Chapter 11 of 12
Chapter 11: Caring for Plants and Pets
Watering Saplings, Feeding Pets, Preventing Animal Cruelty | CBSE Session 2026–27
Core Pedagogical Competencies & Concepts
- Plants and Pets as Living Beings with Feelings
- Daily Plant Care: Watering, Sun, Soil, Weeding
- Responsible Pet Care: Food, Shelter, Cleanliness, Vet Visits
- Preventing Cruelty to Stray Animals and Birds
All Textbook Exercises & In-Text Tasks (15 Questions)
100% Complete Ingestion
Q1
Think and Tell
Why are plants called living beings even though they cannot walk from place to place?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Plants are living beings because they breathe air, absorb water and nutrients, make their own food, grow taller, produce seeds, and react to sunlight.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Breathe, absorb water, make food
1
Grow taller and reproduce seeds
1
Q2
Daily Plant Care
What four essential things must we provide to keep a potted plant healthy and green?
[4 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Four essentials for plant care:
1. Regular watering (not too little, not too much)
2. Adequate natural sunlight
3. Nutrient-rich soil with organic compost
4. Fresh moving air and gentle weeding.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
1 mark per correct plant care essential
4
Q3
Over-Watering Danger
What happens if we give too much water to a potted plant every day?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Over-watering blocks air spaces in the soil, causing the plant roots to rot from lack of oxygen, turning leaves yellow and killing the plant.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Blocks air/oxygen in soil
1
Causes root rot and kills plant
1
Q4
Veterinary Doctor
Who is a 'Veterinary Doctor' (Vet)?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
A veterinary doctor is a doctor who specializes in treating sick, injured, and diseased animals and giving them preventive vaccinations.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Doctor for animals
1
Treats diseases and gives vaccinations
1
Q5
Caring for Stray Animals
How can we care for stray dogs and birds in our neighborhood during hot summer months?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
1. Place shallow clay bowls filled with clean drinking water outside our gate and on balconies for birds and animals.
2. Keep leftover rotis or pet food in clean plates and provide shade from the hot sun.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Clay bowls of clean drinking water
1
Food and shade from summer heat
1
Q6
Stopping Animal Cruelty
Why should children never throw stones or tie firecrackers to dogs' tails?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Animals feel severe pain, terror, and suffering just like humans. Hurting them is cruel, punishable by law, and may cause the frightened animal to bite in self-defense.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Animals feel pain and terror / cruelty is illegal
1
May cause animal to bite in defense
1
Q7
Van Mahotsav
What is 'Van Mahotsav', and when is it celebrated in India?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Van Mahotsav is the annual forest festival celebrated in the first week of July across India, where millions of tree saplings are planted in schools and communities.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Annual tree-planting festival
1
First week of July
1
Q8
Match the Following
Match the living being with its care requirement:
(a) Potted Rose -> (i) Clean litter box and milk/cat food
(b) Pet Dog -> (ii) Daily watering and sunlight
(c) Stray Bird -> (iii) Daily walk, rabies vaccine, and love
(d) Pet Cat -> (iv) Water pot and grain seeds on balcony
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
(a) Potted Rose -> (ii) Daily watering and sunlight
(b) Pet Dog -> (iii) Daily walk, rabies vaccine, and love
(c) Stray Bird -> (iv) Water pot and grain seeds on balcony
(d) Pet Cat -> (i) Clean litter box and milk/cat food.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
All 4 correct matches
2
Q9
True or False
State True or False:
(a) Talking gently to pets and petting them makes them feel loved and calm.
(b) Keeping a bird locked inside a tiny iron cage all its life is a kind act.
(c) Loosening the soil around plant roots helps them breathe better.
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
(a) True
(b) False (Birds belong in the open sky; caging is cruel)
(c) True.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
1 mark per correct answer
3
Q10
Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks:
(a) A doctor who treats animals is called a ________ (veterinarian or vet / dentist).
(b) Plant leaves prepare food with the help of green ________ (chlorophyll / water).
(c) Dogs should be given ________ (rabies / polio) vaccine to prevent dangerous infections.
[3 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
(a) veterinarian (or vet)
(b) chlorophyll
(c) rabies.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
1 mark per correct blank
3
Q11
Indoor Plants
Name two indoor plants that can grow inside a room in small pots with minimal sunlight.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Two indoor plants: Money plant and Snake plant (or Spider plant, Aloe vera).
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Two valid indoor plants
2
Q12
Bird Bath
What is a 'Bird Bath'? How does it help garden birds?
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
A bird bath is a shallow basin filled with clean water placed in a garden. Birds use it to drink water and splash their feathers to keep cool and clean.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Shallow water basin for drinking and cleaning feathers
2
Q13
Plant Sensitivity
What is the 'Touch-Me-Not' (Mimosa / Chhui-Mui) plant known for?
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
The Touch-Me-Not plant is sensitive to touch; its leaves fold together and droop immediately when touched with a finger.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Leaves fold and droop when touched
1
Q14
Responsible Pet Ownership
State one responsibility of a pet owner when walking their dog on public roads.
[2 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
Keep the dog on a secure leash to protect pedestrians and always clean up pet waste from the pavement using a scoop and bag.
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Leash control and scooping up pet waste
2
Q15
Eco-Friendly Pledge
Write a two-line pledge to care for nature.
[1 Marks]
✅ Step-by-Step Solution & Working
'I pledge to plant a tree, water it with care, and treat every creature with kindness and love!'
CBSE Step-by-Step Marking Scheme
Kindness and environmental pledge
1
🌟 NEP 2020 Competency-Based Case Study
Practical Application Task
Analytical Task: What responsibilities does keeping a pet involve? Mention three daily duties Kunal must fulfill to keep his puppy healthy and happy.
Evaluation & Model Answer:
Keeping a pet is a serious responsibility because pets are living beings that depend on us for their food, health, and happiness. Three daily duties Kunal must fulfill:
1. Provide nutritious dog food at fixed meal times and keep fresh drinking water available at all times.
2. Take the puppy for daily morning and evening walks and maintain clean bedding in its shelter.
3. Take the puppy to a veterinary doctor (vet) for vaccinations, health check-ups, and grooming.
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