Q1. Among animals, which taxonomic group is the most species-rich?
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 3: Among animals, insects are the most species-rich taxonomic group.
Q2. Assertion: The 'rivet popper hypothesis' is an analogy for ecosystem safety.
Reason: Rivets on the wings are more critical than rivets on the seats.
Correct Answer: (b)
Both are correct parts of Ehrlich's analogy, but the criticality of wing rivets doesn't 'explain' that it is an analogy.
Q3. Match the following for 'The Evil Quartet':
Cause
Example/Impact
A. Habitat loss
(I) Amazon rain forest
B. Over-exploitation
(II) Passenger pigeon
C. Alien invasion
(III) Water hyacinth
D. Co-extinction
(IV) Plant-pollinator mutualism
Correct Answer: (a)
Examples of biodiversity loss from pages 7 and 8.
Q4. The 'Evil Quartet' refers to:
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 7: There are four major causes (‘The Evil Quartet’ is the sobriquet used to describe them).
Q5. For frugivorous birds and mammals in tropical forests of different continents, the Z value is:
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 5: For example, for frugivorous... birds and mammals... the slope is found to be 1.15.
Q6. Assertion: Bioprospecting can lead to enormous economic benefits.
Reason: It involves exploring molecular and species-level diversity for products of economic importance.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 8: The definition of bioprospecting explains why it is economically valuable.
Q7. Match the following for human history (intro pages):
A. 18,000 years ago
Cave Art
B. 10,000 years ago
Agriculture
Correct Answer: (a)
Timeline from page 16 context.
Q8. Which invasive weed species is commonly called 'Water Hyacinth'?
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 8: ...invasive weed species like... water hyacinth (Eicchornia).
Q9. Identify correct facts about 'Extinctions': (i) 15,500 species are currently facing threat of extinction. (ii) Three subspecies of tiger (Bali, Javan, Caspian) are extinct. (iii) 12% of bird species are threatened.
Correct Answer: (a)
Statistics from pages 6 and 7.
Q10. Plants (including fungi) comprise no more than ______ per cent of the total global biodiversity.
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 3: Plants... comprise no more than 22 per cent of the total.
Q11. Which is true for 'Species-Area' regression slope Z? (i) For regions like Britain, Z is 0.1 to 0.2. (ii) For entire continents, Z is 0.6 to 1.2. (iii) Steeper slope means richness increases faster with area.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 5: Comparison of slopes for different geographical scales.
Q12. Match the alien species in Column-I with the locations/impacts in Column-II:
Column-I
Column-II
A. Nile perch
(I) Australian rangeland
B. Prickly pear cactus
(II) Lake Victoria
C. Clarias gariepinus
(III) Threat to indigenous catfishes
Correct Answer: (a)
Examples from pages 8 and 10.
Q13. What happens to the species-area relationship on a logarithmic scale?
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 5: On a logarithmic scale, the relationship is a straight line.
Q14. In general, species diversity ______ as we move away from the equator towards the poles.
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 4: In general, species diversity decreases as we move away from the equator towards the poles.
Q15. Identify true statements for 'In situ' in India: (i) 14 Biosphere Reserves. (ii) 90 National Parks. (iii) 448 Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Correct Answer: (a)
Conservation statistics for India from page 10.
Q16. Robert May places the global species diversity at about:
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 2: Robert May places the global species diversity at about 7 million.
Q17. The exploration of molecular, genetic, and species-level diversity for products of economic importance is:
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 8: With increasing resources put into ‘bioprospecting’...
Q18. Assertion: The 'Sixth Extinction' is different from previous episodes.
Reason: The current species extinction rates are 100 to 1,000 times faster than in pre-human times.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 7: The accelerated rate is what distinguishes the current crisis.
Q19. How many plant species contribute to traditional medicines used by native peoples?
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 8: ...25,000 species of plants contribute to the traditional medicines.
Q20. Assertion: Ethical arguments for conserving biodiversity relate to our moral duty.
Reason: Every species has an intrinsic value, even if it has no economic value to us.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 9: The ethical argument is based on the intrinsic value of all life.
Q21. The species-area relationship generally turns out to be a:
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 5: ...turns out to be a rectangular hyperbola (Figure 13.2).
Q22. Assertion: Biodiversity increases with increasing explored area, but only up to a limit.
