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Edulabz International
DIVERSITY IN LIVING
ORGANISMS
TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWERS
Q. 1.
Why do we classify organisms?
Ans.
There are more than a million kinds of living things

exhibiting an infinite variety in form, structure and
living places. It is not possible to know everything
about all the organisms. We can study just a few
representatives and get the idea about that group.
Classification makes the study of such a wide variety
of organisms easy. It is also important to understand
the interrelationship among different groups of
organisms. Classification serves as a basis for the
development of other biological sciences as well.
Q. 2.
Give three examples of the range of variations

that you see in life-forms around you.
Ans.
The range of variation in life forms is vast. Most

common of these are size (living form ranges from
microscopic bacteria to giant blue whale), colour
(living beings range from colourless or even
transparent worms to brightly coloured birds and
flowers), and lifespan (like insects which live for
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only few days while pine trees live for thousand of

years).
Q. 3.
Which do you think is a more basic characteristic

for classifying organisms?
(a) the place where they live
(b) the kind of cells they are made of. Why?
Ans.
The kind of cells they are made should be the basic

characteristic
for
classifying
organisms.
Classification should be based on fundamental
characteristic and cell is the fundamental unit of all
living forms.
An eukaryotic cell has membrane-bound organelles,
including a nucleus, which allow cellular processes
to be carried out efficiently in isolation from each
other. Therefore, organisms which do not have a
clearly demarcated nucleus and other organelles
would need to have their biochemical pathways
organised in very different ways. This would have an
effect on every aspect of cell design. Further,
nucleated cells would have the capacity to participate
in making a multicellular organism because they can
take up specialised function. Therefore, this is a
basic characteristic of classification.
Q. 4.
What is the primary characteristic on which the

first division of organisms is made?
Ans.
The primary characteristics on which the first

division of organisms is made, is whether the cells
occur singly or they are grouped together. Cells that
group together to form a single organism use the
principle of division of labour. In such a body
design, all cells would not be identical. Instead,
groups of cells will carry out specialised functions.
This makes a very basic distinction in the body
designs of organisms.
Q. 5.
On what bases are plants and animals put into

different categories?
Ans.
Plants and animals are put into different categories

on the basis of whether they can produce their own
food or not. Being able to produce ones own food
versus having to get food from outside would make
very different body designs necessary. In this way,
plants and animals have been categorised into
different groups.
Q. 6.
Which organisms are called primitive and how

are they different from the so called advanced
organisms?
Ans.
Organisms which possess simple body organisation

are called primitive organism.
They differ from so called advanced organisms as all
the activities of life are performed by a single cell.
i.e. they do not possess different organs or organ
systems for performing various functions as found in

advanced organisms.
Q. 7.
Will advanced organisms be the same as complex

organisms? Why?
Ans.
Yes. As there is a possibility that complexity in

design of an organism will increase over
evolutionary time, it can be said that the younger
organisms or advanced organisms are more complex
in comparison to older one.
Q.8.
What is the criterion for classification of

organisms as belonging to kingdom Monera or
Protista?
Ans.
The organisms belonging to kingdom Monera are

classified on the basis of following criteria :
z
These organisms do not have a defined nucleus

and membrane bound cell organelles, nor do any
of them show multicellular body designs.
Some of them have cell wall, some not.
Mode of nutrition may be autotrophic or

heterotrophic.
The organisms belonging to kingdom Protista are
classified on the basis of following criteria :
These organisms are unicellular, eukaryotic

organisms with well defined nucleus and
membrane bound cell organelles.
Some of these organisms have hair like cilia or

whip-like flagella for movement.
Mode of nutrition may be autotrophic or

heterotrophic.
Q. 9.
In which kingdom will you place an organism

which is single celled, eukaryotic and
photosynthetic?
Ans.
The organism, which is single celled, eukaryotic and

photosynthetic belongs to the kingdom Protista.
Q. 10. In the hierarchy of classification, which grouping

will have the smallest number of organisms with a
maximum of characteristics in common and
which will have the largest number of organisms?
Ans.
In the hierarchy of classification, the category

species has the smallest number of organisms with
a maximum of characteristics in common.
On the other side, the category kingdom has the
largest number of organisms as it is at the top level
of the hierarchy.
Q. 11. Which division among plants has the simplest

organisms?
Ans.
The plants belonging to the division thallophyta do

not have well-differentiated body organisation.
Q. 12. How
are
pteridophytes
phanerogams?
Ans.
different
from
Pteridophytes and phanerogams differ mainly in

