CBSE Science - Grade X

2023-24 Examination
Question paper Code: 31/2/1
2. Which of the following statement(s) is (are) true about the human heart. (a) Right atrium
receives oxygenated blood from lungs through pulmonary artery. (b) Left atrium transfers
oxygenated blood to the left ventricle which sends it to various parts of the body. (c) Right
atrium receives deoxygenated blood through vena cava from upper and lower body. (d) Left
atrium transfers oxygenated blood to the aorta which sends it to different parts of the body. [1]
(A) (a)
(B) (a) and (d)
(C) (b) and (c)
(D) (b) and (d)
Ans- (C) (b) and (c) Explanation: Oxygen-rich blood from the lungs comes to the left atrium.
The left atrium relaxes when it is collecting this blood. It then contracts, while the left ventricle
relaxes, so that the blood is transferred to it. When the muscular left ventricle contracts in its
turn, the blood is pumped out to the body. Deoxygenated blood comes from the body to the
right atrium, as it relaxes. As the right atrium contracts, the corresponding lower chamber, the
right ventricle, dilates. This transfers blood to the right ventricle, which in turn pumps it to the
lungs for oxygenation
4. Select out of the following a gland which does NOT occur as a pair in the human body: [1]
(A) Pituitary
(B) Ovary
(C) Testis
(D)Adrenal
Ans- (A) Pituitary
Explanation: The pituitary gland does not occur in pairs, while the adrenal gland, testis (in
male) and ovary (in female) do.
6. In human respiratory system, when a person breathes in, the position of ribs and diaphragm
will be : [1]
(A) lifted ribs and curved/dome shaped diaphragm.
(B) lifted ribs and flattened diaphragm.
(C) relaxed ribs and flattened diaphragm.
(D) relaxed ribs and curve/dome shaped diaphragm.
Ans- (B) lifted ribs and flattened diaphragm. Explanation: When we breathe in, we lift our ribs
and flatten our diaphragm, and the chest cavity becomes larger as a result. Because of this, air
is sucked into the lungs and fills the expanded alveoli.
8. Identify the mode of asexual reproduction in the following organism : [1]
 (A) Fragmentation
(B) Multiple fission
(C) Budding
(D) Binary fission
Ans- (C) Budding Explanation: Hydra can reproduce asexually through budding. Budding in
Hydra appears to be a common method of reproduction and occurs at any time of the year.
10. A cross made between two pea plants produces 50% tall and 50% short pea plants. The gene
combination of the parental pea plants must be [1]
(A) Tt and Tt
(B) TT and Tt
(C) Tt and tt
(D) TT and tt
Ans- (C) Tt and tt Explanation: The observed ratio of 50% tall and 50% short pea plants
suggests that the cross involves a heterozygous tall plant (Tt) crossed with a homozygous short
plant (tt). This would result in a 1:1 ratio of tall to short offspring.
12. Assertion (A): Human females have a perfect pair of sex chromosomes.
Reason (R) : Sex chromosomes contributed by the human male in the zygote decides the sex of
a child. [1]
Ans-Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of
the Assertion (A).
Explanation: The fact that the male's contribution of the sex chromosome (X or Y) determines
the sex of the offspring is directly related to the concept of females having a "perfect pair" of
sex chromosomes (XX) for determining female sex.
14. Photosynthesis takes place in the leaves and the food prepared by it reaches other parts of the
plants. Name the process involved and explain it. [2]
Ans-The process by which the soluble products of photosynthesis are transported from the
leaves to other parts of the plant is called *translocation*. This process is carried out by the
phloem tissue, which is a vascular complex tissue.
16. "Stability of DNA in a species is ensured during sexual reproduction." Justify the statement.
[2]
Ans-The result of sexual reproduction is the origin of new species. Sexual reproduction
involves division in the sex organs and reduces the DNA matter to half. Zygote formed after
fusion has the same amount of DNA as the parents. Hence it maintains DNA in a species.
18. Name the term used for the materials which cannot be broken down by biological processes.
Give two ways by which they harm various components of an ecosystem. [1]
Ans-Substances that are not broken down by biological processes are said to be non-
biodegradable. These substances may be inert and simply persist in the environment for a long
period of time or may harm the various members of the ecosystem, e.g. plastic.
20. (a) Give reasons for the following:
(i) Alveoli in lungs are richly supplied with blood capillaries.
 (ii) Respiratory pigment in the blood takes up oxygen and not carbon dioxide.
