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Class 11 Education Chapter 5 The Physical Basis of Mental Life
Selected Questions & Answers
A. Very Short Answer Type Questions: (Marks for each – 1)
1. State whether the following are correct or incorrect:
(a) The cerebellum is known as the centre of emotional control.
Ans: Incorrect.
(b) The autonomic nervous system does not maintain direct communication with the brain.
Ans: Incorrect.
(c) Cone cells can provide the sensation of objects in dim light.
Ans: Incorrect.
(d) The brain maintains the stability and balance of the body.
Ans: Correct.
(e) Physical reflex actions are not controlled by the brain.
Ans: Correct.
(f) Different sensory experiences are received separately in different regions of the cerebrum.
Ans: Correct.
(g) The hypothalamus functions as the sleep centre of an individual.
Ans: Correct.
(h) The rod cells in the retina can provide the sensation of colour of objects.
Ans: Incorrect.
(i) Sensation is especially necessary for perception.
Ans: Correct.
(j) Sensory education is equivalent to giving sight to a blind child.
Ans: Correct.
(k) The experience of sensation is vague and based on an assumption.
Ans: Correct.
(l) Sensation cannot be called a mental experience.
Ans: Incorrect.
(m) In an abnormal state of the brain, false perception occurs.
Ans: Correct.
(n) Different sensory experiences are received separately in different areas of the cerebrum.
Ans: Correct.
(o) Reflex action is not controlled by the cerebrum.
Ans: Correct.
(p) Educated people are not affected by illusions.
Ans: Incorrect.
(q) Sensation can be obtained only through the sense organs.
Ans: Incorrect.
(r) A newborn child can receive sensation and perception simultaneously.
Ans: Incorrect.
(s) Sensation is the simplest process of knowledge.
Ans: Correct.
(t) A meaningful sensation is called conception.
Ans: Incorrect.
(u) Stimulus is the main cause of sensation.
Ans: Correct.
(v) Sensation is an active state of the mind.
Ans: Incorrect.
(w) Perception can occur without sensation.
Ans: Incorrect.
(x) Both sensation and perception depend on the sense organs.
Ans: Correct.
(y) Experience helps to make perception clearer.
Ans: Correct.
2. Fill in the blanks:
(a) According to ______, sensation is a “vague acquaintance.”
Ans: James.
(b) The method of sensory education is ______.
Ans: Activity-based.
(c) The sensation experience that we receive through the senses is called______.
Ans: Specific sensation.
(d) The basic element of sensory experience is ______.
Ans: Stimulus.
(e) The brain is a part of intellectual behaviour called the ______.
Ans: Cerebrum.
(f) The hypothalamus is a part of the ______.
Ans: Brain.
(g) The nerve centre located at the top of the spinal cord is known asthe ______.
Ans: Hypothalamus.
(h) The nervous system connected with the abdominal organs is the______.
Ans: Autonomic nervous system.
(i) Sensation is controlled by the ______.
Ans: Central nervous system.
(j) Reflex actions are controlled by the ______.
Ans: Spinal cord.
(k) Montessori did not support telling children ______.
Ans: Imaginary stories.
(l) Froebel and Montessori emphasized ______ exercises.
Ans: Sensory.
(m) The disease Myxedema occurs due to the deficiency of ______.
Ans: Thyroxine.
(n) The secretions released from endocrine glands are called ______.
Ans: Hormones.
(o) The main function of glands is to ______.
Ans: Secrete substances.
(p) The nervous system performs ______ actions independently.
Ans: Automatic.
(q) The two parts of the brain are ______ and ______.
Ans: Thalamus and Hypothalamus.
(r) The largest and most important part of the brain is the ______.
Ans: Cerebrum.
(s) The main function of the spinal cord is to carry ______.
Ans: Impulses.
(t) In the retina there are two types of receptor cells called ______ and______.
Ans: Rod cells, Cone cells.
