Exercise Solutions Available
Step-by-step answers for all textbook questions in this chapter
Food: Where Does It Come From?: NCERT Exercise Solutions
How to Use This Page
This page provides complete NCERT exercise solutions for Class 6 Science Chapter 1 — Food: Where Does It Come From? Work through each question on your own first, then check your answers here. The solutions are written in simple language following the NCERT textbook style. Diagrams and real-world examples are included wherever possible to help you understand the concepts deeply.
Tips for best results:
- Read the textbook chapter thoroughly before attempting the solutions.
- Try answering each question independently before looking at the answer.
- Pay special attention to the Key Concepts table and the Common Mistakes section.
- Use the Exam Checklist before your test to make sure you have covered every important topic.
Key Concepts (Quick Recap)
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Food | Any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body, supplying energy and materials for growth and repair. |
| Herbivores | Animals that eat only plant-based food. Examples: cow, goat, deer, rabbit, squirrel. |
| Carnivores | Animals that eat only the flesh of other animals. Examples: lion, tiger, eagle, snake, frog. |
| Omnivores | Animals that eat both plants and animals. Examples: bear, crow, human being, dog, cat. |
| Nectar | A sweet, sugary liquid produced by flowers. Honeybees collect nectar and convert it into honey. |
| Sprouting | The process by which seeds germinate and begin to grow, producing tiny green shoots. Sprouted seeds are more nutritious. |
| Food sources | The origins of our food — primarily plants (crops, vegetables, fruits) and animals (milk, eggs, meat, honey). |
| Edible | Something that is safe and suitable to be eaten by humans. Not all parts of a plant are edible. |
| Ingredients | The individual food items or materials needed to prepare a dish. For example, rice and water are ingredients for cooked rice. |
| scavengers | Animals that eat dead and decaying matter. Examples: vulture, hyena, crow. |
| Producers | Green plants that produce their own food through photosynthesis. They form the base of all food chains. |
Intext Questions and Answers
Question 1. Can you name some food items that are made from milk?
1. Butter — made by churning cream separated from milk 2. Cheese (paneer) — made by curdling milk with lemon juice or vinegar 3. Curd (dahi/yogurt) — made by adding a small amount of curd to warm milk and leaving it for a few hours 4. Ghee — made by heating butter to separate the milk solids 5. Cream — the thick layer that rises to the top of milk when it stands undisturbed 6. Ice cream — made from milk, cream, sugar, and flavourings 7. Khoa/Mawa — made by evaporating milk to a thick, solid consistency 8. Buttermilk — the liquid left after butter is churned from cream
Question 2. Name the plants from which we get the following food items: (a) Rice (b) Wheat (c) Pulses (d) Oil (e) Sugar
(a) Rice — We get rice from the paddy plant (Oryza sativa). The grains are harvested, threshed, and milled to remove the husk.
(b) Wheat — We get wheat from the wheat plant (Triticum). The grains are ground into flour (atta) to make roti, bread, and other foods.
(c) Pulses — We get pulses from various leguminous plants such as:
- Arhar (pigeon pea) — Cajanus cajan
- Moong (green gram) — Vigna radiata
- Chana (Bengal gram/chickpea) — Cicer arietinum
- Masoor (lentil) — Lens culinaris
(d) Oil — We get cooking oil from the seeds of several plants:
- Mustard oil — from mustard seeds
- Sunflower oil — from sunflower seeds
- Coconut oil — from coconut kernels
- Groundnut oil — from groundnut (peanut) seeds
- Sesame (til) oil — from sesame seeds
(e) Sugar — We get sugar from the sugarcane plant (Saccharum officinarum). The juice is extracted, boiled, and crystallised to produce sugar. Sugar is also obtained from sugar beet.
Question 3. Match the items given in Column A with those in Column B.
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| Milk, Curd, Paneer, Ghee | Eat from animals |
| Spinach, Cauliflower, Carrot | Eat from plants |
| Lion, Tiger | Carnivores |
| Cow, Deer | Herbivores |
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| Milk, Curd, Paneer, Ghee | Products obtained from animals (cow, buffalo, goat) |
| Spinach, Cauliflower, Carrot | Plant products — leaf, flower, and root respectively |
| Lion, Tiger | Carnivores — they eat only the flesh of other animals |
| Cow, Deer | Herbivores — they eat only plant-based food |
Question 4. Categorise the following food items as plant products or animal products: Rice, egg, butter, wheat, fish, pulses, honey, milk, meat, cereals
Plant products: Rice, wheat, pulses, cereals (all obtained from crops and plants)
Animal products: Egg, butter (from milk), fish, honey (from honeybees), milk, meat (all obtained from animals or animal sources)
Note: Butter is classified as an animal product because it is made from milk, which comes from animals. Cereals refer to grains like rice, wheat, maize — all from plants.
Question 5. Fill in the blanks:
(a) ———- animals eat only plants. (b) ———- animals eat only other animals. (c) ———- animals eat both plants and animals.
(a) Herbivore animals eat only plants. (b) Carnivore animals eat only other animals. (c) Omnivore animals eat both plants and animals.
