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CLASS 8 · SCIENCE · CHAPTER 13

Our Home: Earth, a Unique Life Sustaining Planet

Simple answers to the opening prompts, chapter concepts, all twelve end questions, and all five projects.

32 worked answersComplete chapter answers

32 worked answers · short steps first, explanations when you need them

Probe and Ponder

Textbook pages 210

Question Opening prompt 1

What might Earth look like if there were no life?

Steps only

The non-living planet would remain, but living organisms and their effects would be gone.

Answer

The non-living planet would remain, but living organisms and their effects would be gone.

Question Opening prompt 2

What helps life on Earth continue despite changes and disasters?

Steps only

Suitable conditions, reproduction, variation, and connected ecosystems help life continue.

Answer

Suitable conditions, reproduction, variation, and connected ecosystems help life continue.

Question Opening prompt 3

Why do dogs give birth to puppies, while hens lay eggs?

Steps only

Dogs are mammals whose young develop inside the mother; chicks develop in eggs.

Answer

Dogs are mammals whose young develop inside the mother; chicks develop in eggs.

Question Opening prompt 4

Would bringing soil and water to Mars be enough for plants to grow?

Steps only

No. Plants need suitable light, air, temperature, nutrients, and water too.

Answer

No. Plants need suitable light, air, temperature, nutrients, and water too.

Chapter Investigations

Textbook pages 212–225

Question Activity 13.1

Name features that help make Earth a home for life.

Steps only

Liquid water, atmosphere, suitable temperature, gravity, ozone, and magnetic field.

Answer

Liquid water, atmosphere, suitable temperature, gravity, ozone, and magnetic field.

Question Activity 13.2

Why is Venus hotter than Mercury even though Mercury is closer to the Sun?

Steps only

Venus’s thick carbon dioxide atmosphere traps more heat.

Answer

Venus’s thick carbon dioxide atmosphere traps more heat.

Question Habitable zone

What is the habitable zone, and why is Earth in it?

Steps only

It is the distance range where liquid water may exist; Earth is in that range.

Answer

It is the distance range where liquid water may exist; Earth is in that range.

Question Earth’s size

Why is Earth’s size important for its atmosphere?

Steps only

Earth’s gravity helps keep its atmosphere from escaping into space.

Answer

Earth’s gravity helps keep its atmosphere from escaping into space.

Question Protective shields

How do the ozone layer and Earth’s magnetic field protect life?

Steps only

Ozone blocks much UV; the magnetic field deflects many charged particles.

Answer

Ozone blocks much UV; the magnetic field deflects many charged particles.

Question Earth systems

What are the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere?

Steps only

Air, water, solid Earth, and life are the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.

Answer

Air, water, solid Earth, and life are the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.

Question Vegetative propagation

How can some plants grow from a stem, root, or leaf?

Steps only

A plant part can grow into a new plant; this is vegetative propagation.

Answer

A plant part can grow into a new plant; this is vegetative propagation.

Question Climate and life

How can a small change in one Earth system affect other systems?

Steps only

A change such as deforestation can affect soil, water, climate, and wildlife.

Answer

A change such as deforestation can affect soil, water, climate, and wildlife.

Question Reproduction

How can reproduction create both similarity and variation?

Steps only

Offspring inherit similarities, while gene mixing can create variation.

Answer

Offspring inherit similarities, while gene mixing can create variation.

Question Threats to life

What are the three major environmental challenges called the triple planetary crisis?

Steps only

Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Answer

Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Question Protecting Earth

What actions can help protect the systems that support life?

Steps only

Save resources, reduce waste and pollution, and protect habitats.

Answer

Save resources, reduce waste and pollution, and protect habitats.

Keep the Curiosity Alive

Textbook pages 226–227

Question 1

Which major reason makes Mars unable to support life like Earth today?

Steps only

Option (iii).

Answer

Option (iii).

Question 2

Which example shows geodiversity?

Steps only

Option (ii).

Answer

Option (ii).

Question 3

If Earth were smaller but had the same density, what could happen to its atmosphere?

Steps only

Option (ii).

Answer

Option (ii).

Question 4

Why are offspring in sexual reproduction different from their parents?

Steps only

Option (iv).

Answer

Option (iv).

Question 5

Where might seeds in wall cracks come from, and what helped them grow after the monsoon?

Steps only

Seeds may arrive by wind, animals, or water; rain, light, air, and nutrients help them grow.

Answer

Seeds may arrive by wind, animals, or water; rain, light, air, and nutrients help them grow.

Question 6

How could cutting a forest for roads and buildings affect climate, biodiversity, and water?

Steps only

It can raise heat, reduce wildlife, increase erosion and runoff, and affect water supply.

Answer

It can raise heat, reduce wildlife, increase erosion and runoff, and affect water supply.

Question 7

How would you respond to the claim that today’s global warming is nothing new because climate changed in the past?

Steps only

Past climate changes occurred, but today’s rapid warming is strongly driven by human greenhouse gases.

Answer

Past climate changes occurred, but today’s rapid warming is strongly driven by human greenhouse gases.

Question 8

What problems might happen if Earth’s magnetic field disappeared?

Steps only

Satellites and communication could be affected, and radiation exposure could rise.

Answer

Satellites and communication could be affected, and radiation exposure could rise.

Question 9

Name three Earth-like conditions a human settlement on Mars would need. Which is hardest to recreate?

Steps only

Air and pressure, water, and warmth/radiation protection; a safe atmosphere may be hardest.

Answer

Air and pressure, water, and warmth/radiation protection; a safe atmosphere may be hardest.

Question 10

What could cause rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall in a village, and how can people adapt?

Steps only

Climate change and land-use changes may contribute; save water and use climate-suited crops.

Answer

Climate change and land-use changes may contribute; save water and use climate-suited crops.

Question 11

How would life, temperature, and water change if Earth had no atmosphere?

Steps only

Life would lose air and protection; temperatures would become extreme and liquid water unstable.

Answer

Life would lose air and protection; temperatures would become extreme and liquid water unstable.

Question 12

Give five examples of vegetative propagation.

Steps only

Potato, ginger, onion, sugarcane, and money plant.

Answer

Potato, ginger, onion, sugarcane, and money plant.

Discover, Design, and Debate

Textbook pages 227–228

Question Project 1

What must an Earth survival kit include to support life in a small model habitat?

Steps only

Include air, water, light, suitable temperature, nutrients, and a way to recycle materials.

Answer

Include air, water, light, suitable temperature, nutrients, and a way to recycle materials.

Question Project 2

How could an experiment test whether plants can grow in Moon soil if water is available?

Steps only

Compare simulated lunar soil with garden soil while keeping water, light, and temperature the same.

Answer

Compare simulated lunar soil with garden soil while keeping water, light, and temperature the same.

Question Project 3

How do bright colours and pleasant smells help flowers reproduce?

Steps only

Colour and scent attract pollinators that carry pollen.

Answer

Colour and scent attract pollinators that carry pollen.

Question Project 4

Why do fish and frogs lay many eggs while some animals have only a few young?

Steps only

Many eggs raise the chance some survive, but each gets less care.

Answer

Many eggs raise the chance some survive, but each gets less care.

Question Project 5

How can parental care affect the survival of young birds and reptiles?

Steps only

More care can protect each young one; laying many eggs can make up for lower survival.

Answer

More care can protect each young one; laying many eggs can make up for lower survival.

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