Solution The Living Organisms Characteristics and Habitats Class 6 Science

1. What is a habitat?
Ans: The surroundings where animals live is called their habitat. The organisms depend on their habitat for their food, water, air, shelter and other needs. Habitat means a dwelling place.

2. How are cactus adapted to survive in a desert?
Ans: Cactus are adapted to survive in a desert as they have
(i) No leaves or spiny leaves to prevent water loss through transpiration.
(ii) Stem is modified in such a way that it performs photosynthesis and conserves water.
(iii) Their roots go very deep into the soil for absorbing water.

3. Fill in the blanks:
(a) The presence of specific features which enables a plant or an animal to live in a particular habitat is called___________ .
(b) The habitats of the plants and animals that live on land are called _________________ habitats.
(c)The habitats of plants and animals that live in water are called ____________________ habitats.
(d) Soil, water and air are the____________ factors of a habitats.
(e) Changes in our surroundings that make us respond to them are called
Ans: 
(a) adaptation
(b) terrestrial
(c) aquatic
(d) abiotic
(e) stimuli

4. Which of the things in the following list are non-living?
Ans: Plough, Mushrooms, Sewing machine, Radio, Boat, Water, Hyacinth, Earthworm. Plough, Sewing machine, Radio, Boat and water are non-living.

5. Give an example of a non-living thing which shows any two characteristics of living thing.
Ans: Example of non-living thing is cloud which shows following two characteristics of living things:
(i) It grows in size
(ii) It shows movement.

6. Which of the following non-living things were once part of a living thing?
Butter, Leather, Soil, Wool, Electric Bulb, Cooking Oil, Salt, Apple, Rubber.
Ans: Butter, Leather, Wool, Cooking oil, Apple and Rubber are the non-living things which were once part of a living thing.

7. List the common characteristics of living things.
Ans: Some common characteristics of living things are:

1. Growth
2. Movement
3. Reproduction
4. Respiration
5. Responsiveness
6. Excretion

8. Explain why speed is important for survival in the grasslands for animals that live there. (Hint: There are few trees or places for animals to hide in grasslands habitats).
Ans: In grasslands habitats, there are few trees or places for animals to hide. When their enemy attacks they have to run faster so as to reach a safe place. If they fail, they lose their life. So, the speed is very important for survival of grassland animals.