NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Science (Curiosity) Chapter 2: Diversity in the Living World (NCERT 2026–27)

These Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 2 solutions cover Diversity in the Living World from the new NCF textbook (2026–27). The chapter takes you on a nature walk to discover the huge variety of plants and animals around us — what we call biodiversity — and teaches you how to group them based on their features such as stems, leaves, roots, seeds, movement and habitat. Every question of the “Let us enhance our learning” exercise is solved below in simple, exam-ready language.

Class: 6 Subject: Science Book: Curiosity Chapter: 2 Chapter Name: Diversity in the Living World Session: 2026–27
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Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 2 Solutions – Overview

Chapter 2 of Curiosity, Diversity in the Living World, begins with a nature walk led by Dr Raghu and Maniram chacha. The students observe many kinds of grasses, bushes, trees, birds, butterflies and monkeys, and realise that nature is full of variety — the biodiversity of a region. The chapter then explains how scientists make sense of this variety by grouping living things using common features. Plants are grouped as herbs, shrubs and trees (height and nature of stem), by leaf venation (reticulate or parallel), by root type (taproot or fibrous) and by seed type (dicot or monocot). Animals are grouped by their movement, body parts and habitat (land, water, or both). Finally, it describes how plants and animals have special features called adaptations to survive in their habitat, and why we must protect biodiversity.

Key Concepts & Definitions

Biodiversity: the variety of plants and animals found in a particular region. Each member has a role to play, and they depend on one another.

Grouping: arranging living things into groups based on common features so they are easier to study and understand.

Herbs, shrubs and trees: herbs are small with soft, green stems; shrubs are medium-sized with many hard, woody stems branching near the ground; trees are tall with a single hard, thick, woody stem branching higher up.

Venation: the pattern of veins in a leaf. Reticulate venation is a net-like pattern (e.g. hibiscus); parallel venation has veins running side by side (e.g. banana, grass).

Taproot and fibrous root: a taproot has one main root with small side roots (e.g. mustard); fibrous roots are a bunch of thin, similar-sized roots from the stem base (e.g. grass).

Dicots and monocots: dicots have seeds with two cotyledons (e.g. chickpea) and generally show reticulate venation and taproots; monocots have one cotyledon (e.g. maize) and generally show parallel venation and fibrous roots. Cotyledon number defines these seed groups; the root and vein patterns have exceptions.

Adaptation: the special features that enable a plant or animal to survive in a particular region (e.g. the cactus’s fleshy stem, the camel’s hump).

Habitat: the place where a plant or animal lives, providing food, water, air and shelter. Habitats may be terrestrial (land) or aquatic (water); animals like frogs that live in both are amphibians.

“Let us enhance our learning” — Full Solutions

Questions 1–10 follow the NCERT Curiosity exercise on pages 31–33 (reprint 2026–27). Figures and some layouts are adapted for this page. The worked explanations and teaching illustrations are ClearStudy additions.

1. Here are two types of seeds. What differences do you find among the roots and leaf venation of their plants? (a) Wheat (b) Kidney beans

ANSWER Wheat is a monocot plant (its seed has a single cotyledon). Its plant has fibrous roots — a bunch of thin, similar-sized roots arising from the base of the stem — and its leaves show parallel venation, in which the veins run side by side. Kidney beans are dicot plants (the seed splits into two cotyledons). The plant has a taproot — one main root with small side roots — and its leaves show reticulate venation, a net-like pattern of veins. So the two plants differ in both root type (fibrous in wheat, tap in kidney bean) and leaf venation (parallel in wheat, reticulate in kidney bean).
Wheat compared with kidney bean: one versus two cotyledons, fibrous versus taproots, and parallel versus reticulate leaf veins.
Q1 and Q9: compare the same three features in each plant. These common patterns have exceptions. Tap to view at full size.

2. Names of some animals are given below. Group them based on their habitats. Write the names of aquatic animals in the area marked ‘A’ and terrestrial animals in the area marked ‘B’. Enter the names of animals living in both habitats in part ‘C’.Horse, Dolphin, Frog, Sheep, Crocodile, Squirrel, Whale, Earthworm, Pigeon, Tortoise

ANSWER
A – Aquatic (water)C – Both habitatsB – Terrestrial (land)
Dolphin, WhaleFrog, CrocodileHorse, Sheep, Squirrel, Earthworm, Pigeon, Tortoise
Dolphins and whales are aquatic mammals. Frogs and crocodiles use both land and water, so enter them in C. A tortoise is land-dwelling, so it belongs in B; do not confuse it with an aquatic turtle. Pigeons can fly but use land and trees for resting and nesting, so they also belong in B. Habitat grouping is not animal classification: frogs are amphibians, while crocodiles and tortoises are reptiles.

