Introducing Biology — ICSE Class 9 Biology Important Questions
13 ICSE Class 9 Biology practice questions on Introducing Biology, each with a full model answer, covering 5 topics from the chapter in the question formats used in the exam.
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- 13
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- Topics
- 3
- Key concepts
- ₹0
- With answers
Exam-frequent ICSE Introducing Biology questions cover the meaning of biology and its two main branches (botany and zoology), the seven characteristics that distinguish living from non-living things (nutrition, respiration, growth, movement, excretion, reproduction, response to stimuli), and the scope and importance of biology. Definition-based questions on branches like ecology, genetics and taxonomy appear regularly.
About Introducing Biology
Inside the ICSE Class 9 Biology chapter Introducing Biology you examine what biology is, its two broad divisions botany and zoology, the specialised branches such as ecology, genetics, taxonomy and physiology, the characteristics that separate living organisms from non-living matter, and the scope of biology in medicine, agriculture and conservation.
Key concepts & formulas
Biology is broadly divided into Botany (study of plants) and Zoology (study of animals). Microbiology is the study of micro-organisms.
All living things show nutrition, respiration, excretion, growth, movement, reproduction and response to stimuli (sensitivity). These distinguish them from non-living things.
Ecology (organisms and environment), Genetics (heredity and variation), Taxonomy (classification and naming), Physiology (functions of body parts).
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Important questions with answers
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Multiple-choice questions (1 mark)
The branch of biology that deals with the study of plants is called:
- (a)
Zoology
- (b)
Botany
- (c)
Ecology
- (d)
Genetics
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Answer: (b) Botany.
Botany is the branch of biology dealing with plant life, while zoology deals with animals.
The study of the classification of organisms into groups is known as:
- (a)
Physiology
- (b)
Ecology
- (c)
Taxonomy
- (d)
Cytology
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Answer: (c) Taxonomy.
Taxonomy deals with the identification, naming and classification of organisms into orderly groups.
Which of the following is not a characteristic of living organisms?
- (a)
Response to stimuli
- (b)
Reproduction
- (c)
Combustion
- (d)
Excretion
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Answer: (c) Combustion.
Combustion is a chemical process of burning, not a life process. Response, reproduction and excretion are all characteristics of living things.
A car takes in fuel, gives out exhaust gases and moves, yet it is non-living. The single feature it can never show is:
- (a)
Movement
- (b)
Intake of fuel
- (c)
Release of gases
- (d)
Reproduction and growth
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Answer: (d) Reproduction and growth.
A car may mimic movement, intake and release of gases, but it can never grow from within or reproduce its own kind, which are defining features of life.
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Practise free with the AI tutor →Assertion–Reason questions (1 mark)
Assertion (A): Genetics is an important branch of biology.
Reason (R): Genetics is the study of heredity and variation in living organisms.
- (a)
Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
- (b)
Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
- (c)
A is true but R is false
- (d)
A is false but R is true
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Answer: (a) Genetics is indeed a branch of biology, and it is important precisely because it studies heredity and variation, so R correctly explains A.
Very short answer questions (2 marks)
Define biology and name its two main branches.
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Biology is the branch of science that deals with the study of living organisms, their structure, functions, growth, origin and relationships.
Its two main branches are:
- Botany - the study of plants.
- Zoology - the study of animals.
State any two differences between living and non-living things.
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| Living things | Non-living things |
|---|---|
| Show growth from within (intussusception) | Do not grow, or grow by adding matter on the outside |
| Reproduce to form new individuals | Cannot reproduce |
Living things also respire, respond to stimuli and require food, whereas non-living things do not.
Short answer questions (3 marks)
Explain any three characteristics that distinguish living organisms from non-living things.
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Three distinguishing characteristics of living organisms are:
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Nutrition: Living things require food to obtain energy for their activities; plants make their own food by photosynthesis while animals depend on others.
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Growth and reproduction: Living things grow by increase of protoplasm from within and reproduce to continue their species.
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Response to stimuli (sensitivity): Living things react to changes in their environment such as light, heat, touch and sound.
Non-living things show none of these processes.
Define the following branches of biology: (i) Ecology (ii) Physiology (iii) Cytology.
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(i) Ecology: The study of the relationship between living organisms and their environment.
(ii) Physiology: The study of the functions and vital processes of the various parts (organs and systems) of living organisms.
(iii) Cytology: The study of the structure, composition and functions of cells.
Describe the scope and importance of biology in daily life.
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The scope of biology is very wide and it benefits mankind in many ways:
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Medicine and health: Knowledge of biology helps in understanding diseases, developing vaccines, antibiotics and improving public health.
-
Agriculture: It helps in producing high-yielding crop varieties, controlling pests and improving livestock.
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Environment and conservation: Biology helps us understand ecosystems, protect endangered species and conserve natural resources.
Thus biology is essential for food security, health care and a sustainable environment.
Long answer questions (5 marks)
Describe the seven characteristics (life processes) that are common to all living organisms.
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The seven characteristics common to all living organisms are:
-
Nutrition: Intake and utilisation of food to obtain energy and materials for growth. Plants are autotrophic; animals are heterotrophic.
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Respiration: Oxidation of food to release energy, usually using oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide.
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Excretion: Removal of harmful nitrogenous and other metabolic wastes from the body.
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Growth: Permanent increase in size and mass due to formation of new protoplasm from within.
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Movement: Living things show movement; animals move from place to place (locomotion), plants show limited movement.
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Reproduction: Production of new individuals of the same kind to continue the species.
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Response to stimuli (Sensitivity): Ability to detect and respond to changes such as light, temperature, touch and chemicals.
These processes together define life and are absent in non-living things.
Match and explain how five different branches of biology contribute to solving real-world problems.
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Different branches of biology solve real-world problems as follows:
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Genetics: By studying heredity and DNA, it helps diagnose genetic disorders, develop disease-resistant crops and enables genetic counselling.
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Microbiology: By studying micro-organisms, it aids in producing antibiotics, vaccines, fermented foods and in treating sewage.
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Ecology: By studying organism-environment relationships, it guides pollution control, wildlife conservation and management of ecosystems.
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Physiology: By studying how body organs function, it helps in understanding diseases and developing treatments and medicines.
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Taxonomy: By classifying and naming organisms, it enables scientists worldwide to identify species accurately, which is vital for research and biodiversity conservation.
Together these branches improve health, food production and environmental protection.
Case-based questions (4 marks)
A student places a potted plant near a window. After a few days she observes that the shoot has bent towards the window, the plant has grown taller, and small new leaves have appeared. She also notes drops of water on the leaf tips in the morning.
(i) Which characteristic of living things is shown by the shoot bending towards the window?
(ii) Name the life process responsible for the plant growing taller and producing new leaves.
(iii) The drops of water on the leaf tips indicate the removal of excess water. Name this process.
(iv) Name the branch of biology that studies such functions of plants.
Show model answer
(i) Response to stimuli (sensitivity) - specifically phototropism, the bending of the shoot towards light.
(ii) Growth (accompanied by nutrition through photosynthesis), which causes increase in height and formation of new leaves.
(iii) Guttation - the loss of water in the form of droplets from the tips or margins of leaves; it is a form of excretion/removal of excess water.
(iv) Plant physiology - the branch of biology that studies the functions and processes of plants.
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Frequently asked questions
Do these Introducing Biology questions follow the latest ICSE syllabus?
Yes — they are aligned to the CISCE 2026–27 syllabus for ICSE Class 9 Biology, so nothing here is outside the current course.
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