Few sample questions for CET in BIODIVERSITY :

1. If all the plants on earth die suddenly, all the animals die immediately due to the deficiency of
(a) Food (b) Shade (c) Oxygen (d) Shelter

2. Choose the correct statement;
(a) Term ‘biodiversity’ was coined by Walter & Rosen in 1985 and popularised by Edward O Wilson in 1986
(b) Term ‘biodiversity’ was coined by E O Wilson in 1985 and popularised by Walter and Rosen in 1986
(c) Term ‘biodiversity’ was coined by Richter in 1984 and popularised by E O Wilson in 1986
(d) Term ‘biodiversity’ was coined by Walter and Rosen in 1985 and popularised by Richter in 1986

3. Biological species is an
(a) Inexhaustible natural resource (b) Inexhaustible renewable resource
(c) Exhaustible renewable resource (d) Exhaustible non - renewable resource

4. Variety within a species is referred to as
(a) Ecosystem diversity (b) Habitat diversity (c) Genetic diversity (d) Species diversity

5. The richest and the most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on earth are called
(a) Megadiversity zones (b) Hot spots of biodiversity
(c) Biosphere reserves (d) Gradients of biodiversity

6. The ‘hot spots’ concept was developed by
(a) Norman Myers (b) Walter and Rosen (c) Edward Wilson (d) Richter

7. The two biodiversity ‘hot spots’ in India are
(a) The peninsular plateau and eastern Himalayas (b) The western ghats and peninsular plateau
(c) The peninsular plateau and nothern great plains (d) The western ghats and eastern Himalayas

8. The contribution of India to global biodiversity is
(a) 5% (b) 8% (c) 10% (d) 13%

9. Which habitat shows highest diversity of living species ?
(a) Desert (b) Temperate forest (c) Tropical rain forest (d) Grassland

10. Biodiversity is determined by
(a) Evenness of species (b) Number of individuals in an area
(c) Species richness (d) Both (a) and (c)

11. A keystone species is the one which has
(a) A small proportion of total biomass but has a huge impact on community’s organization and survival
(b) A plenty of biomass but low impact on community’s organization
(c) A rare species with little impact on biomass and other species in the community
(d) A dominant species which has a large proportion of biomass and which affects many other species

12. Match the types of ecosystem diversity listed in Column I with their meanings given under column II; Choose the answer with the correct combination of alphabets.
Column I (Type of diversity) Column II (Meaning)
(A) Alpha diversity p. Between – community diversity
(B) Beta diversity q. Diversity in ranges of community
(C) Gamma diversity r. Within – community diversity
s. Genetic diversity

(a) A=s, B=p, C=r (b) A=q, B=r, C=p
(c) A=r, B=p, C=q (d) A=r, B=r, C=s
13. Read the two statements A and B.
Statement A: Diversity observed in the entire geographical area is called gamma diversity
Statement B: Biodiversity decreases from high altitude to low altitude
Identify the correct choice from those given (2006)
(a) Statement A is correct, B is wrong (b) Statement B is correct, A is wrong
(c) Both the statements A and B are correct (d) Both the statements A and B are wrong

14. Species diversity increases from
(a) High altitude to low altitude and high latitude to low latitude
(b) Low altitude to high altitude and high latitude to low latitude
(c) Low altitude to high altitude and low latitude to high latitude
(d) High altitude to low altitude and low latitude to high latitude

15. Diversity of the habitat over the total landscape is called
(a) α – diversity (b) β – diversity (c) γ – diversity (d) Landscape diversity

16. A species whose number is so small that it is in danger of immediate extinction if adverse causal factors continue to operate is
(a) Rare species (b) Endangered species (c) Vulnerable species (d) Extinct species

17. A species which is likely to move into the endangered category in the near future if the causal factors continue to operate is referred to as
(a) rare species (b) Vulnerable species (c) Keystone species (d) Extinct species

18. An organism restricted to a particular geopgraphical area is called
(a) Endangered species (b) Endemic species (c) Pandemic species (d) Exotic species

19. The scientific name of great Indian bustard is
(a) Ardeotis nigriceps (b) Falco peregrinus (c) Bubo bubo (d) Pavo cristatus

20. Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) has become endangered due to
(a) Reduced rainfall (b) Spread of desert (c) Hunting (d) Change in climate

21. Which of the following is an endangered species ?
(a) Peacock (b) Kashmiri stag (c) Indian bustard (d) Spotted deer

22. Which of the following is an endangered species in India ?
(a) Slender loris (b) Indian bustard (c) Lion (d) All these

