noteswale

Environment Studies

Mock Paper 1: Full Syllabus — Official 50-Mark Pattern
50 MCQs × 1 mark = 50 marks • No negative marking • BA • Semester 1 (AEC)

🌐 How to use: Har question ke neeche correct answer green me + short explanation diya hai — pehle khud socho, phir check karo.
📝 Official exam pattern (50 marks, MCQ only): 50 MCQs × 1 mark, no negative marking. Time: 1 hour. Har MCQ ke neeche correct option green me highlighted hai + explanation diya hai.

Q1 Which of the following is NOT a physical component of the environment? 1 mark · Unit 1

  • ASoil
  • BWater
  • CCulture ✓ Correct
  • DAir
Answer: C — Culture is a social/human component; soil, water and air are physical components of the environment.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Culture social/human component hai; soil, water aur air environment ke physical components hain.

Q2 The 1972 Stockholm Conference is formally known as the: 1 mark · Unit 1

  • AUN Conference on the Human Environment ✓ Correct
  • BEarth Summit
  • CKyoto Protocol
  • DRio Declaration
Answer: A — Its formal title was the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, held at Stockholm in 1972.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Iska formal naam United Nations Conference on the Human Environment tha, 1972 me Stockholm me hua tha.

Q3 The book 'Silent Spring' (1962), which sparked global environmental awareness, was written by: 1 mark · Unit 1

  • ARachel Carson ✓ Correct
  • BBarry Commoner
  • CE. O. Wilson
  • DAldo Leopold
Answer: A — Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring' (1962) exposed the dangers of pesticides like DDT.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Rachel Carson ki 'Silent Spring' (1962) ne DDT jaise pesticides ke khatron ko expose kiya tha.

Q4 The three pillars of sustainable development are: 1 mark · Unit 1

  • AEnvironment, economy and society ✓ Correct
  • BLand, water and air
  • CForests, wildlife and minerals
  • DHealth, education and income
Answer: A — Sustainable development rests on three pillars: environmental protection, economic growth and social equity.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Sustainable development teen pillars pe khada hai: environmental protection, economic growth aur social equity.

Q5 The ozone layer, which absorbs harmful UV rays, is located in the: 1 mark · Unit 1

  • ATroposphere
  • BStratosphere ✓ Correct
  • CMesosphere
  • DThermosphere
Answer: B — The ozone layer lies in the stratosphere, roughly 15–35 km above the Earth.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Ozone layer stratosphere me hoti hai, lagbhag Earth se 15–35 km upar.

Q6 About 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by: 1 mark · Unit 1

  • AForests
  • BDeserts
  • CWater ✓ Correct
  • DIce
Answer: C — Oceans and other water bodies cover about 71% of Earth's surface (the hydrosphere).
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Oceans aur water bodies Earth ki surface ka lagbhag 71% cover karte hain (hydrosphere).

Q7 Which gas is most abundant in the Earth's atmosphere? 1 mark · Unit 1

  • AOxygen
  • BCarbon dioxide
  • CNitrogen ✓ Correct
  • DHydrogen
Answer: C — Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the atmosphere, oxygen about 21%.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Nitrogen atmosphere ka lagbhag 78% hai, oxygen lagbhag 21%.

Q8 Jhum (shifting) cultivation is practised mainly in: 1 mark · Unit 2

  • ARajasthan
  • BNorth-Eastern India ✓ Correct
  • CKerala
  • DPunjab
Answer: B — Jhum or shifting cultivation is traditionally practised by tribal communities in North-Eastern India.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Jhum ya shifting cultivation traditionally North-Eastern India ke tribal communities karte hain.

Q9 The largest reservoir of water on the Earth is: 1 mark · Unit 2

  • AGlaciers
  • BGroundwater
  • COceans and seas ✓ Correct
  • DRivers and lakes
Answer: C — Oceans hold about 97% of all water on Earth, the largest reservoir by far.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Oceans me Earth ke lagbhag 97% paani hai — sabse bada reservoir.

