MCQS – ENVIRONMENT,

ECOLOGY AND BIODIVERSITY

Important for FAA,VLW,SSC,UPSC

BY REVA MAM
Q1. Which of the following describes biomass
relationship between producers and consumers in an
ecosystem?
[A] Food Chain
[B] Food Web
[C] Ecological Pyramid
[D] Trophic level
Q2. Which of the following is considered a hot-spot of
biodiversity in India?
A) Eastern ghats
B) Aravalli hills
C) Western ghats
D) Indo-gangetic plain
Ans. C
Biodiversity hotspots -rich in biodiversity. They reserve
the endangered species.
In India four hotspots are present namely, Himalayas,
Western Ghats, Indo-Burman region and Sundaland
which consists of Nicobar group of Islands

Q3. The coral reefs are the marine counterparts of

__________.
A. Temperate forests
B. Tropical rain forests
C. Savannas
D. Scrubland
Ans. B
Q4. Which of the following can be threats to the
biodiversity of a geographical area?
1. Global warming
2. Fragmentation of habitat
3. Invasion of alien species
4. Promotion of vegetarianism
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q5. Which one of the following is the 1st National Park of
India?
A. Corbett National Park
B. Bandipur National Park
C. Kanha National Park
D. Sariska National Park
Q6. Which one of the following is not a site for the in-situ
method of conservation of Flora?
[A] Botanical Garden
[B] Wildlife Sanctuary
[C] National Park
[D] Biosphere Reserve
Ans. A
Q7. Which type of forests majorly comprises of lichens
and mosses?
A. Desertic vegetation
B. Tropical vegetation
C. Tundra vegetation
D. none of these
Ans. C
Q8. Which of the following constitutes the largest
ecosystem of the world?
A. Ocean
B. River
C. Forest
D. Grassland
Q9. Centre for Ecological Sciences is situated at :
1)Karnal
2)Allahabad
3)New Delhi
4)Bengaluru
Ans. 4
Q10. Which of the following is the most stable
ecosystem?
A. Mountain
B. Desert
C. Forest
D. Ocean
Ans. D
Q11. In biological terms, _______ is a relationship between two
organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is
unaffected.
A Amensalism
B Commensalism
C Parasitism
D Mutualism
Ans. B
Q12. Flow of energy declines as it passes from lower to higher
trophic level. This is explained by
A. First law of thermodynamics
B. Second law of thermodynamics
C. Newton second law
D. Newton third law
Ans. B
• According to this law, the energy decreases from one
trophic level to the next trophic level because energy is
lost as metabolic heat during transfer of energy.
• When food energy passes from producers to herbivores
to carnivores, only 10% of energy is transferred from
one trophic level to another trophic level

Q13. Ten percent law of energy transfer in a food chain is

given by
A. Schimper
B. Elton
C. Haeckel
D. Lindemann
Ans. D
Q14. In a food chain, man is
A. Producer
B. Primary consumer
C. Secondary consumer
D. Primary and secondary consumer
Ans. D
Q15. First cloned animal Dolly was a_______.
A. sheep
B. Cat
C. Rabbit
D. Dog
Ans. A
Q16. Consider the following :
1. Black-necked crane
2. Cheetah
3. Flying squirrel
4. Snow leopard
Which of the above are naturally found in India ?
a. 1, 2 and 3
b. only1, 3 and 4
c. only2 and 4
d. only1, 2, 3 and 4
Ans. B
Q17. The largest ecosystem of earth is
A. Biome
B. Hydrosphere
C. Lithosphere
D. Biosphere
ans. D

