Science STD 6 Chapter 6: The Living Organisms - Characteristics and Habitats - Exercises

Science STD 6 Chapter 6: The Living Organisms - Characteristics and Habitats - Exercises

1. What is a habitat?

A habitat is the dwelling place or natural home of an organism, which provides it with food, water, air, shelter, and other needs for survival.

2. How are cactus adapted to survive in a desert?

Cactus plants are adapted to survive in deserts in several ways:

  • They have either very small leaves, or their leaves are absent or modified into spines to reduce water loss through transpiration.
  • Their stems are green, thick, and covered with a waxy layer to carry out photosynthesis and retain water.
  • Their roots go very deep into the soil to absorb water.

3. Fill up the blanks:

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

    adaptation

  2. The habitats of the plants and animals that live on land are called ............. habitat.

    terrestrial

  3. The habitats of plants and animals that live in water are called ............. habitat.

    aquatic

  4. Soil, water and air are the ............. factors of a habitat.

    abiotic

  5. Changes in our surroundings that make us respond to them, are called .............

    stimuli

4. Which of the things in the following list are non-living? Plough, Mushroom, Sewing machine, Radio, Boat, Water hyacinth, Earthworm.

The non-living things are: plough, sewing machine, radio, and boat.

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

A car is a non-living thing that shows some characteristics of living things. It moves from one place to another and requires fuel (food) to do so, similar to how living beings need energy to move.

6. Which of the non-living things listed below, were once part of a living thing? Butter, Leather, Soil, Wool, Electric bulb, Cooking oil, Salt, Apple, Rubber.

The non-living things that were once part of a living thing are:

  • Butter (from milk of a cow/buffalo)
  • Leather (from animal hide)
  • Wool (from sheep)
  • Cooking oil (from seeds of plants)
  • Apple (from an apple tree)
  • Rubber (from the rubber tree)

7. List the common characteristics of the living things.

The common characteristics of living things are:

  • They need food.
  • They respire (breathe).
  • They excrete waste.
  • They respond to stimuli.
  • They reproduce.
  • They grow.
  • They show movement.
  • They eventually die.

8. Explain, why speed is important for survival in the grasslands for animals that live there.

Speed is very important for the survival of animals in grasslands because there are few places to hide. Prey animals like deer need to be fast to run away from predators such as lions. Predators also need speed to chase and catch their prey. Therefore, speed is a key adaptation for both prey and predators in grassland habitats.

Suggested Projects and Activities

1. Many magazines and newspapers talk about possibility of life outside the Earth. Read these articles and have a discussion in the class about what could be defined as life outside Earth.

Outline: This activity promotes critical thinking and a discussion on the definition of life. Students can read about concepts like extremophiles on Earth that live in extreme conditions. The discussion should focus on whether the characteristics of living things (food, respiration, growth, reproduction, etc.) are universal or if life forms on other planets might have different characteristics. This expands on the concepts taught in the chapter.

2. Visit a local zoo and find out what special arrangements are made for the animals that have been brought there from different habitats.

Outline: This is a field trip-based activity to observe how zoos create artificial habitats that mimic an animal's natural environment. Students can note how different enclosures are designed with specific temperatures, plants, and terrain (e.g., polar bears in cold environments, monkeys with trees to climb). This highlights the importance of providing the right habitat for an organism's survival and showcases real-world application of the concepts of habitat and adaptation.

3. Find out where are the habitats of the polar bear and the penguin. For each animal, explain two ways in which it is well adapted to its habitat.

Outline: This is a research activity focusing on specific examples of adaptation.

Polar bear: Habitat is the Arctic region (polar habitat). It has thick white fur for insulation and camouflage, and a layer of fat under its skin to stay warm.

Penguin: Habitat is Antarctica (polar habitat). It has webbed feet for swimming and a streamlined body shape. Its dense feathers and blubber provide insulation against the cold water.

The activity demonstrates how different animals can be adapted to the same type of environment.

4. Find out which animals live in the foot-hills of the Himalayas. Find out if the types and varieties of animals and plants changes as one goes higher into the mountain regions of the Himalayas.

Outline: This activity involves researching how habitats and life forms change with altitude. Students will learn that at the foothills, the climate is milder, and flora/fauna are different from those found at very high altitudes where it is colder and windier. Animals like yaks and snow leopards are adapted to the extreme cold of higher altitudes, while the trees are typically cone-shaped with needle-like leaves.