Q10 Desertification in India is most severe in the state of: 1 mark · Unit 2

  • ABihar
  • BRajasthan ✓ Correct
  • CAssam
  • DWest Bengal
Answer: B — The Thar desert region makes Rajasthan the worst affected by desertification in India.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Thar desert region ki wajah se Rajasthan desertification se sabse zyada affected hai.

Q11 Biogas (gobar gas) contains mainly: 1 mark · Unit 2

  • ACarbon dioxide
  • BMethane ✓ Correct
  • CHydrogen
  • DButane
Answer: B — Biogas is about 55–65% methane (CH4), produced by anaerobic digestion of organic waste.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Biogas me lagbhag 55–65% methane (CH4) hota hai, organic waste ke anaerobic digestion se banta hai.

Q12 Fly ash, a major solid waste pollutant, is produced by: 1 mark · Unit 2

  • ATextile mills
  • BThermal power plants ✓ Correct
  • CSugar factories
  • DPaper mills
Answer: B — Burning coal in thermal power plants produces large quantities of fly ash.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Thermal power plants me coal jalne se badi matra me fly ash nikalta hai.

Q13 The National Forest Policy (1988) fixed the target of forest/tree cover at: 1 mark · Unit 2

  • A21%
  • B25%
  • C33% ✓ Correct
  • D40%
Answer: C — The National Forest Policy, 1988 aims for 33% forest/tree cover (60% in hills).
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

National Forest Policy, 1988 ka target 33% forest/tree cover hai (hills me 60%).

Q14 Over-extraction of groundwater in coastal areas mainly causes: 1 mark · Unit 2

  • AWaterlogging
  • BSeawater intrusion ✓ Correct
  • CSoil erosion
  • DFlooding
Answer: B — Excessive pumping near coasts lets seawater intrude into freshwater aquifers, making water saline.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Coast ke paas zyada pumping se samundar ka paani freshwater aquifers me ghus jaata hai — paani saline ho jaata hai.

Q15 The ultimate source of energy for nearly all ecosystems is: 1 mark · Unit 3

  • AGeothermal heat
  • BThe Sun ✓ Correct
  • CTides
  • DWind
Answer: B — Solar energy captured by producers through photosynthesis drives almost every ecosystem.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Producers photosynthesis se jo solar energy pakadte hain, wahi lagbhag har ecosystem ko chalati hai.

Q16 In a grassland ecosystem, the dominant producers are: 1 mark · Unit 3

  • ATrees
  • BGrasses ✓ Correct
  • CShrubs
  • DAlgae
Answer: B — Grasses dominate grassland ecosystems; trees are sparse due to low rainfall and grazing.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Grassland me grasses dominant hote hain; kam rainfall aur grazing ki wajah se trees sparse hote hain.

Q17 Desert plants adapted to conserve water (e.g., cactus) are called: 1 mark · Unit 3

  • AHydrophytes
  • BXerophytes ✓ Correct
  • CMesophytes
  • DEpiphytes
Answer: B — Xerophytes (xero = dry) are plants adapted to arid conditions, e.g., cactus with spines and thick stems.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Xerophytes (xero = dry) arid conditions ke adapted plants hain, jaise cactus.

Q18 The phosphorus cycle is an example of a: 1 mark · Unit 3

  • AGaseous cycle
  • BSedimentary cycle ✓ Correct
  • CHydrological cycle
  • DNitrogen cycle
Answer: B — Phosphorus has no atmospheric phase; it cycles through rocks, soil and water — a sedimentary cycle.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Phosphorus ka koi atmospheric phase nahi; ye rocks, soil aur water se cycle karta hai — sedimentary cycle.

Q19 During photosynthesis, oxygen is released by: 1 mark · Unit 3

  • AConsumers
  • BDecomposers
  • CGreen plants (producers) ✓ Correct
  • DDetritivores
Answer: C — Green plants split water during photosynthesis and release oxygen as a by-product.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Green plants photosynthesis me paani split karke oxygen release karte hain.

Q20 A large regional unit of vegetation and climate, such as tundra or taiga, is called a: 1 mark · Unit 3

  • AEcosystem
  • BBiome ✓ Correct
  • CNiche
  • DHabitat
Answer: B — A biome is a very large ecological region defined by climate and dominant vegetation.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Biome ek bahut bada ecological region hai jo climate aur dominant vegetation se define hota hai.

