noteswale

Environment Studies

Unit 4: MCQ Practice — levels, values, hotspots, threats and conservation
25 MCQs with Answers & Explanations (English + Hinglish) • BA • Semester 1 (AEC)

🌐 How to use: Har MCQ ka correct answer green me marked hai. Pehle khud answer socho, phir green tick se match karo. Neeche 🇮🇳 Hinglish box me short explanation hai taaki yaad rahe.
📝 Exam pattern yaad rakho (50 marks, MCQ only): Poora paper MCQs ka hai — har question 1 mark, no negative marking. Har MCQ ke neeche correct option green me highlighted hai + 1–2 line explanation diya hai.
📑 25 MCQs in this unit:
  1. Q1: The term “biodiversity” was coined by:
  2. Q2: The three levels of biodiversity are:
  3. Q3: The concept of biodiversity hotspots was given by:
  4. Q4: How many biodiversity hotspots are recognised in India?
  5. Q5: Which of the following is a biodiversity hotspot in India?
  6. Q6: India is divided into how many biogeographic zones?
  7. Q7: An “endemic” species is one which:
  8. Q8: The lion-tailed macaque, an endangered primate, is endemic t…
  9. Q9: The Asiatic lion is now found in the wild only at:
  10. Q10: The one-horned rhinoceros is best protected at:
  11. Q11: The Red Data Book, listing threatened species, is published …
  12. Q12: The headquarters of IUCN is at:
  13. Q13: <strong>In-situ</strong> conservation means protecting speci…
  14. Q14: Which of the following is an <strong>ex-situ</strong> conser…
  15. Q15: Project Tiger was launched in India in the year:
  16. Q16: The Wildlife (Protection) Act of India was passed in:
  17. Q17: India has approximately how many national parks?
  18. Q18: The number of biosphere reserves in India is:
  19. Q19: The single biggest threat to biodiversity worldwide is:
  20. Q20: Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur) is famous for:
  21. Q21: The Silent Valley rainforest, saved by a people's movement, …
  22. Q22: India&rsquo;s Biological Diversity Act was passed in:
  23. Q23: Cryopreservation of seeds and germplasm is a method of:
  24. Q24: The dodo bird of Mauritius is an example of a/an:
  25. Q25: Sacred groves protected by local communities help in:

Q1 The term “biodiversity” was coined by: 1 mark

  • ACharles Darwin, 1859
  • BA. R. Wallace, 1876
  • CWalter G. Rosen, 1985 ✓ Correct
  • DErnst Haeckel, 1866
Explanation: US biologist Walter G. Rosen coined 'biodiversity' in 1985; E. O. Wilson popularised it.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

US biologist Walter G. Rosen ne 1985 me 'biodiversity' coin kiya; E. O. Wilson ne ise popular kiya.

Q2 The three levels of biodiversity are: 1 mark

  • ALand, water and air diversity
  • BGenetic, species and ecosystem diversity ✓ Correct
  • CForest, desert and ocean diversity
  • DPlant, animal and human diversity
Explanation: Diversity exists within species (genes), between species, and between ecosystems.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Diversity species ke andar (genes), species ke beech, aur ecosystems ke beech exist karti hai.

Q3 The concept of biodiversity hotspots was given by: 1 mark

  • ANorman Myers ✓ Correct
  • BWalter Rosen
  • CE. O. Wilson
  • DCharles Darwin
Explanation: British ecologist Norman Myers identified hotspots — regions with exceptional, threatened diversity.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

British ecologist Norman Myers ne hotspots identify kiye — exceptional, threatened diversity wale regions.

Q4 How many biodiversity hotspots are recognised in India? 1 mark

  • ATwo
  • BEight
  • CTen
  • DFour ✓ Correct
Explanation: India has 4 of the world's 36 hotspots: Himalaya, Western Ghats–Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma, Sundaland (Nicobar).
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

India me duniya ke 36 me se 4 hotspots hain: Himalaya, Western Ghats–Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma, Sundaland (Nicobar).

