Life Processes – Class 10 Biology Descriptive Quiz

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Master the key concepts of CBSE Class 10 Biology with this free online descriptive quiz based on the chapter “Life Processes”, as prescribed in the NCERT Science textbook. This foundational chapter introduces students to the essential biological processes that are vital for sustaining life in living organisms — such as nutrition, respiration, transport, and excretion. Understanding these concepts is critical not just for school exams but also as a base for future studies in biology and health sciences.

The descriptive quiz includes a variety of short-answer and long-answer questions designed to enhance students’ ability to explain processes clearly, use appropriate terminology, and apply biological principles in real-life contexts. Students will be required to describe differences between autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition, explain the path of blood circulation, differentiate between aerobic and anaerobic respiration, and understand how excretory systems work in humans and plants.

Aligned with the NCERT syllabus, these practice tests are perfect for exam preparation, concept reinforcement, and writing skill development. Answering descriptive biology questions requires more than just memorizing definitions — it demands the ability to express how and why life processes occur, often with labeled diagrams and scientific clarity.

Whether you're preparing for school assessments, pre-boards, or the CBSE Class 10 board exam, this quiz will help you build accuracy, confidence, and exam-ready presentation skills. Begin now and test your understanding with our expert-designed Life Processes descriptive quiz, completely free and tailored to your academic needs.

How Our Descriptive Test on Life Processes Works

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In this descriptive quiz on Life Processes, you will:

  • Write your own answers instead of choosing from fixed options
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  • Build clarity, communication, and critical thinking skills
  • Practice exam-focused questions from textbooks and previous years’ papers
  • Sharpen your writing to score better in school tests and board exams

Why is diffusion insufficient to meet the oxygen requirements of multi cellular organisms like humans?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Diffusion alone cannot meet the oxygen requirements of multi-cellular organisms like humans because it is too slow over large distances. Humans have a circulatory system to transport oxygen quickly to all body parts.

What criteria do we use to decide whether something is alive?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: To decide whether something is alive, we use criteria such as growth, movement, reproduction, metabolism, response to stimuli, and the ability to adapt to the environment.

What are outside raw materials used for by an organism?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Outside raw materials like oxygen, water, and nutrients are used by organisms for cellular processes like respiration, digestion, and growth. These materials are essential for energy production and building cellular structures.

What processes would you consider essential for maintaining life?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Essential processes for maintaining life include respiration, digestion, excretion, growth, reproduction, and circulation. These processes provide energy, remove waste, and ensure survival and propagation of species.

What are the differences between autotrophic nutrition and heterotrophic nutrition?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Autotrophic nutrition involves organisms producing their own food using sunlight or chemical reactions (e.g., plants). Heterotrophic nutrition involves obtaining food by consuming other organisms or organic matter (e.g., animals, fungi).

Where do plants get each of the raw materials required for photosynthesis?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Plants get raw materials for photosynthesis from the air (CO2), soil (water, minerals), and sunlight. These elements are absorbed through leaves and roots to produce glucose and oxygen.

What is the role of the acid in our stomach?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: The acid in our stomach helps break down food, particularly proteins, and activates digestive enzymes. It also kills harmful bacteria and creates an acidic environment for enzyme function.

What is the function of digestive enzymes?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Digestive enzymes break down complex food molecules into simpler forms. For example, amylase breaks down starch, pepsin digests proteins, and lipase breaks down fats.

How is the small intestine designed to absorb digested food?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: The small intestine is adapted for absorption with villi and microvilli that increase surface area. The walls are thin and permeable to nutrients, and capillaries transport absorbed nutrients into the bloodstream.

What advantage over an aquatic organism does a terrestrial organism have with regard to obtaining oxygen for respiration?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Terrestrial organisms have easier access to oxygen because they breathe air, which contains a higher concentration of oxygen compared to water. Aquatic organisms must extract oxygen from water, which is more challenging.

What are the different ways in which glucose is oxidised to provide energy in various organisms?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Glucose can be oxidized through aerobic respiration (with oxygen) to produce a large amount of energy, or anaerobic respiration (without oxygen), which produces less energy. Organisms like yeast use anaerobic respiration in the absence of oxygen.

How is oxygen and carbon dioxide transported in human beings?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Oxygen is transported through the bloodstream by hemoglobin in red blood cells. Carbon dioxide is carried in three ways: dissolved in plasma, bound to hemoglobin, or in the form of bicarbonate ions.

How are the lungs designed in human beings to maximise the area for exchange of gases?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Human lungs are designed with alveoli that provide a large surface area for gas exchange. The walls of alveoli are thin and surrounded by capillaries, ensuring efficient exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

What are the components of the transport system in human beings? What are the functions of these components?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: The human circulatory system consists of the heart, blood vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries), and blood. The heart pumps blood, arteries carry oxygenated blood, veins return deoxygenated blood, and capillaries facilitate exchange between blood and tissues.

