Class 7 SCIENCE CH 1
Class 7 SCIENCE CH 1
Class 7 SCIENCE CH 1
Science
Chapter 1 Nutrition in Plants
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All living organisms require food. The food gives energy to the organisms for growth
and maintenance of their body functions. Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and
minerals are the components of food. These components of food are necessary for
our body and are called nutrients.
Nutrition is the process of taking food by an organism and its utilisation by the body.
Green plants prepare their own food while humans and animals are directly or
indirectly dependent on plants for their food.
Modes of Nutrition
On the basis of a different mode of nutrition, organisms are categorised into two
major types, i.e.
(ii) Heterotrophs (heteros-other) Humans and animals do not contain chlorophyll and
are dependent on plants for their food in readymade form. Those organisms which
cannot prepare their own food and take food from green plants or animals are called
heterotrophs and the mode of nutrition is called heterotrophic nutrition.
Site of Photosynthesis
The process of photosynthesis takes place in green leaves, therefore leaves are
referred to as the food factories of plants. The. the photosynthetic process can
occur in other green parts of the plant-like stem but is not enough for meeting all the
needs of the plant.
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Cells
All living organisms are made from small building units of catted cells. Cells are the
structural and functional units of the body of all living organisms. They can only be
seen under a microscope. The cell has a thin outer boundary called cell membrane, a
distinct, centrally located spherical structure called nucleus and jelly-the substance
surrounding the nucleus called cytoplasm.
The inorganic raw material, i.e. CO2 is taken from the air through the tiny pores
present on the surface of leaves called stomata and water is absorbed through the
roots of plants (from the soil) and is transported to leaves by vessels which act like
pipes. These vessels form the continuous path from roots to leaves for the
movement of nutrients.
Green plants possess chlorophyll in their leaves which captures the energy of the
sunlight. This light energy is used to prepare food (starch). During the process,
oxygen is also released. Photosynthesis is the unique process in which solar energy
is captured by the leaves and stored in the plants in the form of food. Thus, ‘Sun is
the ultimate source of energy for all the living organisms.’
Products of Photosynthesis
The food produced by the process of photosynthesis is mainly carbohydrate. It
produces glucose as food material which later gets converted into starch. The
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Importance of Photosynthesis
If the plants do not perform photosynthesis, there would be no food on earth.
Photosynthesis is also necessary for the production of oxygen gas in the
atmosphere which is necessary for the respiration of organisms. Therefore, it can be
said that no life is possible in the absence of photosynthesis.
When the plant nutrient contains, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen along with nitrogen
elements, it is called protein. The element nitrogen comes from soil in the form of
nitrate by the actions of some bacteria present in soil and forms amino acid which is
then converted into proteins. Therefore, plants also make fats and proteins as their
food.
Parasitic Plants
A parasitic plant is one that lines inside or outside the other organism and derive
their food from them. The plant (non-green) which obtains their food from other Page | 4
organism is called a parasite and the living organism from whose body, food is
obtained is called host, e.g. amarbel or Cuscuta. It takes readymade food from host
through special type of roots called sucking roots which penetrate into host plant
and suck food material from the host.
Insectivorous Plants
There are some plants which can trap insects and digest them for their nutrition.
These plants are green in colour but lack nitrogen elements. To overcome this
problem, these plants eat insects. Hence they are called insectivorous plant or
carnivorous plants. These have specialised leaves, the apex of which forms a lid that
can open and close the mouth of pitcher. There are hair inside the pitcher which are
used to entangle the insects.
When an insect comes in contact of the lid, it gets closed and traps the insects. The
insect inside the pitcher is digested by digestive juices secreted by the pitcher to
obtain nitrogen compounds (amino acids) from them.
e.g. pitcher plant, sundew, Venus flytrap and bladderwort.
Since these can synthesise their own food but fulfil their nitrogen deficiency by
eating insects, therefore these are called as partial heterotrophs.
