CHETANA

R A DE ME
G

TEACHER’S C MPASS
GENERAL SCIENCE
Standard 7
Salient Features:
• Answers are provided to all the questions in the Grade Me Book.
• Written in simple, student friendly language.
• Chapters are sub divided into smaller units for better learning practice.
• Suitable diagrams provided wherever required.
• Prepared jointly by experienced teachers and technology experts.

CHETANA EDUCATION LIMITED

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Tel : +91-22-6121 6000
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CWG7170220
 Contents
1. The Living World: 11. Cell Structure and Micro-
Adaptations and Organisms ............................ 79

Classification ......................... 3 12. The Muscular System and

Digestive System in Human
2. Plants: Structure and
Beings ................................... 89
Function ................................11
13. Changes - Physical and
3. Properties of Natural
Chemical............................... 95
Resources ............................. 17
14. Elements, Compounds and
4. Nutrition in Living
Mixtures ............................... 99
Organisms ........................... 23
15. Materials We Use .............. 109
5. Food Safety .......................... 31
• Test Paper - 3 ......................114
• Test Paper - 1 ....................... 38
16. Natural Resources .............115
6. Measurement of Physical
17. Effects of Light .................. 124
Quantities ............................ 39
18. Sound : Production of
7. Motion, Force and Work .... 43 Sound ................................. 132
8. Static Electricity .................. 49 19. Properties of a Magnetic
9. Heat ...................................... 56 Field .................................... 137
10. Disaster Management ........ 65 20. In the World of Stars ........ 140
• Test Paper - 2 ....................... 73 • Test Paper - 4 ..................... 144
• Model Test Paper - 1 ........... 74 • Model Test Paper - 2 ......... 146

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CWG7040220
 THE LIVING WORLD: ADAPTATIONS AND
1
CLASSIFICATION (Grade Me pg. no. (5 - 17)

Q.1. Fill in the blanks:

Ans. (1) Rajasthan (2) waxy (3) Fibrous (4) haustorial (sucking)
(5) Charles Darwin (6) World Frog Protection Day (7) Desert plants
(8) resistance of air (9) Adaptation (10) Survival of the fittest.

Q.2. State whether the following statements are True or False:

Ans. (1) True (2) True (3) True (4) True

Q.3. Name the following:

Ans. (1) Venus flytrap, Pitcher plant (2) Carl Linnaeus (3) Frog, duck
(4) genus and species (5) carrots, beets

*Q.4. Find my match:

Ans. (1 - d); (2 - c); (3 - b); (4 - a).

*Q.5. Which is lying?

Ans. (1) Cockroach – It has six legs.
(2) Hen – Hen’s toes are not webbed.
(3) Cactus – It’s fleshy, green part is a stem not a leaf.

Q.6. Look at the list of the plants and name the part of the plant
which has been adapted.
Ans. (1) Stem (2) Roots (3) Stem (4) Roots (5) Roots (6) Roots (7) Roots
(8) Roots
Q.7. Answer the following in one sentence:
Ans. (1) Coniferous trees like pine and deodar.
(2) (a) Fungi do not have cholophyll and cannot peform photosynthesis.
(b) They obtain food from starchy food stuffs like bhakri and bread.
(c) They have root like fibers for absorption of food.
(3) Snakes ad earthworms use scaly skin for creeping.
(4) Binomial Nomenclature consist of two parts : the first part is ‘genus’
and second ‘species’.

(3)
4 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Q.8. Give scientific reasons:

Ans. (1) (a) Plants need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for growth
(b) Plants that grow in soil is deficient in nitrogen, like Drosera,
Venus flytrap and pitcher plant. They fulfill their need for
nitrogen by consuming insects.
(c) Hence, they are called insectivorous plants.
(2) According to their feeding, there are some adaptation in animals.
To eat flesh or to kill other animals, carnivorous animals have canine
teeth.
(3) (a) Tigers are carnivorous animals.
(b) So, their padded paws enable them to silently stalk their prey
and capture it easily.
(4) Eyes of herbivores are below the forehead on the either side of the
head as this gives them wide-angle vision which helps to protect
them from predators.
(5) Snowy region is covered with snow throughout the year. White
or Silver body matches the snow, so it gets camouflaged in snow,
and it can save itself from predators and long thick hair gives them
protection from cold.
(6) (a) A variety of plant – trees, shrubs and herbs are found in forest.
(b) These plants compete amongst themselves for sunlight. Hence,
trees grow tall and climbers and vines grow to a great height
in the forest region.
(7) Body of a fish taper towards both its ends so that it can become
streamlined. This shape is such that water can flow around it easily
and allow the fish to move fast in water.
*(8) Camel can live in desert because it has thick skin to prevent loss of
water from the body. Their legs are long with flat and cushioned soles.
The nostrils are protected by folds of skin. The eyelashes are long and
thick, so these adaptations enable Camels to live in desert easily.

Q.9. Answer in short:

Ans. (1) Gradual changes occur in the body parts and also in the behaviour
of organisms which help them to adjust to their surroundings. Such
changes are called adaptation.
General Science 5

(2) (a) Aquatic plants are the plants that live entirely in the water.
(b) Terrestrial plants are the plants that live their entire life on land.
(c) Unlike terrestrial plants, aquatic plants have adaptation like
waxy coat on the leaves, air spaces in the stem, floating roots etc.
*(3) The leaves of lotus plant float on the surface and the presence of
waxy substance on the leaves does not allow accumulation of water
on leaves. Therefore, the leaves of lotus plant don’t rot in water.
*(4) The main function of roots is anchorage and absorption. In aquatic
habitat, plants do not need strong roots for anchorage. Therefore,
the roots of lotus plant are short and fibrous.
(5) The stems in desert plants are green as they perform photosynthesis
in the absence of leaves.
*(6) In snowy regions, the sloping branches prevents the snow from
accumulating on the tree and the thick bark helps the tree to
withstand the cold.
(7) The following adaptation help frogs to swim easily through water:
(a) Webbed toes (b) Slippery, smooth skin (c) triangular head.
*(8) Frog, duck and tortoise use their legs like oars.
*(9) Frogs have an ability to breathe through skin in water.
*(10) Long hind legs of a frog help them to jump.
*(11) A duck is covered with waxy feathers which do not allow water to
accumulate. Hence, a duck does not get wet in water.
(12) Two principles of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution are : (a) Survival
of the fittest (b) Natural selection.
*(13) Living things are classified in order to make it easy to study and
remember all the organisms in this diverse living world at same time.
(14) (i) Water trickles off lotus leaves because it is coated with waxy
covering on it.
(ii) It is one of the adaptations of aquatic plants to survive in water
without getting wet and rot or sink to the bottom.
Q.10. Answer in brief:
Ans. (1) (a) Some of the aquatic plants are properly rooted in the soil at
the bottom of the water bodies.
6 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(b) Some plants are entirely afloat, their roots are not anchored in
the soil.
(c) The surfaces of leaves and stems are covered with a waxy layer.
(d) Leaves of some aquatic plants are thin and slender like a ribbon.
(e) Air spaces in stem and petioles of aquatic plants are useful for
floating in water.
(2) Desert plants are either leafless or their leaves are like small needles
or have been modified into thorns. As a result, they lose very
little water by evaporation. The stem stores water and food and is
therefore fleshy. The stems are green as they perform photosynthesis
in the absence of leaves. Their roots penetrate deep into the soil in
search of water. There is a thick layer of a waxy substance on the
stems of these plants, too.
(3) Diverse types of bushes and grasses are found in the grasslands.
Fibrous roots of grasses prevent soil erosion. Grasses in the
equatorial region are very tall. Animals like tiger, elephants and
deer can remain hidden in these grasses. However, grasses in cold
regions are very short. Animals like the rabbit are found in such
grasses. Vast meadows are found in hilly areas as well as plains.
(4) Plants like dodder (cuscuta) are parasitic. The plant body of dodder
consists of yellow wire-like stems. It is leafless and cannot perform
photosynthesis. However, it has haustorial (sucking) roots for
absorbing nutrients from the host plant. These roots penetrate upto
the conducting vessels of the host plant to absorb water and food.
(5) Fishes have scales on the skin and fins on the body. Their body
tapers towards both its ends, like a spindle. Fish breathe with gills
instead of a nose. Their eyes have transparent eyelids. They have
air bladders within the body to help them to float.
(6) The frog and duck have webbed toes, they can use their legs like
oars. Water flows off the waxy feathers of birds like duck and
waterhen. Webbed toes, slippery, smooth skin and a triangular head
help frogs to swim easily through water. They can live on land as
well as in water due to their ability to breathe through the skin in
water and using the nose and lungs on land.
General Science 7

(7) The eyes of herbivores are below the forehead, on either side of
the head. This gives them wide-angle vision which helps to protect
them from predators. Their legs are long and tapering with strong
hooves, which enables them to run fast taking long leaps. Their long
and freely moving ears can receive sounds from long distances and
different directions. Deer and blackbucks have colours that merge
with their surroundings. Their teeth are strong for chewing tough
plant material.
(8) (a) Desert animals have a thick skin to prevent loss of water from
the body.
(b) The legs are long with flat and cushioned soles.
(c) The nostrils are protected by folds of skin.
(d) The eyelashes are thick and long.
(9) The spindle-shaped body of birds also minimises the resistance of
air while flying. With hollow bones, a body covering of feathers and
modification of forelegs into wings, their body is light in weight
and adapted for flying.
The body of insects also is light in weight and tapers at both ends.
They can fly with two pairs of wings and also walk with six stick-
like legs. Bats can fly with the help of the patagium, a thin fold of
skin between their forelegs and hind legs.
(10) Adaptation is not a sudden process. It is gradual and continuous.
Differences in the structure and appearance of present-day animals
and animals of thousands of years ago are the adaptations that
occured according to prevailing conditions. It is our duty to
conserve this diversity.
(11) Darwin said that only those organisms are likely to survive which
can best adapt themselves to a changing environment. This is called
the theory of survival of the fittest.
(12) If an organism is born with a new beneficial characteristic and is
able to survive, this change is preserved in the next generation. This
is called the theory of ‘Natural selection’.
(13) The criteria used for classification of plants and animals are their cell
structure, body organization, mode of nutrition and reproduction.
8 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(14) A hierarchy is formed in the classification that starts with Kingdom

Animalia or Kingdom Plantae, further groups and sub-groups are
formed depending upon basic similarities and differences. This is
called the ‘hierarchy of classification’.
(15) Binomial nomenclature is used to identify each organism.
Accordingly, a scientific name has been assigned to each organism.
It consists of two parts - the first part is ‘genus’ and second, ‘species’.
All identified organisms have been assigned a binomial name as per
the guidelines of the International Code of Nomenclature. All the
organisms of a species are so similar that irrespective of differences
in colour, height, habitats and habits, they can reproduce among
themselves and form new individuals like themselves. For example,
all domestic cats in the world belong to the same species. The same
is true in the case of animals like hen, cow, dog, etc. and plants like
mango, wheat, maize, etc.
*(16) (a) Adaptations of organisms depends on the changes in the
surroundings.
(b) To adjust with those changes in the surroundings adaptation
takes place gradually and continuously in organisms.
(c) Changes that take place in the various organs and life processes
of organisms, enable them to live, feed, reproduce to perpetuate
themselves and to protect themselves from their enemies in
specific surroundings, depending upon the habitat and its
geographical conditions, are called adaptations.
(17) (a) The leaves of cactus and acacia are modified into thorns, thus
they lose very little water by evaporation.
(b) Stems perform photosynthesis in the absence of leaves and
stores water and food.
(c) Presence of thick waxy layer on stem also prevents loss of water.
(d) Their roots penetrate deep into the soil in search of water.
(e) Therefore, plants like cactus and acacia live in deserts with
scarce water.
General Science 9

Q.11. (A) Observe the pictures given below and state their
adaptations.
Ans. (1) The spindle-shaped body of birds also minimises the resistances
of air while flying. With hollow bones, a body covering of feathers
and modification of forelegs into wings, their body is light in weight
and adapted for flying.
(2) A white or silvery body colour, long thick hair on the skin are typical
characteristics of animals of snowy region.
(3) Snakes use their muscles for creeping. Snakes also show adaptations
like scaly skin.
(4) House lizard use its muscles for creeping. Similarly, they show
adaptations in skin, soles of feet, body colour etc. The house lizard
has clawed toes and thin soles.
(5) Frogs have webbed toes, they can use their legs as oars. Webbed
toes, slippery smooth skin and a triangular head help frogs to swim
easily through water. The typical colours of a frog’s back helps if to
hide among grasses.
Q.11. (B) Complete the labelling of a given diagram.
Ans.
Fish Fins

Gills
Scales

Q.12. Listed below are the adaptations in various plants and

animals, state the use of these adaptations for each of them.
Ans. (1) To prevent accumulation of water and rotting of aquatic plants.
(2) Ribbon like slender leaves helps aquatic plants to withstand fast
current of water.
(3) Air spaces in stem and petioles of aquatic plants are useful for
floating in water.
10 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(4) Needle like leaves in desert plants helps them to lose very little
water by evaporation.
(5) Thick bark on trees growing in snowy region helps the tree to
withstand the cold.
(6) Root like fibres in Fungi are for absorption of food.
(7) A fish has air bladders within the body to help them to float.
(8) Legs of herbivores are long and tapering with strong hooves enable
them to run fast taking long leap.
(9) Long and freely moving ears in herbivores can receive sounds from
long distance and different direction.
*Q.13. (A) Observe and complete the chart.
Type of Characteristics Characteristics
Ans. Plant Habitat
root of leaves of stem
Large and
Hollow and
Lotus Aquatic Fibrous round with
flexible
waxy layer
Modified into
Cactus Terrestrial Fibrous Fleshy
thorn
Oval round
Banyan Terrestrial Tap Woody
shape

*Q.13. (B) Observe and complete the chart..

Ans. Hierarchy Mango Human

Kingdom Planfae Animalia

Phylum Anthophyla Chordata

Class Dicotyledonae Mammalia

Order Sapindales Primates

Family Anacardiaceae Hominidae

Genus Mangifera Homo

Species Indica sapiens

General Science 11

*Q.14. Complete the following chart from your own observation.

Ans. Adaptation Animal Use of adaptation

(1) Sharp teeth Lion, tiger To tear the flesh

To make hole in
(2) Long and pointed beak Woodpecker
tree
To pick up seeds
(3) Short beak Sparrow
and worms.
(4) Long and sticky tongue Frog To catch insects
To search for food
(5) Long neck Swan both on land and
underwater

Q.15. Following are some examples of organisms from

Kingdom Plantae and Animalia classified by the binomial method of
nomenclature:

Living Things Scientific Name

Dog Canis lupus familiaris

Hibiscus Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Find out the scientific names of other animals and plants in your
surroundings and discuss in class.
Ans. Students will collect information and write.
vvv

PLANTS: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

2
(Grade Me pg. no. (18 - 22)

Q.1. Fill in the blanks:

Ans. (1) bud (2) leaf apex (3) receptacle (4) dicotyledonous seeds
Q.2. Name the following:
Ans. (1) Lamina (2) Petiole (3) Calyx (4) Pedicel
12 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Q.3. Define the following:

Ans. (1) The part that grows inside the seed towards the soil is called
the radicle.
(2) The part that grows above the soil is called Plumule.
(3) After maturity, anthers burst and the pollen grains which are
released fall on the stigma. This process is called pollination.
Q.4. Answer in one or two sentences:
Ans. (1) Thread-like or fibre-like roots arising from the stem are called
fibrous roots.
(2) Roots emerging from the trunk and branches of a banyan tree grow
towards the soil. These roots are called prop roots.
(3) Calyx, Corolla, Androecium and Gynoecium.
(4) Seeds which do not divide into two equal parts are called
monocotyledonous seeds.
Q.5. Answer in short:
Ans. (1) The part of the plant that grows below the soil for support are
called roots. The main function of roots are absorption of water,
minerals, anchoring and supporting the plant.
*(2) If plants like tamarind, banyan and mango had fibrous roots they
would have fallen down easily.
*(3) If the root tip is injured, the root will not grow further.
*(4) Fenugreek and spinach have tap roots with a few secondary roots,
whereas onion has fibrous root. Fenugreek roots also have some
nodules which contain nitrogen fixing bacteria.
(5) The leaf is divided into two equal parts by a single mid-vein which
lies along the midline of the leaf blade. Secondary veins arise from
the mid-vein. Such a type of venation is called reticulate venation.
In a leaf all the veins are parallel, running from the leaf base to the
leaf apex. Such a venation is called parallel venation.
*(6) (a) Insects are pollinating agents.
(b) When insects visit a flower, the pollen grains stick to their legs.
(c) These pollen grains fall on the stigma and bring about pollination.
General Science 13

Q.6. Draw neat labelled diagram of the following:

Ans.
(1) Tap Root (2) Leaf
Leaf
Secondary apex
Leaf
root
margin
Vein

Primary Mid vein

root
Root hair Leaf blade
Petiole
Root tip
Stipule
Root cap
Leaf base

Q.7. Observe the figure and answer the following:

Ans. (1)

Plumule

Radicle

(2) The part that grows from inside the seed towards the soil is called
the radicle and the part that grows above the soil is called the
plumule.
The root that forms from the radicle, grows into the ground. The
root is thick near the ground and gradually tapers to a pointed end.
This part of the plant growing below the soil for support is called
‘root’.
14 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*Q.8. Give examples of 3 plants that have:

Ans. (1) Spiny fruits: Jack fruit, Pineapple, Lychee (litchi), Datura
(2) Spiny stem: Cactus, Wild rose, Catclaw acacia, Silk cotton
(3) Red flowers: Rose, Dahlia, Hibiscus, Tulips
(4) Yellow flowers: Marigold, Daffodil, Sunflower, Daisy
(5) Leaves which close at night : Mimosa plant, Tallwood, Prayer plant,
Gulmohar
(6) Single seeded fruits : Mango, Lychee, Jamun
(7) Many seeded fruits : Custard apple, Papaya, Watermelon.
*Q.9. (A) Describe the functions of various parts of a plant.
Ans. The various parts of a plant are root, stem, leaves, flower and fruit.
Function:
Root : Absorption of water, minerals, anchoring and supporting.
Stem : Stem carries water and minerals from roots to other parts of
plant.
Leaves : Leaves have chlorophyll which helps in photosynthesis.
Flowers : Reproductive part of the plant.
Fruit : It contains seed.
*Q.9. (B) Describe the functions of various parts of a flower.
Ans. Female reproductive part is Gynoecium. Corolla is the colourful
part of the flower. Ovary develops into fruit. The transfer of pollen
grains from the anther to the stigma of flower is called pollination.
*Q.10. What are the similarities and differences between
(a) Jowar and moong (b) onion and coriander (c) leaves of banana
and mango (d) coconut tree and jowar stalk plant?
Ans. (a) Jowar and Moong

Jowar Moong
(1) It has fibrous root. (1) It has tap root.
(2) It is a monocotyledonous
(2) It is a dicotyledonous seed.
seed.
(3) It is a rabi crop. (3) It is a kharif crop.
General Science 15

Similarities :
Jower and Moong both are angiosperms.
(b) Onion and Coriander
Onion Coriander
(1) It is a biennial plant. (1) It is an annual plant.
(2) It has monocotyledonous (2) It has dicotyledonous
seeds. seeds.
(3) It has fibrous root. (3) It has tap root but later
on changes to fibrous root
system.
Similarities:
(1) Both are used in cooking.
(2) Both are edible.
(3) Both belong to Kingdom Plantae.
(c) Leaves of banana and Leaves of mango
Leaves of banana Leaves of mango
(1) It has parallel venation. (1) It has reticulate venation.
(2) It is very large in size. (2) It is small in size.
(3) It is monocotyledonous
(3) It is dicotyledonous plant.
plant.
Similarities:
(1) Both are used in Hindu religious ceremonies.
(2) Both have high medicinal value.
(d) Coconut tree and Jowar stalk plant

Coconut tree Jowar stalk plant

(1) It is tall and have thick (1) It is small and have thin
stem. stem.
(2) It has strong root system. (2) It has weak root system.

(3) Each and every part of tree (3) Only seeds are useful.
is useful.
16 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Similarities:
(1) Both are from same Kingdom Plantae.
(2) Both are autotrophic.
(3) Both are monocotyledonous plant.
*Q.11. Certain properties are mentioned below. Find a leaf
corresponding to each property and describe those plants:
Leaves with smooth surface, leaves with rough surface, fleshy leaf,
spines on leaf.
Ans. (1) Leaves with smooth surface: e.g. Banana leaf. It is large in size.
It is closely rolled up one over the other. Together they look like a
trunk but they form only an apparent trunk. It has parallel venation.
(2) Leaves with rough surface: e.g. Hibiscus leaf. It has reticulate
venation. Leaf margin is toothed.
(3) Fleshy leaf: e.g. Jade plant, Water Hyacinth. It has fleshy, glossy and
smooth leaves. They are coloured jade green and having a slightly
red tinge towards the edge of leaves when exposed to higher level
of light.
(4) Spines on leaf: e.g. Opuntia, Cycas Kevda. It is a desert plant. Leaf
is thick, fleshy and having spines on it.
*Q.12. Find the plant parts.
Ans. (1) Bud (2) root cap (3) stem (4) radicle (5) flower (6) root hair
(7) petals
*Q.13. Label the given diagram.
Ans. Vertical section of a hibiscus flower

Gynoecium or
carpel
Androecium
(Stamen)

Corolla

Ovary
Corolla
Pedicel
General Science 17

*Observe any one flower and its various parts and describe it in
your own words.
Ans. Students will answer
*Explain the following images in your own words.

(A) (B)

Ans. (i) Diagram A is of maize seed. It is a monocotyledonous seed and

does not divide into two equal parts. The plant has fibrous root
system.
(ii) Diagram B is of bean seed. It is a dicotyledonous seed and it
divides into two equal parts. The plant has tap root system.
vvv
PROPERTIES OF NATURAL RESOURCES
3
(Grade Me pg. no. (23 - 29)

*Q.1. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate term.

Ans. (1) temperature (2) shape, volume, mass (3) density (4) Neutral
Q.2. Fill in the blanks:
Ans. (1) solvent (2) sedimentary (3) Multani (4) Mass (5) acidic
Q.3. State whether the following statements are True or False:
Ans. (1) False (2) True (3) True (4) False (5) True *(6) True *(7) False
*(8) True *(9) True
*Q.4. With whom should I pair up?
Ans. (1 - b); (2 - a); (3 - c)
*Q.5. What will happen if....
Ans. (1) We feel the dampness or humidity.
(2) The fertility of the soil decreases.
18 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Q.6. Answer in one sentence:

Ans. *(1) Air contains nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, six inert gases,
nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide.
*(2) Air is made of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, water vapour and
dust particles. All these are in different proportion. Therefore, air
is a mixture.
*(3) 1 kilogram = 1000 gm and 1 litre = 1000 cubic cm.
Mass 1000 gm
∴ Density = = = 1 gm / cubic cm
Volume 1000 cc
(4) The molecules of the gases in the air are in constant motion. When
these molecules strike a body, they create pressure on that body.
This pressure of air is called atmospheric pressure.
(5) A solution is a homogeneous mixture of one or more solutes
dissolved in a solvent.
(6) Soil is tested to find out if there is a deficiency of an ingredient and
to decide what measures should be taken to remove the deficiency.
(7) (a) Air is a mixture of gases.
(b) Air has mass and volume.
(c) It spreads in all directions.
(d) It exerts the pressure.
(e) It is colourless.
Q.7. Give scientific reasons:
Ans. *(1) (a) In summer, the temperature of air is high, the capacity of
air to hold moisture also increases. Thus, clothes dry quickly.
(b) During rains, the proportion of water vapour in the air is high,
so the capacity to hold moisture decreases. Hence, the clothes
do not dry quickly.
*(2) When water freezes means it transforms into the solid state,
therefore its volume increases. When volume increases, its density
decreases. Therefore, density of ice is less than the water, so ice
floats on water.
*(3) (a) Sea water is saline. It contains salt, whereas it is not so in well
or a lake water.
General Science 19

(b) Due to salt dissolved in water, density of sea water is more, so

swimmer will not sink. Hence, it is easier to swim in the sea
than in a well or a lake.
*(4) Air is made of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, water vapour and
dust particles. All these are in different proportion. Therefore, air
is a mixture.
*(5) Water dissolves more substances than any other liquid so water is
called a universal solvent.
*(6) Water is a universal solvent. It dissolves more substances than any
other liquid, so there is no alternative to water for cleaning purposes.
(7) Due to the ice cubes in the glass, the air surrounding the glass cools
down. As the water vapour in this air cools down, it condenses and
gets transformed into water. It is this water that collects on the outer
surface of the glass.
(8) The proportion of water vapour in the air in high during the
monsoons in the coastal area. As a result, we feel the dampness or
humidity.
Q.8. Answer in short:
Ans. *(1) No, there is no atmospheric pressure on the moon.
*(2) (a) Life will not be possible as there is no air in the surrounding.
(b) The process of respiration and combustion will come to end.
(c) Phenomena like transmission, sound, humidity as well as
atmospheric pressure will not exist on moon.
(d) There would be no seasons, neither there would be rainfall.
*(3) In space, there is no air. Hence, we will not be able to hear sound
in absence of medium.
*(4) Clay soil has large water holding capacity. Due to this, the soil
aggregrates to form large lumps. This makes it difficult to plough.
*(5) The proportion of large particles is high in sandy soil. Water drains
rapidly through sandy soil. That is why it is easy to plough sandy
soil.
*(6) Silt soil has a high water holding capacity.
*(7) Silt soil is suitable for cultivation.
20 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(8) During the night or at dawn, when the temperature is low, the
capacity of air to hold the vapour is less. At such times, the excess
vapour is transformed into water droplets. This is called dew.
(9) (a) Soil is found in different colours: The soil near the land surface
is darker in colour than that of the lower layers.
(b) Fertility of the soil differs from place to place .
(c) Different types of soil have different capacity for drainage of
water.
(d) Capacity to hold water becomes clear from its colour.
(e) The colour of the soil depends upon its texture and its organic
ingredients as well as on chemical ingredients like iron, lime.
The texture of the soil is determined by the proportion of
particles of various sizes in it.
(10) (a) Due to anomalous behaviour of water in cold countries when
water gets cool and turn to ice, its volume increases so its
density decreases.
(b) Due to less density ice floats on water.
(c) (i) Ice is a bad conductor of heat and electricity.
(ii) It doesn’t allow outside heat to go from the ice to water so
water temperature below the ice doesn’t change.
(iii) It remains as it is so aquatic animals remain alive even after
the rivers or lakes freeze in winter.
Q.9. Answer in brief:
Ans. *(1) Air is a mixture of very fine particles of some gases, dust, smoke
and moisture. When rays of light fall on these minute particles,
the particles spread the light in all the directions. This natural
phenomenon is called scattering of light.
*(2) (a) Water has no definite shape but has definite mass and volume.
(b) Water is fluid in nature.
(c) It is tasteless, colourless and odourless.
(d) It is a transparent liquid.
*(3) Seawater contains dissolved salt. The dissolved salt increases
density. Rainwater does not contain dissolved salts in it.
General Science 21

