CBSE Class 10 Previous Year Question Paper (Biology) – 2020

CBSE class 10 previous year question papers helps you to understand the level of questions asked in the previous exams, along with the changes in pattern. Practicing the biology class 10 previous year question papers enhances time-management skills while appearing in the board examination. It makes you understand the importance of different topics that have been asked previously.

CBSE Class 10 pyq Biology will boost your confidence level to appear in the examination with proper knowledge of different topics that are going to be asked. It enhances the understanding of the topic and acts as a checkpoint to see the level of preparation that you have done. CBSE biology previous year question paper 2020 is available here.

Section A (1 Mark Each)

Question 3: The growing size of the human population is a cause of concern for all people. The rate of birth and death in a given population will determine its size. Reproduction is the process by which organisms increase their population. The process of sexual maturation for reproduction is gradual and takes place while general body growth is still going on. Some degree of sexual maturation does not necessarily mean that the mind or body is ready for sexual acts or for having and bringing up children. Various contraceptive devices are being used by human beings to control the size of the population.

(a) List two common signs of sexual maturation in boys and girls.

Answer:

Two common signs of sexual maturation in boys and girls are:

• Thick hair growth in armpits, genital area/thinner hair on arms, legs, face.
• More active oil secretion from glands on skin/Occurrence of pimples.

(b) What is the result of reckless female foeticide?

Answer:

Reckless female foeticide causes imbalance in male – female ratio/ decline in child sex ratio.

(c) Which contraceptive method changes the hormonal balance of the body?

Answer:

Oral pills change the hormonal balance of the body.

(d) Write two factors that determine the size of a population.

Answer:

Two factors which determine the size of population are:

1. Birth rate
2. Death rate

Question 4: Human body is made up of five important components, of which water is the main component. Food as well as potable water are 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.

a) Why is the maximum concentration of pesticides found in human beings?

Answer:

Human beings are at the top level in any food chain. That’s why maximum concentration of pesticides found in human beings.

(b) Give one method which could be applied to reduce our intake of pesticides through food to some extent.

Answer:

Washing of vegetables, fruits, grains thoroughly is one method which could be applied to reduce our intake of pesticides through food to some extent.

(c) Various steps in a food chain represent:

• (a) Food web
• (b) Trophic level
• (e) Ecosystem
• (d) Biomagnification

Answer:

The various steps which are represented in the food chain are known as trophic level. Hence the correct option is (b).

(d) 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:

According to food chains, a man is a consumer which does not produce anything of its own. Hence the correct option is (a).

Section – B (3 Marks Each)

Question 18: A squirrel is in a scary situation. Its body has to prepare for either fighting or running away. State the immediate changes that take place in its body so that the squirrel is able to either fight or run?

Answer:

The immediate changes that take place in its body so that the squirrel is able to either fight or run are:

• The adrenaline hormone is secreted into the blood.
• The heart beats faster resulting in supply of more oxygen to the muscles.
• Blood is diverted to skeletal muscles.
• The breathing rate increases.
• The blood supply to digestive systems and skin is reduced.

OR

Why is chemical communication better than electrical impulses as a means of communication between cells in a multi-cellular organism?

Answer:

Chemical communication better than electrical impulses as a means of communication between cells in a multi-cellular organism because:

• Electrical impulses have limited access to only those cells that are connected by nervous tissue/ neurons, whereas chemical signals can reach each and every cell of the body.
• Cells need time to reset in order to create repeated/ new electrical impulses whereas no such time is required for chemical communication.

Question 19: Define the term pollination. Differentiate between self-pollination and cross pollination. What is the significance of pollination?

Answer:

Definition: Pollination can be defined as the act of transferring of pollen grains from the anther of male flower to stigma of female flower.

Difference between self-pollination and cross-pollination:

Self-pollination	Cross-pollination
Transfer of pollen in the same flower.	Transfer of pollen from one flower to another.
Pollinating agents are not required.	Pollinating agents are required for transfer of pollens.

Significance of pollination: Pollination leads to fertilization resulting in the formation of zygote.

Question 20: What are homologous structures? Give an example. Is it necessary that homologous structures always have a common ancestor? Justify your answer.

Answer:

Homologous structures are those that share a basic structure but carry out different roles or functions. Therefore, homologous structures are similar to one another while having been altered to serve different purposes.

For example, although the anatomy of the forelimbs of reptiles, amphibians, and mammals is the same, their functions vary. Human arms, avian wings, and horse front legs are examples of homologous structures.

Yes, homologous structures share common ancestors, but they have undergone modifications to perform different roles. Although the fundamental structure of a bird’s wings and a human arm are identical, each species’ wings have various functions due to modification. Human arms are not designed for flight, but those of birds are. Therefore, even if they serve diverse purposes, we can claim that they have common ancestors.

Section – C (5 Marks Each)

Question 27: (a) Why is there a difference in the rate of breathing between aquatic organisms and terrestrial organisms? Explain.

Answer:

One full breath consists of a single inhale and exhalation of air. The number of times a full breath is taken in a minute is hence the measure of breathing rate. The rate at which aquatic and terrestrial organisms breathe varies. This is because dissolved water, which is found in the gills of aquatic species like fish, provides them with oxygen. And we know that there is less dissolved oxygen in water than there is in air when it comes to oxygen in its undissolved state.

