The Living World : Adaptations and Classification - Standard 7 - General Science - Balbharati
The Living World : Adaptations and Classification
Exercise
Q.1 Find my match !
| 'A' Group | Ans. |
|---|---|
| Lotus | Adapted to live in water |
| Aloe | Adapted to live in deserts |
| Cuscuta | Haustorial roots for absorption of food |
| Venus flytrap | Flower and leaves attract insects |
Q.2 Read the paragraph and answer the following questions.
I am a penguin. I live in polar region covered by snow. My abdomen is white. My skin is thick with a layer of fat underneath. My body is spindle-shaped. My wings are small. My toes are webbed. We live in flocks.
(a) Why is my skin white and thick and why is there a thick layer of fat underneath?
Ans. 1. Penguins have white skin to blend in with the ice and snow, providing camouflage from predators.
2. The white color helps them stay hidden in their environment.
3. The thick skin protects penguins from the cold temperatures and harsh Antarctic environment.
4. The thick layer of fat, called blubber, serves as insulation to keep penguins warm in frigid waters and cold climates.
(b) Why do we live in flocks sticking close to each other?
Ans. Penguins live in flocks and stick close to each other for several reasons:
1. Protection: Living in a group provides safety in numbers. It helps deter predators, making it harder for them to single out and attack an individual penguin.
2. Warmth: By huddling together, penguins can share body heat and collectively keep warm in the extremely cold Antarctic climate. This huddling behavior helps them conserve energy and maintain their body temperature.
(c) Which geographical region do I inhabit? Why?
Ans. 1. Penguins inhabit the Southern Hemisphere, including Antarctica, South America, Africa, and Australia, primarily due to the availability of food sources and suitable breeding habitats in these coastal regions.
2. The nutrient-rich waters and diverse marine ecosystems in these areas provide the necessary conditions for penguins to survive and thrive.
(d) Which adaptations should you have to enable you to live permanently in the polar region? Why?
Ans. 1. To live in the polar region, you need adaptations like thick fur or blubber to stay warm, a compact body shape to reduce heat loss, and dense feathers or fur for insulation.
2. You should also have efficient metabolism to generate heat and store fat for energy.
3. Specialized circulatory systems help conserve heat, and being able to swim and dive effectively helps find food.
These adaptations keep you warm, conserve energy, and enable survival in the extreme cold of the polar region.
Q.3 Who is lying?
(a) Cockroach - I have five legs.
Ans. The cockroach is lying because it has six legs, not five.
(b) Hen - My toes are webbed.
Ans. The Hen is lying because the Duck's toes are webbed not Hen's.
(c) Cactus - My fleshy, green part is a leaf.
Ans. The Cactus is lying because its fleshy, green part is a stem, not a leaf.
Q.4 Read each of the following statements. Write a paragraph about adaptation with reference to each statement.
(a) There is extreme heat in deserts.
Ans. Adaptations in deserts help organisms survive extreme heat, such as conserving water and reflecting sunlight.
(b) Grasslands are lush green.
Ans. Grassland adaptations include specialized teeth, long legs, and keen senses to exploit abundant plant resources.
(c) Insects are found in large numbers.
Ans. Insects reproduce quickly and have various adaptations like wings and camouflage for thriving in large numbers.
(d) We hide.
Ans. Hiding is an adaptation to avoid predators, achieved through camouflage or seeking refuge.
(e) We have long ears.
Ans. Long ears in animals enhance hearing, aiding in hunting, communication, and avoiding predators.
Q.5 Answer the following.
(a) Why is the camel called the 'Ship of the Desert'?
Ans. The camel is called the 'Ship of the Desert' because of its ability to navigate and survive in the harsh desert environment. They have several adaptations that make them well-suited for desert life. Just as a ship is crucial for transportation over vast oceans, camels are essential for traveling across the vast expanses of deserts. That's why the camel is called the 'Ship of the Desert'.
(b) How can the plants like cactus and acacia live in deserts with scarce water?
Ans. Cactus and acacias survive in deserts with scarce water through adaptations such as water storage in their stems and trunks, reduced leaf surface area to minimize water loss, and deep root systems for accessing underground water. These adaptations enable them to conserve water, access limited water sources, and thrive in desert environments.
(e) What is the inter-relationship between adaptations of organisms and their surroundings?
Ans. Organisms have special features and behaviors that help them survive in their surroundings. These adaptations are shaped by the challenges and resources in their environment. Organisms with helpful adaptations are more likely to live and have babies with similar traits. Adaptations help organisms find food, stay safe from predators, find shelter, and have babies. This back-and-forth relationship between organisms and their environment leads to different types of organisms and helps them live successfully.
(d) How are organisms classified?
Ans. Carl Linnaeus developed a hierarchical system of classification. It organizes living organisms into a hierarchical structure based on their shared characteristics. The hierarchy includes successive levels: kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.
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