*(4) The fertility of soil depends upon soil structure. So, importance of
good soil structure is as follows:
(a) Roots get sufficient supply of oxygen.
(b) Water drainage is good therefore the roots of plants grow well.
*(5) The uses of soil are as follows:
(a) Plant conservation: To help plants grow.
(b) Water conservation: Soil holds water. As a result, by means of
bunds and lakes, we can get water for use throughout the year.
(c) Plasticity: (i) Soil can be given any required shape. This
property of soil is called plasticity. (ii) Because of its plasticity,
we can use it to make articles of a variety of shapes. (iii) These
articles can be baked to make them hard. (iv) Water storage
earthen pots, earthen lamps, idols, bricks etc. are articles made
from soil.
*(6) (a) The properties of the various ingredients of soil can be
determined by soil testing.
(b) During soil testing, the soil is examined for colour, texture and
the proportion of organic matter in it.
(c) Soil is tested to find out if there is a deficiency of any ingredients
and to decide what measures should be taken to remove the
deficiency. These information would enable the farmers to
maintain the fertility of the soil.
*(7) Air is useful as a medium for the transmission of sound. Density
of the air changes with temperature. If the density of air increases,
we can hear the sound more loud and clear.
*(8) (a) Due to anomalous behaviour of water when you cool below
4°C, the volume of the water increases.
(b) Therefore, when the glass bottle completely filled with water
is kept in a freezer, water expands on cooling and its volume
increases, so glass bottle breaks.
(c) To avoid this, completely filled bottle is never kept in a freezer.
22 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*(9) Condition for closed environment:

(a) When the temperature increases, the pressure of air also
increase.
(b) For example, as the air warms up, the molecules in the air
become more active.
(c) They use up more individual space even though there is the
same number of molecules. This causes an increase in the air
pressure.
*(10) Yes, below 4°C the density of water becomes less as it expands and
starts to float on the water body.
(11) On pulling the piston with the inlet hole of the syringe closed, more
space becomes available to the air in the syringe, and it becomes
ratified. As a result, the pressure of the air in the syringe is lowered.
Comparatively the pressure of the outside air is very high. That
is why, when the pulled out piston is released, it is immediately
pushed in. If this experiment is repeated, holding the syringe in
different positions like vertical, horizontal or inclined, the piston is
found to go in to the same extent in all the cases. From this, we can
infer that atmospheric pressure is the same in all the directions.
(12) The density of water is peculiar. When water at normal temperature
starts cooling, its density increases like that of most liquids.
However, if its temperature falls below 4°C its density starts
decreasing. This means that the density of water is maximum at
4°C. If the temperature of water is lowered below 4°C, its density
decreases and volume increases. It means that water expands
when the temperature falls below 4°C. This is called the anomalous
behaviour of water.
*Q.10. Explain the picture in your own words.
Ans. (1) Diagram (a): Water is filled in the crack.
Diagram (b): Water in the crack turns to ice due to decrease in
temperature. When it turns to ice the volume increases and it
expands. Due to expansion, the size of crack widens more than the
dia.(a).
General Science 23

Q.11. Observe the given picture and answer the following:

Ans. (a) (1) No, the stick doesn’t remain horizontal.
(2) Air has mass.
(b) (1) Fountain of water
(2) On blowing through the straw, the air at its open end is pushed
away and hence the pressure of the air at the opening goes
down. As the pressure of the air near the upper end of the erect
straw becomes less than atmospheric pressure, the water in the
cup is pushed from where the pressure is higher to where it
is lower, that is, in the upward direction, and the water comes
out in the form of a fountain. The more forcefully you blow
the higher will be the fountain. This straw fountain works on
Bernoulli’s principle.
(3) Bernoulli’s principle is that the pressure of air decreases when
its velocity increases, while the pressure of air increases when
its velocity decreases.
Q.12. Take a bucket of water. Drop many different kinds of articles
in it. Make separate lists of the articles which sink in the water and
those that float on it.
Ans. Answer may vary.
Q.13. Take two big glasses of water. Add 4-5 spoonfuls of salt to
the water in one glass and dissolve it completely. Now place a potato
in the water in the second glass. What do you observe?
Ans. The density of water in that glass is greater due to the dissolved
salt. The potato floats in that water because of the increased density.
vvv
NUTRITION IN LIVING ORGANISMS
4
(Grade Me pg. no. (30 - 37)

Q.1. (A) Fill in the blanks:

Ans. (1) Glucose, Oxygen (2) xylem, phloem (3) nitrogen
(4) Rhizobium (5) iron, vitamin (6) pseudopodia (7) Saprozoic
(8) ectoparasitic
24 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Q.1. (B) Multiple choice questions:

Ans. (1) (D) Nepenthes (2) (A) X-Carbon dioxide, Y-Oxygen
(3) (B) Stomata (4) (B) Saprophytic Nutrition (5) (A) Rhizobium
bacteria
Q.2. Name the following:
Ans. (1) Azotobacter (2) Lichen (3) Dodder (4) Mushroom (5) Digestion
(6) Carnivores
Q.3. State wether the following statements are True or False:
Ans. (1) False (2) True (3) True (4) False
Q.4. Define:
Ans. (1) The process of taking in and using food which takes place in
living organisms is called nutrition.
(2) Some organisms can produce their own food and thus nourish
themselves. This is called autotrophic nutrition.
*Q.5. Match the pairs:
Ans. (1 - d); (2 - c); (3 - a); (4 - b).
*Q.6. Classify according to food-type:
Ans. Carnivores : Tiger, Lion
Herbivores : cow, deer, goat, buffalo
Scavengers : Vulture
Decomposers : Fungus, bacteria
Granivores : sparrow
Insectivores : frog
Ectoparasitic : Tick
Omnivores : Human, Cockroach
*Q.7. Observe the animals around you and complete the following
table:
Name of Method of
Ans. No. Type/Name of food
animal Ingestion
(1) Cow Grass/hay Chewing
(2) Frog Insects like flies, moths, etc. Swallowing
General Science 25

Q.8. Complete the following:

Ans. No. Nutrient Function
Important component of proteins, chlorophyll
(1) Nitrogen
and cytoplasm
Conversion of light energy into chemical
(2) Phosphorus
energy
(3) Magnesium Production of chlorophyll

Q.9. Observe the figure and answer the following:

Ans. Sunlight, Carbon dioxide, chlorophyll in the leaves and water,
minerals, salts.
Q.10. Answer in one sentence:
Ans. (1) Some organisms depend on other organisms, plants or animals,
for their food. This is called heterotrophic nutrition.
(2) The xylem transports minerals and water from the root to all aerial
parts of the plant. The phloem transports food from the leaves to
other parts of plants.
(3) When two or more than two different types of plants lie together to
fulfill their needs of nutrition, protection, support with each others
help is called symmetric nutrition.
*(4) Leaves of the loranthus plant carries out photosynthesis.
*(5) They obtain water and minerals from the xylem and phloem of the
other host plant.
*(6) Loranthus is known as partially parasitic plant because it does
photosynthesis with the help of leaves but only for water and
minerals it depends on other plants.
(7) The scientist Johannes Burman identified Drosera burmanii in
Srilanka in 1737. Hence, the plant is named so.
(8) Animals that obtain their food from both plants and animals are
called omnivores. e.g. humans, monkeys.
(9) Scavengers obtain their food from dead bodies of animals.
Decomposers are some microbes which obtain their food by
decomposing dead bodies of organisms or other material.
26 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*(10) Yes. I have seen small animals on the bodies of dogs and buffaloes,
these are ticks and are called as ectoparasites.
*(11) These little animals live on the body of dogs and buffaloes and
obtain their food by sucking their blood.
*(12) Worms in the intestine obtain their food by absorbing nutrients
from partially digested food which comes into the intestine.

Q.11. Give scientific reasons:

Ans. *(1) (a) Pitcher plant contain chlorophyll, thus they can prepare
their own food.
(b) Pitcher plant grows in soil deficient in nitrogen compound.
(c) To fulfill its nitrogen requirement, pitcher plant feeds on insects
even though it produces food by photosynthesis.
*(2) Living organisms need nutrition due to the following:
(a) To supply the energy required for doing work.
(b) For growth and development of the body.
(c) To replace the damaged cells and repair tissues.
(d) To fight diseases.
*(3) (a) Insectivorous plants generally grow in soil or water deficient
in nitrogen compounds.
(b) The plant body of the Drosera burmanii has a flower like
appearance. It grows close to the ground. Even its leaves are
attractively pink or red in colour with hairs at the margin.
(c) Droplets of sticky substances found on tips of the hairs attract
insects.
(d) These plants consume insects to fulfill their need for nitrogen.
To attract the insects these plants are attractively coloured.
*(4) Holozoic mode of nutrition means the feeding of solid and liquid
food by animals. Butterflies live on nectar from flowers. Therefore,
to suck the nectar from flowers, they have a long tube-like structure
called proboscis.
General Science 27

Q.12. Answer in brief:

Ans. (1) Living organisms need nutrition due to the following: (a) To
supply the energy required for doing work, (b) For growth and
development of the body, (c) To replace the damaged cells and
repair tissues, (d) To fight diseases.
(2) The transport system of plants consists of the xylem and the phloem.
The xylem transports minerals and water from the root to all
aerial parts of the plant. The phloem transports the food (glucose,
etc.) from the leaves to other parts of the plant where it is either
consumed or stored.
(3) Two different types of micro-organisms can bring about biological
nitrogen fixation.
(a) Root-nodules of leguminous plants contain the Rhizobium
micro-organisms. These micro-organisms absorb atmospheric
nitrogen and convert it into its nitrate, a compound.
(b) Micro-organisms like Azotobacter are present in soil. They also
convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates.
(4) Atmospheric fixation of nitrogen : Lightning (thunderbolts) occur
in the rainy season. This causes atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen
to react with each other to form nitric oxide (NO) which is again
oxidized to form nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The nitrogen dioxide
dissolves in rainwater and is converted into nitric acid (HNO3)
which gets added to the soil along with the rain-water. Plants use
this nitrogen for their growth.
*(5) (a) Plants can produce their own food. With the help of sunlight
and chlorophyll, plants make their own food in their leaves,
using water and nutrients from the soil and carbon dioxide
from the air.
(b) This process is called as photosynthesis. In this process plants
give out oxygen and take in carbon dioxide.
Sunlight
6CO2 + 6H2O
Chlorophyll
Carbon dioxide Water

C6H12O6 + 6O2
Glucose (food) Oxygen
28 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*(6) (a) In dark red or purple coloured leaves,. chlorophyll pigments

are masked by other colourful pigments which are present in
large amounts.
(b) The chlorophyll pigment present in less amount is capable of
absorbing sunlight and helping to convert carbon dioxide and
water into food.
*(7) (a) Chemosynthesis is the biological conversion of one or more
carbon containing molecules and nutrients into organic matter.
(b) It uses the oxidation of inorganic compounds or methane as a
source of energy rather than sunlight.
(c) Riftia pachyptila produce their food by chemosynthesis.
*(8) (a) Waste stored in the leaves are shed alongwith them in a specific
period.
(b) Sticky substances such an resins, gums, latex are the excretory
products of plants.
*(9) Air contains gaseous nitrogen. However, plants cannot utilize
gaseous nitrogen. It needs to be fixed, i.e. converted into compounds.
Fixation of nitrogen occurs by biological and atmospheric methods.
*(10) Plants produce their own food with the help of sunlight, chlorophyll,
water, nutrients from soil and carbon dioxide from the air. This
process is called as photosynthesis.
sunlight
Carbon + water > food + oxygen
chlorophyll
dioxide
6CO2 + 6H2O > C6H12O6 + 6O2

Glucose Oxygen
*(11) Nutrients are used for the following purposes:
(a) Obtaining energy (b) Growth (c) To carry out day to day function
of the body (d) To fight against diseases.
*(12) Steps of nutrition in animals are as follows:
(a) Ingestion: Food is taken into the body.
(b) Digestion: Conversion of food into simple soluble forms.
(c) Absorption: A transfer of soluble food to the blood.
General Science 29

(d) Assimilation: Utilization of absorbed food by cells and tissues

for energy production, growth and repair.
(e) Egestion: Removal of waste products and undigested food
from body.
*(13) (a) Amoeba does not have
organs like hands and
mouth.
(b) It is unicellular animal. It
can take in food through
any part of the surface of
its unicellular body.
(c) It surrounds the food Food particle
particle from all sides to Nucleus
take it into the cell.
(d) After that, it digests the
food with the help of
different enzymes.
(e) Undigested food is left
behind as the Amoeba
moves further with the
help of pseudopodia.
Food particle
(f) In unicellular animals
Nucleus
like Amoeba, Euglena,
Paramoecium, etc. all the
steps of nutrition occur within their unicellular body.
*(14) The plants that grow on the body of other plants to obtain food are
called as parasitic plants.
There are two types of parasitic plants:
(a) Holoparasites: e.g. Rafflesiaceae
(b) Hemiparasites: e.g. Loranthaceae
*(15) Amoeba, Euglena, Paramoecium
*(16) (1) Carnivore (2) Herbivore (3) Carnivore (4) Ominivore
(5) Herbivore (6) Carnivore (7) Scavenger
30 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*Q.13. Think and answer:

Ans. (1) (a) We prepare a variety of foodstuffs and dishes at home but
we are not autotrophic organisms.

(b) In autotrophic organisms, they have chlorophyll in their body

and food is prepared here with help of sunlight, water and CO2
for the organisms.

(c) But, the food which we prepare at home doesn’t generate in

our body.

(2) (a) Autotrophs have chlorophyll in the cell and here the organic
food is prepared using sunlight, water and CO2.

(b) They do not depend on any other organism for survival.

(c) But the heterotrophs depend on autotrophs and other

organisms for survival. Hence, autotrophs are more in number
than heterotrophs.

(3) In desert region due to scarcity of water and excess heat, very few
cactus are found as autotrophs compared to sea. As autotrophs are
less, number of heterotrophs dependent on autotrophs are smaller.
Whereas in sea due to greater numbers of autotrophs, greater
number of heterotrophs are found.

(4) (i) Ectoparasitic animals suck the blood of the animal on which it
remains and endoparasitic animals get readymade food from the
body of animal in which it remains. (ii) This way both the parasites
make the animal weak by sucking their blood or by eating prepared
food from them.

(5) Plant food is not produced in any other parts of the plant except
the green ones because only green part contains chlorophyll and
chlorophyll is very necessary for the production of food.
General Science 31

Q.14. Prepare and complete the flowchart according to type of

nutrition.

Ans.
Nutrition

Plants Animals

Autotrophic Heterotrophic Saprophytic

Holozoic Saprozoic Parasitic

Insectivorous Parasitic Ectoparasitic Endoparasitic

vvv

5 FOOD SAFETY (Grade Me pg. no. (38 - 43)

*Q.1. Complete the following statements by using the correct

option from those given below:
Ans. (1) dehydration (2) pasteurization (3) natural (4) chemical

Q.2. Fill in the blanks:

Ans. (1) World Food day (2) Food Safety and Standardization Authority
of India (3) Louis Pasteur (4) Nitrogen

*Q.3. Find the odd man out:

Ans. (1) Salt (2) Turmeric powder (3) Almond (4) Settling.

Q.4. Give two examples of:

Ans. (1) Vinegar, Citric acid (2) Salt, Oil (3) Freezing, Drying
32 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Q.5. Give scientific reasons:

Ans. *(1) Food remains safe at 5° Celsius because at 5°C, micro-organisms
stop growing.
*(2) Nowadays, food is served buffet style during large gatherings
because due to buffet style quantitative wastage of food can be
avoided, as people take only as much as they could eat.
(3) We boil milk from time to time to kill micro organisms in it and
thus prevent it from getting spoilt.
(4) Biological and chemical reactions in food materials are slowed down
at low temperature. As a result, food remains in good condition for
a longer period. Therefore, refrigerators are used in the kitchen.
(5) The foodstuffs we consume, whether of animal or plant source,
must be of the best quality. Otherwise, we may fall prey to disease
or illness. Food is said to be spoiled if there is a change in its colour,
odour, texture, quality, taste and there is loss of its nutrient content.
*Q.6. What shall we do?
Ans. (1) We should tell them to sell the covered sweets because uncovered
sweets are harmful to eat because it contains dust, dirt and germs.
And buyers also should not purchase these uncovered sweets.
(2) We should tell him to wear gloves before serving panipuri because
dirty hands contain dirt and germs which are harmful to us.
(3) We should keep them in refrigerator because in refrigerator due to
low temperature, fruits and vegetables do not spoil and biological
and chemical reactions in fruits and vegetables are slowed down
at low temperature.
(4) (i) If we do not protect foodstuffs from pests like rats, cockroaches,
wall-lizards etc. then the food gets spoiled by them and germs
carried by them enters in the food. (ii) If we eat this food then we
may get food poisoning and we fall sick. So, we need to protect
foodstuffs from pests like rat, cockroaches, wall lizards etc .
• Keep the cooked food items in a place/shelf which is protected by
wire mesh.
• The house must be protected by pest control.
General Science 33

Q.7. Answer in one sentence:

Ans. (1) Food is said to be spoilt if there is a change in its colour, odour,
texture, quality, taste and there is a loss of its nutrient content.
(2) Prevention of food spoilage by microbial growth and infestation
by pests is called food protection.
(3) Use of various preservatives to prevent, for a long period of time,
food spoilage due to internal factors is called food preservation.
(4) Pasteurisation involves heating the milk or other similar foodstuffs
up to a certain temperature; e.g., milk at 80oC for 15 minutes and
cooling it quickly. This destroys the microbes present in the milk
and it keeps for a longer duration.
Q.8. Answer in short:
Ans. *(1) Quantitative wastage of food: (a) Wrong methods of farming
like hand sowing of seeds, inadequate threshing, improper
storage and wrong methods of distribution are some reasons for
quantitative wastage of food.
(b) Besides, much food is wasted as a result of the custom of
offering and serving too much food to guests at traditional
feasts or banquets.
(c) Had it not been wasted, all this food could have met the need
of many others.
Qualitative wastage of food: Using wrong methods of protecting
food, excessive use of food preservatives, over-cooking, washing
the vegetables after cutting them, mis-handling of fruits like grapes
and mangoes, mis-calculation of the time required to transport food
from producers to consumers, are some of the causes of quantitative
wastage of food.
*(2) (a) Serve yourself only as much as you can eat.
(b) Avoid over-cooking food.
(c) Avoid throwing away left-over food. Re-use it in a proper way.
(d) Buy only as much grain, vegetables, fruits, milk, etc. as you
need. Avoid the temptation to make excessive purchases.
(e) Store grains and other perishable foodstuffs like vegetables,
fruits, milk, etc. using proper methods.
34 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(f) Check the expiry date of bottled, canned, packed food and use
within that time.
(g) Eat all the food that you have served yourself.
*(3) We can use the alternatives as flowers instead of rice as ‘akshata’. We
should cook less of food and only as much is required to the amount
of guests. If too much food is cooked, it should be distributed among
the needy people. Daily lot of people go hungry and the food should
be distributed among them rather than being wasted.
(4) Pass a magnet through the rava and Iron filings adhere to the
magnet.
(5) It is necessary to preserve foodstuffs as the food gets spoiled by
growth of micro-organisms as well as internal factors.
*(6) Boil the milk at 80°C for 15 minutes and cool it quickly. This destroys
the microbes present in the milk and it keeps for a longer duration.
This process is called pasteurization of milk.
*(7) Different types of adulterants affect our health in different ways.
Some adulterants cause abdominal discomfort or poisoning, while
some may affect the functioning of some organs if consumed over
a long period of time or even cause cancer.
*(8) Our parents take following care to keep foodstuffs safe:
(a) Drying of grains.
(b) Boiling of milk, soups and curries from time to time.
(c) Refrigeration of vegetables, fruits, milk and cooked food.
(d) Candying of jams.
(e) Use natural preservatives like oil, spices, neem leaves.
(f) Use chemical preservatives in sauces, ketchups, pickles, jams
and squashes.
*(9) Food spoilage is the process in which food deteriorates to the point
in which it is not edible to humans or its quality of edibility becomes
reduced.
Following are the factors for spoiling of food:
(a) Bacteria causes food to spoil
(b) Incorrect storage may spoil the food.
General Science 35

(c) Infestation by pests.

(d) Chemical reaction takes place in food and it gets spoiled.
*(10) I use following methods to preserve the food:
(1) Freezing (2) Boiling (3) Salting of pickles (4) drying of grains
(5) candying of jams.

*Q.9. Explain why this happens and suggest possible remedies:

Ans. (1) Qualitative wastage of food happens due to wrong methods of
protecting food, excessive use of food preservatives, over-cooking,
washing the vegetables after cutting them, mishandling of fruits
like grapes and mangoes, miscalculation of the time required to
transport food from producers to consumers are some of the reasons
of qualitative wastage of food.
Possible remedies: (a) Avoid overcooking food, (b) Store grains and
other perishable foodstuffs like vegetables, fruits, milk etc. using
proper methods. (c) Wash fruits and vegetables before cutting it.
(2) Sometimes in a hurry if we cook the rice it is underdone.
Possible remedies: Use proper pressure cooker to cook the rice.
(3) Sometimes due to sudden rain wheat gets a bit moist.
Possible remedies: Do not store the moist wheat, it gets spoiled
due to fungus. So, first sun dry it and then store in a clean and dry
container to avoid microbial growth.
(4) The taste of yoghurt is too sour/slightly bitter means it is spoiled.
This happens if it is not kept in the refrigerator.
Possible remedies: Always keep the yoghurt in refrigerator to avoid
biological and chemical reactions in food materials.
(5) Fruit contains an enzyme called polyphenol oxidase or tyrosinase
that reacts with oxygen. The oxidation reaction basically forms a
sort of rust on the surface of fruits so it turns black.
Possible remedies: (a) Coat the fruits with sugar syrup (b) Add
lemon juice on fruits.
36 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*Q.10. Complete the chart below:

Ans. No. Foodstuff Adulterant
(1) Turmeric Metanyl yellow
(2) Black pepper Dried seeds of papaya
(3) Rava Iron filings
(4) Honey Jaggery
(5) Milk Water
(6) Red chilli powder Brick dust
(7) Black pepper Seeds of Papaya
(8) Ice-cream Paper pulp

*Q.11. Complete the chart below:

Nutrients
Ans. No. Food/Source Function in body
obtained
(1) Jowar, wheat,
Carbohydrates To provide energy
millet, bajra, rice
For growth and
(2) Beans and pulses Proteins
repair
(3) Oil, ghee, etc. Fats To provide energy
Fibre, water,
(4) Fruits and To fight against
vitamins and
vegetables diseases.
minerals

Q.12. Shreya purchased some red chilli powder and turmeric powder
from a local vendor. What test would you suggest, she should carry out
to find out if the foodstuffs she has purchased are adulterated or not?
Food
Ans. Adulterant Test Conclusion
material
Red Brick dust Take a spoonful If a red layer is seen
chilly of chilly powder settled at the bottom
powder in a beaker, stir of the beaker, it
it and leave it must have been
undisturbed for a adulterated with
few minutes. brick dust.
General Science 37

Turmeric Metanil Take a pinch of The mixture

powder yellow turmeric powder becomes red on
in a test tube, add addition of conc.
a small quantity HCl and the
of water to it, red colour does
shake the mixture not disappear if
and add a few metanil yellow is
drops of conc. present.
HCl
Q.13. Sridhar bought some milk from a milk vendor. When he put
a drop of milk on a glass slide, it did not leave a milky white spread
on the slide. Is the milk adulterated? How will you conclude?
Ans.
Food
Adulterant Test Conclusion
material
Milk Water Put a drop of milk If the spread-milk
on a glass slide and of mark does not
slightly incline it to appear milky white,
spread the drop. water must have
been added to it.

*Demonstrate the various methods of detecting food adulteration.

