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In xylem tissue, vessels and… (Class 10 Science 2026, Q13)

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ScienceCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2026, set 31/3/1 · 3 marks · Short answer

CBSE Class 10 Science 2026: question 13

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2026, paper 31/3/1, section A, question 13, for 3 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q13 · 3 marks · Short answerLife Processes

In xylem tissue, vessels and tracheids of the roots, stems and leaves are interconnected to form a continuous system of water-conducting channels reaching all parts of the plant. Explain how this is achieved.

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2026 board paper, set 31/3/1.

Hints

Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.

Hint 1

Two forces act: one starts at the roots and one starts at the leaves.

Hint 2

Think about what root cells do with ions from the soil, and what happens to the water column when leaves lose water vapour.

Step-by-step solution

Each step shows the marks it earns, as an examiner would award them. Checked by an independent re-solve from the question paper.

  1. Water moves up through this continuous xylem system by two forces: root pressure and transpiration pull.

  2. Root pressure: Root cells in contact with the soil actively take up ions.

    ½ mark

  3. This creates a difference in ion concentration between the root and the soil. Water therefore moves from the soil into the root xylem to remove the difference, and a column of water is pushed steadily upward.

    1 mark

  4. Transpiration pull: Water evaporates (is lost as vapour) through the stomata of the leaves and other aerial parts.

    ½ mark

  5. This loss creates a suction that pulls the continuous water column up from the xylem of the roots through the stem to the leaves. It is the main driving force during the day.

    1 mark

Answer: Water rises through the interconnected xylem by root pressure (active ion uptake by roots draws water in and pushes it up) and by transpiration pull (evaporation from leaves creates suction that pulls the water column up).

Where the marks are

  • Names root pressure (½ mark)
  • Explains root pressure: active ion uptake by root cells creates a concentration difference, so water enters the roots and is pushed up (1 mark)
  • Names transpiration pull (½ mark)
  • Explains transpiration pull: water lost from leaves creates suction that pulls the water column up the xylem (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

  • Chapter: Life Processes (notes, formulas, where marks are lost and every past question)
Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Life Processes, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2026 board paper, set 31/3/1: every question, by section.

The question is transcribed from the official paper; figures are described in words. The solution, hints and chapter tag are ours. Spotted an error? Write tosupport@questionbuddy.in.