wall.
• Mg is the important constituent of chlorophyll.

Question 17. How do plants get nutrients?
Answer:

Plants get nutrients as follows

Plants get nutrients from air, water and soil. There are sixteen nutrients essential for the growth of plants. Carbon and oxygen are supplied by water. The remaining thirteen nutrients are supplied by soil.

Question 18. Compare the use of manure and fertilizers in maintaining soil fertility.
Answer:

The effects of using manures on soil quality are as follows.

• The manures enrich the soil with nutrients.
• They provide a lot of organic matter (humus) to the soil and thus, it restores the water retention capacity of sandy soils and drainage in clayey soil.
• The addition of manures reduces soil erosion.
• They provide food for soil organisms like soil-friendly bacteria.

The effects of using fertilizers on soil quality are as follows.

• By the continuous use of fertilizers, the soil becomes powdery, dry and the rate of soil erosion increases.
• Using fertilizers, the organic matter decreases which further decreases the porosity of soil and the plant roots do not get oxygen properly.
• The nature of soil changes to acidic or basic.

Question 19. Discuss how fertilizers can be classified.
Answer:

classification of fertilizers

They are classified into four groups based on their nutrient content.

• Nitrogenous fertilizers: They provide nitrogen (macronutrient).
• Phosphorous fertilizers: They provide phosphorous (macronutrient).
• Potassic fertilizers: They provide potassium (essential micronutrient).
• Complex fertilizers: They provide two or more than two nutrients (N2, P2O4 and K2O).

Question 20. What are biofertilizers?
Answer:

Biofertilizers:

Some living microorganisms are also used as fertilizers, which provide nutrient to the plants and such fertilizers are known as biofertilizers.

Question 21. What is irrigation?
Answer:

Irrigation:

The process of supplying water artificially through water reservoirs and tube wells to the agricultural field where crop plants are grown is known as irrigation.

Question 22. What do you understand by the term water augmentation?
Answer:

Water Augmentation:

Augmentation is a process of using existing water to carry out new work.

Question 23. Which of the following conditions will give the most benefits? Why?

1. Farmers use high-quality seeds and do not adopt irrigation or use fertilizer.
2. Farmers use quality seeds, adopt irrigation, use fertilizer and use crop protection measures.

Answer: In this, (2) farmers use quality seeds, adopt irrigation, use fertilizer and use crop protection measures.

Use of any quality seeds is not sufficient until they are properly irrigated, enriched with fertilizers and protected from biotic factors. Hence, option (2) will give the most benefits.

Question 23. Which of the following conditions will give the most benefits? Why?

1. Farmers use high-quality seeds, do not adopt irrigation or use fertilizer.
2. Farmers use quality seeds, adopt irrigation, use fertilizer and use crop protection measures.

Answer: In this, (2) farmers use quality seeds, adopt irrigation, use fertilizer and use crop protection measures. Use of any quality seeds is not sufficient until they are properly irrigated, enriched with fertilizers and protected from biotic factors. Hence, option (2) will give the most benefits.

Question 24. What are the pathogens?
Answer:

Pathogen:

Pathogens are microorganisms that cause diseases to the crop plants whereas it may be a bacteria, fungus or virus. They are present in the soil, air and water, it becomes virulent in favourable conditions.

Question 25. Why should preventive measures and biological control methods be preferred for protecting crops?
Answer:

Diseases in plants are caused by pathogens. To get rid of pathogens, some preventive measures and biological control methods are used as they are simple, economic and minimize pollution without affecting the soil quality.

Question 26. What factors may be responsible for losses of grains during storage?
Answer:

The factors responsible for losses of grains during storage are as follows.

• Abiotic factors like moisture (present in food grains), humidity (of air) and temperature.
• Biotic factors like insects, rodents, birds, mites, bacteria and fungi.

Question 27. What are weeds?
Answer:

Weeds:

The unwanted plants that grow with main crop plants utilize the nutrient of the soil in large amount and hence, they reduce the growth of the crop and such plants are known as weeds.

Question 28. What is intercropping?
Answer:

Intercropping:

When two or more than two crops are grown simultaneously in the same crop field, but in a definite pattern to increase the productivity of farm per unit area, then it is called intercropping.

Chapter 6 Improvement In Food Resources Long Answer Type Question And Answers

Question 1. What is genetic manipulation? How is it useful in agricultural practices?
Answer.

Genetic Manipulation:

Genetic manipulation is a process of incorporating desirable (genes) characters into crop varieties by hybridization. Hybridization involves crossing between genetically dissimilar plants.

This is done for the production of varieties with desirable characteristics like profuse branching in fodder crops, high-yielding varieties in maize, wheat, etc.

Genetic manipulation is useful in developing varieties and it results in nurturing the following factors.

• Increased yield.
• Better quality.
• Shorter and early maturity period.
• Better adaptability to adverse environmental conditions.
• Desirable characteristics.

Question 2. What are the benefits of GMO crops?
Answer.

Benefits Of GMO Crops:

Cultivation practices and good crop yield also depends upon the weather, soil quality and availability of water. GMO crop varieties are useful as they can be grown in diverse climatic conditions such as drought and flood. Some of the varieties could have special characters such as tolerance to high soil salinity.

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Question 3. What are water augmentation and discuss its two methods?
Answer.

Water Augmentation:

Augmentation is a process of using existing water to carry out new work. To fulfil the demand of water used in the irrigation augmentation of ground water is done. It is carried out by two methods and they are listed below.

• Rainwater harvesting: This process includes collection of rainwater, which is further used to recharge ground water by digging up wells.
• Water-shed management: This process includes construction of check dams to reduce flow of rainwater and prevent soil erosion. It also increases the percolation of water into the ground.

Question 4. What are the advantages of intercropping and crop rotation?
Answer.

Advantages of using intercropping:

• It helps to maintain soil fertility.
• It increases productivity per unit area.
• Save labour and time.
• Both crops can be easily harvested and processed separately.

Advantages of using crop rotation:

• It improves the soil fertility.
• It avoids depletion of a nutrient from soil.
• It minimizes pest infestation and diseases.
• It helps in weed control.
• It prevents change in the chemical nature of the soil.

Question 5. What is aquaculture and discuss its two-aqua culture system?
Answer.

Aquaculture:

Aquaculture includes the production of high yield aquatic plants and animals which have high economic value, such as fishes, prawns, crayfish, shrimps, oysters and sea weeds. It includes two culture systems and they are as follows.

• Mariculture: In this type of culture, the marine fishes such as bhetki, eel and pearl spots are cultured in the coastal water for commercial purpose.
• Freshwater culture fishery: In this type, exotic crabs such as English carp, tench and trouts are cultivated in the lakes.

Crop Production Management

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Question 6. Which method is commonly used for improving cattle breeds and why?
Answer:

Cross-breeding is a process in which indigenous varieties of cattle are crossed by exotic breeds to get a breed which is high yielding. During cross-breeding, the desired characters are taken into consideration. The offspring should be high yielding, should have early maturity and should be resistant to climatic conditions.

Question 7. Discuss the implications of the following statement.

‘It is interesting to note that poultry is India’s most efficient converter of low fibre food stuff (which  is unfit for human consumption) into highly nutritious animal protein food’.
Answer:

The basic aim of poultry farming is to raise domestic fowl for egg production and chicken meat. These poultry birds are not only efficient converters of agricultural by-products, particularly cheaper fibrous wastes (which is unfit for human consumption but can be formulated into cheaper diets for poultry birds) into high quality meat and it also help in providing egg, feathers and nutrient rich manure. For this reasons, it is said that, ‘poultry is India’s most efficient converter of low fibre food stuff into highly nutritious animal protein food’.

Question 8. What management practices are common in dairy and poultry farming?
Answer:

Management practices are common in dairy and poultry farming

• Shelter: Dairy animals and poultry birds require proper shelter, i.e., well-designed dairy and hygienic shelter.
• Feeding: To get good yield of food product, proper feed is provided to dairy animals and poultry birds.
• Caring for animal health: Animal and birds must be protected from diseases caused by virus, bacteria or fungi.

Question 9. What are the differences between broilers and layers and in their management?
Answer:

Differences between broilers and layers and in their management:

The poultry bird groomed for obtaining meat is called broiler. The egg laying poultry bird is called layer. The housing, nutritional and environmental requirements of broilers are somewhat different from those of egg layers. The ration (daily food requirement) for broilers is protein rich with adequate fat. The level of vitamins A and K is kept high in the poultry feeds while layers require enough space and proper lightning.

Food Resources

Question 10. How are fish obtained?
Answer:

Obtaining fish

There are two ways of obtaining fish. One is from natural resources, which is called capture fishing. The other way is by fish farming, which is called culture fishery.

Question 11. What are the advantages of composite fish culture?
Answer:

Advantages of composite fish culture:

In composite fish culture, a combination of five or six fish species is used in a single fish pond. These species are selected so that they do not compete for food among them and are having different types of food habits. As a result, the food available in all the parts of the pond is used.

For example, Catlas are surface feeders, Rohus feed in the middle zone of the pond, Mrigals and Common Carps are bottom feeders and Grass Carps feed on the weeds, together these species can use all the food in the pond without competing with each other. This increases the fish yield from pond.

Question 12. What are the desirable characters of bee varieties suitable for honey production?
Answer:

Characters of bee varieties suitable for honey production:

• The variety of bee should be able to collect a large amount of honey.
• The bees should stay in a given beehive for a longer period.
• The bees should have capacity of breeding well.
• The variety of bee should be disease resistant.

Question 13. What is pasturage and how is it related to honey production?
Answer:

Pasturage

Pasturage means the flowers available to bees for nectar and pollen collection. In addition to adequate quantities of pasturage, the kind of flowers available will determine the taste of honey.

Question 14. How do good animal husbandry practices benefit farmers?
Answer:

Good animal husbandry practices are beneficial to farmers in the following ways.

• Improvement of breeds of the domesticated animals.
• Increasing the yield of foodstuffs, such as milk, eggs and meat.
• Proper management of domestic animals in terms of shelter, feeding, care and protection against diseases.

Question 15. What are the benefits of cattle farming?
Answer:

Cattle farming is beneficial in the following ways.

• Milk production is increased by high yielding animals.
• Good quality of meat, fibre and skin can be obtained.
• Good breed of draught animals can be obtained.

Chapter 6 Improvement In Food Resources Multiple Choice Question And Answers

Direction: Choose the correct option for each questions. There is only one correct response for each question.

Question 1. How many nutrients are essential for crops?

1. 13
2. 14
3. 15
4. 11

Answer. 1. 13

Question 2. A farming system with minimal or no use of chemicals as fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, etc., and with a maximum input of organic manures, recycled farm wastes and bio-agents with healthy cropping systems is called

1. mixed farming
2. organic farming
3. biotic farming
4. abiotic farming

Answer. 2. organic farming

Question 3. A system of farming on a particular farm which includes crop production, rising of livestock, etc., is called

1. organic farming
2. biotic farming
3. abiotic farming
4. mixed farming

Answer. 4. mixed farming

Question 4. Growing of two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land is called

1. organic cropping
2. biotic cropping
3. mixed cropping
4. abiotic cropping

Answer. 3. mixed cropping

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Question 5. Growing two or more crops in definite row patterns is known as

1. intercropping
2. organic cropping
3. biotic cropping
4. mixed cropping

Answer. 1. intercropping

Question 6. The growing of different crops on a piece of land in pre-planned succession is called

1. poultry rotation
2. farm rotation
3. crop rotation
4. cross rotation

Answer. 3. crop rotation

Question 7. Farm animals require proper care and management, such as shelter, feeding, breeding and disease control. This is called

1. poultry husbandry
2. farming
3. animal husbandry
4. cross-breeding

Answer. 3. animal husbandry

Question 8. It is done to raise domestic fowls.

1. Poultry farming
2. Poultry husbandry
3. Cross Breeding
4. Animal husbandry

Answer. 1. Poultry farming

Question 9. Composite fish culture system is ­commonly used for

1. poultry farming
2. poultry husbandry
3. cross-breeding
4. fish farming

Answer. 4. fish farming

Question 10. Beekeeping is done to get honey and

1. wax
2. eggs
3. medicine
4. breeding

Answer. 1. wax

Question 11. It has contributed to increased food grain production.

1. Animal revolution
2. Blue revolution
3. Green revolution
4. Poultry revolution

Answer. 3. Green revolution

Question 12. It has led to better and more efficient use as well as availability of milk.

1. Green revolution
2. Poultry revolution
3. Blue revolution
4. White revolution

Answer. 4. White revolution

Question 13. There is a need for sustainable practices in animal husbandry and

1. agriculture
2. poultry
3. warehouse
4. farming

Answer. 1. agriculture

Question 14. Storage in warehouses cannot solve the problem of malnutrition and

1. hanger
2. hunger
3. anger
4. livestock

Answer. 2. hunger

Question 15. Cereals such as wheat, rice, maize, ­millets and sorghum provide us which of the following energy requirement?

1. Protein
2. Sodium
3. Fats
4. Carbohydrate

Answer. 4. Carbohydrate

Question 16. Pulses like gram (chana), pea (matar), black gram (urad), green gram (moong), pigeon pea (arhar), lentil (masoor), provide us with

1. protein
2. sodium
3. fats
4. carbohydrate

Answer. 1. protein

Question 17. Oil seeds including soybean, groundnut, sesame, castor, mustard, linseed and sunflower provide us with necessary

1. Protein
2. sodium
3. fats
4. carbohydrate

Answer. 3. fats

Question 18. It refers to crossing between genetically dissimilar plants.

1. Intervarietal
2. Interspecific
3. Intergeneric
4. Hybridization

Answer. 4. Hybridization

Question 19. This crossing may be intervarietal, interspecific or

1. intervarietal
2. interspecific
3. intergeneric
4. hybridization

Answer. 3. intergeneric

Question 20. It is related to the duration of sunlight.

1. Photoperiods
2. Phrotoperiods
3. Photosynthesis
4. Photoproduction

Answer. 1. Photoperiods

Question 21. Growth of plants and flowering are dependent on

1. moonlight
2. breeding
3. sunlight
4. soil

Answer. 3. sunlight

Question 22. Plants manufacture their food in sunlight by the process of

1. phrotosynthesis
2. photoperiods
3. phrotoperiods
4. photosynthesis

Answer. 4. photosynthesis

Question 23. How many nutrients are essential for plants?

1. 16
2. 15
3. 12
4. 20

Answer. 1. 16

Question 24. The process in which farm waste material, like livestock excreta (cow dung etc.), vegetable waste, animal refuse, domestic waste, sewage waste, straw, eradicated weeds, etc., is e-composed in pits known as

1. composting
2. decompose
3. accumulate
4. excrete

Answer. 1. composting

Question 25. Compost is also prepared by using earthworms to hasten the process of decomposition of plant and animal refuse. This process is called

1. vermicompost
2. composting
3. decompose
4. accumulate

Answer. 1. vermicompost

Question 26. It contains large quantities of organic matter and also supplies small quantities of nutrients to the soil.

1. Waste
2. Fertility
3. Decompose
4. Manure

Answer. 4. Manure

Question 27. It is prepared by the decomposition of animal excreta and plant waste.

1. Waste
2. Fertility
3. Decompose
4. Manure

Answer. 4. Manure

Question 28. It occurs due to scarcity or irregular distribution of rains.

1. Droughts
2. Floods
3. Rains
4. Farms

Answer. 1. Droughts

Question 29. Diseases in plants are caused by

1. pathogens
2. herbicides
3. fungicides
4. insecticides

Answer. 1. pathogens

Question 30. The unwanted plants in the cultivated field, for example, Xanthium are called

1. weeds
2. insects
3. rodents
4. mites

Answer. 1. weeds

Question 31. Storage losses in agricultural produce can be very high. The factors responsible for such losses are

(1) biotic

(2) abiotic

(3) weeds

(4) rodents

Select the correct option.

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (1), (3) and (4)
3. (1) and (2)
4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Answer. 3. (1) and (2)

Question 32. Biotic are

(1) insects

(2) rodents

(3) fungi

(4) mites

Select the correct option.

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (1), (3) and (4)
3. (1) and (2)
4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Answer. 4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Question 33. Animal husbandry is the scientific management of animal livestock. It includes various aspects such as

(1) feeding

(2) breeding

(3) disease control

(4) cattle

Select the correct option.

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (1), (3) and (4)
3. (1) and (2)
4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Answer. 1. (1), (2) and (3)

Question 34. Animal-based farming includes

(1) cattle

(2) poultry

(3) fish farming

(4) livestock

Select the correct option.

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (1), (3) and (4)
3. (1) and (2)
4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Answer. 1. (1), (2) and (3)

Question 35. Indian cattle belongs to different species, such as

(1) Bos indicus

(2) Bos bubalis

(3) Milch

(4) Draught

Select the correct option.

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (1), (3) and (4)
3. (1) and (2)
4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Answer. 3. (1) and (2)

Question 36. The food requirements of dairy animals are

(1) maintenance requirement

(2) milk producing requirement

(3) ration requirement

(4) nutrient requirement

Select the correct option.

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (1), (3) and (4)
3. (1) and (2)
4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Answer. 3. (1) and (2)

Question 37. Poultry fowl suffer from a number of ­diseases caused by

(1) virus

(2) bacteria

(3) fungi

(4) parasites

Select the correct option.

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (1), (3) and (4)
3. (1) and (2)
4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Answer. 4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Question 38. Freshwater resources include

(1) canals

(2) ponds

(3) reservoirs

(4) rivers

Select the correct option.