Question 6. From which part of the plant do we get: (a) Rice (b) Wheat (c) Mango (d) Potato (e) Spinach
(a) Rice — We get rice from the seeds (grains) of the paddy plant. The seed is the edible part.
(b) Wheat — We get wheat from the seeds (grains) of the wheat plant. The grain is ground into flour.
(c) Mango — We eat the fruit of the mango tree. Mango is a fleshy fruit.
(d) Potato — We eat the stem (underground stem tuber) of the potato plant. It stores food as starch.
(e) Spinach — We eat the leaves of the spinach plant. The leaves are rich in iron and vitamins.
Question 7. Name two flowers that are eaten as food.
1. Cauliflower — The white, rounded part we eat is actually a cluster of flower buds. 2. Broccoli — The green, tree-like vegetable is also a cluster of flower buds.
Other edible flowers include pumpkin flowers, banana flowers (kelfool), and rose flowers (used in gulkand and rose water).
Question 8. Do you find that all living organisms need food? Why?
1. Energy: Food provides the energy needed for all life processes such as movement, breathing, and working. 2. Growth: Nutrients from food are required for the growth and development of the body. 3. Repair: Food helps in repairing worn-out tissues and healing injuries. 4. Protection: Proper nutrition helps the body fight diseases and infections. 5. Maintenance: Food supplies the materials needed to maintain all bodily functions.
Without food, living organisms would not have the energy or materials to survive, grow, and carry out life processes.
Question 9. What are the various ways by which we can increase the nutritive value of food?
1. Sprouting: When seeds like moong, chana, or methi are soaked in water and left to sprout, their nutrient content increases. Sprouting increases vitamins (especially Vitamin C and B vitamins) and makes proteins more digestible. 2. Fermentation: Foods like curd (yogurt), idli, and dosa are made by fermentation. This process increases B vitamins and makes the food easier to digest. 3. Combining foods: Eating a combination of foods (e.g., dal with rice, roti with sabzi) ensures that all essential nutrients are received. This is called a balanced approach. 4. Proper cooking: Cooking some foods properly makes their nutrients more available to the body. For example, cooking carrots makes beta-carotene more absorbable. 5. Adding variety: Including different food groups — cereals, pulses, vegetables, fruits, milk, and fats — in daily meals ensures a wider range of nutrients.
Exercise Questions and Answers
Question 1. Name the major sources of food for animals and humans.
1. Plants: Plants provide us with cereals (rice, wheat, maize), vegetables (potato, spinach, tomato), fruits (mango, banana, apple), pulses (moong, chana, arhar), oils (mustard oil, sunflower oil), sugar (from sugarcane), beverages (tea, coffee), and spices (turmeric, cumin, pepper).
2. Animals: Animals provide us with milk (from cow, buffalo, goat), eggs (from hen, duck), meat (from hen, goat, fish), honey (from honeybees), and other products like ghee, butter, paneer, and curd (all derived from milk).
Question 2. What are herbivores? Give two examples.
Examples: 1. Cow — eats grass, hay, and other plant matter 2. Deer — browses on leaves, twigs, shoots, and fruits
Other examples: goat, rabbit, horse, elephant, giraffe, squirrel.
Question 3. What are carnivores? Give two examples.
Examples: 1. Lion — hunts and eats deer, zebra, and other animals 2. Eagle — preys on snakes, rabbits, and small birds
Other examples: tiger, wolf, shark, snake, frog.
Question 4. What are omnivores? Give two examples.
Examples: 1. Bear — eats berries, nuts, fish, and insects 2. Crow — eats grains, fruits, insects, and small animals
Other examples: human beings, dog, cat, pig, rat, hen.
Question 5. Name five plants and their parts that we eat.
| Plant | Part Eaten | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Carrot | Root | The orange root is eaten as a vegetable |
| Sugarcane | Stem | The juicy stem is chewed or pressed for juice |
| Spinach | Leaf | The green leaves are cooked as a vegetable |
| Cauliflower | Flower | The cluster of flower buds is eaten |
| Mango | Fruit | The sweet, fleshy fruit is eaten fresh or in pickles |
Additional examples:
- Root: Radish, turnip, beetroot, sweet potato
- Stem: Ginger (underground stem), onion (underground stem/bulb), lotus stem
- Leaf: Cabbage, lettuce, methi (fenugreek), coriander
- Flower: Broccoli, pumpkin flower, banana flower
- Fruit: Apple, banana, orange, guava, tomato
- Seed: Rice, wheat, maize, moong, chana, mustard
Question 6. What is honey? How is it produced?
How honey is produced: 1. Honeybees collect nectar (a sweet, sugary liquid) from flowers. 2. They store the nectar in a special sac called the honey sac in their body. 3. In the hive, the bees add enzymes to the nectar and fan it with their wings to evaporate excess water. 4. This process converts the nectar into honey. 5. The honey is then stored in the hexagonal wax cells of the beehive called honeycombs. 6. Beekeepers (apiarists) extract honey from the beehives for human consumption.
