Q.1 What is Nutrition?

Ans. Nutrition is the mode of taking food by an organism and its

utilisation by the body.
1) There are 2 modes of Nutrition------------ Autotrophic
Heterotrophic
Q.2 What do you mean by Autotrophic nutrition?
Ans. The mode of nutrition in which organisms make food themselves
from simple substances is called autotrophic nutrition.
Ex: plants
2) Organisms that make food themselves are called autotrophs.

Q.3 What do you mean by Heterotrophic nutrition?

Ans. The mode of nutrition in which an organism cannot make its own
food from the simple substances but obtains ready-made food made by
the green plants directly or indirectly is called heterotrophic nutrition.
Ex: Animals, non-green plants
3) Organisms that take in food prepared by plants and depend on others
are called heterotrophs.

Q.4 Define Photosynthesis.

Ans. The process by which green plants make their own food (glucose)
from carbon dioxide and water by using solar energy in the presence of
chlorophyll is called photosynthesis.
Note: The food prepared by the green leaves of a plant is in the form of a
simple carbohydrate called glucose.
 This glucose (a simple carbohydrate) synthesised in the leaves is then
transported to the different parts of the plant as sucrose (a complex
carbohydrate).
 The extra glucose is changed into a complex carbohydrate called
starch. This starch is stored in the leaves and other parts of the plant.
Note: Oxygen gas is released during photosynthesis.
Note: The materials required by plants for photosynthesis are water and
minerals, carbon dioxide, chlorophyll and sunlight.
Q. How water and minerals are transported in plants from roots
to leaves?
Ans. Water and minerals are absorbed by the roots of the plants from the
soil and then are transported to the leaves and other parts of the plant by
xylem vessels which run like pipe throughout roots, stem and leaves.
Q. What is stomata? OR How do plants breathe?
Ans. Plants take in air through tiny pores called stomata that are present
on the underside of the leaves.
Note: The carbon dioxide gas enters the leaves of the plant through the
stomata.
Q. Why only green plants can prepare their own food? OR Why
humans or animals cannot prepare their own food?
Ans. Because green plants have chlorophyll which is absent in animals or
humans.
Q. What is Chlorophyll?
Ans. Chlorophyll is a green pigment present in the cell organelle called
chloroplast.
Q. What is the function of Chlorophyll?
Ans. 1) The green colour of the plants is due to the presence of
chlorophyll.
2) Chlorophyll traps the solar energy which is used to synthesise
food from carbon dioxide and water during the process
of photosynthesis.
Q. State the importance of Photosynthesis.
Ans. 1) Photosynthesis enables the green plants to make their own food.
2) The survival of all animals in the world directly or indirectly
depends upon the food made by the plants.
3) Oxygen, which is essential for the survival of all living organisms,
is produced during photosynthesis. Also Carbon dioxide is used by
plants during photosynthesis. Hence, photosynthesis maintains the
balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Note: Plants can also synthesise other components of food, such as
proteins, vitamins and fats.
Q. How plants synthesise Proteins and vitamins?
Ans. Proteins and vitamins need nitrogen for its synthesis. Plants cannot
use the nitrogen present in the atmosphere so, Rhizobium bacteria help
plants to get nitrogen in a soluble form.
Q. How Rhizobium bacteria helps plants?
Ans. Rhizobium bacteria, take atmospheric nitrogen and convert it into
water-soluble nitrogen components and release it into the soil. These
nitrates are absorbed by the plants along with water.
Note: Fertilisers used by farmers are also rich in nitrogen.
Note: Certain plants, like sunflower and mustard, convert simple
carbohydrate like 'glucose' into oils and store them in their seeds.
Q. What do you mean by Saprotrophic nutrition?
Ans. The mode of nutrition in which the organisms obtain their nutrients
from dead and decaying organic matter of plants and animals is called
saprotrophic nutrition.
Note: Non-green plants that obtain their nutrients from dead and
decaying organic matter of plants and animals are called Saprophytes.
Ex: Indian pipe, Coral root
Q. Who are saprotrophs?
Ans. Saprotrophs secrete digestive juices on the dead and decaying
matter and convert it into a liquid that is used as a nutrient.
Ex: Fungi like yeast, mould
Q. What do you mean by Parasitic nutrition?
Ans. The mode of nutrition in which some plants live in or on the body of
other living organisms and derive their ready-made food from them is
called parasitic nutrition. Ex: Cuscuta (Amarbel)
Note: Organism which obtains the ready-made food is called a parasite
Organism from whose body the food is obtained is called the host.
Q. What do you mean by Insectivorous plants?
Ans. A few plants feed on insects for fulfilling their nitrogen
requirements, such insect-eating plants are called insectivorous plants.
Ex: Pitcher plant, Venus flytrap, Drosera
Q. Why Pitcher plant eats insects even though it’s a green plant?
Ans. Pitcher plant is a green plant and they can prepare their own food.
But for preparing proteins, they cannot get nitrogen from the
surroundings. The insects on which they feed, fulfil their nitrogen
requirements.
Q. How Pitcher plant is modified to trap insects?
Ans. In a pitcher plant, the leaf lamina is modified to form a pitcher-like
structure. The apex is a lid which can open and close the mouth of the
pitcher. Inside the pitcher, there are hair which are directed downwards.
When an insect land on the pitcher, the lid closes and the trapped insect
gets entangled in the hair. The insect is digested by the digestive juices
secreted in the pitcher.
Q. What do you mean by Symbiotic relationship?
Ans. The association in which two different types of organisms live and
work together for their mutual benefits is called symbiosis or symbiotic
relationship. Ex: Lichens
Q. What are Lichens?
Ans. Lichens is composed of two distinct organisms, algae and fungi. The
algae contain chlorophyll and make their own food. The fungi share the
food made by the algae and in return, provide protection, water and
minerals to the algae.
Q. Explain Symbiosis in Rhizobium bacteria.
Ans. Rhizobium bacteria live in the nodules of the roots of leguminous
plants like pea and gram and provide them nitrogen in a soluble form. In
return, the plants provide food and shelter to the Rhizobium bacteria.