Chapter 10 of Class 6 Science, Living Creatures: Exploring Characteristics, explains the basic features that make an organism living. Through simple questions and answers, students can easily understand this chapter.
1. List the similarities and differences in life cycles of plants and animals.
Answer:
✅ Similarities:
- Both plants and animals begin their life from a small stage (a seed in plants, an egg or a baby in animals).
- Both grow and develop into adults.
- Both reproduce to produce new individuals of their kind.
- Both respire and need survival food.
- Both have a definite life span.
✅ Differences:
| Plants | Animals |
|---|---|
| Plants grow throughout their life. | Animals grow only up to a certain age. |
| Plants usually remain fixed in one place. | Most animals can move from place to place. |
| Plants grow from seeds. | Animals grow from eggs or are born alive. |
| Plants make their own food by photosynthesis. | Animals depend on plants or other animals for food. |
2. Study the table and find suitable examples. If not possible, explain why.
| S. No. | Does it grow? | Does it respire? | Example | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No | No | Stone | Non-living thing |
| 2 | No | Yes | Dry seed | Respiration occurs slowly, no growth without water |
| 3 | Yes | No | Not possible | Growth requires respiration |
| 4 | Yes | Yes | Human / Plant | Living thing |
Explanation:
- A thing that grows and respires is living.
- Growth without respiration is not possible because energy is needed for growth.
- Some dry seeds respire very slowly but do not grow until proper conditions are available.
3. How can knowledge of seed germination help in proper storage of grains and pulses?
Answer:
Seeds need air, water, and suitable temperature to germinate.
For proper storage:
- Grains should be kept dry (no moisture).
- Store in cool places.
- Keep them in airtight containers.
This prevents germination and spoilage, keeping grains safe for a long time.
4. What is the advantage of having a tail in the tadpole stage?
Answer:
A tadpole lives in water and uses its tail for swimming.
The tail helps:
- In movement
- To escape from enemies
- To search for food
When it grows into a frog and develops legs, the tail disappears because it is no longer needed.
5. Give arguments about the statements of Charan and Charu.
Charan says: Wooden log is non-living because it cannot move.
Charu says: It is living because it is made of wood from trees.
Answer:
- Charan is correct. A wooden log is non-living because:
- It does not grow.
- It does not respire.
- It cannot reproduce.
- Charu is incorrect because although wood comes from a living tree, once cut, it no longer shows life processes.
So, a wooden log is non-living.
6. What are the similarities and differences in the life cycles of a mosquito and a frog?
✅ Similarities:
- Both lay eggs.
- Both undergo metamorphosis (change in body form).
- Both have aquatic early stages.
✅ Differences:
| Mosquito | Frog |
|---|---|
| Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult | Egg → Tadpole → Adult |
| Has four stages | Has three main stages |
| Pupa stage present | No pupa stage |
7. If a plant is provided all suitable conditions, what changes will be seen after one week?
Answer:
After one week:
- Shoot: Will grow upward towards light.
- Roots: Will grow downward into the soil.
Reason:
- Shoots grow towards light (phototropism).
- Roots grow towards gravity (geotropism).
- Proper water, air, sunlight, and nutrients help growth.
8. What do Tara and Vijay want to find out in the experiment? How will they know if they are correct?
Answer:
They want to find out whether air is necessary for seed germination.
They will know they are correct if:
- Seeds that get air will germinate.
- Seeds without air will not germinate.
By comparing both setups, they can confirm their result.
9. Design an experiment to check if temperature affects seed germination.
Answer:
🔬 Experiment Steps:
- Take two sets of seeds.
- Keep one set in a warm place.
- Keep the other set in a very cold place (like a refrigerator).
- Give both sets equal water and air.
- Observe for 4–5 days.
🔍 Observation:
- Seeds in a warm place will germinate faster.
- Seeds in a cold place may not germinate.
✅ Conclusion:
Temperature affects seed germination. Suitable warmth is necessary.