I.

Very Short Answer Questions

Q1. What is a tissue?

Ans. A tissue is a group of cells that are similar in structure and work
together to perform a particular function.

Q2. Give one example of a plant tissue and one example of an animal
tissue.
Ans.

 Plant tissue: Phloem

 Animal tissue: Blood

Q3. Which tissue is responsible for growth in plants?

Ans. Meristematic tissue.

Q4. Which type of meristem increases the length of stems and roots?
Ans. Apical meristem.

Q5. Why are vacuoles absent in meristematic cells?

Ans. Because meristematic cells are actively dividing and need dense
cytoplasm for metabolic activity; vacuoles would reduce the space
available for this.

Q6. What is differentiation?

Ans. Differentiation is the process by which cells take up a permanent
shape, size, and function, losing the ability to divide.

Q7. Name the three types of simple permanent tissue.

Ans. Parenchyma, collenchyma, and sclerenchyma.

Q8. Which simple permanent tissue makes plants flexible?

Ans. Collenchyma.

Q9. What are guard cells?

Ans. Guard cells are two kidney-shaped cells that surround each stoma
and regulate its opening and closing.

Q10. Which substance is present in the cell wall of cork cells that makes
them impervious to water and gases?
Ans. Suberin.

Q11. Name the tissue responsible for movement in our body.

Answer: Muscular tissue.

Q12. Which connective tissue connects muscles to bones?

Answer: Tendons.

Q13. What is the matrix of blood called?

Answer: Plasma.
Q 14. Name one location where cartilage is found.
Answer: Nose / ear / trachea / larynx (any one).

Q 15. Which type of epithelial tissue forms the lining of kidney tubules?
Answer: Cuboidal epithelium.

Q16. Name the three types of muscular tissues found in the human body.
Ans. Skeletal (striated) muscles, Smooth (unstriated) muscles, and
Cardiac muscles.

Q17. Which type of muscles are found in the walls of blood vessels?
Ans. Smooth (unstriated) muscles.

Q18. What is the functional unit of the nervous system?

Ans. Neuron.

Q19. Name the long fibre of a neuron that carries nerve impulses away
from the cell body.
Ans. Axon.

Q20. Which type of muscular tissue is cylindrical, branched, and

uninucleate?
Ans. Cardiac muscle.

II. Short Answer Questions

Q21. State two differences between plant and animal tissues.

Ans.

Plant Tissues Animal Tissues

Mostly have dead supportive tissues Mostly have living cells for
for mechanical strength. performing various functions.

Growth is limited to certain regions Growth is uniform throughout the

due to meristematic tissues. body; no separate growing regions.

Q22. What is the function of vascular tissue in plants?

Ans. Vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) transport water, minerals, and
food to different parts of the plant.

Q23. Why do plants have more supportive tissue than animals?

Ans. Plants are stationary and need to remain upright, so they require a
large quantity of supportive tissue, which often contains dead cells for
strength.

Q24. Name the three types of meristematic tissues and write their
location.
Ans.
 1. Apical meristem – Present at the growing tips of roots and stems.

2. Lateral meristem (cambium) – Present along the sides of stems

and roots.

3. Intercalary meristem – Present near the nodes in some plants.

Q25. Why do animals require more energy than plants?

Ans. Animals move in search of food, mates, and shelter, which requires
more energy, whereas plants are stationary.

III. Long Answer Questions (4–5 marks)

Q26. Explain the differences in growth patterns between plants and

animals.
Ans.

 Plants: Growth is restricted to specific regions where meristematic

tissues are present (such as root tips, shoot tips, and nodes). Some
meristematic tissues divide throughout life.

 Animals: Growth occurs more uniformly across the body and is not
restricted to certain regions. Cells divide as required for
development, repair, and replacement.

 This difference is due to their lifestyles – plants are stationary and

grow continuously, while animals are mobile and have controlled
growth.

Q27. Describe the structure and characteristics of meristematic tissue.

Ans.

 Structure: Meristematic cells are small, have thin cellulose walls,

dense cytoplasm, and a prominent nucleus.

 Characteristics:

1. Cells are actively dividing.

2. They lack vacuoles to make space for dense cytoplasm and

rapid cell division.

3. Shape is usually spherical, oval, or polygonal.

 Function: Responsible for the growth of plants in length, girth, and

certain specific regions.

Q28. How are multicellular organisms different from unicellular organisms

in terms of division of labour? Give examples.
Ans.
  Unicellular organisms: A single cell performs all life processes
(e.g., Amoeba uses its single cell for movement, food intake,
gaseous exchange, and excretion).

 Multicellular organisms: Different groups of specialised cells

perform specific functions efficiently (e.g., in humans, muscle cells
cause movement, nerve cells carry messages, blood transports
substances).

 This specialisation of cells for different functions is called division

of labour.

Q30. Write the differences between apical, lateral, and intercalary

meristematic tissues.
Ans.

