AI-generated practice question — model-generated for extra practice, not a previous-year CBSE board question.
Herbivores like cows eat grass and plant material, which is rich in cellulose and difficult to digest. They need a longer small intestine to allow sufficient time and surface area for complete digestion and absorption of nutrients. Carnivores like tigers eat meat, which is easier to digest, so a shorter intestine is sufficient.
Source: Chapter 5, Section 5.2.2 – Heterotrophic Nutrition
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The key idea examiners expect is cellulose/plant material is harder to digest → longer intestine needed vs. meat is easier to digest → shorter intestine sufficient. Always link the structural difference (longer/shorter intestine) to the functional reason (nature of food and digestion time). The textbook directly states that food type and availability determine the nutritive apparatus used, e.g., in a cow versus a lion.