🔬 Biology · Class 11 · NEET
The Living World - Practice Questions with Answers 75 free MCQs on The Living World, each with its own worked answer and explanation. Biodiversity, taxonomy, binomial nomenclature, the taxonomic hierarchy, and taxonomic aids like herbaria and botanical gardens. The foundational first chapter of NCERT Biology.
Take the timed The Living World chapterwise test → 75 practice questions on The Living World , sorted Easy → Hard. Try each one first, then open its answer page for the worked explanation. Want the full theory first? Read the The Living World notes .
Taxonomic Hierarchy Kingdom Phylum / Division Class Order Family Genus Species most organisms, fewest shared traits fewest organisms, most shared traits Species is the narrowest, most specific category - the basic unit of classification The taxonomic hierarchy narrows from Kingdom (broadest, covering the most organisms but fewest shared traits) down to Species (narrowest, fewest organisms but most shared traits) - every level in between is a progressively more specific subset of the one above it.
Easy - 25 questions Q2.
Preserved and identified animal specimens are kept for study in a:
A HerbariumB MuseumC Botanical gardenD Seed bankShow answer & explanation →
Q3.
In a scientific name, the specific epithet begins with a:
A Capital, italic letterB Bold capital letterC Small (lowercase) letterD Underlined capital letterShow answer & explanation →
Q4.
The book 'Species Plantarum', which listed plants by two-part names, was written by:
A Charles DarwinB AristotleC TheophrastusD Carolus LinnaeusShow answer & explanation →
Q5.
Latin is used for scientific names mainly because it is a:
A Dead, unchanging languageB Modern spoken languageC Regional Indian languageD Newly invented codeShow answer & explanation →
Q6.
Who proposed the system of binomial nomenclature?
A Charles DarwinB Carolus LinnaeusC R.H. WhittakerD Robert HookeShow answer & explanation →
Q7.
In binomial nomenclature, the genus name always:
A Starts with a lowercase letterB Starts with a capital letterC Is written in plain text, not italicsD Is written after the species nameShow answer & explanation →
Q9.
A herbarium is a collection of:
A Living plants in a gardenB Dried and pressed plant specimensC Preserved animal specimensD Live wild animalsShow answer & explanation →
Q10.
Botanical gardens are primarily used to maintain:
A Dried plant specimensB Living plant collectionsC Preserved animal specimensD Fossil recordsShow answer & explanation →
Q11.
The correct order of taxonomic hierarchy, from broadest to narrowest, is:
A Species → Genus → Family → Order → Class → Phylum → KingdomB Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → SpeciesC Kingdom → Class → Phylum → Family → Order → Genus → SpeciesD Phylum → Kingdom → Order → Class → Genus → Family → SpeciesShow answer & explanation →
Q12.
A taxonomic key is mainly used for:
A Storing dried plant specimens mounted on herbarium sheetsB Identification of organisms based on contrasting charactersC Cultivating living plant specimens under controlled greenhouse conditionsD Preserving animal specimens in formalin solution within museumsShow answer & explanation →
Q13.
In the scientific name Homo sapiens, the word 'sapiens' represents the:
A Family nameB Genus nameC Species nameD Kingdom nameShow answer & explanation →
Q14.
A collection of dead, dried and preserved plant specimens mounted on sheets for reference is called a:
A HerbariumB Botanical gardenC MuseumD Zoological parkShow answer & explanation →
Q17.
The two-word system for naming organisms is called:
A binomial nomenclatureB the polynomial systemC the common-name systemD a simple coding systemShow answer & explanation →
Q19.
The scientist regarded as the father of taxonomy is:
A Carolus LinnaeusB Charles DarwinC Gregor MendelD Robert HookeShow answer & explanation →
Q24.
A collection of dried, pressed and preserved plant specimens is a:
A herbariumB public zooC fish aquariumD wax museumShow answer & explanation →
Q25.
The response of living organisms to changes in their environment is a response to:
A stimuliB cellsC tissuesD organsShow answer & explanation →
Medium - 25 questions Q26.
The specimen sheets in a herbarium are usually arranged according to:
A Strict alphabetical orderB An accepted classificationC A random arrangementD Their date of collectionShow answer & explanation →
Q27.
