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Diversity in the Living World – Class 6 Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 6 Science, chapter 2. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

The living world has a huge variety of plants and animals. Grouping them by similar features helps us study them, and each is adapted to its habitat.

Plants

Herbs (small, soft stem: mint), shrubs (woody, bushy: rose), trees (tall, thick trunk: mango), climbers and creepers.
Leaves show reticulate venation (net-like, in dicots) or parallel venation (in monocots like grass).
Roots: taproot (in dicots) or fibrous roots (in monocots).

Animals and habitats

Habitat: the place where an organism lives (terrestrial, aquatic, desert, mountain).
Adaptations: camel (long legs, stores fat in hump), fish (gills, streamlined body), polar bear (thick fur and fat).
Biodiversity should be protected; many species are endangered.

Key terms

Habitat: natural home of a plant or animal
Adaptation: feature that helps an organism survive in its habitat
Biodiversity: variety of living things in an area

Formulas

Monocot: parallel veins + fibrous roots; Dicot: net veins + taproot

Important questions with answers

What is a habitat? Give two examples.2 marks

The natural home of a living thing, where it gets food, water and shelter. Examples: pond for fish, desert for camel.

How are plants with tap roots different from plants with fibrous roots?3 marks

Tap roots have one main root with smaller side roots (mustard, bean) and the leaves usually show net-like (reticulate) venation. Fibrous roots are many thin roots of similar size (grass, wheat) and the leaves usually show parallel venation.

Explain biodiversity. Why should we protect it? Give three ways.5 marks

Biodiversity is the variety of plants, animals and microorganisms living in a place. It keeps nature balanced: plants give food and oxygen, insects pollinate crops, and decomposers recycle nutrients. Losing species can break food chains. Ways to protect: plant trees and stop cutting forests; avoid plastic and pollution; protect animals in national parks and sanctuaries and avoid buying products from endangered species.

Quick revision

Herbs, shrubs, trees by stem.
Grass has parallel veins and fibrous roots.
Adaptations suit habitats.

Exam tips

Leaf venation tells you the root type.
Give one adaptation with each animal in answers.

Practice MCQs

A rose plant is a
1. shrub
2. herb
3. tree
4. climber
Show answer
Answer: (a) shrub. Woody and bushy.
Fish breathe using
1. lungs
2. skin only
3. gills
4. nose
Show answer
Answer: (c) gills. Gills.
A leaf with parallel venation usually has
1. taproot
2. aerial roots only
3. no roots
4. fibrous roots
Show answer
Answer: (d) fibrous roots. Monocot.
The natural home of an organism is its
1. shelter
2. cage
3. zoo
4. habitat
Show answer
Answer: (d) habitat. Habitat.
Plants with fibrous roots usually have leaves with
1. parallel venation
2. reticulate venation
3. no veins
4. needle shape only
Show answer
Answer: (a) parallel venation. Monocots like grass.
A camel's hump mainly stores
1. water
2. air
3. fat
4. blood
Show answer
Answer: (c) fat. Fat for energy.
Which is an adaptation of a polar bear?
1. thin skin
2. gills
3. large ears for cooling
4. thick fur and fat layer
Show answer
Answer: (d) thick fur and fat layer. Keeps warm.
A camel can live in deserts because it
1. has thick fur only
2. lives near rivers
3. stores fat in its hump and loses little water
4. drinks sea water
Show answer
Answer: (c) stores fat in its hump and loses little water. Adaptations to save water.

All chapters of Class 6 Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.