Which of the following is obtained from an animal source?
Explanation: Honey is made by bees, an animal source. Wheat, rice and gram are all obtained from plants.
Sugarcane is a plant part that we eat. Which part of the plant is it?
Explanation: Sugarcane is a stem. We extract sweet juice from the stem of the sugarcane plant.
An animal that eats both plants and other animals is called a/an:
Explanation: Omnivores eat both plant and animal food. A crow, for example, eats grains as well as insects.
Which ingredient in idli/dosa batter is mainly responsible for making it rise and turn spongy?
Explanation: Fermentation of the urad dal and rice batter produces carbon dioxide gas bubbles, which make the batter rise and become spongy.
A few drops of iodine solution are added to a food item and it turns blue-black. The food item contains:
Explanation: Iodine solution turns blue-black in the presence of starch. This is the standard test used to detect starch in food.
When a food item is rubbed on paper and it leaves a translucent (oily) patch that does not disappear on drying, the food contains:
Explanation: A translucent, permanent oily patch on paper indicates the presence of fat in the food item.
A diet that contains all the nutrients — carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and roughage — in the right amounts is called a:
Explanation: A balanced diet has all the required nutrients in proper proportions, along with adequate roughage and water, needed for the body's growth and maintenance.
A person who does not get enough Vitamin C in their diet is most likely to suffer from:
Explanation: Deficiency of Vitamin C causes scurvy, in which the gums become swollen and bleed. Citrus fruits like oranges and lemons are good sources of Vitamin C.
Roughage in our food mainly helps in:
Explanation: Roughage, or dietary fibre, does not provide nutrients but adds bulk to food, helping the digestive system remove undigested food easily.
Which nutrient is primarily needed by the body for growth and repair of tissues?
Explanation: Proteins are called body-building nutrients because they are essential for the growth and repair of body tissues.
Which of these is a natural fibre obtained from a plant?
Explanation: Cotton is a natural plant fibre obtained from the cotton boll. Nylon and polyester are synthetic (man-made) fibres.
Cotton fibres are obtained from the cotton plant's:
Explanation: After the cotton flower fades, a fruit called a boll develops. When ripe, the boll bursts open to reveal cotton fibres.
Silk fibre is obtained from the cocoon of the:
Explanation: Silk fibre is obtained by unwinding the thread from the cocoon spun by the silkworm, a caterpillar of the silk moth.
The process of making yarn from fibres by twisting them together is called:
Explanation: Spinning is the process of drawing out and twisting fibres together to form a yarn.
Which process arranges two sets of yarns together to make a fabric, as opposed to using a single yarn to make a fabric?
Explanation: Weaving interlaces two sets of yarns (like the warp and weft) to make fabric. Knitting uses a single yarn to make a fabric by looping it, as in a sweater.
Jute, used for making gunny bags and ropes, is mainly obtained from the:
Explanation: Jute fibre is obtained from the stem of the jute plant, which grows well during the rainy season.
Which of these animals does NOT provide wool fibre?
Explanation: Camel hair is used to make some fabrics but is generally not classified with wool-yielding animals like sheep, goat, and yak, whose fleece is the main source of wool.
A material through which objects can be seen clearly is called:
Explanation: A transparent material allows light to pass through it completely, so objects can be seen clearly through it, e.g. clear glass.
Which of the following does NOT dissolve in water?
Explanation: Sand is insoluble in water — it settles at the bottom instead of dissolving, unlike salt, sugar, and copper sulphate.
A piece of cork is placed in water. It floats because its density compared to water is:
Explanation: An object floats in water when its density is lower than that of water. Cork has a very low density, so it floats easily.
Flour is separated from small stones and husk by passing it through a sieve. This method is called:
Explanation: Sieving separates components of a mixture that have different particle sizes by passing the mixture through a sieve.
Farmers separate lighter husk from heavier grains by throwing the mixture up in the air on a windy day. This method is called:
Explanation: Winnowing uses wind (or air) to separate lighter components (husk) from heavier ones (grains) — the wind blows the husk away while the heavier grains fall straight down.
Muddy water is left undisturbed and the mud settles at the bottom. The clear water on top is then carefully poured off. These two steps are together called:
Explanation: Sedimentation is the settling of heavier insoluble particles at the bottom; decantation is pouring off the clear liquid from the top without disturbing the settled particles.
Tea leaves are separated from brewed tea using a strainer. This method of separation is called:
Explanation: Filtration is used to separate insoluble solid particles, like tea leaves, from a liquid using a strainer or filter paper.
Common salt is obtained from sea water mainly by the process of:
Explanation: Sea water is collected in shallow pits, and the sun's heat causes the water to evaporate, leaving behind solid common salt.
