VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science

VBQs for Class 10

VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science with solutions has been provided below for standard students. We have provided chapter wise VBQ for Class 10 Science with solutions. The following Our Environment Class 10 Science value based questions with answers will come in your exams. Students should understand the concepts and learn the solved cased based VBQs provided below. This will help you to get better marks in class 10 examinations.

Our Environment VBQs Class 10 Science

Question. Which group of organisms are not constituents of a food chain? 
(i) Grass, lion, rabbit, wolf
(ii) Plankton, man, fish, grasshopper
(iii) Wolf, grass, snake, tiger
(iv) Frog, snake, eagle, grass, grasshopper
(a) (i) and (iii)
(b) (iii) and (iv)
(c) (ii) and (iii)
(d) (i) and (iv)

Answer

C

Question. The percentage of solar radiation absorbed by all the green plants for the process of photosynthesis is about : 
(a) 1%.
(b) 5%.
(c) 8%.
(d) 10%. 

Answer

A

Question. Excessive exposure of humans to UV-rays results in 
(i) Damage to immune system.
(ii) Damage to lungs.
(iii) Skin cancer.
(iv) Peptic ulcers.
(a) (i) and (ii)
(b) (ii) and (iv)
(c) (i) and (iii)
(d) (iii) and (iv) 

Answer

C

Question. Disposable plastic plates should not be used because 
(a) They are made of materials with light weight.
(b) They are made of toxic materials.
(c) They are made of biodegradable materials.
(d) They are made of non-biodegradable materials.

Answer

D

Question. Select the mismatched pair in the following and correct it. 
(a) Bio-magnification — Accumulation of chemicals at the successive trophic levels of a food chain
(b) Ecosystem — Biotic components of environment
(c) Aquarium — A man-made ecosystem
(d) Parasites — Organisms which obtain food from other living organisms 

Answer

B

Question. Which one of the followings is an artificial ecosystem? 
(a) Pond
(b) Crop field
(c) Lake
(d) Forest 

Answer

B

Question. In a food chain, the third trophic level is always occupied by 
(a) Carnivores.
(b) Herbivores.
(c) Decomposers.
(d) Producers. 

Answer

A

Question. What happens to the earth’s temperature due to the greenhouse effect? 
(a) Increases
(b) Decreases
(c) Remains the same
(d) All of the above 

Answer

A

Question. Why is it difficult to degrade non-biodegradable wastes? 
(a) Because non-biodegradable wastes cannot be recycled.
(b) Because microorganisms cannot decompose it.
(c) They can be made into organic wastes.
(d) All of the above 

Answer

B

Question. In an ecosystem, the 10% of energy available for transfer from one trophic level to the next is in the form of: 
(a) Heat energy.
(b) Light energy.
(c) Chemical energy.
(d) Mechanical energy.

Answer

C

Question. Organisms of a higher trophic level which feed on several types of organisms belonging to a lower trophic level constitute the ………………. . 
(a) Food web.
(b) Ecological pyramid.
(c) Ecosystem.
(d) Food chain. 

Answer

A

Question. Which of the followings are environment-friendly practices? 
(a) Carrying cloth-bags to put purchases in while shopping.
(b) Switching off unnecessary lights and fans .
(c) Walking to school instead of getting your mother to drop you on her scooter.
(d) All of the above. 

Answer

D

Question. Which one of the following green house gases is a contributor due to incomplete combustion of coal and petroleum? 
(a) Oxides of nitrogen
(b) Methane
(c) Carbon monoxide
(d) Carbon dioxide

Answer

C

Question. In the given food chain, suppose the amount of energy at fourth trophic level is 5 kJ, what will be the energy available at the producer level? 
Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake → Hawk
(a) 5 kJ
(b) 50 kJ
(c) 500 kJ
(d) 5,000 kJ 

Answer

D

Question. Accumulation of non-biodegradable pesticides in the food chain in increasing amount at each higher trophic level is known as 
(a) Eutrophication.
(b) Pollution.
(c) Biomagnification.
(d) Accumulation. 

Answer

C

Question. Depletion of ozone is mainly due to _________. 
(a) Chlorofluorocarbon compounds.
(b) Carbon monoxide.
(c) Methane.
(d) Pesticides. 

Answer

A

Assertion and Reason Based MCQs :

Directions : In the following questions, A statement of Assertion (a) is followed by a statement of Reason (R).
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false and R is true.

Question. Assertion (a): Flow of energy in a food chain is unidirectional. 
Reason (R): Energy captured by autotrophs does not revert back to the solar input and it passes to the herbivores. 

Answer

A

Question. Assertion (a): Ozone is both beneficial and damaging. 
Reason (R): Stop the release of chlorofluorocarbons to protect the ozone. 

Answer

B

Question. Assertion (a): First trophic level in a food chain is always a green plant. 
Reason (R): Green plants are called producers. 

Answer

A

Question. Assertion (a): Food chain is responsible for the entry of harmful chemicals in our bodies. 
Reason (R): The length and complexity of food chains vary greatly. 