Ans.
Food
Adulterant Test Conclusion
material
Put a drop of milk If the spread-milk of
on a glass slide and mark does not appear
Milk Water
slightly incline it to milky white, water must
spread the drop. have been added to it.
Take a spoonful of If a red layer is seen
chilly powder in a settled at the bottom
Red chilly
Brick dust beaker, stir it and of the beaker, it must
powder
leave it undisturbed have been adulterated
for a few minutes. with brick dust.
38 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Take a pinch of The mixture becomes

turmeric powder red on addition of
in a test tube, add conc. HCl and the
Turmeric Metanil a small quantity of red colour does not
powder yellow water to it, shake the disappear if metanil
mixture and add a yellow is present.
few drops of conc.
HCl
Fine iron Pass a magnet Iron filings adhere to
Rava
filings through the rava. the magnet

vvv
TEST PAPER - 1 : UNIT TEST
(Grade Me Pg.no. 44) LESSON NO. 1 to 5 Marks : 10

Q.1. Name the following : (2)

Ans. (1) Pedicel (2) Carnivores

Q.2. Answer the following questions in one sentence each: (8)

Ans. (1) Food is said to be spoiled if there is a change in its colour, odour,
texture, quantity, taste and there is a loss of its nutrient content.
(2) Lightning (thunderbolts) occur in the rainy season. This causes
atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen to react with each other to form
nitric oxide (NO) which is again oxidized to form nitrogen dioxide
(NO2). The nitrogen dioxide dissolves in rainwater and is converted
into nitric acid (HNO3) which gets added to the soil along with the
rain-water. Plants use this nitrogen for their growth.
(3) Silt soil is suitable for cultivation. Particles of silt soil are of medium
size. Therefore, silt soil is much more ploughable than clay soil. This
soil contains a large proportion of organic materials. Its capacity to
supply nutrients is much greater.
General Science 39

(4) Androecium Gynoecium

(1) This is the male (1) This is the female
reproductive part of the reproductive part of the
flower. flower.
(2) It is made up of stamens A (2) It is made up of carpels.
stamen consists of anther, A carpel consists of
and filament. stigma, style and ovary.

vvv

MEASUREMENT OF PHYSICAL QUANTITIES

6
(Grade Me pg. no. (45 - 50)

Q.1. Fill in the blanks:

Ans. (1) mass (2) System International
Q.2. State whether the following statements are True or False:
Ans. (1) True (2) False (3) True
*Q.3. (A) Who is my companion?
Ans. (1 - c); (2 - e); (3 - a); (4 - b); (5 - d).
*Q.3. (B) Multiple choice questions:
Ans. (1 - A) a micrometer; (2 - D) Light Year; (3 - B) Velocity; (4 - D) metric
tonnes; (5 - C) metre square; (6 - B) second
*Q.4. Explain giving examples:
Ans. (1) A quantity that can be completely expressed by its magnitude
alone is called a scalar quantity. e.g. length, breadth, area, mass,
temperature, density, time, work. In all these examples, a value with
a unit is used to express quantities. Thus, we say that the length of
a tunnel is 2 km.
(2) The quantity that is expressed completely only when magnitude
and direction are both given is called a vector quantity.
Displacement, velocity are vector quantities. e.g. a displacement of
20 km towards north, the aeroplane flying at a velocity of 500 km/hr
towards Mumbai.
40 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Q.5. Give scientific reasons:

Ans. (1) In everyday affairs, we measure many different physical
quantities. As these physical quantities are different from each
other, a specific unit is used to measure each quantity. Therefore,
different units are used while measuring different quantities.
*(2) It is not proper to measure quantities by using body parts as units
because length of the body parts changes from person to person.
So, accurate measurement can not be found with the body parts as
units.
*(3) It is necessary to get the weights and measures standardized at
regular intervals because of that accurate weight and measurement
can be taken. Errors will be avoided.
Q.6. Answer in one sentence:
Ans. (1) A value and a unit are used to express the magnitude of a
physical quantity.
(2) MKS system and CGS system.
(3) The units usually used to measure physical quantities are called
standard units.
(4) Length and breadth are the quantities taken into account while
calculating the area of your classroom.
Q.7. Answer in short:
Ans. *(1) (a) The gravitational force that acts on the mass is called the
weight.
(b) The earth is not exactly spherical, it flattens at the poles.
(c) As the distance increases, the gravitational force decreases.
(d) Therefore, due to reduced distance at the poles compared to
the equator, the weight is maximum at the poles than equator.
*(2) (a) The gravitational force that acts on the mass is called the weight.
(b) The gravitational force is always inversely proportional to the
distance.
(c) So as the distance increases between the earth and the object,
the gravitational force decreases.
General Science 41

(d) The gravitational force by which the earth attracts an object

towards its centre is called weight.
(e) The weight at the sea-level is higher than at higher altitude, as
the object is at a greater distance at higher altitudes compared
to sea-level.
(3) (a) In atomic clock, to measure time, periodic vibrations of cesium
atom is used as a standard.
(b) 1 sec = 9,192,631,770 vibrations.
(c) The cesium atomic clocks are very accurate.
(d) In India, 5 atomic clocks are kept in National Physical Laboratory.
(4) In older time, hour glass was used for measuring time.
(5) To prevent consumers from being cheated, a weight and measures
sub-division functions as a part of the Food, Urban Supply and
Consumer Protection Mission of the Government.
*Q.8. Answer in brief:
Ans. (1) The weight of the same object is different on different planets
because weight depends on the gravitational force of the planet
and gravitational force on every planet is different so the weight
also differs from planet to planet.
(2) Following precautions will be taken to make accurate measurements
in day to day affairs: (a) The balance should carry the stamp of
standardisation by the department of weights and measures.
(3) Mass and Weight
Mass Weight
(1) The amount of matter (1) The gravitational force that
present in a substance is acts on this mass is called
called mass. its weight.
(2) It is a scalar quantity. (2) It is a vector quantity.

(3) Mass remains same (3) Weight changes from place

everywhere on the earth. to place on the earth.
(4) Major causes of errors in measurement are: (1) Not using the
appropriate device. (2) Not using the device properly.
42 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Example: While buying things at grocery shops and the vegetable

market remember to look out for the following:
(a) The balance should carry the stamp of standardisation by the
department of weights and measures.
(b) Balance should be stable. The pointer of the balance should be
upright.
(c) No changes should be done on the underside of the pan of the
balance.
(d) Weight should be made up of metals and it has to be
standardized.
(5) (a) Measurement of substances that are precious or of great
importance and used in very small quantities is done
meticulously and accurately.
(b) Due to advancements in technology, devices that measure very
small magnitudes of quantities like distance, mass, time and
temperature are available now.
(c) e.g. distance and time in connection with very important sports
competitions, mass of gold, body temperature etc.
(d) Devices to be used for this are thermometer, digital balance
(Analytical balance) etc.
*Q.9. How are the various articles and materials shown in the
picture, measured?

Ans. Article/materials Measurements

Brinjal kilogram

Reel of thread metre

Leafy vegetable per piece / bunch

Liquid litre

Ornament carat

Fabric metre
General Science 43

Q.10. Complete the following tables:

Ans. Name of the unit
Quantity
M.K.S. C.G.S.
Length m cm

Mass kg g

Time s s

Speed m/s cm/s

Q.11. Identify the wrong methods of measurement shown in the

picture and explain why they are wrong.
Ans. (1) Measuring length by hand.
(2) The length of a line is to be measured from 0 (zero) of the ruler to
get the accurate measure.
(3) The volume of water( or any liquid) should be measured using a
measuring jar, which has the marking on it to read the volume.
(4) Weighing any object using standardized weights will give the
accurate measure of the weights.
It is not proper to measure quantities by using body parts as units
because length of the body parts changes from person to person. So,
accurate measurement can not be found with the body parts as units.

vvv

7 MOTION, FORCE AND WORK (Grade Me pg. no. (51 - 56)

*Q.1. Fill in the blanks with the proper words from the brackets:
Ans. (1) constant, (2) stationary but not zero, (3) Speed (4) Velocity

Q.2. Fill in the blanks:

Ans. (1) Joule, (2) Displacement, (3) Change in velocity, (4) Isaac Newton
44 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*Q.3. From the groups B and C, choose the proper words, for each
of the words in group A.

Ans. Group 'A' Answers Group 'B' Group 'C'

(1) Work Joule - erg (a) Newton (i) erg

(2) Force Newton - dyne (b) Metre (ii) cm
(3) Displacement Metre - cm (c) Joule (iii) dyne

*Q.4. Find the unit:

Ans. Task Speed Velocity

Write the Distance Displacement
Speed = Velocity =
formula Time Time
Units of the Distance: metre Displacement: metre
quantities Time period: seconds Time period: seconds

Q.5. Answer in one sentence:

Ans. *(1) When a body is moving, it is said to be in motion. Motion is a
change in position of a body with respect to time.
*(2) Applying force causes a change in motion.
*(3) The distance transversed by a moving body irrespective of the
direction in unit, time is called speed.
Distance covered
*(4) Speed =
Time required
(5) The velocity at a particular moment of time is called instantaneous
velocity.
(6) Acceleration is the change in velocity in the given time.
*(7) Change in velocity causes acceleration.
(8) A stationary body remains in stationary state or a body in motion will
continue moving with the same velocity and in the same direction.
*(9) Yes force is a vector quantity.
(10) The ability to do work is called energy.
(11) Work done = Force × Displacement.
General Science 45

*Q.6. Answer in short:

Change in velocity
Ans. Acceleration =
Time taken for change
Unit of velocity = m/s.
Unit of time = second
m/s m
\ a= =
s s×s
m
a = s2
(2) The direction of the ball moving in a straight line will change only
when a force is applied on it in a different direction.
(3) The total distance the bird has traversed is the length of the distance
covered by circling, but the eventual displacement of the bird is
zero as its initial and final position are one and the same.
(4) (a) Force: The interaction that brings about the acceleration is
called force.
e.g: An ox is pulling a cart, applying brakes to a bicycle, lifting
heavy iron object with a crane.
(b) Work: When an object is displaced by applying a force on it,
work is said to be done.
e.g: A bucketful of water is to be drawn from a well and taken
to the home by walking from well to home.
(c) Displacement: The minimum distance traversed by a moving
body in one direction from the original point to reach the final
point is called displacement.
e.g: A rolling of a ball from point A to point B in the same
direction.
(d) Velocity: Velocity is the distance traversed by a body in a
specific direction in unit time.
e.g: A truck is covering a distance of 40 km from A to D in a
straight line in 1 hour.

A D
46 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(e) Acceleration: It is change in velocity per second. It can be

deduced.
Change in velocity
Acceleration =
Time taken for change
e.g:

v = 60 km/hr, v = 30 km/hr, v = 40 km/hr

A B C D
(i) In the above example a truck covered the distance AB at
velocity of 60 km/hr, BC at 30 km/hr and CD at 40 km/hr. (ii) It
means that the velocity for the distance CD is greater than the
velocity for the distance BC. (iii) From the number of seconds
required for this change in velocity to take place, the change in
velocity per second can be deduced. This is called acceleration
(f) Distance: The length of the route actually traversed by a moving
body irrespective of the direction is called distance.
e.g: Ranjit travelled 1 km. from his home to school.
(5) Distance and Displacement

Distance Displacement
(1) The length of the route actually (1)The minimum distance
traversed by a moving body, traversed by a moving
irrespective of the direction is body in one direction from
called distance. the original point to reach
the final point is called dis-
placement.
(2) It is a scalar quantity. (2) It is a vector quantity.

(6) The work is said to be done only if there is displacement of the

body when force is applied on it.
(7) Unit of work - Joule, unit of force - Newton and Unit of displacement
is metre is SI system.
(8) If a force of 1N parallel to the surface of the table is applied to a
wooden block on the table, and the block is displaced by 1 metre,
then it can be said that 1 Joule of work is done.
General Science 47

(9)
Ans.
Speed Velocity
(i) Speed is distance (i) Velocity is the distance
travelled per unit of traversed by a body in a
time. specific direction in unit
time.
(ii) It is a scalar quantity. (ii) It is a vector quantity.
(iii) Formula: (iii) Formula :
Distance Displacement
traversed Velocity =
Speed = Total time
Total time

*Q.7. Solve the following problems:

Ans. F = 1000 N (Force)
S = 10 m (displacement)
W = ? (work done)
W = FS
= 1000 × 10
W = 10,000 Joule
(2) Force (F) = 2 N
Displacement (S) = 50 m
Work done (W) = ?
W = FS
= 2 × 50
W = 100 Joule
*Q.8. Observe the figure and answer the questions:
― ― ― ―
Ans. (1) (a) Actual distance = AB + BC + CD + DE = 3 + 4 + 5 + 3
Actual distance = 15 km
(b) Displacement = AB + BD + DE = 3 + 3 + 3
Displacement = 9 km
48 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Distance travelled
(c) Speed =
Total time
Distance = 15 km = 15 × 1000 = 15000 m
Time = 1 hr = 1 × 60 × 60 = 3600 sec.
15000 15 km
S = or S = = 15 km / hour = 4.16 m/sec. or 15 km/hr.
3600 1 hour

Displacement
(d) Velocity =
Total time

Displacement = 9 km = 9 × 1000 = 9000 m

Time = 1 hr = 1 × 60 × 60 = 3600 sec

9000 9 km
V = or V = = 9 km / hour
3600 1 hour
= 2.5 m/sect. or 9 km/hr.
(e) Yes, this velocity can be called as average velocity.
(2) As its initial and final positions are one and the same,
Initial Velocity = 2 cm/s.
Final Velocity = 4 cm/s
Time taken for the change in velocity from B to D =
4 cm/s – 2 cm/s = 2 cm/s
Change in velocity 2 cm/s
Acceleration = = = 1 cm/s2
Time taken for change 2 sec

Q.9. Observe the figure and answer the following questions.

Ans. (1) Coin moves due to displacement when force acts on it.
(2) Coin moves smoothly.
*(3) Applying talcum powder to the carrom board decreases the friction
and coin moves smoothly.

Q.10. Observe the diagram and answer the questions given below:
Ans. (1) Mechanical force has been applied here.
General Science 49

(2) This force can be increased by attaching a heavier weight.

(3) If more force is applied, the displacement of the block will be more.
(4) When the block starts moving, we can say that work is done by the
applied force.

l In a tug of war, one team gives way to the other. What work is
being done and by whom?
Ans. The force applied by the stronger team does the work by displacing
other team.

l When a book is lifted from a table, against which force is work

done?
Ans. When a book is lifted from a table, work is done against gravitational
force.

l Will work be done by a man who pushes a wall? Give reasons.

Ans. No work will be done by the man who pushes the wall as there is
no displacement.
vvv

8 STATIC ELECTRICITY (Grade Me pg. no. (57 - 65)

Q.1. Fill in the blanks:

Ans. (1) electron (2) repel (3) gold leaf electroscope

*Q.2. Choose the correct option and fill in the blanks:

Ans. (1) always repulsion (2) Electron (3) copper (4) Steel (5) always
attraction (6) charged object

Q.3. State whether the following statements are True or False:

Ans. (1) False (2) True (3) True (4) False (5) False (6) True (7) False
(8) False (9) False

Q.4. Name the following:

Ans. (1) Plastic comb, human hair (2) Glass rod (3) Ebonite rod
(4) The lightning conductor
50 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Q.5. Match the following:

Ans. (1) Positive charge (2) Negative charge (3) Lightning (4) Charged
body.
Q.6. Answer in one sentence:
Ans. (1) Static electricity also called frictional electricity because static
electricity is generated by friction.
(2) Lightning conductor is made of copper because copper is good
conductor of electricity.
(3) We can make extremely thin leaves of gold, so even a small charge
also can be detected.
(4) Moist air is a conductor of electricity. So, the charge produced on a
body due to friction is conducted away by the surrounding moist
air. Hence, the experiments on static electricity are not successful.
Hence, static electricity experiments be carried out in dry weather.
Q.7. Give scientific reasons:
Ans. (1) (a) Every atom contains smaller particles with either positive or
negative charge.
(b) As the number of positively and negatively charged particles
in an atom is equal, they neutralize each other.
(c) As a result, the atom has no charge.
*(2) The electric charge is generated by friction. So, when a plastic comb
or ruler rubbed on dry hair it generates electric charge which attracts
pieces of papers.
*(3) The electric charge is generated by friction. If we pass near a
polyester curtain again and again, it generates electric charge and
so it gets attracted towards us.
*(4) If we rub a blanket with our hands, opposite electric charges are
produced on the blanket and on the hand. The blanket carries
negative charge and as metals are good conductors of electricity
charge is carried from the blanket to metal and spark is seen.
(5) There is attraction between unlike electric charges. Similarly,
electrically charged body and electrically neutral body also display
attraction. So, attraction can not be used as the test for identifying
General Science 51

an electrically charged object. Hence, repulsion is used as a test for

identifying an electrically charged object.
Q.8. Answer in short:
Ans.(1) When certain objects are rubbed against each other, the
negatively charged particles of one object go to the other object.
The object to which they go, becomes negatively charged due to
an excess of negatively charged particles. Whereas the first object
becomes positively charged.
(2) The charge developed by induction disappears quickly because it
is very weak.
(3) The leaves of a gold leaf electroscope fly apart when a charged body
touches its disc because like charges develop on both the leaves and
hence they repel each other.
(4) As we wear a cardigan, it has layers of clothing which rub against
each other and a static charge will be developed on it. The cardigan
then discharges its negative charge and as the air around it being a
good conductive attracts to it and a crackling sound is produced.
*(5) Two charged objects would always influence each others depending
upon its charge. If they are like charges they will repel each other
and if they are opposite charges, they will attract each other.
*(6) No. Only certain pairs of substances give rise to electric charge on
rubbing.
*(7) (a) Friction causes a charge to develop because on rubbing, some
negative particles are transferred from one substance to the
other and the later develops a negative charge.
(b) The substance from which particles are removed lose negative
charge and hence, it develops a positive charge.
*(8) A charged balloon sticks to a wall because there is always attraction
between a charged object and an uncharged object.
*(9) We can use other metals than gold in gold leaf electroscope. (a)
Only thing is that metal should be malleable and good conductor
of electricity. (b) But the best is gold only because we can make
extremely thin leaves of gold so even very small charge also can
be detected.
52 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(10) When lightning strikes, an opposite electric charge is generated on

the roof of a building or on the top of a tree by induction. Due to
the attraction between the opposite charges on the cloud and the
building, the charge on the cloud flows towards the building. This
is called a lightning strike.
Q.9. Write short notes on:
Ans. (1) This is a simple device to detect the electric charge on an object.
It consists of a copper rod which has a metal disc at the upper end
and two thin gold leaves at the other. The rod is placed in a bottle so
that the disc is above the bottle. When an uncharged object is taken
near the disc, the leaves remain closed. When a charged object is
taken near the disc, both the leaves are charged by the same electric
charge, and repel each other, i.e. move away from each other, or
open up. When we touch the disc with our hand, the leaves collapse,
because the charge in the leaves goes into the earth through our
body, and the leaves get discharged.
(2) (i) The lightning conductor is a device used for protection from
a lightning strike.
(ii) It is fitted on the highest part of the building to the ground.
(iii) Whenever an electrically charged cloud passes over the
building, the electric charges flowing towards the building
are conducted into the ground through the copper strip, and
damage to the building is prevented.
(iv) When such a lightning conductor earthing is fixed on a tall
building, the surrounding area is also protected from lightning.
(v) Thick copper strip is used in a lightning conductor because
copper is a good conductor of electricity.
*(vi)(i) The pointed end makes it possible to increase the electric field
near the point. The electric field set up at pointed end is high.
(ii) If the discharge of cloud occurs it would be easily passed
through the lightning conductor to the ground and damage to
the building is averted.
*(vii)Coal and salt is filled in the pit and also there is a provision
for pouring water into it. This helps to spread electric charge
quickly into ground and prevent damage.
General Science 53

Q.10. Answer in brief:

Ans. (1) (a) This is a simple device to detect the electric charge on object.
(b) It consists of a copper rod which has a metal disc at the upper
end and two thin gold leaves at the other.

Positively charged rod

Metal disc

Copper rod

Gold leaves

Bottle

(c) The rod is placed in a bottle so that the disc is above the bottle.
(d) When an uncharged object is taken near the disc, the leaves
remain closed.
(e) When a charged object is taken near the disc, both the leaves
are charged by the same electric charge, and repel each other.
(f) When we touch the disc with our hand, the leaves collapse
because the charge in the leaves goes into the earth through
our body, and the leaves get discharged.
*(2) Large amount of charges get built up in the clouds in rainy and
stormy weather.
(a) Sometimes these charges are transferred to the earth in the
form of a bolt of lightning.
(b) Wire of umbrella is made up of metal and cloth is made up of
synthetic material.
(c) If lightning strikes, then umbrella catches it and there are
chances of fire and it would be dangerous.
(d) So, it is not safe to go out with an umbrella when there is heavy
rain.
54 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*(3) Following are the characteristics of a static electric charge:

(a) The electric charge generated by friction is called frictional
electricity. This charge is produced only at the place of friction,
hence it is called static electricity.
(b) It remains on the object for a short duration.
(c) The charges of static electricity are absorbed in moist air.
(d) An electrically charged object attracts another object which has
no electric charge.
(e) Like charges repel each other.
(f) Unlike charges attract each other.
(g) Repulsion is the sure test of the existence of a static charge.
*(4) Due to lightning, great damage can occur.
(a) It may cause fire.
(b) Person on whom lightning strikes may die also.
(c) It causes more temperature than sun.
Awareness to prevent it:
(a) Guide the people to install lightning conductor on tall buildings.
(b) Do not stand on open ground, below a tree, or on a high location
during the thunder storms.
(c) Do not use plugged electrical appliances.
(d) Do not stand near an electric pole, telephone pole or a tower.
(e) Stay in pucca house.
(f) Stand on only wood, a plastic sheet or sack of jute.
*(5) To protect from the lightning, we have to put lightning conductor
on high rise buildings. We should not stand under a tree in rainy
and stormy weather. We should not go out with an umbrella in
heavy rain, lightning or thunder.
*(6) (a) Friction causes a charge to develop because on rubbing, some
negative particles are transferred from one substance to the
other and the later develops a negative charge.
(b) The substance from which particles are removed lose negative
charge and hence, it develops a positive charge.
General Science 55

*(7) (a) In lightning conductor, it consists of a long copper strip with

one end forked. This end is at the highest part of the building.
(b) The other end of the strip is connected to a plate of cast iron.
(c) A pit is dug in the ground, coal and salt are filled into the pit
and the iron plate is placed upright in the pit.
(d) There is also a provision for pouring water into it.
(e) This helps to spread the electric charge quickly into the
ground.
*(8) (a) Large amount of charges get built up in the clouds in rainy and
stormy weather.
(b) Sometimes these charges are transferred to the earth in the
form of a bolt of lightning.
(c) Due to iron staff, the charges will be conducted to the earth
through iron metal and spread quickly into the ground.
(d) This way farmers are saved from lightning strike.
*(9) (a) When air and clouds rub against each other in the sky, the
upper part of some clouds on the upper side becomes positively
charged and the lower side become negatively charged.
(b) When this negative charge on the bottom of the cloud becomes
much larger than the charge on the ground, it starts flowing
towards the ground in stages, but this doesn’t happen every
day. So, lightning is not seen every day during the rainy season.
Q.11. Observe the given diagram and answer the following
questions:
Ans. (1) The charged glass rod is attracted towards suspended glass rod.
(2) The plastic rod which is negatively charged gets attracted towards
positively charged glass rod.
(3) Rubbing of substances against each other produces a stationary
electric charge.
Q.12. Observe the given diagram and answer the following
questions:
Ans. (1) The flowing water gets carried and gets attracted towards the
comb because water carries charge.
56 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(2) When we draw the comb away from the trickle of water, the charge
reduced and the water again starts flowing in uniform direction.
Q.13. Observe the diagram and answer.
Ans. As the negatively charged balloon is brought closer towards
the aluminium ball, the aluminum ball gets attracted towards
the negative charged balloon (as metals are good conductors of
electricity) as it accepts the electrons. As the balloon is taken away
from the ball, the charge reduces and the balloon and the ball
separates.
*Q.14. Material: Paper, polythene, nylon cloth, cotton cloth, silk
cloth, etc.
Whether paper Does the object get
Ans. Object pieces get attracted? charged?
Yes/ No Yes/ No
(1) Balloon Yes Yes
(2) Ball pen refill Yes Yes
(3) Eraser No No
(4) Wooden ruler No No
(5) Steel spoon Yes Yes
(6) Copper strip Yes Yes

vvv

9 HEAT (Grade Me pg. no. (66 - 73)

Q.1. Fill in the blanks:

Ans. (1) vibrate in (2) upwards (3) Temperature (4) conduction (5) current
*Q.2. Fill in the blanks with the proper word from the brackets:
Ans. (1) black (2) Radiation (3) solid (4) reflection (5) good conductors
(6) radiation
*Q.3. What will absorb heat?
Ans. (1) Following will absorb heat: steel spoon, iron griddle, water, wax.
General Science 57

Q.4. State whether the following statement are True or False:

Ans. (1) True (2) False (3) True (4) False
Q.5. Find the odd man out:
Ans. (1) Temperature (2) Air (3) Glass
Q.6. Give two examples of each:
Ans. (1) Copper, Aluminium, Iron (2) Glass, Plastic, Wood
Q.7. Define:
Ans. (1) Substances through which heat travels very slowly are called
bad conductors of heat. e.g. soil, wood, glass, saw dust.
(2) Substances through which heat travels easily and quickly are said
to be good conductors of heat. e.g. copper, iron, aluminium.
(3) The transfer of heat from one end of a solid substance to the
other, without the particles leaving their original place is called
conduction.
(4) Transfer of heat in fluids due to formation of currents is called
convection.
Q.8. Answer in one sentence:
Ans. (1) Temperature is an indication of the heat in a substance.
(2) The flow of heat from one place to another.
(3) We can feel the heat of table lamp under it because every warm
substance continuously emits heat in all directions around itself by
radiation.
(4) Thermometer is used to measure temperature of a body.
(5) The heat of the lantern produces a convectional current warming up
air and sending them upwards due to decrease in density. When air
moves upwards it needs to be replaced with the fresh air, otherwise
the light will go off. By providing the hole at the bottom, the fresh
air can be sucked continuously.
(6) The vessel of a solar cooker is painted black on the outside because
black colour absorbs maximum amount of heat.
(7) Conduction is the transfer of heat from one end of a substance to
another. Transfer of heat has to be done by particles of a substance
58 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

and particles of a substance are particles of a medium. Hence, a

medium is necessary for conduction.
(8) When a liquid is heated the distances between its particles increase
and its volume too increases. This is called the expansion of liquids.
When its temperature falls, the liquid contracts.
Q.9. Distinguish between:
Ans. (1) Conduction and Convection
Conduction Convection
(1) 
Conduction is the process (1) Convection is the process of
of heat transfer without the heat transfer in which the
particles of the substance particles of the substance
moving away from their leave their place and
original position. become part of convection
currents.
(2) It occurs in solids only. (2) 
It occurs in liquids and
gases only.
(2) Conduction and Radiation

Conduction Radiation
The transfer of heat from one Transfer of heat in all directions
end of a solid substance to the in the absence of a medium is
other, without the particles called radiation.
leaving their original place is
called conduction.