3. Manu’s mother maintains a kitchen garden. One day, she was digging out radish from the soil. She told Manu that radish is a kind of root. Examine a radish and write what type of root it is. What type of venation would you observe in the leaves of radish plant?

ANSWER A radish is a single, thick, swollen main root with small side roots growing from it, so it is a taproot (a modified taproot that stores food). Since plants with taproots generally have reticulate venation, the leaves of the radish plant would show reticulate venation — a net-like pattern of veins. (Radish is a dicot plant.)

4. Look at the image of a mountain goat and a goat found in the plains. Point out the similarities and differences between them. What are the reasons for these differences?

ANSWER Similarities: Both are goats — they have four legs, hooves, a tail and horns; both feed on grass and leaves; and both move by walking and jumping. Differences: The mountain goat usually has a thick, heavy coat of hair, a sturdier body and strong, gripping hooves. The goat of the plains has a comparatively thinner coat and a lighter body. Reason: These differences are adaptations to their habitats. The mountain goat’s thick coat protects it from the cold of high mountains, and its strong hooves help it climb steep, rocky slopes without slipping. The shorter coat of the plains goat suits a warmer habitat. These comparisons describe the pictured animals; coat thickness and body size vary among breeds and seasons.
Mountain and plains goat coats compared, with a duck webbed foot and a pigeon foot showing separate toes.
Q4 and Q10: compare coats for habitat and foot structure for movement. Tap to view at full size.

5. Group the following animals into two groups based on any feature other than those discussed in the chapter—cow, cockroach, pigeon, bat, tortoise, whale, fish, grasshopper, lizard.

ANSWEROne different feature is whether the female feeds its young with milk. This separates mammals from the other listed animals:
Young are fed milkYoung are not fed milk
Cow, bat, whaleCockroach, pigeon, tortoise, fish, grasshopper, lizard
The first group consists of mammals, even though a bat flies and a whale swims. State the grouping rule clearly. Another accurate grouping using a different feature may also be accepted.

6. As the population grows and people want more comfortable lives, forests are being cut down to meet various needs. How can this affect our surroundings? How do you think we can address this challenge?

ANSWEREffects: Clearing forests removes food, shelter and breeding places for many organisms. It can reduce biodiversity, expose soil to erosion, disrupt the water cycle and reduce the carbon stored in trees.What we can do: Protect existing forests, use paper and wood carefully, restore damaged areas with suitable native plants, and support protected areas and community conservation such as sacred groves. Planting trees helps, but a new plantation does not immediately replace the diversity of an old forest.Protect the right habitat: the Great Indian Bustard mainly needs open grassland and scrub habitat, so planting trees everywhere is not a suitable conservation plan.

7. Analyse the flowchart. What can be examples of ‘A’ and ‘B’?Plant → Does it have leaves? (Yes) → Does it have reticulate venation? — Yes → A  |  No → B

ANSWERA: Hibiscus or kidney bean, because their leaves have reticulate (net-like) venation.B: Wheat or grass, because their leaves have parallel venation, so the answer to “Does it have reticulate venation?” is no.Follow the feature asked about in the chart. The root–venation–cotyledon relationships taught in this chapter are common patterns, not rules without exceptions.
Plant with leaves

↓

Does the leaf have reticulate venation?

Yes → A
Hibiscus / kidney bean

No → B
Wheat / grass
(parallel venation)

8. Raj argues with his friend Sanjay that “Gudhal (hibiscus) plant is a shrub.” What questions can Sanjay ask for clarification?

ANSWER To check whether the hibiscus is really a shrub, Sanjay can ask questions about the features used to group plants as herbs, shrubs and trees: • How tall is the plant — is it short, medium or tall? • Is the stem soft and green, or hard and woody? • Is the stem thick like a tree, or thin? • Does the plant have a single main stem, or many stems? • Do the branches start very close to the ground, or higher up on the stem? If the plant is medium in height with several hard, woody, thin stems branching near the ground, then Raj is correct — the hibiscus is a shrub.

9. Based on the information in the table, find out examples of these plants for each group.Group A: Dicot, Taproot — Examples?  |  Group B: Monocot, Fibrous roots — Examples?   (a) What other similarities do plants of group A have? (b) What other similarities do plants of group B have?

