Chapter 5 – Locomotion as a Type of Response in Animals

Want a quick and clear revision before your exam? The topic Locomotion as a type of response in animals is important for your WBBSE Class 10 exam. This page gives you important questions and answers in simple and easy English. These questions are based on key topics and exam patterns. This will help you understand clearly, revise quickly, and score better marks in your exam.

Content Structure

1. Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs)
2. Very short-type questions and answers
- 2A. Fill in the blanks
- 2B. True or false
- 2C. Match the column
- 2D. Single word questions and answers
3. Short-type questions and answers
4. Long-type questions and answers

1. Multiple choice questions and answers (MCQs)

1. Myotome muscles are characteristic of—
(a) Birds
(b) Fishes
(c) Frogs
(d) Humans

Ans: (b) Fishes

2. A muscle that bends a limb is called a—
(a) Extensor
(b) Flexor
(c) Adductor
(d) Abductor

Ans: (b) Flexor

3. Humans show—
(a) Quadrupedal locomotion
(b) Bipedal locomotion
(c) Ciliary movement
(d) Flagellar movement

Ans: (b) Bipedal locomotion

4. Locomotion in Euglena occurs by—
(a) Cilia
(b) Pseudopodia
(c) Flagellum
(d) Muscular foot

Ans: (c) Flagellum

5. The structure that helps fish to float is—
(a) Operculum
(b) Fins
(c) Air bladder
(d) Scales

Ans: (c) Air bladder

6. An immovable joint is found in the—
(a) Knee
(b) Skull
(c) Elbow
(d) Hip

Ans: (b) Skull

7. The locomotion of humans is—
(a) Ciliary
(b) Flagellar
(c) Bipedal
(d) Quadrupedal

Ans: (c) Bipedal

8. The main locomotory organs of fishes are—
(a) Fins
(b) Scales
(c) Lateral line
(d) Operculum

Ans: (a) Fins

9. The knee joint is formed by—
(a) Femur and pelvic girdle
(b) Femur, tibia and patella
(c) Humerus and radius
(d) Ulna and radius

Ans: (b) Femur, tibia and patella

10. The hip joint is formed between—
(a) Femur and scapula
(b) Femur and pelvic girdle
(c) Humerus and scapula
(d) Tibia and fibula

Ans: (b) Femur and pelvic girdle

11. The shoulder joint is formed between—
(a) Clavicle and tibia
(b) Humerus and scapula
(c) Femur and tibia
(d) Ulna and humerus

Ans: (b) Humerus and scapula

12. Ligaments connect—
(a) Bone to muscle
(b) Bone to bone
(c) Muscle to muscle
(d) Nerve to muscle

Ans: (b) Bone to bone

13. Tendons connect
(a) Bone to bone
(b) Muscle to bone
(c) Nerve to bone
(d) Bone to cartilage

Ans: (b) Muscle to bone

14. Which of the following is not a flight muscle of a bird?
(a) Pectoralis major
(b) Pectoralis minor
(c) Coracobrachialis
(d) Myotome

Ans: (d) Myotome

15. A muscle that straightens a limb is—
(a) Flexor
(b) Extensor
(c) Rotator
(d) Abductor

Ans: (b) Extensor

16. The muscle used during flexion of the arm is—
(a) Deltoid
(b) Triceps
(c) Biceps
(d) Rotator

Ans: (c) Biceps

17. An example of an abductor muscle is—
(a) Deltoid
(b) Triceps
(c) Biceps
(d) Gastrocnemius

Ans: (a) Deltoid

2. Very short-type questions and answers

2A. Fill in the blanks

1. One of the objectives of _____________ is the search of food. (locomotion)
2. The muscles which help a bird in flying are called _____________ muscles. (flight)
3. The locomotory organ of Amoeba is _______________. (pseudopodia)
4. Paramoecium moves in ________________ direction to the movement of cilia. (opposite)
5. The swim bladder of bony fish helps to maintain its _____________. (buoyancy)
6. Pectoral and ______________ fins are paired fins of a fish. (pelvic)
7. Articular hyaline cartilage is present in ____________ joints. (synovial)
8. ______________ muscle of hand contracts to fold the arm. (Biceps)
9. _______________ helps in extension of the arm.(Triceps)
10. ____________ muscles is ‘V’ shaped. (Myotome)
11. Elbow joint is a ___________ joint. (hinge)
12. The locomotion of Amoeba is called ___________ movement. (amoeboid)

