Unit 4 — MCQ Practice Bank: 28 questions based on the official MGSU syllabus and PYQ analysis. Tap Show Answer to check yourself. 🔥 = high priority, ⭐ = important.
Q1. The term 'biodiversity' was coined by: Expected ⭐
- E. O. Wilson
- Walter G. Rosen
- Norman Myers
- Charles Darwin
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Answer: B — Walter G. Rosen coined 'biodiversity' (short for biological diversity) in 1985; E. O. Wilson popularised it.
Q2. The three levels of biodiversity are: Expected ⭐
- Genetic, species and ecosystem diversity
- Plant, animal and microbial diversity
- Alpha, beta and gamma diversity
- Local, national and global diversity
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Answer: A — Biodiversity exists at three levels: genetic (within species), species (between species) and ecosystem (habitats).
Q3. The 50,000+ strains of rice found in India are an example of: Expected
- Species diversity
- Ecosystem diversity
- Community diversity
- Genetic diversity
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Answer: D — Variety of genes within a single species is genetic diversity; it lets species adapt to disease and climate change.
Q4. Alpha, beta and gamma diversity (Whittaker) measure species diversity: Expected
- Only inside forests
- Within one habitat, between habitats, and across a landscape
- Only among endangered species
- Inside laboratories
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Answer: B — Alpha = within one habitat, beta = between habitats, gamma = total across a landscape.
Q5. About 8.7 million species are estimated to exist on Earth, and species diversity is richest: Expected
- Near the poles
- In deserts
- In the tropics near the equator
- In temperate grasslands
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Answer: C — The tropics (near the equator) are the richest; diversity decreases toward the poles.
Q6. India holds 7–8% of the world's recorded species on just: Expected ⭐
- 2.4% of the world's land area
- 10% of the world's land area
- 24% of the world's land area
- Half of the world's land area
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Answer: A — On only 2.4% of the world's land area — which is why India is called a mega-diversity nation.
Q7. India is one of how many mega-diversity countries in the world? Expected
- 5
- 8
- 10
- 12
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Answer: D — India is one of the world's 12 mega-diversity countries.
Q8. India's 10 biogeographic zones were classified by: Expected ⭐
- Myers and Wilson
- Rodgers and Panwar
- Tansley and Elton
- Odum and Lindeman
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Answer: B — Rodgers and Panwar gave the 10-zone biogeographic classification of India in 1988.
Q9. Which is the largest biogeographic zone of India? Expected
- Western Ghats
- Trans-Himalayan
- Deccan Peninsula
- Gangetic Plain
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Answer: C — The Deccan Peninsula (central India) is the largest zone — dry deciduous forests with tigers and wild dogs.
Q10. Fuelwood collected by villagers for their own use is an example of which value of biodiversity? Expected 🔥
- Consumptive use value
- Productive use value
- Aesthetic value
- Option value
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Answer: A — Consumptive = products used directly without being sold; productive = products sold in the market (timber, silk).
Q11. The 'option value' of biodiversity refers to: Expected
- The beauty of nature
- Products sold in markets
- The religious importance of species
- Future potential uses of species not yet known
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Answer: D — Option value is the future potential — species that may prove useful tomorrow, like unknown plant genes that could cure diseases.
Q12. The ethical value of biodiversity is based on the idea that: Expected
- Nature is beautiful
- Every species has a moral right to exist
- Forests provide timber
- Wildlife attracts tourists
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Answer: B — The ethical argument: we have no right to destroy what we did not create.
Q13. The concept of biodiversity hotspots was given by: Expected 🔥
- E. O. Wilson
- Walter Rosen
- Norman Myers
- Charles Elton
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Answer: C — Norman Myers gave the biodiversity hotspot concept in 1988.
Q14. For a region to qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, it must have: Expected ⭐
- At least 1,500 endemic plant species and 70% or more habitat loss
- At least 100 tigers
- No human population at all
- Only island geography
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Answer: A — A hotspot is both rich (1,500+ endemic plant species) and threatened (70%+ of original habitat lost).