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (1), (3) and (4)
3. (1) and (2)
4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Answer. 4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Question 39. We require food for body development, growth and health. The food intake supplies necessary

(1) proteins

(2) carbohydrates

(3) fats

(4) vitamins

Select the correct option.

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (1), (3) and (4)
3. (1) and (2)
4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Answer. 4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Question 40. Nutrients are

(1) macronutrients

(2) micronutrients

(3) mini nutrients

(4) major nutrients

Select the correct option.

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (1), (3) and (4)
3. (1) and (2)
4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Answer. 3. (1) and (2)

Question 41. The main sources of nutrient supply to crops are

(1) manure

(2) fertilizers

(3) food

(4) husbandry

Select the correct option.

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (1), (3) and (4)
3. (1) and (2)
4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Answer. 3. (1) and (2)

Question 42. There is a need for sustainable practices in

(1) animal husbandry

(2) agriculture

(3) poultry

(4) warehouse

Select the correct option.

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (1), (3) and (4)
3. (1) and (2)
4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Answer. 3. (1) and (2)

Question 43. Storage in warehouses cannot solve the problem of

(1) malnutrition

(2) hanger

(3) hunger

(4) anger

Select the correct option.

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (1) and (3)
3. (1) and (2)
4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Answer. 2. (1) and (3)

Question 44. Vegetables, spices and fruits provide a range of

(1) vitamins

(2) minerals

(3) proteins

(4) carbohydrates

Select the correct option.

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (1) and (3)
3. (1) and (2)
4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Answer. 4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Question 45. The major groups of activities for improving crop yields can be classified as

(1) crop variety improvement.

(2) crop production improvement.

(3) crop protection management.

(4) none of these

Select the correct option.

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (1) and (3)
3. (1) and (2)
4. (1), (2), (3) and (4)

Answer. 1. (1), (2) and (3)

Question 46. Cereal plants like wheat, rice, maize and barley are rich in

1. Proteins
2. Carbohydrates
3. Fats
4. Minerals

Answer. 2. Carbohydrates

Question 47. Pulse crops are rich in

1. Proteins
2. Fats
3. Vitamins
4. Carbohydrates

Answer. 1. Proteins

Question 48. Vegetables and fruits are rich in

1. Carbohydrates
2. Fats
3. Proteins
4. Minerals and Vitamins

Answer. 4. Minerals and Vitamins

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Question 49. Which macronutrient is required in largest quantity by plants?

1. Phosphorus
2. Potassium
3. Nitrogen
4. Magnesium

Answer. 3. Nitrogen

Question 50. Which one is not a ‘Rabi’ crop?

1. Wheat
2. Barley
3. Gram
4. Maize

Answer. 4. Maize

Question 51. Identify the ‘Kharif’ crop.

1. Potato
2. Mustard
3. Rice
4. Wheat

Answer. 3. Rice

Question 52. Which one is not a micronutrient?

1. Iron
2. Copper
3. Manganese
4. Magnesium

Answer. 4. Magnesium

Question 53. Identify the macronutrient.

1. Copper
2. Zinc
3. Sulphur
4. Boron

Answer. 3. Sulphur

Question 54. The unwanted plants which grow with main crops are called

1. Bogus plants
2. Herbs
3. Weeds
4. Grasses

Answer. 3. Weeds

Question 55. Which one is not a biofertilizer?

1. Rhizobium
2. Azolla
3. Anabaena
4. Urea

Answer. 4. Urea

Question 56. The example of ‘green manure’ is

1. Farm yard manure
2. Compast
3. Ammonium phosphate
4. Berseem

Answer. 4. Berseem

Question 57. Root nodules of leguminous plants contain

1. Rhizobium
2. Anabaena
3. Azolla
4. Mycorrhiza

Answer. 1. Rhizobium

Question 58. The enrichment of water bodies with nutrients leading to excessive growth of phytoplankton is known as

1. Nitrification
2. Ammonification
3. Eutrophication
4. Phyto-enrichment

Answer. 3. Eutrophication

Question 59. To solve the food problem of the country, which among the following is necessary?

1. Increased production and storage of food grains
2. Easy access of people to the food again
3. People should have money to purchase the grains
4. All the above

Answer. 4. All the above

Question 60. Find out the correct sentence

(1) Hybridization means crossing between genetically dissimilar plants.

(2) Cross between two varieties is called as interspecific hybridization.

(3) Introducing genes of desired character into a plant gives genetically modified crop.

(4) Cross between plants of two species is called as inter-varietal hybridisation.

1. (1) and (3)
2. (2) and (4)
3. (2) and (3)
4. (3) and (4)

Answer. 1. (1) and (3)

Question 61. Weeds affect the crop plants by

1. killing of plants in field before they grow
2. dominating the plants to grow
3. competing for various resources of crops (plants) causing low availability of nutrients
4. all the above

Answer. 3. competing for various resources of crops (plants) causing low availability of nutrients

Question 62. Find out the correct sentence about manure

(1) Manure contains large quantities of organic matter and small quantities of nutrients.

(2) It increases the water holding capacity of sandy soil.

(3) It helps in draining out of excess of water from clayey soil.

(4) Its excessive use pollutes environment because it is made of animal excretory waste.

1. (1) and (3)
2. (1) and (2)
3. (2) and (3)
4. (3) and (4)

Answer. 2. (1) and (2)

Question 63. Which one of the following nutrients is not available in fertilizers?

1. Nitrogen
2. Phosphorus
3. Iron
4. Potassium

Answer. 3. Iron

Question 64. Preventive and control measures adopted for the storage of grains include

1. strict cleaning
2. proper disjoining
3. fumigation
4. all the above

Answer. 4. all the above

Question 65. Who is known as “Father of white ­revolution” in India?

1. Prof. M.S. Swaminathan
2. Dr. V. Kurien
3. Mrs. Indira Gandhi
4. Shri Jai Prakash Narain

Answer. 2. Dr. V. Kurien

Question 66. ‘Murrah’ is a high milk-yielding breed of

1. Goat
2. Cow
3. Buffalo
4. Sheep

Answer. 3. Buffalo

Question 67. ‘Blue Revolution’ refers to increase in

1. Milk production
2. Egg production
3. Grain production
4. Fish production

Answer. 4. Fish production

Question 68. Which one of the following is a local breed of cow?

1. Red Sindhi
2. Brown Swiss
3. Jersey
4. Karan production

Answer. 1. Red Sindhi

Question 69. Which one of following is a fresh water fish?

1. Catla
2. Sardine
3. Hilsa
4. Bombay duck

Answer. 3. Hilsa

Question 70. The exotic variety of bee commonly used for commercial honey production is

1. Indian bee
2. Italian bee
3. Rock bee
4. Little bee

Answer. 2. Italian bee

Question 71. Find out the wrong statement from the following

1. White revolution is meant for increase in milk production
2. Blue revolution is meant for increase in fish production
3. Increasing food production without compromising with the environmental quality is called as sustainable agriculture
4. None of the above

Answer. 4. Increasing food production without compromising with the environmental quality is called as sustainable agriculture

Question 72. Cattle husbandry is done for the following purposes

(1) Milk Production

(2) Agricultural work

(3) Meat production

(4) Egg production

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (2), (3) and (4)
3. (3) and (4)
4. (1) and (4)

Answer. 1. (1), (2) and (3)

Question 73. Which of the following are Indian cattle?

(1) Bos indicus

(2) Bos domestica

(3) Bos bubalis

(4) Bos vulgaris

1. (1) and (3)
2. (1) and (2)
3. (2) and (3)
4. (1) and (4)

Answer. 1. (1) and (3)

Question 74. Poultry farming is under taken to raise following

(1) Egg production

(2) Feather production

(3) Chicken production

(4) Milk production

1. (1) and (3)
2. (1) and (2)
3. (2) and (3)
4. (3) and (4)

Answer. 1. (1) and (3)

Question 75. Which one of the following species of honey bee is an Italian species?

1. Apis dorsata
2. Apis florae
3. Apis cerana indica
4. Apis mellifera

Answer. 4. Apis mellifera

Question 76. The seeds of Kharif crop is sown in

1. April
2. June
3. August
4. December

Answer. 2. June

Question 77. Which of the following is not a Rabi crop?

1. Wheat
2. Barley
3. Oats
4. Rice

Answer. 4. Rice

Question 78. Yellow revolution refers to which of the following?

1. Increase in production of wheat.
2. Increase in production of milk.
3. Increase in production of oil seed.
4. Increase in production of crops.

Answer. 3. Increase in production of oil seed.

Question 79. There is no use of ___________ in organic farming.

1. Fertilizers
2. Pesticides
3. Herbicides
4. All of these

Answer. 4. All of these

Question 80. ___________ is an integrated system of plant and animal production practices with a specific application.

1. Sustainable agriculture
2. Manure farming
3. Irrigation
4. Organic farming

Answer. 1. Sustainable agriculture

Question 81. White revolution deals with the increased production of milk. Who is the ‘Father of White Revolution’?

1. Dr. Verghese Kurien
2. Sam Pitroda
3. Dr. Swaminathan
4. Dr. Arun Krishnan

Answer. 1. Dr. Verghese Kurien

Question 82. The science that deals with the practice of growing plants and other crops, feeding, breeding and raising of animals for food or other human needs is

1. agriculture
2. irrigation
3. sustainable agriculture
4. crop production management

Answer. 1. agriculture

Question 83. Blue revolution deals with increase in the production of

1. fish
2. coral reefs
3. whales
4. oil

Answer. 1. fish

Question 84. What is the full form of GMO?

1. Greatly modified crop
2. Genetically manufactured crop
3. Genetically modified crop
4. Genetically modified classes

Answer. 3. Genetically modified crop

Question 85. Which of the following is not a macronutrient?

1. Iron
2. Nitrogen
3. Calcium
4. Potassium

Answer. 1. Iron

Question 86. Which of the following is a micronutrient?

1. Nitrogen
2. Calcium
3. Molybdenum
4. Potassium

Answer. 3. Molybdenum

Question 87. ____________ is a decomposed mixture of organic substances obtained from animal excreta and farm based plant waste.

1. Manure
2. Fertilizer
3. Pesticides
4. Herbicides

Answer. 1. Manure

Question 88. Using fertilizers in farming is an example of

1. no cost production
2. low cost production
3. high cost production
4. none of these

Answer. 3. high cost production

Question 89. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are examples of

1. micronutrients
2. macronutrients
3. fertilizers
4. both 1 and 2

Answer. 2. macronutrients

Question 90. What is the process of growing two or more crops in a definite pattern?

1. Crop rotation
2. Intercropping
3. Mixed cropping
4. Organic cropping

Answer. 2. Intercropping

Question 91. ____________ an undecomposed material consists of green plants and leaves along with twigs.

1. Green manure
2. Compost
3. Nutrients
4. Fertilizers

Answer. 1. Green manure

Question 92. ____________ are those elements that are utilized by the plants in large amount.

1. Macronutrients
2. Micronutrients
3. Green manure
4. Trace elements

Answer. 1. Macronutrients

Question 93. Introduction of desired gene with specific characteristics in the genome of a plant also produces improved quality of crop. Such crops are known as ____________

1. genetically modified crops
2. genetic engineering
3. genetic code
4. crop production

Answer. 1. genetically modified crops

Question 94. What is the process of growing two or more crops in a definite pattern?

1. Crop rotation
2. Intercropping
3. Mixed cropping
4. Organic cropping

Answer. 2. Intercropping

Question 95. Leghorn is related to which of the following?

1. Apiculture
2. Dairy farming
3. Pisciculture
4. Poultry

Answer. 4. Poultry

Question 96. ______ is a type of farming, different varieties of crop plants are cultivated on the same land in a pre-planned manner, but by rotation.

1. Crop rotation
2. Mixed cropping
3. Apiculture
4. Intercropping

Answer. 1. Crop rotation

Question 97. ______ is an advanced technique that supplies fertilizers along with water supply through drip irrigation to increase the productivity of farm.

1. Fertigation
2. Fertilization
3. Mixed cropping
4. Intercropping

Answer. 1. Fertigation

Question 98. ______ process includes the construction of check dams to reduce flow of rainwater and prevent soil erosion.

1. Water-shed management
2. Rainwater harvesting
3. Water augmentation
4. Irrigation system

Answer. 1. Water-shed management

Question 99. The arrangement and supply of required water to the crop plants without disturbing the water table and soil aeration and causing soil salinity and water logging problem is defined as ______

1. water management
2. river lift system
3. dip and sprinkler system
4. rainwater harvesting

Answer. 1. water management

Question 100. Some living microorganisms are also used as fertilizers, which provides nutrient to the plants and such fertilizers are known as ______

1. biofertilizers
2. trace elements
3. micronutrients
4. nitrogenous fertilizers

Answer. 1. biofertilizers

Question 101. Nitrogenous fertilizers provide ______.

1. nitrogen
2. phosphorus
3. potassium
4. calcium

Answer. 1. nitrogen

Question 102. Cyperinus and parthenium are types of

1. diseases
2. pesticides
3. weeds
4. pathogens

Answer. 3. weeds

Question 103. ______, the larva causes damage to rice and maize.

1. Rice moth
2. Rice weevil
3. Red rust
4. All of these

Answer. 1. Rice moth

Question 104. Wheat weevil (Trogoderma granarium) is found in large amount in stored ______

1. wheat
2. rice
3. maize
4. corn

Answer. 1. wheat

Question 105. Bacterial blight of rice is a ______

1. waterborne disease
2. airborne disease
3. soilborne disease
4. landborne disease

Answer. 2. airborne disease

Question 106. Internal feeders live inside the parts of the plant and make hole in the stem and fruits. They are called

1. borers
2. weevils
3. insect feeders
4. none of these

Answer. 1. borers

Question 107. Unwanted plants that grow with main crop plants utilize the nutrient of the soil in large amount and hence, it reduces the growth of the crop. Such plants are known as ______

1. weeds
2. pests
3. borers
4. Weevils

Answer. 1. weeds

Question 108. Which of the following is not a biotic component?

1. Insects
2. Rodents
3. Fungi
4. Moisture

Answer. 4. Moisture

Question 109. Which of the following is a biotic component?

1. Insect
2. Bacteria
3. Temperature
4. Fungi

Answer. 3. Temperature

Question 110. The branch of science that deals with the scientific management of animal livestock including animals feeding, breeding and disease control is termed as___________.

1. animal breeding
2. animal rearing
3. animal husbandry
4. cattle farming

Answer. 3. animal husbandry

Question 111. Which of the following is not a disease in fowls?

1. Fowl pox
2. Fowl cholera
3. Aspergillosis
4. Fowl flu

Answer. 4. Fowl flu

Question 112. Septicemia in bees is caused by

1. bacteria
2. virus
3. fungi
4. protozoa

Answer. 1. bacteria

Question 113. Mullets, prawns, mussels are examples of

1. marine fishes
2. freshwater fishes
3. finned fishes
4. shell fish

Answer. 1. marine fishes

Question 114. What is the other name for Apis cerana indica?

1. Indian cow
2. Indian buffalo
3. Indian bee
4. None of these

Answer. 3. Indian bee

Question 115. The management and production of fish is called

1. pisciculture
2. apiculture
3. sericulture
4. aquaculture

Answer. 1. pisciculture

Question 116. Rohu and Catla are types of

1. freshwater fish
2. marine water fish
3. both (1) and (2)
4. none of these

Answer. 1. freshwater fish

Question 117. Pasturage is related to

1. cattle
2. fishery
3. apiculture
4. sericulture

Answer. 3. apiculture

Question 118. Which one is an oil yielding plant among the following?

1. Lentil
2. Sunflower
3. Cauliflower
4. Hibiscus

Answer. 2. Sunflower

Question 119. Which one is not a source of carbohydrate?

1. Rice
2. Millets
3. Sorghum
4. Gram

Answer. 4. Gram

Question 120. Find out the wrong statement from the following.

1. White revolution is meant for increase in milk production.
2. Blue revolution is meant for increase in fish production.
3. Increasing food production without compromising environmental quality is called sustainable agriculture.
4. None of the above

Answer. 4. None of the above

Question 121. To solve the food problem of the country, which among the following is necessary?

1. Increased production and storage of food grains.
2. Easy access of people to the food grain.
3. People should have money to purchase the grains.
4. All the above

Answer. 4. All the above

Question 122. Find out the correct sentence from the following.

(1) Hybridization means crossing between genetically dissimilar plants.

(2) Cross between two varieties is called interspecific hybridization.

(3) Introducing genes of desired character into a plant gives genetically modified crops.

(4) Cross between plants of two species is called intervarietal hybridization.

1. (1) and (3)
2. (2) and (4)
3. (2) and (3)
4. (3) and (4)

Answer. 1. (1) and (3)

Question 123. Weeds affect the crop plants by

1. killing of plants in field before they grow.
2. dominating the plants to grow.
3. competing for various resources of crops (plants) causing low availability of nutrients.
4. all the above

Answer. 3. competing for various resources of crops (plants) causing low availability of nutrients.

Question 124. Which one of the following species of honey bee is an Italian species?

1. Apis dorsata
2. Apis florae
3. Apis cerana indica
4. Apis mellifera

Answer. 4. Apis mellifera

Question 125. Find out the correct sentence about manure.

(1) Manure contains large quantities of organic matter and small quantities of nutrients.

(2) It increases the water holding capacity of sandy soil.

