Tissues: Plant and Animal Tissues — ICSE Class 9 Biology Important Questions
13 ICSE Class 9 Biology practice questions on Tissues: Plant and Animal Tissues, 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
- Questions
- 5
- Topics
- 4
- Key concepts
- ₹0
- With answers
Typically-asked ICSE Tissues questions cover the definition of a tissue, meristematic tissue (apical, intercalary, lateral) versus permanent tissue (parenchyma, collenchyma, sclerenchyma, xylem, phloem), and the four animal tissues: epithelial, connective, muscular and nervous. Classification charts, differences between meristematic and permanent tissue, and functions of each tissue type are asked frequently.
About Tissues: Plant and Animal Tissues
In this ICSE Class 9 Biology chapter Tissues you learn how groups of similar cells form tissues that perform specific functions. It covers plant tissues (meristematic and permanent - simple and complex) and animal tissues (epithelial, connective, muscular and nervous), together with their structure, location and functions.
Key concepts & formulas
A group of similar cells, having a common origin, that work together to perform a particular function; e.g. xylem for water transport, muscle for movement.
Meristematic tissue has small, thin-walled, actively dividing cells with no vacuole and causes growth. Permanent tissue is made of cells that have lost the power to divide and are specialised for a function.
Xylem conducts water and minerals upward and gives support; Phloem conducts food (mainly sucrose) made in leaves to all parts of the plant.
Epithelial (covering/protection), Connective (support and linking, e.g. blood, bone), Muscular (movement), Nervous (control and conduction of impulses).
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Important questions with answers
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Multiple-choice questions (1 mark)
The tissue responsible for the growth in length of a plant is:
- (a)
Parenchyma
- (b)
Apical meristem
- (c)
Sclerenchyma
- (d)
Phloem
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Answer: (b) Apical meristem.
Apical meristem is present at the tips of roots and shoots and increases the length of the plant.
Which of the following is a complex permanent tissue in plants?
- (a)
Parenchyma
- (b)
Collenchyma
- (c)
Xylem
- (d)
Sclerenchyma
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Answer: (c) Xylem.
Xylem is a complex tissue made of more than one type of cell (tracheids, vessels, xylem parenchyma, fibres). The others are simple tissues.
The muscle tissue found in the wall of the heart is:
- (a)
Striated (skeletal) muscle
- (b)
Smooth (unstriated) muscle
- (c)
Cardiac muscle
- (d)
Voluntary muscle
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Answer: (c) Cardiac muscle.
Cardiac muscle is found only in the heart wall; it is involuntary, striated and contracts rhythmically throughout life without tiring.
A plant stem can bend in wind without breaking because of a tissue with cells thickened at the corners. This tissue is:
- (a)
Sclerenchyma
- (b)
Collenchyma
- (c)
Xylem
- (d)
Epidermis
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Answer: (b) Collenchyma.
Collenchyma cells have cellulose thickenings at their corners, giving flexibility and mechanical support that allows bending without breaking.
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Practise free with the AI tutor →Assertion–Reason questions (1 mark)
Assertion (A): Blood is considered a connective tissue.
Reason (R): Blood has a fluid matrix (plasma) in which cells are suspended and it links different parts of the body.
- (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) Blood is a connective tissue because its cells (RBC, WBC, platelets) lie in a fluid matrix called plasma and it connects and transports substances between body parts, so R correctly explains A.
Very short answer questions (2 marks)
Define a tissue and give one example each of a plant and an animal tissue.
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A tissue is a group of similar cells, having a common origin, that work together to perform a specific function.
Example of a plant tissue: xylem (conducts water).
Example of an animal tissue: muscular tissue (brings about movement).
State the functions of (i) xylem and (ii) phloem.
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(i) Xylem: Conducts water and dissolved mineral salts from the roots upward to the leaves and other parts; it also provides mechanical support.
(ii) Phloem: Conducts prepared food (mainly sugars) from the leaves to all other parts of the plant (translocation).