Small stones or damaged grains are picked out by hand from a mixture of good grains. This method works best when the unwanted matter is:
Explanation: Handpicking is suitable only when the undesirable material is present in small amounts and can be easily identified and separated by hand.
A mixture contains sand and salt. What is the best way to separate them?
Explanation: Salt dissolves in water but sand does not. Dissolving the mixture in water and filtering removes the sand; evaporating the filtrate then recovers the salt.
Melting of ice into water is an example of a:
Explanation: Melting of ice is a reversible change because the water can be changed back into ice by freezing it again.
Which of these changes CANNOT be reversed?
Explanation: Burning paper is an irreversible change — the ash formed cannot be changed back into paper.
Cutting a fruit into pieces is an example of a:
Explanation: Cutting a fruit only changes its shape and size; no new substance is formed, so it is a physical change.
An iron nail left in the open develops a reddish-brown coating over time. This change is:
Explanation: Rusting occurs when iron reacts with oxygen and moisture in the air to form iron oxide (rust), a new substance. This change is irreversible.
The diagram shows a flowering plant. Which labelled part mainly absorbs water and minerals from the soil?
Explanation: Roots grow underground and their main function is to absorb water and minerals from the soil and anchor the plant firmly.
The diagram shows two types of root systems. A mustard plant has a single, thick main root with thinner branches, as shown on the left. This type of root system is called:
Explanation: A taproot system has one main root that grows straight down, with thinner lateral roots branching out from it, as seen in plants like mustard and mango.
A tall plant with a hard, thick, woody stem that is single and unbranched near the base, such as a mango tree, is classified as a:
Explanation: Trees are tall plants with a hard, woody main stem that usually does not branch near the ground, unlike shrubs which branch close to the base.
A pumpkin plant has a weak stem that cannot stand upright and spreads along the ground. Such a plant is called a:
Explanation: Creepers have weak stems that trail along the ground because they cannot support the plant's own weight, unlike climbers which use tendrils to climb upward.
The diagram shows two leaves with different vein patterns. The leaf on the right, with veins running parallel to each other, shows:
Explanation: When the veins of a leaf run parallel to one another, it is called parallel venation, commonly seen in leaves of grasses, maize, and wheat.
The green pigment present in leaves that helps them absorb sunlight to prepare food is called:
Explanation: Chlorophyll, the green pigment in leaves, absorbs sunlight, which is used along with water and carbon dioxide to prepare food during photosynthesis.
Green plants prepare their own food using sunlight, water and:
Explanation: During photosynthesis, plants use sunlight energy to combine carbon dioxide (from air) and water (from soil) to make food, releasing oxygen as a by-product.
The loss of excess water in the form of vapour through tiny pores present mainly on the leaves is called:
Explanation: Transpiration is the process by which plants lose water vapour through small pores called stomata, mostly found on the surface of leaves.
The colourful part of a flower that attracts insects for pollination, and is usually found surrounding the reproductive parts, is the:
Explanation: Petals are the often brightly coloured and scented parts of a flower that help attract insects and birds for pollination.
The diagram shows three types of joints in the human body. The joint that allows movement in almost all directions, such as the shoulder joint, is the:
Explanation: A ball and socket joint, found at the shoulder and hip, allows movement in nearly all directions because a rounded end fits into a cup-like socket.
The human backbone is made up of many small bones joined together, called:
Explanation: The backbone (spine) is made up of a series of small bones called vertebrae, which allows it to bend, unlike a single long bone.
A snake moves forward by forming a number of curves and pushing against the ground, which is possible because its body is made up of a large number of:
Explanation: A snake's backbone has a very large number of small vertebrae, giving its body great flexibility to form loops and curves for movement.
An earthworm moves using alternate contraction and relaxation of muscles, aided by tiny bristle-like structures on its body called:
Explanation: An earthworm's body has tiny bristles called setae that help it grip the ground while its muscles contract and relax to move forward.
A fish swims through water mainly with the help of its streamlined body and its:
Explanation: A fish has a streamlined body to reduce water resistance, and it uses its fins and tail muscles to push against the water and swim.
A cockroach can move its body because it has an outer, hard covering with joints, called an:
Explanation: Insects like cockroaches have a hard outer covering called an exoskeleton, and muscles attached to it help the body parts move at the joints.
The surroundings where a plant or animal naturally lives is called its:
Explanation: A habitat is the specific place or natural environment where an organism lives and finds food, shelter and other things it needs to survive.
An organism that lives in water, such as a fish, is called a/an:
Explanation: Organisms that live in water, such as fish, are called aquatic organisms.
Fish have streamlined bodies and gills mainly because these features help them to:
Explanation: A streamlined body reduces resistance while swimming, and gills allow fish to take in dissolved oxygen from water — both are adaptations to aquatic life.
Camels are well-adapted to survive in deserts mainly because they:
Explanation: Camels can go without water for long periods and store fat in their humps, which helps them survive the harsh, dry conditions of the desert.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic shown by all living organisms?