Q5 Which of the following is a biodiversity hotspot in India? 1 mark

  • AThar Desert
  • BGangetic Plain
  • CDeccan Plateau
  • DWestern Ghats ✓ Correct
Explanation: The Western Ghats (with Sri Lanka) is a global hotspot rich in endemic species.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Western Ghats (Sri Lanka ke saath) endemic species se rich global hotspot hai.

Q6 India is divided into how many biogeographic zones? 1 mark

  • AFour
  • BFifteen
  • CTen ✓ Correct
  • DFive
Explanation: Rodgers and Panwar (1988) divided India into 10 zones, from Trans-Himalaya to the Islands.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Rodgers aur Panwar (1988) ne India ko Trans-Himalaya se Islands tak 10 zones me divide kiya.

Q7 An “endemic” species is one which: 1 mark

  • AIs found only in a particular region ✓ Correct
  • BMigrates seasonally
  • CIs found all over the world
  • DHas become extinct
Explanation: Endemics occur nowhere else — e.g. the lion-tailed macaque only in the Western Ghats.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Endemics kahin aur nahi milte — e.g. lion-tailed macaque sirf Western Ghats me.

Q8 The lion-tailed macaque, an endangered primate, is endemic to the: 1 mark

  • AThar Desert
  • BHimalaya
  • CSundarbans
  • DWestern Ghats ✓ Correct
Explanation: This striking monkey with a lion-like tail lives only in the Western Ghats rainforests.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Lion-like tail wala ye striking monkey sirf Western Ghats ke rainforests me rehta hai.

Q9 The Asiatic lion is now found in the wild only at: 1 mark

  • ASundarbans, Bengal
  • BRanthambore, Rajasthan
  • CKaziranga, Assam
  • DGir, Gujarat ✓ Correct
Explanation: The last wild Asiatic lions (~700) survive in and around Gir National Park, Gujarat.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Last wild Asiatic lions (~700) Gujarat ke Gir National Park me aur aas-paas survive karte hain.

Q10 The one-horned rhinoceros is best protected at: 1 mark

  • AGir, Gujarat
  • BKaziranga, Assam ✓ Correct
  • CCorbett, Uttarakhand
  • DBandipur, Karnataka
Explanation: Kaziranga National Park holds the world's largest population of the Indian one-horned rhino.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Kaziranga National Park me Indian one-horned rhino ki duniya ki largest population hai.

Q11 The Red Data Book, listing threatened species, is published by: 1 mark

  • AWWF
  • BWHO
  • CIUCN ✓ Correct
  • DUNEP
Explanation: The IUCN Red List/Red Data Book is the global authority on species' extinction risk.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

IUCN Red List/Red Data Book species ke extinction risk pe global authority hai.

Q12 The headquarters of IUCN is at: 1 mark

  • ARome, Italy
  • BGland, Switzerland ✓ Correct
  • CNairobi, Kenya
  • DParis, France
Explanation: IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) is based at Gland, Switzerland.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Gland, Switzerland me based hai.

Q13 In-situ conservation means protecting species: 1 mark

  • AIn their natural habitat ✓ Correct
  • BIn museums
  • CIn laboratories
  • DIn zoos
Explanation: In-situ = 'on site': national parks, sanctuaries and biosphere reserves protect wildlife at home.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

In-situ = 'on site': national parks, sanctuaries aur biosphere reserves wildlife ko uske ghar pe protect karte hain.

Q14 Which of the following is an ex-situ conservation method? 1 mark

  • AZoo and botanical garden ✓ Correct
  • BWildlife sanctuary
  • CNational park
  • DBiosphere reserve
Explanation: Ex-situ = 'off site': zoos, seed banks, botanical gardens and cryopreservation outside natural habitat.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Ex-situ = 'off site': natural habitat ke bahar zoos, seed banks, botanical gardens aur cryopreservation.