Q21 The functional role an organism plays in its ecosystem is called its: 1 mark · Unit 3

  • AHabitat
  • BNiche ✓ Correct
  • CTrophic level
  • DBiome
Answer: B — Niche = the organism's profession/role (what it eats, where it lives); habitat = its address.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Niche = organism ka role/profession (kya khata hai, kahan rehta hai); habitat = uska address.

Q22 The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the first biosphere reserve of India, was set up in: 1 mark · Unit 4

  • A1972
  • B1986 ✓ Correct
  • C1992
  • D2002
Answer: B — Nilgiri (Tamil Nadu–Kerala–Karnataka) became India's first biosphere reserve in 1986.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Nilgiri (Tamil Nadu–Kerala–Karnataka) 1986 me India ka pehla biosphere reserve bana.

Q23 Biodiversity on Earth is richest in: 1 mark · Unit 4

  • ADeserts
  • BTropical rainforests ✓ Correct
  • CTundra
  • DGrasslands
Answer: B — Warm, wet tropical rainforests (Amazon, Congo, Western Ghats) hold the maximum species diversity.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Garam, geele tropical rainforests (Amazon, Congo, Western Ghats) me sabse zyada species diversity hai.

Q24 Which forest is famously called the 'lungs of the world'? 1 mark · Unit 4

  • ATaiga
  • BAmazon rainforest ✓ Correct
  • CCongo basin
  • DBoreal forest
Answer: B — The Amazon rainforest is called the lungs of the world for its huge oxygen output and carbon absorption.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Amazon rainforest ko uske huge oxygen output aur carbon absorption ki wajah se 'lungs of the world' kehte hain.

Q25 Project Elephant was launched in India in the year: 1 mark · Unit 4

  • A1973
  • B1982
  • C1992 ✓ Correct
  • D2002
Answer: C — Project Elephant (1992) protects elephants, their habitat and corridors, like Project Tiger (1973) does for tigers.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Project Elephant (1992) elephants, unke habitat aur corridors ko protect karta hai, jaise Project Tiger (1973) tigers ke liye.

Q26 The Great Indian Bustard, a critically endangered bird, is the state bird of: 1 mark · Unit 4

  • AGujarat
  • BMadhya Pradesh
  • CRajasthan ✓ Correct
  • DMaharashtra
Answer: C — The Great Indian Bustard (Godawan) is the state bird of Rajasthan, found in Desert National Park.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Great Indian Bustard (Godawan) Rajasthan ka state bird hai, Desert National Park me milta hai.

Q27 The total number of biodiversity hotspots recognised in the world is: 1 mark · Unit 4

  • A12
  • B25
  • C34
  • D36 ✓ Correct
Answer: D — Conservation International recognises 36 biodiversity hotspots worldwide; India has 4 of them.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Conservation International duniya bhar me 36 biodiversity hotspots maanta hai; India me 4 hain.

Q28 The Botanical Survey of India (BSI), which documents plant diversity, is headquartered at: 1 mark · Unit 4

  • ANew Delhi
  • BKolkata ✓ Correct
  • CChennai
  • DDehradun
Answer: B — BSI, founded in 1890, is headquartered at Kolkata.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

BSI, 1890 me founded, ka headquarters Kolkata me hai.

Q29 The unit used to measure the intensity of sound or noise is the: 1 mark · Unit 5

  • AHertz
  • BDecibel ✓ Correct
  • CWatt
  • DJoule
Answer: B — Sound intensity/noise level is measured in decibels (dB); frequency is measured in hertz.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Sound intensity/noise level decibel (dB) me measure hota hai; frequency hertz me.

Q30 Photochemical smog is formed mainly when these react in sunlight: 1 mark · Unit 5

  • ASO2 and water vapour
  • BNitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons ✓ Correct
  • CCO2 and methane
  • DDust and fog
Answer: B — NOx + hydrocarbons + sunlight produce ozone and PAN — the brown haze called photochemical smog.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

NOx + hydrocarbons + sunlight se ozone aur PAN banta hai — isi brown haze ko photochemical smog kehte hain.

