Our Environment

1. OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
1. Sulphur dioxide affects
(a) haemoglobin of blood (b) Arteries (c) Alveoli of lungs (d) Nerves
Ans : (c) Alveoli of lungs
2. Which of the following is not a func onal component of an ecosystem?
(a) Communi es (b) Decomposers (c) Sunlight (d) Energy flow
Ans : (d) Energy flow
3. Free services provided to humans by ecosystems nclude
(a) control of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentra on (b) preven on of soil erosion
(c) filtering of pollutants from water and air (d) all of the above
Ans : (d) all of the above
4. Why do scien sts think that human-induced global warming will be more harmful to plants
and animals than were past, natural climate fluctua ons?
(a) because temperatures will change faster
(b) because the temperature changes will be larger
(c) because species now are less adaptable than species in the past
(d) because ecosystems are now more complicated than they used to be
Ans : (a) because temperatures will change faster
5. As energy is passed from one trophic level to another, the amount of usable energy
(a) increases (b) decreases (c) remains the same (d) energy is not passed from
one trophic level to another
Ans : (b) decreases
6. Each step in a food chain is called a
(a) trophic level (b) consumer level (c) food web (d) producer
Ans : (a) trophic level
7. CO2 absorbs some of the ......... that radiates from the surface of earth to space
(a) ozone (b) heat (c) food web (d) producer
Ans : (b) heat
8. The biological process by which carbon is returned to its reservoir is
(a) photosynthesis (b) de-nitrifica on (c) carbon fixa on (d) cellular respira on
Ans : (d) cellular respira on
9. For corrosion of metals, there should be (a) Exposed surface of metal (b) Moisture
(c) Air (d) All of the above
Ans : (d) All of the above
10. The last chain of food is (a) producers (b) decomposers (c) parasites (d) none of the above
Ans : (b) decomposers
11. Replacing of plas c cups by the paper cups for selling tea on train is preferred because
(a) paper cups are more aesthe c (b) paper cups are more hygienic
(c) paper cups are cheaper (d) paper cups are biodegradable and eco-friendly
Ans : (d) paper cups are biodegradable and ecofriendly
12. Food web is the
(a) food that a spider collects using its web (b) network of interlinked trophic levels
(c) network of interlinked food chains (d) display of food items on a website
Ans : (c) network of interlinked food chains
A food web is a network of inter-linked food chains opera ng at various trophic levels.
13. In the biosphere, which of the following is the ul mate source of energy?
(a) Carbon (b) Water (c) Sunlight (d) Nitrogen
Ans : (c) Sunlight
14. In a food chain, the snake predated as rabbit which fed on fresh green bushes. What
percentage amount of the energy accumulated by rabbit, would be acquired by snakes?
(a) 90% (b) 10% (c) 50% (d) 25%
Ans : (b) 10%
According to Lindeman’s 10% energy law, only 10% of the energy is transferred from one
trohic level to the subsequent trophic level.
15. The part of earth comprising water is called an
(a) atmoshphere (b) hydrosphere (c) lithosphere (d) none of the above
Ans : (b) hydrosphere
16. Burning to waste products at high temperature to form ash, reduces waste considerably.
This method of waste disposal is called
(a) compos ng (b) sewage treatment (c) recycling (d) incinera on
Ans : (d) incinera on
Incinerators involve degrada on of wastes by burning them at high temperatures.
17. The diagram shows part of a river into which sewage is being pumped. Some of the effects
of adding sewage to the river are shown in the graph. At which point in the river are
decomposers most ac ve?
(a) D (b) C (c) B (d) A
Ans : (c) B
The number of bacteria will suddenly rise near the sewage pumping sta on. They are effec ve
decomposers and can breakdown complex molecules into simpler forms in sewage.
18. Individuals of any species at a place form (a) bio c community (b) ecosystem
(c) popula on (d) biome
Ans : (c) popula on
19. The diagram shows the flow of energy through an [Link] smallest amount of
energy transferred between organisms and the largest amount of energy lost to the
ecosystem is represented by which arrows? Smallest energy transfer Largest energy loss
(a) 4 3 (b) 2 1 (c) 2 3 (d) 1 4
Ans : (c)
About 90% of the chemical energy received by the rabbit is u lised for metabolic ac vi es
and lost as heat and undigested ma er. Only 10% is used for the growth and forma on of
new ssues.