B. Short Questions and Answers: (Marks for each – 2)
1. What is meant by the nervous system?
Ans: The system formed by numerous nerve cells of different sizes is called the nervous system. It is the main and essential part of the body. The activities of the nervous system form the fundamental basis of our mental life.
2. Into how many parts is the nervous system divided?
Ans: The nervous system is divided into three parts. These are:
(a) Central nervous system.
(b) Autonomic nervous system and
(c) Peripheral nervous system.
3. What is meant by the central nervous system?
Ans: The central nervous system is the central place that controls and regulates all the mental activities and behaviours of our body. The receptors and effectors of the body remain connected with it through certain connecting or associative nerves.
4. Into how many parts is the central nervous system divided?
Ans: The central nervous system is mainly divided into two parts. These are:
(a) Spinal cord and
(b) Brain.
5. What is meant by the spinal cord?
Ans: The spinal cord is a collection of nerves located inside the hollow canal of the vertebral column. It contains 31 pairs of afferent and efferent nerves. These maintain communication with our sense organs, muscles, glands, etc
6. What is meant by duct or exocrine glands?
Ans: Duct or exocrine glands are those glands from which the secretions are discharged outside through connected ducts. The tear glands of the eyes, bile sac of the liver, sweat glands of the skin, and the salivary glands of the mouth are examples of such glands. These glands generally help in the digestion of food and the removal of waste substances from the body.
7. What are endocrine glands?
Ans: Glands are structures located in different parts of our body that produce secretory fluids. Some of them do not release their secretions outside the body and they have no ducts. Such glands are called endocrine or ductless glands. From these glands, a very small quantity of secretion is released, which mixes with the circulating blood and spreads throughout the body.
8. What is meant by the cerebral cortex?
Ans: The entire cerebrum is covered by a grey matter. This covering is called the cerebral cortex. Inside it there are numerous small lines and folds. It is believed that the greater the number of folds, the higher the level of intelligence of a person.
9. Into how many regions is the cerebrum divided? What are they?
Ans: The cerebrum is divided into four regions. These are:
(a) Frontal region.
(b) Parietal region.
(c) Occipital region and
(d) Temporal region.
10. What is meant by illusion?
Ans: When, while interpreting sensation, we give a wrong explanation ofa stimulus due to the influence of abnormal imagination, it is called illusion. Abnormal imagination creates obstacles in the path of correct perception, therefore the interpretation of sensation becomes wrong. In other words, the real stimulus is considered to be some other stimulus.
11. Write briefly about hallucination.
Ans: Hallucination is a rare experience felt by a person in an abnormal physical and mental condition. When a person experiences something unreal even without any actual source of perception or sensory experience, it is called a hallucination. In such cases, due to abnormal mental conditions, wrong ideas about the environment arise even without receiving any sensory experience. Generally, the influence of hallucination is seen in the behaviour of people who consume intoxicating substances, suffer from high fever, or have mental
disorders. In short, hallucination is a wrong perception about objects arising from an abnormal mental state.
12. What is meant by conception?
Ans: Conception is the higher mental stage of sensation. In life we gain knowledge about many objects. These direct experiences gradually accumulate in our mind and form a general idea or concept about a particular object. This formed idea is a collective, organised and meaningful state of the objects or experiences perceived earlier. It nourishes our thinking ability. This is called conception. In short, conception is the abstract knowledge of general ideas.
13. Mention two characteristics of a child’s perception.
Ans: Two characteristics of a child’s perception are:
(a) A child’s perception is very vague.
(b) A child often fails to distinguish between feelings, imagination, and perception.
14. What are the main functions of afferent and efferent nerves?
Ans: Afferent nerves carry sensations or stimuli from the sense organs to the spinal cord and brain. On the other hand, the main function of efferent nerves is to carry the nerve impulses transmitted from the centres of the spinal cord and brain.