2B. True or false

1. Movement of any limb away from the body axis is called flexor. (False)
2. Joints the knee and elbow are examples of hinge joint.(True)
3. Biceps is example of extensor muscle.(False)
4. Fins with fin rays are seen only in bony fishes.(True)
5. Eyespot is present in Amoeba.(False)
6. Flagella help in locomotion of Amoeba. (False)
7. Synovial fluid protects the movable bone ends against friction. (True)
8. Fins of birds help in bright. (False)

2C. Match the column

1. Match the following items in List I with correct items in List II.

A	B
1. Flexor muscles	A. Ball and socket
2. Abductor muscle	B. Biceps
3. Extensor muscle	C. Myotome
4. Synovial joint	D. Deltoid
5. Flight muscle	E. Pectoralis major
6. ‘V’ shaped muscle	F. Latissimus
	G. Triceps

Ans:

A	B
1. Flexor muscles	B. Biceps
2. Abductor muscle	D. Deltoid
3. Extensor muscle	G. Triceps
4. Synovial joint	A. Ball and socket
5. Flight muscle	E. Pectoralis major
6. ‘V’ shaped muscle	C. Myotome

2D. Single word questions and answers

1. What is locomotion?
Ans: Movement of an organism from one place to another is called locomotion. It means the whole body changes its position.

2. Mention two purposes of locomotion.
Ans: Locomotion helps an organism to look for food and also to escape from enemies or danger.

3. Name the locomotory organ of Amoeba.
Ans: The locomotory organ of Amoeba is pseudopodia, which are finger-like extensions.

4. What is the role of myotome in the locomotion of fish?
Ans: Myotomes help the fish to swim by contracting and relaxing again and again, allowing the fish to move forward.

5. Name an animal which shows bipedal locomotion.
Ans: A human shows bipedal locomotion because humans walk on two legs.

6. How many bones are present in adult human skeleton?
Ans: The adult human skeleton has 206 bones.

7. Name the locomotory organ of Amoeba.
Ans: The locomotory organ of Amoeba is pseudopodia.

8. When does Amoeba grow its pseudopodia?
Ans: Amoeba grows pseudopodia when it wants to move or when it tries to catch food.

9. What is the locomotory organ of Euglena?
Ans: The locomotory organ of Euglena is the flagellum, which looks like a long tail.

10. Which type of locomotion does an adult human perform?
Ans: An adult human performs bipedal locomotion, which means walking using two legs.

11. Name a voluntary muscle.
Ans: Biceps is a voluntary muscle because we can control its movement.

12. Which type of muscle is biceps?
Ans: Biceps is a flexor muscle because it helps in bending the arm.

13. Name an extensor muscle.
Ans: Triceps is an extensor muscle because it helps in straightening the arm.

14. How do you denote the point of contact between two bones?
Ans: The point where two bones meet is called a bone joint.

15. Name the structure which connects two bones in a bone joint.
Ans: A ligament is the structure that connects two bones at a joint.

16. Where do you find hinge joints?
Ans: Hinge joints are found in the elbow and the knee, where movement is like opening and closing a door.

17. Where do you find ball and socket joints?
Ans: Ball and socket joints are found in the shoulder and hip, allowing movement in many directions.

18. What helps movement and locomotion in muscles?
Ans: The contractibility of muscle fibres, meaning they can shorten and lengthen, helps in movement and locomotion.

19. What are the locomotory organs of a bird?
Ans: A bird uses a pair of wings for flying and two legs for walking or landing.

20. Name the muscle that helps in locomotion of a fish.
Ans: The muscles that help a fish swim are called myotome muscles.

21. Name the paired fins of a fish
Ans: The paired fins of a fish are the pectoral fins and the pelvic fins.

22. Name the unpaired fins of a fish.
Ans: The unpaired fins of a fish are the dorsal fin, anal fin, and the caudal (tail) fin.

23. Which fin helps a fish to change its direction during swimming?
Ans: The caudal or tail fin helps a fish to turn and change its direction while swimming.

24. Which organ of a fish helps it to float in water?
Ans: The swim bladder helps a fish to float by controlling its position in water.

25. What will happen to a fish if all its fins are tied with a thread?
Ans: The fish will not be able to swim properly or keep its balance if all its fins are tied.

