Chapter 07: Interdependence in Living Beings

Answers to Exercises

A. Tick (✓) the correct option.

  1. Example of an abiotic component is iii. water ✓
  2. Plants do not depend on animals for i. shelter ✓
  3. Animals that eat only flesh of other animals are called ii. carnivores ✓
  4. Food chain always begins with i. producers ✓
  5. ii. Planting trees does not cause imbalance in nature. ✓

B. Fill in the blanks.

  1. Plants and animals depend on each other for their survival.
  2. Plants, animals and microorganisms are the biotic components of the environment.
  3. Plants produce their food by the process of photosynthesis.
  4. The living organisms that depend on producers for their food are called consumers.
  5. Nature maintains balance in all types of environment.

C. Write ‘T’ for True and ‘F’ for False statement.

  1. Animals do not depend on plants for food. F
  2. Plants release oxygen during the process of photosynthesis. T
  3. Carnivores eat both plant parts and flesh of animals. F
  4. A food chain always begins with consumers. F
  5. Pollution causes imbalance in nature. T

D. Name them.

  1. Animals that eat only plants or plant parts → Herbivores
  2. The living organisms that prepare their own food → Producers
  3. Animals that feed on the dead plants and animals → Scavengers
  4. Bacteria, fungi and algae → Microorganisms
  5. Clearing forest in large extent → Deforestation

E. Give two examples of each.

  • Herbivores → Cow, Deer
  • Carnivores → Lion, Tiger
  • Scavengers → Vulture, Earthworm
  • Decomposers → Bacteria, Fungi
  • Omnivores → Human, Crow

F. Answer the following questions in short.

  1. Plants and animals are interdependent on each other. Justify.
    Plants need CO2 from animals and help for pollination and seed dispersal. Animals need plants for food and shelter. So they depend on each other.

  2. How do green plants prepare their own food?
    By photosynthesis. They use sunlight, CO2, water and chlorophyll to make food.

  3. How are decomposers different from scavengers?
    Scavengers eat dead plants/animals. Decomposers are microorganisms that break down dead matter into simple nutrients.

  4. What do you mean by “food chain”? Give an example.
    A series where one organism eats another.
    Example: Grass → Rabbit → Fox → Lion

  5. How do decomposers help in the transfer of nutrients in the environment?
    They break dead matter and release nutrients into soil for plants to use.

  6. Describe the causes of imbalance in nature.
    Deforestation, hunting, forest fire, floods, and pollution cause imbalance in nature.

--- End of Chapter 07 Answers ---