Answer

B

Question. Assertion (a): Polythene bags and plastic containers are non-biodegradable substances. 
Reason (R): They can be broken down by microorganisms in natural simple harmless substances. 

Answer

C

Question. Assertion (a): Decomposers keep the environment clean. 
Reason (R): They recycle matter by breaking down the organic remains and waste products of plants and animals. 

Answer

A

Question. Assertion (a): The concentration of harmful chemicals is more in human beings. 
Reason (R): Man is at the apex of the food chain. 

Answer

A

Question. Assertion (a): Wastes such as plastics, paper, vegetable or fruit peels, which are generated in our house daily are biodegradable. 
Reason (R): Biodegradable wastes can be broken down into simpler, harmless substance in nature in due course of time by the biological processes such as action of microorganisms. 

Answer

D

Question. Assertion (a): Greater number of individuals are present in lower trophic levels.   
Reason (R): The flow of energy is unidirectional.

Answer

B

Question. Assertion (a): Herbivores are called first order consumers. 
Reason (R): Tiger is a top carnivore. 

Answer

B

Question. Assertion (a): CFCs deplete the ozone layer. 
Reason (R): CFCs are used as refrigerants and in fire extinguishers.

Answer

A

Very Short Answer Type Questions :

Question. List two biotic components of an ecosystem.
Answer: Plants, animals, micro-organisms.

Question. Write one negative effect, on the environment, of affluent life style of few persons of a society.
Answer: Use of excessive non-biodegradable material in packaging:
Excessive use of natural resources like coal and petroleum which causes pollution.
Affluent lifestyle results in generation of excessive waste materials.

Question. Write the full name of the group of compounds mainly responsible for the depletion of ozone layer. 
Answer: Chlorofluorocarbons.

Question. Why is a lake considered to be a natural ecosystem? 
Answer: Because a lake is a self-sustaining system.

Question. In the following food chain, 100 J of energy is available to the lion. How much energy was available to the producer? 
Plants → Deer → Lion
Answer: Plants are producers. So, energy available to the producer is 10,000 J.

Question. State the essential function performed by Ozone at the higher levels of the atmosphere.
Answer: It shields the surface of the earth from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

Question. We often use the word environment. What does it mean?
Answer: Environment is everything that surrounds us. It is the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the region.

Question. List two man-made ecosystems.
Answer: Garden and Aquarium.

Question. In a food chain of frog, grass, insect and snake assign trophic level to frog.
Answer: Grass → Insect → Frog → Snake Frog is 3rd trophic level.

Question. In the following food chain, plants provide 500 J of energy to rats. How much energy will be available to hawks from snakes?
Plants → Rats → Snakes → Hawks
Answer: Snakes = 500 x 10/100 = 50 J
Hawks = 50 x 10/100 = 50 J
(According to 10 percent Law)

Question. Give reason why a food chain cannot have more than four trophic levels. 
Answer: The loss of energy at each step is so great that very little usable energy remains after four trophic levels.

Question. Why is excessive use of CFCs a cause of concern?
Answer: When CFC’s reach upper layers of the atmosphere, they cause depletion of ozone layer, and allow harmful UV radiations to reach the surface of the earth to create health hazards.

Question. List two natural ecosystems.
Answer: Natural ecosystem—Forest/Lake/Pond/River.

Question. What is ecosystem? 
Answer: Ecosystem is the functional unit of the environment comprising of the living and nonliving components.

Question. The first trophic level in a food chain is always a green plant. Why?
Answer: Green plants are producers. The first trophic level in a food chain is producer i.e., those organisms which produce food by photosynthesis.

Question. The following organisms form a food chain.
Which of these will have the highest concentration of non- biodegradable chemicals?
Name the phenomenon associated with it: Insects, Hawk, Grass, Snake, Frog.
Answer: Hawk.
Biomagnification.

Question. What is biodegradable substance?
Answer: Substances that can be broken down by microorganisms in natural simple harmless substances.

Question. Why should biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes be discarded in two different dustbins?
Answer: (i) Saves time/ energy in segregation.
(ii) Biodegradable items can be sent directly for composting.
(iii) Non-biodegradable items can be sent for a appropriate reuse/recycle.

Question. The depletion of ozone layer is a cause of concern. Why?
Answer: Ultraviolet rays from the sun penetrate down the atmosphere and cause health hazards/skin cancer in human beings.

Question. Explain how ozone being a deadly poison can still perform an essential function for our environment. 
Answer: Ozone layer protects us from harmful effects of UV radiation.

Question. What is the function of ozone in the upper atmosphere?
Answer: Ozone layer protects the earth from harmful radiations like high energy ultraviolet radiations.

Question. Why is forest considered as a natural ecosystem ?
Answer: A forest ecosystem is a natural woodland unit consisting of all plants, animals and micro-organisms, in an area functioning together with all of the nonliving physical factors of the environment.

Question. Why do producers always occupy the first trophic level on every food chain?
Answer: Because producers (plants) have the ability to trap solar energy with the help of chlorophyll.