Q.10. Answer in short:

Ans. (1) The halwai wrap up cloth around the end of his slotted spoon
while stirring the boiling milk in his large kadhai because
(a) His slotted spoon is made up of metal and metal is a good
conductor of heat so due to constant heating, spoon gets very
hot which makes hand to get burnt.
(b) But, cloth is a bad conductor of heat. So, it does not allow heat
to reach till hand and halwai does not feel hot when he stirs the
boiling milk.
General Science 59

(2) (a) Steel is metal and it is a good conductor of heat. So, due to hot
milk it becomes hot and it is difficult to hold. Person’s hand
gets burnt due to it.
(b) So it is better to hold in a handkerchief because handkerchief
is made up of cloth which is a bad conductor of heat. So your
hand does not feel hot.
(3) We wear woollen clothes in winter because:
(a) Air is a poor conductor of heat and woollen clothes do not
allow the transfer of body heat.
(b) Therefore we do not feel cold in woollen clothes and get
protected from cold in winter.
(4) (a) The joints of rails and cement concrete bridges are made of
iron. Metal is a good conductor of heat. So in summer, due to
heat, it expands and its length will be increased.
(b) To allow for this expansion, gaps are kept.
(c) If these gaps are not kept, then after expansion the rails and
cement concrete would have buckled upwards due to lack of
space.
(d) Due to that, bridges would crack and railway tracks get
croocked.
Q.11. Give scientific reasons:
Ans. (1) (a) A deep well has a smaller surface.
(b) Therefore, this smaller surface absorbs less heat which is
radiated from the sun.
(c) On the other hand, the pond surface being large absorbs more
heat due to larger surface area.
(d) Therefore, the upper layers of water in a deep well are cool but
those in a pond are warm.
(2) Thermoware is made by placing two vessels one inside the other.
Outer vessel is of plastic, whereas the inner is made up of shiny
metal. In between the two vessel there is air. The enclosed air is bad
conductor of heat. Heat is not lost by conduction or convection. The
inner surface is shiny, so heat is not lost by radiation. Hence, food
placed in thermoware container remains hot for a long time.
60 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(3) (a) The heat transferred near bonfire is by the process of radiation.
(b) Every warm object continuously emits heat in all directions
around itself. Similarly, bonfire also radiates heat.
(c) Some of this heat is absorbed by our body, while some of this
heat is reflected. Therefore, by sitting near a bonfire, we feel
warm.
(4) (a) An ordinary glass bottle cracks when we pour boiling water
into it because there is a lot of temperature difference between
the inner and outer parts of the glass.
(b) The inner part gets hot and expands, while the outer part
remains cold since glass is a bad conductor of heat.
(c) This unequal expansion causes the crack of glass bottle.
(d) But the borosil glass bottle have very high melting point so the
temperature difference is very less, hence it doesn’t break.
*(5) (a) Telephone wires are made up of copper metal. Metals expand
on heating.
(b) In summer the copper wire expands, thus the length of the
wire increases between the two poles and instead of remaining
straight it sags.
(c) In winter due to cold, it contracts and comes back to the original
position, so it becomes straight in winter.
*(6) (a) During the winter, the temperature of air is low, its capacity to
hold the vapours is less.
(b) At such times the excess water vapour is transformed into water
droplets due to cold. And so the dew drops form on the grass
in winter.
*(7) (a) Iron is a metal and metals are very good conductors of heat so
it transfers heat at a much faster rate than wood.
(b) That means, when we touch them, metals conduct away energy
in the form of heat emitted by our hand and temperature of
our hand lowers down and we get a ‘cold’ sensation. This is
what makes the metal appear colder than the wood.
(c) The wood is taking away heat at a much slower rate.
General Science 61

Q.12. Answer in brief:

Ans.*(1) Apparatus : a beaker, potassium permanganate crystals, a
burner, water, etc.
Procedure : Take some water in a beaker. Heat the beaker slowly
on a gas burner. Drop a few crystals of potassium permanganate
into the water. Now watch the water in the beaker carefully. What
do you see?
You will see streams of water going upwards and coming back to
the bottom. Due to the potassium permanganate, these magenta
coloured streams can be identified easily. When heating begins, the
water near the bottom becomes warm and its density decreases. As
a result, it moves upwards and is replaced by cold water coming
from above. In this manner, heat is transferred by means of currents,
called convection currents. This process is called convection of heat.
(2) (a) Radiation of heat takes place from many objects in nature such
as trees, mountains, stones and roads.
(b) A camera has been developed which uses these radiations to
make our surroundings visible even at night. This is called
infrared camera.
(c) It is used to keep watch on the movements of the enemy during
the night.
(d) It is also used to track the movements of animals in the wild.
*(3) Mercury is used in a thermometer because of the following
properties:
(a) There is a big difference between the freezing point and boiling
point of mercury. Its freezing point is – 39°C and its boiling
point is 357°C.
(b) It is shiny and can be easily seen.
(c) It does not stick to glass.
(d) It expands regularly and uniformly in all conditions.
(4) The Sun, a stove burner, automobile fuels and a hot cup of
water.
*(5) The water part in the cold compress will evaporate by the heat of
fever, thus taking some local heat of the body and temperature of
the body is lowered. Therefore, the fever gets lowered by putting
a cold compress on the forehead of a patient.
62 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*(6) Rajasthan being a desert, temperature is very high. So there is

excess heat. White colour doesn’t absorb the heat but reflects back,
so houses will not become hot due to excess heat and inside of the
house will be cool. So, the houses in Rajasthan are painted white.
*(7) There are three modes of heat transfer: (a) conduction (b) convection
(c) radiation.
*(8) (a) Unequal heating of air above the sea and land sets up convection
currents which cause sea breezes during the day time.
(b) The land near the sea is heated by sunlight to a higher
temperature than the sea.
(c) As the air above the land is heated, it becomes lighter and
moves upwards, its place is then taken by cooler air moving
from the sea towards the land.
(d) Sea breezes are thus set up. At night, the land cools faster than
water in the sea. Therefore, air above sea water is hotter than
air above the land.
(e) So, cooler air from the land moves towards the sea forming
land breeze.
*(9) The outer coat of the penguins of Antarctica is black because black
colour absorbs heat, so penguins get lots of heat due to this black
colour and they can live easily in very, very cold Antarctica region.
*(10)(a) Due to air conditioners, air becomes cool. So, its density
increases and it becomes heavy. So, it goes down and warm
air with less density comes up and take the place of cold air.
This cycle goes on and on and the full room becomes cool.
(b) If it is fitted near the floor then cool air due to high density
can’t go up and upper air with low density cannot come down
and cooling of the room does not take place properly. So, air
conditioners are fitted near the ceiling of a room.
(c) Heaters are fitted near the floor. Due to heater, air becomes hot
which is lighter than cold air. So, it goes up and upper air with
high density comes down.
(d) This cycle goes on and on and the full room becomes warm.
So, heaters are fitted near the floor.
General Science 63

Q.13. (A) Draw a neat and labelled diagram of a thermos flask

and write a short notes on:
Ans. *(1) Principle:
(a) As there is no medium in the vacuum between the two bottles,
no transfer of heat can take place by conduction or convection.
(b) Radiant heat is reflected back inside from the shiny surfaces.
(c) Glass and plastic are bad conductors of heat, hence they do
not transfer heat either into or out of the bottle. Thus transfer
of heat does not take place by any of the three modes, namely
conduction, convection or radiation. Hence, hot things in the
flask remain hot and cold things cold
Silvered surface
of the glass

Spring

Hot or cold
liquid Metal/plastic jar

Vacuum
Sponge
Rubber support

Structure:
(a) A thermos flask consists of two thin glass bottles fitted one
inside the other.
(b) The inner surfaces of the bottles are silvered to shine like a
mirror.
(c) A vacuum is created in the space between the two bottles by
removing all the air from it.
(d) A plastic or cork lid is provided to fit on the mouth of the bottle.
(2) When a hot substance is placed in a thermos flask, the heat going
64 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

out gets reflected due to the shining surface of the inner tube. Hence,
heat is not radiated. Neither conduction nor convection of the heat
occurs because of the vacuum. As a result, heat is not transferred to
the outer cooler region and is retained inside for a long time. Still,
a little heat is lost from around the lid and by a small amount of
conduction through the glass. Therefore, the hot substance does
not remain as hot after two or three hours.
(B) Draw and label the diagram:
Ans. (1) Convection of heat

Beaker Stream

Crystals of
potassium
permanganate
Burner

(2) Expansion and contraction of a liquid.

Hollow
glass tube Thermometer

Conical flask Water

Stand

General Science 65

(3) Thermos Flask

Silvered surface
of the glass

Spring

Hot or cold
liquid Metal/plastic jar

Vacuum
Sponge
Rubber support

vvv
10 DISASTER MANAGEMENT (Grade Me pg. no. (74 - 79)

Q.1. Fill in the blanks:

Ans. (1) Tsunami (2) International Day for Disaster Reduction

*Q.2. Find the odd man out:

Ans. (1) Railway accident (2) Drought (3) Locusts (4) Volcano.

*Q.3. True or False? Give reasons for your answer:

Ans. (1) False. Information about a forthcoming storm is not to be kept
secret because, with this information we can take immediate steps
for disaster management. Large scale damage of property and loss
of life can be avoided.
(2) True. Lightning carries some electric charges which causes electric
current in it. Water catches this current so if any person is swimming
during lightning in the sky, then there are more chances that
lightning may strike in water and the person may die due to it.
66 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(3) False. It is not possible to prevent the eruption of a volcano because

it is a natural event. However, by means of science and technology, it
is possible to predict an eruption in advance and to take immediate
steps for disaster management.
(4) True. Heavy rains result in flood. So, crops get washed away or
damaged in the flood and results in famine.
Q.4. (A) Give two examples:
Ans. (1) Famine, storm, lightning strikes, cloud bursts.
(2) War, forest fire, leakage of chemical gases, bomb explosion.
(B) Give two examples:
Ans. (1 - A) Nuclear explosion; (2 - C) Japanese; (3 - C) New Delhi; (4 - D)
800 km/hr.; (5 - C) cloud burst
Q.5. Answer in short:
Ans. *(1) Yes, it is possible to prevent the loss of life caused by lightning,
by taking precautions.
*(2) (a) Grow more trees near the bunds.
(b) Grow grass strips.
(c) Make stone lines near the bunds.
(d) Use contour plowing and tillage network method to prevent the
bunds on a farm from getting washed away in the rainy season.
*(3) Less or no rain leads to water scarcity.
*(4) If no food were grown during the whole year it would lead to
shortage of food. In some parts, it may also lead to famine like
condition which may cause mass starvation and deaths of humans,
cattle and other domesticated animals.
(5) Causes of famine: Drought, heavy rains and flood, crops getting
washed away or damaged in the flood, environmental changes such
as temperature change, storms, cold waves or fog, damage of crops
by animals like mice and rats, attack of pests, locusts or diseases
of crops, a natural calamity like earthquake, etc. are some of the
causes of famine. Of these, drought is the main cause. Man-made
causes of famine include war, internal unrest, absence of transport
routes, uncontrolled population growth, etc.
General Science 67

(6) (a) Planned usage of water and reuse of water.

(b) Proper planning of water conservation and harvesting at the
local level.
(c) Large scale plantation of trees and prevention of deforestation.
(d) Making appropriate changes in plans, taking into account the
weather forecasts.
*(7) (a) Due to heat of the sun, water from the sea, lake and river gets
evaporated and this water vapour is light in weight. So, it goes
higher and higher and forms the cloud.
(b) At a certain level the amount of vapour in those clouds becomes
very heavy and it burst and rain occurs.
*(8) (a) Famine: Following are the remedial measures for famine:
(i) Supply food and water to the people those who are dying
due to hunger. (ii) Give medicines to the people those who
are suffering from malnutrition. (iii) Government should start
helping centres for the people those who are suffering from
famine. (iv) Give them temporary shelter in some other places
where water and food are available. (v) Shift the animals to
safer places. (vi) Do proper planning so that region doesn’t get
famine again and again.
(b) Lightning strike: Following are the remedial measures for
lightning strike: (i) Give immediate treatment to the lightning
affected persons so their life can be saved. (ii) Keep the people
away from the open ground and swimming pool. (iii) Provide
them proper guidelines to cure for the lightning strike.
(c) Storm: (i) Supply food, water and medicines to the people (ii) Shift
them to safe places. (iii) Maintain peace, and advice the people
not to panic. (iv) Give time to time report on T.V. and radio.
(d) Cloudburst: Following are the remedial measures for cloudburst:
(i) Shift people to safe places with the help of airplane, helicopter
and army. (ii) Supply them food, clothes, water and medicines.
(iii) Give time to time weather report. (iv) Open more helpline
centres. (v) Government should immediately send the help in
terms of money and army to the people.
68 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*(9) (a) Waves generated by an earthquake or volcano occurring on the

ocean floor is called ‘tsunami’. ‘Tsunami’ is a Japanese word
which means ‘harbour wave’.
(b) As on land, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur, at the
bottom of the sea, too.
(c) If an earthquake occurs at the bottom of ocean, the energy
released pushes the water upwards. As a result of this peculiar
type of waves are formed.
(d) These waves are not very high near the source, but they start
spreading very fast to long distances.
(e) The velocity of these waves is 800 to 900 km/hr. When they
reach a coastal area, their velocity is reduced, but their height
is found to have increased tremendously even to about 30 m.
These are tsunami waves.
*(10) (a) Sometimes the water coming down from rain clouds does not
reach the land in the form of rain. Instead, due to very high
temperature near the land, it vaporizes and goes back in to the
same clouds.
(b) As a result, the amount of vapour in those clouds becomes very
high.
(c) Due to rapid condensation, it rains suddenly over a specific
and small region at a rate of 100 mm per hour or more. This is
known as a cloudburst.
*(11) Following are the effects of a volcano:
(a) The chemical substances such as lava, vapour, hot mud,
sulphur etc. get collected on the surface of the earth and thereby
mountains and hills are created.
(b) The atmosphere gets polluted due to the ash and gases ejected
by the volcano.
(c) Often, it rains as a result of a volcanic eruption.
(d) Temperature rises due to hot gases.
(e) Forests and settlements get buried under the hot mud.
General Science 69

*(12) Following are the measures to prevent loss of life due to lightning:
(a) Do not stand on open ground, below a tree, on high location,
near an electric pole, near a telephone pole or a tower etc.
(b) Do not lean on wire fences around a farm, a compound, a
garden or a house.
(c) If you are on two-wheeler, a bicycle, a tractor or a boat, get off
immediately and go to safe place.
(d) Do not gather all together in one place.
(e) Take care to keep a distance of 15 feet between any two persons.
(f) Do not use plugged electrical appliances. Do not use a mobile
or telephone.
(g) Stand on dry wood, a plastic sheet, sack or jute cloth or dry leaves.
(h) Keeping your feet together support yourself on the soles of
your feet placing your hands on your knees and crouch low.
(i) Swimmers and fishermen should immediately come out of the
water.
(g) A pucca house is the safest place. Find out if there is a lightning
conductor on any tall building near your house. If necessary,
get a lightning conductor fitted on your house.
Q.6. Answer in brief:
Ans. *(1) In Maharashtra, all districts have their own disaster management
plan to deal with calamities such as floods and landslides.
(a) The plan deals extensively with the emergency. and evacuation
measures to be taken up in cases of flood and landslide.
(b) The district-level disaster management plan has detailed
information about geographical details, population, flood
prone areas, villages and other macro details.
(c) Nearly 14 such key departments are engaged in disaster
mitigation measures and each one has been assigned specific
task to do at times of natural disasters.
(d) Administration is now training master trainers at the district
level who in turn will train key persons at village and taluka
levels to deal with natural disaster.
70 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(e) The administration through radio jingles, public advertisements

and other measures is informing people about how to react at
times of flood and landslide.
(f) Currently the Indian Meterological Department (IMD) gives
weather forecast on daily basis and for next 5 days with advice
to farmers on when to start crop sowing and harvesting etc.
*(2) With reference to disaster management, we should keep the
following things at home and check regularly:
(a) Keep proper first aid kit at handy place.
(b) Keep all the electric connections in proper condition.
(c) Keep gas line or tube connection proper.
(d) Keep a self powered flashlights and self powered radios.
(e) Keep non perishable food which will last for a week.
(f) Keep fire extinguisher handy and in proper condition.
(g) Keep updated telephone diary which should have emergency
phone numbers.
*(3) During heavy rain there are chances of landslide and flood, so we
should not wait at the foothill while it is raining heavily.
*(4) Floods : A frequently occurring natural disaster in all parts of the
world is ‘floods’. Due to excessive rains in the same place, a river
overflows its banks causing a flood. The water drainage system
in big cities falls short when there is heavy rainfall, resulting in
choking of gutters and drainage lines. Water overflows on to the
roads and surrounding areas and even enters nearby houses.
Effects of floods
l Huge loss to life and property.
l Soil erosion.
l Destruction of standing crops.
l After - effects of floods, like spread of diseases and epidemics
affecting the health of the people.
(5) Protective measures in view of floods:
(a) Construction of small dams in mountainous regions.
(b) Construction of percolation tanks.
(c) Making river beds flat.
General Science 71

(d) Cultivation of new forests.

(e) Connecting rivers
*(6) Earthquakes: Movements in the interior of the earth release
tremendous amounts of energy. This causes seismic waves leading
to movements of the earth’s surface like tremors, shaking, cracking
up, etc.
Such vibrations or quaking in the earth’s crust is known as an
earthquake. It is believed that besides other causes, man-made causes
like mining and construction of big dams can also lead to earthquakes.
*(7) As on land, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur at the bottom
of the sea, too. If an earthquake occurs at the bottom of ocean, the
energy released pushes the water upwards. As a result of this, a
peculiar type of waves are formed. These waves are not very high
near the source, but they start spreading very fast to long distances.
The velocity of these waves is 800 to 900 kilometres per hour. When
they reach a coastal area, their velocity is reduced, but their height
is found to have increased tremendously, even to about 30 metres.
Such a wave, generated by an earthquake or volcano occurring on
the ocean floor, is called a ‘tsunami’. ‘Tsunami’ is a Japanese word
which means ‘harbour wave’.
(8) Destructive effects of tsunami:
(a) Buildings and other constructions are destroyed.
(b) There is large scale loss of life and financial loss.
(c) Boats and ships near the coast get damaged.
(d) Trees get uprooted. Landslides take place on a large scale.
(e) Changes take place in the original land near the coast giving
rise to swamps.
(f) Traffic obstructions arise.
(g) The business/industry related to the sea are adversely affected
and normal day-to-day life is disrupted.
(h) Large scale damage is caused to harbours.
*(9) Storms: The formation of high and low air pressure belts in the
atmosphere causes changes in weather resulting in strong winds
or storms.
72 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Effects of storms
l Great damage in the storm affected region.
l Tremendous losses to life and property.
l Disruption of electric supply.
l Disruption of transport and communication.
*(10) Always listen to local authorities on radio or television for
evacuation. If forced to weather a storm, get inside the most secure
building possible and stay away from windows. If you are living in
a dormitory or apartment building, find safety at the lowest place
you have access to.
Q.7. Observe the given diagrams and explain them:
Ans. *(1) Volcano:
Following are the effects of a volcano:
(a) The chemical substances such as lava, vapour, hot mud,
sulphur etc. get collected on the surface of the earth and thereby
mountains and hills are created.
(b) The atmosphere gets polluted due to the ash and gases ejected
by the volcano.
(c) Often, it rains as a result of a volcanic eruption.
(d) Temperature rises due to hot gases.
(e) Forests and settlements get buried under the hot mud.
(2) Tsunami
(a) Waves generated by an earthquake or volcano occurring on the
ocean floor is called ‘tsunami’. ‘Tsunami’ is a Japanese word
which means ‘harbour wave’.
(b) As on land, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur, at the
bottom of the sea, too.
(c) If an earthquake occurs at the bottom of ocean, the energy
released pushes the water upwards. As a result of this peculiar
type of waves are formed.
(d) These waves are not very high near the source, but they start
spreading very fast to long distances.
General Science 73

(e) The velocity of these waves is 800 to 900 km/hr. When they
reach a coastal area, their velocity is reduced, but their height
is found to have increased tremendously even to about 30 m.
These are tsunami waves.
vvv
TEST PAPER - 2 : UNIT TEST
(Grade Me Pg.no. 80) LESSON NO. 6 to 10 Marks : 10

Q.1. Define: (2)

Ans. (1) Velocity: Velocity is the distance traversed by a body in a specific
direction in unit time.
(2) Conduction: The transfer of heat from one end of a solid substance
to the other, without the particles leaving their original place is
called conduction.

Q.2 Fill in the blank: (1)

Ans. radiation
Q.3. Find the odd man out: (1)
Ans. Drought

Q.4. Answer the following: (6)

Ans.(1) In everyday affairs, we measure many different physical
quantities. As these physical quantities are different from each other
a specific unit is used to measure each quantity. Therefore, different
units are used while measuring different quantities.
(2) Measures to prevent damage caused by lightning:
(a) Always put lightning conductor on tall buildings.
(b) Do not stand on open ground, below a tree or near the electric
or telephone pole during rain/ thunder storms.
(c) Do not lean on wired fences.
(d) Do not use plugged in electrical appliances.
(e) Do not swim during thunder storms.
74 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(f) Stay in a pucca house with lightning conductor fitted on it.

(3) The water part in the cold compress will evaporate by the heat of
fever thus taking some local heat of the body and temperature of
the body is lowered, therefore the fever get lowered by putting a
cold compress on the forehead of a patient.
vvv
MODEL TEST PAPER - 1
(Grade Me Pg.no. 81) LESSON NO. 1 to 10 Marks : 40

Q.1. (A) Fill in the blanks: (3)

Ans. (1) Survival of the fittest (2) dehydration (3) leaf apex.

(B) Give two examples of: (2)

Ans. (1) Jack fruit, pineapple (2) Acetic acid, sodium benzoate

(C) State whether the following statements are True or False:(2)

Ans. (1) False (2) False

(D) Match the columns: (2)

Ans. (1 - d); (2 - c); (3 - a); (4 - b)

(E) Name the following: (2)

Ans. (1) Lichen (2) Plastic comb

Q.2. Answer the following: (12)

Ans. (1) (a) Fungi are parasitic.
(b) They do not have chlorophyll and cannot perform photosynthesis.
(c) Fungi have root like fibers which help to absorb the food from
the starchy foodstuffs like bhakri and bread.
(2) (a) During winter, the temperature of air is low, its capacity to
hold the vapours is less.
(b) At such times, the excess water vapour is transformed into
water droplets due to cold. And so the dew drops form on the
grass in winter.
(3) (a) The damages caused by lightning are :-
General Science 75

(i) Trees are burnt when lightning falls on them.

(ii) There is a possibility of loss of life and property.
(iii) Electronic/electric equipments become damaged.
(b) Following measures can be taken to prevent the damage caused
by lightning:
(i) Always put lightning conductor on tall buildings.
(ii) Do not stand on open ground, below a tree or near the
electric or telephone pole during rain/ thunder storms.
(iii) Do not lean on wired fences.
(iv) Do not use plugged in electrical appliances.
(v) Do not swim during thunder storms.
(vi) Stay in a pucca house with lightning conductor fitted on it.

(4) Distance Displacement

(1) The length of the route (1) The minimum distance
actually traversed by a traversed by a moving
moving body, irrespective body in one direction from
of the direction is called the original point to reach
distance. the final point is called
displacement.
(2) It is a scalar quantity. (2) It is a vector quantity.

(5) Major causes of errors in measurement are:

(a) Not using the appropriate device.
(b) Not using the device properly.
Example: While buying things at grocery shops and the vegetable
market remember to look out for the following:
(i) The balance should carry the stamp of standardisation by the
department of weights and measures.
(ii) Balance should be stable. The pointer of the balance should be
upright.
(iii) No changes should be done on the underside of the pan of the
balance.
76 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(iv) Weight should be made up of metals and it has to be

standardized.
(6) The following methods are used to preserve the food: (a) Freezing
(b) Boiling (c) Salting of pickles (d) drying of grains (e) candying
of jams.
(7) Steps of nutrition in animals are as follows:
(a) Ingestion: Food is taken into the body.
(b) Digestion: Conversion of food into simple soluble forms.
(c) Absorption: A transfer of soluble food to the blood.
(d) Assimilation: Utilization of absorbed food by cells and tissues
for energy production, growth and repair.
(e) Egestion: Removal of waste products and undigested food
from body.

Q.3. Answer the following: (12)

Ans. (1) (a) Pedicel: (i) Flower may have a long or a short stalk called
pedicel. (ii) One end of the pedicel is attached to the stem. (iii)
The other end of the pedicel is expanded and swollen. It is
called the receptacle. (iv) Petals and other parts of the flower
are supported on the receptacle.
(b) Calyx: In the bud condition, the petals are covered by leaf like
parts called sepals which are green in colour. They form the
calyx.
(c) Corolla: This is made up of colourful parts called petals.
(d) Androecium : (i) This is the male reproductive part of the
flower. (ii) It consists of stamens. (iii) Each stamen is made up
of anther and filament.
(e) Gynoecium: (i) This is the female reproductive part of the
flower. (ii) This is made up of carpels. (iii) A carpel consists of
stigma, style and ovary.
(2) Water has a unique property of anomalous expansion. When water
is cooled from room temperature, it first contracts in volume and
becomes increasingly dense as do other liquids, but at 4°C water
reaches its maximum density. On further cooling, it starts expanding
General Science 77

and become less dense. This will continue till the temperature
reaches 0°C, the point at which it freezes into ice.
(3) Two different types of micro-organisms can bring about biological
nitrogen fixation. Root-nodules of leguminous plants contain
the Rhizobium micro-organisms. These micro-organisms absorb
atmospheric nitrogen and convert it into nitrate, a compound.
Micro-organisms like Azotobacter are present in soil. They also
convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates.
(4) Following are the remedial measures for famine: Supply food and
water to the people those who are dying due to hunger. (b) Give
medicines to the people those who are suffering from malnutrition.
(c) Government should start helping centres for the people those who
are suffering from famine. (d) Give them temporary shelter in some
other places where water and food are available. (e) Shift the animals
to safer places. (f) Do proper planning so that region doesn’t get
famine again and again. (g) Reuse water (h) Grow more trees.
Cloudburst:
Following are the remedial measures for cloudburst: (a) Shift
people to safe places with the help of airplane, helicopter and
army. (b) Supply them food, clothes, water and medicines.
(c) Give time to time weather report. (d) Open more helpline centres.
(d) Government should immediately send the help in terms of
money and army to the people.
(5) When water is heated, the water near the bottom becomes warm
and its density decreases. As a result, it moves upwards and is
replaced by cold water coming from above. In this manner, heat
is transferred by means of current, called convection current. This
process is called convection of heat.