20. As a black widow spider consumes her mate, what is the lowest trophic level she could be
occupying
(a) third (b) first (c) second (d) fourth
Ans : (d) fourth
21. Human-caused changes to the nitrogen cycle are expected to result in
(a) an increase in acid rain (b) an increase in the loss of species from ecosystems
(c) higher concentra ons of a greenhouse gas (d) all of the above
Ans : (d) all of the above
22. Trophic levels are formed by-
(a) only plants (b) only animals (c) only carnivores (d) organisms linked in food chain
Ans : (d) organisms linked in food chain
23. Fer lisers are used on farmlands to increase the nutri ve quality of soil and thus, the crop
produc vity. However, they greatly impact our environment in nega ve ways. A fer liser
industry is planning to release nitrate-free or reduced nitrate containing fer liser to make it
more environment-freindly. This control of nitrate rich fer lisers is necessary because
(a) nitrates cause acid rain, killing trees and fishes when released in the environment
(b) they decrease the natural fer lity to the soil
(c) nitrates may lead to excessive growth of water plants
(d) it poisons different crop plants
Ans : (c) nitrates may lead to excessive growth of water plants
Acid rain is a result of accumula on of SO2 and SO3along with NO2 which gets converted into
[Link] are not involved in making nitric acid, rather these are essen al for soil fer lity.
They leads to the forma on of amino acids which make proteins.
24. A decrease in the grass popula on will most immediately decrease the available energy
for the (a) mouse (b) snake (c) hawk (d) frog
Ans : (a) mouse
(c) A (d) C
Ans : (a) B
25. As a biologist, if you become very interested in the study of the interac on of organisms
with each other and the environment your subspeciality would be
(a) Zoology (b) Ecology (c) Botany (d) Herpetology
Ans : (b) Ecology
26. An example of a producer in the aqua c food web would be
(a) Duckweed (b) Ducks (c) Fish (d) Insects
Ans : (a) Duckweed
27. In an ecosystem green plants are known as
(a) primary consumers (b) secondary consumers (c) producers (d)ter ary consumers
Ans : (c) producers
28. Sun gives radia ons in the form of
(a) Infra-red radia on (b) Arteries (c) Alveoli of lungs (d) Nerves
Ans : (d) Nerves
2. FILL IN THE BLANK
1. The waste we generate may be .......... or .........
Ans : Biodegradable, non-biodegradable.
2. ......... is defined as sum total of all condi ons and influences that affect the life of
organisms.
Ans : Environment
3. Substances that are broken-down by biological processes are said to be ..........
Ans : Biodegradable
4. Substances that are not broken-down by biological processes are said to be ..........
Ans : Non-biodegradable
5. All the interac ng organisms in an area together with the non-living cons tuents of the
environment form an ..........
Ans : Ecosystem
6. Gardens and crop fields are examples of ..........Ans : Ar ficial Ecosystem
7. Organisms can be grouped as producers, consumers and .......... according to the manner in
which they obtain their substances from the environment.
Ans : Decomposers
8. The decomposers comprising micro-organisms like .......... and .........
Ans : Bacteria, Fungi
9. The materials which are locked up in dead complex organic substance are made available
to plants in the form of simple inorganic substances by the ..........
Ans : Decomposers
10. Every food chain starts from ......... .Ans : Producers
11. The energy flows from autotrophs to the heterotrophs and ......... .Ans : Decomposers
12. The flow of energy is always ......... in food chains. Ans : Unidirec onal
13. The inter locking pa ern of various food chains is referred as ......... .
Ans : Food Web
14. The disposal of the waste we generate is causing serious ......... problems.
Ans : Environmental
15. Climate refers to the prevailing .......... condi ons. Ans : Weather
16. The total amount of .......... per unit me produced in an ecosystem is called the gross
primary produc vity.
Ans : Organic material
17. The hierarchies within a food web are called .......... levels. Ans : Trophic
18. Without the .......... in a food web many chemicals would not be recycled.
Ans : Decomposers
19. Because there is a loss of energy at each trophic level ......... biomass can be supported at
each successive level. Ans : Less
20. The contamina on of air by adding gases, smoke and ash is called ..........
Ans : Pollu on
21. Burning of fossil fuels is the main cause of release of .......... gas in air.
Ans : Carbon dioxide
22. Decrease in ozone in stratosphere is linked to release of synthe c chemicals like ..........
Ans : Chlorofluorocarbons
23. The .......... make the energy from sunlight available to the rest of the ecosystem.
Ans : Producers
24. The use of chemicals like CFCs has endangere the .......... layer. Ans : Ozone
25. Total number of individuals of any species at a place is known as .........
Ans : Popula on
26. The various popula ons of living organisms in an area together form .......... .
Ans : Bio c community
27. .......... absorb UV rays and protect the earth. Ans : Ozone layer
28. All the ecosystems taken together in a geographical area form a bigger unit known as.
Ans : Biome
29. .......... absorb UV rays and protect the earth. Ans : Ozone layer
30. Hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere along with living organism form .......... .
Ans : Biosphere
31. The sequen al process of one organism consuming the other forms a .......... .
Ans : Food chain
32. .......... act as scavengers of environment. Ans : Decomposers
33. The two important func ons that food chains depict are transfer of .......... and ......... .
Ans : Energy, materials
34. Decrease in ozone concentra on has been linked to synthe c chemicals like .......... which
are used as .......... in the refrigerators.