Explanation: Growth, reproduction, and respiration are shown by all living organisms, but photosynthesis is carried out only by green plants and a few other organisms, not by all living things.
The movement of an organism from one place to another is specifically called:
Explanation: While all living things show movement of some kind, movement from one place to another is specifically called locomotion.
When you touch the leaves of a 'touch-me-not' (Mimosa) plant, they immediately fold up. This shows that living organisms:
Explanation: This is an example of sensitivity — the ability of living organisms to detect and respond to changes (stimuli) in their surroundings, such as touch.
The process by which living organisms remove harmful waste products formed inside their bodies is called:
Explanation: Excretion is the biological process of removing waste materials, produced as a result of body processes, from within the body of an organism.
A desert is an example of a:
Explanation: A desert is a land-based (terrestrial) habitat, characterised by very little rainfall, extreme temperatures, and sandy soil.
Birds have several adaptations for flight, such as light, hollow bones and:
Explanation: Birds have wings and streamlined, lightweight bodies with hollow bones, which are key adaptations that help them fly through the air.
The SI (standard international) unit used for measuring length is the:
Explanation: The metre is the internationally accepted standard (SI) unit for measuring length or distance.
A car moving along a straight road shows an example of:
Explanation: Motion along a straight line is called rectilinear (or linear) motion.
The tip of the second hand of a clock moves in a:
Explanation: The tip of a clock's second hand repeatedly traces the same circular path around the clock's centre, which is an example of circular motion.
A motion that repeats itself after a regular interval of time, like the swinging of a pendulum, is called:
Explanation: Periodic motion is a motion that repeats itself after equal intervals of time, such as a swinging pendulum or a vibrating guitar string.
While measuring the length of a curved road, which instrument is most suitable?
Explanation: A flexible measuring tape can bend along curves, making it more suitable than a rigid straight scale for measuring curved lengths.
A bicycle wheel, as it moves the bicycle forward along a straight road, shows an example of:
Explanation: The wheel rotates about its axle (circular motion) while the bicycle as a whole moves forward in a straight line (rectilinear motion) — a combination of both.
The diagram shows light from a source falling on an object and a shadow forming behind it. A shadow is formed when light is blocked by an:
Explanation: A shadow forms when an opaque object completely blocks the path of light, so light cannot pass through it to reach the surface behind.
The shadow of an opaque object formed on a screen is usually:
Explanation: A shadow is always dark and its outline depends on the shape of the object blocking the light, though its size can vary with the position of the light source.
In a pinhole camera, the image formed on the screen is:
Explanation: In a pinhole camera, light rays from the top and bottom of an object cross at the pinhole, so the image formed on the screen is inverted.
A polished, shiny surface like a mirror produces a clear image mainly because it:
Explanation: A smooth, shiny surface like a mirror reflects light regularly (in an orderly way), which is why it forms a clear, well-defined image.
Which of these is a luminous object, that is, an object that gives out its own light?
Explanation: The Sun is a luminous object because it emits its own light. The Moon and mirrors only reflect light received from another source like the Sun.
Frosted glass, through which objects can be seen but not clearly, is an example of a:
Explanation: Translucent materials allow only some light to pass through, so objects viewed through them appear blurred rather than clear.
The diagram shows the Sun, Moon and Earth in a straight line, with the Moon's shadow falling on part of the Earth. This event is called a:
Explanation: A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Sun and the Earth in a straight line, so the Moon's shadow falls on parts of the Earth, blocking sunlight.
A lunar eclipse occurs when:
Explanation: A lunar eclipse takes place when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, so the Earth's shadow falls on the Moon.
Light reflecting off a rough surface, such as a piece of paper, in many different directions is called:
Explanation: On rough surfaces, parallel rays of light strike different points at different angles and are scattered in many directions, called diffused or irregular reflection.
When you stand between two mirrors placed facing each other, you can see:
Explanation: Light reflects back and forth repeatedly between the two facing mirrors, producing multiple images of the object placed between them.
The diagram shows a battery, bulb and a closed switch connected by wires, with the bulb glowing. This complete, unbroken path for the flow of current is called a/an:
Explanation: A closed circuit provides an unbroken, continuous path for electric current to flow from the battery through the bulb and back, so the bulb glows.
In the diagram, the switch is open, creating a gap in the path. As a result, the bulb:
Explanation: An open circuit has a break or gap in the path, so electric current cannot flow through it, and the bulb does not glow.
Which of the following materials is a good conductor of electricity?
Explanation: Copper is a metal and a good conductor of electricity, allowing current to pass through it easily. Rubber, plastic, and wood are insulators.