Q.4. Answer the following: (5)

Ans. (1) (a) Serve yourself only as much as you can eat.
(b) Avoid over-cooking food.
(c) Avoid throwing away left-over food. Re-use it in a proper way.
(d) Buy only as much grain, vegetables, fruits, milk, etc. as you
need. Avoid the temptation to make excessive purchases.
78 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(e) Store grains and other perishable foodstuffs like vegetables,

fruits, milk, etc. using proper methods.
(f) Check the expiry date of bottled, canned, packed food and use
within that time.
(g) Eat all the food that you have served yourself.
(2) (a) This is a simple device to detect the electric charge on object.

Positively charged rod

Metal disc

Copper rod

Gold leaves

Bottle

(b) It consists of a copper rod which has a metal disc at the upper
end and two thin gold leaves at the other.
(c) The rod is placed in a bottle so that the disc is above the bottle.
(d) When an uncharged object is taken near the disc, the leaves
remain closed.
(e) When a charged object is taken near the disc, both the leaves
are charged by the same electric charge, and repel each other.
(f) When we touch the disc with our hand, the leaves collapse
because the charge in the leaves goes into the earth through
our body, and the leaves get discharged.
vvv
 CELL STRUCTURE AND MICRO-ORGANISMS
11 (Grade Me pg. no. 83-91)

Q.1. Fill in the blanks:

Ans. (1) chloroplast (2) fertilizer (3) chloroplast (4) micro-organism
Q.2. Name the following:
Ans. (1) Micrometre and nanometre.
(2) Cell wall, plasma membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, endoplasmic
reticulum, mitochondria, vacuoles.
(3) Bacteria, virus, fungi, algae, protozoa.
Q.3. Answer in one sentence:
Ans. *(1) All the life processes of unicellular organisms take place in a
single cell. Their feeding, digestion, excretion all take place through
one cell. During reproduction, the same cell divides into two.
*(2) The cell is the fundamental, structural and functional unit of living
organism.
*(3) The nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, lysosomes,
mitochondria, vacuoles, plastids, chloroplasts are the different
organelles in a cell.
*(4) The organisms which cannot be seen with our eyes but can only be
observed under a microscope are called micro-organisms.
*(5) Algae, fungi, bacteria, protozoa and viruses are various types of
micro-organisms. Some are unicellular and others are multicellular.
Some of them are useful and some are harmful.
*(6) Cells acquire definite shapes due to cell wall and cell plasma
membrane.
*(7) The plasma membrane does not allow unwanted substances to
enter in the cell. Some protective proteins act against the harmful
microbes. In this way, the cells are protected.
*(8) Cells need oxygen, nutrients and water.
(9) The chemical process of conversion of one type of carbon compound
into another type of carbon compound by the action of micro-
organism is called fermentation.
(79)
80 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*(10) (a) A vaccine is produced in a laboratory with the help of microbes,

when injected into a person produces antibodies and gives
immunity against particular diseases.
Q.4. Give scientific reasons:
Ans. *(1) (a) Due to floods there is shortage of clean, safe drinking water.
(b) It gets contaminated with sewage and dirt having disease
causing pathogens, causing disease of alimentary canal,
typhoid, cholera, dysentery.
(c) Due to stagnant water, many mosquitoes breed on it and
cause diseases like malaria, dengue etc.
*(2) The stale food is likely to have microbes in it. Some of the
microbes produce enterotoxins. The enterotoxins cause food
poisoning. Therefore, there is a possibility of food poisoning if
we eat stale food.
*(3) (a) Tilling is done to loosen the soil in initial agricultural practice.
(b) Loose soil allows the penetration of roots of the plant.
(c) By turning of soil, it allows uniform mixing of manure and
fertilizer.
(d) It increases the fertility of soil. Seeds are also able to germinate
easily in aerated soil.
*(4) (a) Fungus needs water and moisture for its growth.
(b) Humidity brings about spore germination and the fungus is
able to grow and reproduce.
*(5) (a) Refrigerator is used to keep food items in healthy condition
and to keep them fresh.
(b) If the food items are kept outside, they get spoilt very fast due
to growth of micro-organisms and they make food spoiled and
harmful.
(c) The optimum temperature for the growth of micro-organisms
is 15°C to 35°C.
(d) In refrigerator, the temperature is kept very low. So, the food
is preserved in refrigerator.
General Science 81

*(6) (a) The process of fermentation is used in baking, for example, in

making bread. Yeast is added to make the dough rise.
(b) Fermentation is a chemical process of conversion of one type
of carbon compound into another type of carbon compound
by the action of micro-organisms.
(c) Heat is generated in this process and carbon dioxide (CO2) and
some other gases are released.
(d) These gases cause an increase in volume so the bread dough rises.
*(7) (a) When fodder is soaked in water, it sprouts. So, to make the fodder
more nutritious and make it more easy to digest, it is soaked
in water before offering to cattle.
(b) In dry fodder, only some part of it is useful for cattle and rest
is wasted.
(8) (a) Mitochondria are tiny organelles inside the cells that are
involved in releasing energy from food.
(b) This process is known as cellular respiration.
(c) It is for this reason that mitochondria are often referred to as
the power houses of the cell.
Q.5. Answer in short:
Ans. *(1) (a) Dry waste consist of plastic, glass, metals, paper etc. It is
easier to segregate dry waste so that it is easier for treatment
and recycling of waste.
(b) Wet waste consists of organic matter. Wet garbage is converted
into manure of the best quality and surroundings are kept clean.
*(2) Micro-organisms are present in the root nodules. They fix the
atmospheric nitrogen and make it available for plants.
*(3) (a) The microbes present in yoghurt are allowed to grow in batter
or dough.
(b) They break down these substances producing new compound
and gases are released as they grow and multiply in them which
allows the batter, dough to rise.
(c) This process is called fermentation.
(d) This makes the food soft and nutritious.
82 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*(4) Fermentation does detoxification and splits complex carbohydrates

and proteins into simple ones. Thus, making it easy to digest.
*(5) Sometimes, when you are ill, the doctor prescribes capsules or
injections of medicines like penicillin. These types of medicines
destroy the pathogens and retard their growth. They are called
antibiotics. Antibiotics are produced with the help of specific
microbes. Diseases like tuberculosis, typhoid, cholera, etc. which
were previously considered incurable, have now come under control
because of antibiotics. Domestic animals too can be protected from
various diseases by mixing antibiotics with their food. Plant diseases
can also be controlled with the help of antibiotics.
*(6) Vaccination is done to protect the child against diseases.
(a) If a baby is vaccinated by true vaccine schedule, that baby will
have immunity to over 14 diseases by the age of two. With the
recommended schedule, babies visit their doctor 5 times in the
first 15 months and receive protection against upto 14 diseases
in as little as 18 shots.
(b) We immunize children so young against these diseases because
infancy is the time period that kids are most vulnerable to life
threatening diseases.
(c) It is not advisable to skip or delay vaccines as this will leave
the child vulnerable to disease for a longer period of time.
*(7) We can see the white or greenish layer growing on the surface of
bread or sweetmeet and causes a typical foul odour. This is due to
moulds (fungus) grow due to the moist and dark conditions which
spoil the food.
*(8) (i) When the food is kept for a long time it allows the growth of
bacteria and fungi.
(ii) We can see the white layer of bacterial or fungal growth on
it, it causes a typical odour, or smell, and also the food tastes
sour due to presence of enterotoxins produced by fungi in
the food.
General Science 83

*(9) We will see the expiry date. If the food is kept for a long period of
time, it may allow the growth of many microbes which can cause
disease or food poisoning. We will check for any fungal growth,
any white or black spots on it.
*(10) (a) During marriage feast, food is prepared in very large quantity
and food may not be properly washed or if it is cooked with
water contaminated, with sewage or dirt which has many
disease causing microbes, or the people handling the food may
be having dirty hands.
(b) Also, the utensils used for cooking and storing food may be
dirty, contaminated with dirt and may produce microbes.
The consumption of such food is responsible for food
poisoning.
*(11) (a) When we are in good health, our body temperature is about
37°C.
(b) But upon this invasion of a harmful microbe, our immunity
starts raising the body temperature. This is a immune response
to fight against disease causing microbes.
(c) We call this increased temperature as fever.
(d) Some microbes are destroyed by body temperature. Thus,
having a fever is a good sign of immunity.
Q.6. Answer in brief:
Ans. *(1) (a) Each micro-organism needs a specific environment for
growth and reproduction.
(b) Optimum temperature for the growth of micro-organism is
15°C to 35°C.
(c) Normal body temperature of human body is 37°C. At that
temperature, micro-organism can not grow and cause disease.
*(2) (a) During rainy season, the humidity in the air is quite high and
also due to presence of moisture in clothes it becomes breeding
ground for fungus.
(b) It is the favourable condition for growth of fungus.
(c) We can see white cotton like growth of fungus on clothes.
84 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*(3) The black or white spots seen on gunny bags are the growth of
many microbes such as fungi, mucus, mold etc.
*(4) Leather articles are polished so as to protect them from the growth
of fungus.
(a) Polish creates a layer of wax on them so that moisture cannot
enter from atmosphere.
(b) It prevents the growth of fungus, which damages the leather.
*(5) (a) The powdery material is the spores of fungi.
(b) All the materials like gunny bags, cotton clothes, paper, rubber,
etc. are plant products and leather is an animal product.
(c) In a humid atmosphere, fungi and some other micro-organisms
grow on these articles and spoil or damage them.
*(6) Explain the uses and harmful effects of micro-organisms Uses:
(a) Micro-organisms present in leguminous plants convert
atmospheric nitorgen into its compounds and help to increase
the soil firtility.
(b) Some micro-organisms are useful in the process of fermentation
to make food more nutritious and also help to produce milk
products like butter, buttermilk, cheese and paneer etc.
(c) Microbes present in soil, drug etc. decompose garbage and
convert it into manure and keep the surroundings clean and
also help to produce biogas.
(d) Microbes released into the sewage help in the quick
decomposition of the organic compounds in it.
(e) Antibiotics vaccines are produced with the help of specific
microbes.
(f) Microbes are used in processes like tanning of skin, production
of ropes and strings from agave.
Harmful effects
(a) Pathogens may be present in water bodies contaminated with
sewage and dirt from surroundings, in food left uncovered in
unhygienic conditions with houseflies sitting on it, etc. If such
contaminated food or water is consumed, we may fall ill with
General Science 85

diseases of the alimentary canal, like amoebiasis, typhoid,

cholera, hepatitis, gastro, etc.
(b) Pathogens are released in the air when a person having an
infection of the respiratory tract sneezes or coughs. A healthy
person may get infected with such pathogens on breathing in
the same air and contract disease like common cold, cough,
diphtheria, pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc.
(c) Mosquitoes reproduce in places like heaps of garbage, drains,
stagnant water, etc. Microbes that cause diseases like malaria,
dengue, elephantiasis, yellow fever, chikungunya, Zika fever,
etc. gain entry into the human body through the bite of a female
mosquito.
*(7) I will use a simple microscope to magnify the objects and to see the
growth of a fungi or mucor on a piece of moist bread.
I will use a compound microscope in Research Laboratory and
high school science lab to see micro-organisms which we are not
able to see with our naked eye.
Q.7. Distinguish between:
Ans. *(1) Plant cell and Animal cell
Plant cell Animal cell
(1) Plant cell has cell wall. (1) C
 ell wall is absent in animal
cell.
(2) P
 lant cell has definite shape (2) 
Animal cell do not have
due to presence of cell wall. definite shape.
(3) Plant cell has one big vacuole. (3) A
nimal cells have many
small vacuoles.
(4) P
lant cell has chloroplast (4) 
Animal cells do not have
so they produce their own chloroplast, so they cannot
food. produce their own food.
(5)  Plant cell has plastids. (5) P
 lastids are absent in animal
cell.
(6) Centrosomes are absent in (6) 
Centrosomes are present
plant cell. near the nucleus.
(7) L
ysosomes are absent in (7) L
 ysosomes are present in
plant cell. animal cell.
86 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*(2) Prokaryotic cell and Eukaryotic cell

Prokaryotic cell Eukaryotic cell
(1)  No well defined nucleus. (1) W
 ell defined nucleus with
a nuclear membrane.
(2) Ribosomes are small. (2) Ribosomes
 are large.
(3) 
A single length of DNA is (3) S
 everal lengths of genetic
present. materials (DNA) is present.
(4) No other cell organelles are (4) S
 everal organelles like
present. mitochondria, chloroplasts
etc. are present.
(5) Examples: bacteria, blue (5) E
 xamples: Euglena, amoeba,
green algae all plant and animal cells

Q.8. Complete the following flow chart:

Ans.
Cells tissues Organs Organ system Organism

Q.9. Complete the following table:

Ans.
Organelles of the cell Function
(1) Cell wall It consist of cellulose. It is present in
plant cell only. It is a protective layer
outside the cell membrane. It provides
structural support and protection.
(2) Plasma membrane It controls the movement of substances
in and out of the cell. It protects the cell
from its surrounding.
(3) Nucleus It is the brain of the cell. It directs all cell
activities, and contains genetic material
called chromosomes made of DNA.
(4) Cytoplasm It is the jelly like liquid, which occupies
space between cell membrane and nucleus.
All the organelles are scattered in it.
General Science 87

(5) Endoplasmic Reticulum The ER is a sprawling net-like organelle.

Its function is to make necessary
changes in the proteins produced by
ribosomes and send them to the Golgi
bodies.
(6) Golgi Bodies Golgi bodies are made up of several
flat sacs. Their function is the proper
distribution of proteins.
(7) Mitochondria It is the power house of cell. It produces
energy in the form of ATP from the
food.
(8) Vacuoles It is the largest organelle in the plant
cell surrounded by membrane. It holds
material and waste. It maintains proper
pressure. It helps to throw out waste
products of cell.

*Q.10. Label the diagram given below:

Ans.
Cell wall
Plasma membrane Capsule
Nucleoid

Cytoplasm

Plasmid
Ribosomes
88 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Q.11. Given below are the sketches of two types of cells A and
B. Label the components of both the cells A and B:
Ans.
Free ribosomes
Lysosome
Cell membrane
Cell wall
Golgi Body
Nucleus
Chloroplast
Endoplasmic
reticulum
Vacuoles
Cytoplasm
Mitochondrion
Plant cell Animal cell

(1) Cell A. Because cell A has cell wall and also vacuoles are larger.
(2) Structures found only in plant cell = cell wall, chloroplast, plastids
Structure found in animal cell = lysosome.
*Q.12. Take two earthen pots half filled with soil and mark them,
‘A’ amd ‘B’. Mix some waste material like garden waste, dung, etc, with
the soil in pot ‘A’.
Ans. (1) Yes, the garbage in pot B remained unchanged because micro-
organisms need nutrients for their growth.
In pot B, there was no medium for growth of micro-organisms.
(2) Microbes present in soil, dung etc. decompose the garbage to
obtain food material. As a result, garbage is soon converted into
manure of the best quality and our surroundings are kept clean.
Q.13. List the activities that you could do as a student in your classroom
and in your school, under the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’.
Ans. (1) We can participate in this movement by starting a cleanliness
drive in our school and neighbourhood.
(2) Use dustbin and do not litter the class room, corridor and playground.
(3) Follow clean eating habbits.
(4) Flush the toilet after use and wash hands with soap.
(5) Teach the younger siblings about cleanliness.
vvv
 THE MUSCUL AR SYSTEM AND DIGESTIVE
12 SYSTEM IN HUMAN BEINGS (Grade Me pg. no. 92-97)

*Q.1. Fill in the blanks:

Ans. (1) Mouth (2) involuntary (3) Production of blood cells (4) Cardiac
muscles (5) stomach
*Q.2. Find a match for me:
Ans. (1-b); (2-d); (3-e); (4-c); (5-a)
*Q.3. Who is telling a lie?
Ans. (1) Lie. My taste buds can tell all tastes - sweet, sour, bitter (2) Truth
(3) Lie. It is 1.5 metre long (4) Truth (5) Lie. It plays important role
in breathing
Q.4. Name the following:
Ans. (1) The Liver (2) Hydrochloric acid, pepsin, mucus (3) Oesophagus
(4) Myology (5) Bile
Q.5. Answer in one sentence:
Ans. *(1) There are different structural organizational levels in living
organism.
Cells ® tissues ® organ ® organ system ® organism
Different organs together form one organ system.
*(2) Skeleted muscles join two bones with the help of tendons.
*(3) Tongue, heart, stomach, liver, pancreas, intestines are made up of
only muscles.
(4) The muscle on the front of the bone on our upper arm is called the
biceps. The muscle at the back is called the triceps.
(5) Conversion of food into a soluble form and its absorption into the
blood is called digestion.
(6) The digestive system consists of the alimentary canal and digestive
gland.
(7) The gall bladder is situated below the liver. It stores the bile, the
digestive juice secreted by the liver.
(89)
90 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Q.6. Answer in short:

Ans. *(1) (a) Muscles are firmly attached to bones by means of tendons.
(b) When muscles contract, there is movement at the joint and there
is pull on tendon which in turn pull on the bones to which they
are attached.
*(2) (a) Muscles in our body always work in groups.
(b) When some muscles contract, other muscles of the same group
relax.
(c) This is how muscles help in proper performance of the various
functions of own body.
*(3) (a) Cardiac muscles cause our heart to relax and contract
continuously at a rate of about 70 times per minute.
(b) These muscles bring about the contraction and relaxation
(beating) of the heart.
(c) If the cardiac muscles do not move, heart will stop beating, and
will not pump blood to other parts of the body and person will
die.
*(4) (a) Smooth muscles are present in the lining of stomach.
(b) Their movement is responsible for churning of food.
(c) If the muscles do not move, food will not be digested.
(5) If we consume any tobacco products, the mouth pharynx,
alimentary canal and other organs of the digestive system cannot
function properly. It causes problems like vomiting, nausea and
headache. Besides tobacco particles stick to teeth, gums and skin
of mouth cavity and slowly cause injury to those parts resulting in
their dysfunction. This causes swelling of the gums and pain when
moving the jaws. The pharynx and intestine become inflamed and
the condition further progresses into cancer leading to death.
Q.7. Answer in brief:
Ans. *(1) Muscles are bundles of fibres that can contract and relax as
required. There are three types of muscles:
(a) Skeletal muscles.
(b) Heart or cardiac muscles.
General Science 91

(c) Smooth muscles.

(a)  Skeletal muscles: (i) Skeletal muscles work with bones, the two
ends of each of these muscles are attached to two different bones.
(ii) They are responsible for holding the bones of the skeleton
together and giving shape to our body. (iii) Skeletal muscles
permits movement of the body and maintain the posture of
the body. (iv) Skeletal muscle is voluntary, e.g. muscles in our
arms and legs are voluntary muscles, their action depends
upon our will. That’s why they are called voluntary muscles.
(b) H
 eart or cardiac muscles: (i) Heart or cardiac muscles bring
about the contraction and relaxation (beating) of the heart.
(ii) Their movement is involuntary. (iii) Cardiac muscles cause
our heart to relax and contract continuously at a rate of about
70 times per minute. (iv) Cardiac muscle is found in heart.
(c) S
 mooth muscles: (i) These muscles are present in the internal
organs other than the heart. e.g. muscles of the stomach,
intestine, blood vessels, uterus etc. (ii)Their movements are
involuntary and slow. (iii) They are not according to our will.
(iv) Various vital functions of our body such as digestion,
respiration and movement of food material of which we
remain quite unaware, are carried out by these special
muscles.
*(2) (a) Stress is the main cause of acidity.
(b) Hectic life style and stress can lead to unhealthy or irregular
meals, not good for digestion process, and this may cause
acidity.
(c) Other reasons are eating spicy food, drinking too much
alcohol, missing meals, an empty stomach may lead to acidity.
(d) Acidity leads to stomach upset, burning sensation in chest
and stomach, constriction of blood vessels, weight gain,
obesity, cardio vascular damage.
*(3) There are four types of teeth, namely incisors, canines, pre-molars,
and molars.
Each tooth is covered by a hard substance called enamel. Enamel
is made up of calcium salt.
92 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

The process of digestion begins with the function of the teeth in

the mouth.
(a) Incisors: (i) These come in first 6-months of age. Incisors are
the eight teeth in the front and centre four on top and four on
bottom. (ii) They are sharp and blade like for cutting food.
e.g. for biting an apple. (iii) We use them to take first bite of
food.
(b) Canines: (i) These are strong and pointed, sharpest of all for
tearing food. e.g. to tear off a piece of tough meat. (ii) They
play important role in digestion of food. (iii) They appear
between 11 and 20 months of age.
(c) Pre-molar: Pre molar share features of both canines and
molars.
(i) You can use them for grinding and chewing food. So that it
becomes semi-liquid helping to gulp down the throat easily.
(ii) They are situated at each side of your mouth in deep
settings. (iii) They appear at the age of 10 years.
(d) Molar: (i) These are broad and flat on top for crushing and
grinding food. e.g. to grind up nutmeats. (ii) Two teeth above
and two teeth below, they appear at the age 11-13 years.
(iii) Molars are more prone to germ attack because of their
remote location in our mouth. So, we should keep them clean.
Q.8. Give scientific reasons:
Ans. *(1) (a) The gastric glands of stomach secrete gastric juice.
(b) Food that has entered stomach is churned.
(c) Three components of gastric juice, namely hydrochloric acid,
pepsin and mucus are mixed with food here and the food
becomes acidic.
*(2) (a) Cardiac muscles are found in the heart.
(b) These muscles bring about the contraction and relaxation
(beating) of the heart.
(c) Their movement is involuntary.
General Science 93

(d) Cardiac muscles cause our heart to relax and contract

continuously at a rate of about 70 times per minute. They do
not depend upon our will.
(e) Beating is carried out in their own fixed manner.
So, cardiac muscles are said to be involuntary muscles.
*(3) (a) Physical health is important for our organ system to function
properly.
(b) But, harmful habits like smoking, chewing of tobacco,
drinking alcohol affect our health adversely.
(c) If we consume any tobacco products, the mouth, pharynx,
alimentary canal, and other organs of the digestive system
cannot function properly.
(d) It causes problems like vomiting, nausea, and headache.
(e) Tobacco particles stick to teeth, gums, and skin of the mouth
cavity and slowly cause injury to those parts resulting in their
dysfunction.
(f) This causes swelling of the gums and pain when moving the
jaws.
(g) The pharynx and intestine become inflamed, it progress into
cancer leading to death.
*(4) Muscles are bundles of fibres that can contract and relax as
required.
(a) The action of muscles is necessary for all kinds of movements
from the small movements of eyelid to those that demand
great strength when chopping wood with an axe.
(b) We use muscles for various movements like talking laughing,
walking, jumping, throwing etc.
Therefore, our muscles should be strong and efficient to do
our day to day work well and smooth functioning of life
processes.
94 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Q.9. Label the given diagram:

Ans. Enamel
Dentine Root

Gum

Bone

Q.10. Identify the type of teeth from the given diagram:

Ans. 1
(1) Incisor
2
(2) Canine
3
(3) Premolar

(4) Molar
4

*Q.11. Try this and answer the following question:
(1) Hold your arm straight at the elbow (i.e. 180°) without closing
your fist.
(2) Bend the arm at the elbow through 90°.
(3) Touch the shoulders with your fingers on same side. Muscles
of which part of your arm contracted and relaxed during the
above three actions?
Ans.(1) Biceps relaxes triceps contracts.
(2) Biceps contracts to some extent and triceps relaxes.
(3) Biceps contracts to full extent.
vvv
 CHANGES - PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL
13 (Grade Me pg. no. 98-103)

Q.1. Fill in the blanks:

Ans. (1) slow changes (2) periodic change (3) corrosion (4) tinning

*Q.2. Under which different types can the following changes be

classified:
Ans. (1) Manmade (useful) (2) Manmade (fast change)
(3) Non-periodic (4) Periodic (5) Physical, reversible change

Q.3. (A) Give two examples of:

Ans. (1) Lightning in the sky, Spoiling of milk
(2) Bursting of balloon, Bursting of crackers
(3) Melting of wax, Melting of ice
(4) Burning of wax candle, Burning of wood or paper
(B) Multiple choice questions:
Ans. (1) (D) Melting of wax (2) (D) all of the above (3) (A) prevent it from
rusting (4) (B) Cooking of vegetables (5) (D) (i) to (iv) are correct

Q.4. Answer in one sentence:

Ans. *(1) Natural change
*(2) Man made change and Useful change
*(3) An irreversible change is a permanent change that cannot be
undone, cannot reverse it back to original substance.
Examples of irreversible changes are (1) Ripening of a mango.
(2) Burning of wood
(4) When an iron article rusts, a reddish brown layer (of iron oxide)
forms on it. A greenish layer is seen to form on a copper article.
This process is called corrosion of metals.
(5) Iron articles are given a thin coat of zinc to prevent corrosion. This
is called galvanization.
(95)
96 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Q.5. Give scientific reasons:

Ans. *(1) (a) Canned food is a processed food.
(b) After certain period of time it may get spoilt due to some growth
of micro-organism it may get intoxicated.
(c) If we consume such food we may get food poisoning, so we
should check the expiry date.
*(2) (a) When an iron article is kept for long time it gets corroded due
to presence of oxygen in atmosphere.
(b) Iron gets oxidized to iron oxide which forms a reddish brown
layer on it and iron gets rusted.
(c) It is called corrosion. Due to corrosion, things become weak.
(d) So, an iron article should be given a coat of paint so that it is
protected against corrosion.
(e) Paint gives protection to iron.
*(3) (a) When a wooden article comes in contact with moisture, there
is possibility of fungal growth and also termites will make
wooden article brittle and break.
(b) So, a wooden article should be polished which forms a
protective layer.
(c) It does not allow the wooden article to get decayed by moisture
or attacked by termite.
*(4) (a) Due to corrosion of copper or brass, a greenish layer is seen to
form on it.
(b) So, to protect copper and brass utensils from corrosion, they
are coated with tin.
(c) This process is called tinning.
*(5) (a) The dry fibres of handkerchief absorbs water to its maximum
capacity immediately. That is why handkerchief gets wet at once.
(b) When wet handkerchief dries, all the water absorbed has to
become water vapour by evaporation.
(c) This depends on surrounding air and heat.
(d) That is why wet handkerchief takes long time to dry.
General Science 97

Q.6. Answer in short:

Ans. (1) Coats of various colours are applied on metals like iron and
aluminium. This process is called as powder coating. It prevents
corrosion of the metal.
*(2) (a) A physical change in a substance
I will take into account the following facts:
(i) Whether the shape, size or state of the substance is changed.
(ii) Whether it is a temporary change.
(iii) Whether it is a reversible change.
(b) A chemical change in a substance
I will take into account the following facts:
(i) Whether a new substance is formed.
(ii) Whether it is a permanent change.
(iii) Whether it is a non-reversible change.
Q.7. Distinguish between the following:
Ans. *(1) Physical change and chemical change.