Reason: Alexander von Humboldt noted this in South American jungles.
Correct Answer: (b)
Both are true, but the fact that Humboldt noted it is not the scientific reason for the limit.
Q23. Which statements about 'Species-Area Relationship' are true? (i) Developed by Alexander von Humboldt. (ii) Graph is a rectangular hyperbola on normal scale. (iii) Value of Z is independent of the taxonomic group for small areas.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 5: Z is 0.1 to 0.2 regardless of group for regional studies.
Q24. Assertion: Communities with more species tend to be more stable.
Reason: David Tilman found that plots with more species showed less year-to-year variation in total biomass.
Correct Answer: (a)
Tilman's experiments provide the empirical evidence for the stability-diversity link (Page 6).
Q25. Which of the following is a recently extinct species from Mauritius?
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 6: Examples of recent extinctions include the dodo (Mauritius).
Q26. Sacred groves in Meghalaya are found in:
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 10: Such sacred groves are found in Khasi and Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya.
Q27. Identify true statements for 'Mass Extinction': (i) Five episodes have happened since life's origin. (ii) The 'Sixth Extinction' is currently in progress.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 7: Geological history of extinctions.
Q28. Assertion: Biodiversity hotspots together cover less than 2 per cent of the earth’s land area.
Reason: India has three biodiversity hotspots: Western Ghats-Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma and Himalaya.
Correct Answer: (a)
Both are facts from page 9, but the number of hotspots in India doesn't explain the global area percentage.
Q29. Match theFollowing for Summits:
Summit
Year
A. Earth Summit
1992
B. World Summit
2002
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 10: International convention dates.
Q30. The 'Earth Summit' (1992) was held in:
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 10: The historic Convention on Biological Diversity (‘The Earth Summit’) held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
Q31. Assertion: When a host fish becomes extinct, its unique parasites also meet the same fate.
Reason: This phenomenon is known as alien species invasion.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 8: This is an example of co-extinction, not alien species invasion.
Q32. Assertion: Small standing crop of phytoplankton can support large standing crop of zooplankton in the sea.
Reason: This results in an inverted pyramid of biomass.
Correct Answer: (b)
Both are true (Page 212 context from previous chapters), but the result doesn't explain the cause.
Q33. Match the following for fish species:
Type
No. of Species
A. Global Fishes
28,000
B. Amazon Fishes
3,000
Correct Answer: (a)
Data from pages 1 and 4.
Q34. Regarding 'Loss of Biodiversity', which statements are correct? (i) Amphibians appear to be more vulnerable to extinction. (ii) Current extinction rates are 100-1000 times faster than pre-human times. (iii) Loss of biodiversity leads to decline in plant production.
Correct Answer: (a)
Pages 7 provides the stats and impacts of loss.
Q35. Which of the following is correct? (i) Diversity exists at all levels of biological organisation. (ii) Biodiversity is a vital environmental issue of international concern. (iii) We could lose all wealth in less than two centuries at current loss rates.
Correct Answer: (a)
Fundamental themes from the introduction (Pages 1-2).
Q36. Assertion: Habitat loss is the most important cause driving animals to extinction.
Reason: Tropical rain forests have been reduced from 14% to 6% of earth's land surface.
Correct Answer: (a)
The dramatic reduction of rain forests is a prime example of habitat loss (Page 7).
Q37. There are more than ______ species of beetles known to exist.
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 1: The text mentions there are 3,00,000 species of beetles.
Q38. Match the number of species in India:
Taxon
Number recorded
A. Plants
(I) 90,000 (twice of plants)
B. Animals
(II) 45,000
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 4: Nearly 45,000 species of plants and twice as many of animals...
Q39. Which are correct for 'Bioprospecting'? (i) Explores diversity for products of economic importance. (ii) Includes molecular and genetic levels. (iii) Leads to direct economic benefits.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 8: Definition and rationale for bioprospecting.
Q40. Regarding 'World Summit (2002)': (i) Held in Johannesburg, South Africa. (ii) 190 countries pledged commitment. (iii) Goal was significant reduction in biodiversity loss rate by 2010.
Correct Answer: (a)
Specific outcomes of the summit mentioned on page 10.