Symbiotic Plants
Sometimes, two plants of different species live together and help each other in
obtaining food and shelter. This association is called symbiosis and such plants are
called symbiotic plants.
The relationship in which two different organisms live together and share shelter and
nutrients is called symbiotic relationship, e.g. lichens and Rhizobium.
Lichen is an association in which algae and a fungus live together. The fungus
provides shelter, water and minerals to the algae and in return, the algae provide
food which it prepares by photosynthesis.
In return, leguminous plants provide food and shelter to the bacteria as Rhizobium
cannot prepare its food. They, thus have a symbiotic relationship. This association is
very important for the farmers, as they do not need to add nitrogen fertilisers to the
soil in which leguminous plants are grown.
Question 2.
Plants prepare their food using a different mode of nutrition than us. What is it?
Answer:
The mode of nutrition in plant is autotrophic, i.e. they synthesise their own food.
Question 4.
The tiny openings present on the leaf surface. What are they called?
Answer:
Stomata are the tiny pores present on the surface of leaves through which gaseous
exchange takes place in plants.
Question 5.
What is the function of guard cells of stomata?
Answer:
Guard cells help in controlling the opening and closing of stomata for gaseous
exchange.
Question 6.
Which parts of the plant are called food factories of the plant?
Answer:
Leaves are referred to as food factories of plants. This is because, leaves synthesise
food by the process of photosynthesis.
Question 7.
A carbohydrate is produced by plants as food source. It is constituted from which
molecules?
Answer:
Carbohydrates are composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.
Question 8.
Why do some plants feed on insects?
Answer:
Insectivorous plants grow in soil which lack nitrogen, therefore they eat insects to
fulfill their need of nitrogen.
Question 9.
Define parasites.
Answer:
Parasites they are those organisms which grow on other plants or animals for their
food, e.g. Cuscuta.
Question 12.
A leguminous plant can restore the soil’s concentration of mineral nutrients. Can you
give examples of some such plants?
Answer:
Plants such as gram, pulses and beans are leguminous.
Question 13.
Algae are green in colour. Why?
Answer:
Algae contain chlorophyll which imparts green colour to them.
Question 14.
what do you understand by nutrition?
Answer:
The process of utilising nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, etc., to generate
energy is called nutrition.
Question 15.
Fungus can be harmful and useful. Give an example showing both of these traits of
fungus.
Answer:
Fungus produces antibiotics like penicillin used to treat diseases and fungus can
also harm us by causing fungal infections on skin and hair.
Question 16.
A unique feature in leaves allows them to prepare the food while other parts of
plants cannot. Write the possible reason for this. [HOTS]
Answer:
Leaves contain chlorophyll which is essential for food preparation and is absent in
other parts of plant.
Question 17.
Algae and fungi form a unique association sharing benefits from each other. What is
Question 18.
In a plant, photosynthesis occurs in a part other than leaf. Name that plant and the Page | 8
part where photosynthesis occurs.
Answer:
Cactus, the part where photosynthesis occurs are stem and branches which are
green.
Question 19.
Why is Cuscuta, categorised as a parasite?
Answer:
Cuscuta derives its nutrition using an association where it deprives its host of all
valuable nutrients and absorbs them itself. Hence, it is called a parasitic plant.
Question 20.
Plant cannot use the nitrogen present in the soil directly. Why?
Answer:
Plants can use nitrogen only in soluble form while in soil nitrogen is present in
inorganic form.
Question 21.
Why are insectivorous plants called partial heterotrophs?
Answer:
Insectivorous plants are autotrophs, i.e. they prepare their own food. They are partial
heterotrophs as they eat insects for obtaining nitrogen.
Question 22.
What is the stored food form in sunflower seeds?
Answer:
In sunflower seeds, glucose is stored in the form of oils (fats).
Question 23.
What do you understand by saprotrophic mode of nutrition?
