Q 1 . In which of the following States is lion-tailed macaque found in its natural habitat?
1 . Tamil Nadu
2 . Kerala
3 . Karnataka
4 . Andhra Pradesh
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(a) EXPLANATION : Lion-tailed Macaques are found in the mountain forests scattered across three Indian states stated above.
Q 2 . Which one of the following terms describes not only the physical space occupied by an organism, but also its functional role in the community of organisms?
(a) Ecotone
(b) Ecological niche
(c) Habitat
(d) Home range
(b) EXPLANATION : Ecological Niche is a term that describes the way of life of a species. Each species is thought to have a separate unique niche. The ecological niche describes how an organism or population responds to the distribution of resources and competitors. A niche is the sum of the habitat requirements that allow a species to persist and produce offspring.
Q 3 . Consider the following:
1 . Star tortoise
2 . Monitor lizard
3 . Pygmy hog
4 . Spider monkey
Which of the above are naturally found in India?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(a) EXPLANATION: Star tortoise is found in India in the dry and scrub forests. Pygmy Hog is an endangered species found in Assam. Monitor Lizard is found in India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Spider Monkey is the inhabitant of tropical forests of Central and South America.
Q 4 . Which of the following can be found as pollutants in the drinking water in some parts of India?
1 . Arsenic
2 . Sorbitol
3 . Fluoride
4 . Formaldehyde
5 . Uranium
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2, 4 and 5 only
(c) 1, 3 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
(a) EXPLANATION : Drinking water in some parts of India has contaminants like Arsenic, Fluoride , etc. The sources of Arsenic are run off from orchards. The sources of fluoride are erosion of natural deposits, discharge from fertilizers and aluminum factories.
Q 5 . Consider the following pairs:
1 . Nokrek Biosphere Reserve : Garo Hills
2 . Logtak (Loktak) Lake : Barail Range
3 . Namdapha National Park : Dafla Hills
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None
(a) EXPLANATION : Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is situated in Garo Hills in Meghalaya. Loktak Lake is in Manipur. Barail Range is in Assam. Though Namdapha National Park and Dafla Hill both are in Arunachal Pradesh, the two are separate entities.
Q 6 . In the grasslands, trees do not replace the grasses as a part of an ecological succession because of
(a) insects and fungi
(b) limited sunlight and paucity of nutrients
(c) water limits and fire
(d) None of the above
(c) EXPLANATION : The trees cannot replace the grasses as a part of an ecological succession because of water limits and fire.
Q 7 . Which one of the following is the correct sequence of ecosystems in the order of decreasing productivity?
(a) Oceans, lakes, grasslands, mangroves
(b) Mangroves, oceans, grasslands, lakes
(c) Mangroves, grasslands, lakes, oceans
(d) Oceans, mangroves, lakes, grasslands
(c) EXPLANATION : The order of decreasing productivity : Mangroves > grasslands > lakes > oceans.
Q 8 . Consider the following fauna of India:
1 . Gharial
2 . Leatherback turtle
3 . Swamp deer
Which of the above is/are endangered?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None
(c) EXPLANATION : Gharial is critically endangered according to IUCN. Overhunting for skin and trophies, habitat loss due to construction of dams and barrages has been the reason for their decline. Leather back turtles are endangered due to human carelessness. Swamp deer occupies a place in the list of the endangered species of the world. Deforestation, draining of swamps and marshes for farming has led to the destruction of their natural habitat.
Q 9 . With reference to the food chains in ecosystems, which of the following kinds of organism is/are known as decomposer organism/organisms?
1 . Virus
2 . Fungi
3 . Bacteria
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
(b) EXPLANATION : Bacteria and Fungi both are known as decomposer organisms. Bacteria are important decomposers; they can break down any kind of organic matters. Fungi are primary decomposers, they not only decompose the surface organisms but they can also penetrate deep into the organic matters.
Q 10 . Consider the following international agreements :
1 . The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
2 . The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
3 . The World Heritage Convention
Which of the above has/have a bearing on the biodiversity?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
(d) EXPLANATION : The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture aims at guaranteeing food security through the conservation, exchange and sustainable use of the world’s plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification is a Convention to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. The World Heritage Convention is concerned with the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage.All three of them have a bearing on the biodiversity.
