Living World MCQs: Overview and Explanation

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The living world comprises a variety of living organisms, all formed of numerous organic and inorganic biomolecules. Water and minerals are both part of inorganic molecules, while amino acids and sugars, among many others, are part of organic molecules. It is important to understand that these biomolecules are known to play a vital role in metabolism. Ideally, the living world is commonly classified based on their morphological features, also otherwise known as taxonomy. As per their identification and type, they are allotted different names. Surprisingly, the diversity in the living world is consistently growing, and is equally becoming visible.

Multiple Choice Questions

Ques. Identify the incorrect match among the following options

  1. Pedology – The study of Soil science
  2. Limnology – Study of fresh water
  3. Physiology – The study functions and processes of life
  4. Kinesiology –The study of fossils

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Ans: (d) Kinesiology – The study Fossil fossils

Explanation: In reality, Kinesiology is a type of therapy that mainly utilizes muscle monitoring, also known as biofeedback, that helps look at the various imbalances that potentially caused or is causing a disease in the body. Ideally, it targets at detecting and accurately correcting the imbalances that actively relate to nutrition, minor wounds/injuries, or stress. However, it is not used for diagnosing disorders.

Also Read: Difference between Biology and Zoology

Ques. Who proposed the Phylogenetic system of classification?

  1. Adolf Engler and Karl Prantl
  2. Theophrastus
  3. Carolus Linnaeus
  4. George Bentham and Joseph Dalton Hooker

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Ans: (a) Adolf Engler and Karl Prantl

Explanation: Adolf Engler (1843 - 1930) and Karl Prantl (1849 - 1893), two major German Botanists, formerly proposed the 23 volume idea of the phylogenetic system of classification in their collective work “De Naturalischen Pflanzenfamilien”. The phylogenetic system of classification mainly includes evolutionary relationships. In this proposition, the ancestor and various other related organisms were minutely studied for organism classification.

Ques. What do we call a group of plants and animals that have similar traits of any rank?

  1. Genus
  2. Order
  3. Taxon
  4. Species

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Ans: (c) Taxon

Explanation: A unit or simply a category of classification is usually called a taxon, especially since it also denotes a rank. Clearly, every organism that belongs to a similar taxon will potentially also share the same traits. For instance, the basic level at which we begin classification is species, that is later followed by genus, family, order, class and more – mainly in an ascending order.

Ques. After comparing with genus, which one is essentially less general in characters?

  1. Family
  2. Species
  3. Class
  4. Division

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Ans: (b) Species

Explanation: If considering the taxonomic hierarchy, the kingdom usually comes in the initial position, which species is known to come last. Which is to say, when comparing organisms, it is apparent that a kingdom will supposedly have more general characters than species. The correct hierarchy goes this way: Kingdom - Phylum - Class - Order - Family - Genus - Species.

Ques. Determine which among the following is the accurate sequence.

  1. Kingdom - phylum - class - order 
  2. Species - order - phylum - kingdom
  3. Species - genus - order - phylum
  4. Genus - species - order - kingdom

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Ans: (a) Kingdom - Phylum - Class - Order

Explanation: Denoting as per the taxonomic hierarchy, Kingdom - Phylum - Class - Order is the correct sequence. Mainly, the hierarchical ranking helps classify organisms into different categories or units. By and large, the organisms are first considered according to their kingdom, which is the largest of all. Gradually narrowing down, it comes to species, which is the smallest category that comprises closely related organisms that produce offspring.

Read More: Scientific Names of Animals and Plants

Ques. Which among these best fit the definition of metabolism?

  1. Gaining or releasing of energy
  2. Releasing of energy
  3. Gaining of energy
  4. Catabolism

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Ans: (a) Gaining or releasing of energy

Explanation: Metabolism mainly refers to various chemical processes that occur in bodies of living organisms in order to help survival. In simple words, the process of metabolism includes a bunch of life-sustaining chemical transformations inside the cells present in living organisms to maintain life. Metabolism can be further broken down to two parts: catabolism and anabolism.

Ques. Typically, in nomenclature

  1. Genus and species are known to have the same name
  2. The genus and species names are usually in italics
  3. The genus name is generally written following the species
  4. The first letter of genus and species name are written in capital format

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Ans: (b) The genus and species names are usually in italics

Explanation: There are several steps people follow when identifying and allotting names to living organisms as per their category. Binomial nomenclature usually comes with numerous rules to abide by, which are:

- The initial letter of the genus name should be capitalized, while the initial letter of species name should be in small.

- The scientific names are to be underlined separately if handwritten.

- However, when printed, the nomenclature name should be in Italic.

Ques. Who coined the term Phylum?

  1. Haeckel 
  2. Theophrastus
  3. Linnaeus
  4. Cuvier

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Ans: (a) Haeckel

Explanation: Ernst Haeckel, in the year of 1866, first coined the term phylum for classifying living organisms. Phylum is the category that comes after Kingdom, and also comprises numerous classes that indicate common features or traits. “Phylum” especially comes from a Greek word known as “phylon” which simply means race or clan.

Read More: Flora and Fauna

Ques. Which among the following words define “study of fish culture”?