Answer:
The mode of nutrition in which organisms take their nutrients from dead and
decaying matter is called saprotrophic mode of nutrition.
Question 24.
A mutually beneficial relationship that occurs between two plants. It is known by
what name? Give an example.
Answer:
Symbiosis is the mutually benefitting association between two plants, e.g. lichens.
Question 27.
Insectivorous plants have one or the other specialised organs to catch their prey.
What is that organ?
Answer:
Leaves of insectivorous plants catches the prey.
Question 28.
Farmers spread manure of fertilisers in the field or in gardens, etc. Why are these
added to the soil?
Answer:
Plants absorb mineral nutrients from soil. Thus, declining their concentration in soil
fertilisers and manures enhance or add these essential nutrients back in soil.
Question 29.
A cell is formed of many sub-components. Identify different constituents of the cell.
Are animal and plant cells similar?
Answer:
A cell contains nucleus, cytoplasm, vacuole, cell organelles like chloroplast,
mitochondria, etc. No, animal cells are different from plant cells.
Question 30.
A goat eats away all the leaves of a small plant (balsam). However, in a few days,
new leaves could be seen sprouting in the plant again. How did the plant survive
without leaves? [NCERT Exemplar; HOTS]
Answer:
The plant of balsam survived on the food stored in the stem and roots.
Question 2.
Sunlight, chlorophyll, carbon dioxide, water and minerals are raw materials essential
for photosynthesis. Do you know where they are available? Fill in the blanks with the
appropriate raw materials.
(a) Available in the plant: ………
(b) Available in the soil: ………
(c) Available in the air: ………
(d) Available during day : ……… [NCERT Exemplar]
Answer:
(a) Available in the plant: chlorophyll
(b) Available in the soil : water, minerals
(c) Available in the air : carbon dioxide
(d) Available during day : sunlight
Question 3.
Plants are considered an essential part of earth as they keep a check on lot of
process occurring all over. What would happen if all the green plants are wiped from
earth? [HOTS]
Answer:
Green plants are the source of energy for all the living organisms so that they can
perform their normal functions. If all green plants and trees disappear, all the
organism depending on them for food and shelter will also die.
The lack of gaseous exchange will lead to increase in amount of CO2, causing death
in humans and other animals also. The cycle of life will gradually disappear.
Question 4.
Autotrophs and heterotrophs are two different organisms with distinct modes of
nutrition state. How are they different from each other?
Answer:
The difference between autotrophs and heterotrophs are as follows:
Autotrophs Heterotrophs
Question 5.
Wheat dough if left in the open, after a few days, starts to emit a foul smell and
becomes unfit for use. Give reason. [NCERT Exemplar; HOTS]
Answer:
Carbohydrates in wheat dough encourage the growth of yeast and other saprophytic
fungi which breakdown carbohydrates into simpler compounds like CO2 and alcohol
and emit a foul smell.
Question 6.
What are the various raw materials for photosynthesis?
Answer:
Plants utilise carbon dioxide from air and water and minerals are derived from soil
(through roots) as raw material for photosynthesis. Besides these chlorophyll
present in green leaf is necessary for the process and sunlight is the source of
energy which is converted into chemical energy during the process of
photosynthesis.
Question 7.
Observe the given figure and label the following terms given in the box. Stomatal
opening, guard cell
Answer:
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Question 8.
Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for plants growth. But farmers who cultivate pulses
as crops like green gram, bengal gram, black gram, etc., do not apply nitrogenous
fertilisers during t cultivation. Why? [NCERT Exemplar; HOTS]
Answer:
Roots of pulses (leguminous plants) have a symbiotic association with a bacterium
called Rhizobium. This bacteria convert gaseous nitrogen of air into water soluble
nitrogen compounds and give them to the leguminous plants for their growth. Hence,
farmers need not use nitrogenous fertilisers.
Question 9.
