CLASS 6 Chapter 9 The Living Organisms: Characteristics and Habitats

Question 1. What is a habitat

Solution 1. A habitat is a place or surrounding where a living organism lives with all the essential environmental conditions it needs to survive. Habitat provides animals with food, water, air and shelter.

Question 2. How are cacti adapted to survive in a desert?

Solution 2. Cactus are adapted to survive in a desert because of the following reason:

1. Leaves are replaced by spines hence water loss is prevented through transpiration.
2. Have modified stems that perform photosynthesis in less amount of water.

• A thick waxy layer surrounding to leaves helps them to retain water.

1. Have deep roots to absorb water.

Question 3. Fill up the blanks

1. The presence of specific features which enables a plant or an animal to live in a particular habitat is called___________.
2. The habitats of the plants and animals that live on land are called _________________ habitats.
3. The habitats of plants and animals that live in water are called ____________________ habitats.
4. Soil, water and air are the____________ factors of a habitats.
5. Changes in our surroundings that make us respond to them are called

Solution 3. a) The presence of specific features which enables a plant or an animal to live in a particular habitat is called adaptation.

1. b) The habitats of the plants and animals that live on land are called terrestrial
2. c) The habitats of plants and animals that live in water are called aquatic
3. d) Changes in our surroundings that make us respond to them are called stimuli.

Question 4. Which of the things in the following list is non-living?

Plough, Mushroom, Sewing Machine, Radio, Boat, Water Hyacinth, Earthworm

Solution 4. The following are the non-living things:

Plough, sewing machine, radio and boat

Question 5.  Give an example of a non-living thing which shows any two characteristics of a living thing.

Solution 5. Car is an example of a non-living thing because it shows the following characteristics

1. It can move like any other living being.
2. It needs the energy to do work.

Question 6. Which of the following non-living things were once part of a living thing?
Butter, Leather, Soil, Wool, Electric Bulb, Cooking Oil, Salt, Apple, Rubber.

Solution 6. Following are the non-living things that were once part of living things:

Butter, leather, wool, cooking oil, apple and rubber

Question 7. List the common characteristics of the living things

Solution 7. The following are the common characteristics of living things:

1. Respiration
2. Food intake

• Respond to stimuli

1. Excretion
2. Movement
3. Reproduction

• Growth and development

Question 8. Explain, why speed is important for survival in the grasslands for animals that live there. (Hint: there are few trees or places for animals to hide in grassland habitats.)

Solution 8. Speed is important for survival in the grasslands for animals to protect themselves from predators. For example, deer has to run faster than tiger because tiger eats deer.