26. Which type of joint is the knee joint?
Ans: The knee joint is a hinge joint.

29. Name the large feathers present at the tail end of a bird.
Ans: The large feathers present at the tail of a bird are called rectrices.

30. Name a unicellular organism having a photosensitive eyespot.
Ans: Euglena is a unicellular organism that has a photosensitive eyespot.

31. Which flight muscle helps a bird to move downward during flight?
Ans: The pectoralis major muscle helps a bird to move its wings downward.

32. Which flight muscle helps a bird to move upward during flight?
Ans: The pectoralis minor muscle helps a bird to lift its wings upward.

33. Which part of the internal ear helps to maintain body balance?
Ans: The semicircular canals in the internal ear help to maintain body balance.

35. Which muscle helps in extending a folded limb?
Ans: Extensor muscles help to straighten or extend a folded limb.

36. Which muscle helps to rotate a body part?
Ans: Rotator muscles help in rotating or turning a body part.

3. Short-type questions and answers

1. What is locomotion?
Ans: Locomotion means the movement of an entire organism from one place to another. It involves the whole body changing position, such as walking, running, flying, or swimming.

2. Difference between movement and locomotion.
Ans:

Movement	Locomotion
Movement is the change in position of any part of the body.	Locomotion is the movement of the whole body from one place to another.
The organism may or may not change its location.	The organism always changes its location.
Example: blinking of eyes, bending of arm, heartbeat.	Example: walking, running, swimming, flying.

3. What are the purposes of locomotion?
Ans: Locomotion helps organisms to survive. Its purposes include:

Searching for food
Escaping from enemies or danger
Finding shelter
Meeting mates for reproduction
Moving to suitable habitats

4. Describe different types of animal locomotion.
Ans: Animals use many types of locomotion based on their structure and habitat:

Walking: Dogs, cats, humans
Running: Horses, cheetahs
Flying: Birds, bats
Swimming: Fish, dolphins
Crawling: Snakes, worms
Hopping: Frogs, rabbits
Gliding: Flying squirrels, some lizards

5. Describe the location of muscles in fish.
Ans: Fish have special muscles called myotomes, which are arranged in V-shaped segments on both sides of the fish’s backbone. These muscles help the fish bend its body from side to side while swimming.

6. How many types of fins? Explain each type.
Ans: Fish have two main types of fins:

Unpaired fins (single, in the middle of body):

Dorsal fin: Helps balance the fish.
Anal fin: Prevents the fish from rolling sideways.
Caudal (tail) fin: Helps the fish move forward quickly.

Paired fins (found in pairs like arms and legs):

Pectoral fins: Help the fish steer and change direction.
Pelvic fins: Help maintain balance and control upward or downward movement.

7. Show the functions of fins.
Ans: Fins are very important for fish because they help in:

Swimming forward
Keeping balance
Turning left or right
Controlling movement up and down
Stopping movement

8. Show the function of wings.
Ans: Wings help birds to:

Fly in the sky
Glide smoothly
Maintain balance while flying
Land safely

9. Show the function of feathers.
Ans: Feathers help birds by:

Allowing them to fly
Keeping their bodies warm
Protecting their skin
Giving shape for smooth movement in air
Helping in courtship displays

10. Name the running and flying bird.
Ans:

Running bird: Ostrich
Flying bird: Pigeon

11. Name the flight muscle.
Ans: The main flight muscle is the pectoralis muscle, which helps in flapping the wings during flying.

12. Describe the bipedal stages of locomotion.
Ans: Bipedal locomotion means walking on two legs. Its stages include:

Standing upright
Walking step by step
Running quickly using both legs
Jumping using the legs
Climbing with help of legs

13. Which one is calf muscle? Give another name.
Ans: The gastrocnemius muscle is called the calf muscle which is located at the back of the lower leg and helps in walking and jumping.

14. Why is the NCC command ‘left’ and then ‘right’ used?
Ans: This is because in marching the left leg is always moved first, followed by the right leg. This keeps the group in proper rhythm.

15. How many bones are in the human body?
Ans: An adult human has 206 bones which support the body and help in movement.

16. Describe three types of joints.
Ans:

Type of Joint	Description	Examples
Immovable joints	Bones are tightly fixed and cannot move.	Skull bones
Slightly movable joints	Bones allow small movement.	Vertebrae of backbone
Freely movable joints	Bones move freely in different directions.	Shoulder, hip, knee

17. Which structure is called the ‘mechanical bridge’? Why?
Ans: The tendon is called a mechanical bridge because it connects muscles to bones and transfers the muscle force to move the bones.

