Chapter -1 Nutrition in Living Organisms-Plants

A. Fill in the blanks.

Ans. (1) Heterotrophs (2) roots (3) Carbon dioxide, Oxygen (4) Stomata (5) insectivorous (6) (a)
water (b) Carbon dioxide

B. Match the following:

(1) Chlorophyll (a) Autotrophs

(2) Lichens (b) Saprotrophs

(3) Fungi (c) Symbiotic relationship

(4) Amarbel (d) Leaf

(5) Plants (e) Parasite

Answer:

C. Tick the correct option.

Answer:

(1) autotrophs (2) leaf (3) pitcher plant (4) saprotroph (5) rhizobium

D. Answer the following questions in brief.

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 Chapter -1 Nutrition in Living Organisms-Plants
1. Why is nutrition important for a living organism?

Answer: Nutrition is important because it enable living organisms to build their bodies,
to grow, to repair damaged parts of their bodies and to provide the energy to carry out
life processes.

2. How do green plants synthesis their food?

Answer: Green plants synthesis their food by the process of photosynthesis.

3. State the role of ‘vessels’ present in a plant.

Answer: Vessels help in transportation of water and minerals to other parts of the plant.

4. Define the following terms:

(a) Symbiotic relationship

Answer: Symbiotic relationship – Sometimes two organisms live in close association

and develop a relationship that is beneficial to both. This is called symbiotic relationship.
E.g.- Rhizobium( bacteria) living in the root of leguminous plant.

(b) Nutrients

Answer: Nutrients – Components of food such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats,

vitamins and minerals which are necessary for our body are called nutrients.

(c) Saprotrophic mode of nutrition

Answer: Saprotrophic mode of nutrition – Saprotrophic nutrition is the process in which

the organisms feed on dead and decaying matter.

(d) Photosynthesis

Answer: Photosynthesis – The process through which green plants prepare their own
food are called photosynthesis.

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 Chapter -1 Nutrition in Living Organisms-Plants
5. When some wheat dough was left in the open for a few days, it started emitting
a foul smell. State, why?

Answer: The wheat dough was left in the open for a few days, it started emitting a foul
smell due to the action of fungi and bacteria that grow on it. These organisms are called
Saprotrophs which obtain food from dead and decaying organic matter.

E. Answer the following questions.

1. Why would life not be possible on the earth in the absence of photosynthesis?

Answer: Plants make their food by the process of photosynthesis. In the absence of
photosynthesis there would be no plants and oxygen gas would not be released into the
atmosphere which is essential for respiration. All animals directly or indirectly dependent
on plants. So, life would not be possible on the earth in the absence of photosynthesis.

2. Give reasons for the following:

(a) Mushroom is a saprotroph.

Answer: Mushroom does not contain chlorophyll. So it does not make their own food by
photosynthesis. It gets its food from dead and decaying matter due to which it is known
as Saprotroph.

(b) Sun is the ultimate source of energy for all living organisms.

Answer: Plants use sunlight to make their food by the process of photosynthesis. This
food is then consumed by all the animals and human beings directly or indirectly.
Hence, Sun is the ultimate source of energy.

(c) The leaf of a plant ‘dies out’ if its stomata are blocked.

Answer: Stomata help in photosynthesis by exchanging the gases like oxygen and
Carbon dioxide. If stomata of a leaf are blocked, it does not make their food and the leaf
dies out.

(d) Leaf is known as the food factory of the plant.

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 Chapter -1 Nutrition in Living Organisms-Plants
Answer: The leaf of a plant synthesizes its food by the process of photosynthesis.
Hence, it is known as the food factory of the plant.

(e) Lichen is a ‘living partnership’ between a fungus and an alga and this
partnership is beneficial to both.

Answer: Lichen is a living partnership between a fungus and an alga. The fungus
absorbs water and provides shelter. The alga prepares food by photosynthesis. Hence,
this partnership is beneficial to both.

3. Why do some plants feed on insects? How does a pitcher plant catch insects?

Answer: Some plants feed on insects for their nitrogen requirements. These plants are
called insectivorous plants. Pitcher plant is an example of this type of plant. The leaf of
this plant gets modified to form a pitcher with a lid. When an insect enters, it cannot
climb back out against the hairs and ultimately falls to the bottom of the leaf, and gets
digested by the juices present there.

4. How do rhizobium bacteria and leguminous plants help each other in their
survival?

Answer: Rhizobium is a bacterium that lives in the roots of leguminous plants. It

converts nitrogen, from the atmosphere, into a usable form that can be utilised by the
plants. The plants, in turn, provide food and shelter to the bacterium.

5. Complete the web chart. Ans.-

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