C. Medium Answer Type Questions: (Marks for each – 4)
1. What is meant by the effector organ? What are its divisions?
Ans: The sense organs located in the outer part of the body receive stimuli from the environment and send their impulses to the brain. The brain analyzes them and expresses the received message or response through different parts of the body. The parts of the body through which these responses or reactions are expressed are called effector organs or the effector system. It has two divisions:
(a) Muscles and
(b) Glands.
2. What is sensation? Mention three characteristics of sensation.
Ans: Sensation is the primary and simplest physical condition through which the mind comes into contact with the external world. The five sense organs—eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin—receive different kinds of stimuli from the environment. These impulses are transmitted to the brain through nerves connected with the sense organs. As a result, the brain becomes conscious and active. The process by which external stimuli create this awareness in the brain is called sensation.
Three characteristics of sensation are:
(a) Sensation develops in our mind with reference to a particular object.
(b) Sensory ideas are formed in our mind only after analysing the sensation comparatively.
(c) Sensation becomes possible only through the association or combination with past knowledge.
3. What is the cerebellum? Mention its main functions.
Ans: The relatively small nerve centre situated at the lower posterior region of the cerebrum is called the cerebellum. It looks like a flattened ball and is divided into two parts. A connecting structure lies between these two parts. Its weight is about 150 grams. The main function of the cerebellum is to maintain balance and stability. This region also controls the functioning of muscles. The accuracy required for the movement of different body organs largely depends on it. Certain bodily actions controlled by refined habits and coordinated movements are also influenced by this part. Moreover, this part of the brain helps in maintaining coordination and integration of bodily activities according to the needs of the body.
4. What is the difference between sensation and perception?
Ans: The differences between sensation and perception are:
(a) Sensation is without knowledge, whereas perception is accompanied by knowledge.
(b) Sensation is a simple experience, whereas perception is a complex mental state.
(c) Sensation is a passive state of mind, whereas perception indicates an active state of mind.
(d) Sensation is uncertain and based on assumption, whereas perception is based on real experience.
(e) In sensation, the influence of previous knowledge or experience is absent, whereas perception is possible on the basis of previous knowledge and experience.
5. Write the names of four exocrine glands found in the human body.
Ans: The names of four exocrine glands found in the human body are:
(a) Tear glands in the eyes.
(b) Bile sac of the liver.
(c) Salivary glands in the mouth and
(d) Sweat glands in the skin.
6. Why cannot an infant attain perception? Write briefly.
Ans: Perception depends on previous knowledge and experience. An adult person’s brain has the capacity to preserve past experiences. But the brain of an infant is immature and does not possess such capacity. Therefore, an infant can only experience sensation but cannot attain perception. To make sensation meaningful, repetition of experience, retention, memory, learning and practice are required. However, infants can respond to environmental stimuli such as light and sound by moving their hands and legs, crying or suddenly reacting.
7. Mention four characteristics of a child’s sensation.
Ans: Four characteristics of a child’s sensation are:
(a) A child does not feel attracted to weak, vague and momentary stimuli.
(b) A child’s sensation mostly remains in a meaningless or knowledge-less state.
(c) A child does not feel equal excitement towards all sensations.
(d) Only stable, dynamic, clear and bright stimuli can easily arouse a child’s sensation.
8. What is sensation? What are its types? Discuss briefly.
Ans: Sensation is the earliest stage of acquiring knowledge about a particular object. Various objects of the external world create stimulation in the sense organs of the human body according to the environment. This stimulation is carried to the brain by afferent nerves. When this stimulation occurs in the brain regarding the nature of a stimulus, sensation is produced in the human mind. There are three types of sensation:
(a) Organic sensation: This sensation arises from the reactions of stomach muscles and other bodily changes. Hunger and thirst are examples of organic sensation.
(b) Special sensation: Sensations received through different sense organs are called special or sensory sensations. Examples are visual sensation and auditory sensation.
(c) Muscular sensation: The reactions of muscles and tissues create a special stimulation in nerve cells. The sensation felt as a result of such stimulation is called muscular sensation.