Q41. Which of the following statements about 'Amazonian rain forest' is/are correct? (i) It is called the 'lungs of the planet'. (ii) It contains more than 40,000 species of plants. (iii) It is located in South America.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 4 and 7 provide these specific descriptions of the Amazon.
Q42. Ecologists have discovered that the value of Z generally lies in the range of:
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 5: Ecologists have discovered that the value of Z lies in the range of 0.1 to 0.2.
Q43. The Nile perch introduced into Lake Victoria led to the extinction of over 200 species of:
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 8: The Nile perch... led eventually to the extinction of... more than 200 species of cichlid fish.
Q44. The African catfish Clarias gariepinus was illegally introduced for:
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 8: The recent illegal introduction of the African catfish Clarias gariepinus for aquaculture purposes...
Q45. Match the taxonomic categories in Column-I with their proportions in global biodiversity in Column-II:
Column-I
Column-II
A. Animals
(I) 22 %
B. Plants
(II) 70 % of animals
C. Insects
(III) 8.1 %
D. India's share
(IV) > 70 %
Correct Answer: (a)
Data from pages 3 and 4.
Q46. In India, the number of Biosphere Reserves is:
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 10: India now has 14 biosphere reserves.
Q47. India has more than ______ genetically different strains of rice.
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 2: India has more than 50,000 genetically different strains of rice.
Q48. Which of the following correctly describes 'Genetic Diversity'? (i) Diversity within a single species. (ii) Shown by Rauwolfia vomitoria in terms of reserpine potency. (iii) Rice has 50,000 genetically different strains in India.
Correct Answer: (a)
Definition and examples from page 2.
Q49. Select correct statements for 'Alien Species' in India: (i) Parthenium (carrot grass) is an invasive weed. (ii) Lantana and Eicchornia are invasive weeds. (iii) African catfish is a threat to indigenous catfish.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 8 lists these as invasive species affecting Indian biodiversity.
Q50. The World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002) was held in:
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 10: World Summit on Sustainable Development held in 2002 in Johannesburg.
Q51. According to the text, what percentage of all mammal species in the world face the threat of extinction?
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 7: Presently... 23 per cent of all mammal species... face the threat of extinction.
Q52. Which of the following phylum/group is being described by the given statements? (i) These comprise more than 70 per cent of all animals recorded. (ii) That means, out of every 10 animals, 7 are of this group. (iii) They represent the most species-rich taxonomic group.
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 3: Insects make up more than 70 per cent of all animals.
Q53. The IUCN Red List (2004) documents the extinction of how many species in the last 500 years?
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 6: The IUCN Red List (2004) documents the extinction of 784 species... in the last 500 years.
Q54. Assertion: Ex situ conservation is desirable for endangered organisms facing high risk of extinction.
Reason: They are protected in their natural habitat in this approach.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 9: Ex situ is 'off site' (away from natural habitat); In situ is 'on site'.
Q55. Which of the following is an example of ex situ conservation?
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 10: Zoological parks... serve this purpose (ex situ).
Q56. The number of biodiversity hotspots identified in the world is:
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 9: ...bringing the total number of biodiversity hotspots in the world to 34.
Q57. Assertion: 10,000 more hectares of rain forest will have been lost by the time you finish reading this chapter.
Reason: Tropical rain forests are being destroyed fast for cultivating soya beans.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 7: The rapid destruction is due to commercial activities like soya bean farming.
Q58. In the equation log S = log C + Z log A, 'Z' represents the:
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 5: Z = slope of the line (regression coefficient).
Q59. Match the following for Sacred Groves:
Location
Groves
A. Meghalaya
(I) Khasi and Jaintia Hills
B. Rajasthan
(II) Aravalli Hills
C. MP
(III) Bastar areas
Correct Answer: (a)
Sacred groves list from page 10.
Q60. Which are correct regarding 'Lantana' and 'Eicchornia'? (i) They are invasive weed species. (ii) They cause environmental damage. (iii) They were introduced deliberately.
Correct Answer: (a)
Section 13.1.4 (Page 8) mentions these as invasive weeds causing damage.
Q61. Species confined to a specific region and not found anywhere else are called:
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 9: ...high degree of endemism (that is, species confined to that region and not found anywhere else).
