Reaching the age of the Adolescence Class 8th Chapter 7

Class 6 - Changes During Puberty: Questions and Answers

1. What is the term used for chemical secretions of endocrine glands responsible for changes taking place in the body?

The term is hormones.
- Hormones are special chemicals made by endocrine glands.
- They help control body changes like growth, mood, and puberty.

2. Define adolescence.

Adolescence is the time when a child grows into an adult.
- It starts after childhood and ends before adulthood.
- Many physical and emotional changes happen during this time.

3. What is menstruation? Explain.

Menstruation is the monthly shedding of blood and tissue from the uterus in girls.
- It starts during puberty.
- It means the body is getting ready for future baby-making.

4. List changes in the body that take place at puberty.

- Boys grow facial and body hair.
- Girls start menstruation.
- Voice becomes deeper in boys.
- Body shape changes.
- Height increases in both.

5. Prepare a table having two columns depicting names of endocrine glands and hormones secreted by them.

Endocrine Gland	Hormone Secreted
Pituitary gland	Growth hormone
Thyroid gland	Thyroxine
Pancreas	Insulin
Testes (boys)	Testosterone
Ovaries (girls)	Estrogen

6. What are sex hormones? Why are they named so? State their function.

Sex hormones control the development of sexual features.
- Boys have testosterone.
- Girls have estrogen.
- They help in body changes and baby development.

7. Choose the correct option.

(a) Adolescents should be careful about what they eat, because
(i) proper diet develops their brains
(ii) proper diet is needed for the rapid growth taking place in their body ✅
(iii) adolescents feel hungry all the time
(iv) taste buds are well developed in teenagers

(b) Reproductive age in women starts when their
(i) menstruation starts ✅
(ii) breasts start developing
(iii) body weight increases
(iv) height increases

(c) The right meal for adolescents consists of
(i) chips, noodles, coke
(ii) chapati, dal, vegetables ✅
(iii) rice, noodles and burger
(iv) vegetable cutlets, chips and lemon drink

8. Write notes on—

(a) Adam’s apple

The Adam’s apple is a bump on the throat that grows in boys during puberty.
- It is part of the voice box.
- It makes their voice deep.

(b) Secondary sexual characters

Secondary sexual characters are body changes during puberty.
- In boys: voice change, facial hair.
- In girls: breast growth, menstruation.

(c) Sex determination in the unborn baby

Sex of the baby is decided by the father's sperm.
- Sperm can carry X or Y chromosome.
- XX means girl, XY means boy.