(3) It helps in draining out of excess water from clayey soil.

(4) Its excessive use pollutes environment because it is made of animal excretory waste.

1. (1) and (3)
2. (1) and (2)
3. (2) and (3)
4. (3) and (4)

Answer. 2. (1) and (2)

Question 126. Cattle husbandry is done for the following purposes.

(1) Milk production

(2) Agricultural work

(3) Meat production

(4) Egg production

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (2), (3) and (4)
3. (3) and (4)
4. (1) and (4)

Answer. 1. (1), (2) and (3)

Question 127. Which of the following are Indian cattle?

(1) Bos indicus

(2) Bos domestica

(3) Bos bubalis

(4) Bos vulgaris

1. (1) and (3)
2. (1) and (2)
3. (2) and (3)
4. (3) and (4)

Answer. 1. (1) and (3)

Question 128. Which of the following are exotic breeds?

(1) Brawn

(2) Jersey

(3) Brown Swiss

(4) Jersey Swiss

1. (1) and (3)
2. (2) and (3)
3. (1) and (4)
4. (2) and (4)

Answer. 2. (2) and (3)

Question 129. Poultry farming is undertaken to raise the following.

(1) Egg production

(2) Feather production

(3) Chicken meat

(4) Milk production

1. (1) and (3)
2. (1) and (2)
3. (2) and (3)
4. (3) and (4)

Answer. 1. (1) and (3)

Question 130. Poultry fowl are susceptible to the following pathogens.

1. Viruses
2. Bacteria
3. Fungi
4. All the above

Answer. 4. All the above

Question 131. Which one of the following fishes is a surface feeder?

1. Rohus
2. Mrigals
3. Common carps
4. Catlas

Answer. 4. Catlas

Question 132. Animal husbandry is the scientific management of

(1) animal breeding.

(2) culture of animals.

(3) animal livestock.

(4) rearing of animals.

1. (1), (2) and (3)
2. (2), (3) and (4)
3. (1), (2) and (4)
4. (1), (3) and (4)

Answer. 4. (1), (3) and (4)

Question 133. Which one of the following nutrients is not available in fertilizers?

1. Nitrogen
2. Phosphorus
3. Iron
4. Potassium

Answer. 3. Iron

Question 134. Preventive and control measures adopted for the storage of grains include

1. strict cleaning.
2. proper disjoining.
3. fumigation
4. all the above

Answer. 4. all the above

Chapter 5 Natural Resources

Natural Resources

Earth is the only planet where life exists. Everything that encompasses us acting as a life support system is termed as environment. It is the environment that provides us food to eat, air to breathe, water to drink, and fulfil our daily requirements to survive on earth.

Life on earth is dependent on a variety of factors, such as ambient temperature, water and food. The resources available on earth and the energy from the sun are the basic needs for survival of life forms on earth. Biodiversity which is the ‘Natural Biotic Capital’ of the earth is the  basic component and life on the planet earth will not continue if we  lose this biodiversity.

Read and Learn More: NEET Foundation Notes

Biodiversity can be regarded as a life insurance  for the life itself. Sadly, the human activities have substantially affected  the biodiversity by attacking it. The disintegration and degradation of  habitats across the globe is resulting in serious loss of biodiversity.  There is no possibility of reversing these losses because many of the  species have become extinct. India is a mega-diverse country having  rich biodiversity and related traditional knowledge.

Chapter 5 Natural Resources on the Earth

Introduction To Natural Resources

Living organisms are constantly exploiting the environment or the resources available to them in the environment to sustain their lives and make it more comfortable and meaningful. The various types of ecosystem that may be found in a particular region constitute a biome and several biomes on earth constitute the biosphere. Biosphere refers to the region of earth’s crust and atmosphere, which is occupied by the living organisms. It is broadly classified into three physical divisions as follows.

• Lithosphere (land): It refers to the outermost layer of the earth’s crust. It is the topmost weathered part, which leads to soil formation.
• Hydrosphere (water): It refers to the water component of the earth. Water covers 75% of the earth’s surface.
• Atmosphere (air): It refers to the multi-layered envelope of gases that ­surrounds the entire earth.

Types of Natural Resources

The term natural resources is used for all living and non-living components of nature used by humans to fulfil their daily requirements. Natural resources can be divided into two categories and they are as follows.

• Inexhaustible natural resources: Present with unlimited amounts in the nature; they cannot be depleted or exhausted by human activity.
• Exhaustible natural resources: One that gets depleted over time with increasing use, such as oil or natural gases.

Components of Biosphere

There are two types of components, such as biotic and abiotic. The biotic component ­constitutes all the living beings. The abiotic or non-living component of the biosphere constitutes the air, water and soil (land).

Both the components are essential to meet the basic needs of all the life forms. The energy required to support these life forms is obtained from the sun, which is further used to synthesize food for all living beings. All the abiotic components of the environment form the weather and climate of a particular area.

Biotic Resources

These include all the living organisms including human beings. It includes producers (green plants, ­autotrophs) and consumers (animals, some bacteria, fungi, viruses).

• Plants: Green plants are referred to as the producers. They provide food to all ­living beings. Plants in the presence of sunlight and water produce food through a process known as photosynthesis and release oxygen. Plants are of great significance due to the fact that they release oxygen. Therefore, researchers have claimed that ‘plants can survive without animals, but survival of animals without plants is difficult.’
• Animals: They are an important constituent of the biotic resources holding an ­unbreakable relationship with the plants. They are dependent on plant for their survival.

Abiotic Resources

Abiotic factors are the non-living parts of the environment that can often have a major influence on living organisms. Abiotic factors include water, sunlight, oxygen, soil and temperature.

• Water: An important abiotic factor – it is often said that “water is life.” All living organisms need water. Plants must have water to grow. Even plants that live in the desert need a little bit of water to grow. Without water, animals become weak and confused, and they can die if they do not rehydrate.
• Sunlight: The main source of energy on Earth, which makes it an extremely important abiotic factor. Sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water to oxygen (O₂) and sugar – food for the plants that later becomes food for animals.
• Oxygen: O₂ is another important abiotic factor for many living organisms. Without oxygen, humans would not be able to live! This is true for the many other living organisms that use oxygen. Oxygen is produced by green plants through the process of photosynthesis, and is therefore directly linked to sunlight.
• Soil: Considered an abiotic factor since it is mostly made up of small particles of rock (sand and clay) mixed with decomposed plants and animals. Plants use theirroots to get water and nutrients from the soil.
• Temperature: An abiotic factor that is strongly influenced by sunlight. Temperature plays an important role for animals that cannot regulate their own body temperature, such as reptiles.

Chapter 5 Natural Resources The Breath of Life: Air

Air is a mixture of various gases along with water vapour and suspended particles. It contains oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water vapour, suspended particles and other gases like argon in minute quantities.

Living beings require oxygen for the breakdown of glucose molecules to produce energy, which leads to the formation of carbon dioxide.

Combustion is another process that utilizes oxygen and results in the release of carbon dioxide.

Composition of gases in the air

Importance of Atmosphere

The Role of the Atmosphere in Climate Control

Atmosphere acts as a blanket around the earth. Air in the atmosphere is inexhaustible and a bad conductor of heat. Thus, it helps to keep the average temperature of the earth steady during day and night preventing the sudden increase in temperature during day.

During night, the escape of heat from the surface of earth into outer space slows down. Moon lacks earth-like atmosphere resulting in the variation of temperature during day and night. The average range of temperature on the surface of moon is as hot as 110°C (during day) and as cool as –190°C (during night).

Urban heat island effect refers to the fact that air in urban areas can be 2–3°C warmer than air in the nearby rural areas. Also, it may influence the weather, rate of precipitation, formation of clouds and change in wind patterns.

The Movement of Air: Winds

Hot summer day followed by cool breeze and monsoon brings relief to a number of people. But, have you ever thought what causes the movement of air? What factors lead to a gentle breeze or transform it to a strong wind or a terrible storm? How does rain occur?

The above mentioned phenomenon takes place as a result of variation in the atmosphere observed due to heating of air and formation of water vapours. The movement of air from one region to another leads to the formation of wind. The sun rays received by earth are either absorbed or reflected back or re-radiated by the land and water bodies.

The reflected or reradiated radiations cause the surface of earth to heat from below, resulting in the formation of convection currents. Due to the fact that land gets heated at a faster rate as compared to water, the air over land also gets heated at a faster rate.

Factors Influencing Movement of Air

Factors responsible for diverse types of atmospheric phenomenon, such as breeze, monsoon rains, cyclones, storms, etc., are as follows.

• Rotation of the earth
• Uneven heating of land
• Difference in the rate of heating and cooling over land and water bodies
• Condensation and vaporization of water vapour
• Difference in topography

Let us perform the following activity to gain knowledge about development of convection currents. The patterns depicted by the direction of smoke reveals the direction in which the hot and cold air moves. It is observed that the air above the burning candle gets heated rapidly and rises up, developing a region of low pressure below.

As a result, air from the adjacent cold regions move towards hotter region having low pressure. Let us take an example of coastal areas to illustrate the phenomenon where air above the land gets heated up at a faster rate.

The movement of air follows a spiralling path, outwards from high pressure towards low pressure due to rotation of earth beneath the moving air. It results in an apparent deflection of wind; right in the Northern Hemisphere and left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Rain

During day, the temperature of water bodies rises resulting in the evaporation of water in the form of small droplets of water vapour. A portion of water is also extracted from plants through transpiration, which further enters the atmosphere. The air carrying water vapour gets heated and rises up. This process is followed by cooling and expansion, which leads to the condensation of water vapour in the presence of dust and other suspended particles.

Once the water droplets are formed, they grow bigger and bigger to form an enormous collection of tiny droplets. These droplets on condensation become heavy and falls down in the form of rain.

Chapter 5 Natural Resources Air Pollution

The addition of air pollutants such as particulate matter, vapour and gases into the atmosphere causing adverse effect on humans and human assets, vegetation and animals is termed as air pollution. It is often heard through press releases that air ­quality in metro cities is degrading day by day due to increased rate of pollution.

The question that arises each day is how do we access the air quality? What are the factors leading to air pollution? What is the evidence to prove the presence of air pollution? Let us cover each of them one by one.

The two types of air pollution are discussed below.

• Natural: It includes pollution caused by pollen, forest fire and dust storms, etc.
• Man-made: It includes pollution caused by vehicles, burning of fossil fuels, emission of gases from industries, etc.

The particulate pollutants of the air are also known as suspended particulate matter or SPM, which consists of soot (black powdered substance produced on burning of coal, wood, etc.), smoke, fly ash and dust.

The types of air pollutants are as follows.

• Gases: Nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride, chlorine, methane and ammonia.
• Vapours: Unburnt hydrocarbons (benzene).

Harmful Effects of Air Pollution

• Asthma, allergic cold and bronchitis are caused by increased concentration of SPM.
• Irritation in eyes, lungs and throat are caused, which in severe cases may lead to terminal cancer.
• Damage to internal organs caused by vapours are produced by hydrocarbons.

Smog

It is a dark brown or greyish smoky mist or photochemical haze produced due to the action of ultraviolet radiations. Smog is produced when atmosphere is polluted with the primary pollutants, which includes hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen released from variable sources ­including automobile exhaust. It not only leads to reduced visibility, but may result in suffocation.

The atomic oxygen reacts with hydrocarbon to produce radicals, which on combination with O₂, NO₂ and hydrocarbons lead to the formation of secondary pollutants. These secondary pollutants are aldehydes, formaldehydes and ­peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN). According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) touched the figure of 494 in Delhi NCR region since late October 2016.

Water: A Wonder Liquid

It is evident that 70% of our earth is covered with an inexhaustible natural resource, water. Then, why should we be concerned about water? Water can be found everywhere in the lakes, ­rivers, ponds, oceans, soil, underground and even in the atmosphere as water vapours. But, how much of it is actually available for human consumption?

A major part of earth comprises of oceans covering about 97.5% of the total water, 1.9% is occupied as ice-caps, 2.5% is present on the land, while the remaining 0.6% of the total water is available as fresh water, which supports life on earth. Rainfall is the source of freshwater. More than 90% of the fresh water is available as ground  water while the remaining 10% is available as either surface water (from rivers, dams, ponds, lakes) or soil water or water vapours.

But why is it so important? Water is essential for the maintenance of all life forms present on earth. All cellular processes require water as one of the key ingredients for the reactions to take place within cells and also to transport substances from one part of the body to another.

Therefore, constant water level is required to be maintained by all organisms to survive. Besides being a key agent in the formation of soil, it is also used by humans for various purposes, such as drinking, washing, irrigation, disposal of wastes and various other purposes.

Water Pollution

It is defined as the undesirable change in the physical, chemical, or biological properties of water due to addition of pollutants that make water unfit for human ­consumption. The three types of water pollution are surface water or inland, underground water and marine water pollution. It is remorseful to state that humans are the major cause of water pollution. However, some part of pollution takes place naturally.

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Types of Water Pollutants

Water pollutants are the substances or agents that cause water pollution. It can be broadly classified into three categories as follows.

• Physical pollutants: It includes thermal pollution caused by heat and oil-spills.
• Chemical pollutants: It includes organic wastes, such as sewage, fertilizers, pesticides (DDT, DDE, BHC, etc.), PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls), detergents, inorganic chemicals (lead, nickel, mercury, arsenic, nitrates, fluorides, cadmium, etc.), inorganic impurities, such as calcium and magnesium, and radioactive wastes.
• Biological pollutants: Viruses, protozoa, fungi, nematodes, bacteria, helminthes, etc.

Harmful Effects of Water Pollution

• Biological pollutants such as viruses, bacteria, etc., cause diseases such as ­cholera, dysentery, jaundice, typhoid and hepatitis.
• These pollutants may stimulate the growth of some organisms while affecting the others thereby, disturbing them between different organisms.
• The increased amount of organic wastes in water bodies promotes the growth of bacteria using up a large proportion of the available oxygen. This leads to the death of the marine animals due to lack of oxygen. This process is termed as eutrophication.
• Industrial waste containing high amount of acids, alkalis and heavy metals cause an adverse effect on the marine life.
• The decomposition of organic wastes requires oxygen. However, in case of low concentration of oxygen, anaerobic breakdown of organic matter takes place producing pollutants, such as ammonia, methane, organic sulphides, methyl ­sulphides, hydrogen sulphide. This makes the water turbid and odorous.

Biomagnification

It is also known as food chain magnification in a manner that ­organisms present at the top of the chain contains harmful chemicals, such as DDE, DDT, methyl mercury, etc. They may affect the organisms that feed on them. For ­example, Minimata disease in fish-eating population is a result of biomagnification of mercury in fishes.

Bioaccumulation

It is the term used for storage of pollutants in the body tissues of humans and animals (fats, kidney, bone, etc.) at a higher concentration than found in the environment. For example: In Japan, the population eating rice produced from soil containing high concentration of cadmium suffered from a disease called Itai Itai.

Conservation and Management of Natural Resources

Despite being blessed with bountiful rainfall, India often faces water scarcity. During scorching heat of summers, the level of water goes down. In such frequent cases water crisis has led to the enforcement of various means of water conservation and they are as follows.

• Adoption of food control methods.
• Avoid wastage and overuse of water.
• Groundwater recharging through artificial means.
• Development of integrated water shed plans.
• Transfer of surplus water to regions that are water deficit.

Rain Water Harvesting

The amount of water received as rain cannot percolate through hardened soil and it flows down to rivers and sea without replenishing underground water tables. The technique of rain water harvesting is used to capture, hold and reutilize rain water by constructing structures, such as percolation pits, check dams, dug-out wells and lagoons.

The failure to develop a centralized water distribution has led to the emergence of two new techniques known as rain water harvesting and ground water recharge projects.

Rain water harvesting is carried out in several steps, which involves the collection of rain water, its storage, and subsequent use at the time of scarcity. In water stressed areas, the technique is adopted to store meagre quantity of water into huge storage tanks and vessels. This stored water serves to fulfil the demand of population during most of the year.

Advantages of Rainwater Harvesting

• Checks soil erosion.
• Raise water table.
• Maintains supply of water during months of the year.
• Control floods.
• Reduce loss of water through run-off.

Chapter 5 Natural Resources Mineral Riches in the Soil

Soil is regarded as one of the most important resources, which decides the diversity of life in a particular area. But what is it? How is the soil formed? Soil is described as the earth’s portion that comprises of the disintegrated rocks and decaying organic material, which supports the life of plants and animals. Its thickness ranges from a few millimetres to 3–4 meters.

Formation of Soil

Soil is formed by two processes, namely weathering and paedogenesis.

Weathering

The process of breakdown of huge rocks into smaller particles is known as weathering. It takes place in three ways as discussed below.

• Physical weathering: Factors that contribute to physical weathering include ­temperature, rain water, wind, ice, glaciers, snow and running water. The roots of the plants also play a crucial role in weathering by penetrating into the crevices of the rocks. Example: The freezing of water leads to the expansion of water in the rock ­crevices, which leads to the breakdown of rocks.
• Chemical weathering: It is carried out by chemical processes, such as hydrolysis, ­oxidation, reduction and hydration. Example: The acidic components derived from decaying of organic matter and carbonic acid present in water leads to the breakdown of complex compounds. The by-product of chemical breakdown includes clay, inorganic salts, silica and hydrated oxides,
• Biological weathering: The breakdown of complex substances by living organisms, such as lichens and bryophytes is termed as biological weathering. Example: Lichens grow on the rocks to extract minerals creating crevices at places where a thin layer of soil is formed. Mosses grow over the crevices thus created and deepens them leading to the formation of deeper crevices, where roots of herbs pass and become large with the passage of time. This causes fragmentation of rock eventually leading to weathering.