Pooja is worried about her new shoes which she wore on special occassions that
they were spoiled by fungus during rainy season. Is she right to worry, if yes, then tell
why does fungi suddenly appears during the rainy season? [HOTS]
Answer:
Yes, the fungi reproduces by spores which are generally present in the air and grow
on any article that are left in hot and humid weather for a long time. During rainy
season they land on wet and warm things and begin to germinate and grow.
Question 10.
In what unique manner does a pitcher plant derive its nutrition?
Answer:
Nepenthes or pitcher plant modifies its leaf axis into a long tubular pitcher to form a
pitfall trap. Inside the pitcher sticky liquid is present. When any insect comes in
contact with the leaf, the lid present on it is closed and insect is trapped. The liquid
contains digestive enzymes which slowly digest the trapped insects.
Question 11.
Water and minerals are absorbed by the roots and then transported to leaves. How?
Answer:
Water and minerals are transported to the leaves by the vessels which run like pipes
throughout the root, stem, branches and the leaves. These vessels are xylem and
phloem, forming a continuous path or passage for the nutrients to make them reach
the leaf.
Question 12.
Some plants have deep red, violet or brown coloured leaves. Can these leaves
Question 14.
In the absence of photosynthesis, life would be impossible on earth. Is it true or
false?
Answer:
True, because photosynthesis is important for the existence of life on the earth.
Photosynthesis is important process as it is provides food to all living organisms
and maintains CO2 – O2 balance of nature.
Question 2.
Describe the method for replinishing the soils with minerals and other essential
constituents used by plants growing in those soil by farmers.
Answer:
Replenishment of Nutrients in Soil
In return, leguminous plants provide food and shelter to the bacteria as Rhizobium
cannot prepare its food. They, thus have a symbiotic relationship. This association is
very important for the farmers, as they do not need to add nitrogen fertilisers to the
soil in which leguminous plants are grown.
Question 3.
Harish went to visit his grandfather in village where he saw that his grandfather’s
field of wheat are infected with fungus but no one is aware of this. Harish rushed to
his grandfather’s side and told him that the field have been infected with fungi. He
should use an antifungal agent in his fields to stop this infection.
(a) What is fungus?
(b) Can fungus only cause diseases or can it be helpful also?
(c) What values are shown by Harish? [Value Based Question]
Answer:
(a) Fungus are saprophytic organisms usually present as spores in atmosphere
which can germinate on any substrate in optimal conditions.
(b) Fungus are also useful in that they produce many antibiotics which can cure
different types of infections like penicillin.
(c) Harish is sincere, curious and knowledgeable with a keen sense of applying it
where necessary.
Question 4.
Wild animals like tiger, wolf, lion and leopard do not eat plants. Does this mean that
they can survive without plants? Can you provide a suitable explanation? [HOTS]
Answer:
Animals like tiger, wolf, lion and leopard are carnivores and do not eat plants. They
hunt and eat herbivorous animals like deer, gaur, bison, zebra, giraffe, etc., which are
dependent on plants for food.
If there are no plants, herbivorous animals will not survive and ultimately animals like
tiger, wolf, lion and leopard will have nothing to eat.
Question 5.
Asha went to visit her grandfather in his village. He was having a serious discussion
with his fellow members regarding the productivity level of crops for present year.
They all were worried about how to increase the productivity of crop Asha listened to
this and then suggested to the group that the reason may be decreased level of
minerals in soil.
She told her grandfather to plant crops like pulses, gram, beans, etc., for a year then
Question 1.
Organisms which prepare food for themselves using simple naturally available raw
materials are referred to as [NCERT Exemplar]
(a) heterotrophs
(b) autotrophs
(c) parasites
(d) saprophytes
Answer:
(b) autotrophs
Question 2.
In the process of photosynthesis, which of the following energy conversions occur?
(a) Solar energy is changed into chemical energy.
(b) Solar energy is changed into mechanical energy.
