The Living Organisms – Characteristics and Habitats Worksheet

Objective Type Questions

1. Write the habitat of each plant/animal shown in the figures (a) to (d). Choose your answers from the choices given in the brackets.
   (Grassland, Pond, Ocean, Desert, Mountain, Forest)
   
   
   
   
2. Some clues are provided below. Based on these clues, identify the animals. Select your answer from the choices given in the brackets.
   (mountain goat, polar bear, whale, deer, lion, snow leopard, camel, frog)
   (a) I have white fur on my body. I live in the polar regions.
   (b) I have strong back legs and webbed feet. I live in ponds.
   (c) I have blowholes to breathe in air. I live in the sea.
   (d) I have strong teeth, long ears, and eyes on the side of my head. I live in grasslands.
   (e) I have strong hooves. I live in the mountains. 
   
   
3. Match the terms in column A with appropriate terms in column B.
   
   
   Multiple Choice Questions
   
   
4. Animals like camels can survive in a desert. Which of the following features in a camel helps it to survive in the desert?
   (a) Hump produces food
   (b) Long neck helps to store more water
   (c) Long legs protect from the heat of the sand
   (d) Thicker skin helps in the transpiration of more water
   
   
5. Polar bears living in the cold regions have long hairs on their body. How do these hairs help these animals to survive in the cold regions?
   (a) Keep their body warm
   (b) Help them to run faster
   (c) Help them to swim in water
   (d) Absorb water from the atmosphere
   
   
6. Two potted plants were covered with polythene bags – one had a desert plant and the other had a land plant. If these plants were kept in sunlight, what would you observe?
   (a) Desert plant releases more water in the polythene bag
   (b) Land plant releases more water in the polythene bag
   (c) Both the plants release the same amount of water
   (d) Both the plants do not release water
   
   
7. The table lists few abiotic components and its availability in different habitats.
   
   The availability of which abiotic components is correctly explained in the given table?
   (a) Only light
   (b) Only gases
   (c) Both light and temperature
   (d) Both gases and temperature
   
   
8. The picture shows a plant which was left near a sunny window unattended for few weeks.
   
   What can be concluded based on the observation?
   (a) Water is essential for the plants to survive.
   (b) Presence of water makes the leaves green.
   (c) Plants grow stronger in the absence of water.
   (d) Plants can absorb water from the atmosphere.
   
   
9. Kunal performed an experiment in which he planted two similar plants in two different pots. He covered one plant with a carton and placed the other plant close to the window. He provided equal amount of water to both the plants. After 10 days, he observed the growth of the plants which is depicted below.
   
   Which of these statements can be concluded based on the activity?
   (a) Plants produces their own food.
   (b) Plants require sunlight to grow.
   (c) Plants can survive without air and water.
   (d) Growth of a plant depends only on the supply of water.
   
   
10. Cactus is a desert plant which lacks leaves but instead has a thick stem which is responsible for photosynthesis. Why are leaves absent in the cactus plants?
    (a) Leaves would have wilted easily in the strong desert Sun.
    (b) Leaves are absent to save the plants from the predators.
    (c) Leaves would have caused increased loss of water from the plant.
    (d) Leaves are reduced to spines to protect from cold nights in the desert.
    
    
11. Snakes do not have protective modifications like camels and coyotes, to survive under the hot desert Sun for a long time. Still, how are they considered to be a part of the desert’s biodiversity?
    (a) They only reside in a desert wherever there is an oasis.
    (b) They have a slimy coating which makes it easier for them to slither through the sand.
    (c) They are nocturnal and mostly stay deep underground during the day.
    (d) They are less mobile in a desert and feed on whatever is available nearby.
    
    
12. Fishes and mammals such as dolphins and whales live in an aquatic habitat. Fishes respire underwater through their gills. However, dolphins and whales do not have gills. How do they breathe to survive in aquatic habitats along with fishes?
    (a) They respire through their skin.
    (b) They absorb the gases dissolved in the water.
    (c) They absorb the gases through the membranes present in their fins.
    (d) They hold their breath underwater and come up to breathe the air via nostrils.
    