Electric wires are usually covered with a coating of plastic or rubber because these materials are:
Explanation: Plastic and rubber are insulators — they do not allow electricity to pass through them — so covering wires with them protects people from electric shocks.
The main function of an electric switch in a circuit is to:
Explanation: A switch is a simple device used to either complete the circuit (turning the appliance on) or break the circuit (turning the appliance off).
The two terminals of an electric cell are called the:
Explanation: An electric cell has two terminals — a positive terminal and a negative terminal — between which a chemical reaction inside the cell produces a flow of current when connected in a circuit.
The thin wire inside an electric bulb that glows and produces light when current passes through it is called the:
Explanation: The filament is a thin coil of wire (usually tungsten) inside a bulb. It becomes very hot and glows when electric current passes through it, producing light.
When two electric cells are connected correctly (positive to negative) in a torch to power one bulb, this arrangement generally makes the bulb:
Explanation: Connecting two cells correctly in a circuit generally increases the voltage supplied, which makes the bulb glow brighter than it would with a single cell.
Which of the following is an unsafe practice around electricity?
Explanation: Water is a conductor of electricity, so touching electric switches or appliances with wet hands is dangerous and can cause an electric shock.
In the diagram, a bar magnet attracts a small object towards its pole. This object is most likely made of:
Explanation: Magnets attract magnetic materials such as iron, nickel, and cobalt. Wood, plastic, and rubber are non-magnetic materials and are not attracted by a magnet.
Every bar magnet has two ends where its magnetic strength (attraction) is the strongest. These are called the magnet's:
Explanation: The two ends of a magnet, where its attractive force is strongest, are called poles — the north pole and the south pole.
When the north pole of one magnet is brought near the north pole of another magnet, they will:
Explanation: Like poles (north-north or south-south) repel each other, while unlike poles (north-south) attract each other.
A freely suspended magnetic compass needle always comes to rest pointing approximately in the:
Explanation: A freely suspended magnetic needle always aligns itself in the north-south direction because of the Earth's own magnetic field, which is why compasses can be used for navigation.
A magnetic compass needle can be used to check whether an unmarked metal bar is a magnet because a real magnet will:
Explanation: A magnet's magnetic field will attract or deflect a nearby compass needle, which is a simple way to test whether an object is a magnet.
Which of the following is a common everyday use of magnets?
Explanation: Magnets are commonly used in refrigerator door seals, magnetic clips, toys, and many electronic devices, making use of their attractive properties.
Water can exist in three physical states depending on temperature. Steam is an example of water in its:
Explanation: Steam is water vapour, which is the gaseous state of water, formed when liquid water is heated enough to evaporate or boil.
The process by which water from oceans, rivers and lakes changes into water vapour due to heat from the Sun is called:
Explanation: Evaporation is the process by which liquid water changes into water vapour due to heating, mainly by the Sun's heat, and rises into the atmosphere.
Tiny water droplets in the sky come together to form clouds when water vapour cools and changes back into liquid water. This process is called:
Explanation: Condensation is the process by which water vapour cools and changes back into tiny liquid water droplets, which combine to form clouds.
Water falling back to Earth's surface from clouds, in the form of rain, snow or hail, is called:
Explanation: Precipitation refers to water falling from clouds onto the Earth's surface in various forms, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Which of the following is the best way to conserve water at home?
Explanation: Fixing leaking taps prevents unnecessary wastage of water, making it one of the simplest and most effective ways to conserve water at home.
Rainwater that seeps into the ground and gets stored between soil and rock layers is called:
Explanation: When rainwater percolates (seeps) through the soil, it gets collected and stored underground between layers of soil and rock, forming groundwater.
Which gas makes up the largest percentage of the air around us?
Explanation: Air is a mixture of gases, and nitrogen makes up about 78% of it by volume, making it the most abundant gas in air, more than oxygen (about 21%).
A burning candle covered with a glass jar eventually goes out because:
Explanation: Burning requires oxygen. When the candle is covered, the limited oxygen inside the jar is gradually used up, and the flame goes out once it is exhausted.
During breathing (respiration), we mainly take in oxygen from the air and breathe out:
Explanation: During respiration, our body uses the oxygen we breathe in and releases carbon dioxide as a waste gas when we breathe out.
A balloon that is inflated with air becomes larger than a deflated one. This shows that air:
Explanation: When a balloon is inflated, air fills it up and takes up space inside it, showing that air occupies space, even though it is invisible.
Which of the following activities contributes most to air pollution?
Explanation: Burning fossil fuels such as petrol, diesel, and coal releases harmful gases and particles into the air, making it one of the major causes of air pollution.
The planet closest to the Sun in our solar system is:
Explanation: Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun in our solar system, followed by Venus, Earth, and Mars.
Which of the following is a sense organ that helps us detect sounds?
Explanation: The ear is the sense organ responsible for detecting sound vibrations and allowing us to hear.