STD VIII

CHAPTER-2
MICROORGANISMS: FRIENDS AND FOE

INTEXT QUESTIONS

PAGE NUMBER 19

1. I saw that my mother added a little yoghurt to warm milk to set yoghurt for the next day. I wonder why?
Ans.
a) When a little yoghurt is added to lukewarm milk, the milk gets converted into yoghurt.
b) Bacteria lactobacillus converts lactose sugar to lactic acid giving it its sour taste and typical flavor.
c) Liquid milk gets converted into semisolid yoghurt due to the coagulation of the protein called casein present in
the milk. Casein coagulation takes place only when the medium is acidic.

PAGE NUMBER 21

1. Why are children/ infants given vaccination? (CW)

Ans.
Immune system in children is not strong enough to fight vaccine-preventable diseases. To prevent them from
becoming seriously ill or from dying due to various dreadful diseases such as measles, chicken pox and others, they
are vaccinated.
PAGE NUMBER 23

1. How do you prevent the spread of communicable diseases? (CW)

Ans.
We can prevent the spread of communicable diseases in following ways-
a) Handle and prepare food safely.
b) Clean and disinfect commonly used surface.
c) Maintain personal hygiene.
d) Cover nose and mouth with handkerchief while sneezing.
e) Keep distance from an infected person.
f) Keep infected person in complete isolation (quarantine).
g) Maintain good sanitation in the community.
h) Give vaccination at suitable age to get immunity.
i) Keep the personal belongings of the patient away from those of the others.

2. We should keep a handkerchief on the nose and mouth while sneezing & keep a distance from infected
persons. Give reasons.
Ans.
We should keep a handkerchief on the nose and mouth while sneezing & keep a distance from infected persons as
a) Respiratory tract infections are droplet infections. Droplet infections are spread by airborne droplets of
secretion from nose, throat or lungs.
b) When a person suffering from cold sneezes, fine droplets of moisture carrying thousands of viruses are spread
in the air.
c) The virus may enter the body of a healthy person while breathing.
d) By keeping a handkerchief on the nose and mouth while sneezing & by maintaining a safe distance from
infected persons can prevent a healthy person from getting infected by droplet infections.
Therefore we should keep a handkerchief on the nose and mouth while sneezing & keep a distance from
infected persons.

3. Why does the teacher keep telling us not to let water collect anywhere in the neighborhood?
Ans.
Teacher keeps telling us not to let water collect anywhere because stagnant water promotes breeding of mosquitoes
which could be carriers of diseases like malaria, dengue, chikungunya, elephantiasis, etc.

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 PAGE NUMBER 26

1. Why does the milk that comes in packets not spoil? My mother told me that the milk is ‘Pasteurized’ what is
pasteurization?
Ans.
The milk that comes in packet does not get spoilt because it is Pasteurized. Pasteurization is a process that kills
harmful bacteria. In this process milk is heated to about 70OC for 15 to 30 seconds and then suddenly chilled and
stored.

Important terms. (CW)

1) Vaccine-
A small dose of dead and weakened disease causing microbes used to stimulate immune response in the body
is called vaccine.
2) Immunity-
The ability of one’s body to resist a disease is known as immunity.
3) Pasteurization of milk-
Pasteurization is a process that kills harmful bacteria. In this process milk is heated to about 70OC for 15 to 30
seconds and then suddenly chilled and stored.
4) Fermentation-
The process of conversion of sugar into alcohol by the action of microbes like yeast is called fermentation.
5) Pathogen-
A pathogen or infectious agent is a biological agent that causes disease or illness to its host.
6) Vector-
A vector is an agent that carries and transmits an infectious pathogen into another living organism.
7) Communicable diseases-
Microbial diseases that can spread from an infected person to a healthy person through air, water, food,
physical contact or by animals are called communicable diseases.
8) Chronic Disease-
Chronic disease is a disease which generally cannot be prevented by vaccines or cured by medication, nor
does it just disappear. It generally, lasts for more than three months or sometimes lifelong.
9) Non-Communicable Diseases-
Non-Communicable diseases are a diverse group of chronic diseases that you cannot catch from another
person. They are diseases of long duration, slow progression & they are major cause of adult mortality.
10) Acute Disease-
A disease or disorder that lasts a short time comes on rapidly & is accompanied by distinct symptoms.

EXERCISE QUESTIONS
PAGE NUMBER 29-30

1. Fill in the blanks.

a) Microorganisms can be seen with the help of a MICROSCOPE.
b) Blue green algae fix ATMOSPHERIC NITROGEN directly from air to enhance fertility of soil.
c) Alcohol is produced with the help of YEAST.
d) Cholera is caused by BACTERIA.

