EXERCISE 2:

A.  Fill in the blank correctly with the answers 
      given below.

     mud     migrate     hump     fat     hibernate

1.   Swallows ....................... to warmer areas 
      during the winter.

2.   A penguin has a thick layer of ....................... 
      under its skin.

3.   A rhinoceros wallows in ...................... to 
      keep cool.

4.   A bear and squirrel .................... during 
      winter.

5.   A camel stores water in its ....................

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B.  Underline the correct answers.

1.   The banana plant ( curls up , sheds ) its 
      leaves on a hot day.

2.   A ( caterpillar , fish ) excrete carbon dioxide 
      through its gills.

3.   A ( mamba , bedbug ) releases poison when 
      attacked.

4.   Bryophyllum and begonia plants reproduce 
      from ( leaves, spores ).

5.   Rose uses ( latex , thorns ) to protect itself.

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C.  Choose the correct answers.


1.  How does a bamboo plant protect itself from 
     its enemies ?
    A)   It has a flexible stem
    B)   It produces latex
    C)   It has long leaves
    D)   It has fine hairs

2.   The following note describe a process:
       *Animal R sleeps when the weather is very 
        cold.
      What is this process known as ?
     A)   Camouflage
     B)   Hibernation
     C)   Excretion
     D)   Reproduction

3.    The following notes describe a living   
        things:
       * lives in the soil
       * breathes through moist skin
      Which living thing is being described ?
     A)   Frog
     B)   Rat
     C)   Mosquito larva
     D)   Earthworm

4.   Which of the following living things live in 
      very cold and windy places ?
      I)     A polar bear
      II)    A pine tree
      III)   A cactus plant
     A)    I
     B)    I and II
     C)    II and III
     D)    I, II and III

5.   What do a cactus, camel and scorpion have  
       in common ?

     A)   They all have spines
     B)   They can live without water
     C)   They are poisonous
     D)   They all live in hot and dry places

THINKING CORNER :

Question 1:

Why does a coconut tree grow naturally on sea coast ?

Answer :

The coconut fruit is dispersed through sea water. The ripe fruit falls down and is transported by water to its new habitat, which will also be along the coast.

Question 2:

Why does a dog hang its tongue out of its mouth to cool down ?

Answer :

The tongue is coated with saliva, which is mostly water. The saliva evaporates and cools down the dog.

ANIMALS AND PLANTS PROTECT THEMSELVES :

PLANTS PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS :

1.  Besides protecting themselves from danger and enemies, plants also need to adapt themselves to extreme weather conditions.
2.  Some of these weather conditions include :

• hot and dry weather
• strong winds
• extremely cold weather  

STRONG WINDS :

1.  Plants in windy areas need special characteristics to withstand strong winds.
2.  Thus the plants will be able to withstand the strong impact of the wind.

Plants have special characteristics to protect themselves from strong winds such as :

1.   Modified roots :

• Plants with supporting roots and buttress roots can protect themselves from strong winds and tides.
• all types of roots help anchor the plant firmly in the ground.

       (A)   Supporting roots:

• some plants have supporting roots.
• the roots grow out from the lower nodes of the stem down into the ground.
• these roots hold the plant firmly to the ground.
• mangrove tree is an example of tree that have supporting roots.
• mangrove tree grows along the coast and it is exposed to strong winds and tides.
• the supporting roots can protect the mangrove trees from strong and tides.

      (B)   Buttress roots :

• some plants have buttress roots.
• these are big roots which grow on the base of the stems on the surface of the soil.
• they can be seen as large structures which are flattened vertically.
• these structure help to support the plant.
• the flame of the forest and shorea trees which grow in the forest are the examples of trees that have buttress roots.

2.   Modified leaves :

         (A)   Divided or spilt leaves :

• some plants have divided leaves to prevent the plant from being uprooted when strong wind blows.
• coconut tree and palm tree are examples of plants that have divided or spilt leaves.

         (B)   Small leaves and needle-shaped  

                  leaves :

• some plants have small leaves.
• strong wind blows through these leaves without uprooting the plants
• pine trees, casuarina and conifers are examples of plants that have small leaves and needle-shaped leaves.

         (C)   Flexible stems :

• some plants have flexible stem.
• these plants have stems which can bend easily and sway during strong winds.
• bamboo plant, coconut tree and lalang are the examples of plants that have flexible stems.

EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER :

1.  Plants that grow in extremely cold weather conditions such as during the winter need special characteristics to adapt themselves in the weather.

2.  For examples, conifer trees are shaped like big cones.

• during winter the cone shape enables snow to slide easily to the ground and not rest on the branches to prevent the branches from breaking.

ANIMALS AND PLANTS PROTECT THEMSELVES :

PLANTS PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS :

1.  Besides protecting themselves from danger and enemies, plants also need to adapt themselves to extreme weather conditions.
2.  Some of these weather conditions include :

• hot and dry weather
• strong winds
• extremely cold weather  

HOT AND DRY WEATHER :

1.  Plants need to protect themselves from losing too much water when the weather is dry and hot.
2.  Most plants lose water from their leaves.
3.  There are many ways plants can prevent too much water from being lost.

