---
title: "NCERT Solutions Class 6 Science Living Creatures: Exploring their Characteristics"
url: https://www.swavid.com/science/class/6/chapter/living-creatures-exploring-their-characteristics/ncert-solutions
dateModified: 2026-10-07T16:03:04+00:00
---

# NCERT Solutions Class 6 Science Living Creatures: Exploring their Characteristics

This chapter's questions cover students' understanding of living and non-living things, characteristics of living organisms, seed germination conditions, plant growth, and the life cycles of animals like mosquitoes and frogs.

Free PDF (5 pages): https://www.swavid.com/api/seo/pdf/ncert/science/class-6/swavid-ncert-solutions-class-6-science-chapter-10-living-creatures-exploring-their-characteristics-361e7d929c.pdf

## Let us enhance our learning

### Question 1

*3 marks · Short answer*

List the similarities and differences in life cycles of plants and animals.

**Solution**

1. Similarities: Both plants and animals go through various stages of growth, starting from a young stage (seed or newborn) to an adult stage, and eventually reproduce and die.
2. Differences: Plant life cycles begin with seed germination and involve stages like appearance of leaves, flowers, and fruits, whereas animal life cycles begin with an egg, birth, or hatching and involve growth of young ones into adults, often with significant changes in shape or habitat.
3. Continuity: Both processes ensure the continuity of their kind through reproduction.

**Answer:** Plants and animals both grow, reproduce, and go through developmental stages, but plants start from seeds and produce flowers and fruits, while animals start from eggs or young ones and grow into adults.

> Common mistake: Confusing plant reproduction structures with animal offspring stages.

### Question 2

*3 marks · Short answer*

The table on the next page shows some data. Study the data and try to find out examples appropriate for the conditions given in the second and third columns. If you think that an example for any of the conditions given below is not possible, explain why.
S. no. Does it grow? Does it respire? Example Remarks
1. No No
2. No Yes
3. Yes No
4. Yes Yes

**Solution**

1. For S. No. 1 (Does not grow, Does not respire): Example is a stone or a pencil; these are non-living things.
2. For S. No. 2 (Does not grow, Respires): An example is not possible because respiration is a characteristic of living beings, and living beings naturally grow.
3. For S. No. 3 (Grows, Does not respire): An example is not possible because all living beings that grow must also respire to release energy for life processes.
4. For S. No. 4 (Grows, Respires): Example is a plant or an animal; these are living beings.

**Answer:** S. No. 1: Stone (Non-living). S. Nos. 2 and 3: Not possible, because growth and respiration go together in living beings. S. No. 4: Plant or animal (Living).

> Common mistake: Failing to explain why growth and respiration are connected in living beings.

### Question 3

*3 marks · Short answer*

You have learnt that different conditions are required for seed germination. How can we use this knowledge for proper storage of grains and pulses?

**Solution**

1. Seed germination requires essential conditions such as water, air, and suitable temperature.
2. Grains and pulses are stored in dry, airtight containers to prevent the availability of moisture and air.
3. By keeping them dry, we prevent seeds from germinating and getting spoiled by fungi or bacteria during storage.

**Answer:** We store grains and pulses in dry and airtight conditions to remove moisture and air, which prevents them from germinating or spoiling.

> Common mistake: Forgetting to mention that both moisture and air are needed for germination and therefore must be kept away.

### Question 4

*3 marks · Short answer*

You have learnt that a tail is present in a tadpole but it disappears as it grows into a frog. What is the advantage of having a tail in the tadpole stage?

**Solution**

1. A tadpole lives in water and has a fish-like tail.
2. The tail helps the tadpole swim easily in water to find food and escape from predators.
3. As it grows into an adult frog that lives on land and in water, the tail disappears as it is no longer needed.

**Answer:** The tail in a tadpole helps it swim efficiently in water during its aquatic stage of life.

> Common mistake: Thinking the tail is used for walking on land.

### Question 5

*3 marks · Short answer*

Charan says that a wooden log is non-living as it cannot move. Charu counters it by saying that it is living because it is made of wood obtained from trees. Give your arguments in favour or against the two statements given by Charan and Charu.

**Solution**

1. Charan is right: A wooden log cannot move, grow, respire, or show other characteristics of living beings, so it is non-living.
2. Charu is incorrect: Although the wood came from a living tree, the log itself has been cut down and no longer exhibits any life processes like respiration, growth, or reproduction.
3. Therefore, a wooden log is classified as a non-living thing.

**Answer:** Charan's statement is correct because a wooden log does not show life characteristics. Charu's statement is incorrect because once wood is separated from a tree, it ceases to be living.