18. Describe three kinds of tissues.
Ans:

Type of Tissue	Function	Examples
Muscular tissue	Helps in movement of body parts	Found in skeletal muscles, heart, and internal organs; causes movement by contracting and relaxing.
Nervous tissue	Carries messages in the body	Found in brain, spinal cord, and nerves; helps in communication and control of body activities.
Connective tissue	Supports, binds, and protects body parts	Includes bone, cartilage, blood, tendons, ligaments, and fat tissues.

19. Which one is the head of the humerus?
Ans: The rounded upper end of the humerus bone is called the head. It fits into the shoulder joint.

20. Which one is the head of the femur?
Ans: The ball-shaped upper part of the femur bone is its head. It fits into the hip joint.

21. Which joint allows 360° movement?
Ans: The ball-and-socket joint (in the hip and shoulder) allows movement in all directions, including circular movement.

22. Describe the largest joint.
Ans: The knee joint is the largest joint in the human body. It helps in bending, straightening, walking, running, and standing.

23. What is minimal stimulus?
Ans: Minimal stimulus is the smallest or weakest stimulus that can produce a response in an organism.

24. Difference between type of skeletal muscle and mode of operation.
Ans:

Feature	Type of Skeletal Muscle	Mode of Operation of Skeletal Muscle
Appearance	Skeletal muscle is striated with light and dark bands	It works under voluntary control
Location	It is attached to the bones of the body	Its action is controlled by the brain and spinal cord
Shape	The muscle fibres are long, cylindrical and unbranched	It contracts only when we consciously decide to move
Nuclei	Each muscle fibre contains many nuclei	The movement stops when the command from the brain stops
Main Function	It helps in movement and maintaining posture	It allows activities such as walking, running and lifting
Speed of Action	It shows fast and powerful contractions	The action starts only after a voluntary signal.

25. Write a short note on thermotaxis.
Ans: Thermotaxis is the movement of an organism toward or away from a source of heat. It helps the organism find a suitable temperature for survival.

26. Write a short note on chemotaxis.
Ans: Chemotaxis is movement in response to chemicals. Organisms move toward helpful chemicals and away from harmful ones.

27. Write a short note on thermotropism.
Ans: Thermotropism is the growth movement of plants in response to temperature. For example, roots may grow toward cooler areas.

28. What is the full form of MSH? Show its function.
Ans:

Full form: Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone
Function: It controls skin colour by regulating the production of melanin.

29. Mention the aims of locomotion.
Ans: Locomotion helps organisms to:

It helps organisms search for food so they can survive.
It allows them to escape from enemies and stay safe.
It enables them to find mates for reproduction.
It helps them move to better places for shelter and comfort.
It allows them to migrate to favourable environments during harsh seasons.
It helps them protect themselves from danger.
It enables them to survive and adapt to their environment.

30. Name locomotory organs of Amoeba, fish, and bird.
Ans: The locomotory organ of Amoeba is pseudopodia, fish use fins for movement, and birds use wings for locomotion.

31. Name the locomotory organs of fish and their function.
Ans: Fish use fins as their main locomotory organs. Their functions are:

Fins help the fish to swim forward by pushing water backward.
They help in turning when the fish needs to change its path.
They maintain balance and prevent the fish from rolling sideways.
They help the fish change direction smoothly while swimming.
They assist in moving up and down in water by controlling stability and lift.

32. What is bipedal locomotion?
Ans: Bipedal locomotion is the type of movement in which an organism walks or moves using only two legs, as humans do in their daily activities.

33. Locomotory organs of Amoeba and Paramecium.
Ans: The locomotory organ of Amoeba is pseudopodia, whereas Paramecium moves with the help of cilia.

34. Locomotory organs of Amoeba, Paramecium, and Euglena.
Ans: Amoeba uses pseudopodia for movement, Paramecium moves with the help of cilia, and Euglena locomotes using a flagellum.

35. Types of fins in Rohu fish.
Ans: Rohu fish has: Dorsal fin, pectoral fins, pelvic fins, anal fin, and caudal fin.

36. Role of swim bladder in fish.
Ans: The swim bladder helps a fish to float, maintain its level in water, and control depth without using much energy.