Plants have special characteristics to protect themselves from hot and dry weather such as :

1.   Curl their leaves :

• some plants curl their leaves on hot days.
• banana plant, maize plant and lallang are examples of plants that curl their leaves on hot days. 

2.   Small leaves and needle-shaped leaves :

• some plants have small leaves or needle-shaped leaves.
• these leaf shapes reduce the amount of water lost to the surroundings.
• conifer, cactus and tea shrub are examples of plants that have small leaves or needle-shaped leaves.

3.   Waxy and waterproof leaves :

• some plants have thick, waxy and waterproof leaves.
• yam, pandan, hibiscus and banana plants are examples of plants that waxy leaves.

4.   Store water  :

• some plants can store water in their stem, leaves and roots.
• cactus, aloe vera, watermelon and turnip plants are examples of plants that can store water in their stem, leaves and roots.
• cactus stores water in its stem.
• aloe vera plant stores water in its leaves.
• watermelon plant stores water in its fruit.
• turnip plant stores water in its roots.
• the cactus is a very special plant because it can grow in hot and dry desert, has small, tiny and needle-like spines to reduce water loss from the leaves, have fat barrel-lik stems to store large volumes of water and roots are long and grow deep in the sand to search for water.

5.   Shed their leaves:

• some trees shed their leaves when the weather is very dry.
• with fewer leaves, the trees loose less water.
• rubber and oak trees are examples of trees that shed their leaves when it is dry.

6.   Leaves drop :

• some plants drop their leaves during hot weather.
• rubber trees and bougainvillea plants are examples of plants that drop their leaves during hot weather.

7.   Leaves have hairs :

• some leaves of plants have hairs on them.
• watermelon plant and pumpkin plant are examples of plants that have hairs on their leaves.

ANIMALS AND PLANTS PROTECT THEMSELVES :

PLANTS PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM ENEMIES :

Plants have special characteristics to protect themselves from enemies such as :

1.   Thick and hard bark :

• some plants have hard and thick  barks.
• it is difficult to damage the trunks of trees which have hard and thick barks.
• durian tree, rambutan tree, coconut tree and mango tree are examples of plants that have hard and thick barks.

2.   Fine hairs :

• some plants have fine hairs on the leaves, fruits or stems to protect them from being eaten.
• the fine hairs cause itchiness when touched.
• lalang plant, pumpkin plant and bamboo plant are examples of plants that have fine hairs.

3.   Thorns :

• some plants have thorns to protect themselves from being eaten.
• pineapple plant, rose plant, bougainvillea plant and some bamboo plants are examples of plants that have thorns.

4.   Produce sap or latex :

• some plants have sap or latex, which prevent them from being eaten.
• the latex cause itchiness.
• papaya tree, rubber tree, frangipani plant and dumbcane plant are examples of plants that have sap or latex.

5.   Thick and hard skin :

• it is difficult for animals to eat fruits with thick and hard skin.
• durian, coconut, and watermelon are examples of plants that have thick and hard skin.

6.   Produce poisonous substances :

• some plants produce poisonous substances.
• mushrooms, yam plant and pong-pong plant are examples of plants that produce poisonous substances.

  
    
     

ANIMALS AND PLANTS PROTECT THEMSELVES :

PLANTS PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM ENEMIES :

1.  Animals and humans damage plants when seeking shelter or food.
2.  Plants have to protect themselves from their enemies and also have to adapt to their environment to survive.
3.  Plants can protect themselves in many ways.
4.  Some plants close their leaves when touched.
5.  The mimosa plant closes its leaflets when touched.
6.  Plants have special characteristics to protect them from being destroyed by humans and animals.
7.  The special characteristics of plants to protect themselves from enemies are:
     (a)   thick and hard bark
     (b)   fine hairs
     (c)   thorns
     (d)   produce sap or latex
     (e)   hard skin
     (f)    produce poisonous substances 

ANIMALS AND PLANTS PROTECT THEMSELVES:

ANIMALS PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM EXTREME WEATHER :


EXTREMELY HOT WEATHER:

1.  Animals can protect themselves from extremely hot weather in many ways.
2.  The specific characteristic and behaviour that animals have to protect themselves in extremely hot weather are :

•     humps
•     spray water and have big ears to fan
•     dig holes
•     wallowing in mud 
•     active at night
•     hangs its tongue

3.  Humps :

• some animals have humps.
• they can store food and water in their bodies.
• a camel is an example of such an animal.
• it stores food and water in its hump.

4.  Dig holes :

• some animals dig holes deep in the soil and remain there when it is hot.
• porcupine, mole and earthworm are examples of animals that dig holes and hide themselves in it.

5.  Spray water and have big ears to fan :

• an elephant sprays water on itself to keep cool.
• it also fans itself with its big ears.

6.  Wallowing in mud :

• some animals wallow in mud to keep themselves cool on hot days.
• buffalo, hippotamus and rhinoceros are examples of animals that wallow in mud at hot weather.

7.  Active at night :

• some animals are active at night when it is cooler.
• owl, bat and rat are examples of animals that are active at night.

8.  Hangs its tongue:

• a dog hangs its tongue out of its mouth when it is hot.