Short Answer Type Questions :

Question. With the help of an example of a food chain, prove that the flow of energy in the biosphere in unidirectional.
Answer: Sun 1% Energy → Producer/Plant 10% Energy →
Primary consumer/Herbivore 10% Energy →
Secondary consumer/Carnivore 10% Energy → Top Carnivore.
(1) At each trophic level only 10% of the energy is passed on to the next and the rest is either utilized for its own metabolic activities or is lost in the environment as heat.
(2) Lost energy is not returned to the previous level/ Solar input.

Question. Why are bacteria and fungi called decomposers?
List any two advantages of decomposers to the environment? 
Answer: Bacteria and fungi break down/decompose the dead remains and waste products or organisms. 
Advantages:
(i) Natural replenishment of soil.
(ii) Recycling of nutrients in the soil.

Question. Draw a labelled diagram to illustrate energy flow in an ecosystem.    
Answer: Energy flow is unidirectional, dissipated at each level. Matter flow is cyclic and no loss of matter. 

VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science

Question. Differentiate between the food habits of organisms belonging to first and second trophic levels.
Answer: Difference between food habits of organisms belonging to first trophic level and second trophic level:
(a) The organisms at the first trophic levels are primary producers which make organic compounds using inorganic inputs like light, water, carbon dioxide etc. e.g., Plants.
(b) The organisms at the second trophic level are primary consumer. They are herbivores who eat plants (producers) for nutrition. e.g., Deer.

Question. How is ozone both beneficial and damaging? How can we prevent the damaging effect of ozone?
Answer: Damaging as it is a deadly poison. Beneficial as it shields the surface of the earth from UV radiations of the Sun.
By not using synthetic chemicals like CFCs, that deplete layer.

Question. What is Ozone? Name the chemicals that damage the Ozone layer. 
Answer: Ozone is a gas made up of three oxygen atoms, occurs naturally in small amounts in the upper atmosphere and protects life on Earth from the Sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiations. The chemical that damage Ozone layer is Chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs).

Question. How can you help in reducing the problem of waste disposal? Write any two methods.
Answer: Segregation of waste at the point of its generation for convenient disposal.
Change in attitude producing less waste by adopting 3 R’s policy.

Question. Give any two ways in which biodegradable substances would affect the environment.
Answer: (i) They produce foul smell during decomposition process. 
(ii) They may produce harmful gases such as ammonia, methane and carbon dioxide.

Question. Write the harmful effects of using plastic bags, on the environment. Suggest alternatives to plastic bags.
Answer: Plastic bags are non-biodegradable wastes, they are not degraded, they begin to stink, emitting foul gases, spoil the beauty of places and contaminate soil, water and air with toxins.
Cloth bags are used instead of plastic bags because they are stronger, more durable and washable.

Question. (a) Define ecosystem.
(b) Autotrophs are at the first level of food chain. Give reason.
(c) In a food chain of frogs, grass, insects and snakes, assign trophic level to frogs. To which category of consumers do they belongs to?
Answer: (a) Ecosystem: It is the functional unit of the environment comprising living and non-living components.
(b) The first trophic level in a food chain is always producers (plants) because they have the ability to trap solar energy with the help of chlorophyll. As a result, they produce food by photosynthesis.
(c) Frogs are secondary consumers.

Question. Why must we conserve our forests? List two factors responsible for causing deforestation.
Answer: Forests help in preventing soil erosion / protect biodiversity / maintain ground water level / help in rainfall / provide raw materials / prevent floods / (any other two points).
Exploitation by industries / increase in population / urbanization / cattle grazing / (any other two points)

Question. State two advantages of conserving (i) forests and (ii) wildlife. 
Answer: Conserving forests helps in (i) retaining sub soil water and (ii) checking floods/ any other 
Conserving wild life helps in (i) maintaining ecological balance and (ii) protecting the nature

Question. (i) Create a terrestrial food chain depicting four trophic levels.
(ii) Why do we not find food chains of more than four trophic levels in nature? 
Answer: A food chain showing Ist trophic level , IInd trophic level (½ mark), IIIrd trophic level (½ mark) and IVth trophic level .
A flow chart or a diagrammatic representation showing all the four tropic levels would also be accepted.
According to the 10% law, the amount of energy available will not be sufficient for the survival of the organism in the 5th trophic level.

Question. How will you create an artificial aquatic ecosystem, which is self-sustainable? 
Answer: (a) Large jar filled with water, oxygen, food and aquatic plants and animals.
(b) Oxygen/oxygen pump.
(c) Fish food.
(d) Aquatic plants/Producers provide O2 during photosynthesis.
(e) Aquatic animals/Consumers release CO2 for the process of photosynthesis.
(f) Decomposers are also important for natural cleaning of the aquarium.

Question. Define an ecosystem. Draw a block diagram to show the flow of energy in an ecosystem.  
Answer: Ecosystem: The system where all the living organisms in an area together interact with the non–living constituents of the environment.   

VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science

Question. Define a food chain. Design a terrestrial food chain of four trophic levels. If a pollutant enters at the producer level, the organisms of which trophic level will have the maximum concentration of the pollutant in their bodies? What is this phenomenon called?
Answer: Chain of organisms formed as a result of eating or being eaten by organisms is called food chain / A series of organisms feeding on one another, is called food chain. 
Grass → Insect → Frog → Snake
(grasshopper)
(Producer) (Herbivore) (Carnivore) (Top Carnivore) 
(Any other example of food chain)
♦ Tertiary trophic level / snake
♦ Biological magnification / Biomagnification

Question. The flow of energy between various components of the environment has been extensively studied.
Give an outline of the findings.
Answer: (i) Flow of energy is unidirectional.
(ii) Terrestrial plants take about 1% of the Sun’s energy and change it to chemical energy.
(iii) A great amount of energy is lost as heat/ used for digestion/doing work/growth and reproduction.
(iv) Only 10% of organic matter present at each trophic level (and available to the next trophic level).
(v) Food chains are mainly of 3-4 trophic levels (because of 10 percent law).
(vi) The number of producers are maximum (the number reduces in subsequent trophic levels).
(vii) Food webs are more common (as compared to isolated food chains).
(viii) Biological magnification can be observed.

Question. (a) From the following groups of organisms create a food chain which is the most advantageous for Human being in terms of energy. 

VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science

(b) State the possible disadvantage if the cereal plant is growing in soil rich in pesticides.
(c) Construct a food web using the organisms mentioned above.
Answer: (a) Short food chains are more efficient in terms of energy. The shorter the food chain is, more is the available amount of energy.
Cereal Plant → Human being
(b) Harmful for human consumption as the traces of pesticide will be carried by food.   

VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science

Question. Give reason to justify the following:
The existence of decomposers is essential in a biosphere.
Answer: The existence of decomposers is essential in a biosphere because they breakdown complex organic substances into simple inorganic substances that can be absorbed by the plants.
Thus, decomposer:
(a) replenish the soil naturally,
(b) helps in removing the biodegradable waste.

Question. What is an ecosystem? List its two main components. We do not clean natural ponds or lakes, but an aquarium needs to be cleaned regularly. Why is it so? Explain.
Answer: Ecosystem is the structural and functional unit of biosphere, comprising of all the interacting organisms in an area together with the non–living constituents of the environment.
Two main components of Ecosystem are:
(i) Biotic component
(ii) Abiotic component
An aquarium is an artificial and incomplete ecosystem compared to pond or lakes which are natural, self–sustaining and complete ecosystem where there is a perfect recycling of materials.
We need to clean the aquarium because of the:
(i) absence of natural decomposer.
(ii) stagnancy of water.

Question. You have been selected to talk on ‘ozone layer and its protection’ in the school assembly on ‘Environment Day‘.
(a) Why should ozone layer be protected to save the environment?
(b) List any two ways that you would stress in your talk to bring in awareness amongst your fellow friends that would also help in protection of ozone layer as well as the environment.
Answer: (a) Because Ozone layer protects/shields the earth from harmful UV radiations of the sun. 
(b) (i) Conducting poster making competition
highlighting effects of ozone layer depletion. 
(ii) Conducting street plays highlighting the ways of environment protection.

Question. Differentiate between biodegradable and nonbiodegradable substances with the help of one example each. List two changes in habit that people must adopt to dispose non-biodegradable waste, for saving the environment.
Answer:   

VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science

Two methods of disposal of non–biodegradable waste are:
(i) Recycling: The wastes are treated and same value materials are extracted for reuse.
(ii) Incineration: Medical and toxic waste are burnt at high temperature in incineration. Incinerators transform the waste into ashes.

Question. ‘Energy flow in food chains is always unidirectional’. Justify this statement. Explain how the pesticides enter a food chain and subsequently get into our body.
Answer: (i) In a food chain the energy moves progressively through the various trophic levels and is no longer available to the organisms of the previous trophic level/ energy captured by the autotrophs does not revert back to the solar input. 
(ii) Pesticides used for crop protection when washed away/down into the soil/water bodies absorbed by plants/ producers. 
(iii) On consumption they enter our food chain and being non-biodegradable, these chemicals get accumulated progressively and enter our body.

Question. Plastic cups were used to serve tea in trains in early days- these could be returned to the vendors, cleaned and reused. Later, Kulhads were used instead of plastic cups. Now, paper cups are used for serving tea.
What are the reasons for the shift from Plastic to Kulhads and then finally to paper cups?
Answer: Plastic cups are non-biodegradable and harm the environment. They were, thus, replaced by Kulhads.
Making Kulhad, which is made of clay on a large scale resulted in the loss of top fertile soil.
Now, disposable paper cups are used because the paper can be recycled, it is biodegradable and is eco-friendly material, which does not cause environmental pollution.