Q15 Project Tiger was launched in India in the year: 1 mark

  • A1972
  • B1980
  • C1973 ✓ Correct
  • D1986
Explanation: Project Tiger (1973) created tiger reserves like Corbett and Ranthambore to save the national animal.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Project Tiger (1973) ne national animal ko bachane ke liye Corbett aur Ranthambore jaise tiger reserves banaye.

Q16 The Wildlife (Protection) Act of India was passed in: 1 mark

  • A1980
  • B1986
  • C1972 ✓ Correct
  • D1974
Explanation: This landmark Act (1972) bans hunting and creates protected areas across India.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Ye landmark Act (1972) hunting ban karta hai aur poore India me protected areas banata hai.

Q17 India has approximately how many national parks? 1 mark

  • A50
  • B200
  • C106 ✓ Correct
  • D18
Explanation: India has 106 national parks (e.g. Corbett, Kaziranga, Gir) plus 570+ wildlife sanctuaries.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

India me 106 national parks hain (e.g. Corbett, Kaziranga, Gir) plus 570+ wildlife sanctuaries.

Q18 The number of biosphere reserves in India is: 1 mark

  • A36
  • B50
  • C10
  • D18 ✓ Correct
Explanation: India's 18 biosphere reserves include Nilgiri, Nanda Devi and the Sundarbans.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

India ke 18 biosphere reserves me Nilgiri, Nanda Devi aur Sundarbans shaamil hain.

Q19 The single biggest threat to biodiversity worldwide is: 1 mark

  • AZoos
  • BHabitat loss and destruction ✓ Correct
  • CResearch
  • DTourism
Explanation: Deforestation, wetland drainage and urbanisation destroy species' homes faster than any other cause.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Deforestation, wetland drainage aur urbanisation species ke homes ko sabse tez destroy karte hain.

Q20 Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur) is famous for: 1 mark

  • ATigers
  • BAsiatic lions
  • CMigratory birds including Siberian cranes ✓ Correct
  • DOne-horned rhinos
Explanation: Keoladeo's wetlands host thousands of migratory birds every winter, including Siberian cranes.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Keoladeo ke wetlands har winter thousands migratory birds host karte hain, Siberian cranes samet.

Q21 The Silent Valley rainforest, saved by a people's movement, is in: 1 mark

  • AKerala ✓ Correct
  • BKarnataka
  • CTamil Nadu
  • DAssam
Explanation: Silent Valley (Kerala) was saved from a hydroelectric dam in the 1970s–80s.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Silent Valley (Kerala) 1970s–80s me ek hydroelectric dam se bachaya gaya tha.

Q22 India’s Biological Diversity Act was passed in: 1 mark

  • A1986
  • B2002 ✓ Correct
  • C1972
  • D1992
Explanation: The Biodiversity Act (2002) regulates access to biological resources and protects traditional knowledge.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Biodiversity Act (2002) biological resources ke access ko regulate karta hai aur traditional knowledge protect karta hai.

Q23 Cryopreservation of seeds and germplasm is a method of: 1 mark

  • AHunting regulation
  • BEx-situ conservation ✓ Correct
  • CIn-situ conservation
  • DAfforestation
Explanation: Freezing genetic material in gene banks preserves diversity outside natural habitats.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Gene banks me genetic material freeze karna natural habitats ke bahar diversity preserve karta hai.

Q24 The dodo bird of Mauritius is an example of a/an: 1 mark

  • AExtinct species ✓ Correct
  • BEndangered species
  • CEndemic species
  • DVulnerable species
Explanation: The dodo was hunted to extinction in the 17th century — a classic warning against overexploitation.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Dodo 17th century me hunt karke extinct kar diya gaya — overexploitation ke khilaaf classic warning.

Q25 Sacred groves protected by local communities help in: 1 mark

  • ADam building
  • BIn-situ conservation ✓ Correct
  • CRoad construction
  • DMining
Explanation: Community-guarded sacred forests in India preserve biodiversity in its natural home.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

India me community-guarded sacred forests biodiversity ko uske natural home me preserve karte hain.

End of Unit 4 MCQ Practice — 25 questions. Revise the explanations before the exam.