Soil Profile

It represents the vertical section of the crust of the earth. It comprises of subsequent horizontal layers known as horizons. These horizons can be distinguished on the basis of colour, texture, thickness, structure, porosity, acidity, consistency and composition.

• A-horizon: It is the top soil comprising of humus and litter.
• B-horizon: It comprises of mineral soil.
• C-horizon: It comprises of unconsolidated parent material.
• D-horizon: It comprises of unmodified parent material orrocks.

Composition of Soil

The top layer of the soil comprises of four different types of rock ­particles differing in their look, texture and size.

• Gravels: Large particles measuring greater than 2 mm in diameter that can be hand-picked.
• Sand particles: Coarse particles ranging in size of 0.05 mm to 2.00 mm that can be seen by naked eye.
• Silt particles: Soil particles measuring between ranges from 0.005 to 0.05 mm.
• Clay particles: Smallest soil particles measuring less than 0.005 mm.

Types of Soil

Based on the amount and type of particles in the soil, it is divided into three categories and they are as follows.

• Sandy soil: It is found in deserts comprising of large amount of sand particles. It cannot hold much water.
• Clayey soil: It comprises of clay particles with a small amount of silt and humus. It is compact and capable of holding water.
• Loamy soil: It comprises of silt, clay and humus having good water holding capacity. It is porous to provide aeration to the roots.

In India, based on the perspective of agriculture, soil can be divided into the following categories.

• Residual soil: It is found at the place of soil formation and it can be further divided as follows.

Characterstics of residual soil

• Transported soil: It gets displaced and settles in regions away from its origin due to either or a combination of the following causes.
• • Flowing water
  • Gravity
  • Wind or glacier

The transported soil is classified into the following three types.

Characterstics of transported soil

Soil Erosion

It is defined as the removal and transportation of top layer of the soil through strong winds and running water.

Causes of Soil Erosion

The factors responsible for the occurrence of soil erosion are as follows.

• Strong winds
• Heavy rains
• Human activities such as expansion of urban areas
• Dust storms
• Frequent floods
• Improper farming and suspended cultivation

Effects of Soil Erosion

• The displacement of top, fertile layer of the soil from one place to another leads to the reduction in fertility of the soil.
• Landslides as a result of soil erosion results in the destruction of dwellings in the hilly areas.
• Heavy rains leads to rapid movement of the water resulting in floods. This causes enormous loss of life and property.
• The textural changes resulting from soil erosion leads to the removal of top, fertile layer thereby, reducing water holding capacity of the soil. This makes the soil dry resulting in famines.
• The runaway of top soil clogs drain and other water channels due to deposition of silt. The deposition of silt pollutes water and reduces water level in the reservoirs.

Prevention of Soil Erosion

• To make use of intensive cropping which protects top soil from the exposure of winds or water.
• Sowing grasses on barren lands helps to bind the loose soil.
• Construction of small bunds (embankments) known as contour bunding raises the edges of fields thereby, preventing soil erosion.
• Practice of reduced or no tillage.
• Constructing proper drainage canals to remove excess of rain water from the fields.

Soil Pollution

It is known that soil pollution is caused by solid wastes and chemicals. Some sources of soil pollution are discussed as follows.

• Pulp and paper mills.
• Sugar mills
• Oil refineries and power plants.
• Domestic wastes (food scraps, cans, rags, ash, broken gadgets, etc.)

Chapter 5 Natural Resources Biogeochemical Cycles

There is a constant interaction between both biotic and abiotic components of the ­biosphere to establish a stable ecosystem. The interaction of components involves transfer of energy between various components of the ecosystem.

The term ‘biogeochemical’ is described as the uptake of nutrient elements from the surface of the earth by living organism to perform vital functions such as growth and metabolism. These nutrients are recycled from time to time and the transfer of nutrient element between living and non-living components is termed as biogeochemical cycle of matter.

The term is ‘biogeochemical cycle’ which is made up of three word ‘bio’ meaning life, ‘geo’ meaning earth or rocks, soil, air and water of the earth, and ‘cycle’ meaning again and again.

It is also referred to as the’nutrient cycle’. Each nutrient cycle comprises of two basic divisions and they are as follows.

• Reservoir pool: It comprises of large, slow-moving and mostly non-biological ­components.
• Labile or cycling pool: It comprises of a smaller yet active proportion of the components that are exchanged between organisms and their immediate environment.
  There are three aspects of the nutrient cycles and they are as follows.
• • Nutrient input: The nutrients received from external sources are stored for future use.
  • Nutrient output: The nutrients leaving the ecosystem become the input for another ecosystem.
  • Internal nutrient cycling: Soil acts as a reservoir of nutrients. The nutrients regenerated by decomposers,  fungi, and actinomycetes through the decomposition of dead or partially decomposed plants and animal matter are stored in the soil.

Let us discuss a few nutrient cycles that are involved in maintaining the dynamic state of the system.

Water Cycle

The component that distinguishes earth from other planets is the availability of water, which supports all life forms on earth. Water is continuously exchanged between various components of earth and it consists of two overlapping cycles in the nature: The larger global cycle and the smaller biological water cycle that involves living systems.

Global Water Cycle

Water from water bodies evaporates to form clouds which are blown over the land through winds. On cooling, water falls on the earth in the form of hail, sleet and snow by a process known as precipitation. Rain may fall either directly into the water bodies or may get soaked into the ground. However, a major portion of water flows in rivers and returns to the seas. The collected water gets evaporated again from the reservoirs or ground to form through evaporation. The repeated cycle completes the global water cycle.

Biological Water Cycle

Water received by organisms through global water cycle is eventually returned to it. The water from the soil or reservoir is absorbed by the roots of the plants which returns to the environment in the form of water vapour through transpiration. The water thus returned to the environment, assists to cool the surrounding air and it plays a vital role in determining the microclimate.

On the other hand, animals consume water from either water bodies or in the form of food, which is returned to the environment as vapours through respiration or to the soil as excreta. Mammals also contribute to this cycle by excreting water as sweat. Water from the above-mentioned resources is added to the global water cycle. Rain adds the stored water to the land and reservoir for future use. This completes the biological water cycle.

Water, being a universal solvent is capable of dissolving a variety of substances. As water is transported from place to place and over the rocks, it dissolves essential nutrients, and soluble minerals in it, which are deposited at distant places.

There are two aspects of the water cycle that require special emphasis and they are as follows.

• According to current reports, more water evaporates from the sea than what is returned to it through rainfall. The condition is reversed in case of land.
• Human activities such as ditching and diking rivers, deforestation, paving over the earth, and compact agricultural soil act as an obstruction in recharging groundwater.

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen is an important chemical component of all living organisms. It is present in the form of proteins, amino acids and nucleic acids. Nitrogen exists in both molecular form as (N₂) or as oxides.

Nitrogen being inert in nature cannot be used in its pure form. Thus, nitrogen needs to be converted into nitrates and nitrites to be used up by living organisms. However, no living organism except a few bacteria are capable of converting it. The process of conversion is carried out either by industrial nitrogen fixation or nitrogen-fixing bacteria like Azotobacter and Rhizobium.

These organisms convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates, which is the water-soluble form of nitrogen. This process of fixation is termed as nitrogen fixation. At the time of lightning, the atmospheric nitrogen reacts with oxygen to form dilute nitric acid, which is received by earth in the form of acid rain.

Nitrates are absorbed by plants to make organic matter (proteins), which are further consumed by animals. The excreta of animals contain urea or uric acid or when an animal dies, bacteria perform ammonification (production of ammonium ions from nitrogen-containing molecules). The ammonium ion assimilated in the plants is further converted into nitrate by a process known as nitrification.

The term ‘ammonification’ refers to the process of ammonia formation. Microbes such as Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter assist in the conversion of ammonia into nitrates by nitrification. To replenish the amount of nitrogen in the atmosphere, certain bacteria like pseudomonas help in the reduction of nitrates back to the nitrogen or ammonia form or to some other oxides by the process known as denitrification. Thus, the free nitrogen obtained is returned and the atmospheric pool is taken up by the plants.

List of organisms involved in nitrogen fixation

Oxygen Cycle

Air comprises 21 per cent of oxygen, an important constituent of water. Oxygen enters the system through respiration, which oxidizes food to release carbon dioxide and energy.

C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₆ → 6CO₆ + 6H₂O + Energy

The carbon dioxide released by respiration is utilized by plants to produce food ­materials through photosynthesis.

6CO₂ + 6H₂O + Light Energy → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

The oxygen released during photosynthesis can be used up again in the process of ­respiration or it may return to the environment in the form of molecular oxygen. The rate of oxygen released during photosynthesis and the rate of oxygen utilized during ­respiration remains constant.

The decomposition of dead organic matter also releases partial oxygen in the form of CO₂. On the other side, the burning of fossils also releases a part of oxygen in the ­atmosphere as carbon dioxide, water, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

Carbon Cycle

Carbon is linked to energy flow because producers, and chemosynthetic bacteria require environmental energy to store carbon into sugars. In the carbon cycle, the compounds produced by manufacturers are used up by the consumers. Then, carbon from both consumers and producers is returned to the non-living environment as carbon dioxide through respiration.

Carbon accumulates in wood for several years, which is returned to the environment by the burning of fossils and through respiration by fungi, bacteria and other detrivores. Volcanic eruptions are also an important source of carbon dioxide release in the environment and therefore, this completes the cycle.

Carbon sinks: In some cases, cycling materials are stored into reservoirs or sinks and become unavailable to living organisms. The three reservoirs for the carbon are as follows.

• Transfer of carbon from organism to deposits of coal, peat and oil.
• Incorporation of carbon into carbonate rocks.
• Oceans also act as carbon reservoirs.

The atmosphere also contains two other forms of oxygen, namely as carbon monoxide and methane.

Chapter 5 Natural Resources Ozone Layer and Its Depletion

Ozone, an allotrope of oxygen is a triatomic blue-coloured gas with having pungent odour, which is highly poisonous to living organisms. Ozone is present in the stratosphere of the atmosphere. The density of the ozone layer varies from place to place being thickest at the high latitudes in the late summer and comparatively thinner over the tropics.

The part of the atmosphere rich in ozone concentration is known as the ozone layer, ozonosphere or ozone shield.

The ozone layer holds a vital role in the protection of the earth’s surface. It acts as a ­filter restricting the entry of high-energy ultraviolet rays from the sun. This high energy splits ozone into molecular and atomic oxygen.

Ozone Depleting Substances

These are the chemicals that reduce the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere. Examples: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, methyl bromide, nitrogen oxides and chlorine.

Effects of Ozone Depletion

The depletion of ozone makes an entry point for harmful ultraviolet rays to reach the surface of earth causing harmful effects on living beings and some of them are as follows.

• Skin cancer
• Damage to eyes.
• Damages immune system.
• Decreases crop yield.
• Formation of smog.

Chapter 5 Natural Resources Global Warming

The greenhouse is a building made up of glass to grow or shelter dedicated plants. The glass of the greenhouse is made in a way that it allows the entry of sun rays but restricts them from escaping from the glass walls. Carbon dioxide and water vapour inside it further capture heat to increase the warmth of the air inside the greenhouse.

The atmosphere acts similar to the glass walls of the greenhouse. The blanket of atmosphere allows only solar radiation to pass through it but restricts the escape of infrared rays from the earth’s surface. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone and chlorofluorocarbons.

These gases trap the heat reflected by the earth thereby, increasing the temperature of the earth. This phenomenon is referred to as global warming or the greenhouse effect.

Effects of Global Warming

• The rise in temperature has led to the melting of glaciers thereby, increasing the level of the sea.
• Decrease in the production of crop due to eruption of plant diseases, pests and growth of weeds as a  result of increase in the temperature.
• The increase in warmth of the atmosphere has led to the increase in the moisture carrying capacity of  the air.

Chapter 5 Natural Resources Match the Columns

Question 1.

Select the correct option.

1. A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
2. A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
3. A-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
4. A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2

Answer. 2. A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1

Question 2.

Select the correct option.

1. A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
2. A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
3. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
4. A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4

Answer. 3. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3

Question 3.

Select the correct option.

1. A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
2. A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
3. A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
4. A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2

Answer. 1. A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1

Question 4.

Select the correct option.

1. A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
2. A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
3. A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
4. A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3

Answer. 2. A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1

Question 5.

Select the correct option:

1. A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
2. A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
3. A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
4. A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3

Answer. 3. A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3

NEET Foundation Biology Chapter 5 Natural Resources SAQs

Chapter 5 Natural Resources Short Answer Type Question And Answers

Question 1. What are the effects of global warming?
Answer.

The effects of global warming are:

• The rise in temperature has led to the melting of glaciers, increasing the sea level.
• Decrease in the production of crops due to the eruption of plant diseases, pests and growth of weeds as a result of an increase in the temperature.
• The increase in the warmth of the atmosphere has led to a rise in the moisture-carrying capacity of the air.

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Question 2. What do you understand by physical weathering?
Answer.

Physical Weathering:

Factors that contribute to physical weathering include temperature, rainwater, wind, ice, glaciers, snow, and running water. The roots of the plants also play a crucial role in weathering by penetrating into the crevices of the rocks.

Example: The freezing of water leads to the expansion of water in the rock crevices, which leads to the breakdown of rocks.

NEET Biology Natural Resources Short Answer Questions 

Natural Resources

Question 3. What are the advantages of rainwater harvesting?
Answer.

Advantages of rainwater harvesting are:

• Checks soil erosion.
• Raise water table.
• Maintains supply of water during months of the year.
• Control floods.
• Reduce loss of water through run-off.

Question 4. What is biomagnification?
Answer.

Biomagnification:

It is also known as food chain magnification in a manner that organisms present at the top of the chain contain harmful chemicals, such as DDE, DDT, methyl mercury, etc. They may affect the organisms that feed on them. For example: Minimata disease in fish-eating population is a result of biomagnification of mercury in fishes.

Question 5. What are chemical water pollutants?
Answer.

Chemical Water Pollutants:

It includes organic wastes such as sewage, fertilizers, pesticides (DDT, DDE, BHC, etc.), PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls), detergents, inorganic chemicals (lead, nickel, mercury, arsenic, nitrates, fluorides, cadmium, etc.), inorganic impurities such as calcium and magnesium.

Chapter 5 Natural Resources SAQs for NEET Foundation 

Question 6. Describe the characteristic features of renewable and non-renewable resources.
Answer.

The characteristic features of renewable and non-renewable resources:

Question 7. What do you understand by the term environment?
Answer:

Environment:

Everything that encompasses us acting as a life support system is termed as environment. It provides us food to eat, air to breathe, water to drink, and it fulfils our daily requirements to survive on earth.

Question 8. What is biosphere?
Answer:

Biosphere:

Biosphere refers to the region of earth’s crust and atmosphere, which is occupied by the living organisms.

Question 9. Who coined the term biosphere?
Answer:

Biosphere

The term ‘biosphere’ was coined by the geologist Eduard Suess.

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Question 10. What are the differences between biotic and abiotic components?
Answer:

The differences between biotic and abiotic components:

Question 11. All the living organisms are basically made up of C, N, S, P, H and O. How do they enter the living forms? Discuss.
Answer:

All the living organisms are basically made up of C, N, S, P, H and O.

Through photosynthesis and absorption from soil.

Question 12. How is our atmosphere different from the atmospheres on Venus and Mars?
Answer:

Our atmosphere contains gases like nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapour and other gases in very small amount. Atmosphere of Venus and Mars have about 95% of carbon dioxide. So life is not possible.

Question 13. How does the atmosphere act as a blanket?
Answer:

The atmosphere acts as a blanket in the following ways.

• It maintains the temperature on the surface of earth during day and night time.
• It contains ozone in the upper layer which protects life from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Question 14. What causes winds?
Answer:

Causes Of Winds:

The uneven heating of atmosphere in different regions of earth causes wind. The rotation of earth and the presence of mountain ranges also helps in the formation of wind, its blowing direction.

Question 15. How are clouds formed?
Answer:

Formation Of Clouds :

During day time water from different sources like pond, lake, river, sea, well, etc., gets evaporated and this water vapour rises with the hot air. At a specific height, the air cools and the water vapour condenses to form minute droplets and forms clouds. When these water drops become heavy, they precipitate and fall as rain.

NEET Foundation Biology Natural Resources Chapter SAQs 

Question 16. What do you understand by the term microclimate?
Answer:

Microclimate:

Microclimate refers to the difference in temperature observed over an area of just a few square metres or larger areas covering few kilometres.

Question 17. Why does the percentage of gases like oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide remains almost the  same in the atmosphere?
Answer:

Cycling of these gases maintains consistency.

Chapter 5 Natural Resources Long Answer Type Question And Answers

Question 1. Write a note on how forests influence the quality of our air, soil and water resources.
Answer.

Forests influence the quality of our air, soil and water resources as follows

Air:

• It helps in purifying the air by absorbing pollutants.
• It adds oxygen to the air and takes carbon dioxide gas during photosynthesis. Therefore, the greenhouse effect is controlled.
• Transpiration helps in the formation of clouds, it maintains the temperature of surrounding area and gives cooling effect.