Question. (a) Write two harmful effects of using plastic bags on the environment. Suggest alternatives to the usage of plastic bags.
(b) List any two practices that can be followed to dispose off the waste produced in our homes.
Answer: (a) Harmful effects of plastic bags:
(i) Plastics do not undergo degradation, thus stay in soil for many years. This may affect the soil fertility and degrades the soil quality.
(ii) When plastic artifacts enter the drainage and sewerage system, they block the pipes and drains causing water logging.
(iii) Littering of plastics in open spaces creates unhygienic conditions, as it acts as breeding ground for insects and mosquitoes. 
We can reduce the use of plastic bags and carry jute bags and paper bags to carry items from the market.
(b) Measures taken for proper disposal of waste produced at our homes are:
(i) Prepare a compost pit for kitchen wastes.
(ii) Safe disposal of plastic bags.
(iii) Segregation of biodegradable and non biodegradable wastes.
(iv) Fruit peels can be placed near trees or plants, which on decomposition will enrich the soil with nutrients.
(v) Recycling of paper wastes.

Question. (a) Explain the role of UV radiation in producing ozone layer.
(b) Mention the reaction involved.
(c) Why is excessive use of CFCs a cause of concern?
Answer: (a) Ozone is formed in the upper atmosphere when solar UV radiation dissociate molecules of oxygen (O) and then this oxygen atom (O) combines with an oxygen molecule.   

VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science

(c) When CFC’s reach upper layers of the atmosphere, they cause depletion of ozone layer, and allow harmful UV radiations to reach the surface of the earth to create health hazards.

Question. (a) State with reason the consequence of decrease in number of carnivores in an ecosystem.
(b) In a food chain, state the trophic level at which the concentration of harmful chemicals is maximum. Why is it so?
Answer: (a) The carnivores keep the populations of other carnivores and herbivores help to keep check. If there were no carnivores, the herbivore populations would rise exponentially and they will rapidly consume large amounts of plants and fungi, growing until there is not enough food to sustain them. Eventually, the herbivores would starve, leaving only those plants that were distasteful or poisonous to them. Species diversity would, therefore, drop dramatically.
(b) The increase in concentration of harmful chemical substances like pesticides in the body of living organisms at each trophic level of a food chain is called biological magnification. The level of biomagnification would increase as the trophic level increases and would be highest for topmost trophic level. It is because certain harmful substances, usually ones not found in nature but introduced by man, may get accumulated into plants and/or animals. These poisonous substances may not be broken down in the body or excreted easily. Instead, they accumulate in the tissues, and as the living organism eats more, the concentration of these substances increases and pass from one trophic level to the next. The maximum concentration is accumulated at the top carnivore’s level.

Question. Your mother always thought that fruit juices are very healthy for everyone. One day she reads in the newspaper that some brands of fruit juices in the market have been found to contain certain level of pesticides in them. She got worried as pesticides are injurious to our health.
(a) How would you explain to your mother about fruit juices getting contaminated with pesticides?
(b) It is said that when these harmful pesticides enter our body as well as in the bodies of other organisms they get accumulated and beyond a limit may cause harm and damage our organs Name the phenomenon and write about it.
Answer: (a) (i) Farmers generally use pesticides on fruit crops to protect their crops from plant diseases.
However, pesticides may contaminate the fruit and therefore fruit juices also become contaminated. 
(ii) Using contaminated ground water for irrigation also makes the fruits infected with contaminants. 
(b) Biological magnification or biomagnification is the accumulation of chemicals in the individuals of higher trophic level. Chemicals are nonbiodegradable and their concentration increases at each trophic level. Humans, being at the top of food chain, also receive higher concentration of these harmful chemicals resulting into various health problems.

Question. How is ozone layer formed? State its importance to all life forms on earth? Why the amount of ozone in the atmosphere dropped sharply in the 1980s?
Answer: Formation of ozone in Atmosphere: Ozone is continuously formed by the action of UV rays on molecular oxygen, and also degraded into molecular oxygen in the stratosphere. The high energy ultraviolet radiations split ozone into molecular and atomic oxygen with large amount of heat. This heat is used in warming the stratosphere.
O3 → O2 + [O] + Heat
This oxygen atom then recombine with oxygen (O2) molecule to form ozone molecule.
O2 + [O] → O3
The ozone layer acts as a protective blanket around the earth which shields the entire earth from harmful ultraviolet radiations that come from the sun.
Ozone depletion is the reduction in concentration of ozone layer. It is formed due to an increased concentration of ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). CFCs are used in refrigerants, ACs, fire extinguishers, aerosols spray etc.

Question. Write the essential function performed by ozone at the higher levels of the Earth’s atmosphere?
How is it produced? Name the synthetic chemicals mainly responsible for the drop of amount of ozone in the atmosphere. How can the use of these chemicals be reduced?
Answer: It shields the surface of the earth from the UV radiation from the sun.
O2 → UV O + O
O2 + O → O3 {or description of this process in words} 1
Chloro Fluoro Carbons (CFC’s) 
Reduce the use of CFC’s by minimizing the leakage through air conditioners and refrigerators / finding substitute chemicals that are ozone friendly Ozone protects the surface of earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiations emitted by the sun.
Ozone is a product of UV radiation acting on oxygen (O2) molecule. The higher energy UV radiations split apart some molecular oxygen (O2) into free oxygen (O) atoms. These atoms combine with molecular oxygen to form ozone.
O2 → UV O + O
O + O2 → O3
              (Ozone )
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are mainly responsible for the drop of amount of ozone in the atmosphere.
Use of these chemicals can be reduced by using alternate products that do not harm the ozone layer. Also, safe disposal of old appliances like refrigerators prevents its emission.

