Hey again, amazing students! 👋
You absolutely crushed the MCQs and A/R questions in our last post, and I'm so excited to see you back for more. It's time to level up and tackle the Very Short Answer (VSA) questions. These 2-mark questions are designed to check how well you know your definitions, differences, and key functions.
Mastering these will build a rock-solid foundation for the entire chapter. So, let's get right into it!
Top 30 Very Short Answer Questions (2 Marks)
Q1. What is vegetative propagation? List two advantages of using this method. Answer: Vegetative propagation is a type of asexual reproduction in plants where new plants are produced from the vegetative parts like roots, stems, or leaves. Two advantages are:
Plants produced this way bear flowers and fruits much earlier.
It allows for the propagation of plants like bananas and jasmine that have lost the capacity to produce seeds.
Q2. Differentiate between binary fission and multiple fission.
Answer:
In binary fission, the parent cell divides into two identical daughter cells. It occurs under favourable conditions. Example: Amoeba.
In multiple fission, the parent cell divides into many daughter cells simultaneously. it usually occurs under unfavourable conditions. Example: Plasmodium.
Q3. What is budding? Give an example.
Answer: Budding is a type of asexual reproduction where a new individual develops from a small outgrowth or 'bud' on the parent's body. The bud grows, matures, and eventually detaches to become a new organism. Example: Hydra and Yeast.
Q4. State the function of the following parts of the human male reproductive system: (a) Testes (b) Vas deferens.
Answer: (a) Testes: They have two primary functions: producing the male gametes (sperm) and secreting the male sex hormone, testosterone.(b) Vas deferens: It is a long tube that carries sperm from the testes to the urethra.
Q5. What is the role of the placenta during pregnancy?
Answer: The placenta is a vital connection between the mother and the developing embryo. Its two main roles are:
To provide nutrition and oxygen from the mother's blood to the embryo.
To remove waste products generated by the embryo and transfer them to the mother's blood.
Q6. Differentiate between self-pollination and cross-pollination.
Answer:
Self-pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of the same flower or another flower on the same plant.
Cross-pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther of one flower to the stigma of a flower on a different plant of the same species.
Q7. List any two changes observed in girls during puberty.
Answer: Two changes observed in girls at the time of puberty are:
The beginning of the menstrual cycle (menarche).
Development and enlargement of breasts.
Q8. What are the three parts of a pistil (carpel)?
Answer: The pistil is the female reproductive part of a flower. Its three parts are:
Stigma: The top, sticky part that receives pollen.
Style: The middle, tube-like structure connecting the stigma to the ovary.
Ovary: The swollen bottom part that contains ovules.
Q9. Why is DNA copying an essential part of the process of reproduction?
Answer: DNA copying is essential because DNA contains the genetic information for the inheritance of features from the parent to the offspring. Creating a copy ensures that the offspring receives a complete set of genetic instructions, maintaining the blueprint of the species.
Q10. Why are the testes located outside the abdominal cavity in the scrotum? Answer: The testes are located in the scrotum because the process of sperm formation (spermatogenesis) requires a temperature that is about 2-2.5°C lower than the normal internal body temperature. The scrotum helps in maintaining this optimal temperature.
Q11. What happens in a flower after fertilization?
Answer: After fertilization:
The zygote divides several times to form an embryo within the ovule.
The ovule develops a tough coat and is converted into a seed.
The ovary grows rapidly and ripens to form a fruit.
Q12. What is regeneration? Is it the same as reproduction?
Answer: Regeneration is the ability of an organism to regrow its lost or damaged body parts. It is not the same as reproduction because most organisms cannot generate a whole new individual from a cut part. It is a method of reproduction only in very simple organisms like Planaria.
Q13. What is contraception? Name one barrier method.
Answer: Contraception refers to the methods used to prevent pregnancy. These methods interfere with the process of fertilization or implantation. One barrier method is the use of condoms.
Q14. How is the process of pollination different from fertilization?
Answer:
Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma. It is an external process.
Fertilization is the fusion of the male gamete (from the pollen grain) with the female gamete (egg) inside the ovule. It is an internal process.
Q15. List two changes observed in boys during puberty.
Answer: Two changes observed in boys at the time of puberty are:
Thick hair growth on the face in the form of a moustache and beard.
