Class 6 Science – Chapter 7: Living Things and Their
Characteristics
II. Give One Word for the Following
1. The reaction of living organisms when there is change in their surroundings: Stimulus /
Response
2. Single-celled organisms: Unicellular
3. The period for which an organism lives: Lifespan
4. The process of burning of food to release energy: Respiration
5. The structural and functional unit of all living organisms: Cell
III. Encircle the Odd One Out
1. Snake, bird, tiger, frog, fish: Tiger
2. Amoeba, bacteria, paramecium, cat: Cat
3. Cat, leopard, deer, lion, wolf: Deer
IV. Give Reason for the Following
1. Why are plants called autotrophs?
Plants prepare their own food by photosynthesis using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.
2. Why do animals move around?
Animals move in search of food, water, shelter, and to escape danger.
3. Why do living organisms respire?
They respire to release energy from food for growth and other life processes.
VII. Short Answer Questions
1. Name the plant that shows sensitivity to touch.
Mimosa pudica (Touch-me-not plant).
2. What is the function of stomata?
Stomata help in exchange of gases and allow water vapour to escape during transpiration.
3. Why does a plant placed in a darkroom bend towards the window?
It grows towards light (phototropism) to get sunlight for photosynthesis.
4. Write the difference between autotrophs and heterotrophs. Give one example of each.
Autotrophs Heterotrophs
Make their own food using sunlight, water, and
Depend
carbonon
dioxide.
other organisms for food.
Example: Mango plant Example: Cow
5. How do fish respire?
Fish respire through gills, which take in oxygen dissolved in water.
6. Name three waste products that we excrete.
Carbon dioxide, urea, sweat.
7. Why do living organisms need food?
For energy, growth, repair, and to carry out life processes.
VIII. Long Answer Questions
1. List the different ways by which living things reproduce, give one example of each.
Method Example
Budding Hydra
Binary fission Amoeba
Spore formation Fern
Sexual reproduction Mango tree
Vegetative propagation Potato
2. How do living things grow? What is the main difference between growth of plants and
animals?
Living things grow by increasing the number and size of their cells. Plants grow throughout life,
while animals grow only till a certain age.
3. Why do the roots of plant grow in downward direction and shoots in upward direction?
Roots grow downward towards water and gravity (geotropism), shoots grow upward towards light
(phototropism).
4. By giving examples explain 'species'.
A species is a group of similar organisms that can reproduce among themselves and produce fertile
offspring. Example: Domestic cats belong to the species Felis catus.
5. With a suitable activity show that plants respond to the environment.
Activity: Keep a potted plant near a window. After a few days, it bends towards light. This shows
phototropism.
IX. HOTS Questions
1. It is said that we shouldn't go near plants at night. Why is it so?
At night, plants release carbon dioxide during respiration, which in closed areas can be harmful.
2. All the vehicles are moving from one place to another but we do not consider them as
living. Why?
Because they do not carry out life processes like growth, reproduction, and respiration.
3. Are living things matter?
Yes, living things are matter because they have mass and occupy space.
4. Fishes have gills to take oxygen from water. Do whales also respire the same way as a
fish?
No, whales breathe through lungs and come to the surface to take air, like humans.