2. Tick the correct answer.

a. Yeast is used in the production of (i) sugar (ii) alcohol (iii) hydrochloric acid (iv) oxygen
Ans. Alcohol (ii)
b. The following is an antibiotic (i) Sodium bicarbonate (ii) Streptomycin (iii) Alcohol (iv) Yeast
Ans. Streptomycin (ii)
c. Carrier of malaria-causing protozoan is (i) female Anopheles mosquito (ii) cockroach (iii) housefly (iv) butterfly.
Ans. female Anopheles mosquito. (i)
d. The most common carrier of communicable diseases is (i)ant (ii) housefly (iii) dragonfly (iv) spider
Ans. Housefly (ii)
e. The bread or idli dough rises because of (i) heat (ii)grinding (iii)growth of yeast cells (iv)kneading
Ans. growth of yeast cells. (iii)

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 f. The process of conversion of sugar into alcohol is called
(i) nitrogen fixation (ii) moulding (iii)fermentation(iv) infection
Ans. Fermentation (iii)

3. Match the organisms in column A with their action in column B.

Ans.
Sr.No A (Organisms) B (Their action)

i Vibrio Cholerae Causing cholera

(A Bacterium)
ii Rhizobium Fixing nitrogen
(A Bacterium)
iii Lactobacillus Setting of curd
(A Bacterium)
iv Yeast Baking of bread
(A Fungus)
v Plasmodium Causing malaria
(A protozoan)
vi HIV- Human Immuno Deficiency Causing AIDS
(A virus) ( Acquired Immuno Deficiency)

4. Can microorganisms be seen with the naked eye? If not, how can they be seen?
Ans.
No, The microorganisms are too tiny to be seen with the naked eye. They can be seen only under a microscope.

5. What are the major groups of microorganisms?

Ans.
Microorganisms are classified into five major groups.
These are- 1) Bacteria 2) Some fungi 3) Protozoa 4) Some algae 5) Viruses.

6. Name the microorganisms which can fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil. (CW)
Ans.
Following are the bacteria that can fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil.
Symbiotic bacteria e.g.-Rhizobium
Free living bacteria e.g.- Azotobacter, Nostoc, Clostridium, Anabaena, Cyanobacteria (Blue green algae)

7. Write 10 lines on the usefulness of microorganisms in our lives. (CW)

Ans.
Microorganisms are useful to us in many ways. Some of their uses are as follows.
a) Microorganisms promote the formation of yoghurt.
b) Some microorganisms are involved in the making of cheese.
c) Microorganisms are used in commercial production of alcohol and wine.
d) Microorganism increase soil fertility by fixing Atmospheric Nitrogen.
e) Microorganisms are used in the preparation of medicines like antibiotics and vaccines.
f) Some microorganisms release nitrogen in the atmosphere from nitrogenous compounds.
g) Some microorganisms decompose organic waste and dead decaying organic matter of plant and animals to
release inorganic substances in the Atmosphere which reduce pollution.

8. In a tabular form list human and plant diseases, their causative agents, mode of transfer & preventive measures.
Ans.
The common human and plant diseases are listed in a tabular form as follows-

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9. What are antibiotics? What precautions must be taken while taking antibiotics? (CW)
Ans.
The medicines produced by living organisms such as bacteria and fungi which kill or stop the growth of the disease
causing microorganisms(pathogens) present in our body are called Antibiotics.
Precautions taken while taking Antibiotics-
a) Antibiotics should be taken under the supervision of a well-qualified Doctor.
b) Course of Antibiotics should be completed according to the prescription given by the Doctor.
c) Antibiotics should be taken in the right amount & at the right time because Antibiotics taken unnecessarily may
kill beneficial bacteria in the body, especially in the digestive tract.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

I. Answer the following.

1. What is food preservation? What are its advantages?

Ans.
The process which keeps the food stuff in its original state or in good condition and prevents it from decaying is
called food preservation.
The advantages of food preservation are:
a) The food does not get spoilt.
b) The original state & taste of food does not change and it remains in good condition.
c) Nutritional value of food is retained for a long period.
d) It ensures the availability of food at distant places during the off season.

2. How is atmospheric nitrogen made available to the plants? (CW)

Ans.
a) Plants cannot take atmospheric nitrogen directly. Bacteria such as Rhizobiumlive symbiotically in root nodules
of leguminous plants and fix atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia.
b) Bacteria like Nostoc, Anabaena, Azotobacter, Clostridium, Cyanobacteria, etc fix atmospheric nitrogen
independently.
c) Plants absorb this fixed nitrogen from the soil with the help of roots in the form of amino acids, nitrite ions,
nitrate ions, ammonium ions, etc.

3. Why are preservatives added to some food stuffs?

Ans.
Preservatives are added to some food stuffs to protect them from spoilage due to multiplication of harmful
microorganisms in them.