  1. Herpetology 
  2. Pisciculture
  3. Ichthyology
  4. Ophiology 

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Ans: (b) Pisciculture

Explanation: Pisciculture simply means the breeding, transplantation and rearing of fishes via artificial technologies, also occasionally known as fish farming. This process mainly includes raising fishes through commercial means, either in tanks or even enclosures, especially for food purposes. The species of fish includes but is not limited to catfish, tilapia, salmon and more.

Ques. Who first proposed Binomial nomenclature?

  1. Hugo De Vries
  2. Linnaeus
  3. John Ray
  4. Huxley

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Ans: (b) Linnaeus

Explanation: Linnaeus first established and proposed the practice of binomial nomenclature. It is a biological process and system that allows naming different living organisms. The name can be bifurcated into two major parts, where the first term signifies the genus and the second denotes the species of the organism. It allows naming every organism, from animals to organisms we cannot see through the naked eye.

Ques. What are the species which are found in different geographical locations are known as?

  1. Sibling species 
  2. Allopatric species
  3. Sympatric species
  4. Morphospecies

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Ans: (b) Allopatric species

Explanation: It is known that the reproductive isolation which is mainly found in different geographical locations can be created via allopatric species. In simple words, the species situated at numerous distinct geographical locations are referred to as allopatric species. It especially takes place when the biological population of similar species tend to become isolated from one another until it hinders gene flow.

Read Also: Allopatric And Sympatric Speciation: Definition, Differences and Examples

Ques. Define the meaning of homonym.

  1. The name of species tend to repeat the generic name
  2. Having two or more than two names of the same taxon
  3. Having an identical name of two different taxa
  4. A taxon being named in local language

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Ans: (c) Having an identical name of two different taxa

Explanation: A homonym, in layman’s language, is when two words sound or spell the same, but have different meanings. In Biology, a homonym is an identical name allotted to two different taxa. As per International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, the first published name will have to be the senior homonym, while junior homonyms are to be substituted with new names.

Ques. Name what is the biologically cohesive unit of taxa.

  1. Genus
  2. Order
  3. Phylum
  4. Species

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Ans: (d) Species

Explanation: Species are actually known as the biologically cohesive unit mainly due to the fact that they can potentially be interbred among one another in order to produce fertile offspring. In simple words, a biologically cohesive unit is basically the group of organisms that engages and interacts among one another just so they can produce fertile offspring.

Read More: Five Kingdom Classification

Ques. What is Nicotiana?

  1. Genus
  2. Subspecies
  3. Species
  4. Class

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Ans: (a) Genus

Explanation: Genus is the right answer. Nicotiana falls under the category of genus and belongs in the family of Solanaceae. It especially consists of many different species, like Nicotiana africana and Nicotiana tabacum. Solanaceae falls under the unit of genus of herbaceous plants and shrubs. They are usually indigenous to places like Australia, America and the South Pacific.

Ques. Why is energy transformation never really 100 percent efficient?

  1. Entropy
  2. Catabolism
  3. Anabolism
  4. Homeostasis

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Ans: (a) Entropy

Explanation: In biology, the ecological efficiency is seen to be so low that every trophic level acquires the size of a smaller energy pool consecutively from where it can actively withdraw energy. Energy transformation is never completely 100 per cent efficient for reasons like this.

Also Read:

CBSE CLASS XII Related Questions

  • 1.

    Study the given molecular structure of double-stranded polynucleotide chain of DNA and answer the questions that follow.

    (a) How many phosphodiester bonds are present in the given double-stranded polynucleotide chain? 
    (b) How many base pairs are there in each helical turn of double helix structure of DNA? Also write the distance between a base pair in a helix. 
    (c) In addition to H-bonds, what confers additional stability to the helical structure of DNA?


      • 2.
        Why are restrictions imposed on MTP in India? Up to how many weeks or trimesters, is MTP considered relatively safe for a female, if necessary to perform, by a medical practitioner?


          • 3.
            Student to attempt either option (A) or (B):
            (A) Write two features of an ideal contraceptive. Explain any one natural contraceptive method that makes the chances of conception almost nil.
            (B) Explain GIFT and ICSI.


              • 4.

                Study the given below single strand of deoxyribonucleic acid depicted in the form of a “stick” diagram with 5′ – 3′ end directionality, sugars as vertical lines and bases as single letter abbreviations and answer the questions that follow.

                Name the covalent bonds depicted as (a) and (b) in the form of slanting lines in the diagram.
                How many purines are present in the given “stick” diagram?
                Draw the chemical structure of the given polynucleotide chain of DNA.


                  • 5.

                    Student to attempt either option-(A) or (B):
                    (A) Write the features a molecule should have to act as a genetic material. In the light of the above features, evaluate and justify the suitability of the molecule that is preferred as an ideal genetic material. 
                    OR 
                    (B) Differentiate between the following:

                    • [(i)] Polygenic Inheritance and Pleiotropy
                    • [(ii)] Dominance, Codominance and Incomplete dominance


                      • 6.

                        Given below is a heterogeneous RNA formed during Eukaryotic transcription:

                        heterogeneous RNA

                        How many introns and exons respectively are present in the hnRNA?

                          • 7, 7
                          • 8, 7
                          • 8, 8
                          • 7, 8
                        CBSE CLASS XII Previous Year Papers

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