Short answer questions (3 marks)
Differentiate between meristematic tissue and permanent tissue (any three points).
Show model answer
| Meristematic tissue | Permanent tissue |
|---|---|
| Cells actively divide | Cells have lost the power to divide |
| Cells are thin-walled and small | Cells may be thin or thick walled |
| Little or no vacuole; dense cytoplasm | Usually have large vacuoles |
| Function is to cause growth | Function is protection, support, conduction, storage, etc. |
Give the location and function of the three types of muscle tissue.
Show model answer
-
Striated (skeletal) muscle: Located attached to bones (limbs, trunk). It is voluntary and brings about movement of the body.
-
Smooth (unstriated) muscle: Located in walls of internal organs such as the stomach, intestines and blood vessels. It is involuntary and causes slow, sustained movements like peristalsis.
-
Cardiac muscle: Located only in the wall of the heart. It is involuntary and contracts rhythmically to pump blood.
Draw a classification chart of plant tissues.
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Plant tissues are classified as shown below:
Meristematic tissue causes growth, simple permanent tissue gives support and storage, and complex permanent tissue (xylem and phloem) conducts water and food.
Long answer questions (5 marks)
Describe the four main types of animal tissues with their functions and one example each.
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The four main types of animal tissues are:
-
Epithelial tissue: A covering or lining tissue made of tightly packed cells with little matrix. It protects underlying parts and helps in absorption and secretion. Example: lining of the mouth, skin epidermis.
-
Connective tissue: Cells are widely spaced in an abundant matrix; it connects, supports and links various organs. Example: blood, bone, cartilage, tendons, adipose (fat) tissue.
-
Muscular tissue: Made of elongated contractile cells (muscle fibres); it brings about movement of the body and its parts. Example: striated, smooth and cardiac muscle.
-
Nervous tissue: Made of neurons; it receives stimuli and conducts nerve impulses to and from different parts, coordinating body activities. Example: brain, spinal cord, nerves.
Together these tissues build all the organs of the animal body.
Compare parenchyma, collenchyma and sclerenchyma with respect to cell wall, living/dead nature and function.
Show model answer
| Feature | Parenchyma | Collenchyma | Sclerenchyma |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cell wall | Thin, made of cellulose | Thickened at corners with cellulose and pectin | Uniformly thick, lignified |
| Living/dead | Living cells | Living cells | Dead cells (at maturity) |
| Main function | Storage of food and water; photosynthesis (chlorenchyma) | Flexible mechanical support; allows bending | Rigid mechanical support and strength |
| Location | Soft parts of leaves, stem, roots, fruits | Below epidermis of young stems and leaf stalks | Hard parts, e.g. husk of coconut, seed coats, veins |
Thus parenchyma stores and makes food, collenchyma gives flexible support, and sclerenchyma gives rigid strength to the plant.
Case-based questions (4 marks)
While studying prepared slides, a student notes the following: Slide 1 shows tightly packed cells forming the lining of a tube. Slide 2 shows cells with a fluid matrix in which round and irregular cells float. Slide 3 shows long branched cells carrying fine thread-like extensions.
(i) Identify the type of tissue in Slide 1.
(ii) Name the tissue in Slide 2 and one function it performs.
(iii) Identify the tissue in Slide 3 and name its basic cell.
(iv) Which of these three tissues is responsible for coordination in the body?
Show model answer
(i) Slide 1 shows epithelial tissue, which forms coverings and linings.
(ii) Slide 2 shows blood (a connective tissue) with a fluid matrix (plasma). It transports oxygen, carbon dioxide, food and wastes, and helps in defence.
(iii) Slide 3 shows nervous tissue; its basic cell is the neuron (nerve cell).
(iv) Nervous tissue (Slide 3) is responsible for coordination, as it conducts impulses and controls body activities.
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Do these Tissues: Plant and Animal Tissues 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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