Question. Students in a school listened to the news read in the morning assembly that the mountain of garbage in Delhi, suddenly exploded and various vehicles got buried under it. Several people were also injured and there was traffic jam all around. In the brain storming session, the teacher also discussed this issue and asked the students to find out a solution
to the problem of garbage. Finally they arrived at two main points – one is self management of the garbage we produce and the second is to generate less garbage at individual level.
(a) Suggest two measures to manage the garbage we produce.
(b) As an individual, what can we do to generate the least garbage? Give two points.
(c) List two values the teacher instilled in his students in this episode. 
Answer: (a) Incineration/Waste compaction/Biogas generation/ Composting/Segregation and safe disposal/ Vermicomposting 
(b) Reuse of empty bottles, books etc.
Reduce the use of non-biodegradable substances like polythene, thermocol, etc. 
(c) Awareness about environment, scientific attitude, concern for community health and personal health.

Long Answer Type Questions :

Question. (a) Indicate the flow of energy in an ecosystem.
Why is it unidirectional? Justify.
(b) What will happen if decomposers are absent in an ecosystem?
Answer: (a) The flow of energy is generally from Sun → producer → herbivore → carnivore.
Since the flow of energy is progressively from one trophic level to another and does not revert back, it is said to be unidirectional. Further, the available energy decreases in the higher trophic levels making it impossible for energy to flow in the reverse direction.
(b) Decomposers include micro-organisms such as bacteria and fungi that obtain nutrients by breaking down the remains of dead plants and animals.
It breaks down the complex organic substances of garbage, dead animals and plants into simpler inor ganic substances that go into the soil and are used up again by the plants.
In the absence of decomposers, recycling of material in the biosphere will not take place.

Question. Why is damage to the ozone layer a cause for concern? What steps are being taken to limit this damage? 
Answer: Ozone layer is a protective shield around the Earth.
It prevents harmful ultraviolet radiation of the Sun from reaching the Earth. Air pollutants, like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), are causing depletion of ozone layer.
Depletion of ozone layer is allowing greater amount of UV radiation to reach the Earth. UV radiation can affect the ecosystem by affecting photosynthesis in plants, destroying planktons and decomposers. In human beings, UV radiation may cause skin cancer, cataract and damage to immune system.
Many developed as well as developing nations of the world have agreed to sign and obey the directions of UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) to cease the production of CFCs or to limit their production to some extent.

Question. Suggest any four activities in daily life which are eco-friendly. 
Answer: Activities in daily life which are eco-friendly are given below :
(i) Use of compost and vermicompost in place of fertilisers.
(ii) Separation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable substances. 
(iii) Gardening 
(iv) Use of gunny bags or paper bags in place of polythene. 
(v) Rain water harvesting.

Question. Suggest suitable mechanisms for waste management in fertiliser industries.
Answer: Effluents and harmful gases are the major pollutants which are generated in a fertiliser, chemical or pesticides factory. Scientific mechanism for reduction in emission of pollutants in environment is :
For reduction of gaseous pollutants, electro-static precipitators (ESP) are commonly used. ESP works on the principle of “opposite charges attract.”
When the gaseous emissions containing unburnt pollutants such as coal particles, unburnt carbon, SOx, NOx, etc. enters this field, ash particles gets charged and attracted towards the collecting plates due to the force produced by the electric field.
Thereby, reducing the gaseous emissions in the atmosphere. 
In addition to this, industrial waste water generated from the fertiliser industry contains pollutants that may contaminate our natural water resources. For safe disposal of industrial waste water, effluent treatment plant (ETP) is set up to treat the waste water. An ETP is used to purify water and remove any toxic and non-toxic materials or chemicals from
it. They use evaporation and drying methods, and other auxiliary techniques such as centrifuging, filtration, incineration for chemical processing and effluent treatment. The treated water can be used in the industrial process and for irrigation of plantation.

Question. Explain some harmful effects of agricultural practices on the environment.
Answer: Some harmful effects of agricultural practices on the environment are :
(i) Excess use of ground water for agriculture lowers the water level. 
(ii) Excessive use of fertilisers affects the soil pH and kills useful microbes. 
(iii) Excessive use of chemical pesticides lead to biomagnification.
(iv) Extensive agriculture causes loss of soil fertility. 
(v) Burning of agricultural waste like paddy and wheat straw results into the formation of smog that pollutes environment substantially. 
(v) It affects our natural eco-system.

Question. Name the wastes which are generated in your house daily. What measures would you take for their disposal? 
Answer: The wastes which are generated in our house daily are :
(i) Paper wastes like newspapers, bags, kitchen wastes, etc.
(ii) Plastic bags.
(iii) Vegetable or fruit peels. 
Measures taken for proper disposal are:
(i) Prepare a compost pit for kitchen wastes.
(ii) Safe disposal of plastic bags.
(iii) Segregation of biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes.
(vi) Fruit peels can be placed near trees or plants, which on decomposition will enrich the soil with nutrients.
(v) Recycling of paper wastes.

