Important Questions and Answers for Class 8 Science Chapter 12 How Nature Works In Harmony 2025-26

1. Multiple choice questions.

1. Which of the following best describes an abiotic component of a habitat?

• (a) Tree
• (b) Grasshopper
• (c) Water
• (d) Monkey

Answer: (c) Water.

2. Which of the following relationships is an example of mutualism in nature?

• (a) Dog and tick
• (b) Orchid and tree
• (c) Honeybee and flower
• (d) Vulture and dead animal

Answer: (c) Honeybee and flower.

3. Which organism is known as a decomposer?

• (a) Mouse
• (b) Mushroom
• (c) Squirrel
• (d) Eagle

Answer: (b) Mushroom.

4. In a food web, what would likely happen if all frogs disappeared?

• (a) Increase in snakes
• (b) Decrease in grasshoppers
• (c) Increase in grasshoppers
• (d) Increase in plants

Answer: (c) Increase in grasshoppers.

2. Very Short Answer (VSA).

1. What is a habitat?

Answer: A habitat is a place where an organism lives, providing suitable conditions for its survival, growth, and reproduction.

2. Name two abiotic components of a pond.

Answer: Water and temperature are two abiotic components of a pond ecosystem.

3. Who are producers in an ecosystem?

Answer: Producers are green plants that make their own food through photosynthesis using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.

4. Give an example of a human-made ecosystem.

Answer: An agricultural field or a fish pond is an example of a human-made ecosystem.

3. Short Answer Questions.

1. Explain how a decrease in the fish population in a pond can affect plants and insects nearby.

Answer: If fish decrease, there will be more dragonflies (as fewer larvae are eaten). Dragonflies eat bees and butterflies, reducing pollinators. Fewer pollinators lead to less pollination, so surrounding plants may produce fewer seeds. This shows how all components are connected.

2. Why are decomposers considered essential in an ecosystem?

Answer: Decomposers like bacteria and fungi break down dead plants and animals, recycling nutrients back into the soil. Without decomposers, waste would accumulate, and plants would lack essential nutrients, disrupting the ecosystem's balance and productivity.

3. How do mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism differ? Give one example of each from the chapter.

Answer: In mutualism, both benefit (bee and flower); in commensalism, one benefits, other is unaffected (orchid on tree); in parasitism, one benefits and other is harmed (tick on dog).

4. What is a food chain? Construct a simple food chain using organisms from a forest ecosystem.

Answer: A food chain shows ‘who eats whom’ in an ecosystem. Example: Grass (producer) → Deer (herbivore) → Tiger (carnivore). Each organism occupies a different trophic level.

5. Discuss how overuse of synthetic fertilizers harms soil health based on the chapter.

Answer: Overusing synthetic fertilizers reduces soil fertility by decreasing helpful microorganisms and humus, making soil prone to erosion. Continuous use also reduces natural pest predators, leading to more pests and affects long-term productivity negatively.

4. True or False Questions.

1. Birds that migrate to India do not play any role in maintaining ecosystem balance.

Answer: False.

2. Producers are always found at the base of a food pyramid.

Answer: True.

3. All organisms in a habitat are independent and do not depend on each other.

Answer: False.

4. A community in an ecosystem refers to a group of different populations living together.

Answer: True.

5. Competition between two species never benefits the ecosystem.

Answer: False.

3. Fill in the Blanks Questions.

1. The living components of a habitat are called __________ components.

Answer: biotic

2. The process by which fungi and bacteria break down dead matter is known as __________.

Answer: decomposition

3. In an ecosystem, green plants are also called __________ because they produce their own food.

Answer: producers

4. __________ are interactions where one organism benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped.

Answer: Commensalism

5. In a forest ecosystem, the main abiotic components are soil, water, air, sunlight, and __________.

Answer: temperature

How learning about nature’s harmony helps students grow

Understanding how nature works in harmony builds strong scientific thinking. Practice with how nature works in harmony class 8 question answer and explore extra questions and worksheet formats to enhance your preparation for annual tests and Olympiad exams naturally.

With how nature works in harmony class 8 notes, you can revise all important points easily. Download the class 8 pdf or use a test paper for self-practice. These resources help you learn about ecosystems, food chains, and natural balance in lifelike scenarios.

Sharpen your skills with how nature works in harmony class 8 MCQ or attempt extra questions for revision. Using various worksheets and solutions, you can explore all related terms and prepare well for CBSE Science exams while learning the value of sustainability in real life.