The voice begins to crack and becomes deeper.
Q16. Name two sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) each, caused by (a) bacteria and (b) a virus.
Answer: (a) STDs caused by bacteria: Gonorrhoea and Syphilis.
(b) STDs caused by a virus: HIV-AIDS and Genital Warts.
Q17. What is spore formation? Give one advantage of spores.
Answer: Spore formation is a mode of asexual reproduction where the organism produces thousands of microscopic reproductive units called spores.
Advantage: Spores are covered by a thick, protective wall that enables them to survive in unfavourable conditions like lack of food or moisture.
Q1g. What happens to the egg in the human female reproductive system if it is not fertilized?
Answer: If the egg is not fertilized, it lives for about one day. Since it has not been fertilized, the thick and soft inner lining of the uterus is no longer needed. This lining breaks down and is released through the vagina as blood and mucous. This is known as menstruation.
Q19. Draw a diagram showing the germination of pollen on the stigma and label the pollen tube.
Answer:
Explanation of the diagram: The diagram should show the stigma, style, and a pollen grain on the stigma. A tube, labeled as the pollen tube, should be shown growing from the pollen grain down through the style towards the ovary.
Q20. What is the significance of the pollen tube?
Answer: The pollen tube is highly significant as it acts as a conduit or a bridge. It grows from the pollen grain, through the style, and into the ovule, carrying the male gamete to the female gamete (egg) to enable fertilization.
Q21. Define unisexual and bisexual flowers with one example of each.
Answer:
Unisexual Flower: A flower that contains either the male reproductive part (stamen) or the female reproductive part (pistil). Example: Papaya, Watermelon.
Bisexual Flower: A flower that contains both the male and female reproductive parts. Example: Hibiscus, Mustard.
Q22. What is fragmentation? Give an example. Answer: Fragmentation is a mode of asexual reproduction where the body of a simple multicellular organism breaks up into smaller pieces or fragments upon maturation. Each fragment then grows to form a new, complete individual. Example: Spirogyra.
Q23. What is implantation? Where does it occur? Answer: Implantation is the process where the developing embryo, after fertilization, moves down the fallopian tube and attaches itself to the thick inner lining of the uterus. It occurs in the uterus.
Q24. What are the functions of the fluid-filled bag (amniotic sac) that surrounds the foetus?
Answer: The fluid-filled amniotic sac serves two main functions:
It protects the developing foetus from mechanical shocks or injuries.
It helps in maintaining a constant pressure and temperature around the foetus.
Q25. Why is variation beneficial to a species but not necessarily for the individual? Answer: Variation is beneficial to a species because it allows the species to adapt and survive in changing environments. If an environment changes drastically, individuals with favourable variations may survive, ensuring the continuation of the species. For an individual, a particular variation might not be beneficial or could even be harmful in its current environment.
Q26. Name the main reproductive organs in human males and females.
Answer:
The main reproductive organ in human males is the pair of testes.
The main reproductive organ in human females is the pair of ovaries.
Q27. What is tissue culture? Answer: Tissue culture is a modern method of vegetative propagation where new plants are grown by removing tissue or separating cells from the growing tip of a plant. These cells are then placed in an artificial nutrient medium where they divide rapidly to form a small group of cells (callus), which is then grown into a new plantlet.
Q28. What is the role of the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland in the human male reproductive system?
Answer: The seminal vesicles and the prostate gland add their secretions to the sperm. This fluid provides nutrition to the sperm and makes their transport easier by creating a medium called semen.
Q29. Why is it said that sexual reproduction promotes diversity of characters in the offspring?
Answer: Sexual reproduction promotes diversity because it involves the fusion of gametes from two different parents (male and female). This combination of DNA from two individuals results in new combinations of genes, leading to variations and diversity in the offspring.
Q30. What is menopause? Answer: Menopause is the stage in a woman's life (usually around the age of 45 to 50) when the menstrual cycle stops permanently. It marks the end of her natural reproductive phase.
And that's a wrap on the 2-mark questions! How fantastic was that? You've just covered the core concepts of the entire chapter. You're building such a strong foundation.
Get ready for our next post, where we'll tackle the more detailed 3-mark Short Answer Questions!
Keep up the amazing work! ✨
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