9. Distinguish between illusion and hallucination.
Ans: The differences between illusion and hallucination are:
(a) In illusion, wrong perception occurs due to unstable or unusual conditions of the mind under the influence of an external stimulus, whereas hallucination occurs due to abnormal functioning of the brain.
(b) During illusion, the person’s physical behaviour and movements remain normal, whereas in hallucination, the person’s physical behaviour and movements are not normal.
(c) Illusion is almost similar for everyone, whereas hallucination occurs only in particular individuals.
(d) The effect of illusion may become far-reaching, whereas the effect of hallucination is generally not far-reaching.
10. Write the differences between perception and conception.
Ans: The differences between perception and conception are:
(a) Perception requires sensory experience, whereas conception does not require immediate perceptual experience.
(b) In perception, the influence of subjectivity is minimal, whereas in conception the influence of subjectivity is greater.
(c) Perceptual experience is based on reality, whereas conceptual experience may not always be based on reality.
(d) Perception is direct knowledge obtained in the presence of a stimulus, whereas conception can occur even in the absence of a stimulus.
(e) Perception means giving meaning to a new object based on past experience, whereas conception means assigning a general name or idea based on past experiences.
11. Write the characteristics of conception.
Ans: The characteristics of conception are:
(a) Conception is the advanced and well-organized mental state of perception and depends upon perception. The clearer and more accurate the perception, the clearer and more accurate the conception.
(b) Conception may be qualitative or structural. Our concept of a person may arise from physical appearance or from human qualities.
(c) All conceptions may not have a real basis. Sometimes ideas about unreal or impossible objects may also arise in the mind.
(d) Except for universally accepted truths, concepts or ideas may vary according to individual mental ability and interest.
12. Mention the mental processes involved in the development of conception or ideas.
Ans: The mental processes involved in the development of conception are:
(a) Observation
(b) Analysis
(c) Comparison
(d) Differentiation
(e) Generalization
(f) Naming.
13. Write the importance of conception.
Ans: The importance of conception is:
(a) Through conception our knowledge, experiences, objects and subjects become organized and classified.
(b) Conception expands the scope of thinking.
(c) Through conception the development of mental processes takes place.
(d) Conception brings order and system among ideas.
14. What is the educational importance of conception?
Ans: Conception has educational importance. It plays an important role in the healthy development of the physical, mental, intellectual and emotional aspects of a child. It develops qualities such as problem-solving ability, imagination, thinking and reasoning. The language development of a child also depends on conception. Therefore, in the process of teaching, family members and neighbours should give importance to the formation of correct ideas in the child’s mind. For the development of correct concepts, teachers should use maps, pictures and various audio-visual aids. Teachers should also assign project-based work on different topics from time to time. In addition, educational tours and field-based studies should occasionally be organized.
15. What is meant by stimulus and response? Explain with examples.
Ans: Various kinds of knowledge from the external world are acquired through different sense organs of the body. These sense organs are stimulated by the forces of the external world. The factors that create such stimulation are called stimuli. Generally, we receive stimuli through the five senses. For example, sound for the ear, smell for the nose, taste for the tongue, light for the eyes and touch for the skin are stimuli. On the other hand, the action performed by a living being in response to a stimulus is called a response. Tearing of the eyes, walking and secretion of saliva are responses of our sense organs to stimuli.
16. What is reflex action? Give examples.
Ans: When the communication between the receptor and effector takes place directly through the spinal cord, a response to a stimulus occurs without our awareness. Such an action is called reflex action. This action occurs completely in a mechanical way. It represents the primary level of bodily behaviour and appears in order to fulfil physical needs. Closing the eyelids in bright light, yawning and sneezing are examples of reflex actions.