    
13. A child has a trouble in understanding that all plants are living organisms, just like humans. However, the child is not convinced as plants cannot move around like humans, other animals, birds, and fishes. Which of the following can be told to the child to make him understand that even plants are living things, like humans?
    (a) Plants can absorb water from the soil.
    (b) Plants are present in large numbers and variety.
    (c) Plants can reproduce and create new plants similar to themselves.
    (d) Plants are found in both, terrestrial and aquatic habitats.
    
    Subjective Questions
    
    
14. Why high-altitude climbers need to have a stay at their base camp before they start the climb?
    
    
15. potted plant was growing upright. However, accidentally it got overturned and started growing as shown below. How would you explain this phenomenon?
    
    
    
    
16. Given below are few plants and their adaptations. Study them carefully and pick out the correct point of significance of each of these adaptations for the respective plants.
    
    
    
    Case-Based Questions
    
    
17. Habitat is the natural dwelling place of an organism. In a habitat, both biotic and abiotic components live in close inter-relationship with each other. Habitats can be broadly classified into two types – aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Lakes, rivers, and oceans are some examples of aquatic habitats. Organisms found in the aquatic habitats include fish, frog, shark, coral reef, and duck. Forests, grasslands, deserts, coastal and mountain regions are included under terrestrial habitats. Terrestrial habitats include organisms such as camel, gorilla, sloth, wolf, and eagle.
    a) Which of the following correctly defines a habitat?
    (a) The place where an organism lives
    (b) The area in the vicinity of an organism
    (c) The place where both biotic and abiotic components are found
    (d) The area in which an organism lives and its surrounding places
    
    b) Which of the following shows the inter-relationship between biotic and abiotic components of a habitat? 
    (a) Host-parasite relationship
    (b) Rainfall provides moisture to the soil in which plants grow
    (c) Prey-predator relationship
    (d) Decomposers feed on dead and decaying animals.
    
    c) Classify the following as biotic and abiotic components.
    
    d) Which of the following is not found in a terrestrial habitat?
    (a) Bear
    (b) Walrus
    (c) Jaguar
    (d) Starfish
     
18. Living things have certain common characteristics – they need food, they respire, and excrete, respond to their environment, reproduce, grow, and show movement.
    The given picture is of a caterpillar. Based on the given picture, answer the following questions:
    a) Which feature of caterpillar is shown in the picture?
    (a) Growth
    (b) Reproduction
    (c) Breathing through tiny pores on its bodies
    (d) Response to changes in the environment
    
    b) Which of the following shows the same feature as that shown by the caterpillar in the given figure?
    (a) Fishes use gills for absorbing the oxygen in water.
    (b) Leaves of touch-me-not plant close when someone touches them.
    (c) A chick grows into a hen.
    (d) Plants produce seeds.
    
    c) How does the green colour of the caterpillar help it to survive?
    
    Assertion-Reasoning Questions
    
    Below questions consist of two statements – Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer these questions selecting the appropriate option given below: 
    
    
19. Assertion (A): Adaptation is a method by which organisms get well adjusted to their surroundings.
    Reason (R): Adaptation does not take place in a short time.
     
20. Assertion (A): Polar bear has padded feet while the yak has sharp hooves and horns.
    Reason (R): These adaptations help the animals to protect themselves from the cold temperature, snow, and chilly winds.

Objective Type Questions

1. Write the habitat of each plant/animal shown in the figures (a) to (d). Choose your answers from the choices given in the brackets.
   (Grassland, Pond, Ocean, Desert, Mountain, Forest)
   
   
   Solution:
   (a) Cactus – Desert
   (b) Yak – Mountain
   (c) Deer – Grassland
   (d) Frog – Pond
   
   
2. Some clues are provided below. Based on these clues, identify the animals. Select your answer from the choices given in the brackets.
   (mountain goat, polar bear, whale, deer, lion, snow leopard, camel, frog)
   (a) I have white fur on my body. I live in the polar regions.
   (b) I have strong back legs and webbed feet. I live in ponds.
   (c) I have blowholes to breathe in air. I live in the sea.
   (d) I have strong teeth, long ears, and eyes on the side of my head. I live in grasslands.
   (e) I have strong hooves. I live in the mountains. 
   Solution:
   (a) Polar bear
   (b) Frog
   (c) Whale
   (d) Deer
   (e) Mountain goat
   