ANSWER
GroupType of seedType of rootExamples
ADicotTaprootChickpea (chana), kidney bean, mustard, hibiscus, mango
BMonocotFibrous rootsWheat, maize, grass, lemongrass, rice
(a) Plants of Group A (dicots) have seeds with two cotyledons; the examples listed here have leaves with reticulate venation. (b) Plants of Group B (monocots) have seeds with a single cotyledon; the examples listed here have leaves with parallel venation.

10. Observe the labelled part of a duck in the picture given below. What differences do you observe in the feet of the duck compared to the other birds? Which activity would the duck be able to perform using this part?

ANSWER See the duck and pigeon foot comparison above. The duck has webbed feet — its toes are joined together by a thin flap of skin. Other birds, such as the pigeon, have separate (non-webbed) toes without this skin. The webbed feet act like paddles and push against the water, so the duck can swim and paddle in water easily. This is an adaptation that helps the duck move through water in its habitat.

Extra Practice Questions

These supplementary questions and the MCQs below are ClearStudy practice, separate from the NCERT exercise.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. What is meant by biodiversity?

ANSWERBiodiversity is the variety of plants and animals found in a particular region. Each living thing plays a role and they depend on one another.

Q2. Why do we group plants and animals?

ANSWERGrouping arranges living things by their common features. This makes it much easier to study and understand them on the basis of their similarities and differences.

Q3. Give one difference between a herb and a tree.

ANSWERA herb is a small plant with a soft, green stem (e.g. tomato), while a tree is tall with a hard, thick, woody stem that branches higher up (e.g. mango).

Q4. What is an adaptation? Give one example.

ANSWERAn adaptation is a special feature that helps a plant or animal survive in its habitat. For example, the cactus has thick, fleshy stems that store water to survive in the hot desert.

Q5. Name the two main types of leaf venation and give an example of each.

ANSWERReticulate venation (net-like) — e.g. hibiscus; and parallel venation (veins side by side) — e.g. banana or grass.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Explain how plants can be grouped as herbs, shrubs and trees.

ANSWERPlants are grouped on the basis of their height and the nature of their stem. Herbs are small plants with soft, green and tender stems, for example a tomato plant. Shrubs are medium-sized plants with many hard, woody, brown stems that are thin and begin branching very close to the ground, for example a rose plant. Trees are tall plants with a single hard, thick, woody, brown stem whose branches usually start higher up, away from the ground, for example a mango tree. Some plants with weak stems that need support are called climbers, and those that creep along the ground are called creepers.

Q2. Describe the relationship between seed type, root type and leaf venation in plants.

ANSWERThere is a clear pattern linking these three features. Plants whose seeds have two cotyledons are called dicots; they generally have a taproot system (one main root with side roots) and leaves with reticulate (net-like) venation — for example chickpea and kidney bean. Plants whose seeds have a single cotyledon are called monocots; they generally have a fibrous root system (a bunch of thin roots) and leaves with parallel venation — for example maize and wheat. So just by looking at the leaf venation or root type, we can often predict whether a plant is a dicot or a monocot.

Q3. Why does the biodiversity of one region differ from another? Explain with examples.

ANSWERThe biodiversity of a region varies because different regions have different environmental conditions, and different organisms have inherited features (adaptations) suited to those conditions. In a hot desert there is very little water and it is hot by day and cold by night, so we find the cactus with fleshy stems that store water, and the camel with one hump, long legs and broad, padded feet to walk on sand. In cold mountains there is frequent snowfall, so deodar trees are conical with sloping branches to let snow slide off, and the cold-desert camel has two humps and long hair. In water we find fish with streamlined bodies and fins. Because each habitat suits different features, the variety of living things differs from one region to another.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. The variety of plants and animals found in a particular region is called:

(a) habitat    (b) biodiversity    (c) adaptation    (d) venation

2. A tomato plant with a small, soft, green stem is an example of a:

(a) tree    (b) shrub    (c) herb    (d) climber

3. The net-like pattern of veins seen in a hibiscus leaf is called:

(a) parallel venation    (b) reticulate venation    (c) fibrous venation    (d) taproot

4. A plant with one main root and small side roots arising from it has a:

(a) fibrous root    (b) taproot    (c) web root    (d) cotyledon

5. Maize seed has a single cotyledon, so maize is a:

(a) dicot    (b) monocot    (c) shrub    (d) tree

6. Dicot plants generally have:

(a) parallel venation and fibrous roots    (b) reticulate venation and taproots    (c) parallel venation and taproots    (d) reticulate venation and fibrous roots