their reproductive organs.
The reproductive organs of pteridophytes are hidden
and poorly developed, and they are therefore called
cryptogams.
On the other hand, plants with well developed
reproductive organs that ultimately make seeds are
called phanerogams.
Q. 13. How do gymnosperms and angiosperms differ

from each other?
Ans.
Gymnosperms
(a) Seeds
are
not
Angiosperms
enclosed (a) Seeds are enclosed inside

the fruit formed.
within the fruit. So these

plants bear naked seeds.
(b) These plants bear flowers.
(b) These plants lack flowers.

Q. 14
How do Poriferan animals differ from Coelenterate

animals?
Ans.Poriferan animals differ from Coelenterate animals in the

following ways :
Poriferan animals
(a)
Coelenterate animals
These animals have many (a) These animals have a

pores all over their body.
hollow cavity with a single
opening.
(b)
They have cellular level of (b) They have tissue level of

body organisation.
body organisation with a
distinct division of labour.
(c)
Characteristic canal
system is present.
(c) Gastrovascular cavity or

coelenteron is the main
feature.
Q. 15 How do annelid animals differ from arthropods?

Ans. Annelid animals differ from arthropods in the following
ways:
Annelids
(a) Body
is
skeleton
soft,
is
Arthoropods
no
hard (a) Body is covered with hard
present.
exoskeleton made up of
chitin.
(b) Blood vascular system is of (b)Blood vascular system is of

closed type.
open-type.
(c) Have setae for locomotion.

(c)
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Have
jointed
legs
for
locomotion.
Q. 16 What are the differences between amphibians and
reptiles?
Ans. The difference between amphibians and reptiles are as
follows :
Amphibian
Reptiles
(a) Amphibious in nature, i.e. (a) First truly terrestrial

found in water and on land
animals.
both.
(b) Skin is having mucus gland (b) Skin is with scales.
but without scale.
(c) Respiration is through either (c) Breathe
gills or lungs.
through
lungs.
(d) Lay eggs upon land.
(d) Lay eggs in water.
Q. 17. What are the differences between animals belonging to

the Aves group and those in the mammalia group?
Ans.
Differences between animals belonging to the Aves group

and those in the Mammalia group are as follows :
Aves
Mammalia
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(a) Body is
feathers.
covered
with (a)
(b)
(b) Bones have air cavities.

(c) They are oviparous i.e. egg
Skin is covered with hair.

Bones have
cavities.
no
air
(c) They are viviparous i.e.,

give birth to young ones.
laying.
(d) Wings are absent.

(d) Forelimbs are modified for
flight
Q. 18
How
would
you
choose
between
two
characteristics to be used for developing a

hierachy in classification?
Ans.
The characteristics to be used for developing a

hierarchy in classification may be the cell structure,
mode and source of nutrition and body organisation
of the organisms.
Q. 19
Explain the basis for grouping organisms into five

kingdoms.
Ans.
The basis for grouping organisms into five kingdoms

are their cell structure, mode and source of nutrition
and body organisation.
Q. 20. What are the major divisions in the plantae?

What is the basis for these division?
Ans.
Major divisions in the plantae and the basis on which

they have been classified can be shown by the
following flow chart :
Bryophyta
Q. 21. What
are
the
advantages
of
classifying
organisms?
Ans.
Classification is the basic method which humans

employ to organise the living world. It has the
following advantages :
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1. Classification makes the study of the wide variety of

organisms existing in the living world convenient, easy
and time-saving.
2. Classification projects before us a picture of all life
forms at a glance.
3. Classification tells us about the inter-relationships
between different groups of organisms, and in turn
provides us information about their evolution.
4. It allows easy means of communication of information
to other people.
5. Classification is an information storage system and the
biologists need it for the specific organism they work
with.
6. Classification serves as a base for all other disciplines
of biology.
7. Various fields of applied biology such as agriculture,
environmental biology and public health depend on the
correct identification and classification of diseasecausing organisms and insect pests.
11
Q. 22. How are the criteria for deciding divisions in

plants different from the criteria for deciding the
subgroups among animals?
Ans.
The characteristics of body organisation used for

