General Science – Classification of Living Organisms


Q1. Placing things into groups and subgroups on the basis of similarities is called what ?

Ans: Classification

Explanation: Similar things are grouped for easy study.

Q2. All living things are divided into how many main groups ?

Ans:: Five

Explanation: 5 Kingdoms - Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia.

Q3. Bacteria are placed in which kingdom ?

Ans: Monera

Explanation: They are unicellular microscopic organisms.

Q4. Algae are placed in which kingdom ?

Ans: Protista

Explanation: They are simple, plant-like, mostly aquatic organisms.

Q5. Plants can do what with their food ?

Ans: Prepare their own food

Explanation: Plants make food by photosynthesis.

Q6. Aquatic plants are what dwelling ?

Ans: Water dwelling

Explanation: They live fully or partly in water.

Q7. Animals can prepare their own food – True or False ?

Ans: False

Explanation: Animals depend on plants or other animals for food.

Q8. Animals are divided into two main groups – name them.

Ans: Vertebrates and Invertebrates

Explanation: Based on the presence or absence of a backbone.

Q9. Vertebrates are divided into how many classes ?

Ans: Five

Explanation: Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals.

Q10. Fishes respire through what ?

Ans: Gills

Explanation: Gills help fish to take oxygen from water.

Q11. Which vertebrates live both on land and in water ?

Ans: Amphibians

Explanation: They can live in water and on land (example: frog, toad).

Q12. Birds that cannot fly but can run fast are called what ?

Ans: Running birds (like Ostrich)

Explanation: They have strong legs for running instead of flying.

Q13. The largest bird in the world is called ?

Ans: Ostrich

Explanation: Ostrich is the biggest bird; it cannot fly but can run very fast.

Q14. Mammals that live in water are ?

Ans: Dolphin and Whale

Explanation: These mammals live in water, are warm-blooded, give birth to babies, and breathe air through lungs.

Q15. Mammals that can fly are called ?

Ans: Bats

Explanation: Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight; their wings are made of skin stretched over elongated fingers.

Q16. Invertebrates are classified into how many groups ?

Ans: Two groups

Explanation: Invertebrates, which lack a backbone, are classified into simple and complex groups.

Q17Q. The body of an insect has how many parts ?

Ans: Three parts

Explanation: An insect’s body is divided into head, thorax, and abdomen.

Q18. Earthworms are called ?

Ans: Bio-fertilizer or natural fertilizer

Explanation: Earthworms improve soil fertility by producing humus through decomposition.

Q19. Plants are classified into how many groups ?

Ans: Two groups

Explanation: Plants are divided into flowering and non-flowering plants.

Q20. Examples of non-flowering plants are ?

Ans: Mosses and Ferns

Explanation: These plants do not produce flowers and reproduce through spores.

Q21. Flowering plants are classified into ?

Ans: Monocots and Dicots

Explanation: This classification is based on the number of cotyledons (seed leaves) in the seed.

Q22. Examples of Monocots are ?

Ans: Wheat, Maize, Rice

Explanation: Monocots have one seed leaf, parallel leaf veins, and fibrous roots.

Q23. Examples of Dicots are ?

Ans: Pea and Mango

Explanation: Dicots have two seed leaves, net-like leaf veins, and taproot system.

Q24. Reptiles have what kind of skin ?

Ans: Rough and dry

Explanation: Reptiles like snakes and lizards have scales that protect them and prevent water loss.

Q25. Who discovered the microscope ?

Ans: Anton van Leeuwenhoek

Explanation: The Dutch scientist improved lenses and was the first to observe microorganisms, known as the “Father of Microbiology.”

Q26. When viruses are inside a cell, what are they called ?

Ans: Parasites

Explanation: Viruses cannot live independently and require a host cell to reproduce, so they are obligate parasites.

Q27. When viruses are inactive in a cell, they look like what ?

Ans: Crystals

Explanation: In their inactive form, viruses can appear as crystalline structures under a microscope.

Q28. The word “virus” is derived from which Latin word and what does it mean ?

Ans: Venom, which means Poison

Explanation: The term “virus” comes from Latin, indicating the poisonous nature of these infectious agents.

Q29. Who discovered the virus and in which year ?

Ans: W. Stanley in 1935

Explanation: Wendell Stanley crystallized the tobacco mosaic virus, proving viruses are non-living infectious particles.

Q30. Diseases caused by viruses include ?

Ans: AIDS, Polio, Influenza, Chickenpox, etc.

Explanation: Viruses cause various infectious diseases in humans and animals.

Q31. Bacteria do not possess which cell structure ?

Ans: Nucleus

Explanation: Bacteria are prokaryotic cells; their genetic material is not enclosed in a nucleus.

Q32. The most important decomposer microorganism is ?

Ans: Bacteria

Explanation: Bacteria break down dead matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Q33. Special medicines used to control bacterial diseases are called ?

Ans: Antibiotics

Explanation: Antibiotics kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria without affecting host cells.

Q34. Rust and smut are diseases of maize and wheat caused by ?

Ans: Fungus

Explanation: Fungal infections cause rust and smut diseases in crops, affecting yield and quality.

