Q1. What are pesticides? Explain how these are dangerous to human beings?

Pesticides are chemicals used to control pests such as insects, weeds, and fungi in agriculture,
public health, and homes. They can be dangerous to human beings in several ways:

 Health Effects: Pesticides can cause acute poisoning if ingested or through skin contact.
Long-term exposure has been linked to chronic health issues such as cancer, reproductive
problems, and neurological disorders.
 Environmental Impact: Pesticides can contaminate soil, water sources, and air,
affecting ecosystems and biodiversity.
 Residue in Food: Residues of pesticides on food can pose risks to consumers, especially
if not properly washed or cooked.

Q2. Explain briefly the difference between:

i) Brass and Bronze:

 Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.

 Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin.
 Brass is typically more yellow in color and has better corrosion resistance compared to
bronze.

ii) Gallon and Barrel:

 Gallon: A unit of volume used primarily in the United States, equivalent to 3.785 liters.
 Barrel: A unit of volume used for liquids and oil, often standardized to 42 US gallons
(about 159 liters).

iii) Cyclone and Anticyclone:

 Cyclone: A weather system with inward-spiraling winds around a low-pressure center. It

is associated with clouds, rain, and stormy weather.
 Anticyclone: A weather system with outward-spiraling winds around a high-pressure
center. It is associated with dry and settled weather.

iv) Hurricane and Tornado:

 Hurricane: A large, rotating storm system with strong winds (74 mph or higher) that
forms over warm ocean waters. Hurricanes are large-scale weather systems.
 Tornado: A rapidly rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from
a thunderstorm. Tornadoes are smaller-scale and more localized than hurricanes.

v) Afforestation and Deforestation:

 Afforestation: The process of planting trees and establishing forests in an area where
there were no previous tree cover.
  Deforestation: The clearing or removal of trees and forests, usually for agriculture, urban
development, or logging.

Q3. Give the Scientific Reasoning of the following:

i) Wet objects dry faster at the mountain top:

 At higher altitudes, the air pressure is lower, which lowers the boiling point of water.
This causes water to evaporate more quickly, thus making wet objects dry faster.

ii) A layer of perfume on the skin produces a cooling effect:

 Perfume contains alcohol, which evaporates quickly from the skin. This evaporation
process absorbs heat from the skin, creating a cooling sensation.

iii) Walnuts can be broken in the hand by squeezing two together but not one:

 When two walnuts are squeezed together, the force is distributed across both nuts,
making it easier to break them. However, when squeezing just one walnut, the force is
concentrated on that single nut, which makes it harder to break.

Q4. Write brief about the following:

i) Mach:

 Mach refers to the speed of an object relative to the speed of sound in the surrounding
medium. Mach 1 is the speed of sound.

ii) Boric acid:

 Boric acid is a weak acid often used as an antiseptic, insecticide, flame retardant, and in
nuclear power plants as a neutron absorber.

iii) Quartz:

 Quartz is a mineral composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2). It is one of the most abundant
minerals in the Earth's crust and has many industrial uses, including in electronics and
jewelry.

iv) Optic Fiber:

 Optical fiber is a flexible, transparent fiber made of glass or plastic, used to transmit light
signals over long distances for telecommunications.

v) Sound Barrier:
  The sound barrier refers to the sudden increase in aerodynamic drag and other effects
experienced by an aircraft as it approaches the speed of sound.

Q5. Name the:

i) Ore of mercury metal: Cinnabar ii) Desert mammal which does not drink water:
Kangaroo Rat iii) Element which is abundantly present in the human body: Oxygen iv)
Device which converts the sound energy into electrical energy: Microphone v) Alloy
consisting of Cu, Zn, Ni: Nickel Silver or German Silver vi) Scientist who discovered
magnetism: William Gilbert vii) Astronaut who first landed on the surface of the moon: Neil
Armstrong viii) Solution which can dissolve gold: Aqua regia ix) Device with which the
variation of blood flow can be heard: Stethoscope x) Metal known as quick silver: Mercury

Qno6

i) Parkinson’s Disease:

 Parkinson's disease is primarily caused by the degeneration of dopamine-producing

neurons in the brain. The exact cause is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve
a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

ii) Scurvy:

 Scurvy is caused by a deficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in the diet. Vitamin C is

essential for the synthesis of collagen, which is important for maintaining the integrity of
connective tissues in the body.

iii) Alzheimer’s Disease:

 Alzheimer's disease is primarily caused by the accumulation of abnormal protein deposits

(amyloid plaques and tau tangles) in the brain, which lead to the progressive degeneration
and death of neurons. Genetic factors (such as mutations in certain genes) and
environmental factors may also play a role.

iv) Syphilis:

 Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.

It is transmitted through direct contact with a syphilitic sore (chancre) during sexual
activity. If untreated, syphilis can progress through several stages and affect multiple
organ systems.

v) Tetanus:
  Tetanus is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which produces a toxin that
affects the nervous system. The bacteria enter the body through cuts, wounds, or breaks
in the skin. Tetanus is characterized by severe muscle stiffness and spasms, often leading
to difficulty in breathing and even death if untreated.

Qno 07

i) Gall bladder:

1. Storage of bile: The gallbladder stores bile produced by the liver until it is needed in the
small intestine for digestion of fats.

ii) Bladder:

1. Storage of urine: The bladder stores urine produced by the kidneys until it is excreted
from the body through the urethra.

iii) Spleen:

1. Immune function: The spleen plays a key role in the immune system by filtering blood
and removing old or damaged red blood cells and bacteria.

iv) Bile Duct:

1. Transport of bile: The bile ducts carry bile from the liver and gallbladder to the small
intestine, where it aids in the digestion and absorption of fats.

v) Adrenal Cortex:

1. Hormone production: The adrenal cortex produces several important hormones such as
cortisol (involved in stress response), aldosterone (regulates blood pressure), and sex
hormones (like testosterone and estrogen).

vi) Larynx:

1. Voice production: The larynx houses the vocal cords, which vibrate to produce sound
and enable speech.

vii) Pulmonary veins:

1. Oxygenated blood transport: Pulmonary veins carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs
back to the heart, where it is pumped to the rest of the body.