23. Animal that has become extinct in India is
(a) Snow leopard (b) Cheetah (c) Gharial (d) Slender loris

24. Red Data Book (RDB) deals with species which are
(a) Endemic (b) Extinct (c) Pandemic (d) On the verge of extinction

25. The organization which has published the ‘Red Data Book’ is (2003)
(a) National Environmental Engineering Research Institute
(b) International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
(c) Conservation of International Trade in Endangered species of Wild Flora and Fauna
(d) National Wild life Action Plan

26. This is considered as a sacred plant by many in India
(a) Rauwolfia serpentine (b) Eleusine coracona (c) Flemingia vestita (d) Ficus benghalensis
27. New approach to conservation is the establishment of
(a) Sanctuaries (b) Biosphere reserves (c) National parks (d) Reserve forests

28. Genetic diversity in agricultural crops is threatened by
(a) Introduction of high yielding varieties (b) Intensive use of fertilisers
(c) Extensive inter-cropping (d) Extensive use of pesticides and insecticides

29. Desertification is caused by
(a) Over-grazing (b) Deforestation (c) Over-cultivation (d) All these

30. The percentage of land with forest cover in India is
(a) 19% (b) 26% (c) 29% (d) 33%

31. Deforestation causes
(a) Soil erosion (b) Reduced rainfall (c) More floods (d) All these

32. One of the following is normally not an air pollutant.
(a) Hydrocarbons (b) Oxides of nitrogen (c) CO (d) CO2

33. When huge quantity of sewage is dumped in a river, the BOD will
(a) Increase (b) Decrease (c) Slightly decrease (d) Remain unchanged

34. TEK is
(a) Traditional Ethical Know-how (b) Threatened and Endangered Kind
(c) Traditional Ecological Knowledge (d) A company which has patented basmathi raice

35. TEK promotes
(a) Conservation of natural resources (b) Destruction of resources
(c) Depletion of biodiversity (d) Destruction of natural habitats

36. MAB stands for
(a) Man and Biosphere programme (b) Man and Biosphere preservation
(c) Man and Biodiversity programme (d) Man and Bioreserve project

37. The unethical practice of procuring biological wealth from other countries and patenting it subsequently is referred to as
(a) Biocontrol (b) Biowar (c) Bioconspiracy (d) Biopiracy

38. This is a species which is patented (for any of its products or components)
(a) Basmathi rice (b) Neem (c) Turmeric (d) All these

39. Constant and heavy grazing results in one of these.
(a) The superficial layers of soil are loosened and eroded
(b) The sub-soil is made more compact which causes reduced respiration in roots
(c) The top layers of soil become more compact
(d) None of these

40. The chief aim of water conservation methods is to reduce the amount of
(a) Evaporation (b) Precipitation (c) Run-off water (d) Ground water

41. Soil is
(a) An indestructible resource (b) A destructible renewable resource
(c) A destructible non - renewable resource (d) A non - renewable resource
42. Loss of surface soil by soil erosion is caused mainly by
(a) Rapid industrialisation (b) Defroestation and mining
(c) Modern farming techniques (d) Afforestation

43. Soil erosion can be checked by
(a) Restricted human activity (b) Wind screen alone
(c) Checking movement of animals (d) Good plant cover

44. Crop rotation is essential for
(a) Increasing the nitrogen content of the soil (b) Increasing the water content of the soil
(c) Increasing the mineral content of the soil (d) Increasing the humus content of the soil

45. Soil conservation by mulching involves
(a) Protection of soil by straw and stubbles (b) Growing cereals and pulses in alternate rows
(c) Growing crops in rows (d) Tilling land at right angles to slope

46. `Mulching’ helps mainly in
(a) Increasing soil fertility (b) Controlling weeds
(b) Improving soil texture (d) Moisture conservation

47. Ex situ type of biodiversity conservation is
(a) Seed gene bank (b) Biosphere reserves (c) Botanical gardens (d) National parks

48. One of the ex situ conservation methods for endangered species is
(a) Wild life sanctuaries (c) Cryopreservation (c) Biosphere reserves (d) National parks

49. Which of the following is a method of in situ conservation ?
(a) National park (b) Botanical garden (c) Tissue culture (d) Cryopreservation

50. The most important human activity leading to the extinction of wildlife is
(a) Pollution of air and water (b) Hunting for valuable wildlife products
(c) Introduction of exotic species (d) Alteration and destruction of natural habitats

51. The method of providing more protection to the members of a particular species which is becoming rare is called
(a) Assemblage protection (b) Species protection (c) Habitat protection (d) Ex situ conservation

52. Kaziranga national park is famous for
(a) Rhinoceros (b) Lion (c) Musk deer (d) Indian bustard

53. Chipko movement is concerned with,
(a) Forest conservation (b) Plant breeding (c) Project tiger (d) Conservation of natural resources