37. Organs involved in bipedal locomotion.
Ans: Leg muscles, bones (femur, tibia, fibula), hip joint, knee joint, ankle joint, and feet help humans walk on two legs.

38. Roles of different fins in fish locomotion.
Ans:

Fin	Role in Locomotion
Caudal fin	Helps the fish move forward.
Dorsal fin	Keeps the fish steady and stops it from rolling.
Anal fin	Helps the fish stay straight and balanced.
Pectoral fins	Help the fish turn and move slowly.
Pelvic fins	Help the fish balance and move up or down.

4. Long-type questions and answers

1. Briefly explain the driving forces of locomotion.
Ans: Locomotion in animals is possible because of three main driving forces. These forces work together to make movement smooth and effective.

Driving Force	How It Helps in Locomotion
Muscular force	Muscles contract and relax to produce movement. When muscles contract, they pull the bones, and when they relax, the bones return to their place. Repeated contraction and relaxation help the body move.
Skeletal support	Bones act like levers and give shape and support to the body. Joints between bones allow bending, rotation, and swinging, making different movements possible.
Nervous control	The brain and nerves send signals to the muscles, telling them when to contract or relax. They coordinate movements so the body can move smoothly.

2. Briefly describe the method of amoeboid movement.
Ans: Amoeba moves with the help of a special type of movement called amoeboid movement. This movement is slow and occurs in the following steps:

Step	What Happens
Formation of pseudopodia	The Amoeba forms soft, finger-like projections on its body called pseudopodia. These projections develop in the direction of movement.
Flow of cytoplasm into pseudopodia	The cytoplasm of the Amoeba flows forward into a pseudopodium, which makes the pseudopodium grow and extend.
Attachment to the surface	The pseudopodium touches the surface and becomes firmly attached, giving the Amoeba support for movement.
Forward movement of the body	The Amoeba moves forward when its body shifts into the extended pseudopodium. The body follows the pseudopodium, causing slow, steady movement.
Pseudopodia used for feeding	The Amoeba uses pseudopodia to catch food by surrounding the food particle and enclosing it inside the body.

3. Briefly describe the locomotory mechanism of Euglena. Mention the differences between locomotion in Amoeba and Euglena.
Ans: Locomotion in Euglena which moves with the help of a long, whip-like structure called the flagellum.
The flagellum beats in a wave-like manner and pulls the body forward. The movement looks like a tiny boat moving through water. Euglena also has an eyespot that helps it to sense light. So it swims toward light to make food through photosynthesis.

Steps of movement:

The flagellum swings backward.
It pushes water.
This force pulls Euglena forward.
The body may rotate while moving.

Differences between locomotion in Amoeba and Euglena

Amoeba	Euglena
Moves by pseudopodia	Moves by flagellum
Movement is slow and creeping	Movement is quick and swimming-like
Body shape keeps changing	Body shape remains almost constant
Movement occurs by cytoplasm flow	Movement occurs by flagellar beating
No eyespot or light-sensing structure	Has an eyespot to detect light

4. Briefly describe the method of locomotion in Paramecium. Mention few ciliated cells other than Paramecium.
Ans: Locomotion in Paramecium which moves with the help of many tiny hair-like structures called cilia. These cilia cover the entire body like a coat of hairs.

Method of movement:

Cilia beat together in a coordinated manner.
Each cilium moves backward and forward like an oar of a boat.
These rhythmic strokes push water backward.
The Paramecium is pushed forward through water.
Cilia also help Paramecium rotate and change direction quickly.

Examples of ciliated cells other than Paramecium:

Ciliated cells in the human respiratory tract.
Ciliated cells in oyster larvae.
Ciliated cells in earthworm reproductive organs.
Ciliated protozoan Vorticella.

5. Distinguish between flexion and extension. Mention the difference between abduction and adduction.
Ans: Flexion vs Extension

Flexion	Extension
Flexion means bending a joint.	Extension means straightening a joint.
Angle between bones becomes smaller.	Angle between bones becomes larger.
Example: bending the elbow using the biceps.	Example: straightening the arm using triceps.

Abduction vs Adduction

Abduction	Adduction
Moving a limb away from the middle line of the body.	Moving a limb toward the middle line of the body.
Example: Raising arms sideways.	Example: Bringing arms back to sides.