Q35. Yeast is a microscopic ______.

Ans: Decomposer

Explanation: Yeast breaks down sugars and other organic matter, helping in decomposition and fermentation.

Q36. Due to yeast, the flour ______.

Ans: Ferments / Decomposes

Explanation: Yeast ferments the sugars in flour, producing carbon dioxide that makes dough rise.

Q37. Penicillin was the first antibiotic extracted from which fungus ?

Ans: Penicillium

Explanation: Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin from Penicillium mold, the first antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.

Q38. When a microorganism enters the body and starts growing, it is called ?

Ans: Infection

Explanation: Microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, or fungi can invade the body, causing diseases called infections.

Q39. The seed coat which covers the seed is called ?

Ans: Testa

Explanation: Testa protects the seed from mechanical injury and infection.

Q40. Cotyledons are very important because they ______.

Ans: Store food

Explanation: Cotyledons provide nourishment to the developing embryo during germination.

Q41. The process in which a seed grows into a new plant is called ?

Ans: Germination

Explanation: Germination involves the growth of the embryo inside the seed into a young plant under favorable conditions.

Q42. Germination does not require ______.

Ans: Moonlight

Explanation: Germination requires water, oxygen, and suitable temperature, not moonlight.

Q43. The young plant inside the seed is called ?

Ans: Embryo

Explanation: The embryo is the early stage of the plant, which develops into a seedling during germination.

Q44. Seeds are of how many types and what are they ?

Ans:  Two types: Monocot and Dicot

Explanation: Seeds are classified based on the number of cotyledons; Monocots have one cotyledon and Dicots have two.

Q1. Placing things into groups and subgroups on the basis of similarities is called what ?

Ans: Classification

Explanation: Similar things are grouped for easy study.

Q2. All living things are divided into how many main groups ?

Ans:: Five

Explanation: 5 Kingdoms - Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia.

Q3. Bacteria are placed in which kingdom ?

Ans: Monera

Explanation: They are unicellular microscopic organisms.

Q4. Algae are placed in which kingdom ?

Ans: Protista

Explanation: They are simple, plant-like, mostly aquatic organisms.

Q5. Plants can do what with their food ?

Ans: Prepare their own food

Explanation: Plants make food by photosynthesis.

Q6. Aquatic plants are what dwelling ?

Ans: Water dwelling

Explanation: They live fully or partly in water.

Q7. Animals can prepare their own food – True or False ?

Ans: False

Explanation: Animals depend on plants or other animals for food.

Q8. Animals are divided into two main groups – name them.

Ans: Vertebrates and Invertebrates

Explanation: Based on the presence or absence of a backbone.

Q9. Vertebrates are divided into how many classes ?

Ans: Five

Explanation: Fish, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals.

Q10. Fishes respire through what ?

Ans: Gills

Explanation: Gills help fish to take oxygen from water.

Q11. Which vertebrates live both on land and in water ?

Ans: Amphibians

Explanation: They can live in water and on land (example: frog, toad).

Q12. Birds that cannot fly but can run fast are called what ?

Ans: Running birds (like Ostrich)

Explanation: They have strong legs for running instead of flying.

13Q. The largest bird in the world is called ?

Ans: Ostrich

Explanation: Ostrich is the biggest bird; it cannot fly but can run very fast.

14Q. Mammals that live in water are ?

Ans: Dolphin and Whale

Explanation: These mammals live in water, are warm-blooded, give birth to babies, and breathe air through lungs.

15Q. Mammals that can fly are called ?

Ans: Bats

Explanation: Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight; their wings are made of skin stretched over elongated fingers.

16Q. Invertebrates are classified into how many groups ?

Ans: Two groups

Explanation: Invertebrates, which lack a backbone, are classified into simple and complex groups.

17Q. The body of an insect has how many parts ?

Ans: Three parts

Explanation: An insect’s body is divided into head, thorax, and abdomen.

18Q. Earthworms are called ?

Ans: Bio-fertilizer or natural fertilizer

Explanation: Earthworms improve soil fertility by producing humus through decomposition.

19Q. Plants are classified into how many groups ?

Ans: Two groups

Explanation: Plants are divided into flowering and non-flowering plants.

20Q. Examples of non-flowering plants are ?

Ans: Mosses and Ferns

Explanation: These plants do not produce flowers and reproduce through spores.

21Q. Flowering plants are classified into ?

Ans: Monocots and Dicots

Explanation: This classification is based on the number of cotyledons (seed leaves) in the seed.

22Q. Examples of Monocots are ?

Ans: Wheat, Maize, Rice

Explanation: Monocots have one seed leaf, parallel leaf veins, and fibrous roots.

23Q. Examples of Dicots are ?

Ans: Pea and Mango

Explanation: Dicots have two seed leaves, net-like leaf veins, and taproot system.

24Q. Reptiles have what kind of skin ?

Ans: Rough and dry

Explanation: Reptiles like snakes and lizards have scales that protect them and prevent water loss.

25Q. Who discovered the microscope ?