54. Sunderlal Bahuguna is associated with
(a) Narmada Bachao Andolan (b) Green revolution
(c) Chipko movement (d) Silent Valley conservation movement

55. Bandipur wild life sanctuary is known for
(a) Panthera leopersica (b) Panthera tigris (c) Rhinoceros unicornis (d) Ardeotis nigriceps

56. Jim corbett Park is located in
(a) Nainital, Uttar Pradesh (b) Bannerghatta, Karnataka
(c) Khaziranga, Assam (d) Bharathpur, Rajasthan
57. Match the names of animals given under column I with the wild life sanctuaries in which they are protected in column II; Choose the answer with the correct combination of alphabets.
Column I Column II
(A) Asiatic lion p. Dachingaum sanctuary, Kashmir
(B) Siberian crane q. Kanha national park, MP
(C) Hangul r. Gir national park, Gujrath
(D) Balckbuck s. Bharatpur sanctuary, Rajasthan
t. Ranganathittoo sanctuary, Karnataka

(a) A=r, B=s, C=p, D=q (b) A=r, B=t, C=p, D=q
(c) A=r, B=s, C=q, D=p (d) A=r, B=t, C=q, D=p

58. The Siberian crane from Russia is a regular visitor to the bird sanctuary in this place in India (’91)
(a) Ranganathittoo sanctuary (b) Bharathpur sanctuary, Rajasthan
(c) Lalbagh, Bangalore (d) Vedanthangal sanctuary, Tamil Nadu

59. Biosphere reserve is an example of
(a) in vivo conservation (b) in situ conservation (c) ex situ conservation (d) in vitro conservation

60. In a Biosphere Reserve, the area surrounding the core zone is called
(a) Buffer zone (b) Transition zone (c) peripheral zone (d) Development zone

61. In a biosphere reserve, the buffer zone is an area where
(a) No human activity is permitted (b) Human activities are allowed on a large scale
(c) Limited human activity is allowed (d) Private ownership is allowed

62. The term ‘acid rain’ was first coined by
(a) Rowland and Molina (b) Paul Crutzen (c) Robert Angus (d) Carl Sagan

63. The pH of acid rain is
(a) 7 (b) > 7 (c) 5.6 – 7 (d) below 5.6

64. In chemical composition, 70% of acid rain is
(a) Nitric acid (b) Sulphuric acid (c) Carbonic acid (d) Hydrochloric acid

65. In acid rain, SO2 accounts for
(a) 50% (b) 30% (c) 70% (d) 100%

66. Acid rain is caused mainly due to
(a) NO2 and SO2 (b) NH3 and SO2 (c) CO and CO2 (d) O3 and CO2

67. 90% of ozone is distributed in the
(a) Troposphere (b) Stratosphere (c) Hydrosphere (d) Lithosphere

68. Peeling of ozone umbrella which protects us from UV rays is caused by
(a) PAN (b) CO2 (c) CFCs (d) Coal buring

69. CFCs in the atmosphere was first detected by
(a) James Lovelock (b) Rowland and Molina (c) Pollack (d) Ackermann

70. The stratospheric ozone depletion leads to
(a) Floods (b) Global warming (c) Forest fires (d) Increased incidence of cancer

71. The result of ‘ozone hole’ is (2001)
(a) The UV radiations reach the earth (b) Greenhouse effect
(c) Acid rain (d) Global warming

72. Koyoto Protocol is to
(a) Check the depletion of ozone layer (b) Check soil erosion
(c) Protect wildlife (d) Preserve water resources

73. A hypothetical global climatic condition that was predicted to be a possible outcome of a large scale nuclear war is called
(a) Nuclear fall-out (b) Nuclear holocaust (c) Nuclear winter (d) Nuclear spring

74. Which of the following gases contributes maximum to the green house effect on earth ?
(a) CO2 (b) CFC (c) Freon (d) CH4

75. CO2, CH4, N2O and CFCs are called green house gases, because they can absorb
(a) UV radiations (b) Long wavelength IR radiations
(c) Visible light radiations (d) γ - radiations

76. This is considered as ‘biological diversity day’
(a) 29th December (b) 5th June (c) 22nd May (d) 16th September

77. 16th September is observed as
(a) World environment day (b) World population day
(c) World ozone day (d) World biodiversity day

78. World environment day is celebrated on
(a) June 5 (b) July 11 (c) October 14 (d) December 1

79. The Wildlife Protection Act was promulgated in
(a) 1965 (b) 1972 (c) 1975 (d) 1982

80. The ‘Environment Protection Act’ was promulgated in India in
(a) 1975 (b) 1982 (c) 1986 (d) 1988
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