Q18. The Ozone hole over Antarctica was discovered in

A. 1975
B. 1985
C. 1978
D. 1987
Ans. B
Q19. The method of soil conservation in which different
crops are grown in alternate rows & are sown at
different times to protect the soil from rain wash is
called
A. Mulching
B. Intercropping
C. Rockdam
D. Terrace farming
Ans, b
Q20. The radiant energy received by the Earth from the
sun is
A. Radiation
B. Insolation
C. Reflection
D. Refraction
Q21. Which of the following statements is true about
Ozone?
1. The ozone in troposphere can reach to stratosphere
and deplete the ozone there
2. The stratospheric ozone is called good ozone
Select the correct answer from the codes given below-
[A] 1 only
[B] 2 only
[C] Both
[D] None
Q22. Which of the following aspects come under the
Sustainable Development?
1. Leading a primitive life so as to ensure minimal harm
to environment
2. Ensuring the unrestricted use of timber wood based on
demand and supply forces
3. Regulating but not banning the trade in wildlife
Select the correct answer from the codes given below-
[A] 1,2 and 3
[B] 1 and 2 only
[C] 1 and 3 only
[D] 3 only
Q23. Which of the following are the types of ecological
pyramids?
1. Pyramid of numbers
2. Pyramid of biomass
3. Pyramid of energy or productivity
4. Pyramid of species
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 1, 2 & 3
[C] Only 2, 3 & 4
[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4
Q24. The Stockholm Convention is related to which of the
following?
[A] Hazardous waste
[B] Persistant Organic Pollutants
[C] Pesticides
[D] Insecticides
Q25. Which of the following statements are correct?
1. Sedimentary cycles are considered to be perfect
nutrient cycles.
2. Gaseous cycle is an imperfect nutrient cycle.
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Both 1 & 2
[D] Neither 1 & 2
 A perfect nutrient cycle is one in which nutrients are
replaced as soon as they are utilised. Gaseous cycle is a
perfect nutrient cycle.

Q26. Succession is characterized by which of the following

characteristics?
1) Decreased productivity.
2) The shift of nutrients from the reservoirs.
3) Increased diversity of organisms with an increase in the
niche development
4) A gradual decline in the complexity of food webs.
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 3
[B] Only 1 & 4
[C] Only 2 & 3
[D] Only 1, 2 & 4
Ans. C
Q27. Neknampur Lake, which is the largest floating
treatment wetland in the country, is situated in which
of the following place?
[A] Hyderabad
[B] New Delhi
[C] Odisha
[D] Manipur
Ans. A
Q28. ”Ecology is Permanent Economy” This slogan is
related to which of the following?
[A] Chipko Movement
[B] Narmada Bachao Andolan
[C] Appiko movement
[D] None of them
The Chipko movement began in 1970s in Uttarakhand & a
some part of UP. It was a forest conservation movement.
Sunderlal Bahuguna initiated the Chipko Movement & gave
this slogan

Q29. Which section of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002

defined the term “biodiversity”?
[A] Section 1(a)
[B] Section 1(b)
[C] Section 2(a)
[D] Section 2(b)

Ans. D
Q30. An element playing important role in nitrogen
fixation is:
A. Molybdenum
B. Copper
C. Manganese
D. Zinc

Note: Molybdenum is a micronutrient that plays an imp.

role in nitrogen fixation along with It is a part of nitrate
reductase enzyme that helps in nitrogen fixation
Also Iron & Vanadium help in it.
Q31. Which zone of a pond/lake ecosystem does not
receive light?
a. Littoral c. Profundal
b. Limnetic d. Epilimnion
Q32. Identify an example of decomposers that are found in
the bottom of a pond.
A. Phytoplankton
B. Flagellates
C. Zooplankton
D. Jellyfishes

Q33. Which among the following is the main constituent of

Biogas?
A. Methane
B. Carbon dioxide
C. Both a and b
D. Ethane
Q34. Which organisms carry out the fragmentation of
detritus?
a) Sponges
b) Vertebrates
c) Detritivores
d) Zooplankton

Q35.What is the process of secretion of digestive

enzymes by decomposers to convert insoluble
complex organic molecules into simple soluble organic
& inorganic molecules called?
a) Fragmentation
b) Decomposition
c) Humification
d) Catabolism
Q36. The percolation of the soluble substances formed
due to decomposition called_____.
a) Humification
b) Leaching
c) Mineralization
d) Catabolism
Q37. Which substances are formed along with humus
due to the decomposition process?
a) Organic substances
b) Minerals
c) Inorganic substance
d) Fragments

such as iron, cobalt, potassium, selenium, zinc

Q38. How many steps are involved in the process of
decomposition?
a) 10
b) 2
c) 8
d) 5
 fragmentation, leaching, catabolism, humification,
and mineralization
Q39. Peacocks eat snakes that eat frogs. Frogs, in turn,
eat the leaves of the plants. The peacock is?
(a) primary consumer
(b) secondary consumer
(c) decomposer
(d) the apex of the food pyramid
Q40. What is the annual net primary productivity of the
entire biosphere?
(a) 170 billion tons (dry weight) of organic matter
(b) 165 billion tons (dry weight) of organic matter
(c) 160 billion tons (dry weight) of organic matter
(d) 155 billion tons (dry weight) of organic matter
Q41. Which of the following is the most stable
ecosystem?
(a) Mountain
(b) Desert
(c) Forest
(d) Ocean
Q42. Energy storage at the consumer level is called?
(a) Gross primary productivity
(b) Secondary productivity
(c) Net primary productivity
(d) Net productivity

Q43. Which of the following statements is true?