Why is it necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood in mammals and birds?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: It is necessary to separate oxygenated and deoxygenated blood to ensure efficient oxygen delivery to body tissues. In mammals and birds, the double circulatory system keeps oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood separate, preventing mixing and ensuring better oxygenation.

What are the components of the transport system in highly organised plants?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: In plants, the transport system includes xylem (for water and minerals) and phloem (for food). The xylem carries water absorbed by roots to the leaves, while phloem transports sugars from leaves to other parts.

How are water and minerals transported in plants?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Water and minerals are transported in plants through xylem vessels. Water is absorbed by roots from the soil and moves upwards via transpiration, while minerals are carried along with it.

How is food transported in plants?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Food is transported in plants through phloem. The products of photosynthesis are transported from leaves (where they are made) to other parts of the plant for growth, storage, and energy.

Describe the structure and functioning of nephrons.

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Nephrons, the functional units of kidneys, consist of a glomerulus (a network of capillaries) and a tubule. They filter blood to remove waste, reabsorb essential substances, and produce urine for excretion.

What are the methods used by plants to get rid of excretory products?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Plants use methods like transpiration, guttation, and excretion via leaves to get rid of excretory products. These processes help remove excess water and metabolic waste like oxygen and carbon dioxide.

How is the amount of urine produced regulated?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: The amount of urine produced is regulated by the kidneys based on hydration levels in the body. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) controls water reabsorption in the kidneys, reducing or increasing urine output as needed.

How are fats digested in our bodies? Where does this process take place?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Fats are digested by bile from the liver and lipase enzymes. Bile emulsifies fats, breaking them into smaller droplets. Lipase then breaks down these droplets into fatty acids and glycerol, which are absorbed by the small intestine.

What is the role of saliva in the digestion of food?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Saliva contains the enzyme amylase, which breaks down starch into sugars. It also moistens food to aid swallowing and initiates the digestion process in the mouth.

What are the necessary conditions for autotrophic nutrition and what are its by products?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Autotrophic nutrition requires sunlight, chlorophyll, water, and carbon dioxide. The by-products are glucose (used for energy) and oxygen (released into the atmosphere).

What are the differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration? Name some organisms that use the anaerobic mode of respiration.

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Aerobic respiration occurs with oxygen and produces more energy (ATP), whereas anaerobic respiration occurs without oxygen and results in less energy and by-products like lactic acid or ethanol. Yeast and muscle cells use anaerobic respiration.

How are the alveoli designed to maximise the exchange of gases?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Alveoli are tiny air sacs with thin walls that maximize the surface area for gas exchange. They are surrounded by capillaries, facilitating the efficient transfer of oxygen into the blood and carbon dioxide out of the blood.

What would be the consequences of a deficiency of haemoglobin in our bodies?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: A deficiency of hemoglobin can lead to anemia, causing symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath. Hemoglobin is crucial for carrying oxygen to body tissues, and its deficiency reduces oxygen supply.

Describe double circulation of blood in human beings. Why is it necessary?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Double circulation ensures that oxygenated and deoxygenated blood are circulated in separate circuits. The pulmonary circulation moves blood between the heart and lungs, while the systemic circulation moves oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body.

What are the differences between the transport of materials in xylem and phloem?

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Xylem transports water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant, whereas phloem transports food (sugar) produced by photosynthesis from leaves to other plant parts. Xylem is made up of dead cells, and phloem consists of living cells.

Compare the functioning of alveoli in the lungs and nephrons in the kidneys with respect to their structure and functioning.

Marks: 3

Suggested Answer: Alveoli in the lungs and nephrons in the kidneys are both designed for exchange processes. Alveoli exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and blood, while nephrons filter blood and produce urine. Both have extensive surface areas and thin membranes for efficient exchange.

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Will this test on "Life Processes" help me improve my exam performance?

Absolutely. Each quiz on Life Processes is crafted to match the relevant syllabus. You'll receive instant evaluation and detailed feedback to improve your writing, clarity, and exam readiness.

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Why does descriptive practice matter?

Descriptive practice develops critical thinking, improves written expression, and strengthens your ability to organize and articulate ideas—all essential for scoring well in CBSE board exams and beyond.

Are other types of quizzes (like MCQs) and topics available for free?

Yes! You can explore our full quiz list, including free MCQ quizzes and more descriptive tests across subjects and topics. MCQ quizzes are unlimited and free to practice. For descriptive quizzes like Life Processes, the free limit of 5 evaluations per day applies across all quizzes, meaning you can attempt any 5 questions from any quiz each day.

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