Soil:

• Plants in forest hold the soil thereby preventing soil erosion.
• It holds the soil which helps in increasing the underground water level.
• Adds nutrients to the soil as lot of vegetation present in forest gets decomposed.

Water: Forest helps in bringing rain and increasing the level of water in underground levels.

Natural Resources

Question 2. Why is water essential for life?
Answer.

Water is essential for life because:

Read and Learn More NEET Foundation Long Answer Questions

• About 70% weight of human being is due to water.
• All cellular processes takes place in water as a medium.
• All reactions take place within our body and within the cells occur between substances that are dissolved in water.
• Transportation of substances from one form to another takes place due to water.
• Terrestrial life forms require fresh water for the transportation of substances and also to get rid of high amounts of wastes.

Question 3. How are living organisms dependent on the soil? Are organisms that live in water totally independent of soil as a resource?
Answer.

All living organisms are directly or indirectly dependent on soil. Plants obtain water and minerals from the soil and prepare food for themselves and animals. Other organisms that live in water are not totally independent of soil because the microbes growing on the soil in water are the primary producers in the soil which starts the food chain and even other microbes that live in soil helps in the decomposition of dead plants and animals in water to return the nutrients and other elements back to the water.

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Question 4. What are the different states in which water is found during the water cycle?
Answer.

The different states in which water is found during the water cycle:

The various states in which water is found during the water cycle are as follows.

• Water in liquid state is present in various sources, such as lakes, rivers and underground water.
• Water vapour in gaseous state, water evaporates from water bodies and due to transpiration by plants.
• Clouds-condensed water vapour is present in clouds.
• Water as rain or snowfall.

Question 5. How is soil formed?
Answer.

Formation Of Soil:

The factors that helps in the formation of soil and the process of formation are as follows.

• Sun: Sun heats up rocks during the day so that they expand. At night, these rocks cool down and contract, this causes cracks in the rocks.
• Water: Water during rainfall enter these cracks, if this water freezes, it exerts pressure on the cracks and the rocks break. When water flows, it wears the hard rock and carries small particles of rock down stream.
• Wind: Strong winds erode rocks down, which rubs with each other and small particles are carried away by wind.
• Living organisms: Organisms like lichen grows on the surface of the rock, they release certain substances that causes the rock surface to powder down and form a thin layer of soil.

Chapter 5 Natural Resources Multiple Choice Question And Answers

Direction: Choose the correct option for each question. There is only one correct response for each question.

Question 1. The ozone layer is contained within which layer of the atmosphere?

1. Mesosphere
2. Troposphere
3. Stratosphere
4. Ionosphere

Answer. 3. Stratosphere

Question 2. The rigid outer part of the earth which consists of the crust and upper mantle is called ________.

1. Lithosphere
2. Mesospheric mantle
3. Asthenosphere
4. Inner core

Answer. 1. Lithosphere

Question 3. Which gas, by volume, holds the highest percentage in the composition of dry air on Earth?

1. Oxygen
2. Nitrogen
3. Carbon dioxide
4. Argon

Answer. 2. Nitrogen

Question 4. On the basis of their continued availability, how will you classify the resources?

1. Renewable and non-renewable
2. Metallic and non-metallic
3. Potential and actual.
4. None of the above

Answer. 1. Renewable and non-renewable

Read and Learn More NEET Foundation Multiple Choice Questions

Question 5. Which instrument measures the pressure of the atmosphere?

1. Galvanometer
2. Hygrometer
3. Pyrometer
4. Barometer

Answer. 4. Barometer

Question 6. Which gas is filled in weather observation balloons?

1. Nitrogen
2. Helium
3. Argon
4. Oxygen

Answer. 2. Helium

Question 7. What is the process of seeping water into the ground known as?

1. Infiltration
2. Irrigation
3. Aeration
4. Sublimation

Answer. 1. Infiltration

Question 8. Identify which of the following is not a source of groundwater.

1. Rainwater
2. Aquifers
3. Rivers
4. Seawater

Answer. 4. Seawater

Question 9. Which term is used for the condensation of water vapour in the atmosphere that falls under gravity?

1. Transpiration
2. Evaporation
3. Precipitation
4. Desalination

Answer. 3. Precipitation

Question 10. Which of the given statements is not true for ozone?

1. It is a pungent-smelling blue gas.
2. It can treat gangrene and is used as a disinfectant.
3. A molecule of ozone has three oxygen atoms.
4. Low-level ozone is not harmful.

Answer. 4. Low-level ozone is not harmful.

Question 11. Water and air together constitute what percentage of soil composition?

1. Around 10%
2. Around 25%
3. Around 50%
4. Around 70%

Answer. 3. Around 50%

Question 12. Which layer of the soil is the bedrock?

1. Horizon O
2. Horizon A
3. Horizon C
4. Horizon R

Answer. 4. Horizon R

Question 13. Which is the most determining factor for soil structure?

1. Parent rock
2. Humus
3. Water content
4. Location

Answer. 2. Humus

Question 14. Water pollution results in the spread of many harmful diseases. Identify which one is not due to water pollution.

1. Fluorosis
2. Arsenicosis
3. Lead poisoning
4. Cystic fibrosis

Answer. 4. Cystic fibrosis

Question 15. Which of the following rocks do not allow seepage of water?

1. Permeable rocks
2. Impermeable rocks
3. Stratified rocks
4. None of these

Answer. 2. Impermeable rocks

Question 16. In which category can fungi be kept?

1. Consumer
2. Producer
3. Decomposer
4. None of these

Answer. 3. Decomposer

Question 17. Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas?

1. CO₂
2. Nitrous oxide
3. Methane
4. Oxygen

Answer. 4. Oxygen

Question 18. What term is given to the process when plants absorb nitrogen through their roots from the soil?

1. Nitrification
2. Assimilation
3. Denitrification
4. Fixation

Answer. 2. Assimilation

Question 19. Living substances that contain carbon are called _______.

1. Organic
2. Inorganic
3. Carbonic
4. None of these

Answer. 1. organic

Question 20. Which of the given factors is responsible for the eutrophication of lakes?

1. Industrial smoke
2. Automobile exhaust
3. Enrichment of water by nutrients
4. None of these

Answer. 3. Enrichment of water by nutrients

Question 21. Which of the following is the International Day for ‘The Prevention of Ozone Layer’?

1. September 12
2. September 16
3. December 16
4. December 21

Answer. 2. September 16

Question 22. Identify the step which is not a part of the carbon cycle.

1. Transpiration
2. Respiration
3. Photosynthesis
4. Burning of fossil fuels

Answer. 1. Transpiration

Question 23. Which of the given facts is true for CFCs?

1. CFCs have natural sources.
2. CFCs are soluble in water.
3. CFCs contain only carbon, chlorine and fluorine.
4. All the above

Answer. 3. CFCs contain only carbon, chlorine and fluorine.

Question 24. Acid rain has high levels of _________.

1. Nitric and sulphuric acids.
2. Nitric and phosphoric acids.
3. Phosphoric and carbonic acids.
4. Sulphuric and phosphoric acids.

Answer. 1. Nitric and sulphuric acids.

Question 25. Which layer of the atmosphere is important for telecommunication on earth?

1. Troposphere
2. Ionosphere
3. Mesosphere
4. Thermosphere

Answer. 2. Ionosphere

Question 26. Identify which of the following is not a cause of soil erosion.

1. Tilling
2. Terrace farming
3. Deforestation
4. No embankments along the river banks.

Answer. 2. Terrace farming

Question 27. Which of the following is the chief source of minerals in soil?

1. Plants
2. Animals
3. Parent rock
4. bacteria

Answer. 3. Parent rock

Question 28. Which of the given sources of water cannot be included in freshwater sources?

1. Glaciers
2. Aquifers
3. Sea
4. Underground streams

Answer. 3. Sea

Question 29. Identify the soil formed by intense leaching due to heavy rains.

1. Laterite soil
2. Alluvial soil
3. Black soil
4. Mountain soil

Answer. 1. Laterite soil

Question 30. What are the chief sources of carbon on earth?

1. Oceans
2. Atmosphere
3. Petroleum and its products.
4. All of these

Answer. 4. All of these

Question 31. Why nitrogen is an important gas?

1. It dilutes the activity of oxygen and thus, combustion of fuel takes place at a moderate rate.
2. It is used in food preservation.
3. Only (1)
4. Both (1) and (2)

Answer. 4. Both (1) and (2)

Question 32. Read the sentences and choose the correct option.

1. Alluvial soil is formed by the deposition of silt and alluvium brought down by rivers.

2. Its main contents are organic and nitrogenous.

Select the correct option.

1. Only statement 1 is correct.
2. Only statement 2 is correct.
3. Both are correct.
4. Both are incorrect.

Answer. 1. Only statement 1 is correct.

Question 33. Which of the following is/are part/s of the water cycle?

1. Precipitation
2. Condensation
3. Evaporation
4. All of the above

Answer. 4. All of the above

Question 34. Which of the following is involved in ­adding CO2 back to the atmosphere?

1. Respiration
2. Combustion
3. Decay and decomposition of organic remains
4. Photosynthesis

Select the correct option.

1. (1), (2), (3)
2. (1), (2), (4)
3. (2), (3)
4. (1), (2)

Answer. 1. (1), (2), (3)

Question 35. Which of these is/are air pollutants?

1. Nitrogen oxides
2. Carbon monoxide
3. Sulphur dioxide
4. All of these

Answer. 4. All of these

Question 36. Which of these nitrogen-fixing bacteria play an important role in the nitrogen cycle?

1. Rhizobium
2. Azotobacter
3. Anabaena
4. All of these

Answer. 4. All of these

Question 37. Which of the given statements is true for renewable sources of energy?

1. These are derived from natural processes.
2. Most energy sources are fossil fuels.
3. It is a form of clean energy.

Select the correct option.

1. All are true.
2. (1) and (3) are true.
3. Only (2) is true.
4. (2) and (3) are not true.

Answer. 2. (1) and (3) are true.

Question 38. Identify the wrong statement/s from the following.

1. The increase of CO₂ is due to increased afforestation.
2. An increase in CO₂ results in an increase of atmospheric temperature at the same rate.
3. An increase in CO₂ results in mthe elting of glaciers.
4. All the above

Answer. 4. All the above

Question 39. Identify how are water vapours formed.

1. Transpiration from plants
2. Heating of water bodies
3. Only (1)
4. Both (1) and (2)

Answer. 4. Both (1) and (2)

Question 40. Which of the following makes use of CFCs?

1. Blowing agents
2. Refrigerators
3. Both (1) and (2)
4. Only (2)

Answer. 3. Both (1) and (2)

Question 41. Acid rain is caused by an increase in the atmosphere concentration of

1. Ozone and dust
2. SO₂ and NO₂
3. SO₃ and CO
4. CO and CO₂

Answer. 2. SO₂ and NO₂

Question 42. Maximum deposition of DDT will occur in

1. Phytoplankton
2. Crab
3. Eel
4. Sea gull

Answer. 4. Sea gull

Question 43. A lake with an inflow of domestic sewage rich in organic waste may result in

1. drying of the lake very soon due to algal bloom
2. an increased production of fish due to lot of nutrient
3. death of fish due to lack of oxygen
4. increased population of aquatic food web organism

Answer. 3. death of fish due to lack of oxygen

Question 44. Which one of the following pair is mismatched?

1. Fossil fuel burning – release of CO₂
2. Nuclear power – radioactive waste
3. Solar energy – greenhouse effect
4. Biomass burning – release of CO₂

Answer. 3. Solar energy – greenhouse effect

Question 45. Greenhouse effect is the cumulative result of the influences of certain gases. Indentify the gas which is not involved in this influence.

1. Methane
2. Chloroflurocarbons
3. Nitrogen
4. Carbon dioxide

Answer. 3. Nitrogen

Question 46. Soil conservation is a process in which

1. Soil is aerated
2. Soil erosion is allowed
3. Sterile soil is made fertile
4. Soil is protected against loss

Answer. 4. Soil is protected against loss

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Question 47. Plants die in water-logged soil because of

1. Nutrient leaching
2. Dilution of soil nutrient
3. Stoppage of root respiration
4. Dilution of cell sap

Answer. 3. Stoppage of root respiratio

Question 48. If more trees are grown in the industrial towns

1. There will be rains
2. Inhabitants will have more shades
3. Oxygen will be replenished
4. They will provide more fuel and food

Answer. 3. Oxygen will be replenished

Question 49. Depletion of forest result in

1. Less rainfall
2. Soil erosion
3. Loss of fertility
4. All the above

Answer. 4. All the above

Question 50. Which one of the following is an example of both organic and inorganic resources?

1. Metallic ferrous ores
2. Microbes
3. Soil
4. Air

Answer. 3. Soil

Question 51. Life supporting part of earth’s surface is known as

1. Lithosphere
2. Stratosphere
3. Biosphere
4. Ecotone

Answer. 3. Biosphere

Question 52. Harmful UV rays of the Sun are absorbed by

1. Carbon dioxide
2. Ozone
3. Oxygen
4. Helium

Answer. 2. Ozone

Question 53. One of the important gases that is responsible for greenhouse effect is

1. CO₂
2. O₂
3. N₂
4. CO

Answer. 1. CO₂

Question 54. Air is a mixture of gases with the following gas in maximum percentage

1. Oxygen
2. Hydrogen
3. Nitrogen
4. Carbon dioxide

Answer. 3. Nitrogen

Question 55. Biosphere includes:

1. Hydrosphere
2. Lithosphere
3. Atmosphere
4. All of the above

Answer. 4. All of the above

Question 56. Fertility of the soil is reduced by

1. Decaying organic matter
2. Crop rotation
3. Intensive agriculture
4. None

Answer. 3. Intensive agriculture

Question 57. Deforestation causes:

1. Soil erosion
2. Pollution
3. Both of above
4. None of these

Answer. 3. Both of above

Question 58. The average amount of CO2 in atmosphere is

1. 0.3%
2. 0.003%
3. 3.0%
4. 0.03%

Answer. 4. 0.03%

Question 59. The average amount of N2 in atmosphere is

1. 78%
2. 0.3%
3. 7.8%
4. 0.03%

Answer. 1. 78%

Question 60. Which substance is responsible for depletion of ozone layer?

1. CO₂
2. CH₄
3. CFCs
4. CO

Answer. 3. CFCs

Question 61. Which organism cannot fix atmosphere nitrogen?

1. Rhizobium
2. Nostoc
3. Azatobacter
4. E. coli

Answer. 4. E. coli

Question 62. Which gas causes ‘greenhouse effect’ and leads to global warming?

1. Carbon monoxide
2. Carbon disulphide
3. Carbon dioxide
4. Oxygen

Answer. 3. Carbon dioxide

Question 63. ‘Freeing’ of N₂ gas from nitrates present in soil and water is known as

1. Nitrification
2. Ammonification
3. Denitrification
4. Nitrogen fixation

Answer. 3. Denitrification

Question 64. Harmful UV radiations coming from sun to earth are absorbed by

1. O₂
2. CO₂
3. N₂
4. Ozone

Answer. 4. Ozone

Question 65. What would happen, if all the oxygen present in the environment is covered with ozone?

1. We will be protected more
2. It will become posionous and kill living forms
3. Ozone is not stable, hence it will be toxic
4. It will help harmful sun radiations to reach earth and damage many life forms.

Answer. 3. Ozone is not stable, hence it will be toxic

Question 66. The two forms of oxygen found in the atmosphere are

1. Water and ozone
2. Water and oxygen
3. Ozone and oxygen
4. Water and carbon dioxide

Answer. 2. Water and oxygen

Question 67. The process of nitrogen fixation by bacteria does not take place in the presence of

1. molecular form of hydrogen
2. elemental form of oxygen
3. water
4. elemental form of nitrogen

Answer. 2. elemental form of oxygen

Question 68. One of the following processes is not a step involved in the water cycle operating in nature

1. evaporation
2. transpiration
3. precipitation
4. photosynthesis

Answer. 4. photosynthesis

Question 69. Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas?

1. Methane
2. Carbon dioxide
3. Carbon monoxide
4. Ammonia

Answer. 4 Ammonia

Question 70. Which step is not involved in the carbon cycle?

1. Photosynthesis
2. Transpiration
3. Respiration
4. Burning of fossil fuels

Answer. 2. Transpiration

Question 71. The atmosphere of the earth is heated by radiations which are mainly

1. radiated by the sun.
2. re-radiated by land.
3. re-radiated by water.
4. re-radiated by land and water.

Answer. 4. re-radiated by land and water.

Question 72. If there were no atmosphere around the earth, then the temperature of earth will

1. increase
2. go on decreasing.
3. increase during day and decrease during night.
4. be unaffected.

Answer. 3. increase during day and decrease during night.

Question 73. What would happen if all the oxygen present in the environment is converted to ozone?

1. We will be protected more.
2. It will become poisonous and kill living forms.
3. Ozone is not stable and hence, it will be toxic.
4. It will help harmful sun radiations to reach earth and damage many life forms.

Answer. 2. It will become poisonous and kill living forms.

Question 74. Which one of the following factors does not lead to soil formation in nature?

1. Sun
2. Water
3. Wind
4. Polythene bags

Answer. 4. Polythene bags

Question 75. The two forms of oxygen found in the atmosphere are

1. water and ozone.
2. water and oxygen.
3. ozone and oxygen.
4. water and carbon dioxide.

Answer. 3. ozone and oxygen.