   
3. Match the terms in column A with appropriate terms in column B.
   
   Solution:
   (a) Lion – ii) Eyes in front of the face 
   (b) Cactus – iv) Stem covered with thick and waxy layer
   (c) Water lily – i) Stem is long, hollow, and light 
   (d) Fishes – iii) Streamlined body
   
   Multiple Choice Questions
   
   
4. Animals like camels can survive in a desert. Which of the following features in a camel helps it to survive in the desert?
   (a) Hump produces food
   (b) Long neck helps to store more water
   (c) Long legs protect from the heat of the sand
   (d) Thicker skin helps in the transpiration of more water
   Correct Option: (c) Long legs protect from the heat of the sand
   Solution: The body structure of camels helps them to survive in the deserts. They have long legs that help them to keep their body away from the hot sand. As there is enough distance between their body and the hot sand, they do not sweat.
   
   
5. Polar bears living in the cold regions have long hairs on their body. How do these hairs help these animals to survive in the cold regions?
   (a) Keep their body warm
   (b) Help them to run faster
   (c) Help them to swim in water
   (d) Absorb water from the atmosphere
   Correct Option: (a) Keep their body warm
   Solution: The long hairs on the body of a polar bear act as an insulator to the cold outside. They also prevent escaping the internal heat of the body of polar bear. Thus, long hairs protect the animal from harsh cold climatic conditions and ensure its survival in a cold region.
   
   
6. Two potted plants were covered with polythene bags – one had a desert plant and the other had a land plant. If these plants were kept in sunlight, what would you observe?
   (a) Desert plant releases more water in the polythene bag
   (b) Land plant releases more water in the polythene bag
   (c) Both the plants release the same amount of water
   (d) Both the plants do not release water
   Correct Option: (b) Land plant releases more water in the polythene bag
   Solution: Desert plants have small or reduced leaves which limits the loss of water. They have a thick outer layer of cuticle to prevent the excessive loss of water by transpiration. Hence, as compared to a desert plant, a land plant releases more water due to transpiration. Hence, more water is likely to be found in the polythene bag covering the land plant.
   
   
7. The table lists few abiotic components and its availability in different habitats.
   
   The availability of which abiotic components is correctly explained in the given table?
   (a) Only light
   (b) Only gases
   (c) Both light and temperature
   (d) Both gases and temperature
   Correct Option: (c) Both light and temperature
   Solution: Availability of light in terrestrial habitats decreases with an increase in the depth. In aquatic habitats, light is readily available throughout. Temperature variations are often less in terrestrial habitats whereas a large variation in temperature is seen in aquatic habitats.
   
   
8. The picture shows a plant which was left near a sunny window unattended for few weeks.
   
   What can be concluded based on the observation?
   (a) Water is essential for the plants to survive.
   (b) Presence of water makes the leaves green.
   (c) Plants grow stronger in the absence of water.
   (d) Plants can absorb water from the atmosphere.
   Correct Option: (c) Water is essential for the plants to survive.
   Solution: Water is an abiotic component which is essential for the growth of the plants. Plants also need other abiotic components such as soil, air, temperature, and sunlight for their growth.
   
   
9. Kunal performed an experiment in which he planted two similar plants in two different pots. He covered one plant with a carton and placed the other plant close to the window. He provided equal amount of water to both the plants. After 10 days, he observed the growth of the plants which is depicted below.
   
   Which of these statements can be concluded based on the activity?
   (a) Plants produces their own food.
   (b) Plants require sunlight to grow.
   (c) Plants can survive without air and water.
   (d) Growth of a plant depends only on the supply of water.
   Correct Option: (b) Plants require sunlight to grow.
   Solution: Plants require sunlight, water, temperature, soil and air for its proper growth and survival. They cannot survive in the absence of either of these abiotic components.
   
   
10. Cactus is a desert plant which lacks leaves but instead has a thick stem which is responsible for photosynthesis. Why are leaves absent in the cactus plants?
    (a) Leaves would have wilted easily in the strong desert Sun.
    (b) Leaves are absent to save the plants from the predators.
    (c) Leaves would have caused increased loss of water from the plant.
    (d) Leaves are reduced to spines to protect from cold nights in the desert.
    Correct Option: (c) Leaves would have caused increased loss of water from the plant.
    Solution: Our body gets most of the water that our body needs by drinking fluids such as tea, coffee, and juice. Water helps our body to absorb nutrients from food. It helps to control and regulate our body temperature It also eliminates some wastes from the body in the form of urine and sweat. In the absence of intake of fluids, water content in our body will be reduced and consequently, the output of sweat and urine will also be reduced.
    