Q62. Identify correct features of 'Prokaryote' biodiversity estimations: (i) Figures are not accurately known. (ii) Conventional taxonomic methods are not suitable. (iii) Many species are not culturable under lab conditions.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 3: Challenges in estimating microbial diversity.
Q63. Assertion: Steller's sea cow became extinct in the last 500 years.
Reason: It was over-exploited by humans.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 8: Steller's sea cow is a classic example of extinction due to over-exploitation.
Q64. Who observed the species-area relationship in South American jungles?
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 5: Alexander von Humboldt observed that within a region species richness increased with increasing explored area.
Q65. Assertion: Protoplasmic streaming is a simple form of movement.
Reason: It is seen in unicellular organisms like Amoeba.
Correct Answer: (a)
This is a fact from the Unit X intro/Chapter 11 (Page 217 context).
Q66. Who gave the 'Rivet Popper Hypothesis' to explain the importance of biodiversity?
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 6: The ‘rivet popper hypothesis’ used by Stanford ecologist Paul Ehrlich.
Q67. The Western Ghats have a greater ______ species diversity than the Eastern Ghats.
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 2: The Western Ghats have a greater amphibian species diversity than the Eastern Ghats.
Q68. Match the following for global biodiversity percentages:
A. Invertebrates - Insects
70 % of animals
B. Plants total
22 %
C. Vertebrates - Fishes
Nearly half of total vertebrates (implied by chart)
Correct Answer: (a)
Data from Figure 13.1 and text on page 3.
Q69. Match the conservation strategy with the example:
Column-I
Column-II
A. In situ
(I) Seed banks
B. Ex situ
(II) Wildlife Sanctuaries
C. Hotspot
(III) Western Ghats
Correct Answer: (a)
Conservation approaches from pages 9-10.
Q70. Correct statements for 'Amazon Rain Forest' loss include: (i) It is being cut for cultivating soya beans. (ii) It is being converted to grasslands for beef cattle. (iii) Once covered 14% of land, now only 6%.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 7: Specific reasons and stats for Amazon destruction.
Q71. More than ______ per cent of all the species recorded are animals.
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 3: More than 70 per cent of all the species recorded are animals.
Q72. Select true statements for 'In situ' conservation: (i) Saving the whole forest to save the tiger. (ii) Legally protected areas like National Parks. (iii) Sacred groves are an example.
Q73. According to the IUCN (2004), the total number of plant and animal species described so far is slightly more than:
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 2: According to IUCN (2004), the total number... is slightly more than 1.5 million.
Q74. Match the types of biodiversity in Column-I with examples in Column-II:
Column-I
Column-II
A. Genetic diversity
(I) Amphibians in Western Ghats
B. Species diversity
(II) Deserts and Rain forests in India
C. Ecological diversity
(III) 50,000 strains of rice
Correct Answer: (a)
Definitions and examples from page 2.
Q75. Assertion: Fungi have more species than the combined total of all vertebrate species.
Reason: Vertebrates include fishes, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 3: Both are true, but listing vertebrate groups doesn't explain why fungi are more numerous.
Q76. Regarding 'Tilman's Experiments': (i) used outdoor plots. (ii) Plots with more species showed less year-to-year variation in biomass. (iii) Increased diversity contributed to higher productivity.
Q77. Which of the following are causes of 'The Evil Quartet'? (i) Habitat loss and fragmentation. (ii) Over-exploitation. (iii) Alien species invasion.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 7 and 8 list these four major causes (fourth is co-extinction).
Q78. The greatest biodiversity on earth is found in the:
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 4: The largely tropical Amazonian rain forest... has the greatest biodiversity on earth.
Q79. Assertion: The number of species on earth is not precisely known.
Reason: Many taxonomic groups are more complete in temperate regions than in the tropics.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 2: The lack of complete inventories in the high-diversity tropics makes the total number an estimate.
Q80. Which of the following is correct regarding 'Ecological Diversity'? (i) Norway has a greater ecosystem diversity than India. (ii) India has greater diversity than Norway due to its deserts, mangroves and coral reefs.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 2: India has greater ecosystem diversity than Scandinavia/Norway.
Q81. Amazon forest is estimated to produce, through photosynthesis, ______ per cent of the total oxygen in the earth’s atmosphere.
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 9: Amazon forest is estimated to produce... 20 per cent of the total oxygen.