Type Location Function

Tips of roots and Increases length of plant

Apical meristem
stems organs.

Lateral meristem Sides of roots and

Increases girth/thickness.
(cambium) stems

Near nodes in some Increases length between

Intercalary meristem
plants nodes.

Q31. Give two functions of parenchyma tissue.

Ans.

1. Stores food in stems and roots.

2. In some cases, performs photosynthesis (chlorenchyma) or aids in

buoyancy in aquatic plants (aerenchyma).

Q32. Differentiate between collenchyma and sclerenchyma.

Ans.

Collenchyma Sclerenchyma

Cells are living, elongated, with Cells are dead, long, and narrow with
irregular thickening at corners. thick lignified walls.

Provides flexibility and mechanical

support. Prevent breakage in Provides hardness and rigidity.
bending parts like tendrils.

Found below the epidermis in lead Common in stems, around vascular

stalks. bundles, veins of leaves, and hard
Collenchyma Sclerenchyma

covering of seeds.

Minimal intercellular space Strengthens plant parts

Q33. What is the role of cutin in desert plants?

Ans. Cutin forms a thick waxy coating on the epidermis, making it
waterproof and reducing water loss in dry conditions.

Q34. Why are stomata important for plants?

Ans. Stomata help in exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) with
the atmosphere and in transpiration (loss of water vapour).

Q35. What are complex permanent tissues? Give examples.

Ans. Complex permanent tissues are made of more than one type of cell
working together for a common function. Examples: Xylem and Phloem.

Q 36. Why is blood classified as a connective tissue?

Answer: Blood is called a connective tissue because it connects different
parts of the body by transporting substances such as gases, nutrients,
hormones, and wastes through its fluid matrix, plasma.

Q 37. Differentiate between ligaments and tendons.

Answer:

 Ligaments: Connect bones to bones, elastic, provide strength,

have very little matrix.

 Tendons: Connect muscles to bones, strong but less flexible, made

of fibrous tissue.

Q 38. What is the function of ciliated columnar epithelium in the

respiratory tract?
Answer: Ciliated columnar epithelium has hair-like cilia that move to push
mucus forward, helping to clear dust and pathogens from the respiratory
tract.

III. Long Answer Questions (4–5 marks)

Q39. Describe the three types of simple permanent tissues in plants.

Ans.

1. Parenchyma:

o Loosely packed living cells with thin walls and large

intercellular spaces.

o Stores food, may perform photosynthesis (chlorenchyma), or

help in floating (aerenchyma).
 2. Collenchyma:

o Living, elongated cells with thickening at the corners.

o Provides flexibility and mechanical support, found in leaf

stalks below the epidermis.

3. Sclerenchyma:

o Dead cells with thick lignified walls, long and narrow.

o Provides hardness and strength, found in stems, around

vascular bundles, seed coats, and nutshells.

Q40. Explain the structure and functions of epidermis in plants.

Ans.

 Structure:

o Single layer of cells forming the outermost covering.

o Cells are flat, without intercellular spaces, often with thicker

outer walls.

o In dry habitats, epidermis is thicker and may have cutin

coating.

 Functions:

1. Protects plant parts from water loss, mechanical injury, and

infection.

2. Contains stomata for gas exchange and transpiration.

3. In roots, epidermal cells bear root hairs to increase absorption

surface.

4. In older stems, replaced by cork for protection.

Q41. What is cork? How is it formed and what is its function?

Ans.

 Cork is a protective tissue formed by a strip of secondary meristem

(cork cambium) in older plants.

 Cork cells are dead, compactly arranged without intercellular

spaces, and have suberin in their walls.

 Functions: Prevents water loss, blocks entry of pathogens, and

protects from mechanical injury.

Q42. Write the differences between Xylem and Phloem.

Ans.
Xylem Phloem

Transports water and minerals

Transports food from leaves to other
from roots to other parts of the
parts of the plant.
plant.

Consists of tracheids, vessels, Consists of sieve tubes, sieve cells,

xylem parenchyma, and xylem companion cells, phloem fibres, and
fibres. phloem parenchyma.

Mostly dead cells (except xylem

Mostly living cells (except phloem fibres).
parenchyma).

Q43. Describe the components of Xylem and Phloem and their functions.
Ans.

 Xylem:

1. Tracheids & Vessels – Tubular, thick-walled, dead cells for

vertical water transport.

2. Xylem Parenchyma – Stores food.

3. Xylem Fibres – Provide support.

 Phloem:

1. Sieve Tubes & Sieve Cells – Conduct food.

2. Companion Cells – Help in food transport and maintain sieve

tube function.