    
11. Snakes do not have protective modifications like camels and coyotes, to survive under the hot desert Sun for a long time. Still, how are they considered to be a part of the desert’s biodiversity?
    (a) They only reside in a desert wherever there is an oasis.
    (b) They have a slimy coating which makes it easier for them to slither through the sand.
    (c) They are nocturnal and mostly stay deep underground during the day.
    (d) They are less mobile in a desert and feed on whatever is available nearby.
    Correct Option: (c) They are nocturnal and mostly stay deep underground during the day
    Solution: Deserts are mostly covered with sand which heats up very quickly in the daytime and cools down at night. During the day, as the temperature rises, the sand heats up. Desert snakes burrow deep into the sand during the day because at that depth the sand is cooler than the surface. They move out of the burrows at night after the surrounding gets cooler.
    
    
12. Fishes and mammals such as dolphins and whales live in an aquatic habitat. Fishes respire underwater through their gills. However, dolphins and whales do not have gills. How do they breathe to survive in aquatic habitats along with fishes?
    (a) They respire through their skin.
    (b) They absorb the gases dissolved in the water.
    (c) They absorb the gases through the membranes present in their fins.
    (d) They hold their breath underwater and come up to breathe the air via nostrils.
    Correct Option: (d) They hold their breath underwater and come up to breathe the air via nostrils
    Solution: Mammals such as dolphins and whales which live in the sea do not have gills for respiration. They breathe in air through the nostrils or blowholes that are located on the upper parts of their heads. This allows them to breathe in air when they swim near the surface of water. They can stay inside the water for a long time without breathing. They come out to the surface from time to time, to breathe in air.
    
    
13. A child has a trouble in understanding that all plants are living organisms, just like humans. However, the child is not convinced as plants cannot move around like humans, other animals, birds, and fishes. Which of the following can be told to the child to make him understand that even plants are living things, like humans?
    (a) Plants can absorb water from the soil.
    (b) Plants are present in large numbers and variety.
    (c) Plants can reproduce and create new plants similar to themselves.
    (d) Plants are found in both, terrestrial and aquatic habitats.
    Correct Option: (c) Plants can reproduce and create new plants similar to themselves
    Solution: Although plants cannot move from one place to another, they still show movements of plant parts such as leaves and flowers. Also, they able to grow, reproduce, respond to stimuli, respire and excrete wastes which are all characteristics of living things. Hence, plants are living things like humans, other animals, birds, and fishes.
    
    Subjective Questions
    
    
14. Why high-altitude climbers need to have a stay at their base camp before they start the climb?
    Solution: In humans, altitude sickness is common when they go to high mountains where the oxygen content is very low. They feel breathlessness and experience nausea. However, certain changes take place in their body over a short period of time which help them to adjust to the changes in its surroundings. This is called acclimatisation. Hence, high altitude climbers stay for few days at the base camp so that their bodies acclimatise to the changes in their surroundings and then they climb up slowly to the higher camps.
    
    
15. potted plant was growing upright. However, accidentally it got overturned and started growing as shown below. How would you explain this phenomenon?
    
    
    Solution: A potted plant grows in the direction of sunlight. It responds to the stimulus of light. When the plant was straight, it grew upright in the direction of sunlight. When the plant got overturned, the stem of the plant became horizontal. However, the stimulus of light was still vertical. Hence, the stem of the plant bent and started growing upwards in the direction of light.
    
    
16. Given below are few plants and their adaptations. Study them carefully and pick out the correct point of significance of each of these adaptations for the respective plants.
    