Case Based Questions :

I. Read the following and answer the four questions given below :
Food chains are very important for the survival of most species. When only one element is removed from the food chain it can result in extinction of a species in some cases. The foundation of the food chain consists of primary producers.
Primary producers, or autotrophs, can use either solar energy or chemical energy to create complex organic compounds, whereas species at higher trophic levels cannot and so must consume producers or other life that itself consumes producers. Because the sun’s light is necessary for photosynthesis, most life could not exist if the sun disappeared. Even so, it has recently been discovered that there are some forms of life, chemotrophs, that appear to gain all their metabolic energy from chemosynthesis driven by hydrothermal vents, thus showing that some life may not require solar energy to thrive. 

VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science

Question. The decomposers are not included in the food chain. The correct reason for the same is because decomposers: 
(a) Act at every trophic level of the food chain
(b) Do not breakdown organic compounds
(c) Convert organic material to inorganic forms
(d) Release enzymes outside their body to convert organic material to inorganic forms

Answer

A

Question. Matter and energy are two fundamental inputs of an ecosystem. Movement of 
(a) Energy is bidirectional and matter is repeatedly circulating.
(b) Energy is repeatedly circulation and matter is unidirectional.
(c) Energy is unidirectional and matter is repeatedly circulating.
(d) Energy is multidirectional and matter is bidirectional.

Answer

C

Question. If 10,000 J solar energy falls on green plants in a terrestrial ecosystem, what percentage of solar energy will be converted into food energy? 
(a) 10,000 J
(b) 100 J
(c) 1000 J
(d) It will depend on the type of the terrestrial plant.

Answer

B

Question. Mr. X is eating curd/yogurt. For this food intake in a food chain he should be considered as occupying: 
(a) First trophic level
(b) Second trophic level
(c) Third trophic level
(d) Fourth trophic level

Answer

C

II. Carefully study the given food web and answer the four questions given below :   

VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science

Question. The given figure best represents:   

VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science

(a) Grassland food chain
(b) Parasitic food chain
(c) Forest food chain
(d) Aquatic food chain

Answer

A

Question. Why do all food chains start with plants? 
(a) Because plants are easily grown.
(b) Because plants are nutritious.
(c) Because plants can produce its own energy.
(d) Because plants do not require energy.

Answer

C

Question. In the food web, what two organism are competing for food? 

VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science

(a) A and B
(b) A and C
(c) D and F
(d) B and D  

Answer

D

Question. The mussel can be described as 
(a) Producer
(b) Primary consumer
(c) Secondary consumer
(d) decomposer

Answer

C

Question. Which trophic level is incorrectly defined? 
(a) Carnivores – secondary or tertiary consumers
(b) Decomposers – microbial heterotrophs
(c) Herbivores – primary consumers
(d) Omnivores – molds, yeast and mushrooms

Answer

D

III. Read the given passage and answer the questions given below :
Waste management is essential in today’s society. Due to an increase in population, the generation of waste is getting doubled day by day. Moreover, the increase in waste is affecting the lives of many people.
Observe the following diagram and answer the questions any four from   

VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science

Waste management is the managing of waste by disposal and recycling of it. Moreover, waste management needs proper techniques keeping in mind the environmental situations. For instance, there are various methods and techniques by which the waste is disposed off. You must have come across 5 R’s to save the environment: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle.

Question. According to the ‘Solid Waste Management Rule 2016’, the waste should be segregated into three categories.
Observe the table below and select the row that has correct information.   

VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science
Answer

B

Question. Effective segregation of wastes at the point of generation is very important. Select the appropriate statements giving the importance of waste segregation. 
(i) Less waste goes to the landfills
(ii) Better for public health and the environment
(iii) Help in reducing the waste
(iv) Resulting in deterioration of a waste picker’s health
(a) Both (i) and (ii)
(b) Both (i) and (iii)
(c) Both (ii) and (iii)
(d) Both (i) and (iv)

Answer

A

Question. Choose the waste management strategy that is matched with correct example. 

VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science
VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science
Answer

D

Question. Recycling of paper is a good practice but recycled paper should not be used as food packaging because 
(a) Recycled papers take lots of space.
(b) Recycled papers can’t cover food properly.
(c) Recycled papers can cause infection.
(d) Recycled papers are costly.

Answer

C

Question. The given graph shows the amount of waste generated, dumped and treated in percentage. 
Identify the reason of low success rate of waste management process.   

VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science

(a) Only 15% of urban India’s waste is processed
(b) Less than 60% of waste is collected from households
(c) More than 60% of waste is collected from households
(d) Both (a) and (b)

Answer

D

IV. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below :
Human body is made up of five important components, of which water is the main component.
Food as well as potable water is essential for every human being. The food is obtained from plants through agriculture; Pesticides are being used extensively for a high yield in the fields. These pesticides are absorbed by the plants from the soil along with water and minerals and from the water bodies these pesticides are taken up by the aquatic animals and plants. As these chemicals are not biodegradable, they get accumulated progressively at each trophic level.
The maximum concentration of these chemicals gets accumulated in our bodies and greatly affects the health of our mind and body.