> Common mistake: Confusing the origin of a material with its current state of being living or non-living.

### Question 6

*3 marks · Short answer*

What are the similarities and distinguishing features in the life cycles of a mosquito and a frog?

**Solution**

1. Similarities: Both mosquitoes and frogs lay eggs in water, go through multiple distinct developmental stages, and undergo significant changes in body shape and habitat during their life cycles.
2. Distinguishing features: Mosquitoes pass through four distinct stages (egg, larva, pupa, adult), whereas frogs pass through egg (spawn), embryo, tadpole, froglet, and adult frog stages.
3. Habitat change: Mosquito larvae and pupae live entirely in water while adults fly in air, whereas frog tadpoles live in water and adult frogs can live both on land and in water.

**Answer:** Both mosquitoes and frogs start as eggs in water and undergo major changes in form and habitat, but mosquitoes have a pupa stage and result in flying adults, while frogs go through tadpole and froglet stages into jumping amphibians.

> Common mistake: Missing the specific intermediate stages like pupa for mosquitoes and tadpole for frogs.

### Question 7

*3 marks · Short answer*

A plant is provided with all the conditions suitable for its growth (Fig. 10.9). Draw what you expect to see in the shoot and the root of the plant after one week. Write down the reasons.

**Solution**

1. The shoot of the plant bends and grows upwards towards sunlight.
2. The root of the plant grows downwards into the soil.
3. Reason: Shoots exhibit movement towards light, while roots grow downwards due to their response to gravity and soil conditions.

**Answer:** The shoot grows upwards towards light and the root grows downwards.

> Common mistake: Thinking that the shoot will continue to grow horizontally just because the pot is placed along the ground.

### Question 8

*3 marks · Short answer*

Tara and Vijay set up the experiment shown in the picture (Fig. 10.10). What do you think they want to find out? How will they know if they are correct?

**Solution**

1. Tara and Vijay want to find out whether air and water are essential conditions for seed germination.
2. They will know they are correct by observing whether seeds germinate when provided with both air and water compared to when one or both are absent.
3. Seeds that receive the right amount of air and water turn into sprouts, while others do not.

**Answer:** They want to find out the essential conditions required for seed germination by checking the role of air and water.

> Common mistake: Forgetting that sunlight is generally not essential for the initial germination of most seeds.

### Question 9

*3 marks · Short answer*

Design an experiment to check if temperature has an effect on seed germination.

**Solution**

1. Take three identical pots with moist soil and sow equal number of bean seeds in each.
2. Keep one pot at a very low temperature in a refrigerator, the second at normal room temperature, and the third at a higher temperature near a heat source.
3. Provide equal amounts of water and air to all three pots and observe them for 7-10 days to check germination.

**Answer:** An experiment with pots kept at different temperature conditions while maintaining constant air, water, and soil parameters.

> Common mistake: Failing to keep other conditions like water and air constant while changing the temperature.

## Frequently asked questions

### How many questions are there in the NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Science Chapter 10 Living Creatures Exploring their Characteristics?

There are 9 questions in the Let us enhance our learning section of this chapter. SwaVid provides detailed, step-by-step solutions for all of them right on this page for free.

### Which topics do the exercise questions cover for Class 6 Science Chapter 10?

The questions cover important concepts like adaptation in the tadpole stage, characteristics of living and non-living things, and the effect of temperature on seed germination. Other topics include essential conditions for germination, plant growth and movement, and the life cycles of mosquitoes, frogs, plants, and animals.

### What is the hardest question type in this chapter and how should I approach it?

Short answer questions involving life cycles and adaptation can sometimes be tricky because they require precise scientific terms. You should approach them by breaking down the stages clearly and connecting them to environmental factors like temperature or moisture.

### How can I write answers to get full marks in Class 6 Science exams?

To secure full marks, write your answers in clear points and use correct scientific terminology related to living and non-living characteristics. You can refer to SwaVid's free PDF solutions on this page to learn the exact structuring and formatting expected by teachers.

### Is the free PDF for these NCERT solutions available for the new syllabus?

Yes, the free PDF based on the new NCERT book as per the NCF 2023 for the 2026-27 session is available on this SwaVid page. You can easily download it to study offline and prepare thoroughly for your exams.

## Related pages

- [Class 6 Science chapters](https://www.swavid.com/science/class/6)

Solutions written by SwaVid, a personal AI tutor for Class 6 to 10 Maths and Science. Practise this chapter free: https://www.swavid.com/start/student