Ans : chlorofluorocarbons, refrigerants
35. The plants trap .......... energy and convert it into .......... energy. Ans : Light, chemical
3. ......... and ......... are the bio c components of ecosystem.
Ans : Plants, animals
37. The energy available at each successive trophic level is .......... of the previous level.
Ans : 10%
38. The physical and biological world where we live in is called ......... Ans : ecosystem
39. In an ecological pyramid, the base represents ......... level. Ans : Producer
4. Harmful by products of fer liser industries are ......... and ..........
Ans : SO2 , NO
41. In nature, all green plants are ......... whereas animals are consumers.
Ans : Producers
42. The physical factors like temperature, rainfall, wind and soil of an ecosystem are the ..........
factors.
Ans : abio c
43. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria live in nodules on the roots of .......... plants. Ans : Leguminious
44. Nitrates and nitrites present in the soil are changed into ........ by micro-organisms.
Ans : Ammonia
45. The increased nitrogen in rivers and lakes boosts the growth of ......... and other
phytoplankton at the cost of other aqua c organism.
Ans : Algae
46. The amount of various chemical materials cycling through the biosphere more or less
remains .......... . Ans : Constant
47. Ozone is a molecule formed by .......... of .......... Ans : oxygen, atmosphere
48. Waste substances that are broken down by microbes are called ..........Ans : Biodegradable
3. TRUE/FALSE
1. The energy takes place from autotroph to the heterotrophs. Ans : True
2. Secondary consumers in food chain are always carnivores. Ans : True
3. Forests, and ponds are natural ecosystem while gardens and fields are ar fical ecosystem.
Ans : True
4. The inter locking pa ern of various food chains is referred as food web. Ans : True
5. Carbon dioxide causes deple on of ozone layer thereby allowing more UV-radia ons to
reach the earth. Ans : False
6. Biodegradable wastes should be separated and kept in blue colour bins for garbage
collectors. Ans : False
7. Phytoplanktons are primary consumers. Ans : False
8. UNEP has foraged an agreement to freeze CFC produc on. Ans : True
9. An ecosystem consists of bio c and abio c components. Ans : True
10. Different materials are not cycled in the environment. Ans : False
11. Specific enzymes are needed for the break-down of a par cular substance. Ans : True
12. Forests, and ponds are natural ecosystem while gardens and fields are ar ficial ecosystem.
Ans : True
13. Wastes are of two types, biodegradable and nonbiodegradable. Ans : True
14. Non-biodegradable ar cles are the ones which cannot be digested. Ans : True
15. Organism can make organic compounds from inorganic substances by using the radiant
energy of the sun in the presence of chlorophyll. Ans : True
16. Ecology is the scien fic study of the interac on of organisms with each other and the
environment. Ans : True
17. The abio c components of the environment are the living factors. Ans : False
18. An ecosystem is made up of one type of community. Ans : False
19. In general, food webs consist of producers, consumers, and decomposers. Ans : True
20. Earth is kept warm due to green house flux. Ans : True
21. Rag pickers remove reusable ar cles. Ans : False
22. Forests, and ponds are natural ecosystem while gardens and fields are ar fical ecosystem.
Ans : True
23. Blue green algae are producers. Ans : True
24. Decomposers reduce the fer lity of soil. Ans : False
25. The amount of usable energy remains constant as it is passed from one trophic level to
another. Ans : False
26. The energy within an ecosystem is fixed and never changes. Ans : False
27. Ozone is formed in stratosphere by ac on of ultraviolet radia ons on oxygen. Ans : True
28. Forests, and ponds are natural ecosystem while gardens and fields are ar fical ecosystem.
Ans : True
29. The reproduc on and other ac vi es of living organisms are affected by the abio c
components of ecosystem. Ans : True
30. The materials like plas cs are not acted upon by physical process. Ans : False
31. Decomposers reduce the fer lity of soil. Ans : False
32. Food ensures survival of all types of trophic levels. Ans : True
33. Human popula on and technology are having a destruc ve impact on the biosphere.
Ans : True
4. MATCHING QUESTIONS
DIRECTION : Each ques on contains statements given in two columns which have to be
matched. Statements (A, B, C, D) in column-I have to be matched with statements (p, q, r, s)
in column II.