Nutritional value of honey: Honey contains sugars (fructose and glucose), small amounts of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It has antibacterial properties and is used as a natural sweetener and in Ayurvedic medicine.
Question 7. Differentiate between herbivores and carnivores.
| Feature | Herbivores | Carnivores |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Eat only plants | Eat only animal flesh |
| Teeth | Flat molars for grinding | Sharp canines for tearing |
| Jaws | Side-to-side chewing motion | Up-and-down biting motion |
| Claws | Hooves or flat nails | Sharp claws for catching prey |
| Eyes | Eyes on sides of head (wide field of view) | Eyes in front (binocular vision for hunting) |
| Digestion | Long digestive tract for fibrous plant matter | Shorter digestive tract for meat |
| Examples | Cow, deer, goat, rabbit, horse | Lion, tiger, eagle, snake, shark |
Question 8. Why should we avoid wasting food?
1. Hard work of farmers: A lot of effort goes into growing crops — ploughing, sowing, irrigating, weeding, harvesting, and transporting. Wasting food means wasting the hard work of farmers. 2. Limited resources: Water, land, seeds, fertilisers, and labour are all used to produce food. These resources are limited and should not be wasted. 3. Hunger and malnutrition: Many people in the world do not get enough food. Wasting food is unfair when others are hungry. 4. Environmental impact: Food waste that goes to landfills produces methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. 5. Economic cost: Wasted food means wasted money — both for the individual and the nation. 6. Respect for food: In many cultures, food is considered sacred and a gift of nature. It should be respected and not thrown away.
Question 9. Choose the correct option:
Which of the following is an animal product?
(A) Rice (B) Wheat (C) Egg ✓ (D) Pulses
Egg is obtained from hens and ducks, which are animals. Rice, wheat, and pulses are all plant products.
Question 10. Choose the correct option:
Which animal is an omnivore?
(A) Cow (B) Lion (C) Deer (D) Crow ✓
A crow is an omnivore because it eats both plant-based food (grains, fruits) and animal-based food (insects, small animals). Cow and deer are herbivores; lion is a carnivore.
Question 11. Match the following:
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| (i) Cow | (a) Omnivore |
| (ii) Tiger | (b) Herbivore |
| (iii) Bear | (c) Carnivore |
| (iv) Human | (d) Omnivore |
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| (i) Cow | (b) Herbivore |
| (ii) Tiger | (c) Carnivore |
| (iii) Bear | (a) Omnivore |
| (iv) Human | (d) Omnivore |
Both bear and human are omnivores because they eat both plant-based and animal-based food. Cow eats only plants (herbivore). Tiger eats only other animals (carnivore).
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) for Practice
Q1. Which of the following is obtained from plants?
(A) Milk (B) Honey (C) Wheat ✓ (D) Egg
Q2. Which part of the sugarcane plant do we eat?
(A) Root (B) Leaf (C) Stem ✓ (D) Seed
Q3. Sprouting increases the ———- content of seeds.
(A) Fat (B) Vitamin ✓ (C) Fibre only (D) Water
Q4. Which of the following is a herbivore?
(A) Lion (B) Bear (C) Snake (D) Rabbit ✓
Q5. Bees collect ———- from flowers to make honey.
(A) Pollen (B) Nectar ✓ (C) Water (D) Seed
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Confusing plant parts: Students often misidentify which part of a plant is eaten. Remember — potato is a stem (underground stem tuber), not a root. Onion is a bulb (underground stem), not a root. Radish and carrot are roots, not stems.
2. Misclassifying omnivores: Many students incorrectly label animals like dogs and cats as carnivores. Dogs and cats are omnivores because they eat both plant-based and animal-based food, though cats lean more toward carnivory in the wild.
3. Forgetting that honey is an animal product: Honey is produced by honeybees (animals), so it is an animal product — even though the raw material (nectar) comes from flowers (plants).
4. Overlooking edible flowers: Students often forget that we eat flowers. Cauliflower, broccoli, and pumpkin flowers are all flower parts used as food. Do not categorise them only as vegetables without recognising their specific plant part.
5. Misunderstanding sprouting: Sprouting is not just soaking seeds. It involves soaking seeds and then allowing them to germinate (sprout) over 1-2 days. The sprouted seeds have higher nutritional value than dry seeds — this is the key point.
Exam Checklist
Before your exam, make sure you can answer "Yes" to each of the following:
- [ ] I can name the two main sources of food (plants and animals) and give at least five examples of each.
- [ ] I can correctly classify animals as herbivores, carnivores, or omnivores with at least two examples of each.
- [ ] I can identify which part of a plant is eaten for at least eight different plants (root, stem, leaf, flower, fruit, seed).
- [ ] I can explain how honeybees make honey from nectar.
- [ ] I can differentiate between herbivores and carnivores with respect to their teeth, food, and examples.
- [ ] I can list at least five food items made from milk.
- [ ] I can explain the process of sprouting and why sprouted seeds are more nutritious.
- [ ] I can classify any given food item as a plant product or an animal product.