Ans: Anton van Leeuwenhoek

Explanation: The Dutch scientist improved lenses and was the first to observe microorganisms, known as the “Father of Microbiology.”

Q26. When viruses are inside a cell, what are they called ?

Ans: Parasites

Explanation: Viruses cannot live independently and require a host cell to reproduce, so they are obligate parasites.

Q27. When viruses are inactive in a cell, they look like what ?

Ans: Crystals

Explanation: In their inactive form, viruses can appear as crystalline structures under a microscope.

Q28. The word “virus” is derived from which Latin word and what does it mean ?

Ans: Venom, which means Poison

Explanation: The term “virus” comes from Latin, indicating the poisonous nature of these infectious agents.

Q29. Who discovered the virus and in which year ?

Ans: W. Stanley in 1935

Explanation: Wendell Stanley crystallized the tobacco mosaic virus, proving viruses are non-living infectious particles.

Q30. Diseases caused by viruses include ?

Ans: AIDS, Polio, Influenza, Chickenpox, etc.

Explanation: Viruses cause various infectious diseases in humans and animals.

Q31. Bacteria do not possess which cell structure ?

Ans: Nucleus

Explanation: Bacteria are prokaryotic cells; their genetic material is not enclosed in a nucleus.

Q32. The most important decomposer microorganism is ?

Ans: Bacteria

Explanation: Bacteria break down dead matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Q33. Special medicines used to control bacterial diseases are called ?

Ans: Antibiotics

Explanation: Antibiotics kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria without affecting host cells.

Q34. Rust and smut are diseases of maize and wheat caused by ?

Ans: Fungus

Explanation: Fungal infections cause rust and smut diseases in crops, affecting yield and quality.

Q35. Yeast is a microscopic ______.

Ans: Decomposer

Explanation: Yeast breaks down sugars and other organic matter, helping in decomposition and fermentation.

Q36. Due to yeast, the flour ______.

Ans: Ferments / Decomposes

Explanation: Yeast ferments the sugars in flour, producing carbon dioxide that makes dough rise.

Q37. Penicillin was the first antibiotic extracted from which fungus ?

Ans: Penicillium

Explanation: Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin from Penicillium mold, the first antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.

Q38. When a microorganism enters the body and starts growing, it is called ?

Ans: Infection

Explanation: Microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, or fungi can invade the body, causing diseases called infections.

Q39. The seed coat which covers the seed is called ?

Ans: Testa

Explanation: Testa protects the seed from mechanical injury and infection.

Q40. Cotyledons are very important because they ______.

Ans: Store food

Explanation: Cotyledons provide nourishment to the developing embryo during germination.

Q41. The process in which a seed grows into a new plant is called ?

Ans: Germination

Explanation: Germination involves the growth of the embryo inside the seed into a young plant under favorable conditions.

Q42. Germination does not require ______.

Ans: Moonlight

Explanation: Germination requires water, oxygen, and suitable temperature, not moonlight.

Q43. The young plant inside the seed is called ?

Ans: Embryo

Explanation: The embryo is the early stage of the plant, which develops into a seedling during germination.

Q44. Seeds are of how many types and what are they ?

Ans:  Two types: Monocot and Dicot

Explanation: Seeds are classified based on the number of cotyledons; Monocots have one cotyledon and Dicots have two.

Q45. Any harmful change in the environment is called ?

Ans: Pollution

Explanation: Pollution refers to the introduction of harmful substances or changes into the environment that affect living organisms.

Q46. The things which cause pollution are called ?

Ans: Pollutants

Explanation: Pollutants are substances or agents that cause pollution, e.g., smoke, chemicals, or waste.

Q47. How many types of pollution are there ?

Ans: Three types

Explanation: The main types are air pollution, water pollution, and soil pollution.

Q48. Materials which can be degraded naturally are called ?

Ans: Biodegradable

Explanation: Biodegradable materials break down naturally by microorganisms into harmless substances.

Q49. Materials which cannot be degraded naturally are called ?

Ans: Non-biodegradable

Explanation: Non-biodegradable materials like plastic and glass remain in the environment for a long time.

Q50. Cars and buses give off a large amount of ?

Ans: Smoke

Explanation: Vehicle exhaust emits smoke and gases that pollute the air.

Q51. Dead plants and dead animals are ?

Ans: Biodegradable

Explanation: They decompose naturally and enrich the soil with nutrients.

Q52. Electricity wires, batteries, and plastic are ?

Ans: Non-biodegradable

Explanation: These materials cannot be decomposed naturally and accumulate in the environment.

Q53. Matter exists in how many forms ?

Ans: Three forms

Explanation: Matter exists as solids, liquids, and gases.

Q54. Solids expand on ______ and contract on ______?

Ans: Heating; Cooling

Explanation: When solids are heated, particles move faster and expand; cooling slows particles and contracts the solid.

Q55. The change of solid into liquid is called ?

Ans: Melting

Explanation: Melting occurs when heat is applied to a solid to convert it into a liquid.

Q56. The change of liquid into solid is called ?

Ans: Freezing

Explanation: Freezing occurs when a liquid loses heat and becomes solid.