17. What is a neuron? Mention two functions of a neuron.
Ans: A neuron is the smallest structural unit of the nervous system. It is estimated that the number of neurons in the human body is about 1200 billion. The nervous system of our body is formed by nerve cells of different sizes. Two functions of neurons are:
(a) Neurons transmit stimuli received through the sense organs to the brain.
(b) They also carry impulses from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles.
18. Mention the main functions of the spinal cord.
Ans: The spinal cord has four main functions:
(a) The spinal cord is a collection of nerves located in the hollow canal of the vertebral column. It contains 31 pairs of afferent and efferent nerves which maintain communication with our sense organs, muscles and glands.
(b) The spinal cord controls many habitual activities. Activities such as swimming, walking and cycling become habits through practice, and the spinal
cord acts as the centre for such habitual actions.
(c) It conducts impulses. Except for some nerves located in the head, sensory impulses from all parts of the body travel to the brain through the spinal cord.
(d) The spinal cord establishes communication between the brain and different parts of the body.
19. What are glands? What are their main types?
Ans: Glands are structures located in different parts of our body that secrete fluids. Secretion is their main function. These glands have openings through which the secretions are released. Glands have an important influence on the structure of the body, health, efficiency, personality and intellectual development. Due to the chemical reactions produced in the body through the cooperation of muscles and glands, our physical and mental development becomes possible. The main glands of our body are:
(a) Pituitary gland.
(b) Thyroid gland.
(c) Adrenal gland and
(d) Sex glands.
D. Essay Type Questions and Answers: (Marks for each – 5/6)
1. What do you mean by Receptor Organ? Briefly describe the functions of receptor organs.
Ans: In order to establish contact with various stimuli of the external world, our body has several organs located in different parts such as the ear, nose, tongue, skin, and eyes. These are called “receptor organs” or “sense organs”. The sense organs are like doors and windows for our body. These organs receive different kinds of knowledge from the external world and send them to the brain. Sense organs contain special types of receptor cells. External stimuli excite these receptor cells, and the excitation is transmitted to the brain. The functions of each sense organ are briefly mentioned below.
(a) Ear: With the help of the ear we obtain the sensation of sound. The stimulus for it is sound. The ear can be divided into three parts: outer ear, middle ear, and the inner ear. The receptor cells of the ear are the hair cells of the auditory organ. Sound waves from the external world enter through the ear opening and create slight vibrations in the eardrum. These vibrations strike the inner membrane of the ear and create waves in the fluid inside. Immediately, the nerves become stimulated and send signals to the brain, and then auditory sensation occurs.
(b) Eye: Among the sense organs, the eye is one of the most important. Inside the eye, there is a membrane called the retina. In the retina, there are two types of receptor cells called rod cells and cone cells. When external light falls on these receptor cells, a kind of electrochemical change occurs. Immediately, a stimulus is produced. This stimulus goes to the (c) Nose: With the help of the nose, we smell different substances. Inside the nose, there is a thin membrane formed of nerve cells. Beneath this thin layer lie the olfactory nerve cells. Vaporized particles float in the air and enter the nose, and a chemical reaction occurs in the nerve cells, which produces a stimulus. Then the olfactory nerves send that stimulus to the brain, and we experience the sensation of smell.
(d) Tongue: Taste is obtained through the tongue. On the upper surface of the tongue there are tiny granule-like structures called taste buds. Inside these cells, there are certain factors called taste receptors. These receptors are the real organs for receiving taste. When we eat food, it mixes with the saliva secreted from the taste buds. As a result, stimulation occurs in the nerves. This stimulation reaches the brain through the nerves and produces the sensation of taste.
(e) Skin: Through the skin we obtain the sensation of touch. Skin sensationis mainly of four types:
(a) Touch sensation
(b) Heat sensation
(c) Cold sensation
(d) Pain sensation
The skin has three layers: epidermis, dermis, and fat layer. When pressure from external stimuli falls on the epidermis, stimulation is produced in the dermis beneath it. The nerves below the skin carry this stimulation to the brain, and we experience the sensation of touch.