To fulfill their respiratory needs, they consequently breathe quickly. To keep up with the body’s need for oxygen, they breathe more quickly than humans do. Swimming over a river causes swimmers to breathe more quickly, as can be observed. Consequently, the rates at which aquatic and terrestrial creatures breathe vary.

(b) Draw a diagram of the human respiratory system and label – pharynx, trachea, lungs, diaphragm and alveolar sac on it.

Answer:

The human respiratory system can be shown as:

OR

(a)   Name the organs that form the excretory system in human beings.

Answer:

Human excretory system consists of following organs:

1. Two kidneys: One on each side of the spine, near the liver. The kidneys are a vital organ found in pairs in the human body. The kidney aids in blood cleansing.

2. The urinary bladder: This structure resembles a sac and holds urine until it is out. Urine is sent to it through ureters that are attached to each kidney independently.

3. Urethra: This structure, which resembles a tube, emerges from the bladder. In males, it is longer, whereas in females, it is shorter. It is a typical route for both urine and sperm in males.

(b) Describe in brief how urine is produced in the human body.

Answer:

Chemical waste products produced by our bodies include uric acid and urea. The kidneys remove these waste products from the circulation. Thus, the kidney functions only as a blood filter. It has nephrons, which are the basic kidney structures that aid in the filtering of blood.

The renal tubule and Bowman’s capsule make up its two components. The cup-shaped Bowman’s capsule contains the Glomerulus, a coiled blood capillary tube that aids in blood filtration. The renal tubule receives the filtrate.

However, as the first filtrate travels through the renal tubule, some of the substances such as glucose, amino acids, and salts are more frequently absorbed together with an immense quantity of water in the capillaries surrounding the tubule. The remaining liquid travels to the bladder through the collecting duct to be stored. Urine travels down the urethra and exits the body when the bladder is full.

Question 28: (a) What is the law of dominance of traits? Explain with an example.

Answer:

Gregor Mendel, who discovered the fundamental principles of heredity, established the Law of Dominance. According to this, “only one form of trait appears in the next generation when parents with pure, contrasting traits are crossed together.” An organism’s appearance of a trait is typically caused by two alleles, of which the dominant allele manifests its effects more strongly than the recessive one. In other words, in heterozygous individuals, the dominant allele suppresses the recessive allele.

Consider the plant’s height; ‘T’ indicates tallness, whereas ‘t’ indicates dwarfism.

In the pea plant, the allele “T” is dominant over the allele “t.”

Consider a plant that has genotype Tt crossed with Tt and exhibits “tall” phenotypic traits.

Below is a diagram of a Punnett square representation of the cross.

In the above cross, the genotypic ratio is 1:2:1, meaning that one plant appears tall due to two dominant alleles, two plants have one dominant and one recessive allele, and one plant appears dwarf due to two recessive alleles. With a 3:1 phenotypic ratio, three plants appear to be tall and one is dwarfed.

(b) Why are the traits acquired during the lifetime of an individual not inherited? Explain.

Answer:

The characteristics that an individual acquires throughout their lifetime are known as acquired traits. Changes in lifestyle, injuries, loss of blood components, and food intake are the causes of acquired attributes. In contrast, hereditary traits are those that are determined by genetics. These are traits, like eye color or bone structure, that parents pass on to their children. However, every mutation—a change in the gene sequence—is also transmitted to the DNA sequence, which is the source of heredity. However, because these modifications occur in somatic cells, which are non-reproductive tissues, they cannot be passed on to the following generation, making acquired features not inherited. Therefore, characteristics that a person acquires over their lifetime are not inherited.

Conclusion – CBSE Class 10 Biology Question Paper 2020

The CBSE Class 10 previous year question papers for biology exams is an important tool for preparing for CBSE Class 10 Board Examinations. Students who practice many CBSE Class 10 pyq can learn useful tips that will assist them in scoring good marks in CBSE Class 10 Biology exam. The main purpose of providing the previous year question papers is to give an idea about exam pattern and the types of questions asked in exam. Questions are often repeated in exams as well. Hence, solving class 10 previous year question paper for biology is important while studying.

FAQs – CBSE Class 10 Biology Question Paper – 2020

Is it Necessary to Solve the CBSE Biology Previous Year Papers of Class 10?

Yes, students should try solving previous year question paper of biology before exams as it helps in analysing your preparation and give an idea about Class 12 board exams pattern.

Where I can Find CBSE Class 10 Biology Previous Year Question Paper?

You can find previous year question papers for Class 10 biology on the official website of Geeks for Geeks. We have provided accurately solved answers to all the questions.

Why Should a Student Solve the CBSE Class 10 Biology Previous Year Papers?

Solving previous year question papers of Class 10 Biology familiarise them with the CBSE exam patter, marks distribution, and practise finishing writing answers within allotted time.

Are the CBSE Board Class 10 Biology Previous Year Question Papers Available with Solutions?

Yes, the previous year question papers for CBSE Class 10 Biology are available on Geeks for Geeks with solutions. The answers are provided by our experienced subject matter experts in simple language that will be easy to understand.

Is Class 10 Biology Paper Tough?

The level of difficulty of Class 10 biology paper is moderate. You can score good marks by solving Class 10 Biology Previous Year Question Papers as it helps you in understanding the pattern of the exam.