Class 6 Science Chapter 2 Diversity in the Living World Extra Questions

Extra practice questions for Class 6 Science Chapter 2, “Diversity in the Living World”, to reinforce classification concepts and real-world adaptation examples beyond the textbook’s main exercises. These Class 6 Science Chapter 2 important questions are handy for last-minute exam practice.

Very Short Answer Questions

Q1. What is biodiversity?
Answer: The variety of living things (plants, animals, and other organisms) found in a particular area or on Earth as a whole.

Q2. Name two plants that are examples of climbers.
Answer: Grapevine and gourd (any plant with a weak stem that needs support to grow upward is acceptable).

Q3. What type of venation does a banana leaf show?
Answer: Parallel venation.

Q4. Name the type of root system found in grass.
Answer: Fibrous root.

Q5. What is the term for animals that can live both on land and in water?
Answer: Amphibious animals.

Short Answer Questions

Q6. Differentiate between a shrub and a tree.
Answer: A shrub is medium-sized with a hard, woody stem that branches close to the ground (e.g. rose). A tree is much taller with a thick, hard, woody stem (trunk) that branches out higher above the ground (e.g. mango).

Q7. Why does a cactus have a thick, fleshy stem?
Answer: To store water, which helps the plant survive the long dry periods and scarce rainfall typical of desert conditions.

Q8. Explain why hot-desert camels and cold-desert (Ladakh) camels look different from each other.
Answer: Hot-desert camels have one hump, long legs, and short hair, suited to walking on hot sand and staying cool. Cold-desert (Ladakh) camels have two humps, shorter legs, and longer, thicker hair, adapted to conserve heat and cope with rocky, cold terrain — each is adapted to its own specific environment.

Q9. What is a sacred grove? Why is it important for biodiversity?
Answer: A sacred grove is a patch of forest that a local community protects and leaves largely undisturbed, often for religious or cultural reasons, over many generations. It is important because it preserves natural habitats and the many plant and animal species living within them, acting as a small but valuable pocket of biodiversity.

Q10. Who was Janaki Ammal, and what was her contribution to biodiversity conservation?
Answer: Janaki Ammal was a botanist who played a key role in the “Save Silent Valley” movement, which helped protect a rainforest in Palakkad district, Kerala, from being submerged by a proposed hydroelectric dam project.

Long Answer / Reasoning Questions

Q11. A plant has a taproot and reticulate leaf venation. Based on the pattern taught in this chapter, would you expect it to be a dicot or a monocot? Explain your reasoning.
Answer: It would be expected to be a dicot. The chapter shows that taproot, reticulate venation, and dicot seeds (two cotyledons) tend to occur together in the same plants, just as fibrous root, parallel venation, and monocot seeds (one cotyledon) tend to occur together in a different set of plants.

Q12. Explain, with two examples, how animals are adapted to survive in mountain habitats.
Answer: Mountain goats have thick fur for warmth, a muscular build for climbing, and hooves specially shaped to grip rocky slopes. The deodar tree has a conical shape with branches that slope downward, letting heavy snow slide off rather than breaking the branches. Both are adaptations that help the organism cope with cold temperatures and difficult terrain.

Q13. Why is Salim Ali remembered as an important figure in Indian wildlife conservation?
Answer: Salim Ali was a renowned ornithologist (bird scientist), popularly known as “the Birdman of India,” whose lifelong study of Indian birds greatly advanced the understanding and conservation of bird species in the country. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1976 in recognition of his contributions.

Q14. List and explain three human activities that can help protect biodiversity.
Answer: (1) Afforestation/reforestation — planting trees to restore lost forest cover and habitats. (2) Establishing and respecting protected areas/reserves (like tiger reserves under Project Tiger) where hunting and logging are restricted. (3) Raising public awareness so that communities value and actively protect local plants and animals, similar to the tradition of maintaining sacred groves.

Q15. The Great Indian Bustard’s population has declined sharply. Suggest two possible reasons based on what you have learned about habitats and adaptation.
Answer: Loss or destruction of its natural grassland habitat (for farming, infrastructure, or other development) reduces the space and resources available for the species to survive. Since animals are adapted to specific surroundings, rapid habitat changes can outpace a species’ ability to adapt, making survival and breeding harder and causing population decline.

Practice more: Solutions | Revision Notes for this chapter.

Written by Satish

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