Physical change Chemical change

(1) I n physical change material (1) 
A change which alters
may change its shape, size, physical properties and
texture or state. composition also.

(2) No new compound is (2) New compound /substance

formed. is formed due to chemical
change.
(3) The change is temporary. It (3) 
The change is permanent
is reversible. and irreversible.
(4) Examples: Evaporation, (4) Examples: Burning of wood,
of water, boiling of water, paper, souring of milk,
melting of ice. digestion of food, rusting of
iron.
98 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*(2) Periodic changes and non-periodic changes.

Periodic changes Non-periodic changes
(1) Some changes occur again (1) In this, certain changes will
and again after a definite recur after one occurrence,
interval of time. Such it cannot be said for sure,
changes are called periodic even if they occur the
changes. time interval is not fixed.
Such changes are called
non-periodic changes.
(2) Examples: Movement (2) Examples: Volcanic
of clock hands in clock eruption, occurrence of
showing time, change an earthquake, tsunami,
of season. day and night forest fires, freezing of
formation, heart beat water to form ice, sneezing,
ripening of fruit, rising rusting of iron.
and setting of the sun.
(3) T
hey repeat themselves (3) 
They do not repeat
after a fixed interval of themselves after a fixed
time. interval of time.

*(3) Natural change and man-made change

Natural change Man-made change
(1) Changes that occur (1) Changes that are result
naturally on its own are of human activity. Such
called natural changes. changes are called man-
made.
(2) E
 xamples: Ripening of (2) Examples: Burning of fossil
a fruit, spoiling of milk, fuels, deforestation, pollution
change in the climate of air, water and soil.

Q.8. Observe these pictures and answer the following:

Ans. (1) (a) Iron nails become temporarily become magnet (b) Ice cubes
melt into water and can be converted into ice cubes.
(2) (a) Ripening of fruit (b) Bud blooming into flower
General Science 99

(3) In permanent changes, ripening of the mango and the bud blooming
into flower, the original matters undergo change.
(4) In temporary changes, like iron nails becoming magnet,and the ice
cubes melting into water, the original matter remains unchanged.
(5) Ripening of fruit, bud blooming into flower
Q.9. Read the paragraph and note down the various types of
changes it mentions:
Ans. (a) Clock showing six o’ clock time - it is a periodic change.
(b) Sun was setting - a periodic change.
(c) Breeze was blowing - a natural change.
(d) Leaves shaking - a natural change.
(e) Making toys from wet soil - Physical change.
(f) Making dough from wheat flour - Physical change
(g) Frying purees - Chemical change.
(h) Raining - Natural change.
(i) Lightning - Natural change.
vvv

ELEMENTS, COMPOUNDS AND MIXTURES

14 (Grade Me pg. no. 104-109)

Q.1. Fill in the blanks:

Ans. (1) substance (2) metalloids (3) Mg (4) matter (5) molecules
*Q.2. Who are my companions?
Ans. (1-e); (2-f); (3-c); (4-b); (5-a); (6-d)
Q.3. Give two examples:
Ans. (1) Arsenic, Silicon (2) Sherbet, Bhel (3) Hydrogen, Chlorine
(4) Water, Carbon dioxide
Q.4. Answer in one sentence:
Ans. (1) An object is made of a certain substance.
(a) The term matter is also used as a synonym of substance.
(b) Object is made of matter.
100 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(2) Mass and volume are the two important properties of matter.
(3) Some metals are difficult to use in pure form. For example, pure iron
rusts in air, pure gold is very soft and bends easily. The properties of
the original metal can be modified by mixing one or more elements
in it. Such a mixture of metals is called an alloy. Brass, steel, twenty-
two carat gold are a few examples of alloys.
*(4) Nearly all of the earth’s atmosphere is made up of gases. Nitrogen,
oxygen, argon and neon, helium and krypton.
*(5) Molecule is the smallest particle of a compound.
Q.5. What happens when:
Ans. *(1) We will get very tiny particles of chalk.
*(2) The cloth will absorb the ink drop and cloth will have a stain mark
on it.
*(3) The molecules of perfume move out of the bottle and collide
with other molecules in the air and eventually perfume spreads
throughout the room.
Q.6. Give scientific reasons:
Ans. *(1) (a) Churning is the process of shaking up buttermilk to make butter.
(b) Butter is essentially the fat of milk.
(c) Churning physically agitates the cream until it ruptures the
membrane surrounding milk fat.
(d) Fat droplets can join with each other to form clumps of fat.
*(2) (a) In Chromatography, two properties of substances are used.
(b) They are the stability of the substances in the solvent that moves
up and the ability of the substance to stick to the stationary
filter paper.
(c) So all the components of the mixture do not rise all the way to
the upper end of the filter paper but remain behind at limited
height.
*(3) A wet cloth will absorb the heat from the surrounding and it will
keep the water in the container, cool for a longer time.
General Science 101

Q.7. Distinguish between:

Ans. *(1) Metals and non-metals.
Metals Non-metals
(1) Metals are good conductors (1) on-metals are
N poor
of heat and electricity. conductors of heat and
electricity.
(2) M
 etals are solids at room (2) 
Non-metals exists in all
temperature except three states.
mercury.
(3) Metals are lustrous. (3) Non-metals are not
(shiny) lustrous. (dull appearance)
(4) Metals are malleable (can (4) Non-metals are brittle, not
be hammered into sheets) malleable.
(5) Metals are ductile, can be (5) Non-metals are not
drawn into wire. ductile.
(6) Metals are very hard and (6) Non-metals are brittle,
strong. will break down into
pieces except diamond.
*(2) Mixtures and Compounds
Mixtures Compounds
(1) The different substances (1) A compound is formed
are not chemically joined when two or more elements
together to form a mixture chemically combine
but mixed physically. together e.g. H2O →
chemical formula of water.
(2) E
ach substance in the (2) Compound has fixed
mixture retains its own properties.
properties.
(3) Mixtures are impure (3) Compounds are pure
substances. substances.
(4) Substances from the mixture (4) The constituents of a
can easily be separated by compound can be separated
physical method. only by chemical method.
102 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(5) The constituents of a (5) The constituents of a

mixture are present in compound are present in
varying proportion. fixed proportion.
*(3) Atoms and Molecules
Atoms Molecules
(1) An atom is the fundamental (1) A molecule is a group of
part of matter. chemically bonded atoms.
(2) Atoms are basic building (2) Molecule is the smallest
blocks of matter. unit of a chemical
compound.
(3) It is foundation of (3) It is foundation of
molecules. chemical compound.

*(4) Separation by distillation and by separating funnel

Separation by separating
Separation by distillation
funnel
(1) Distillation is used for (1) This procedure is used for
purification of impure separating two liquids
liquids, for separating
liquid and solids
(Separation of mixture
containing two miscible
liquids)
e.g. to separate salt and e.g. separating oil and
water from salt water. water. (two immiscible
liquids)
Q.8. Answer in short:
Ans. *(1) Zn - Zinc, Cd - Cadmium, Xe - Xenon, Br - Bromine, Ti - Titanium,
Cu - Copper, Fe - Iron, Si - Silicon, Ir - Iridium, Pt - Platinum
*(2) HCl, H2SO4 , NaCl, C6H12O6 ,CH4
*(3) (i) Component of mixtures are separated by straining, filtering,
sifting, picking, sorting, winnowing, combing with a magnet and
sublimation. (ii) In a mixture, the constituent substances do not lose
their identity, they can be separated easily by physical methods.
General Science 103

(a) Sedimentation: (i) It is a process of separating an insoluble

solid from a liquid in which it is suspended, by allowing it
to settle to the bottom of the container. e.g. Muddy water
contains heavier particles like sand and soil. (ii) Leave this
muddy water undisturbed for some time. (iii) The heavier soil
and sand particles settle down and the clear upper water is
poured out by decantation.
(b) Filtration: It is used for separating
insoluble solids from a liquid. e.g.
mixture of chalk and water is poured
through a filter paper in a funnel while
the water gets collected in the beaker
below, chalk is retained in the filter
paper.
(c) Evaporation: It is used for recovering dissolved solid
substances from solutions by evaporation. e.g. sugar can be
recovered from sugar-water.
(d) Distillation: It is a process of heating a solution containing
soluble solids to form vapours of the liquid and then cooling
the vapours to get the liquid back.
e.g. A mixture of common salt and water is taken in distillation
flask and heated. Steam rises up and comes out into condenser.

Thermometer

Rounded bottom flask

Stand
Condensor
Water

Net

Water

Burner Flask
104 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(e) Sublimation: is a process in which some solids on heating are

transformed directly to vapour without passing through the
liquid state.
(i) It is used to separate a mixture of solids. The vapours are
cooled separately. (ii) Used to separate ammonium chloride,
iodine, camphor and sulphur from any mixture.
(f) Magnetic separation: A mixture with iron fillings as one of
the components can be separated using magnet to attract the
iron particles away from the mixture.
*(4) Elements – non-metals
Oxygen, nitrogen → present in air
Hydrogen → present in water
Silicon → in memory card
Lithium → to make batteries
Neon → in neon signs/lights
Sulphur → used in water treatment, agricultural pesticides
Elements – metals
Calcium → in milk
Silver, gold → used in jewellery
Aluminium, copper, iron → Kitchen vessels
Mercury → in thermometer
Copper → electric wires
Compounds:
Sodium chloride → table salt
Sodium carbonate → washing soda
Sodium bicarbonate → baking soda
Sodium hypochloride → bleaching powder
Sodium hydroxide, Potassium hydroxide → in making soaps
Calcium oxide, Calcium hydroxide → in white washing the building
Hydrochloric acid → in cleaning toilets
Sucrose → sugar used in cooking and baking.
Mixtures:
Bhel → mixture of puffed rice, sev, ground nuts, lemon juice
Concrete → mixture of cement, sand and rocks
General Science 105

Salad → mixture of onion, cucumber, tomato, lettuce, etc.

Sherbet and salt water are also mixtures.
*(5) Centrifugation: It is a process which involves application of
centrifugal force.
(a) It is used in industrial and laboratory settings. It is used
for separation of fluids, gas or liquid based on density. In
centrifugation, mixture is separated through spinning and
the solid settles to the bottom and the solution is clear.
(b) Best example of centrifugal force is working of washing
machine when we dry the clothes. The wet clothes are moving
circular and force acts on water particles in clothes and this
force pull water to outer side. Force involved is centrifugal
force which remove the water from the clothes and clothes are
dried in this machine.
(c) Cream separation: When the machine moves, the rod set
inside milk moves and milk is pressurised and solid part from
this milk goes outside due to centrifugal force and this solid
part is cream. In this way, the cream is separated from the milk.
*(6) (a) Distillation: is the process of separating the components
or substances from a compound. It is a process of heating
a solution containing soluble solids to form vapours of the
liquid and then cooling the vapours to get the liquid back.
Distillation method is used in the following:
(i) to separate components of air into oxygen, nitrogen,
argon, etc.
(ii) to separate salt from salt water.
(iii) to purify impure liquids.
(iv) to prepare distilled water.
(b) Separating funnel: When a mixture of two immiscible liquids
is left undisturbed, two layers are clearly seen to have formed.
(i) The heavier of the liquids remain below and the lighter
liquid floats on it. (ii) So, two liquids in a mixture can be
separated by making use of this property. e.g.
106 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(i) to separate kerosene and water.

(ii) to separate oil and water.
*(7) In using distillation:
(a) Allow sufficient space to work in, working area should be
well lit and well ventilated to prevent the accumulation of
alcoholic vapours.
(b) Keep a fire extinguisher handy.
(c) There should be no obstruction in the piping that could cause
pressure build up in the stills and cause it to burst.
In using separating funnel:
(a) Stopper should be tightly fitted so that the solution does not
leak out when the separating funnel is inverted.
(b) Never throw any layer away until you are absolutely sure that
you isolated final product.
(8) Hydrogen is a combustible substance, that is it burns. Oxygen
helps combustion. But, water which is formed by a combination
of hydrogen and oxygen is used to extinguish a fire. In other
words, the properties of a compound are different from those of
the constituent elements.
(9) (a) In Chromatography, two properties of substances are used.
(b) They are the stability of the substances in the solvent that moves
up and the ability of the substance to stick to the stationary
filter paper.
(c) So all the components of the mixture do not rise all the way to
the upper end of the filter paper but remain behind at limited
height.
Centrifugation: It is a process which involves application of
centrifugal force.
(a) It is used in industrial and laboratory settings. It is used
for separation of fluids, gas or liquid based on density. In
centrifugation, mixture is separated through spinning and
the solid settles to the bottom and the solution is clear.
General Science 107

(b) Best example of centrifugal force is working of washing

machine when we dry the clothes. The wet clothes are moving
circular and force acts on water particles in clothes and this
force pull water to outer side. Force involved is centrifugal
force which remove the water from the clothes and clothes are
dried in this machine.
(c) Cream separation: When the machine moves, the rod set
inside milk moves and milk is pressurised and solid part from
this milk goes outside due to centrifugal force and this solid
part is cream. In this way, the cream is separated from the
milk.
*Q.9. Classify the following substances according to their
properties:
Ans. For the ans Refer Grade Me Teacher’s Guide Q 6(2) & Q 8(5)
Metals Mixtures Compounds
Copper, Iron Soil, Thermocol Paper, Coir, Plastic, Rubber, Water

Q.10. Complete the following:

Ans.
Element Helium Carbon Sodium Aluminium Phosphorus Potassium Calcium

Symbol He C Na Al P K Ca

*Q.11. Identify the various methods of separating the components

of a mixture, by observing the figure:
Ans. Winnowing, Filtration, Hand picking, Churning, Sieving
*Q.12. Prepare a sherbet and a bhel. Did the taste of the original
ingredients change due to the above processes:
Ans. No, the taste of the ingredients did not change as sherbet and bhel
is a mixture and retain the characteristics of its original constituents.
*Q.13. How will you separate each component from a mixture of
semolina, salt and iron filings?
Ans. By the process of sieving, semolina will be separated. Then, by using
a bar magnet, iron filings would be separated and only salt remains.
108 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Q.14. Label the given diagrams.

Ans. (1) Distillation Method

Thermometer

Rounded bottom flask

Stand

Condensor
Water

Net

Water
Burner Tripod Flask
stand

(2) Separation Method

Separating
funnel

Kerosene
Water

Stopcock

Beaker

Water

vvv
 15 MATERIALS WE USE (Grade Me pg. no. 110-113)

Q.1. Fill appropriate terms in the blanks:

Ans. (1) soap (2) tooth decay (3) fatty acid (4) hard (5) white cement
Q.2. Name the following:
Ans. (1) Calcium carbonate ad calcium hydrogen phosphate (2) Fluoride
(3) Soap nut and soap pod.
Q.3. Answer in one sentence:
Ans.*(1) The materials that are available in nature are called natural
materials. New substance produced by the chemical processing of
naturally available substance is called man-made substance.
(2) A detergent is a substance that cleans or wipes away dust.
Q.4. Answer in short:
Ans.*(1) (a) A molecule of a detergent holds on to a water molecule at
one end and an oil molecule at the other.
(b) As a result, the molecules of oil mix with the water.
(c) This is how detergent acts on our soiled clothes. So, detergent
removes any oil or dirt sticking on to our clothes.
(d) Due to the property of holding on to both oil and water, soap
water spreads easily on many types of surfaces.
(e) This property of spreading on a surface is called surface activity.
(f) Detergents are surface active.
(g) One effect of surface activity is lather formation.
*(2) (a) In the hard water, (of a well or a tube-well), soap does not give
lather but forms a scum.
(b) As a result, soap loses its cleansing property. So with help of
soap, we will come to know that it is a hard water.
*(3) (a) The important ingredients of a toothpaste are calcium
carbonate and calcium hydrogen phosphate.
(b) They remove the dirt on teeth. These ingredients also polish
the teeth.
(c) A certain proportion of fluoride in the tooth paste helps prevent
tooth decay.

(109)
110 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(d) It is essential for the enamel covering of teeth.

*(4) (a) Cement is a dry, greenish grey powder with fine particles.
(b) It is made from silica (sand), alumina (aluminium oxide), lime,
iron oxide and magnesia (magnesium oxide).
*(5) (a) In making concrete strong, the ingredients cement, water, sand
and gravel should usually be mixed in a ratio of 1:2:3 : 0.5 to
achieve maximum strength.
(b) That is 1 part cement, 2 parts sand, 3 parts gravel, 0.5 parts water.
(c) If enough cement is not used then the concrete will eventually
fall apart, as cement is used as a binding agent.
*(6) There are two types of detergents that we use,
(a) Natural (b) Man-made detergents.
(a) Natural detergents are soap nut (ritha), soap pod (shikekai).
(b) Man-made detergent are soap, Hard soap- soft soap.
(c) Synthetic detergents have taken the place of soap.
(i) Detergents are commonly available as powders or
concentrated solution.
(ii) Detergents are for laundry, washing clothes and cleaning
dishes.
Detergents for cleaning toilets.
Ariel, Surf Excel, Nirma, Harpic, Wheel soap powder
(d) Alkaline detergents are used for hard surface cleaning.
*(7) (a) Detergents should not be strong, they may spoil the texture,
colour of delicate garments.
(b) Now-a-days many detergents are available. Genteel, Ezee
woolite, liquid detergent for woollen, delicate clothes.
(c) They should not contain bleach, phosphorous which will
harm delicate clothes.
*(8) (a) Due to the property of holding on to both oil and water, soap
water spreads easily on many types of surfaces.
(b) The property of a substance of spreading on a surface is called
surface activity and the substance is called surfactant.
General Science 111

(c) Detergents are surface active.

(d) They increase the spreading and wetting ability of water by
reducing its surface tension.
(e) Chemicals responsible for the surface activity of various
detergents is phenol, Aprotinin.
Q.5. Give scientific reasons:
Ans. *(1) (a) In the hard water of a well or a tube well, soap does not
give lather but forms a scum.
(b) As a result, soap loses its cleansing property.
So, soap cannot be used in hard water.
*(2) (a) A molecule of a detergent holds on to a water molecule at one
end and an oil molecule at the other.
(b) As a result, the molecules of oil mix with the water, and we
will see that the water and oil have become homogenous and
the colour of the mixture appears milky.
*(3) (a) Curry stains stick fast to the criss-crossing threads of the
material of our clothes.
(b) Curry contains turmeric, a natural indicator which turns red
in a basic solution.
(c) Soaps are sodium salts of fatty acids and are basic in nature.
(d) While washing the clothes, turmeric reacts with soap solution
and turns red forming red spots on the clothes.
(e) But, the spots disappear after washing the clothes with plenty
of water.
*(4) (a) Masheri is the smokeless form of tobacco. It is tobacco,
containing teeth cleaning powder.
(b) It contains tobacco leaves.
(c) Tobacco contains toxic and Carcinogenic chemicals which
can cause cancer, oral cancer, mouth and throat cancer, gum
disease, tooth decay.
(d) Its use can cause abnormal delivery in pregnant women.
*(5) (a) Soap is a man-made detergent which has been in use since
ancient times.
112 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(b) It was prepared by using animal fat and wood ash. In hard
water, soap does not give lather, it loses its cleansing property.
(c) So, we can not use soap in hard water. Now, synthetic detergents
have taken the place of soap.
(d) They can be used in hard water as well.
(e) Synthetic detergents have many more advanced properties like
they are added with perfumes, conditioner for fabric, etc.
Q.6. What are the similarities and differences between:
Ans. *(1) Natural detergents and man-made detergents.
Natural detergents Man-made detergents
(1) Soap nut (ritha) and soap (1) Soap is man-made
pod (shikekai) are the detergent- soft soap and
natural detergents. hard soap.
(2) 
Natural detergents do not have (2) Soap has effect on skin
harmful effect on human skin and cloth because it has
or on silk or woollen clothes. chemicals in it.
(3) S
 oap nut, soap pod contain (3) Soap has acid in it, soap is
a chemical saponin. sodium and potassium salt
of fatty acids.
(4) It is naturally available. (4) It is man made using
chemicals and oil.
*(2) Soap and Synthetic detergent.
Soap Synthetic detergent
(1) Soap is man-made (1) Synthetic detergents have
detergent, it is in use since taken place of soap.
ancient times.
(2) S
 oap loses its cleansing (2) Synthetic detergent can be
property in hard water it used in hard water also.
does not give lather.
(3) Soap
 was prepared by using (3) 
Synthetic detergent are
animal fat and wood ash. obtained by subjecting fats,
kerosene to various chemical
processes.
General Science 113

(4) Variety of soaps are (4) Variety of synthetic

available, soft soap for detergents are available -
bathing, hard soap for Ariel, Surf Excel, etc.
washing, cleaning.

*(3) Bath Soap and soap for washing clothes

Bath soap Soap for washing clothes

(1) Soft soap is used for (1) Hard soap is used for
bathing. washing clothes.
(2) S
 oft soap is potassium salt (2) Hard soap is sodium salt of
of fatty acids. fatty acid.
(3) Soft soap dissolves more (3) Hard soap do not dissolve
easily readily in water. easily in water.
(4) Now-a-days, many (4) In this type of soap, now
perfumes, moisturizers a days germicides, anti
are mixed to make it more foaming agents are mixed
attractive and useful. to make it more useful.

*(4) Modern cement and ancient cement.

Modern cement Ancient cement
(1) Cement manufactured (1) Romans used to make
from 60% lime, silica 25% aqueous cement by mixing
and alumina 5%. the rest is volcanic ash in moistened
iron oxide and gypsum. It lime. It was very durable.
is Portland Cement.
(2) I t is the most commonly used (2) It is Roman cement volcanic
cement for Construction ash prevent cracks from
work. spreading.

vvv
 TEST PAPER - 3 : UNIT TEST
(Grade Me Pg.no. 114) LESSON NO. 11 to 15 Marks : 10

Q.1. Fill in the blanks: (2)

Ans. (1) Liver (2) fertilizers
Q.2. State whether the following statements are true or false:(1)
Ans. (1) True
Q.3. Give two examples of: (2)
Ans.(1) Skeletal muscles, Leg muscles
(2) Making toys from wet soil, Making dough from wheat flour
Q.4. Answer in one sentence: (1)
Ans.(1) The four main parts of a cell are cell-membrane, nucleus,
mitochondria and ribosomes.
Q.5. Answer the following: (4)
Ans.(1) (a) Stress is the main cause of acidity.
(b) Hectic life style and stress can lead to unhealthy or irregular meals,
not good for digestion process, and this may cause acidity.
(c) Other reasons are eating spicy food, drinking too much alcohol,
missing meals, an empty stomach may lead to acidity.
(d) Acidity leads to stomach upset, burning sensation in chest and
stomach, constriction of blood vessels, weight gain, obesity,
cardio vascular damage.
(2) (a) A molecule of a detergent holds on to a water molecule at one
end and an oil molecule at the other.
(b) As a result, the molecules of oil mix with the water.
(c) This is how detergent acts on our soiled clothes. So detergent
removes any oil or dirt sticking on to our clothes.
(d) Due to the property of holding on to both oil and water, soap
water spreads easily on many types of surfaces.
(e) This property of spreading on a surface is called surface activity.
(f) Detergents are surface active.
(g) One effect of surface activity is lather formation.
vvv
(114)
 16 NATURAL RESOURCES (Grade Me pg. no. 115-121)

Q.1. Fill in the blanks:

Ans. (1) gangue (2) hydrogen, biofuels, methanol (3) bauxite (4) Anthracite
(5) Mineral oil

Q.2. Name the following:

Ans. (1) Silver, gold (2) Diamond, ruby (3) propane, butane

Q.3. Find the odd man out:

Ans. (1) Plants (renewable) (2) CNG (3) Planting trees (4) Energy from
biogas

Q.4. Classify as ‘right’ or ‘wrong’:

Ans. (1) Wrong (2) Right (3) Right (4) Wrong (5) Right (6) Wrong

Q.5. Answer in one sentece:

Ans. *(1) (a) We get many substances from nature.
(b) They satisfy a variety of our daily needs. Soil, stones, minerals,
air, water, plants and animals on the earth are all various kinds
of natural resources.
*(2) Lithosphere is the land portion on the earth’s surface.
(3) Minerals that contain a high proportion of metals are called ores.
(4) Deposits of common salt are also found in the earth as underground
salt mine. This is called rock salt.
(5) Magnetic, haematite, limonite and siderite are the four main ores
of iron.
*(6) (a) Fuel is a substance that is used in day-to-day life and burned
to generate energy.
(b) Fuels such as coal, wood, oil, gas provide energy when burned.
(c) Fuels are found in solid, liquid or gaseous state.
(7) An extensive area of land covered by a variety of plants is called a
forest. A forest is a natural habitat of plants, animals and microbes.