Q15. Which of the following is NOT a biodiversity hotspot touching India? Expected ⭐
- Western Ghats
- Himalaya
- Indo-Burma
- Thar Desert
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Answer: D — The four hotspots touching India are the Western Ghats, Himalaya, Indo-Burma and Sundaland; the Thar Desert is not one.
Q16. In the HIPPO threats to biodiversity, the biggest threat (H) is: Expected 🔥
- Hunting
- Pollution
- Habitat loss
- Hybridisation
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Answer: C — Habitat loss — forests cleared for farming, dams, roads and cities — is the single biggest threat to biodiversity.
Q17. Lantana weed spreading in forests and water hyacinth choking wetlands are examples of: Expected
- Invasive species
- Keystone species
- Endemic species
- Flagship species
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Answer: A — Invasive (foreign) species outcompete native ones — the 'I' in HIPPO.
Q18. Poaching of tigers for skin and rhinos for horn is an example of: Expected
- Habitat loss
- Pollution
- Invasive pressure
- Over-exploitation
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Answer: D — Taking more than nature can replace — the 'O' in HIPPO; poaching is its illegal, extreme form.
Q19. Which statement correctly distinguishes endangered and endemic species? Expected ⭐
- Both terms mean exactly the same thing
- Endangered means found in one place; endemic means at risk
- Endangered means at high risk of extinction; endemic means found only in one region
- Endemic species are always safe from extinction
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Answer: C — Endangered = high extinction risk (listed in the Red Data Book); endemic = found nowhere else in the world.
Q20. Endangered species are listed in the Red Data Book published by: Expected ⭐
- IUCN
- UNESCO
- WWF
- UNEP
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Answer: A — The IUCN Red Data Book lists species at risk of extinction.
Q21. The Asiatic lion is found in the wild only in: Expected 🔥
- Kaziranga, Assam
- Sundarbans, West Bengal
- Jim Corbett, Uttarakhand
- Gir, Gujarat
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Answer: D — The Asiatic lion survives only in Gir, Gujarat — a classic endemic-trap question.
Q22. The lion-tailed macaque is endemic to: Expected ⭐
- The Thar Desert
- The Western Ghats
- The Himalaya
- The Sundarbans
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Answer: B — It is found only in the Western Ghats and nowhere else — endemic means 'found nowhere else'.
Q23. The great Indian bustard (godawan) is: Expected
- The national bird of India
- Found only in Africa
- The state bird of Rajasthan
- A type of freshwater fish
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Answer: C — The critically endangered great Indian bustard (godawan) is Rajasthan's state bird, found in the Thar Desert.
Q24. A zoo is an example of which type of conservation? PYQ 2021, 2022, 2023, Dec 2024 🔥
- Ex-situ conservation
- In-situ conservation
- Natural conservation
- Passive conservation
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Answer: A — Ex-situ = protecting species outside their natural habitat ('away from home'); zoos, botanical gardens and seed banks are ex-situ methods. This concept appeared in 5 PYQ papers.
Q25. Kaziranga National Park protecting the one-horned rhinoceros is an example of: PYQ 2021, 2022, 2023, Dec 2024 ⭐
- Ex-situ conservation
- Captive breeding
- Tissue culture
- In-situ conservation
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Answer: D — In-situ = protecting species in their natural habitat ('at home'); national parks, sanctuaries and biosphere reserves are in-situ methods.
Q26. Which of the following is NOT included under in-situ conservation? PYQ 2021, Dec 2024 🔥
- National park
- Botanical garden
- Wildlife sanctuary
- Biosphere reserve
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Answer: B — A botanical garden keeps plants outside their natural habitat, so it is ex-situ; the rest protect species in their natural homes.
Q27. Project Tiger was launched in the year: PYQ 2023, Dec 2024 🔥
- 1971
- 1972
- 1973
- 1975
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Answer: C — Project Tiger (1973) was launched at Jim Corbett National Park under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Q28. A keystone species is one whose removal would: PYQ 2021, Dec 2024 🔥
- Slightly reduce the local population
- Cause the collapse of the ecosystem
- Affect only its predators
- Improve the quality of the habitat
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Answer: B — A keystone species' impact is far bigger than its numbers (term by Robert Paine); examples: tiger, elephant, fig trees.