Question. Various steps in a food chain represent: 
(a) Food web
(b) Trophic level
(c) Ecosystem
(d) Bio-magnification

Answer

B

Question. With regard to various food chains operating in an ecosystem, man is a: 
(a) Consumer
(b) Producer
(c) Producer and consumer
(d) Producer and decomposer

Answer

A

Question. The maximum concentration of pesticides are found in 
(a) Man
(b) Plants
(c) Deer
(d) Tiger

Answer

A

Question. Which of these methods could be applied to reduce our intake of pesticides through food to some extent ? 
(a) Organic farming
(b) Mixed cropping
(c) Single cell protein
(d) Biofortification

Answer

A

V. Based on the given information and your
knowledge, answer the questions given below :
Food chains and the energy flow within an ecosystem provide an important understanding of contingencies and mutual dependencies of organisms.
The given below flow chart depicts the energy flow within some members of a grassland ecosystem. The grass in the below ecosystem transduces 120,000 J of sunlight and fixes it into 12,000 J of energy. It is established that 90% of the energy of one trophic level is not passed to the next trophic level. Further assume that the energy transferred from one trophic level to the next is equally shared among the different organisms at that trophic level.   

VBQs Our Environment Class 10 Science

Question. In the food web depicted above, identify the most energy efficient link for tertiary consumer. 
(a) Rabbit
(b) Rat
(c) Lizard
(d) Grasshopper

Answer

A

Question. Which organism acts as both the secondary consumer and the tertiary consumer?   
(a) Snake
(b) Eagle
(c) Chicken
(d) Rat

Answer

B

Question. How many food chains are present in the food web depicted above? 
(a) 2
(b) 3
(c) 5
(d) 6

Answer

C

Question. Based on the above information, indicate the amount of energy that an organism C may have received from an organism from the previous trophic level. 
(a) 1,20,000 J
(b) 12, 000 J
(c) 1200 J
(d) 120 J

Answer

C

VI. Read the given passage and answer the questions given below :
A farmer is growing a crop regularly in his field. He uses chemical fertilizers, pesticides, organic manure as well as bio-fertilizers. Very close to his field is a factory which emits smoke as a byproduct. There is also a huge lake in the nearby area.

Question. A considerable increase in plant life in the lake was noticed after the farming activity intensified. 
The most likely reason for this could be:
(a) Chemical fertilizers leached into the lake from the field.
(b) Pesticides leached into the lake from the field.
(c) Organic manure leached into the lake from the field.
(d) Smoke particles from the industry got settled in moist surroundings of the lake.

Answer

A

Question. An expert agriculturist suggests to the farmer to minimize the use of chemical fertilizers and instead use biofertilizers as they have many advantages over chemical fertilizers. 
Which of the following is NOT true for biofertilizers?
(a) They are economical
(b) They help in reducing pollution in the lake
(c) They are renewable
(d) They require large set-up for their production.

Answer

D

Question. Consider the following food chain in the same lake. 
Aquatic plant → Small fish → Big fish → Birds
Which of the above organisms is likely to show minimum amount of pesticide concentration in them after considerable time?
(a) Aquatic plants.
(b) Small fish.
(c) Big fish.
(d) Birds.

Answer

A

Question. ___________ is the increase in the concentration of harmful chemical substances in the body of living organisms. 
(a) Biological oxygen demand
(b) Biomagnification
(c) Biosynthesis
(d) Biogeochemical cycle

Answer

B

VII. Study the passage and answer the questions given below :
The activities of man had adverse effects on all forms of living organisms in the biosphere.
Unlimited exploitation of nature by man disturbed the delicate ecological balance betweenthe living and non-living components of the biosphere. The unfavourable conditions created
by man himself threatened the survival not only of him but also of the entire living organisms on the mother earth. One of your classmates is an active member of ‘Eco club’ of your school which is creating environmental awareness amongst the school students, spreading the same in the society and also working hard for preventing environmental degradation of the surroundings.

Question. Degradation of non-biodegradable waste is difficult because : 
(a) Non-biodegradable wastes cannot be recycled.
(b) Microorganisms cannot decompose it.
(c) They can be made into organic wastes.
(d) All of the above

Answer

B

Question. Which of these group(s) contains only nonbiodegradable items? 
(i) Wood, paper, leather
(ii) Polythene, detergent, PVC
(iii) Plastic, detergent, grass
(iv) Plastic, bakelite, DDT
(a) (iii)
(b) (iv)
(c) (i) and (iii)
(d) (ii) and (iv)

Answer

D

Question. Which of the following does NOT exist in a balanced ecosystem? 
(a) Interconnected food chains.
(b) Interdependence among living organisms and the environment.
(c) Animals dependent on plants but plants are not dependent on animals.
(d) Communities made up of different populations of organisms.

Answer

C

Question. The green dustbin signifies: 
(a) Non- biodegradable waste
(b) Biodegradable waste
(c) Plastic waste
(d) Garbage

Answer

B