(115)
116 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Q.6. Answer in short:

Ans.*(1) (a) Minerals that contain a high proportion of metal are called
ores.
(b) Majority of the metals occur in the form of compounds called ores.
(c) But, all minerals are not ores.
(d) Few metals like gold, silver, copper, platinum and bismuth
occur in free state in nature. So, all minerals are not ores.
(2) (a) Peat, lignite (brown coal), bituminous coal and anthracite are
various types of coal.
(b) Anthracite is the coal of the highest grade.
(3) Fossils are the preserved remains of dead organisms in rocks.
*(4) (a) Coal is a storehouse of carbon. Coal is used as a fuel, in thermal
power plants as well as to run boilers and railway engines.
(b) It is used as a fuel for cooking and for baking bricks in kilns
on a large scale.
(c) The gaseous fuels, producer gas and water gas are obtained
from coal.
(d) Coal as an energy resource, contributes greatly to industrial
development.
(e) As coal is black in colour and worth a lot of money just like
gold, it is called black gold.
*(5) (a) Coal, petroleum and other mineral are all non-renewable
sources of energy.
(b) The reserve is less and demand is more. They would get
exhausted one day.
(c) If such a situation occurs, we will not get electricity.
(d) All our household and industries depend on electricity.
(e) Transportation and household items, and food items would
become very costly.
(f) The survival of human life will be very difficult.
(6) The likelihood of the resources of fossil fuels getting exhausted is
known as the energy crisis.
General Science 117

(7) Energy can be obtained on a large scale from oceans. Sea waves in
high and low tide and ocean currents are being used for generation
of power. There are reserves of a variety of natural resources in
seawater, at the bottom of the sea and beneath the seabed, too. These
resources available from seas and oceans are called marine resources.
Q.7. Give scientific reasons:
Ans.(1) (a) Millions of year ago, forests got buried underground as a
result of certain natural events.
(b) Layers of soil kept getting deposited over them.
(c) The very high pressure from above and the heat from the earths
interior, slowly transformed the buried plants into fuel.
(d) Coal was thus formed from the remains of those plants. That
is why coal is said to be a fossil fuel.
(2) (a) Aluminium is very good conductor of electricity and heat.
(b) Its density is low.
(c) Therefore, it is mainly used in aeroplanes, transport vehicles
and to make electric wires.
*(3) Because of its high price and value and its economic need, the mineral
oil is called liquid gold. It’s reserve is less and demand is more.
(4) As the reserves of fossil fuels, namely mineral oil and coal are limited
and the demand is increasing, alternative fuels are coming into use.
*(5) (a) Natural resources are important for meeting our needs.
(b) Reserves of some resources are limited.
(c) There is a danger that excessive use will lead to their early
depletion.
(d) We must keep a control on the use of natural resources to
maintain the balance in nature.
Q.8. Answer in brief:
Ans. (1) Minerals are formed from the magma in the earth’s crust and
the lava from the eruption of volcanoes, when they cool and
get transformed into crystals.
(2) (a) Coal is used as a fuel in thermal plants as well as to run boilers
and railway engine.
118 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(b) Coal is used as a fuel for cooking and for baking bricks in kilns
on a large scale.
*(3) Characteristics of CNG:
(a) Catches fire easily.
(b) No solid waste remains after combustion.
(c) Carbon dioxide are water are formed in small quantities.
(d) Other pollutants are not produced.
(e) Can be transported easily.
(f) Combustion can be controlled easily.
*(4) (a) Natural gas is an ecofriendly fuel because it does not produce
any solid waste after combustion.
(b) It produces 50% less CO2 compared to other fuels.
(c) It in sulfur free and produces no sulphar dioxide.
*(5) Protective functions of forests:
(a) To reduce the velocity of water flowing over the land.
(b) To prevent soil-erosion.
(c) To help percolation of water into the ground.
(d) To control floods.
(e) To reduce the rate of evaporation.
(f) To protect wildlife.
(g) To maintain the balance of atmospheric gases.
Thus, forest help, improve and maintain the quality of the
environment.
*(6) (a) Rubber has played a largely hidden role in global environment
history for more than 150 years.
(b) In industries, rubber is needed to connect and protect all
moving parts of machines.
(c) Native people used rubber for rubber boots.
(d) Household uses rubber in everything, viz. dish washing
gloves, toys, jar seals, tyres in vehicles. Welcome mat at the
door. Boots, raincoats, mattress cushions, earplugs, hot water
bottles, surgical tubing and gloves, in labs, birth control device.
(e) In schools, rubber bands, erasers, mouse pads, key board,
General Science 119

rolling chair wheels. Head phone pads, rubber stamps are

useful items used in schools and offices.
*(7) (a) Clearing of forest is also called Deforestation.
(b) Removal or cutting down of trees has resulted in damage to
habitat, biodiversity loss and aridity.
(c) It has adverse impacts on concentration of atmospheric carbon
dioxide. (Trees use up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
for the process of photosynthesis.)
(d) Deforestation is a main contributor to global warming. Major
cause of enhanced greenhouse effect. Deforestation cause
carbon dioxide to linger in the atmosphere.
(e) Deforestation reduced the content of water in the soil and
ground water and atmospheric moisture, because trees
extract ground water through the roots and release it into the
atmosphere. When a part of forest is removed the trees no
longer transpire this water, resulting in much drier climate.
Due to deforestation, soil erosion and flooding, landslide
problems occur.
(f) Deforestation results in decline in biodiversity, on a natural
global scale is known to cause the extinction of many species.
(g) Forest is habitat for wild life, and many medicinal plants. If
forest are removed, it will affect wild life and also we will not
get medicinal plants.
*Q.9. Describe natural resources with reference to the following
three types:
Ans. (1) Mineral resources: Mineral wealth has an important place
among natural resources. The rocks on the earth are mainly made
of minerals. These minerals can be obtained by mining. Minerals
that contain a high proportion of metals are ores.
(a) Minerals are formed from the magma in the earth’s crust and
the lava from the eruption of volcanoes when they cool and
get transformed into crystals. e.g. magnetite, mica.
(b) Minerals get transformed from one form into another due to large
changes in temperature and pressure. e.g. Diamond, Graphite.
120 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(c) There are 3 types of minerals according to their properties:

Non-metal minerals: e.g. mica, sulphur, potash, diamond.
Metal minerals: e.g. Iron, gold, silver, tin, bauxite, platinum.
Energy minerals: e.g. Coal, mineral oil, natural gas. Diamond,
ruby, sapphire, jade are used as gems.
Some important minerals and ores are Iron ore, Manganese,
Bauxite, copper and mica.
(2) Forest resources:
(a) A forest is a natural habitat of plants, animals and microbes.
(b) Forest perform certain specific protective and productive
functions.
(c) We get different types of wood and many medicinal plants
from forests.
(d) Forest wealth includes fire wood, trees like teak, mahogany,
neem, acacia, subabhul, fibers, paper, rubber, gum, aromatic
substances.
(e) We get fragrant essential oils from lemon grass, vanilla,
kewada, vetiver (khus) and eucalyptus.
(f) Sandalwood and oil of eucalyptus are used for making soaps,
cosmetics and incense sticks.
(g) Also, we get fruits, bulbs, roots, honey, sealing wax, dyes from
forest.
(h) Many medicinal plants adulsa, bel, neem, periwinkle,
cinnamon, are used for treatment of various diseases such as
cough cold, malaria, diarrhoea, cancer, fever and cold.
(i) Wood is used as a source of energy for cooking purpose and
for keeping warm.
(j) For making furniture, tool handles, matches, bridges,
boats, etc.
(k) Bamboos are used for matting, flooring, basket, ropes, rafts,
cots, etc.
(l) Bamboos, wood are used in the manufacture of rayon, yarns,
artificial silk-fibers.
General Science 121

(3) Ocean resources:

(a) Oceans occupy about 70% of the earth’s surface.
(b) Energy can be obtained on a large scale from oceans.
(c) Sea waves at high and low tide and ocean currents are being
used for generation of power.
(d) There are billions of tons of minerals dissolved in ocean
water. There are large reserves of tin, chromium, potassium,
phosphates, copper, zinc, iron, lead, thorium, manganese,
sulphur, uranium in the ocean and sea beds.
(e) Also, we get many types of gems, conches, shells and pearls
from the sea.
(f) There are large reserves of mineral oil and natural gas at the
bottom of sea.
(g) We get fishes, dried shrimp, shells, fungi, shark, cod fish and
sea cucumber from the ocean.
*Q.10. What steps are taken for protection and conservation
of natural resources?
Ans. (a) Protection and conservation of natural resources is necessary
to protect the natural world. (CNRM) Community Natural
Resource Management has been promoted in recent years for
biological conservation.
(b) The World Conservation Union has been formed. Prime Minister
Modi has advised people to grow more trees. In the month of
June, around thousands of trees will be planted in one day.
(c) Young trees should not be cut.
(d) The stringent restrictions/ laws/ Regulations regarding use of
forests should be strictly followed. Awareness is being created
through Mass media.
*Q.11. How does the economic condition of a nation depend on
its natural resources?
Ans. (a) Natural resources are a necessary condition for economic growth.
(b) Three circles enclosed within one another shows how both
economy and society are subsets of our planetary ecological system.
122 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Economy

Society
Environment

(c) Natural resource economics deals with the supply, demand

and allocation of the Earth’s natural resources.
(d) Economic growth is an increase in the value of goods and
services produced in an economy.
(e) The natural resources of a country depend on the climatic
and environmental conditions.
(f) Countries having plenty of natural resources enjoy good
growth than countries with small amount of natural resources.
(g) A country having skilled and educated work force with rich
natural resources takes the economy on the growth path,
because skilled and educated people can efficiently utilize or
exploit natural resources. e.g. Saudi Arabia: their economic
growth is high, because they have oil wells.
(h) All countries import fuel or oil from them, so, Saudi Arabia is
economically a rich country.
Q.12. Classify minerals according to their properties into non
metal minerals, metal minerals, energy minerals.
Non-metal minerals: Mica, sulphur, gypsum, potash, graphite, diamond,
feldspar.
Ans.
Non-metal minerals Metal minerals Energy minerals
Mica, sulphur, gypsum, Iron, gold, silver, tin, Coal, mineral oil,
potash, graphite, diamond, bauxite, manganese, natural gas.
feldspar. platinum, tungsten.

*Q.13. Observe the figure given below and explain the formation
of coal.
Ans. Millions of years ago, forests got buried underground as a result
General Science 123

of certain natural events. Layers of soil kept getting deposited over

them. The very high pressure from above and the heat from the
earth’s interior, slowly transformed the buried plants into fuel. Coal
was thus formed from the remains of those plants. That is why coal
is said to be a fossil fuel.
*Q.14. How were mineral oil and natural gas formed?
Ans. Mineral Oil: Mineral oil is the liquid fuel formed by the
decomposition of organic substances buried underground. Millions
of years ago, bodies of dead sea organism sank to the bottom of
the sea. Layers of soil and sand collected on them. Due to high
pressure and temperature, the remains of the dead organisms were
transformed into mineral oil.
Natural Gas: Natural gas is formed from the remains of organisms
buried deep underground and subjected to high pressure. This fuel
can be carried over long distances by means of a gas pipe line. But
in the absence of a network of pipelines, it is transformed under
high pressure into compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied
natural gas (LNG). This makes it possible to transport the gas.
Q.15. Observe the diagram given below and answer the following:
Ans. (1) The woodcutter is preparing to cut down the trees.
(2) Wood is generally used as a fuel in villages. By providing them
with alternate fuel like CNG, this problem can be overcome.
Q.16. Complete the flow chart:
Ans.
Fuels

Fossil fuels

Solid Liquid Gaseous

Coal Mineral oil Natural gas

Peat, lignite, Aviation petrol, CNG, LPG

bituminous coal, diesel, kerosene,
anthracite tar
124 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*Q.17. Complete the following:

Ans. Plant Medicinal use: for treatment of
Adulsa Cough and cold
Neem Skin disease, fever
Cinchona Malaria
Cinnamon Diarrhoea, nausea

Q.18. State the functions of the following ores:

Ans.(1) Iron ore: Iron occurring in the impure state is called iron ore.
Iron ore is used to make a variety of articles from pins to heavy
machinery. For example, farming implements, rails of railway
tracks etc.
(2) Manganese: Manganese occurs in the form of its carbonite, silicate
and oxide. Compounds of manganese are used in the preparation
of medicines and for giving a pink tinge to glass. Manganese is also
used in electrical appliances.
(3) Bauxite: Bauxite is the most important ore of aluminium. It contains
55% aluminium. Bauxite consists mainly of aluminium oxide.
Aluminium is a very good conductor of electricity and heat. Its
density is low. Therefore, it is used mainly in aeroplanes, transport
vehicles and to make electric wires.
vvv

17 EFFECTS OF LIGHT (Grade Me pg. no. 122-128)

Q.1. Fill in the blanks:

Ans. (1) straight line (2) solar *(3) umbra, penumbra *(4) earth, moon
*(5) moon, earth *(6) scattering of light
Q.2. State whether the following sentences are ‘True’ or ‘False’:
Ans. (1) True, (2) True, (3) False
Q.3. Match the following:
Ans. (1 - d); (2 - c); (3 - e); (4 - a)
General Science 125

Q.4. Define:
Ans. (1) The dark part of shadow is called Umbra.
(2) A source of light radiation that is concentrated, is called point source
of light.
*Q.5. Distinguish between:
Ans. (1) Point sources and Extended sources of light

Point sources Extended sources of light

(1) A source of radiation light (1) An extended source is a
that is concentrated at a source consisting of many
point and considered as point sources separated
having no spatial extension. internally.
(2) 
Shadow we get from a point (2) Shadow we get from
source is dark called umbra. extended source of light is
faint called penumbra.
(2) Umbra and Penumbra

Umbra Penumbra
(1) The umbra is a central cone (1) The penumbra is an outer
of darkness which tapers cone of partial shadow
away from the earth or which diverges, instead of
moon. tapering.
(2) Umbra is shadow formed (2) It is the shadow formed
from a point source of light. from the extended source
of light.
(3) It is dark. (3) It is faint.
(4) Umbra is the area of total (4) Penumbra is the area of
shadow. partial shadow.
Q.6. Give scientific reasons:
Ans.*(1) (a) Space beyond the earth’s atmosphere does have some gas
and cosmic dust but there is not any atmosphere.
(b) As there are no particles to scatter the sunlight, the space
appears black.
126 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*(2) (a) We are able to read because the sun light which falls on the
book is scattered and reaches our eyes.
(b) While sitting in the shade, our eyes adjust to the environment
and to amount of light available. That is how we are able to read.
*(3) (a) During a solar eclipse, ultra-violet rays which are harmful to
us reach the earth and may lead to eclipse blindness or retinal
burns and cataracts.
(b) In order to protect our eyes, a solar eclipse should never be
watched with the naked eye.
(c) A special type of goggles should be used for this.
*(4) (a) Birds flying high in the sky do cast their shadow but because they
are shading an area that is very tiny, the shadow is not visible.
(b) The higher the bird flies, the smaller the shadow it casts.
(c) Also when the bird flies high, the dark part of the shadow that
is called Umbra does not reach the ground. So, we do not see
its shadow.
*(5) (a) The umbra, penumbra, and antumbra are three distinct parts
of a shadow, created by any light source after impinging on an
opaque object.
(b) For a point source, only the umbra is cast sharp dark shadow
and not penumbra, because all the light of the point source will
be blocked by any shadowing object.
(c) Whereas penumbra forms only when some of the light from the
source gets blocked by the shadowing object and not all of it does.
(6) (a) The moon revolves about the earth, and the earth along with
the moon, revolves around the sun.
(b) Their orbit of revolution are all different.
(c) When the sun, the moon and the earth come in a straight line,
an eclipse is said to have taken place.
(7) (a) The penumbra is an outer cone of partial shadow which
diverges, instead of converging.
(b) It is a shadow formed from the extended source of light.
(c) So, the penumbra is faint.
General Science 127

(8) Alunar eclipse dose not occur on every full moon day because on
every full moon day, sun, earth and moon doesn’t come exactly in
a straight line.

Q.7. Answer in one sentence:

Ans.(1) An eclipse is an event in which the sun, the moon and the earth
align in a straight line.
(2) Sometimes the solar disc is completed covered by the moon. This
is total solar eclipse.
(3) As seen from the earth, when a planet or a star passes behind the
moon, that state is called a occultation.
(4) The day on which the sun reaches exactly overhead is called the
zero shadow day.
*(5) The process in which light gets deflected by the particles in the
medium through which the light passes is called scattering of light.
*(6) Yes, the day on which the sun reaches exactly overhead, at noon
shadow completely disappears. This event can be seen in the region
between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) and Tropic of Capricon (23.5°S).
The shadow diminishes and eventually disappears for a while only
to reappear later.
*(7) Yes, it will be seen.

Q.8. Answer in brief:

Ans.*(1) (a) The formation of rainbow, shift in position of stars, increased
day time, mirage, inverted image, glittering of diamond,
the working of lens and prism, bending of pen in water are
examples of scattering of light.
(b) Scattering of light is the deviation of light rays from its straight
path.
(c) As light propagates through the atmosphere, it travels in
a straight path until it is obstructed by bits of dust or gas
molecules in the atmosphere.
128 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(d) The process in which light gets deflected by the particles in the
medium through which the light passes is called scattering. e.g.
The blue colour of the sky is due to the scattering of sunlight
by the molecules of air.
(e) During sunrise and sunset, sunlight has to travel greater
distance, so shorter wavelength gets scattered off and removed
and only red wavelength reach us.
(f) So during sunrise and sunset, sky appear red orange.
*(2) (a) The sun is star and the centre of our solar system. Everything
in our solar system revolves around the sun.
(b) If the sun were to suddenly disappear, Earth and the other
planets would retain their forward motion, effectively flying
off into outer space in a straight line.
(c) The Sun didn’t rise means the Earth’s rotation had come to a
screeching halt.
(d) Sunrise and sunset are a result of the earth’s rotation so we
will not get to see sunrise or sunset. Earth’s spinning generates
the magnetic field at the core and it is saving us from harmful
rays from the sun.
(e) Without sun it would be very dark. Of course, without sun
none of us would even exist.
(f) Moon will disappear, because the moon dose not produce
light. We only see the moon because sunlight is reflected by
the moon.
(g) Without the sun’s warmth, Earth would quickly become a
much colder place. Life would be difficult, oceans will freeze.
(h) Without sun rays, all photosynthesis on earth would stop. All
plants would die.
(i) All animals that rely on plants for food, including humans
would die.
General Science 129

*(3) Solar, lunar eclipse has been traditionally observed as an ominous

sign and therefore superstitions are prevalent in association with
this natural phenomena.
(a) All these misconception should be removed by explaining
scientifically, the process of eclipse how it happens: (i) Explain
with the help of diagram and models of sun, moon and earth
(ii) Explain how special glasses which will protect us from UV
rays, and excess heat can be used to observe eclipses safely.
(b) Also, inform that eclipses are natural phenomenon and can be
predicted in advance.
*(4) There are two eclipses (a) Solar eclipse (b) Lunar eclipse
(a) Solar eclipse: There are two types of Solar eclipse. (i) Total
solar eclipse (ii) Partial solar eclipse
(i) Total solar eclipse: In total solar eclipse, the moon is
between the sun and the earth and the moon shadow
covers the sun disc fully by perfect alignment. The part of
the earth that lies in the umbra of the moon experiences
total solar eclipse.
(ii) Partial solar eclipse: In partial solar eclipse, the moon
is between the sun and the earth and the moon shadow
does not cover the sun disc fully, because of imperfect
alignment. The part of the earth that lies in the penumbra
of the moon experiences partial solar eclipse.
The solar eclipse occurs on a new moon day. Solar eclipse
lasts for few minutes.
(b) Lunar eclipse: There are two types of Lunar eclipse. (i) Total
lunar eclipse (ii) Partial lunar eclipse
(i) Total lunar eclipse: In total lunar eclipse, the earth comes
in between the sun and the moon and the earth’s shadow
covers the moon’s surface fully because of perfect alignment.
130 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(ii) Partial lunar eclipse: In partial lunar eclipse, the earth’s

shadow does not cover the moon’s surface fully because
of in perfect alignment. A small part of the moon’s surface
is covered by umbra part of earth’s shadow.
The lunar eclipse occurs on a full moon night. Lunar eclipse
lasts for few hours.
(5) During sun’s revolution, when the moon comes between the sun
and the earth, a shadow of the moon is cast on the earth and the
sun cannot be seen from the part in the shadow. This is called a
solar eclipse. A solar eclipse is seen only on a new moon day.
Q.9. Draw neat and labelled diagrams of:
Ans.
(1) Solar eclipse

Solar eclipse Earth

Umbra

Moon Penumbra
Sun

(2) Lunar eclipse

Lunar eclipse Penumbra

Umbra

Sun Earth
Moon Penumbra
General Science 131

Q.10. Draw a diagram of a shadow formed by an extended source:

Ans.
B

A
P
M

N
Q
D
Ball
C

Q.11. Draw a diagram of a shadow formed by point source:

Ans.
A

Q
Ball

Q.12. Aim: To prove scattering of light.

Ans. Observation: A light beam is not seen in plain water, but is clearly
seen in slightly turbid water.
Result and conclusions: The light rays hit the tiny particles of milk
and get scattered. If these scattered rays enter our eyes, we perceive
the light.
Q.13. Observe the figure given below and answer the questions.:
Ans. (1) No.
(2) The dark shadow AD is called umbra and the faint BC shadow is
called penumbra.
(3) As the screen moves further, the umbra becomes smaller and smaller
and at a certain point it disappears.
vvv
 18 SOUND : PRODUCTION OF SOUND (Grade Me pg. no. (129 - 134)

Q.1. Fill in the blanks:

Ans. *(1) vibrations *(2) Hertz (Hz) *(3) intensity *(4) generation
(5) 20,000 (6) 20 (7) time period of oscillation (8) Hertz
Q.2. State whether the following sentences are True or False:
Ans. (1) True (2) True (3) True (4) True (5) False (6) False (7) False (8) True
(9) True
Q.3. Name the units for the following?
Ans. (1) second (2) Hertz (3) cm (4) < 20 Hz (5) 20 Hz - 20000 Hz.
*Q.4. (A) Match the pairs:
Ans. (1 - c); (2 - d); (3 - e); (4 - b); (5 - a)
(B) Multiple choice questions:
Ans. (1 - A) 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz; (2 - A) frequency; (3 - B) energy; (4 - C)
Solid; (5 - A) 10 dB; (6 - C) Decibel
Q.5. Explain the following:
Ans. (1) The time required by an oscillator to complete one oscillation
is called the period of oscillator.
(2) Frequency is the number of oscillations occurring in one second.
(3) The maximum distance between the original position of the
pendulum and extreme position is called amplitude of oscillation.
Q.6. Answer in one sentence:
Ans. (1) Vibration of an object is necessary for generation of second.
(2) The motion of an object repeated again and again at fixed intervals
of time is called periodic motion.
(3) A swing that moves back and forth is an oscillator.
(4) To and fro motion of an object (oscillator) on either side of a central
position is called oscillatory motion.
(5) A stretched rubber returns to its original state when it is released.
This property is called elasticity.
(6) 1 Hz means there is one oscillation in one second.
(132)
General Science 133

(7) The decibel is the unit for measuring sound level.