7. An animal like a frog that can live both on land and in water is called:

(a) aquatic    (b) terrestrial    (c) amphibian    (d) monocot

8. The special features that help a plant or animal survive in its surroundings are called:

(a) habitats    (b) adaptations    (c) cotyledons    (d) groves

9. The webbed feet of a duck help it to:

(a) fly faster    (b) swim in water    (c) climb trees    (d) dig soil

10. Forests, deserts, grasslands and mountains are examples of:

(a) aquatic habitats    (b) terrestrial habitats    (c) sacred groves    (d) cotyledons

Answer key: 1-(b), 2-(c), 3-(b), 4-(b), 5-(b), 6-(b), 7-(c), 8-(b), 9-(b), 10-(b).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.

A-R 1. Assertion: Grass has fibrous roots and parallel venation.

Reason: Grass is a monocot plant.

A-R 2. Assertion: A rose plant is a tree.

Reason: A rose plant has medium height with hard, woody stems that branch near the ground.

A-R 3. Assertion: The cactus has thick, fleshy stems.

Reason: Fleshy stems store water and help the cactus survive in the hot desert.

A-R 4. Assertion: Cutting down forests can lead to a loss of biodiversity.

Reason: Destroying forests removes the habitat, food and shelter of many plants and animals.

A-R 5. Assertion: A chickpea seed splits into two parts.

Reason: Chickpea is a monocot plant with a single cotyledon.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(D), 3-(A), 4-(A), 5-(C).

Quick Revision Summary

  • The variety of plants and animals in a region is its biodiversity; each member has a role and they depend on each other.
  • Living things are grouped by common features so they are easier to study.
  • Plants are grouped as herbs, shrubs and trees by height and stem; weak-stemmed plants are climbers or creepers.
  • Leaves show reticulate (net-like) or parallel venation; roots are taproots or fibrous roots.
  • Dicots have two cotyledons; monocots have one. Reticulate veins with taproots and parallel veins with fibrous roots are their respective common patterns, with exceptions.
  • Animals may be grouped by movement, body parts and use of land, water or both. Amphibians are an animal group, not a habitat.
  • Special survival features are adaptations; the place where an organism lives is its habitat.
  • Damaging habitats causes loss of biodiversity, so we must protect it (e.g. Project Tiger, sacred groves).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Watch out for these

  • Mixing up reticulate (net-like) and parallel venation — remember hibiscus = reticulate, banana/grass = parallel.
  • Confusing taproot (one main root) with fibrous roots (a bunch of thin roots).
  • Swapping dicot and monocot features — dicot = 2 cotyledons; reticulate veins and taproots are usual, with exceptions.
  • Thinking a radish is a stem — it is a swollen taproot that stores food.
  • Calling every tall plant a tree — check the stem: a shrub has many hard stems branching near the ground.
  • Forgetting that some animals (like frogs) live in both water and land — they are amphibians.

How to write a clear answer

Learn the three linked features of plants together — seed type, root type and leaf venation — because one question often tests all of them. For grouping questions (like herbs/shrubs/trees or aquatic/terrestrial), always state the feature you used to group. In “reason for differences” questions, use the word adaptation and connect the feature to the animal’s or plant’s habitat. Use the textbook’s own examples — hibiscus, mango, grass, mustard, camel, cactus, deodar — to show you have read the chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 2 about?

Chapter 2, Diversity in the Living World, is about the variety of plants and animals around us (biodiversity) and how we group them using features such as stems, leaves, roots, seeds, movement and habitat. It also explains adaptations and why we must protect biodiversity.

What is the difference between a dicot and a monocot plant?

A dicot seed splits into two cotyledons and the plant generally has reticulate (net-like) leaf venation and a taproot (e.g. chickpea, kidney bean). A monocot seed has a single cotyledon and the plant generally has parallel leaf venation and fibrous roots (e.g. maize, wheat).

What type of root and venation does a radish have?

A radish is a swollen taproot that stores food, so the radish plant is a dicot. Its leaves therefore show reticulate (net-like) venation.

Are these Class 6 Science Curiosity Chapter 2 solutions free?

Yes. All solutions are free and follow the official NCERT Curiosity textbook for 2026–27.

Reference: NCERT Curiosity Chapter 2, official PDF, exercise pages 31–33. See also San Diego Zoo’s turtle and tortoise guide and the Wildlife Institute of India’s bustard habitat description.

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