LESSON-6
THE LIVING ORGANISMS--CHARACTERISTICS AND HABITATS
Answer the following
Q 1. What are the different components of a habitat?
A: The main components are
a) Biotic components – The organisms, both plants and animals, living in a habitat are its
biotic components.
b) Abiotic components- The non-living things such as rocks, soil, air and water in the
habitats are its abiotic components.
Q 2. What are the adaptations of camels which help them to survive in a desert?
A: a) The long legs of the camel help to keep its body away from the heat of the sand.
b) It has a hump filled with fat which is used when the camel does not get anything to eat.
c) They have long eyelashes which keep the sand away from the eyes.
d) They excrete very little amount of urine; its dung is dry and it does not sweat.
Q 3. How are cactus plants adapted to live in a desert?
A: a) Their leaves are reduced to spines to prevent loss of water.
b) They have thick fleshy green stems to store water and to prepare food.
c) Their stems are covered with a thick waxy layer which helps to retain water.
d) They have long roots that go very deep into the soil to absorb water.
Q 4. How are trees found in mountain regions adapted to their habitat?
A: Trees in mountain regions are cone shaped and have sloping branches. The leaves of some
trees have needle like shape. this helps the rainwater and snow to slide off easily.
Q 5. Discuss the features of lions and deer that help them to survive in the grassland?
A: Features of lion
a) Its light brown colour helps it to hide in dry grasslands when it hunts for its prey.
b) The eyes in the front of the face allow it to have a correct idea about the location of the
prey.
c) It has long claws in its front legs that can be drawn inside the toes.
Features of deer
a) It has strong teeth for chewing the hard plant stems.
b) It has long ears to hear the movement of the predators.
c) The eyes on the side of its head allow it to look in all directions for danger.
Q 6. What are the adaptations of the fish which help it to survive in water?
A: a) The shape of the fish is streamlined which helps them to move in water.
b) The slippery scales help to protect their bodies and also allow easy movement in water.
c) The flat fins and tail help them to change directions and to keep their body balance in
water.
Q 7. What are the adaptations of frogs which help them to stay inside the water and to move on
land?
A: a) They have webbed feet which help them to swim in water.
b) They have long and strong back legs that help them in hopping on the land and
catching their prey.
c) They have lungs to breathe on land and moist skin to breathe in water.
Q 8. What are the adaptations of aquatic plants?
A: a) Some plants have ribbon-like leaves which can bend in flowing water.
b) Some plants have stems with air spaces which enable the plants to float.
c) Some plants have a waxy coating which makes them waterproof.
Q 9. List the characteristics that are common to all living organisms?
A: All living things need food. They respire, excrete, respond to stimuli, reproduce, grow
and show movement.
Define the following
a) Adaptation-
The presence of specific features or certain habits, which enable a plant or animal to live
In its surroundings is called adaptation.
b) habitat-
The surrounding where the living organisms live is called a habitat.
c) Respiration-
The process by which the living body exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide to obtain energy
from the food they take.
d) Stimuli-
The changes in our surroundings that make us respond to them are called stimuli.
e) Excretion-
The process by which living organisms get rid of waste products from their body is called
excretion.
Give Reasons
a) Leaves in desert plants are either absent, very small or in form of spines.
A: The leaves in desert plants are either absent, very small ,or they are in the form of spines to
help in reducing loss of water from the leaves through transpiration.
b) Animals like yak, bear and snow leopard have thick fur.
A: Animals living in mountain regions have thick skin, fur or long hair on their body to protect
them from cold.
c) Speed is important for survival of animals living in grassland.
A: There are few trees or places for animals to hide in grasslands. So, speed of the animals
helps them to run away from the predators.