(8) Loudness or softness of sound is indicated by 2 terms namely,
intensity of sound and sound level.
Q.7. Give scientific reasons:
(1) (i) It was a technique that worked better in those days when train
speed were slower than they are today and when there were more
rail joints. (ii) When people would put their ear to the rail, they
could hear vibration caused by the wheels moving over the joints.
(iii) Metal being a solid is an efficient medium for the sound to travel
and so the sound can propagate further in the rail than would in air.
(2) (i) In tabla where leather is fitted, sound gets generated when the
leather surface is thumped by fingers or palm. (ii) The waves thus
created travel in two dimensions. Sitar is having strings attached to
pumkin box called sound box. (iii) Sounds generated by tabla and a
sitar are different because they have different pitch and frequencies.
(3) Yes, your friend will not be able to hear your call because sound
needs a medium for transmission since it is a mechanical wave it can’t
travel through vaccum. (i) As there is no air on the moon and sound is
actually vibration in air. (ii) So astronauts communicate to each other
by signals or microphones in space even when they are closer.
(4) (i) Humans cannot hear frequency less than 20 Hz. In the movement
of hands, oscillations does take place but is less than frequency that
humans can hear. (ii) Mosquitoes wings flap in air. (iii) When they
fly in air, it produces buzzing sound in our ears. (iv) The movement
of mosquito wings produces sound greater than 20 Hz. (v) Sound
is the reception of such waves and their perception by the brain.
Q.8. Answer in short:
*(1) (a) Sound is generated due to the vibration of an object.
e.g. bell, string or diaphragm of a musical instrument.
(b)Vibrations are imparted to the molecules in the air. These
vibrations reach our ears through the air and sound is heard.
(c) Vibrations of an object is necessary for generation of sound.
(d) These vibrations in air are called travelling longitudinal waves
which we can hear.
134 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*(2) (a) The intensity of sound is proportional to the square of the

amplitude of vibration. e.g. If the amplitude is doubled, the intensity
of sound becomes four times. (b) Therefore, the loudness or softness
of sound is dependent on the intensity of sound and sound level.
*(3) O

Ball Thread

C B
Amplitude
A
(a) Given an oscillatory motion to the pendulum, the maximum
distance between the original position A of the pendulum and extreme
position B or C is called the amplitude of oscillation. AB, AC is the
amplitude of oscillation. (b) The number of oscillations completed
by an oscillator in one second is called the frequency of oscillation.
• Relation between frequency and length of a pendulum: If the
Length of the pendulum increases, the period of oscillations also
increases.
1
We know, time period of oscillations =
Frequency
If time period increases, frequency decreases. Therefore, if the length
of the pendulum increases, frequency will decrease.
• Relation between frequency and amplitude: Frequency of
oscillation is independent of its amplitude of oscillation.
*(4) (a) A string vibrates with a particular fundamental frequency. It is
however possible to produce pitches with different frequencies from
the same string. (b) The two properties of the string that affect its
frequency are length and diameter. (c) When the length of a string
is changed, it will vibrate with a different frequency. Shorter strings
have higher frequency and therefore higher pitch. (d) When a
musician presses her finger on a string, she shortens its length. The
General Science 135

more fingers she adds to the string, the shorter she makes it, higher
will be the pitch.
Diameter : Thick strings with large diameter vibrate slower and
have lower frequency than the thin ones.
*(5) The hum of mosquito has higher pitch than the roar of a lion.
*(6) A sitar is a stringed instrument which contains crowd 19-20 strings.
Out of this, 7 are main ad remaining are sympathetic strings.
*(7) (i) When two pupils talk to each other, the sounds of two frequencies
produced can be heard clearly. (ii) When all the children talk to one
another sounds of many frequencies produced can not be heard
clearly. (iii) Sound level will be more creating loud noise.
*(8) Ultrasonic sound is used in ships as a system known as ‘SONAR’
to detect the obstacle beneath the ocean as well as the depth of an
ocean.
(9) SONAR - Sound Navigation and Ranging. SONAR system is used
to locate the sea-bed or the position of the ship.
Q.9. Take a strong thread of sufficient length. Tie a wooden or
metal bob to one of its end to a pendulum. Measure the length of the
thread in centimetres and make a note of it. Suspend the pendulum
freely from a support. Now swing the pendulum and with the
help of a stop-watch, record how many seconds are required for 20
oscillations. Repeat this procedure 4 to 5 times increasing the length
of the pendulum by 10 cm, every time. Record your observations in
the following table. (Student to Attempt)
Sr. Length of the Time required Time period Frequency
No. oscillation (in for 20 of oscillation N(Hz)=1/T
cm) oscillations t (in T = t/20 sec (Hz)
seconds)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
136 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Ans. (1) We can infer as the length of pendulum increases, time period
of the oscillation increases.
(2) As the length of pendulum increases, frequency decreases.
(3) High frequency means more number of oscillations in one second
and low frequency, means lesser number of oscillations in one
second.
Q.10. Keep the length of the pendulum fixed at 30 cm, but varying
the amplitude, measure the time required for 20 oscillations, in each
instance. Deduce the time period of oscillation and frequency of the
pendulum in each case. Use the following table for this purpose.
Sr. Length Amplitude Time Time Frequency
No. of the required period of
pendulum for 20 oscillations
in cm oscillations T(s)

(1) 30 Small
(2) 30 A little
larger
(3) 30 Larger
(4) 30 Even
larger
(5) 30 Very large

Questions:
Ans. (1) The time period of an oscillation depend on the amplitude of
the pendulum.
(2) The time period of an oscillation increases if the length of the
pendulum is increases.
(3) Frquency and amplitude is inversely related to each other. Greater
the amplitude, lesser would be the frequency.
vvv
 19 PROPERTIES OF A MAGNETIC FIELD (Grade Me pg. no. (135 - 137)

Q.1. Write the appropriate term in the blanks:

Ans. (1) alnico and Nipermag (2) card board and bottle (3) force
(4) repulsion.
Q.2. With whom should I pair up?
Ans. (1 - d) (2 - c) (3 - b) (4 - a)
Q.3. Answer in one sentence:
*(1) North, all magnetic needle will show north direction.
*(2) (a) It is a vector quantity. Because a magnetic field is the magnetic
effect of electric current and magnetic materials. (b) The magnetic
field at any given point is specified by both direction and magnitude
as such it is represented by a vector field.
(3) The intensity of a magnetic field is low where line of force are spares
and the intensity is high where the line of force are concentrated.
(4) The intensity of a magnetic field is low where line of force are sparse.
*(5) The substances used for making electromagnets are, an iron nail,
insulated copper wire, one or more batteries and a pair of wire
strippers.
(6) The material in which magnetism is produced by the application
of an electric current is called electromagnet.
Q.4. Give scientific reasons:
*(1) (a) Gilbert gave a scientific explanation that earth itself is a gigantic
magnet. (b) The north pole of a freely suspended magnet settles
in the direction of the geographic north pole of the earth since
unlike poles attract. It means that the south pole of some gigantic
magnet must be near the geographic north pole of the earth.
(c) In other words, the thing we call Earth’s geographic north
pole is actually the south pole of the magnet inside the earth.
(d) That is why a freely suspended magnet always settles in
geographic north-south attracted by opposite poles of the earth as
a great magnet.
(137)
138 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

*(2) (a) The magnetic compass is the most familiar compass type.
(b) It functions as a pointer to magnetic ‘north’ the local magnetic
meridian, because the magnetized needle at its heart aligns itself
with the horizontal component of the earth’s magnetic field.
(c) A compass is an instrument used for navigation and orientation
that shows direction relative to the geographic cardinal direction.
Q.5. Answer in brief:
Ans. *(1)

S N

(a) The region around a magnet where the magnetic force acts on
an object is called a magnetic field. (b) The magnetic field around a
magnet can be shown by means of magnetic lines of force. (c) The
intensity of the magnetic field can be obtained from the number of
lines of force. (d) The intensity of a magnetic field is low where the
lines of force are sparse and the intensity is high where the lines of
force are concentrated. (e) A magnetic field is the magnetic effect of
electric currents and magnetic materials. (f) The magnetic field at
any given point is specified by both the direction and the magnetic.
(g) Magnetic fields are provided by electric current.
Q.6. Answer the following questions:
Ans. *(1) (a) A metal detector is an electronic instrument which detects
the presence of metals nearby. (b) The function of these machines
is based on electromagnets. (c) Metal detectors are useful for
finding metal inclusions hidden within objects, or metal objects
buried underground. (d) They often consist of a handheld unit
with a sensor probe which can be swept over the ground or other
objects. (e) Metal detectors in the food manufacturing industry are
used to detect and eliminate threats of metal contaminants in food.
(f) Metal detectors are used in very important places like an airport,
bus station, temples, hospitals, railway stations, theaters, malls.
(g) They are used for inspection of persons entering these places.
General Science 139

(h) In geology, these machines are used to detect the presence and
quantity of metals.
(2) (a) The region around a magnet where the magnetic force acts
on an object is called a magnetic field. (b) The magnetic field
around a magnet can be shown by means of magnetic lines of
force. (c) This can be verified by sprinkling
iron filings around a bar magnet kept on
a cardboard. (d) The iron filings arrange
themselves as shown in the figure. (e) S N
The intensity of the magnetic field can be
obtained from the number of lines of force.
(f) The intensity of a magnetic field is low
where the lines of force are sparse and
the intensity is high where the lines of force are concentrated.
(g) A magnetic field is the magnetic effect of electric currents
and magnetic materials. (h) The magnetic field at any given
point is specified by both the direction and the magnetic.
(i) Magnetic fields are provided by electric current.
*(3) (i) There exists alteration between two unlike poles of magnet.
(ii) However, the magnet also attracts magnetic materials. (iii) This
means if a given magnet is attracting a substance, the substance
can be a magnet with unlike pole facing the given magnet or just a
magnetic substance. (iv) But, repulsion is observed only between
two like poles of two magnet. (v) Hence, repulsion is the real test
for identifying a magnet.

*(4) Single touch method Double touch method

(1) In this method, one (1) In this method, two
magnet is used to magnets are used to
magnetise the steel bar. magnetise the steel bar.
(2) In this method, the magnet (2) In this method, two
is dragged from one end magnets are dragged
of the steel to another end. from the middle of the
steel bars to the opposite
directions.
140 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(3) As only one magnet is used (3) As two bar magnets are
to induce magnetism, this used to induce magnetism,
method is called single this method is called
touch method. double-touch method.
(4) The magnetism created (4) The magnetism created
by this method is of low by this method is of high
strength and lasts for a strength and lasts for a
short time. longer time.

vvv

20 IN THE WORLD OF STARS (Grade Me pg. no. (138 - 142)

*Q.1. Write the proper words in the blanks:

Ans. (1) horizon (2) meridian (3) nine (4) apparent.
Q.2. State whether the following statements are True or False:
Ans. (1) False (2) True (3) True
Q.3. Define:
Ans. (1) While standing on the ground, the point on the celestial sphere
exactly above our head is called the Zenith.
(2) While standing on the ground, the point on the celestial sphere
exactly below our feet is called the nadir.
(3) The great circle which passes through both the celestial poles and
the observer’s zenith and nadir is called a meridian.
Q.4. Answer in one sentence:
Ans. *(1) A group of stars occupying a small portion of the celestial
sphere is called constellation.
(2) Far away, the sky seems to be touching the ground. The line at
which they meet is called horizon.
(3) If we extend the axis of rotation of the earth in the north and the
south directions, it will penetrate the celestial sphere at points called
the celestial North Pole and the celestial South Pole, respectively.
(4) The earth moves round the sun, but seen from the earth, the sun
appears to move along a circle on the celestial sphere. This circle
General Science 141

describing the apparent motion of the sun around the earth is called
the ecliptic.
(5) Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio,
Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces.
Q.5. Answer in short:
Ans. (1) Sky: Standing in an open space, if we look at the sky on a
cloudless night, we see numerous stars against a dark background.
The portion of earth’s atmosphere and the portion beyond that
which can be seen in the form of a roof by our eyes while standing
on the earth is called the sky.
Space: The continuous, empty space between the spheres (planets,
stars, etc.) in the sky is called space. It may contain gas and dust
particles. Numerous star clusters have formed in space.
*(2) (a) Stars rise and set 4 minutes earlier every day. If star rises at
8 pm tonight, it will rise at 7:56 pm tomorrow. (b) It will rise at 5:24
pm after a month. (c) The sun and the moon are seen to move from
the west to the east against the background of stars. (d) The sun
moves through one degree every day and the moon through 12 to
13 degrees. (e) This happens due to the motion of the earth around
the sun and the moon around the earth which affects the duration
of the stars and shortens its time period.
*(3) (a) When we look at the sun, we see not only the sun but also
constellation behind the sun. (b) The constellation cannot be seen
in bright sunlight but it is indeed present behind the sun. (c) As
the earth changes its position, a different constellation or zodiac
sign or raashi appears behind the sun. (d) This is what we express
when we say that the sun enters a particular zodiac sign or raashi.
(e) In rainy season, due to the perceived motion of the sun, it enters
mrug nakshatra and that is how it is expressed.
*(4) (a) The place for sky watching should be away from the city and
as far as possible it should be new moon night. (b) Binoculars or
telescopes should be used for sky watching. (c) Identifying the
pole star in the north makes the sky watch easier. Hence, the pole
star should be used as a reference point for sky watch. (d) As the
stars in the west set early, sky watching should begin with stars in
142 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

the west. (e) (i) On a sky map, the north and south are towards the
bottom and top of the map respectively. (ii) This is because the sky
map is to be held overhead in such a way that the direction we face
is at the bottom side.
*(5) (a) Science has proved that the constituents of the solar system, e.g.
planets, satellites and comets as also distant stars and constellations
do not have any influence on human life. (b) Man has stepped on
the moon and will conquer Mars in the 21st century. (c) Hence, in
this age of science, holding on to beliefs which have been proved
wrong by numerous scientific tests, is an unnecessary waste of time
and energy. (d) It is important to consider all these issues with a
scientific frame of mind.
(6) The ecliptic has been imagined to divided into 12 equal parts. Each
part subtends 30 degrees at the centre of the celestial sphere. Each
of these part is called a raashi or zodiac sign.
(7) When the earth is at A, for an observer on the earth, the sun appears
to be in the Scorpio zodiac sign. When the earth moves from A to
B, the observer will say that the sun has entered Libra. In reality,
the sun does not move, but we perceive it as moving due to the
motion of the earth around it. This motion of the sun is called its
apparent motion and its path is called the apparent path. The rising
of the sun in the east and its setting in the west is also an apparent
motion.
Q.6. Answer in brief:
Ans. *(1) (a) Identifying the Pole Star in the north makes the sky watch easier.
Hence, the pole star should be used as a reference point for sky watch.
(b) If we extend one side of the quadrangle of Saptarshi, it reaches
the Pole Star.
The pole star has Saptarshi on one side and Sharmishtha on the
other.
(2) (a) Saptarshi is in the shape of a quandrangle with a tail made
up of 3 stars resembling a kite. If we extend one side of the
quadrangle, it reaches the Pole Star. (b) The constellations of
Saptarshi and Sharmishtha are useful in locating the Pole Star. (c)
The perpendicular bisector of the line joining the third and fourth
General Science 143

stars in Sharmishtha goes towards the Pole star. (d) The Pole Star
has Saptarshi on one side and Sharmishtha on the other.

Pole Star
Saptarshi or
The Great Bear

Pole Star Sharmishtha or

Cossiopeia

(3) During summer nights, one can see a particular arrangement of

seven stars. We all them Saptarishi. In the month of February,
this constellation rises around 8 pm in the north-east. It is on the
meridian in the month of October, it sets around 8 pm in the north-
east. It is on the meridian in the month of April and the month of
October, It sets around 8 pm. As the name suggests, Saptarshi is a
group of seven bright stars. It is in the shape of a quadrangle with a
tail made up of three stars. It thus resembles a kite and can be easily
recognized. If we extend one side of the quadrangle, it reaches the
Pole Star or Polaris as shown in the above figure. Different countries
have different names for this constellation. In English, it is called
the Great Bear.
(4) Vrushchik or Scorpio is a constellation with 10 to 12 stars. Jyestha
or Antares is the brightest among them. This constellation is below
the equator, in the sky of the southern hemisphere. In the third week
of April, it can be see in the eastern sky a few hours after sunset.
*Q.7. 12
*Q.8. Zenith, N, W, Horizon, Nadir, S, E
Ans. Zenith, Celestial North Pole, Celestial equator, Meridian, Celestial
South Pole, Nadir.
Q.9. Observe the diagram and answer the questions:
Ans.(1) When the earth is at A, for an observer on the earth appears to
be in the Scorpio Zodiac sign.
144 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

(2) When the earth moves from A to B, the observer will say that the
sun has entered Libra..
(3) In reality, the sun does not move, but we perceive it as moving due
to the motion of the earth around it. This motion of the sun is called
its apparent motion and its path is called the apparent path.
*Q.10. Using a Marathi calendar, collect information about the 27
nakshatras and divide into the following three categories:
Ans. (1) 27 nakshtras: Ashwini, Bharani, Krittika, Rohini, Mrigashirasha,
Ardra, Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha, Magha, Purva, Phalguni,
Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Chaitra, Swati, Vishakha, Anuradha,
Jyeshtha, Mula, Purva Ashadha, Uttara Ashadha, Abhijit, Shravana,
Dhanishtha, Shatabhishta, Purva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada,
Revati

Monsoon Season Winter Season Summer Season

Ashwini Karthe Krittika Visakha

Bharani Karthe Rohini Anuradha

Arudra Karthe Mrigashirsha Jyeshtha

Pushyani Ardra Mula

Aslesha Punarvasu Purva Ashadha

Magha Uttara Ashadha

Purva Phalguni Shravana

Uttara Phalguni

vvv
TEST PAPER - 4 : UNIT TEST
(Grade Me Pg.no. 143) LESSON NO. 16 to 20 Marks : 10

Q.1. Fill in the blanks (2)

Ans. (1) Bauxite (2) Earth, Moon
General Science 145

Q.2. Answer the following: (8)

Ans.
(1) Umbra Penumbra
(1) The umbra is a central (1) The penumbra is an outer
cone of darkness which cone of partial shadow
tapers away from the which diverges, instead
earth or moon. of tapering.
(2) Umbra is shadow formed (2) It is the shadow formed
from a point source of from the extended source
light. of light.
(3) It is dark (3) It is faint.
(4) Umbra is the area of total (4) Penumbra is the area of
shadow partial shadow.
(2) Sound is generated due to rhythmic vibration of an object. Vibration
of an object is necessary for generation of sound.
(3) (a) Gilbert gave a scientific explanation that earth itself is a gigantic
magnet. (b) The north pole of a freely suspended magnet settles
in the direction of the geographic north pole of the earth since
unlike poles attract. It means that the south pole of some gigantic
magnet must be near the geographic north pole of the earth.
(c) In other words, the thing we call Earth’s geographic north
pole is actually the south pole of the magnet inside the earth.
(d) That is why a freely suspended magnet always settles in
geographic north-south attracted by opposite poles of the earth as
a great magnet.
(4) (a) Stars rise and set 4 minutes earlier every day. If star rises at 8
pm tonight, it will rise at 7:56 pm tomorrow. (b) It will rise at 5:24
pm after a month. (c) The sun and the moon are seen to move from
the west to the east against the background of stars. (d) The sun
moves through one degree every day and the moon through 12 to
13 degrees. (v) This happens due to the motion of the earth around
the sun and the moon around the earth which affects the duration
of the stars and shortens its time period.

vvv
 MODEL TEST PAPER - 2
(Grade Me Pg.no. 144) LESSON NO. 11 to 20 Marks : 40

Q.1. (A) Fill in the blanks: (4)

Ans. (1) atom (2) Mineral oil (3) horizon (4) hertz
(B) Name the following: (4)
Ans. (1) micrometre and nanometre
(2) calcium carbonate and calcium hydrogen phosphate
(3) Magnetite, haematite
(4) hertz
(C) State whether the following statements are True of False: (3)
Ans. (1) True (2) False (3) False
Q.2. Answer the following (any 6): (12)
Ans. (1) (a) Due to floods, there is shortage of clean, safe drinking water.
(b) It gets contaminated with sewage and dirt having disease
causing pathogens, causing disease of alimentary canal, typhoid,
cholera, dysentery. (c) Due to stagnant water, many mosquitoes
breed on it and cause diseases like malaria, dengue etc.
(2) (a) It is used in industrial and laboratory settings. It is used
for separation of fluids, gas or liquid based on density. In
centrifugation, mixture is separated through spinning and the
solid settles to the bottom and the solution is clear.
(b) Best example of centrifugal force is working of washing
machine when we dry the clothes. The wet clothes are moving
circular and force acts on water particles in clothes and this
force pull water to outer side. Force involved is centrifugal
force which remove the water from the clothes and clothes are
dried in this machine.
(c) Cream separation: When the machine moves, the rod set inside
milk moves and milk is pressurised and solid part from this
milk goes outside due to centrifugal force and this solid part
is cream. In this way, the cream is separated from the milk.
(3) (a) Soap is a man-made detergent which has been in use since ancient
times. (b) It was prepared by using animal fat and wood ash. In hard
(146)
General Science 147

water, soap does not give lather, it loses its cleansing property. (c)
So, we can not use soap in hard water. Now, synthetic detergents
have taken the place of soap. (d) They can be used in hard water as
well. (e) Synthetic detergents have many more advanced properties
like they are added with perfumes, conditioner for fabric, etc.
(4) Characteristics of CNG: (a) Catches fire easily. (b). No solid waste
remains after combustion. (c) Carbon dioxide and water are formed
in small quantities. (d) Other pollutants are not produced, (e) Can
be transported easily. (f) Combustion can be controlled easily.
(5) Uses of ultrasonic sound: (a) To clean delicate ornaments and the
tiny parts of a watch. (b) to observe internal organs of the body.
(c) To detect tumours in the brain. (d) To detect faults in a metal.
(e) In RADAR systems. (f) To kill certain microbes and insects.
(g) SONAR (Sound Navigation And Ranging) is used to locate the
seabed or the postion of a ship.
(6) (a) The place for sky watching should be away from the city and
as far as possible it should be new moon night.
(b) Binoculars or telescopes should be used for sky watching.
(c) Identifying the pole star in the north makes the sky watch easier.
Hence, the pole star should be used as a reference point for sky
watch.
(d) As the stars in the west set early, sky watching should begin
with stars in the west.
(e) (a) On a sky map, the north and south are towards the bottom
and top of the map respectively. (b) This is because the sky map
is to be held overhead in such a way that the direction we face
is at the bottom side.
Q.3. Answer the following (any 4): (12)
Ans. (1) (a) If we consume any tobacco products, the mouth, pharynx,
alimentary canal and other organs of the digestive system cannot
function properly. (b) It causes problems like vomiting, nausea
and headache. (c) Besides, tobacco particles stick to teeth, gum
sand skin of the mouth cavity and slowly cause injury to those
parts resulting in their dysfunction. (d) This causes swelling of
the gums and pain when moving the jaws. (e) The pharynx and
148 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

intestine become inflammed and the condition further progresses

into cancer leading to death.

(2) Physical changes Chemical changes

(1) In physical change, material (1) A change which after physical
may change its shape, size, properties and composition
texture or state. also.
(2) No new compound is formed. (2) N
 ew compound /substance
is formed due to chemical
change.
(3)The change is temporary. It is (3) T
 he change is permanent
reversible. and irreversible.
(4) 
Examples: Changes are (4) 
Examples:Burning of wood,
evaporation of water, boiling paper, souring of milk, digestion
of water, melting of ice. of food, rusting of iron.

(3) Minerals are Minerals are Minerals get Some living

formed from the formed when transformed organisms
magma in the solid crystals from one form produce
earth's crust and remain into another inorganic
the lava from behind after due to large minerals.
the eruption of the process of changes in e.g., conches,
volcanoes, when evaporation. temperature shells etc.
they cool and and pressure. formed for
get transformed the protection
into crystals. of the body.

(4) (i) Protection and conservation of natural resources is necessary

to protect the natural world. (CNRM) Community Natural
Resource Management has been promoted in recent years for
biological conservation.
(ii) The World Conservation Union has been formed. It is the world’s
leading authority and democratic platform in conservation and
sustainability.
(iii) Young trees should not be cut. More and more trees need to
be grown.
General Science 149

(iv) The stringent restrictions/ laws/ Regulations regarding use of

forests should be strictly followed. Awareness is being created
through Mass media.
(5) Solar, lunar eclipse have been traditionally observed as an ominous
sign and therefore superstitions are prevalent in association with
these natural phenomena.
(i) All these misconceptions should be removed by explaining
scientifically, the process of eclipse how it happens: (a) Explain
with the help of diagram and models of sun, moon and earth.
(b) Explain how special glasses which will protect us from UV
rays, and excess heat can be used to observe eclipses safely.
(ii) Also inform that eclipses are natural phenomena and can be
predicted in advance.
(6) (a) Given an oscillatory
motion to the pendulum, the O

maximum distance between

the original position A of
the pendulum and extreme
position B or C is called the
amplitude of oscillation. Thread
AB, AC is the amplitude of Ball
oscillation. (b) The number
of oscillations completed by
C B
an oscillator in one second Amplitude
is called the frequency of A
oscillation.
• Relation between frequency and length of a pendulum: If the length
of the pendulum increases, the period of oscillations also increases.
1
We know, time period of oscillations = If time period
Frequency
increases, frequency decreases. Therefore, if the length of the
pendulum increases, frequency will decrease.
• Relation between frequency and amplitude: Frequency of oscillation
is independent of its amplitude of oscillation.
150 Grade Me Teacher’s Guide (Std. 7)

Q.4. Answer the following (any 1): (5)

Ans. (1) There are two types of cell – animal cells and plant cells. These
cells contain various types of membrane beyond cell-organelles.
Plant cells have a definite shape due to the presence of cell wall.
Besides, unlike animal cells, plant cells contain single large vacuole.
All these cells are known as eukaryotic cells.
The cell has four main parts: the cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm
and cell organelles.
(a) Cell wall: The cell wall is the outermost covering of a cell. It is
present only in plant cells.
(b) Plasma membrane: The plasma membrane, also called the cell
membrane, is a kind of thin covering. (a) It is extremely delicate
and flexible. (b) It is the outermost covering of animal cells.
(c) Cytoplasm: The liquid part in the cell, present around the
nucleus is called cytoplasm. (a) It occupies the space between
the plasma membrane and nucleus. (b) Cell organelles are
scattered in the cytoplasm.
(d) Cell organelles: These mainly include the nucleus, endoplasmic
reticulum, Golgi bodies, lysosomes, mitochondria, vacuoles,
plastids etc. Plant cells contain chloroplasts.
(a) The nucleus is the most important organelle of the cell.
(b) There is a porous double membrane around it. (c) The
nucleus controls all functions of the cell. (d) The endoplasmic
reticulum is a sprawling net-like organelle. Its function is
to make necessary changes in the proteins produced by
ribosomes and send them to the Golgi bodies. (e) Golgi bodies
are made up of several flat sacs. Their function is the proper
distribution of proteins. (f) Mitochondria and plastids are
organelles with double outer coverings. (g) As mitochondria
produce energy, they are called the powerhouses of the cell.
(h) The chloroplasts in plant cells carry out the function of
photosynthesis. (i) Vacuoles help to throw out waste products
of the cell. (j) Vacuoles in animal cells are small whereas there
is only one large vacuole in a plant cell.
General Science 151

Plant cell Animal cell

(2) (a) The region around a magnet where the magnetic force acts on
an object is called a magnetic field. (b) The magnetic field around
a magnet can be shown by means of magnetic lines of force.
(c) This can be verified by sprinkling iron filings around a
bar magnet kept on a cardboard. (d) The iron filings arrange
themselves as shown in the figure. (e) The intensity of the
magnetic field can be obtained from the number of lines of force.
(f) The intensity of a magnetic field is low where the lines of
force are sparse and the intensity
is high where the lines of force are
concentrated. (g) A magnetic field
is the magnetic effect of electric
currents and magnetic materials.
(h) The magnetic field at any
given point is specified by both
the direction and the magnetic.
(i) Magnetic fields are provided by
electric current.
vvv
NOTES