(iii) During anaerobic respiration, a 3-carbon molecule is formed as an end product instead of
CO2 in human beings. [3]
Ans-
(i)Alveoli are covered with blood capillaries so that the exchange of gases takes place between
the membrane of alveoli and the surrounding capillaries. The blood capillaries covering alveoli
have low oxygen and high CO2 concentration. This allows O2 to diffuse into the blood and
CO2 out of the blood.
(ii) The respiratory pigment heamoglobin has high affinity for oxygen and therefore oxygen is
transported in our body by it. Carbon dioxide is more soluble in water than oxygen is and
hence is mostly transported in the dissolved form in our blood.
(iii) In anaerobic respiration, the breakdown of glucose is incomplete. The end product of
anaerobic respiration is lactic acid instead of carbon dioxide and water. This process occurs in
oxygen debt. Hence, the amount of oxygen required to oxidize lactic acid to carbon dioxide
and water is not present.
22. (i)Name the movements that occur all along the gut in the human digestive system. How do
they help in digestion?
(ii) Where is bile juice stored in the human body? List two roles of bile, juice. [3]
Ans-(i) Peristalsis is a series of wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the
digestive tract. It starts in the esophagus where strong wave-like motions of the smooth muscle
move balls of swallowed food to the stomach.
(ii) Bile is a fluid that is made and released by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile
helps with digestion. It breaks down fats into fatty acids, which can be taken into the body by
the digestive tract.
24. Use of pesticides to protect our crops affect organisms at various trophic levels, especially
human beings. Name the phenomenon involved and explain how does it happen. [3]
Ans-Some harmful chemicals enter our bodies through the food chain. One of the reasons is
the use of several pesticides and other chemicals to protect our crops from diseases and pests.
These chemicals are either washed down into the soil or into the water bodies. From the soil,
these are absorbed by the plants along with water and minerals, and from the water bodies
these are taken up by aquatic plants and animals. This is one of the ways in which they enter
the food chain. As these chemicals are not degradable, these get accumulated progressively at
each trophic level. As human beings occupy the top level in any food chain, the maximum
concentration of these chemicals gets accumulated in our bodies. This phenomenon is known
as biological magnification or biomagnification.
26. (i)Distinguish between hormonal coordination in plants and animals.
(ii) Which part of the brain is responsible for –
(1) intelligence
(2) riding a bicycle
(3) vomiting
(4) controlling hunger
(iii) How is the brain and spinal-cord protected against mechanical injuries? [5]
 (ii) (1) cerebrum in the human brain is the center for intelligence
(2) Requires balance, hence controlled by Cerebellum which controls balance and equilibrium
of the body. It is part of the hindbrain.
(3) The reflex action during vomiting is controlled by the vomit center in the Medulla
oblongata.
(4) The hypothalamus is the portion of your brain that controls hunger.
(iii) The brain is protected by the bones of the skull and by a covering of three thin
membranes called meninges. The brain is also cushioned and protected by cerebrospinal fluid.
28. (i)What are tropic movements? Give an example of a plant hormone which
(1) inhibits growth and (2) promotes cell division.
(ii) Explain directional movement of a tendril in a pea plant in response to touch. Name the
hormone responsible for this movement. [5]
Ans-
(i)Tropic movement is the movement of the plant in response to the stimulus present in the
environment, this movement is in response to root and shoot growth. Auxins are the plant
hormones that promote growth. They promote stem elongation, stimulate branching in roots
and inhibit the growth of lateral buds in plants. Abscisic acid and ethylene inhibit plant
growth.
(ii)The directional growth movement of a plant in response to the touch of an object is called
Thigmotropism. Example: In response to the touch of the support stick auxin is produced in
the tendrils of a redvine and auxin is transferred from touching cells to non touching cells.
30. Asexual reproduction involves a single parent to produce offspring without the formation of
gametes. It occurs by the following ways: Fission, Budding, Fragmentation, Spore formation
and Regeneration. In one of the methods like regeneration, Planaria A is cut horizontally into
three pieces - L, M and N and Planaria B is cut vertically into two equal halves - O and P.
(a) Which of the cut pieces of the two Planaria could regenerate to form a complete organism?
[1]
(b) Give an example of another organism which follows the same mode of reproduction as
Planaria. [1] (c) What is the meaning of 'development' in regeneration? [2]
OR
(c) Differentiate between regeneration and fragmentation. [2]
Ans-Solution: (a) L,M,N,O,and P regenerate to form a complete organism.
(b) Amoeba
(c) Regeneration is one of the processes in which if an organism is cut into several pieces,
each of its parts regrows to the original state. This process is carried out by specialized cells
called stem cells. It takes place in organisms that have a very simple structure with very few
specialized cells.
OR