3. Phloem Parenchyma – Stores food.

4. Phloem Fibres – Provide support.

Q 44. Describe the different types of epithelial tissue with their

functions and locations.
Answer:

o Simple squamous epithelium: Thin and flat cells; allows

exchange of substances; found in lung alveoli and blood
vessel lining.

o Stratified squamous epithelium: Many layers; protects

against wear and tear; found in skin and mouth lining.

o Columnar epithelium: Tall, pillar-like cells; absorption and

secretion; found in intestine lining.

o Ciliated columnar epithelium: Has cilia; moves mucus;

found in respiratory tract.
 o Cuboidal epithelium: Cube-shaped cells; provides
mechanical support; found in kidney tubules and salivary
gland ducts.

o Glandular epithelium: Specialised for secretion; forms

glands.

Q45. Explain the different types of connective tissues in

animals.
Answer:

o Blood: Fluid matrix (plasma); transports gases, nutrients,

hormones, and wastes.

o Bone: Hard matrix of calcium and phosphorus; supports the

body and protects organs.

o Ligaments: Connect bones to bones; elastic and strong.

o Tendons: Connect muscles to bones; strong, fibrous, less

flexible.

o Cartilage: Flexible with protein-sugar matrix; found in nose,

ear, joints.

o Areolar tissue: Fills spaces between organs, supports

organs, repairs tissues.

o Adipose tissue: Stores fat; acts as insulator and energy

reserve.

Q 46. Describe the three types of muscular tissues in humans,

mentioning their structure, location, and whether they are voluntary or
involuntary.
Ans.

10. Skeletal (Striated) Muscles: Long, cylindrical, unbranched,

multinucleate cells with striations. Found attached to bones,
responsible for voluntary movements.

11. Smooth (Unstriated) Muscles: Spindle-shaped, uninucleate

cells without striations. Found in the walls of the alimentary canal,
blood vessels, iris of the eye, etc. Involuntary in function.

12. Cardiac Muscles: Cylindrical, branched, uninucleate cells

with faint striations. Found in the heart, contract and relax
rhythmically, involuntary in function.

Q 47. Draw a neat and labelled diagram of a neuron and explain its
parts.
 Ans.
Diagram:

Explanation:

13. Cell body: Contains nucleus and cytoplasm; controls neuron

activities.

14. Dendrites: Short, branched processes that receive impulses.

15. Axon: Long fibre that carries impulses away from the cell
body.

16. Nerve endings: Transmit impulses to next neuron or muscle

cell.

D. Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) / Indirect Questions

Q48. Smooth muscles of the alimentary canal keep moving even when we
are asleep. Explain why.
Ans. Smooth muscles are involuntary; their movement is controlled by
the autonomic nervous system and not by conscious will, so they function
continuously, even during sleep.

Q49. What would happen if cardiac muscles got tired and stopped
contracting?
Ans. If cardiac muscles stopped contracting, the heart would stop
pumping blood, leading to immediate death of the organism, as body cells
would not receive oxygen and nutrients.

Q50. Why are striated muscles multinucleate while smooth muscles are
uninucleate?
Ans. Striated muscles are formed by the fusion of many cells during
development to meet high energy and movement demands, resulting in
multiple nuclei. Smooth muscles do not require such extensive
coordination, so they remain uninucleate.

D. Application/Reasoning Questions

Q 51. Why are skin epithelial cells arranged in many layers?

Answer: To prevent wear and tear from constant friction and exposure.

Q 52. Why are vacuoles absent in animal epithelial cells?

(Application from prior knowledge)
Answer: Epithelial cells are tightly packed and function mainly in
protection, absorption, and secretion; they do not need large vacuoles for
storage as in plant cells.
Q53. Cartilage can be bent but bones cannot. Give reason.
Answer: Cartilage has a flexible protein-sugar matrix, while bone has a
hard matrix made of calcium and phosphorus, making it rigid.

Q 54. Why is stratified squamous epithelium important for skin?

Answer: It protects underlying tissues from mechanical injury, chemical
damage, and pathogen entry.

Q 55. Why are skeletal muscles called voluntary muscles?

Ans. Skeletal muscles are called voluntary muscles because their movement is under
conscious control. We can start or stop their action at will, for example, moving our arms or
legs.

Q56. State two structural differences between smooth muscles and cardiac muscles.
Ans.

Smooth Muscles Cardiac Muscles

Spindle-shaped cells Cylindrical, branched cells
Uninucleate, no striations Uninucleate, striated

Q57. What is a nerve impulse? How is it transmitted from one neuron to another?
Ans. A nerve impulse is an electrical signal that travels along a nerve fibre. It is transmitted
from the nerve endings of one neuron to the dendrites of the next neuron, allowing
information to pass rapidly through the nervous system.

IV. HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills)

Q58. Why are sclerenchyma cells dead? How does this help them in their function?

Ans. Sclerenchyma cells have thick lignified walls and no protoplasm, making them dead.
This provides hardness and strength without consuming plant energy.

Q59. Desert plants have thick epidermis and a coating of cutin. What would happen if this
adaptation was absent?

Ans. Without thick epidermis and cutin, desert plants would lose excessive water through
transpiration and may not survive in dry conditions.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------