Question 76. The process of nitrogen fixation by bacteria does not take place in the presence of

1. molecular form of hydrogen.
2. elemental form of oxygen.
3. water.
4. elemental form of nitrogen.

Answer. 2. elemental form of oxygen.

Question 77. Rainfall patterns depend on

1. the underground water table.
2. the number of water bodies in an area.
3. the density pattern of human population in an area.
4. the prevailing season in an area.

Answer. 2. the number of water bodies in an area.

Question 78. Among the given options, which one is not correct for the use of large amount of fertilizers and pesticides?

1. They are eco-friendly.
2. They turn the fields barren after some time.
3. They adversely affect the useful component from the soil.
4. They destroy the soil fertility.

Answer. 1. They turn the fields barren after some time.

Question 79. The nitrogen molecules present in the air can be converted into nitrates and nitrites by

1. a biological process of nitrogen fixing bacteria present in soil.
2. a biological process of carbon fixing factor present in soil.
3. any of the industries manufacturing nitrogenous compounds.
4. the plants used as cereal crops in field.

Answer. 1. a biological process of carbon fixing factor present in soil.

Question 80. Which one of the following processes is not a step involved in the water-cycle operating in nature?

1. Evaporation
2. Transpiration
3. Precipitation
4. Photosynthesis

Answer. 4. Photosynthesis

Question 81. The term ‘water pollution’ can be defined in several ways. Which of the following statements does not give the correct definition?

1. The addition of undesirable substances to water bodies.
2. The removal of desirable substances from water bodies.
3. A change in pressure of the water bodies.
4. A change in temperature of the water bodies.

Answer. 3. A change in pressure of the water bodies.

Question 82. Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas?

1. Methane
2. Carbon dioxide
3. Carbon monoxide
4. Ammonia

Answer. 4. Ammonia

Question 83. Which of the following step is not involved in the carbon cycle?

1. Photosynthesis
2. Transpiration
3. Respiration
4. Burning of fossil fuels

Answer. 2. Transpiration

Question 84. ‘Ozone hole’ means

1. a large sized hole in the ozone layer.
2. thinning of the ozone layer.
3. small holes scattered in the ozone layer.
4. thickening of ozone in the ozone layer.

Answer. 2. thinning of the ozone layer.

Question 85. Ozone layer is getting depleted due to

1. excessive use of automobiles.
2. excessive formation of industrial units.
3. excessive use of man-made compounds containing both fluorine and chlorine.
4. excessive deforestation.

Answer. 3. excessive use of man-made compounds containing both fluorine and chlorine.

Question 86. Which of the following is a recently originated problem of environment?

1. Ozone layer depletion
2. Greenhouse effect
3. Global warming
4. All the above

Answer. 4. All the above

Question 87. When we breathe in air, nitrogen also goes inside along with oxygen. What is the fate of this nitrogen?

1. It moves along with oxygen into the cells.
2. It comes out with the CO2 during exhalation.
3. It is absorbed only by the nasal cells
4. Nitrogen concentration is already more in the cells so it is not at all absorbed.

Answer. 2. It comes out with the CO2 during exhalation.

Question 88. Top soil contains which of the following?

1. Humus and living organisms only.
2. Humus and soil particles only.
3. Humus, living organisms and plants.
4. Humus, living organisms and soil particles.

Answer. 4. Humus, living organisms and soil particles.

Question 89. Choose the correct sequence fromthe following.

1. CO₂ in atmosphere → Decomposers → Organic carbon in animals → Organic carbon in plants.
2. CO₂ in atmosphere → Organic carbon in plants → Organic carbon in animals → Inorganic carbon in soil.
3. Inorganic carbonates in water → Organic carbon in plants → Organic carbon in animals → Scavengers.
4. Organic carbon in animals → Decomposers → CO₂ in atmosphere → Organic carbon in plants.

Answer. 2. CO₂ in atmosphere → Organic carbon in plants → Organic carbon in animals → Inorganic carbon in soil.

Question 90. The major source of mineral in soil is the

1. parent rock from which soil is formed.
2. plants
3. animals
4. bacteria

Answer. 1. parent rock from which soil is formed.

Question 91. The total earth’s surface covered by water is

1. 75%
2. 60%
3. 85%
4. 50%

Answer. 1. 75%

Question 92. The biotic component of biosphere is not constituted by

1. producers
2. consumers
3. decomposer
4. air

Answer. 4. air

Question 93. An increase in carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere would not cause

1. more heat to be retained by the environment.
2. increase in photosynthesis in plants.
3. global warming.
4. abundance of desert plants.

Answer. 4. abundance of desert plants.

Question 94. Oxygen is returned to the atmosphere mainly by

1. burning of fossil fuel.
2. respiration
3. photosynthesis
4. fungi

Answer. 3. photosynthesis

Question 95. Low visibility during cold weather is due to

1. formation of fossil fuel.
2. unburnt carbon particles or hydrocarbons suspended in air.
3. lack of adequate power supply.
4. none of these

Answer. 2. unburnt carbon particles or hydrocarbons suspended in air.

Question 96. Growth of lichens on barren rocks is followed by the growth of

1. moss
2. ferns
3. gymnosperms
4. algae

Answer. 1. moss

Question 97. Marked temperature changes in aquatic environment can affect

1. breeding of animals.
2. more growth of aquatic plants.
3. process of digestion in animals.
4. availability of nutrients.

Answer. 1. breeding of animals.

Question 98. Soil erosion can be prevented by

1. raising forests.
2. deforestation.
3. excessive use of fertilizer.
4. overgrazing by animals.

Answer. 1. raising forests.

Question 99. What happens when rainfall on soil without vegetational cover?

1. Rain water percolates in soil efficiently.
2. Rain water causes loss of surface soil.
3. Rain water leads to fertility of the soil.
4. Rain water does not cause any change in soil.

Answer. 2. Rain water causes loss of surface soil.

Question 100. Oxygen is harmful for

1. ferns
2. nitrogen fixing bacteria
3. chara
4. mango tree

Answer. 2. nitrogen fixing bacteria

Question 101. The life supporting zone of the earth is

1. lithosphere
2. hydrosphere
3. atmosphere
4. biosphere

Answer. 4. biosphere

Question 102. Life cannot sustain on Mars and Venus because the major component in atmosphere is

1. oxygen
2. carbon dioxide
3. nitrogen
4. ozone

Answer. 2. carbon dioxide

Question 103. Atmosphere maintains the temperature of earth because

1. it contains water vapour.
2. it holds air, which is a bad conductor of heat.
3. it reflects the heat rays.
4. it absorbs the heat rays.

Answer. 2. it holds air, which is a bad conductor of heat.

Question 104. Molecules of proteins contain

1. carbon
2. nitrogen
3. oxygen
4. all of these

Answer. 4. all of these

Question 105. Which one of the following is an example of non-renewable resources?

1. Wind
2. Water
3. Vegetation
4. Coal and minerals

Answer. 4. Coal and minerals

Chapter 3 Diversity In Living Organisms

Biodiversity is defined as the variety and variability of living organisms on earth. It is a measure of the diversity of living organisms found in various ecosystems. Terrestrial biodiversity is more near the equator, due to its warm climate and increased primary productivity.

Biodiversity is not distributed evenly on the planet. Tropics have the richest biodiversity. For aquatic biodiversity, marine biodiversity is the highest along sea coasts in Western Pacific, where the temperature of the sea surface is highest. Biodiversity is generally concentrated in groups in specific hotspots.

Biodiversity refers to the number and variety of living organisms existing on earth. It is an important component of nature, which ensures the survival of human beings by providing food, fuel, shelter, medicines and other resources.

The richness of biodiversity is dependent on the  climatic conditions of that region. All species of  plants taken together are called flora. All species  of animals taken together are called fauna.

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Raymond F. Dasmann (1968) first of all  used the term biological diversity in his book  ‘A Different Kind of Country’. During 1980’s,  this term came into common usage in science  and environmental policy. Thomas Lovejoy  introduced the term to the scientific community.

The contracted term ‘biodiversity’ was coined by W. G. Rosen (1985)  during the planning of National Forum on Biological Diversity  organized by the National Research Council (NRC). It first reflected  in a publication in 1988 when E. O. Wilson made it the title of the  proceedings of that forum.

 

Chapter 3 Diversity In Living Organisms Basis of Classification

Taxonomy is the scientific study of identification, nomenclature and classification of organisms. A consistent international system of naming is very important because common vernacular names for the same plant or animal vary from one region to another, but a single scientific name is followed across the world.

Binomial Nomenclature

It is the naming system where every organism’s scientific names consist of two names, where the first name is the genus to which an organism belongs and the second name is the species to which it belongs. The species is specific to a specific organism and the name is not shared with any other organism in that particular genus.

Guidelines for ICBN

The scientific names are guided by a set ofrules in the International Code of Biological Nomenclature (ICBN). According to this, the genus name or generic name should be written first with its first letter capitalized. Species name or specific name should be written after the generic name and its first letter should always be in small case. The whole of the scientific name should be printed in italics and when written by hand, it should be underlined.

The scientific names are usually Latin names or possess Latin endings. Latin is a holdover from the times when scholars communicated in this tongue. A formal system of Latin nomenclature is used in order to differentiate each type of organism in language that is precise, consistent and understandable to scientific world.

The diversity displayed amongst present day organisms is a result of the past 3.5 billion years of organic evolution. At that time, a huge number of new species originated and also many more got extinct. Palaeontology is the study of evidences of the past life in the form of ­fossils. With such a large repository of organisms, it would not be easy to study each and every living form separately at an individual level.

Thus, to study the diversity amongst the living organisms effectively, one needs to arrange the various types of organisms in an orderly or systematic way. The method of arranging organisms into groups based on the similarities and differences is called classification.

Advantages of Classification

• Classification is the better and easier way of studying a wide variety of organisms.
• Classification provides a big picture of all life forms in one view.
• Classification helps understand the interrelationships amongst different groups of organisms.
• Classification makes the foundation for the development of other branches of biology. For example, biogeography, the study of geographical distribution of plants and animals is totally dependent on the information provided by classification of organisms.

Chapter 3 Diversity In Living Organisms Classification and Evolution

The classification of living organisms is associated with their evolution. Most of the living organisms seen today has evolved owing to the accumulation of changes in its body structure that permits the organisms possessing them to survive better. This idea of evolution was first of all described by Charles Darwin in his book ‘The Origin  of Species’ published in 1839.

Evolution is defined as the change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. Evolution gives rise to biodiversity at all levels of biological organization, including the levels of species, genus and molecules.

If evolution is related to classification, then it is very clear that some groups or organisms with ancient body structures have not changed much. Those organisms with ancient body structure are known as primitive (lower) organisms. Those organisms with recent body structure are known as advanced (higher) organisms.

The organisms dating back to early ages (ancient, older) were simpler in structure, whereas younger organisms (later formed, modern) are more complex. Hence, the complexity in structure from being a primitive organism has increased over evolutionary time, so that they have become far more complex.

Ernst Mayer (1985), a Professor in the Harvard University, opined that Darwinism should be considered in terms of five major theories, such as perpetual change, common descent, multiplication of species, graduation and natural selection.

Diversity Of Living Organisms

• Perpetual change: This is the basic theory of evolution stating that the living world is not constant and also not perpetually cycling but it always changes. The characteristics of organisms undergo transformation throughout generations across the whole duration.
• Common descent: This theory states that all forms of life originated from a ­common ancestor with branching of lineages.
• Multiplication of species: This theory states that the process of evolution creates new species by the splitting and transformation of older ones.
• Graduation: This theory states that the large differences in anatomical characteristics make different species originate due to the accumulation of numerous small incremental changes over long duration of time.
• Natural selection: This theory is based on three propositions and they are as follows.
• • There is variation amongst organisms (within populations) for anatomical, behavioural and physiological traits.
  • The variation is at least partly heritable so that offspring tends to resemble their parents.
  • Organisms with different variant forms leave different numbers of offspring to future generations.

Artificial and Natural System of Classification

Aristotle (384–322 BCE) and Theophrastus (372–287 BCE) followed the artificial system of classification in which they classified the living organisms based on a few arbitrarily chosen criteria, like size, colour or nature of the organisms.

Aristotle classified living organisms on the basis of their nature and divided the animals based on whether they lived on land, sea or air. Theophrastus categorized all known plants on the basis of their form, life-span and habitat. He divided plants into four categories, such as trees, shrubs, undershrubs and herbs.

In 1735, Carl von Linnaeus, published a book, Systema Naturae (Classification of Nature), in which he classified, described and named plants and animals. His classification was based on the sexual characters of living organisms, i.e., number and arrangement of stamens and carpels in the flower. But, his classification was also an artificial one.

During 19th century, the artificial system of classification was replaced by natural ­system of classification. This system was based on natural affinities between living organisms and it indicated the overall similarities and differences between the organisms.

Classification Systems

There are two main systems of classification of living organisms, such as two-kingdom ­system of classification and five-kingdom system of classification.

• Two-kingdom system of classification: This system of classification was first ­proposed by Carolus Linnaeus (1758). Living organisms are divided into two kingdoms, such as plant kingdom and animal kingdom.
• Five-kingdom system of classification: Whittaker (1959) has classified the ­living organisms into the following five kingdoms:
• • Kingdom monera: Prokaryotic bacteria and blue-green algae.
  • Kingdom protista: Unicellular eukaryotic organisms, such as protozoans, fungi and algae.
  • Kingdom fungi: Multicellular higher fungi.
  • Kingdom plantae: Multicellular green plants and advanced algae.
  • Kingdom animalia: Multicellular animals.

Kingdom system of classification with their shortcomings and criteria for classification

Modern scheme of five-kingdom classification: In 1982, Margulis and Schwartz ­revised the five-kingdom classification and included one prokaryotic kingdom and four eukaryotic kingdoms as follows.

• Kingdom Prokaryotae (prokaryotic kingdom)
• Kingdom Protocista (eukaryotic kingdom)
• Kingdom Fungi (eukaryotic kingdom)
• Kingdom Plantae (eukaryotic kingdom)
• Kingdom Animalia (eukaryotic kingdom)

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NEET Foundation	Class 12 Physics	NEET Physics

Chapter 3 Diversity In Living Organisms Hierarchy of Classification or Groups

Linnaeus proposed a framework of arranging organisms into an ascending series of groups of ever increasing inclusiveness and this is known as hierarchical system  of classification. In taxonomy, the main aim is to assign organism an appropriate place within the systematic framework of classification, which is called taxonomic  hierarchy, by which the taxonomic groups are arranged in a definite order from higher to lower categories.

A category\ is given the name as a taxon (plural taxa). The taxa used in the classification of plants or animals are kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species. However, in plants, the phylum is replaced by the term division. All the members of a taxon show similar characteristics that are different from those of other taxa.

• Species: Species is a group of individuals with similar morphological characteristics that are able to breed among themselves and produce fertile offspring of their own kind. For example, horse and ass belong to the same genera (Equus) but their species is different, i.e., horse is E. cabalus and ass is E. asinus.
• Genus: Genus is a group of species that are related and have less characteristics in common as compared to species. Members of a genus possess identical reproductive organs. For example, banyan and fig trees are different from each other in their shape, size and surface of leaves, but they possess similar reproductive organs like inflorescence, flower, fruit and seed. Thus, both these plants belong to the same genus Ficus.
• Family: Family is a group of genera that are more similar to each other than with the genera of other families. For example, a cat (Felis domestica) and a lion (Panthera leo) both belongs to the ‘cat’ family Felidae. Both these animals possess similar structures such as retractive claws.
• Order: Order is an assemblage of families resembling one another in a few­characters. For example, a tiger(Panthera tigris) and a wolf (Cannis lupus) possess similar characteristics like jaws with powerful incisors and large, sharp canines adapted for flesh-eating. Thus, both belongs to the same order carnivora.
• Class: Class represents organisms of related orders. For example, chordates that include rats, dogs, bats, dolphins, monkeys, etc., belongs to the class Mammalia because they possess a characteristic hairy exoskeleton, mammary glands, external ear, etc.
• Phylum: Phylum includes all organisms belonging to different classes possessing some common characteristics. For example, all animals have a notochord present in the embryo and it belongs to the phylum Chordata.
• Kingdom: Kingdom includes all organisms that possess a set of distinguishing common characteristics. For example, plant kingdom, animal kingdom, etc.

Chapter 3 Diversity In Living Organisms Characteristics of Five Kingdoms

Kingdom Monera (Prokaryotes)

All the organisms of this kingdom are prokaryotes. They are unicellular organisms and possess a cell wall, whereas mycoplasmas are devoid of it. They can survive in extreme climatic conditions like hot springs and acidic soils. They show anaerobic respiration. The kingdom Monera is categorized into two sub-kingdoms, such as archaebacteria (Archaea) and eubacteria (Bacteria).

1. Archaebacteria: Archaebacteria are the most ancient forms of bacteria, for example, mycoplasma. They derive the energy for their metabolic activities from the oxidation of chemical energy sources like reduced gases, such as ammonia, methane or hydrogen sulphide.

Archaebacteria produces their own amino acids and proteins in the presence of any of these reduced gases. Archaebacteria have a specially designed tough cell wall which provides resistance and support life under extreme conditions.

2. Eubacteria: Eubacteria are true bacteria. They are seldom found in extreme environmental conditions. They include bacteria with a rigid cell wall (Fig 3.2). They can be motile (with flagellum) or non-motile (without flagellum). A flagellum has a basal body, filament and hook. The flagella help the eubacteria to move.

