People, Development and Environment – UGC NET Paper I – Practice Questions

Basics of Environment

1. The conservation of environment requires

(a) Maintenance of biodiversity
(b) Maintenance of gaseous and material cycles
(c) Maintenance of ecological order and natural balance
(d) All of the above

2. A population consists of a group of organisms

(a) of the same species living in a specific geographic area that have the potential to interbreed.
(b) residing in a particular geographic area.
(c) living in a specific geographic locale.
(d) of the same species.

3. Statement I: The concept of Environmental Determinism says that environment is determined by culture and nature.

Statement II: Environmental possibilism believes that the environment puts limits on people, but it does not determine how they will behave. Thus, it can be linked with ‘anthropocene’ age and ‘anthropogenic’ activities.

(a) Both Statements I and II are true.
(b) Only statement I is true.
(c) Only statement II is true.
(d) Neither statement I nor statement II is true.

4. Assertion (A): Microenvironment refers to the immediate local surrounding of the organism and macro environment refers to all the physical and biotic conditions that surround the organism externally.

Reason (R): Environment refers to both abiotic (physical or non-living) and biotic (living) environment.

Which of the following is the correct answer?

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.

5. Assertion (A): In a given area, the maximum population size of the species that the environment can sustain is called the carrying capacity.

Reason (R): As a population grows in an area, a population may experience the effects of increased densities.

Which of the following is the correct answer?

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.

6. Match List I (concepts) with List II (definitions)

(a) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
(b) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
(c) A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
(d) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3

7. Match List I (species) with List II (definitions)

(a) A-3, B-2, C-1
(b) A-2, B-3, C-1
(c) A-3, B-1, C-2
(d) A-3, B-1, C-2

8. Match List I with List II

(a) A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4
(b) A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
(c) A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
(d) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2

9. Which of the following statements is true in context of an ecosystem?

1. The transition area between two biomes is called an ecotone.
2. The species which are indigenous to an area are known as endemic species.
3. The species which are restricted to the transition area of ecotone and don’t move into either of the biomes are called as edge species.
4. The species which play a significant role in the functioning of an ecosystem are called keystone species.

(a) 2, 3 and 4
(b) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 1, 3 and 4

10. Statement I: Autecology that is also known as population ecology, is the study of individual organism or individual species.

Statement II: Synecology is the study of group of organisms of different species which are associated together as a unit in form of a community.

(a) Both statement I and II are true.
(b) Only statement I is true.
(c) Only statement II is true.
(d) Neither statement 1 nor statement 2 is true.

11. Assertion (A): Autotrophic plants are considered as producers in a food chain using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals.

Reason (R): Autotrophs make use of energy from the sun to convert water from the soil and carbon dioxide from the air into a nutrient called glucose.

Which of the following is the correct answer?

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.

12. Statement I: Pyramid of energy is always upright. This is because during energy transfer between adjacent trophic levels, energy is lost in the form of heat.

Statement II: Pyramid of biomass is inverted since primary producers make up less biomass than primary consumers. The inverted pyramid of biomass is seen in a lake or pond ecosystem, as the phytoplankton is less as compared to the small herbivorous fish. Which of the above statements are true?

(a) Statements I and II are true.
(b) Only statement I is true.
(c) Only statement II is true.
(d) Both statements are false.

13. Consider the following statements:

1. The layers of the atmosphere, beginning from the surface of the earth are troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.
2. Troposphere is the most dynamic layer of the atmosphere in terms of climatic and weather conditions.
3. The ozone gas is present in the stratosphere only.

Which of the following statements are true?

(a) Only 1 and 2 are true.
(b) Only 2 and 3 are true.
(c) Only 1 and 3 are true.
(d) 1, 2 and 3 are true.

14. The normal lapse rate is the average rate at which temperature decreases with altitude in the troposphere. Which of the following statements is correct about the normal lapse rate?

(a) The normal lapse rate is constant throughout the troposphere.
(b) The normal lapse rate is typically around 6.5°C per km.
(c) The normal lapse rate is higher in the tropics than in the polar regions.
(d) The normal lapse rate is affected by weather conditions.

15. In urban areas such as Delhi, the normal lapse rate is reversed. Which of the following statements describes a temperature inversion?

(a) The air near the ground is lighter than the air at higher altitudes.
(b) The air near the ground is colder than the air at higher altitudes.
(c) The air near the ground is warmer than the air at higher altitudes.
(d) The air pressure near the ground is lower than the air pressure at higher altitudes.

16. Assertion (A): Cloudy nights are warmer compared to clear nights (without clouds) during winters.

Reason (R): Clouds permit cold waves from the sky reaching the earth.

Which of the following is the correct answer?

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is true, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false, but (R) is true.

17. The structure of the earth’s system affects the environment in a very complex manner. Match List I with List II that are in terms of zone and their chemical character.

Codes:

(a) A-II, B-III, C-I, D-IV
(b) A-I, B-III, C-II, D-IV
(c) A-II, B-I, C-III, D-IV
(d) A-IV, B-II, C-III, D-I

18. Match List-I with List-II.

Codes:

(a) A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1
(b) A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4
(c) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
(d) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3