(c) Bioenergy is converted into chemical energy.
(d) Chemical energy is changed into light energy.
Answer:
(a) Solar energy is changed into chemical energy.
Question 3.
The raw material used by plants during photosynthesis
(a) N2 and O2
(b) O2, H2 and CO2
(c) CO2 and water
(d) water and minerals
Answer:
(c) CO2 and water
Question 5.
The symbiotic association is seen in which of the following?
(a) Lichens
(b) Algae
(c) Fungi
(d) Bacteria
Answer:
(a) Lichens
Question 6.
Pitcher plant traps insects because it
(a) is a heterotroph
(b) grows in soils which lack in nitrogen
(c) does not have chlorophyll
(d) has a digestive system like human beings
Answer:
(b) grows in soils which lack in nitrogen
Question 7.
Insectivorous plant among the following is
(a) lichen
(b) Cuscuta
(c) pitcher plant
(d) bread mould
Answer:
(c) pitcher plant
Question 8.
In the plant of cactus leaves are modified into
(a) branches
(b) spines
Question 9. Page | 17
If iodine is dropped on the boiled leaf it gives blue-black colour due to the presence
of
(a) starch
(b) protein
(c) fat
(d) vitamin
Answer:
(a) starch
Question 10.
When we observe the lower surface of a leaf through a magnifying lens, we see
numerous small openings. Which of the following is the term given to such openings
(a) Stomata
(b) Lamina
(c) Midrib
(d) Veins
Answer:
(a) Stomata
Question 11.
Two organisms are good friends and live together. One provide? shelter, water and
nutrients while the other prepares and provides food. Such an association of
organisms is termed as
(a) saprophyte
(b) parasite
(c) autotroph
(d) symbiosis
Answer:
(d) symbiosis
Question 12.
In the process of photosynthesis, plants
(a) take O2 and release CO2
(b) take CO2 and release O2
(c) take and release O2
(d) take O2 and release water
Answer:
(b) take CO2 and release O2
Question 14.
The ultimate source of food on earth is
(a) plants
(b) sunlight
(c) animals
(d) proteins
Answer:
(a) plants
Question 15.
Farmers use manure and fertilisers to
(a) replenish plant
(b) replenish soil
(c) replenish air
(d) replenish fungi
Answer:
(b) replenish soil
Question 1.
The association where two participating plants mutually benefit each other is called
…….
Answer:
symbiosis
Question 2.
……. plants derive their nutrient from dead and decaying animals or plants.
Answer:
Saprophytic
Question 3.
The openings present on the surface of leaves are protected by cells called …….
Answer:
guard cells
Question 5. Page | 19
All green plants possess ……. in their leaves.
Answer:
chlorophyll
Question 6.
Cuscuta is a ……. plant.
Answer:
parasitic
Question 7.
The plants that provide nutrition to the parasitic plant are called …….
Answer:
host
True/False
Question 1.
Food is necessary for plants only.
Answer:
False, food is necessary for all the living organisms as all of them grow and require
maintenance from time to time
Question 2.
Animals are heterotrophs.
Answer:
True
Question 3.
Cells are called building block of a body.
Answer:
True
Question 4.
Chlorophyll is present in an animal cell.
Answer:
False, chlorophyll is present in leaf of plants not in animal cells.
Question 5.
Fungi are green plants that can synthesise their own food.
Question 6.
Pitcher plant eats insects. Page | 20
Answer:
True
Question 7.
Lichen is a saprophytic plant.
Answer:
False, lichen is a symbiotic association between an alga and a fungi. It is not a plant.
Question 8.
Rhizobium can fix atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen compound.
Answer:
True
Question 1.
Match the Column I with Column II.
Answers:
1. (a) – (iv), (b) – (iii), (c) – (v), (d) – (vii), (e) – (i), (f) – (x), (g) – (ii), (h) – (vi), (i) –
(viii), (j) – (ix