Q31 The Namami Gange programme for cleaning the Ganga was launched in: 1 mark · Unit 5

  • A1986
  • B2008
  • C2014 ✓ Correct
  • D2019
Answer: C — Namami Gange (National Mission for Clean Ganga) was launched in 2014, after the 1986 Ganga Action Plan.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Namami Gange (National Mission for Clean Ganga) 2014 me launch hua, 1986 ke Ganga Action Plan ke baad.

Q32 The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 was enacted in the wake of: 1 mark · Unit 5

  • AThe Chipko movement
  • BThe Bhopal gas tragedy ✓ Correct
  • CThe Chernobyl disaster
  • DThe London smog
Answer: B — The MIC gas leak at Bhopal (Dec 1984) directly led to India's umbrella Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Bhopal me MIC gas leak (Dec 1984) ke baad hi India ka umbrella Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 aaya.

Q33 Lead was removed from petrol mainly because it: 1 mark · Unit 5

  • AReduces mileage
  • BDamages the nervous system, especially in children ✓ Correct
  • CCorrodes engines
  • DIncreases cost
Answer: B — Lead is a neurotoxin; leaded petrol harmed children's brain development, so it was phased out.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Lead neurotoxin hai; leaded petrol bachchon ke brain development ko harm karta tha, isliye phase out hua.

Q34 The most abundant gaseous pollutant emitted by motor vehicles is: 1 mark · Unit 5

  • ASulphur dioxide
  • BCarbon monoxide ✓ Correct
  • COzone
  • DLead
Answer: B — Incomplete combustion in engines releases large amounts of carbon monoxide (CO).
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Engines me incomplete combustion se badi matra me carbon monoxide (CO) nikalta hai.

Q35 The 'polluter pays' principle means that: 1 mark · Unit 5

  • AThe government pays for cleanup
  • BThe polluter bears the cost of pollution control ✓ Correct
  • CCitizens pay green tax
  • DIndustries get subsidies
Answer: B — Polluter pays = whoever causes pollution must pay for its prevention and cleanup.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Polluter pays = jo pollution karega, wahi uske prevention aur cleanup ka cost dega.

Q36 India ratified the Paris Climate Agreement in the year: 1 mark · Unit 6

  • A2015
  • B2016 ✓ Correct
  • C2017
  • D2020
Answer: B — The Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015; India ratified it on 2 October 2016 (Gandhi Jayanti).
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Paris Agreement 2015 me adopt hua; India ne ise 2 October 2016 (Gandhi Jayanti) ko ratify kiya.

Q37 CFCs, which deplete the ozone layer, were widely used in: 1 mark · Unit 6

  • AFertilisers
  • BRefrigerators and air conditioners ✓ Correct
  • CTextiles
  • DCement
Answer: B — Chlorofluorocarbons were common as refrigerants and in spray cans before the Montreal Protocol phased them out.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Chlorofluorocarbons refrigerants aur spray cans me common the, Montreal Protocol ne inhe phase out kiya.

Q38 The National Green Tribunal (NGT), India's environmental court, was set up in: 1 mark · Unit 6

  • A2005
  • B2010 ✓ Correct
  • C2014
  • D2016
Answer: B — The NGT was established on 18 October 2010 under the NGT Act, 2010.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

NGT 18 October 2010 ko NGT Act, 2010 ke under establish hua.

Q39 The 'Water Man of India', famous for reviving johads (traditional ponds) in Rajasthan, is: 1 mark · Unit 6

  • ASunderlal Bahuguna
  • BRajendra Singh ✓ Correct
  • CAnil Agarwal
  • DM. C. Mehta
Answer: B — Rajendra Singh of Tarun Bharat Sangh revived thousands of johads in Alwar, Rajasthan (Magsaysay Award 2001).
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Tarun Bharat Sangh ke Rajendra Singh ne Alwar, Rajasthan me hazaron johads revive kiye (Magsaysay Award 2001).

