Living Creatures: Exploring Their Characteristics – Very Short Answer Type Questions
Class 6
Science
Chapter 10
Living Creatures: Exploring Their Characteristics — 50 Very Short Q&A
CBSE Board Examinations
Topic-wise quick questions for classroom tests and board revision.
CBSE Exam Guidance
- Very short answer questions: 1 mark each — 1–2 sentence answers.
- Focus on definitions, key features and one-line examples.
- Keep answers precise and use correct scientific terms from NCERT.
Introduction & Basics
1
What is a living organism?
A living organism is a being that carries out life processes like growth, respiration, reproduction and response to stimuli.
2
Give one example of a non-living thing.
A rock is an example of a non-living thing.
3
What does the term 'characteristics of living things' mean?
It refers to features like movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, nutrition and excretion that distinguish living from non-living things.
4
Why can't a car be called a living thing even though it moves?
A car moves but does not perform life processes such as growth, respiration or reproduction, so it is non-living.
5
Name the mnemonic often used to remember life processes.
A common mnemonic is MRSGREN (Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, Nutrition).
Movement
6
What is locomotion?
Locomotion is movement of an organism from one place to another.
7
Do plants show movement?
Yes, plants show movement of parts like bending of stems toward light and growth of roots downward.
8
Give one example of animal locomotion.
A fish swims using its fins — an example of locomotion.
9
What is tropism?
Tropism is growth movement of a plant toward or away from a stimulus, such as phototropism toward light.
10
Name a plant that shows rapid movement on touch.
Mimosa pudica (touch-me-not) folds its leaves when touched.
Respiration
11
What is respiration?
Respiration is the process of breaking down food to release energy.
12
Which gas do animals take in for respiration?
Animals take in oxygen for respiration.
13
What gas do animals release after respiration?
Animals release carbon dioxide after respiration.
14
Do plants respire?
Yes, plants respire by breaking down food to release energy, usually at the cellular level.
15
Give a simple sign of respiration in humans.
Breathing in and out (inhalation and exhalation) is a sign of respiration.
Sensitivity & Response
16
What does sensitivity mean?
Sensitivity is the ability to respond to changes in the environment or stimuli.
17
Give an example of response to stimulus in animals.
Pulling back a hand from a hot object is a response to the stimulus of heat.
18
Give an example of plant response to light.
Stems bending towards light (phototropism) is a plant response to light.
19
What is phototropism?
Phototropism is growth of plant parts toward or away from light.
20
How do animals sense danger quickly?
Animals use senses like sight, hearing and touch to detect danger and respond quickly.
Growth
21
What is growth in living things?
Growth is the irreversible increase in size and often number of cells in an organism.
22
Name a stage when humans grow rapidly.
Childhood and adolescence are stages of rapid growth in humans.
23
Does growth occur in non-living things?
No, non-living things may change size but do not grow by life processes.
24
Give an example of growth in plants.
A seed germinating into a seedling and then into a mature plant shows growth.
25
Why is nutrition important for growth?
Nutrition provides energy and building materials needed for growth and repair.
Reproduction
26
What is reproduction?
Reproduction is the process by which living organisms produce new individuals of the same kind.
27
Name two types of reproduction.
Sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction.
28
Give one example of asexual reproduction.
Budding in yeast is an example of asexual reproduction.
29
Give one example of sexual reproduction in plants.
Formation of seeds after pollination is sexual reproduction in flowering plants.
30
Why is reproduction important?
Reproduction ensures survival and continuation of a species.
Nutrition
31
What is nutrition?
Nutrition is the process by which organisms obtain and use food for energy, growth and repair.
32
What is autotrophic nutrition?
Autotrophic nutrition is when organisms make their own food, like plants using photosynthesis.
33
What is heterotrophic nutrition?
Heterotrophic nutrition is when organisms obtain food by eating other organisms, like animals eating plants or other animals.
34
Give one example of a saprophytic organism.
Fungi like mushrooms feed on dead organic matter and are saprophytic.
35
What gas is produced by plants during photosynthesis?
Plants produce oxygen during photosynthesis.
Excretion
36
What is excretion?
Excretion is the removal of waste products produced by metabolic activities.
37
Name one excretory product in animals.
Urine is an excretory product in animals.
38
How do plants excrete excess oxygen?
Plants release excess oxygen through stomata and during photosynthesis.
39
Why is excretion necessary?
Excretion prevents accumulation of toxic wastes and maintains internal balance (homeostasis).
40
Give an example of excretion in humans besides urine.
Exhalation of carbon dioxide is an example of excretion in humans.
Classification — Vertebrates & Invertebrates
41
What are vertebrates?
Vertebrates are animals that have a backbone or vertebral column.
42
Name five groups of vertebrates.
Fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
43
What are invertebrates?
Invertebrates are animals that do not have a backbone.
44
Give two examples of invertebrates.
Insects (like ants) and earthworms are examples of invertebrates.
45
Name one feature of mammals.
Mammals usually have hair and produce milk to feed their young.
Living vs Non-living & Quick Revision
46
List one difference between living and non-living things.
Living things perform life processes like growth and reproduction; non-living things do not.
47
Give one simple test to show a thing is living.
Check for movement, breathing or growth — for example, observe if a seed germinates and grows.
48
Why is photosynthesis important for living organisms?
Photosynthesis in plants produces food and oxygen, supporting life on Earth.
49
What should you write first in an answer when asked to define a life process?
Begin with a concise definition, then add a short example or one characteristic point.
50
Give one exam tip for this chapter.
Memorise key terms like MRSGREN and practice short examples for each life process to answer quickly in exams.
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