classification of plants will be very different from
those important for classifying animals. In case of
plants (i.e. make their own food), classification is
based on body is differentiated and has special
tissues for water transport etc. They bear seed or not,
the seeds are enclosed in fruits or not.
In case of animals, subgroups are formed on the
basis of how the body of the individual develops,
and organises in different parts, what are the
specialised organs found for different parts, what are
the specialised organs found for different functions,
etc.
Q. 23. Explain how animals in vertebrata are classified

into further subgroups.
Ans.
Vertebrata is classified into five subgroups. These

are
1. Pisces
2. Amphibia
12
3. Reptilia
4. Aves
5. Mammalia
Class Pisces
This class includes all fishes.
Characters
1. These are exclusively adapted to aquatic life.
2. The body is covered with scales.
3. Body is streamlined.
4. Fins are present but limbs are absent.
5. Respiration is through gills.
6. They are cold blooded and their heart have chest
two chambers.
Class Amphibia
The amphibians are the first land vertebrates, but
they are partly terrestrial and partly aquatic.
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Characters
1. These animals lack scales.
2. Mucus glands are present in skin.
3. Heart is three chambered .
4. Respiration is either through gills or lungs.
Class Reptilia
These are first truly terrestrial animals living in
warmer regions.
Characters
1. Cold-blooded animals.
2. Scales are present.
3. Heart is three chambered.
4. They lay egg upon land.
All birds fall in this category.
Characters
14
1. Warm blooded animals. Body is covered with a

feathery exoskeleton.
2. Heart is four chambered.
3. Air cavities are present in bones.
Class Mammalia
Mammals are the most evolved group of organisms
and are found in diverse habitats ranging from
deserts, polar ice caps, oceans, mountains, forests
and grasslands.
They are named mammals as all of them possess
mammary
glands
(milk-producing
glands).
Mammals are the only animals which feed their

young ones with milk.
Characters
1. Warm-blooded animals.
2. Skin is covered with hair. Hairs are provided with
sweat glands.
3. They are viviparous i.e., give birth to young ones.
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4. Heart is four chambered.
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CBSEPracticalSkills.

Why do we classify organisms?

There are more than a million kinds of living things

Give three examples of the range of variations

The range of variation in life forms is vast. Most

only few days while pine trees live for thousand of

Which do you think is a more basic characteristic

The kind of cells they are made should be the basic

What is the primary characteristic on which the

The primary characteristics on which the first

On what bases are plants and animals put into

Plants and animals are put into different categories

Which organisms are called primitive and how

Organisms which possess simple body organisation

systems for performing various functions as found in

Will advanced organisms be the same as complex

Yes. As there is a possibility that complexity in

What is the criterion for classification of

The organisms belonging to kingdom Monera are

These organisms do not have a defined nucleus

Some of them have cell wall, some not.

Mode of nutrition may be autotrophic or

These organisms are unicellular, eukaryotic

Some of these organisms have hair like cilia or

Mode of nutrition may be autotrophic or

In which kingdom will you place an organism

The organism, which is single celled, eukaryotic and

Q. 10. In the hierarchy of classification, which grouping

In the hierarchy of classification, the category

Q. 11. Which division among plants has the simplest

The plants belonging to the division thallophyta do

Pteridophytes and phanerogams differ mainly in

Q. 13. How do gymnosperms and angiosperms differ

enclosed (a) Seeds are enclosed inside

within the fruit. So these

(b) These plants bear flowers.

(b) These plants lack flowers.

How do Poriferan animals differ from Coelenterate

Ans.Poriferan animals differ from Coelenterate animals in the

These animals have many (a) These animals have a

They have cellular level of (b) They have tissue level of

(c) Gastrovascular cavity or

Q. 15 How do annelid animals differ from arthropods?

hard (a) Body is covered with hard

(b) Blood vascular system is of (b)Blood vascular system is of

(c) Have setae for locomotion.

(a) Amphibious in nature, i.e. (a) First truly terrestrial

(d) Lay eggs upon land.

(d) Lay eggs in water.

Q. 17. What are the differences between animals belonging to

Differences between animals belonging to the Aves group

(b) Bones have air cavities.

Skin is covered with hair.

(c) They are viviparous i.e.,

(d) Wings are absent.

characteristics to be used for developing a

The characteristics to be used for developing a

Explain the basis for grouping organisms into five

The basis for grouping organisms into five kingdoms

Q. 20. What are the major divisions in the plantae?

Major divisions in the plantae and the basis on which

Classification is the basic method which humans

1. Classification makes the study of the wide variety of