They are present in various shapes such as rod-like called bacilli, spheres called cocci, corkscrew-shaped called spirilla, comma-shaped called vibrio. They can be divided on the basis of their mode of nutritions as heterotrophs or autotrophs. The autotrophic forms are either photoautotrophic or chemoautotrophic.

Some forms of eubacteria are motile as they possess flagella. They may be unicellular, colonial or filamentous. Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) like Nostoc and Anabaena are filamentous in nature.

Hans Christian Gram (1884), Danish scientist, developed a method to distinguish between two kinds of bacteria on the basis of the structural differences in their cell walls. While performing this test, it was observed that some bacteria retain the crystal violet dye due to the presence of a thick layer of peptidoglycan.

These bacteria were called Gram-positive bacteria. On the other hand, Gram-negative bacteria do not retain the violet dye and are coloured red or pink.

Kingdom Protista (or Protocista)

This kingdom includes various types of unicellular eukaryotic organisms, like unicellular algae, protozoans and unicellular fungi (Oomycota and slime molds). Algae can be unicellular or multicellular. Diatoms and protozoans are unicellular. These organisms live in aquatic habitat or in moist soil.

The cells are advanced with well-defined nucleus and membrane-bound cell organelles. Some of these organisms have appendages, for example, hair-like cilia in Paramecium, whip-like flagellum in Euglena, etc.

Mode of nutrition can be autotrophic (for example, unicellular algae, diatoms) or heterotrophic (for example, protozoans), unicellular algae, chlorella, chlamydomonas, and diatoms.

Phylum Protozoa

• Unicellular, mostly aquatic (fresh water or marine) animals.
• Solitary or colonial, free-living or parasitic or symbiotic.
• Body naked or covered by pellicle or hard shells.
• Body shape may be irregular, spherical, oval, elongated or flattened.
• Cytoplasm distinguished into outer ectoplasm and inner endoplasm.
• Uninucleate, binucleate or multinucleate.
• Locomotion using finger-like pseudopodia, flagella and cilia.
• Mode of nutrition is usually heterotrophic.
• A sexual reproduction by binary fission, multiple fission and sexual reproduction by conjugation.

Kingdom Fungi

Kingdom comprises organisms whose body is not differentiated into root, stem, and leaves. They are either unicellular and multicellular.

• Heterotrophic and eukaryotic organisms. Some fungi are parasites and some are saprophytes. Parasites derive their nutrients from the living cells of the host plants (for example, Puccinia, Albugo, Ustilago, etc.). Saprophytes derive their nutrients from the dead remains of plants and animals (for example, Mucor, Rhizopus, Penicillium, Agaricus, etc.). For example, bread mold (Rhizopus, Mucor), yeast (Saccharomyces), pink bread mold (Neurospora), green mold (Penicillium), mushroom (Agaricus), smut (Ustilago), etc.
• They may be unicellular (for example, yeast) or filamentous. The body of a multicellular and filamentous fungus is termed as a mycelium and it consists of numerous thread-like structures called hyphae.
• They have a cell wall made up of polysaccharide called chitin.
• The reserve food material is glycogen.
• Fungi derives their nutrition from dead organic matter by secreting digestive juices outside the body and then absorbing the digested food material.
• Fungi reproduces asexually by spores or by budding. They also show sexual mode of reproduction by ascospores, zygospores or basidiospores.

Lichens

These are association of blue-green algae and fungi living in symbiotic ­relationship. The algal component of the lichens is called phycobiont, whereas the fungal component is called mycobiont. The alga performs photosynthesis and provides nutrients to the fungal component, whereas the fungus absorbs water and minerals for the benefit of algal component.

Kingdom Plantae

• These are multicellular organisms except for some primitive algae.
• Cell wall consisting of cellulose occurs around the cell.
• A mature plant usually possesses a single large central vacuole bounded by a membrane called tonoplast.
• The reserve food material is starch.
• Plastids are present in all the plant cells. Some plastids possess photosynthetic pigments, i.e., chlorophylls and these plastids are called chloroplasts.
• Mode of nutrition is autotrophic.
• Growth is generally indefinite due to the presence of growing points.
• Body form is irregular due to the presence of branches.

Kingdom Animalia

• The cell wall is absent in animal cells.
• The mode of nutrition is heterotrophic.
• The growth of animals is limited and ceases after reaching maturity.
• Animals usually possess a definite shape, size, and symmetry, except for some lower forms.
• Most animals are mobile.
• Animals have organization of cellular, tissue, organs, and organ system levels.

Chapter 3 Diversity In Living Organisms Detailed Classification of Kingdom Plantae

All are eukaryotic, multicellular, and autotrophic in nature. Few are partially heterotrophic in addition, for example, insectivorous plants. Kingdom Plantae is categorized into five divisions, such as Algae, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae, and Angiospermae.

Division Algae

• Most primitive plants, in which plant body is not differentiated into root, stem and leaves. Instead it is in the form of thallus.
• Mostly aquatic forms (both freshwater and marine) and some are terrestrial.
• Supporting and conducting tissues are absent, i.e., vascular system is absent.
• Asexual reproduction occurs generally by spores.
• Sex organs are simple, single-celled and there is no embryo formation after fertilization.
• In the life cycle, the gamete-producing haploid phase called gametophytic phase is dominant. The short, spore-bearing diploid phase, the sporophytic phase, does not remain attached to the gametophyte.
• Algae can be of three main types, namely green algae (for example, Ulothrix, Spirogyra, Ulva, Chara, Cladophora), red algae (for example, Polysiphonia), brown algae (for example, Laminaria, Fucus, Sargassum).

Division Bryophyta

• Small, multicellular plants that are found in the shady damp places. Hence, they are also called the amphibians of the plant kingdom.
• Plant body is a flat, green thallus in liverworts and leafy, erect structures in mosses. They lack real roots, stems and leaves.
• No true vascular system is present.
• Gametophyte is attached to a substratum by means of hairlike outgrowths called the rhizoids, which absorbs water and minerals from the substratum. Sporophyte live as a parasite over the gametophyte.
• Sex organs are multicellular.
• An embryo is formed after fertilization.
• Liverworts (Riccia, Marchantia), hornworts (Anthoceros), mosses (Funaria, Sphagnum).

Division Pteridophyta

• They occur mainly in shady or damp places.
• The plant body is made up of root, stem and leaves.
• A well-developed vascular system for conduction of water and minerals is present.
• No flowers and no seeds.
• Sex organs are multicellular and jacketed by sterile cells.
• An embryo is formed after fertilization.
• Club mosses (Selaginella, Lycopodium), horsetails (Equisetum), ferns (Marsilea, Azolla, Adiantum, Dryopteris, Pteris, Pteridium).

Division Gymnospermae

• Simple seed plants.
• Seeds are naked, i.e., not enclosed within fruits.
• Generally, perennial, evergreen and woody plants.
• Sporophylls are aggregated to form cones. These cones are distinguished into male and female cones.
• Xylem lacks vessels and phloem lacks companion cells.
• Gymnospermae is categorized into the following two groups.
• • Cycadae (for example, Cycas).
  • Coniferae (for example, Pinus, Cedrus, Ginkgo).

Division Angiospermae

• Highly evolved plants.
• They produce seeds enclosed within the fruit.
• Reproductive organs (sporophylls) are aggregated in a flower. Hence, they are called flowering plants.
• Plant embryos in seeds possess structures known as cotyledons. Cotyledons are known as ’seed leaves’ as in many plants they emerge and become green when the seed germinates.
• Endosperm supplies nutrients for the developing embryo in the seed. It consists of triploid cells.

Angiosperms can be divided into two types based on the number of cotyledons, such as dicotyledons and monocotyledons.

Dicotyledonae (Dicots)

• Seeds produced by these plants have embryos with two fleshy leaves, the cotyledons.
• Leaves show reticulate venation with a network of veins.
• Tap root system is present.
• Flowers have five or multiple of five petals.
• Vascular bundles are arranged in a ring.
• Vascular bundles are open (i.e., cambium) and undergo secondary growth.
• Pisum sativum (Pea), Solanum tuberosum (Potato), Helianthus annuus (Sunflower), Rosa indica (Rose), Ficus religiosa (Banyan), etc.

Monocotyledonae (Monocots)

• Seeds have one cotyledons.
• Leaves have parallel venation.
• Fibrous root system is present.
• Flowers are trimerous, i.e., have three or multiple of three petals.
• Vascular bundles are scattered and closed (i.e., lack cambium). Secondary growth does not happen.
• Zea mays(Maize), Triticum aestivum (Wheat), Oryza sativa (Rice), Allium cepa (Onion), Saccharum officinarum (Sugarcane), etc.

Chapter 3 Diversity In Living Organisms Detailed Classification of Kingdom Animalia

Kingdom Animalia is classified into sub-divisions which is also known as phyla. Each phylum shares particular structural and functional properties which together separate it from other phyla. Some of the main phyla of Kingdom Animalia are follows.

Phylum 1: Porifera

• Sessile, sedentary and marine except one group that lives in fresh water. They are popularly known as sponges.
• Simplest multicellular, diploblastic animals.
• Body design involves minimal differentiation into tissues. The cells are loosely held together in a gelatinous matrix, mesoglea and do not form tissues.
• Asymmetrical or radially symmetrical.
• The canal system is a filter-feeding system of sponges. It helps in circulating water across the body to transport food, oxygen and water.
• Mouth, digestive cavity and anus are absent.
• Skeleton is made up of small calcareous or silicious spicules or spongin fibre (collagen) or both.
• Reproduction is both asexual by budding and gemmules and sexual through fertilization. They have great power of regeneration.

Phylum 2: Cnidaria or Coelenterata

• Mostly marine, but few fresh water living forms.
• Multicellular, diploblastic animals with tissue grade of organization. A gelatinous layer known as mesoglea persists between the ectoderm (epidermis) and endoderm (gastrodermis).
• Body shows radial symmetry.
• A central gastrovascular cavity coelenteron is present that lacks anus but has a mouth, which is surrounded with short and slender tentacles.
• Have specialized sting cells (cnidoblasts) possessing stinging cell organelles known as nematocysts. Nematocysts play a role of paralysing the prey by injecting poison or holding the prey.
• No respiratory, circulatory and excretory organs.
• Nervous system is primitive and it consists of network of nerve cells only.
• Shows the phenomenon of polymorphism. This is the specialization of individuals of colonial species for the division of labour. For instance, hydrozoans possess feeding individuals or zooids, the gastrozooids, protective zooids, the dactylozooids and reproductive zooids, the gonozooids producing sexual medusae.
• Body exhibits two main forms, the polyps and the medusa. The polyp is diploid, cylindrical and sedentary. It reproduces asexually. The medusa is diploid, umbrella-like and free-swimming sexual phase of the animal.
• Asexual reproduction takes place by budding and sexual reproduction by ­gametes formed by medusae.
• Many forms have a hard exoskeleton of lime to form corals.

Phylum 3: Ctenophora

• Body is transparent with bilateral symmetry.
• Triploblastic.
• Locomotory organs consist of two tentacles and eight longitudinal rows of ciliary comb plates.
• Marine, solitary and free-swimming.
• Polymorphism or dimorphism is absent.
  For example, Pleurobrachia (Comb jelly), Ctenoplana, Cestum (Venus’s girdle).

Phylum 4: Platyhelminthes

• Body is bilaterally symmetrical and dorsoventrally flattened.
• Body is thin, soft, leaf-like or ribbon-like for example Planaria, Liverfluxe, and Tapeworm.
• Triploblastic, i.e., their tissues differentiate from three embryonic germ layers.
• Acoelomate, i.e., no body cavity.
• Digestive cavity, if present, has a single opening called the mouth. Anus is absent.
• Suckers and hooks are generally present.
• Circulatory and respiratory systems and skeleton are absent.
• Excretory system possesses blind tubules known as protonephridia. Blind end of a tubule bears a tuft of cilia or flagellum and is known as a flame bulb or flame cell.
• Hermaphrodite.
• Turbellarians are free-living, aquatic, both marine and freshwater and some are terrestrial. Trematodes and cestodes are parasitic.

Phylum 5: Nematoda

• Body is bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, pseudocoelomate and unsegmented.
• Body is worm-like, cylindrical or flattened.
• Body is covered with a tough, resistant cuticle.
• Cilia is absent.
• Alimentary canal is straight and complete with mouth and anus, pharynx is muscular.
• Sexes are separate.
• Parasitic nematodes are pathogenic. For example, Wuchereria  bancrofti causes ­elephantiasis in humans.

Example: Ascaris (Round worm), Ancylostoma (Hook worm), Wuchereria bancrofti (Filarial worm), Enterobius (Pinworm).

Phylum 6: Annelida

• Body is triploblastic, bilaterally symmetrical, soft, elongated, vermiform and cylindrical or dorsoventrally flattened.
• Body is metamerically segmented externally by transverse grooves and ­internally by septa. Some of the anterior body segments concentrate to form head.
• Exoskeleton is absent. Body is covered with a thin cuticle.
• Locomotory organs are segmentally arranged paired lateral appendages, ­parapodia or chitinous setae.
• Alimentary canal is complete, which extends from mouth to anus.
• True coelomate animals with closed blood vascular system.
• Excretion takes place by paired segmental nephridia that removes wastes from coelom and blood stream directly to the exterior.
• Nervous system consists of a dorsal brain and a ventral nerve cord with ganglia and lateral nerves in each body segment.
• Hermaphrodite or sexes may be separate.

Phylum 7: Arthropoda

• Body is triploblastic, bilaterally symmetrical and metamerically segmented.
• Body segments are grouped into two zones, such as cephalothorax (head and thorax together) and abdomen or three zones, such as head, thorax and abdomen.
• Body consists of distinct head having sense organs and brain at the anterior part.
• A complex muscular system is present with exoskeleton for attachment, striated muscles for rapid actions and smooth muscles for visceral organs.
• No cilia are there.
• Each body segment (‘somite’) generally possesses paired lateral and jointed legs or appendages.
• Body cavity is haemocoel, i.e., filled with blood. The coeloms are reduced to spaces of the genital and excretory organs.
• Alimentary canal is complete; mouth and anus are oppositely placed in the body.
• Respiration takes place through general body surface by gills, air tubes (tracheae) or book-lungs.
• Circulatory system is open with dorsal heart, arteries and haemocoel (blood sinuses). No capillaries and veins.
• True nephridia is absent. Excretion by coelomoducts, Malphighian tubules or green or coxal glands.
• Sexes are generally separate.
• Terrestrial or aquatic (freshwater and marine), free-living, commensal or ­parasitic forms.

Phylum 8: Mollusca

• Body is soft, bilaterally symmetrical with minor segmentation and without appendages.
• Body is divisible into three parts, such as an anterior head, a ventral muscular foot and a hard dorsal visceral mass.
• Respiration takes place through gills (called ctenidia), mantle or a ‘lung’ of the mantle.
• Simple digestive tract.
• Circulatory system is open except in cephalopods.
• Excretion occurs by a pair of metanephridia or kidneys.
• Sexes are generally separate.
• Sensory organs are present.
• Aquatic forms are mostly marine with few fresh water forms and some are terrestrial.

Phylum 9: Echinodermata

• Body is star-shaped, spherical or elongated.
• Body is triploblastic, coelomate, unsegmented and radially symmetrical.
• Body wall is covered with spiny hard calcareous plates called ossicles, which forms a rigid or flexible endoskeleton.
• Body cavity is modified into a unique water vascular system that moves respiratory and locomotory organs, the tube feet or podia.
• A complete digestive system is present. Anus is absent in ophiuroids.
• Reproduction is sexual, asexual or by regeneration. Sexes are separate.
• Only marine animals.

Phylum 10: Hemichordata

• Body is soft, unsegmented, worm-like and bilaterally symmetrical.
• Body consists of three parts, such as proboscis, collar and trunk.
• Pharyngeal gill slits are present.
• Notochord and true dorsal nerve cord is absent.
• Respiratory system consists of gill slits that connect the pharynx with outside.
• Buccal diverticulum is present in proboscis.
• No nephridia. Excretion is performed by single glomerulus, which is connected to blood vessels.
• Only marine animals.
• Mostly tubicolous and detritus feeders such as earthworms.

Example: Balanoglossus (Tongue worm)

Phylum 11: Chordata

• A dorsal, hollow, tubular nerve cord is present.
• A pliable rod known as notochord is present ventral to nerve cord and is replaced by a bone or cartilage to form a vertebral column in vertebrates.
• Paired gill slits in the pharynx.
• Body is bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic and coelomate.
• A post-anal tail is present at some stage of life.
• Segmental muscles in an unsegmented trunk.
• Ventral heart with dorsal and ventral blood vessels and closed blood vascular system.
• A complete digestive system is present.
• A cartilaginous endoskeleton is present in vertebrates.

Chapter 3 Diversity In Living Organisms Vertebrata

It includes two subphyla, such as Agnatha and Gnathostomata.

Subphylum 1: Agnatha

• Possess vertebral column and cranium.
• No true jaws but have a sectorial mouth.
• No paired appendages or fins.

Subphylum Agnatha includes only one class:

Subphylum 2: Gnathostomata

• Vertebrates with jaws and paired appendages.
  Subphylum Gnathostomata is categorized into six classes.