1. Column I Column II
(A) Tundra (p) This area on the planet has permanently frozen soil that does not allow for
the growth of large plants.
(B) Grassland (q) This area on the planet has few trees, very fer le soil and usually many
species of grasses. The rainfall amounts are low and the rain is more
abundant during the summer months.
(C) Tropical rainforest (r) This biome is usually located near the equator. Rainfall amounts are
very high, vegeta on is dense and soil quality is poor.
(D) Savanna (s) A type of grassland biome that experiences rainy seasons and long periods
of drought.
Ans : A-p- B-q, C-r, D-s
2. Column I Column II
(A) Grass (p) Primary carnivore
(B) Grasshopper (q) Secondary carnivore
(C) Frog (r) Producer
(D) Hawk (s) Primary consumer
Ans : A-r, B-s, C-p, D-q
3. Column I Column II
(A) Third trophic level (p) Ozone
(B) Accumula on of pes cides at higher trophic level (q) CFCs
C) Green plants (r) Herbivore
(D) Flow of energy in an ecosystem (s) Biomagnifica on
(E) Consists of 3 atoms of oxygen (t) Decomposers
(F) Main cause of deple on of deple on of ozone layer (u) Producers
(G) Second trophic level (v) Unidirec onal
(H) Break-down of dead organic compounds (w) Carnivores
Ans : A-w, B-s, C-u, D-v, E-p, F-q, G-r, H-t
5. ASSERTION AND REASON
DIRECTION : In the following ques ons, a statement of asser on (A) is followed by a statement
of reason (R). Mark the correct choice as:
(a) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explana on of
asser on (A).
(b) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true but reason (R) is not the correct explana on of
asser on (A).
(c) Asser on (A) is true but reason (R) is false.
(d) Asser on (A) is false but reason (R) is true.
(e) Both Asser on and Reason are false.
1. Asser on : Green plants of the ecosystem are the transducers.
Reason : Producers trap the radiant energy of the sun and change it into chemical energy.
Ans : (a) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explana on
of asser on (A).
2. Asser on : Aquariums are known as the man-made ecosystems.
Reason : Aquariums are created and maintained by humans.
Ans : (a) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explana on
of asser on (A).
Aquariums are known as the man-made ecosystems because these are created and
maintained by humans.
3. Asser on : Flow of energy in a food chain is unidirec onal.
Reason : Energy captured by autotrophs does not revert back to the solar input and it passes
to the herbivores.
Ans : (a) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explana on
of asser on (A).
The flow of energy through different steps in the food chain is unidirec onal. This means that
energy captured by autotrophs does not revert back to the solar input and it passes to the
herbivores.
4. Asser on : Biomagnifica on is caused due to the accumula on of biodegradable toxicants
in organisms at each successive trophic level.
Reason : Biomagnifica on leads to the maximum accumula on of chemicals in small fishes.
Ans : (e) Both Asser on and Reason are false.
Biomagnifica on is caused due to the accumula on of non-biodegradable toxicants in
organisms at each successive trophic level. The maximum concentra on of these chemicals
gets accumulated in human body because they occupy the topmost place in any food chain.
5. Asser on : Animals adopt different strategies to survive in hos le environment.
Reason : Praying man s is green in colour which merges with plant foliage.
Ans : (a) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explana on
of asser on (A).
Animals blend with the surroundings or background to remain unno ced for protec on and
aggression.
6. Asser on : A network of food chains exis ng together in an ecosystem is known as food
web.
Reason : An animal like kite cannot be a part of a food web.
Ans : (c) Asser on (A) is true but reason (R) is false.
In the food web different food chains are interconnected. Each chain consists of different
trophic levels i.e., producers, consumers and detrivoroes. So, kite can also be a part of food
web
7. Asser on : CFCs deplete the ozone layer.
Reason : CFCs are used as refrigerants and in fire ex nguishers.
Ans : (a) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explana on
of asser on (A).
Ozone layer is ge ng depleted at the higher levels of the atmosphere due to effect of
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) which are used as refrigerants and in fire ex nguishers.
8. Asser on : The concentra on of harmful chemicals is more in human beings.
Reason : Man is at the apex of the food chain.
Ans : (a) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explana on
of asser on (A).
Harmful chemicals accumulate progressively at each trophic level. Since the man is at the
apex of all the food chains, the concentra on of harmful chemicals may be more in human
beings. The phenomenon involved is known as biomagnifica on.