III. Distinguish Between. (CW)

1. Communicable and Non-Communicable diseases.

Ans.
No Communicable diseases Non-communicable diseases

1. Communicable disease refers to diseases that can pass Non-communicable diseases occur in one person
from one person to another. and cannot be passed on to another person.
2. Communicable diseases are also known as infectious Non-communicable diseases are referred to as
diseases. chronic diseases.
3. Communicable diseases are more likely to be acute, Non-communicable diseases tend to be chronic,
which means the disease develops quickly. which means they last for a long time and progress
slowly.
4. Generally involves the lower socioeconomic group Involves generally affluent class.
5. Vehicles of transmission and the vectors play a major Dietary habits, environment and lifestyle play a
role in the spread of disease. role in the causation of these diseases.
E.g.- common cold, pneumonia and tuberculosis E.g.- Diabetes, Arthritis, High blood pressure,
Scurvy

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2. Chronic disease and Acute disease.

No Chronic disease Acute disease

1. A chronic disease lasts for a long time. An acute disease lasts for a short time.
2. Chronic disease can cause major damage to body Acute disease does not cause major damage to body
organs. organs.
3. Chronic disease needs long term treatment and Acute disease needs short term treatment.
care.
4. Hereditary and most of the degenerative diseases Most of the infectious diseases are acute diseases.
are chronic diseases.
5. It takes a long time to get cured, so suffering is for It takes a shorter time to get cured, so suffering is only
a longer duration. when there are acute symptoms.
E.g. Cancer, Diabetes E.g. Common cold, influenza.

III. Virus & Bacteria Compare & Contrast. (CW)

IV. Give scientific reasons (CW)

1. Existence of Viruses as living or non-living organisms is matter of controversy.

Ans.
a) Viruses cannot grow and reproduce on their own.
b) Viruses are as good as non-living organisms outside the body of a host.
c) A particular virus becomes active only inside a definite host.
d) Hence, existence of viruses as living or non-living organisms is a matter of controversy.

2. Microorganisms are omnipresent.

Ans.
a) Microorganisms can survive under all types of environment, ranging from ice cold climate to hot springs and
deserts to marshy land.
b) They are also found inside and on the bodies of other living organisms including humans.
Therefore, microorganisms are omnipresent.

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3. Yeast is added to the flour to prepare bread dough.
Ans.
Yeast is added to the flour to prepare bread dough because,
a) The yeast uses sugar present in the dough as food.
b) During the fermentation of sugar in the dough, carbon dioxide and alcohol are formed.
c) This fermentation is responsible for the typical taste, flavour and pleasant smell of bread.
d) Carbon dioxide & alcohol are trapped in the sticky dough.
e) When this dough is baked, carbon dioxide expands and escapes and alcohol evaporate from the bread loaf,
making it light and fluffy.

V. What happens when (CW)

1. a little yoghurt is added to lukewarm milk.

Ans.
a) When a little yoghurt is added to lukewarm milk, the milk gets converted into yoghurt.
b) Liquid milk gets converted into semisolid yoghurt due to the coagulation of the protein called casein present in
the milk.
c) Casein coagulation takes place only when the medium is acidic.
d) Bacteria lactobacillus converts lactose sugar to lactic acid giving it its sour taste and typical flavor.

2. antibiotics are taken without the advice of a qualified doctor.

Ans.
a) When antibiotics are taken without the advice of a qualified Doctor then it can cause an infection to become
more powerful.
b) It can also contribute to the growing number of ‘SUPER BUGS’ that are resistant to medications.
c) This can happen because they could take Antibiotics that are infective against the infection they have.
d) This can make the Antibiotics less effective when we might really need them in future.
e) If taken unnecessarily they may disrupt the natural flora, kill the beneficial bacteria in the body.

3. pathogens enter our body

Ans.
a) When pathogens, enter our body they may cause infection.
b) Pathogens attack specific cells or travel to specific tissues depending on their types.
c) These pathogens begin to multiply.
d) This causes symptoms that are specific to pathogens.
e) At times after the onset of infection, many pathogens are destroyed through natural immune responses.

4. female Anopheles mosquito bites a healthy person.

Ans.
a) When female anopheles mosquito bites a healthy person, after biting a person suffers from Malaria, then the
malarial parasite plasmodium (a protozoan) enters in the body of the healthy person.
b) It is either destroyed through natural immune responses or starts multiplying to make the person suffer from
malaria.

DIAGRAMS -- FOR DRAWING IN CW

1) Bacterial Cell
2) Yeast
3) Rhizopus or Bread Mould
4) Amoeba
5) Paramoecium/

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DIAGRAMS -- FOR LABELLING

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