Chapter: 11 – Reproduction: How Life Continues
Maximum Marks: 50
Suggested Time: 1 Hour 30 Minutes

This Class 9 Science Exploration Chapter 11 Sample Paper 1 is designed to help students practise important concepts from “Reproduction: How Life Continues.” The paper covers reproduction and its importance, asexual and sexual reproduction, reproductive processes in plants and animals, reproductive organs, fertilisation, development, and basic reproductive health and hygiene. Complete solutions are provided at the end.

Sample Paper 1

General Instructions

1. All questions are compulsory.
2. Read each question carefully before answering.
3. Use appropriate biological terminology.
4. Draw neat and labelled diagrams wherever required.
5. Write answers in complete sentences where appropriate.

Section A — Objective Questions

10 × 1 = 10 Marks

Q1. Reproduction is important because it:

a) Provides energy to organisms
b) Ensures continuity of life
c) Increases body temperature
d) Helps organisms breathe

Q2. Which type of reproduction generally involves only one parent?

a) Sexual reproduction
b) Asexual reproduction
c) Cross-fertilisation
d) Internal fertilisation

Q3. Reproduction involving the fusion of male and female gametes is called:

a) Budding
b) Fragmentation
c) Sexual reproduction
d) Vegetative propagation

Q4. Which of the following is an example of asexual reproduction?

a) Fertilisation in humans
b) Budding in yeast
c) Fusion of gametes
d) Pollination

Q5. The male reproductive gamete is called:

a) Ovum
b) Zygote
c) Sperm
d) Embryo

Q6. The female reproductive gamete in humans is called:

a) Sperm
b) Ovum
c) Zygote
d) Pollen

Q7. The fusion of male and female gametes is called:

a) Pollination
b) Germination
c) Fertilisation
d) Budding

Q8. The structure formed immediately after fertilisation is called:

a) Embryo
b) Zygote
c) Foetus
d) Seed

Q9. Transfer of pollen grains from anther to stigma is called:

a) Fertilisation
b) Pollination
c) Germination
d) Budding

Q10. Which reproductive process produces offspring that are generally genetically very similar to the parent?

a) Sexual reproduction
b) Asexual reproduction
c) Cross-pollination
d) Fertilisation

Section B — Very Short Answer Questions

5 × 2 = 10 Marks

Q11. What is reproduction? Why is it necessary for the continuation of a species?

Q12. Define asexual reproduction and give one example.

Q13. What are gametes? Name the male and female gametes in humans.

Q14. Differentiate between pollination and fertilisation.

Q15. What is fertilisation? What is the product formed after fertilisation?

Section C — Short Answer Questions

4 × 3 = 12 Marks

Q16. Differentiate between sexual and asexual reproduction on the basis of number of parents, gametes and variation.

Q17. Explain budding in yeast with a suitable description of the process.

Q18. Describe the basic sequence of events from fertilisation to the formation of an embryo.

Q19. Explain the importance of variation in reproduction.

Section D — Application-Based Questions

2 × 4 = 8 Marks

Q20. A gardener grows new plants from the stem of an existing plant rather than from seeds.

Answer the following:

a) What type of reproduction is involved?
b) Is it sexual or asexual reproduction?
c) Why are the new plants generally very similar to the parent plant?
d) Give one advantage of this method.

Q21. A flowering plant produces flowers containing both male and female reproductive structures.

Answer the following:

a) Name the male reproductive part of a flower.
b) Name the female reproductive part of a flower.
c) Where are pollen grains produced?
d) Where does fertilisation ultimately occur in a flowering plant?

Section E — Long Answer Questions

2 × 5 = 10 Marks

Q22. Explain sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction. Compare them in terms of number of parents, involvement of gametes, genetic variation and examples.

Q23. Describe the process of reproduction in flowering plants from pollination to seed formation.

SOLUTIONS

Section A — Answers

Q1. b) Ensures continuity of life

Q2. b) Asexual reproduction

Q3. c) Sexual reproduction

Q4. b) Budding in yeast

Q5. c) Sperm

Q6. b) Ovum

Q7. c) Fertilisation

Q8. b) Zygote

Q9. b) Pollination

Q10. b) Asexual reproduction

Section B — Solutions

Q11. Reproduction

Reproduction is the biological process by which organisms produce new individuals of their own kind.

It is necessary because it ensures the continuity of a species from one generation to the next.

Without reproduction, a species would eventually disappear as existing individuals die.

Q12. Asexual Reproduction

Asexual reproduction is reproduction in which a new individual is generally produced from a single parent without the fusion of male and female gametes.

Example: Budding in yeast.

Other examples include binary fission in some unicellular organisms and vegetative propagation in plants.

Q13. Gametes

Gametes are specialised reproductive cells that participate in sexual reproduction.

In humans:

• Male gamete = Sperm
• Female gamete = Ovum (egg)

During fertilisation, these gametes fuse to form a zygote.

Q14. Pollination and Fertilisation

Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of a flower.

Fertilisation is the fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote.

Q15. Fertilisation

Fertilisation is the fusion of a male gamete with a female gamete.

The product formed is called a: Zygote​

The zygote subsequently undergoes cell division and development.

Section C — Solutions

Q16. Sexual and Asexual Reproduction

Sexual reproduction creates new combinations of genetic information, while asexual reproduction generally produces offspring that closely resemble the parent.

Q17. Budding in Yeast

In budding, a small outgrowth called a bud develops on the parent cell.

The nucleus divides, and one part of the genetic material enters the developing bud.

The bud grows gradually and may eventually separate from the parent cell to form a new individual.

Thus, reproduction occurs without the fusion of gametes. Parent cell→Bud formation→Growth→New individual​

Q18. From Fertilisation to Embryo Formation

The basic sequence is:

Step 1: Fertilisation

Male and female gametes fuse to form a zygote.

Step 2: Cell Division

The zygote undergoes repeated cell divisions.

Step 3: Development

The growing group of cells becomes organised into different tissues and structures.

Step 4: Embryo Formation

The developing organism reaches the embryo stage.

Thus: Gametes→Fertilisation→Zygote→Cell division→Embryo​

Q19. Importance of Variation

Variation means differences in characteristics among individuals of the same species.

Variation is important because:

1. It helps populations adapt to changing environmental conditions.
2. Some variations may provide an advantage for survival.
3. Over many generations, variations contribute to evolutionary change.
4. Sexual reproduction is an important source of new combinations of genetic information.

Thus, variation helps increase the ability of a species to respond to environmental changes.

Section D — Solutions

Q20. Growing Plants from Stems

a) Type of reproduction

The gardener is using vegetative propagation.

b) Sexual or asexual?

Vegetative propagation is a form of: Asexual reproduction​

c) Why are plants similar?

Only a part of the parent plant is used and there is no fusion of gametes.

Therefore, the new plants generally have genetic information very similar to the parent plant.

d) Advantage

One advantage is that many plants can be produced quickly from a suitable parent plant.

It can also help preserve desirable characteristics of the parent plant.

Q21. Reproductive Parts of a Flower

a) Male reproductive part

Stamen​

b) Female reproductive part

Pistil/Carpel​

c) Where are pollen grains produced?

Pollen grains are produced in the: Anther​

d) Where does fertilisation occur?

In flowering plants, the male gamete ultimately fuses with the female gamete in the: Ovule​

The ovules are present inside the ovary.

Section E — Solutions

Q22. Sexual and Asexual Reproduction

Asexual Reproduction

Asexual reproduction generally involves one parent and does not involve the fusion of male and female gametes.

A new organism is produced from the parent through processes such as budding, fission or vegetative propagation.

Examples:

• Budding in yeast
• Vegetative propagation in plants

The offspring are generally genetically very similar to the parent.

Sexual Reproduction

Sexual reproduction involves the formation and fusion of reproductive cells called gametes.

The male and female gametes combine during fertilisation to form a zygote.

The zygote develops into a new organism.

Sexual reproduction generally produces greater genetic variation among offspring.

Comparison

Q23. Reproduction in Flowering Plants

Reproduction in flowering plants involves several stages.

1. Pollination

Pollen grains are transferred from the anther to the stigma.

Pollination may occur within the same flower/plant or between flowers of different plants of the same species.

2. Pollen Tube Formation

After a compatible pollen grain reaches the stigma, it can germinate and form a pollen tube.

The pollen tube grows through the style towards the ovary.

3. Fertilisation

The male gamete reaches the ovule and fuses with the female gamete.

This fusion forms a: Zygote​

4. Embryo Development

The zygote divides and develops into an embryo.

5. Seed Formation

After fertilisation, the ovule develops into a seed, while the ovary generally develops into a fruit.

Thus, the basic sequence is: Pollination→Pollen tube formation→Fertilisation→Zygote→Embryo→Seed​

This process allows flowering plants to produce new generations.