(a) Decomposition rate is slower if detritus is rich in lignin
and chitin, and quicker if detritus is rich in nitrogen and
water-soluble substances like sugars.
(b) Decomposition rate is slower if detritus is rich in nitrogen
and water-soluble substances like sugars, and quicker if
detritus is rich in lignin and chitin.
(c) Decomposition rate is slower if detritus is rich in cellulose,
and quicker if detritus is rich in phosphorus.
(d) Decomposition rate is quicker if detritus is rich in lignin,
and quicker if detritus is rich in sulphur.
Q44. What are the two most important climatic factors
that regulate decomposition through their effects on
soil microbes?
(a) Temperature and rainfall
(b) Temperature and soil – moisture
(c) Temperature and humidity
(d) Temperature and pressure
Ans. B
Q45. Which of the following process helps in nutrient
conservation?
(a) Mineralisation
(b) Immobilisation
(c) Leaching
(d) Nitrification
Q46. Each trophic level has a certain mass of living
material at a particular time is known as?
(a) catabolism
(b) standing crop
(c) humification
(d) primary productivity
Q47. In which of the following ecosystems, the pyramid
of biomass is ‘inverted’ in shape?
[A] Pond ecosystem
[B] Grassland ecosystem
[C] Forest ecosystem
[D] None of the above
Q48. The highest number of Tiger Reserves are found in
which state of India?
[A] Assam
[B] Karanatka
[C] Jharkhand
[D] Madhya Pradesh
Q49. Teak is the dominant species of which of the
following forests?
• [A] Tropical Evergreen Forests
[B] Tropical Deciduous Forests
[C] Temperate Evergreen Forests
[D] Mangrove Forests
Q50. Which of the following statements are correct
regarding Carbon Cycle?
1. Carbon cycle involves a continuous exchange of
carbon between the atmosphere and the organisms.
2. Carbon moves to green plants from the atmosphere
by the process of photosynthesis, and then to animals.
3. By process of respiration and decomposition of
dead organic matter it returns back to atmosphere.
• Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Q51. Succession is characterized by which of the
following characteristics?
1) Decreased productivity.
2) The shift of nutrients from the reservoirs.
3) Increased diversity of organisms with an increase in
the niche development
4) A gradual decline in the complexity of food webs.
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 3
[B] Only 1 & 4
[C] Only 2 & 3
[D] Only 1, 2 & 4
Ans. C
Q52. Which of the following statements are correct
regarding Lakes as defined by the National Lake
Conservation Programme (NLCP)?
1) Minimum water depth of 5 m.
2) Cover a water spread of more than ten hectares.
3) Have no or very little macrophytes
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 2
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Q53. Which of the following statements is correct
regarding Attenborough’s pitcher plant?
1) Its scientific name is Nepenthes attenboroughii.
2) It is a species of carnivorous pitcher plant.
3) The IUCN status is Critically Endangered.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Q55. Which article of the Indian Constitution assures the
citizens of India the right to a healthy environment?
[A] Article 20
[B] Article 21
[C] Article 22
[D] Article 23
Q56. Which one of the following is an indicator of air
pollution?
[A] Cycas
[B] Algae
[C] Bryophytes
[D] Lichens
Q57. Preservation of viable material of endangered species
can be done by
1. Herbarium
2. Gene pool
3. Gene library
4. Gene Bank
Ans. 4

Q58. Which among the following places come under UNESCO

World Heritage Site's list?
1. Jim Corbett National Park
2. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
3. Rajaji National Park
4. None of the above
Ans. 2
Q59. Which of the following states of India became the
first carbon free state ?
1. Arunachal Pradesh
2. Chhattisgarh
3. Himachal Pradesh
4. Gujarat
Q60. In which of the following years was the ‘Project
Elephant’ launched by the Government of India?
1. 1972
2. 1992
3. 1962
4. 1982
Thank You