Class 1: Chondrichthyes

• Marine fish with wholly cartilaginous endoskeleton.
• Streamlined body, either laterally compressed and ­spindle-shaped or dorsoventrally flattened and disc-shaped.
• Mouth is ventral in position.
• Skin is tough and covered with small placoid scales.
• Respiration occurs through gills.
• Possess fins for swimming and balancing. Fins may be paired (pectoral, pelvic) or median (dorsal, ­caudal and anal).
• Tail or caudal fin is heterocercal. Muscular tail is used for movement.
• Heart is two-chambered.
• Digestive system has a J-shaped stomach and intestine has spiral valves. Stomach is absent in chimaeras.
• Alimentary canal and urinogenital ducts open into a common aperture known as cloaca.
• Ureotelic animals, i.e., excrete urea.

Example: Scoliodon (Dog-fish, Indian shark), Torpedo (Electric ray), Chimaera (Rat fish).

Class 2: Osteichthyes

• Marine as well as freshwater fish with partial or full bony endoskeleton.
• The body is usually spindle-shaped.
• Skin is either naked or covered with cycloid or ctenoid scales.
• The mouth is generally terminal in position.
• Four pairs of filamentous gills are present, which are covered by operculum.
• Tail or caudal fin is homocercal.
• Cloaca is absent. Anus and urinogenital apertures are distinguished.
• Ammonotelic animals, i.e., excrete ammonia.
• The heart is two-chambered consisting of one auricle and one ventricle.
• Ectothermic, i.e., cold-blooded.
• They lay eggs and fertilization is external.

Example: Labeo (Rohu, carp), Hippocampus (Sea horse).

Class 3: Amphibia

• In context of evolution, amphibians form the first group amongst the chordates to live outside water and consist of four-legged (tetrapod) land vertebrates. They live on land but they need water to lay their eggs.
• Live partly in freshwater and partly on land.
• Skin is smooth or rough, moist, slimy, glandular and mostly without scales. Skin has mucus glands.
• Body is divided into head and trunk with no neck. Mouth is generally large.
• Three-chambered heart consists of two auricles and one ventricle. Double ­circulation takes place through heart.
• Respiration takes place either by gills, lungs, skin or the mouth lining.
• Excrete either ammonia or urea.
• Oviparous, lay yolk-laden eggs with gelatinous covering generally in water. Fertilization is external in frogs and toads but internal in Salamanders and Apoda. Metamorphosis is present.
• Ectothermal.

Example: Rana (Bull frog), Bufo (Toad), Hyla (Tree-frog).

Class 4: Reptilia

• Ectothermic, i.e., cold-blooded, terrestrial or aquatic vertebrates with a body ­covered with dry waterresistant skin with horny epidermal scales.
• Body is divided into head, neck, trunk and tail.
• Limbs are tetrapodous pentadactyle type with clawed ­digits. Limbs are absent in snakes and some lizards.
• Tympanum is small and depressed.
• Teeth are present except in tortoises and turtles.
• Respiration is through lungs only. No gills are present.
• Heart is three-chambered and is distinguished into two auricles and an incompletely divided ventricle.
• Terrestrial reptiles like snakes and lizards excrete uric acid.
• Fertilization is internal.
• Most reptiles are oviparous and lay their eggs with tough covering and do not need to lay their eggs in water. A few reptiles are viviparous (for example, lizards and snakes). No aquatic larval stage.

Example: Testudo (Land tortoise), Chelone (Green turtle), Hemidactylus (House wall-lizard), Draco (Flying ­lizard), Naja (Cobra), Crocodilus (Muggar), Gavialis (Gharial).

Class 5: Aves

• Warm-blooded, tetrapodous vertebrates (birds).
• Horny scales persist on the feet but feathers cover most of the body. Cutaneous glands are absent.
• Spindle or boat-shaped body is divisible into head, neck, trunk and tail.
• Forelimbs are modified into wings for flight. Kiwis possess vestigial wings.
• Hind-limbs have four clawed digits and are adapted for walking, perching and swimming.
• Narrow jaws make a horny beak. Teeth are absent.
• Bones of endoskeleton are light and spongy owing to the presence of air cavities.
• Breathing takes place through lungs.
• Four-chambered heart consisting of two auricles and two ventricles.
• Cloaca is present.
• Uricotelic animals without bladder.
• Fertilization is internal. They are oviparous and lay large, yolk-laden eggs with hard shell.

Example: Passer (House sparrow), Corvus (Crow), Columba (Pigeon), Psittacula (Parrot).

Class 6: Mammalia

• Warm-blooded (endothermic and homeothermic).
• Body is divided into head, neck, trunk and tail. Eyelids are movable.
• Mammary glands that secrete milk in females are present.
• Fleshy external ear (pinnae) present. Middle ear with three ossicles (malleus, incus and stapes).
• Teeth are thecodont (embedded in sockets in the jaws) and are heterodont (distinguished into incisors, canines, premolars and molars).
• Two pairs of pentadactyl limbs are present. Digits in the forelimbs and hindlimbs are never more than five and end in claws, nails or hoofs.
• A muscular diaphragm separates thoracic and abdominal cavities.
• Respiration happens through lungs only.
• Heart is four-chambered. Enucleated biconcave red blood corpuscles are present.
• Ureotelic animals.
• Fertilization is internal.
• Viviparous, i.e., produce young ones.
• Parental care is highly developed.
• Mammals are primarily terrestrial animals.

Example: Homo (Human being), Macropus (Kangaroo), Oryctolagus (Rabbit), Elephas (Elephant).

Chapter 3 Diversity In Living Organisms Classroom Corner Fill In The Blanks

Question 1. ______ is popularly known as the ‘Father of Taxonomy’.
Answer. Linnaeus

Question 2. ______ is the study of evidence of past life in the form of fossils.
Answer. Paleontology

Question 3. The method of arranging organisms into groups based on similarities and differences is called ______.
Answer. Classification

Question 4. ______ is a group of individuals with similar morphological characteristics that can breed among themselves and produce fertile offspring of their own kind.
Answer. Species

Question 5. The body of a multicellular and filamentous fungus is termed as a mycelium and it consists of numerous thread-like structures called ______.
Answer. Hyphae

Question 6. Sessile, sedentary, and marine except for one group that lives in freshwater. They are popularly known as ______.
Answer. Sponges

Question 7. Nephridia are osmoregulatory organs that are found in many ______.
Answer. invertebrates

Question 8. Parasitic nematodes are pathogenic. For example, Wuchereria bancrofti causes ______ in humans.
Answer. elephantiasis

Question 9. Most primitive plants, in which plant body is not differentiated into roots, stem,s and leaves. Instead, it is in the form of ______.
Answer. thallus

Question 10. ______ is a group of species that are related and have less characteristics in common as compared to species.
Answer. Genus

Chapter 3 Diversity In Living Organisms True or False

Question 1. Gymnosperms differ from angiosperms in having covered seed.
Answer. False

Question 2. Non-flowering plants are called Cryptogamae.
Answer. True

Question 3. Bryophytes have conducting tissue.
Answer. False

Question 4. Funaria is a moss.
Answer. True

Question 5. Compound leaves are found in many ferns.
Answer. True

Question 6. Seeds contain embryos.
Answer. True

Chapter 3 Diversity In Living Organisms Match the Columns

Question 1.

Select the correct option.

1. A-4, B-3, C-1, D-5, E-2
2. A-2, B-4, C-5, D-1, E-3
3. A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2, E-5
4. A-4, B-2, C-5, D-3, E-1

Answer. 3. A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2, E-5

Question 2.

Select the correct option.

1. A-4, B-3, C-1, D-5, E-2
2. A-2, B-4, C-5, D-1, E-3
3. A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2, E-5
4. A-2, B-3, C-1, D-5, E-4

Answer. 4. A-2, B-3, C-1, D-5, E-4

Question 3.

Select the correct option.

1. A-4, B-3, C-1, D-5, E-2
2. A-2, B-4, C-5, D-1, E-3
3. A-3, B-5, C-1, D-4, E-2
4. A-2, B-3, C-1, D-5, E-4

Answer. 1. A-4, B-3, C-1, D-5, E-2

Question 4.

Select the correct option.

1. A-4, B-1, C-5, D-2, E-3
2. A-2, B-4, C-5, D-1, E-3
3. A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2, E-5
4. A-2, B-3, C-1, D-5, E-4

Answer. 1. A-4, B-1, C-5, D-2, E-3

Question 5.

Select the correct option.

1. A-4, B-3, C-1, D-5, E-2
2. A-2, B-4, C-5, D-1, E-3
3. A-4, B-5, C-2, D-1, E-3
4. A-2, B-3, C-1, D-5, E-4

Answer. 3. A-4, B-5, C-2, D-1, E-3

Chapter 3 Diversity In Living Organisms Long Answer Type Question And Answers

Question 1. Thallophyta, Bryophyta and Pteridophyta are known as ‘Cryptogams’. Gymnosperms and angiosperms are called ‘phanerogams’. Discuss why?
Answer.

Thallophyta, Bryophyta and Pteridophyta are known as ‘Cryptogams’. Gymnosperms and angiosperms are called ‘phanerogams’.

Thallophyta, Bryophyta and Pteridophyta are called ‘Cryptogams’ because the reproductive organs of these groups are inconspicuous or hidden. Seeds are absent. On the other hand, ‘Phanerogams’ include gymnosperms and angiosperms which have well-differentiated reproductive tissue and the embryo with stored food. Embryo develops into seed

Question 2. Which organism is more complex and evolved among bacteria, mushroom and mango tree. Give reasons.
Answer.

Mango tree is more complex and evolved because it is eukaryotic, autotrophic, terrestrial sporophyte with covered seed. The bacteria is unicellular prokaryote and fungi are heterotrophic, simple thallophyte with no tissue system

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Question 3. Discuss the characteristics features between pteridophytes and spermatophytes.
Answer.

Differences between Pteridophytes and Phanerogams (Spermatophytes):

Diversity Of Living Organisms

Question 4. List out some common features in cat,rat and bat.
Answer.

common features in cat,rat and bat:

Bat, rat and cat belongs to the class Mammalia and have the following common features.

• All have notochord at some stage of life cycle.
• All are warm blooded.
• All have four-chambered heart.
• All have skin covered with hair and with sweat and oil glands.

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Question 5. Give the characteristics features of five-kingdom classification.
Answer.

The characteristics features of five-kingdom classification:

Question 6. Draw the flowchart to understand the plant classification.
Answer.

The flowchart to understand the plant classification:

Question 7. Describe the features of chordates and non-chordates and how they are different from each other.
Answer.

Differences between Non-chordates and Chordates:

Question 8. Discuss how phylum Porifera and Coelenterata are different from each other.
Answer:

Difference between phylum Porifera and Coelenterata:

Question 9. Explain how animals in Vertebrata are classified into further subgroups.
Answer:

Vertebrata is divided into two superclasses, namely Pisces and Tetrapoda. Animals of Pisces have streamlined body with fins and tails to assist in swimming. Animals of Tetrapoda have four limbs for locomotion.

Tetrapoda is further classified into the following classes.

• Arnphibia: It is adapted to live in water and on land. Can breathe oxygen through skin when under water.
• Reptilia: These are crawling animals. Skin is hard to withstand extreme temperatures.
• Ves: Forelimbs are modified into wings to assist in flying. Beaks are present. Body is covered with feathers.
• Mammalia: Mammary glands are present to nurture young ones. Skin is covered with hair. Most of the animals are viviparous.

Question 10. Describe how phylum annelids and arthropods are different from each other. 

Answer:

Difference between Phylum annelids and Arthropods:

Question 11. How would you choose between two characteristics to be used for developing a hierarchy in classification?
Answer:

The gross character will form the basis of the start of the hierarchy and the fine character will form the basis of further steps of a single hierarchy.

Example:

• The presence of vertebral column in human beings can be taken under Vertebrata.
• The presence of four limbs makes them members of Tetrapoda.
• The presence of mammary glands keeps them under Mammalia.

Question 12. Discuss the characteristics and features between Aves and Mammals.

Answer:

The characteristics features between Aves and Mammals.

Question 13. What is notochord?
Answer:

Notochord Meaning:

Notochord is a primitive kind of endoskeleton that is present in all chordates at some stage of life cycle. Notochord gives longitudinal stiffening to the main body axis, a base for trunk muscles and an axis around which the vertebral column develops.

Chapter 3 Diversity In Living Organisms Short Answer Type Question And Answers

Question 1. Discuss how gymnosperms and angiosperms differ from each other.
Answer.

Differences between Gymnosperms and Angiosperms 

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Question 2. Discuss the characteristics and features between dicotyledonae and monocotyledonae.
Answer.

Differences between Dicotyledonae and Monocotyledonae :

Question 3. Discuss the characteristics features between Amphibia and Reptilia.
Answer.

Differences between Amphibia and Reptilia:

Diversity Of Living Organisms

Question 4. Discuss the characteristics features of Chordata.
Answer.

The characteristics features of Chordata:

• A dorsal, hollow, tubular nerve cord is present.
• A pliable rod known as notochord is present ventral to nerve cord and is replaced by a bone or cartilage to form a vertebral column in vertebrates. Paired gill-slits in the pharynx.
• Body is bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic and coelomate.
• A post-anal tail is present at some stage of life.
• Segmental muscles in an unsegmented trunk. Ventral heart with dorsal and ventral blood vessels and closed blood vascular system.
• A complete digestive system is present. A  cartilaginous endoskeleton is present in vertebrates.

Question 5. Discuss the features of Platyhelminthes and Nematoda.
Answer.

Difference Between Platyhelminthes and Nematoda:

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Question 6. Discuss the characteristics features animal kingdom when classified on the basis of common features.
Answer.

The characteristics features animal kingdom when classified on the basis of common features:

Question 7. Describe how pteridophytes and phanerograms are different in features.
Answer.

Differences between Pteridophytes and Phanerogams (Spermatophytes):

Chapter 3 Diversity In Living Organisms Master Your Test Question And Answers

Question 1. What is taxonomy?
Answer:

Taxonomy:

Taxonomy is the scientific study of identification, nomenclature and classification of organisms.

Question 2. What is binomial nomenclature?
Answer:

Binomial Nomenclature:

The naming system where every organism’s scientific names consist of two names, where the first name is the genus to which an organism belongs and the second name is the species to which it belongs

Question 3. Why do we classify organisms?
Answer:

Reason for Classification of organisms

For easier and convenient study, we classify organisms.

Question 4. Which of the following do you think is a more basic characteristic for classifying organisms?

• The place where they live.
• The kind of cells they are made of.

Answer: Classification based on living place is more basic as there can be wide variations in organisms living in each place.

Question 5. What do you understand by the term ‘Palaeontology’?
Answer:

Palaeontology:

The study of evidences of the past life in the form of fossils. With such a large repository of organisms, it would not be easy to study every living form separately at an individual level.

Question 6. What is the primary characteristic in which the first division of organisms is made?
Answer:

Primary characteristic in which the first division of organisms is made

Nature of cell is the primary characteristic in which the first division of organisms is decided. Based on this criterion, life forms can be classified into prokaryotes or eukaryotes.

Question 7. What is the characteristics differences between natural and artificial classification systems?
Answer:

Difference between natural and artificial classification systems:

Question 8. On what basis are plants and animals put into different categories?
Answer:

On the following basis the plants and animals put into different categories

Mode of nutrition and the presence or absence of cell walls.

Question 9. What are the criteria for the five-kingdom classification?
Answer:

• The complexity of eukaryotes and prokaryotes was considered.
• Body organization was considered.
• The mode of nutrition was studied.
• The lifestyles of producers, consumers, and decomposers were considered.
• A phylogenic relationship was taken.

Question 10. What is the criterion for the classification of organisms as belonging to the kingdom Monera or Protista?
Answer:

The criterion for the classification of organisms as belonging to the kingdom Monera or Protista

It is the presence or absence of a well-defined nucleus. Monera has no nuclear membrane, while Protista shows well-defined nucleus.

Question 11. What are lichens?
Answer:

Lichens:

They are the association of blue-green algae and fungi living in symbiotic relationship. The algal component of the lichens is called phycobiont, whereas the fungal component is called mycobiont.

Question 12. In which kingdom will you place an organism which is single-celled, eukaryotic and photosynthetic?
Answer:

Protista.

Question 13. What is psychology?
Answer:

Phycology

The study of algae is called phycology.

Question 14. In the hierarchy of classification, which grouping will have the smallest number of organisms with a maximum of characteristics in common, and which will have the largest number of organisms?
Answer:

Organisms belonging to kingdom Monera will have a small number of organisms with a maximum of characteristics in common and kingdom Animalia will have the largest number of organisms.

Question 15. Which division among plants has the simplest organisms?
Answer:

Thallophyta or algae.

Question 16. Discuss the characteristics and features of cryptogamae and phanerogamae.
Answer:

Difference Between crypto game and Phanerogamae:

Question 17. How are pteridophytes different from the phanerogams?
Answer:

Pteridophytes have naked embryos and inconspicuous reproductive organs, whereas phanerogams have well-differentiated reproductive organs and covered embryos.

Question 18. Describe how algae and fungi are different from each other.
Answer:

Question 19. How do gymnosperms and angiosperms differ from each other?
Answer:

Seeds are naked in gymnosperms and seeds are covered in angiosperms.

Question 20. What are the amphibians of the plant kingdom?
Answer:

Small, multicellular bryophyte plants are found in shady damp places. Hence, they are also called the amphibians of the plant kingdom.

Question 21. Discuss the characteristics and features of bryophytes and pteridophytes.
Answer:

Difference Between bryophytes and pteridophytes: