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NCERT Solutions Curiosity Chapter 10 Living beings and non-living things in our surroundings — Activity 10.1: Let us record

Book page 184 Updated on2026-09-05

Q1.
List them in Table 10.1 and identify each of them as living or non-living on the basis of your understanding in column II.
Answer

Look around your classroom and list whatever you can see. Then put each one in the correct group. Here is the table filled in for the five things the book names, with two more added from a real classroom.

(I) Name(II) My guess (Living / Non-living)
PencilNon-living
BookNon-living
PigeonLiving
CarNon-living
Plant (money plant in the corner)Living
Any other — house lizard on the wallLiving
Any other — chalk / dusterNon-living
Why the book asks for a “guess” first: column II is deliberately called My guess. You are meant to sort things by what you already believe, before the class works out the real test. Later, on page 188, you come back and fill columns IV and V with the correct answer. Being proved wrong in column II is part of the activity, not a mistake.
Tip: Do not throw away a doubtful item — write it down. Things like a seed, a wooden log, a feather or an egg are exactly the ones that make the class discussion interesting.
Q2.
Write a reason for grouping them as living or non living in column III.
Answer

The reason must name a characteristic — not just say “it looks alive”.

(I) Name(II) My guess(III) Reason / Remarks
PencilNon-livingIt does not grow, does not eat, does not breathe and cannot produce another pencil. It only becomes shorter as we use it.
BookNon-livingIt never grows or repairs its own torn page; it does not respond when touched.
PigeonLivingIt flies on its own, eats grain, grows from a chick, breathes, lays eggs and flies away when we clap.
CarNon-livingIt moves — but only when a driver starts it. It does not grow, does not eat food and no small car is ever born from it.
PlantLivingIt grows taller, needs water and air, its leaves turn towards the window, and it produces seeds.
House lizardLivingIt runs when the light is switched on, catches insects for food and lays eggs.
ChalkNon-livingIt gets used up, which is the opposite of growth, and shows none of the other characteristics.
The rule to follow: a thing is living only if it shows all the characteristics of life together. Showing one of them — like the car's movement, or a candle flame's “growth” — is never enough.
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