9. Asser on : Tropical rain forests are disappearing fast from developing countries such as
India.
Reason : No value is a ached to these forests because these are poor in biodiversity.
Ans : (c) Asser on (A) is true but reason (R) is false.
Tropical rain forests have disappeared mainly due to man’s ac vi es. Due to over popula on
in countries like India, rain forests are cut to make place available for man to live and build
houses. To build buildings and factories man has incessantly cut down trees. This has caused
the deple on of rain forests.
10. Asser on : Abio c component of an ecosystem involves cycling of material and flow of
energy.
Reason : This is essen al to keep bio c factors alive.
Ans : (a) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explana on
of asser on (A).
11. Asser on : First trophic level in a food chain is always a green plant.
Reason : Green plants are called producers.
Ans : (a) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explana on
of asser on (A).
Green plants are producers. The first trophic level in a food chain is a producers i.e. those
organisms which produce food by photosynthesis.
12. Asser on : Man is a herbivore.
Reason : Omnivores eat both plant food and meat of animals.
Ans : (d) Asser on (A) is false but reason (R) is true.
13. Asser on : In an ecosystem, the func on of producers is to convert organic compounds
into inorganic compounds.
Reason : Green plants, the producers, transduce solar energy.
Ans : (a) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explana on
of asser on (A).
14. Asser on : Trophic levels are formed by only plants.
Reason : Food chains and webs are formed due to linked organisms on the basis of their
nutri on.
Ans : (d) Asser on (A) is false but reason (R) is true.
15. Asser on : Herbivores are called first order consumers.
Reason : Tiger is a top carnivore.
Ans : (b) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true but reason (R) is not the correct
explana on of asser on (A).
Herbivores obtain their food from plants. Hence, are known as first order carnivores. The
carnivores like ger cannot be preyed upon further, lie at the top of food chain and hence
termed as top carnivores.
16. Asser on : Ecology is study of rela onship between living organisms and their
environment.
Reason : The bio c community and non-living environment of an area func on together to
form an ecosystem.
Ans : (a) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explana on
of asser on (A).
17. Asser on : Polythene bags and plas c containers are non-biodegradable substance.
Reason : They can be broken down by micro-organisms in natural simple harmless substances.
Ans : (c) Asser on (A) is true but reason (R) is false.
Substances like polythene bags and plas cs are nonbiodegradable because they cannot be
broken down by micro-organisms into simpler harmless substance in nature. Substance that
can be broken down by microorganisms in natural simple harmless susbstances are
biodegradable substances.
18. Asser on : Consumers are present at the first trophic level.
Reason : Consumers or heterotrophs fix energy making it available for autotrophs.
Ans : (e) Both Asser on and Reason are false.
Autotrophs are present at the first trophic level because they fix solar energy, making it
available for consumers or heterotrophs.
20. Asser on : Aqua c food chain is the food chain present in water bodies.
Reason : The example of aqua c food chain is phytoplankton $ zooplankton $ fish $ shark.
Ans : (a) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explana on
of asser on (A).
Aqua c food chain is the food chain present in water bodies, e.g. phytoplankton $
zooplankron $ fish $ shark.
21. Asser on : Decomposers keep the environment clean.
Reason : They recycle ma er by breaking down the organic remains and waste products of
plants and animals.
Ans : (a) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explana on
of asser on (A).
Decomposers keep the environment clean by decomposing or consuming the dead remains
of other organisms.
22. Asser on : Ozone is both beneficial and damaging.
Reason : Stop the release of chlorofluorocarbons to protect the ozone.
Ans : (b) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true but reason (R) is not the correct
explana on of asser on (A).
Ozone is damaging as it is a deadly poison. It is beneficial as it shields the surface of the earth
from UV radia ons of the Sun. We should stop the release of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to
protect the ozone.
23. Asser on : Garden is an ar ficial ecosystem.
Reason : Bio c and abio c components are manipulated by humans.
Ans : (a) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explana on
of asser on (A).
24. Asser on : Supersonic jets cause pollu on as they thin out ozone.
Reason : Deple on of ozone cause green house effect.
Ans : (a) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true and reason (R) is the correct explana on
of asser on (A).
25. Asser on : Bio c components of ecosystem con nuously require energy to carry on life
processes.
Reason : Abio c comonents are the non-living factors of the ecosystem.
Ans : (b) Both asser on (A) and reason (R) are true but reason (R) is not the correct
explana on of asser on (A).
26. Asser on : Decomposers act as cleaning agents of the environment.
Reason : The decomposers recycle waste material in the hydrosphere.
Ans : (c) Asser on (A) is true but reason (R) is false.