    
    Solution: 
    
    
    Case-Based Questions
    
    
17. Habitat is the natural dwelling place of an organism. In a habitat, both biotic and abiotic components live in close inter-relationship with each other. Habitats can be broadly classified into two types – aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Lakes, rivers, and oceans are some examples of aquatic habitats. Organisms found in the aquatic habitats include fish, frog, shark, coral reef, and duck. Forests, grasslands, deserts, coastal and mountain regions are included under terrestrial habitats. Terrestrial habitats include organisms such as camel, gorilla, sloth, wolf, and eagle.
    a) Which of the following correctly defines a habitat?
    (a) The place where an organism lives
    (b) The area in the vicinity of an organism
    (c) The place where both biotic and abiotic components are found
    (d) The area in which an organism lives and its surrounding places
    Correct option: (a) The place where an organism lives
    Solution: The place where an organism lives is called its habitat. It is the natural dwelling place of an organism.
    
    b) Which of the following shows the inter-relationship between biotic and abiotic components of a habitat? 
    (a) Host-parasite relationship
    (b) Rainfall provides moisture to the soil in which plants grow
    (c) Prey-predator relationship
    (d) Decomposers feed on dead and decaying animals.
    Correct option: (b) Rainfall provides moisture to the soil in which plants grow
    Solution: Host-parasite relationship, prey-predator relationship and decomposers feeding on dead and decaying animals are all examples of interactions between biotic components of a habitat. Rainfall is an abiotic component while plants are biotic components. So, the moisture provided by rainfall for the growth of plants is an example of the inter-relationship between biotic and abiotic components of a habitat.
    
    c) Classify the following as biotic and abiotic components.
    
    Solution:
    Biotic components – Mango tree, lizard, bacteria
    Abiotic components – Soil, water, light, temperature
    
    d) Which of the following is not found in a terrestrial habitat?
    (a) Bear
    (b) Walrus
    (c) Jaguar
    (d) Starfish
    Correct option: (d) Starfish
    Solution: Bear, walrus and jaguar are animals found in a terrestrial habitat while starfish is found in an aquatic habitat.
     
18. Living things have certain common characteristics – they need food, they respire, and excrete, respond to their environment, reproduce, grow, and show movement.
    The given picture is of a caterpillar. Based on the given picture, answer the following questions:
    a) Which feature of caterpillar is shown in the picture?
    (a) Growth
    (b) Reproduction
    (c) Breathing through tiny pores on its bodies
    (d) Response to changes in the environment
    Correct option: (d) Response to changes in the environment
    Solution: Living things respond to changes in their environment. When a caterpillar is touched, it immediately coils. Here, touch is the stimulus and coiling is the response shown by the caterpillar.
    
    b) Which of the following shows the same feature as that shown by the caterpillar in the given figure?
    (a) Fishes use gills for absorbing the oxygen in water.
    (b) Leaves of touch-me-not plant close when someone touches them.
    (c) A chick grows into a hen.
    (d) Plants produce seeds.
    Correct option: (a) Leaves of touch-me-not plant close when someone touches them.
    Solution: Leaves of the touch-me-not plant respond to touch by closing. Touch is the stimulus and closing of the leaves of touch-me-not plant is the response.
    
    c) How does the green colour of the caterpillar help it to survive?
    Solution: The green colour of the caterpillar resembles the surrounding in which it lives. This helps the caterpillar to escape from the predators.
    
    Assertion-Reasoning Questions
    
    Below questions consist of two statements – Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer these questions selecting the appropriate option given below: 
    
    
19. Assertion (A): Adaptation is a method by which organisms get well adjusted to their surroundings.
    Reason (R): Adaptation does not take place in a short time.
    Correct Option: (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
    Solution: Adaptation is a method by which organisms get well adjusted to their surroundings. So, the assertion is true. Adaptation does not take place in a short time because the abiotic factors of a region change very slowly. Those organisms which cannot adapt to these changes die, and only the adapted ones survive. So, the reason is also true. However, the reason does not provide the correct explanation for the assertion.
     
20. Assertion (A): Polar bear has padded feet while the yak has sharp hooves and horns.
    Reason (R): These adaptations help the animals to protect themselves from the cold temperature, snow, and chilly winds.
    Correct Option: (b) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
    Solution: Mountain habitats are normally very cold and windy. In some areas, snowfall may take place in winters. Hence, the animals living in these regions adapt to protect themselves from the cold temperature, snow, and chilly winds. So, the reason is true. Polar bear has padded feet to enable it to walk on the snow. Yak has sharp hooves and horns to break the ice and graze on grass below the ice. In this way, these animals have developed certain adaptations to survive in the cold mountain regions. So, the assertion is also true and the reason correctly explains the given assertion.