Q82. Assertion: Alien species can turn invasive and cause extinction of indigenous species.
Reason: They lack natural predators in the new geographical area.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 7: Lack of natural checks allows them to spread uncontrollably.
Q83. Identify the correct statements regarding India's biodiversity: (i) India has only 2.4 per cent of the world's land area. (ii) India is one of the 12 mega diversity countries of the world. (iii) Nearly 1,00,000 plant species are yet to be discovered in India.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 4 details the land area, mega diversity status, and estimates of undiscovered species.
Q84. Assertion: Tropical latitudes harbour more species than temperate or polar areas.
Reason: Tropical environments are less seasonal and relatively more constant.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 5: Constant environments promote niche specialisation and lead to greater species diversity.
Q85. Identify the correct statements regarding the 'Rivet Popper Hypothesis': (i) An airplane is an analogy for the ecosystem. (ii) Rivets represent the species. (iii) Taking a rivet home represents extinction.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 6 explains Ehrlich's analogy in these terms.
Q86. India's share of the global species diversity is an impressive:
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 4: Its share of the global species diversity is an impressive 8.1 per cent.
Q87. Assertion: Pollution is a threat to the survival of many species.
Reason: It leads to habitat degradation.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 7: Degradation of habitats by pollution is a key factor in biodiversity loss.
Q88. Match the species with their extinction locations or reasons:
Column-I (Species)
Column-II (Detail)
A. Dodo
(I) Africa
B. Quagga
(II) Mauritius
C. Thylacine
(III) Russia
D. Steller’s Sea Cow
(IV) Australia
Correct Answer: (a)
Data from page 6.
Q89. Which of the following is correct regarding 'Hotspots'? (i) They have high levels of species richness. (ii) They have high degree of endemism. (iii) There are 34 hotspots in the world.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 9: Definition and global count of hotspots.
Q90. Genetic variation in the medicinal plant Rauwolfia vomitoria is an example of:
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 2: The genetic variation shown by Rauwolfia vomitoria is an example of genetic diversity.
Q91. Identify the correct statements for 'Ex situ' conservation: (i) Zoological parks and Botanical gardens serve this purpose. (ii) Cryopreservation can store gametes in fertile condition. (iii) Plants can be propagated using tissue culture.
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 10 lists these as modern ex situ methods.
Q92. Match the argument for conservation:
Type
Argument
A. Narrowly utilitarian
(I) Ecosystem services like pollination
B. Broadly utilitarian
(II) Economic benefits like food/drugs
C. Ethical
(III) Intrinsic value of every species
Correct Answer: (a)
Conservation rationales from pages 8-9.
Q93. Match theFollowing for Z values:
Region Scale
Z value range
A. Small area (Britain plants)
0.1 to 0.2
B. Large area (Continents)
0.6 to 1.2
Correct Answer: (a)
Page 5: Slope comparison for small vs large scales.
Q94. Identify the correct statements for 'Conservation' justifications: (i) Direct economic benefits are narrowly utilitarian. (ii) Ecosystem services are broadly utilitarian. (iii) Intrinsic value of species is an ethical argument.
Correct Answer: (a)
Categorization of reasons from pages 8 and 9.
Q95. Which sociobiologist popularised the term 'biodiversity'?
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 1: Biodiversity is the term popularised by the sociobiologist Edward Wilson.
Q96. Match the following for species richness in birds:
Location
No. of Bird Species
A. Colombia
(I) 1,400
B. New York
(II) 105
C. Greenland
(III) 56
D. India
(IV) 1,200
Correct Answer: (a)
Data from page 4.
Q97. Assertion: Seed banks are a form of ex situ conservation.
Reason: Seeds of different genetic strains can be kept for long periods in them.
Correct Answer: (b)
Both are true, but the ability to store seeds doesn't explain why it is classified as 'ex situ' (the explanation is that it happens away from the natural habitat).
Q98. What is the most important cause driving animals and plants to extinction?
Correct Answer: (c)
Page 7: Habitat loss and fragmentation: This is the most important cause driving animals and plants to extinction.
Q99. More than ______ per cent of the drugs sold in the market worldwide are derived from plants.
Correct Answer: (b)
Page 8: More than 25 per cent of the drugs... are derived from plants.
Q100. Initially, how many biodiversity hotspots were identified?