Q40 EIA, mandatory for major development projects, stands for: 1 mark · Unit 6

  • AEnvironmental Impact Assessment ✓ Correct
  • BEcological Investment Approval
  • CEnergy Inventory Audit
  • DEcosystem Integrity Act
Answer: A — Environmental Impact Assessment predicts a project's environmental effects before clearance.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Environmental Impact Assessment clearance se pehle project ke environmental effects predict karta hai.

Q41 The most important anthropogenic (human-caused) greenhouse gas is: 1 mark · Unit 6

  • AMethane
  • BNitrous oxide
  • CCarbon dioxide ✓ Correct
  • DWater vapour
Answer: C — CO2 from burning fossil fuels is the largest human contribution to the greenhouse effect.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Fossil fuels jalne se nikla CO2 greenhouse effect me sabse bada human contribution hai.

Q42 A person's 'carbon footprint' means: 1 mark · Unit 6

  • AShoe size
  • BTotal greenhouse gas emissions caused by one's activities ✓ Correct
  • CAmount of coal used
  • DForest area owned
Answer: B — Carbon footprint = the total CO2-equivalent emissions from an individual's lifestyle and consumption.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Carbon footprint = kisi ki lifestyle aur consumption se hone wale total CO2-equivalent emissions.

Q43 At about 1% annual growth, the doubling time of India's population is roughly: 1 mark · Unit 7

  • A35 years
  • B50 years
  • C70 years ✓ Correct
  • D100 years
Answer: C — Doubling time ≈ 70 ÷ growth rate; at 1% growth, population doubles in about 70 years.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Doubling time ≈ 70 ÷ growth rate; 1% growth pe population lagbhag 70 saal me double hoti hai.

Q44 In India, the population census is conducted every: 1 mark · Unit 7

  • A5 years
  • B10 years ✓ Correct
  • C15 years
  • D20 years
Answer: B — India holds its decennial census every 10 years (first in 1872, regular since 1881).
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

India me har 10 saal me census hota hai (pehla 1872, regular 1881 se).

Q45 As per Census 2011, India's sex ratio was: 1 mark · Unit 7

  • A927 females per 1000 males
  • B933 females per 1000 males
  • C940 females per 1000 males
  • D943 females per 1000 males ✓ Correct
Answer: D — Census 2011 recorded 943 females per 1000 males, up from 933 in 2001.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Census 2011 me 1000 males pe 943 females record hue, 2001 ke 933 se upar.

Q46 The National Population Policy (2000) aims to achieve a stable population by the year: 1 mark · Unit 7

  • A2025
  • B2035
  • C2045 ✓ Correct
  • D2050
Answer: C — NPP 2000 set the long-term goal of a stable population by 2045.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

NPP 2000 ne 2045 tak stable population ka long-term goal rakha tha.

Q47 The 'demographic dividend' refers to the economic benefit of having: 1 mark · Unit 7

  • AA large elderly population
  • BA large working-age population ✓ Correct
  • CHigh birth rate
  • DLow literacy
Answer: B — A bulge in the working-age (15–64) group can boost growth if productively employed.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

Working-age (15–64) group ka bulge productively employed ho to growth boost kar sakta hai.

Q48 The slogan 'Hum Do Hamare Do' promotes: 1 mark · Unit 7

  • AGirl education
  • BThe small family norm ✓ Correct
  • CRural employment
  • DAdult literacy
Answer: B — 'Hum Do Hamare Do' (we two, our two) is India's family-planning slogan for a two-child norm.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

'Hum Do Hamare Do' India ka family-planning slogan hai two-child norm ke liye.

Q49 Zero Population Growth (ZPG) means a situation where: 1 mark · Unit 7

  • ANobody is born
  • BBirths equal deaths ✓ Correct
  • CEveryone migrates
  • DPopulation doubles
Answer: B — ZPG = birth rate equals death rate, so population size stays constant.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

ZPG = birth rate death rate ke barabar, to population size constant rehta hai.

Q50 The headquarters of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is located at: 1 mark · Unit 5

  • AMumbai
  • BKolkata
  • CChennai
  • DNew Delhi ✓ Correct
Answer: D — CPCB, the apex pollution monitoring body, is headquartered in New Delhi.
🇮🇳 Hinglish me yaad karo:

CPCB, apex pollution monitoring body, ka headquarters New Delhi me hai.