A three-word scientific name, used to denote a subspecies, is called a:
A Binomial nameB Common nameC Trinomial nameD Vernacular nameShow answer & explanation →
Q29.
Individuals of one species living in different regions may form distinct:
A Subspecies (races)B Separate generaC Separate familiesD Separate kingdomsShow answer & explanation →
Q31.
In the scientific name Mangifera indica, which part is the genus?
A indicaB MangiferaC Both togetherD Neither, it is a family nameShow answer & explanation →
Q32.
Systematics differs from taxonomy mainly because systematics also includes:
A Assignment of binomial Latin names following ICBN/ICZN rulesB Study of evolutionary relationships among organismsC Long-term preservation of dried specimens in herbariaD Day-to-day maintenance and breeding programs of zoological parksShow answer & explanation →
Q33.
A Flora, as a taxonomic aid, contains:
A Pressed and dried specimens mounted on herbarium sheets with no written descriptionB Actual information for identifying plants found in a given areaC An inventory of captive animal species housed in a zoological parkD A monograph restricted to exhaustive detail on one single genusShow answer & explanation →
Q34.
As classification moves from the Kingdom level down to the Species level, the number of:
A Shared characteristics decreases and organisms covered increasesB Shared characteristics increases and organisms covered decreasesC Both shared characteristics and organisms covered increaseD Both shared characteristics and organisms covered decreaseShow answer & explanation →
Q35.
A 'Manual', as a taxonomic aid, is most useful for:
A Listing the chemical composition of various plant tissues in most reference accountsB Recording weather patterns that affect plant growth under normal conditionsC Identifying and classifying species found within a particular regionD Storing mainly preserved animal specimens for public display as frequently documentedShow answer & explanation →
Q36.
A zoological park primarily serves the purpose of:
A Recording the chemical taxonomy of organisms studiedB Identifying species mainly with a dichotomous keyC Storing preserved and pressed plant specimens for referenceD Maintaining live wild animals for study and conservationShow answer & explanation →
Q37.
Taxonomic hierarchy refers to the arrangement of categories such as kingdom, phylum and class because:
A Each category is a separate, unrelated grouping of organisms as generally observedB Every level of the hierarchy holds the same number of species under usual circumstancesC Each rank fits into an overall scheme reflecting evolutionary relatednessD Categories are arranged mainly in alphabetical order in typical laboratory settingsShow answer & explanation →
Q38.
Why must the scientific name of an organism be written in italics (or underlined when handwritten)?
A Because italics make a name easier to pronounce in other languagesB Italics show that an organism has not yet been formally classifiedC To mark it as a universal, standardised name distinct from common namesD It is just a stylistic habit with no formal rule behind itShow answer & explanation →
Q39.
Among the taxonomic categories Phylum and Class, which one represents a broader, more inclusive group?
A Both represent exactly the same level of groupingB Class, since it includes several phylaC Neither, since they apply to different kingdomsD Phylum, since it includes several classesShow answer & explanation →
Q40.
A 'population' that taxonomists may study to define a species typically refers to:
A A single reference specimen kept aside for comparison according to most studiesB Interbreeding individuals more similar to each other than to other groupsC Every organism living within a chosen geographic region in the majority of documented casesD A random sample of preserved specimens kept in a museum as widely reportedShow answer & explanation →
Q44.
Organisms are classified mainly to make their study:
A systematic and easierB completely impossibleC entirely randomD deliberately secretShow answer & explanation →
Q46.
The branch of biology concerned with naming and classifying organisms is:
A systematicsB pure ecologyC pure geneticsD pure anatomyShow answer & explanation →
Q47.
Reproduction is important because it ensures the ___ of a species:
A continuityB extinctionC classificationD migrationShow answer & explanation →
Q48.
Growth in a living organism results mainly from an increase in the number of:
A cellsB planetsC starsD rocksShow answer & explanation →
Q49.
Metabolism is the sum total of all the ___ reactions occurring in the body:
A chemicalB nuclearC purely electricalD gravitationalShow answer & explanation →
Q50.
Scientific names are conventionally written in the ___ language and printed in italics:
A LatinB HindiC EnglishD FrenchShow answer & explanation →
Hard - 25 questions Q51.
Besides storing specimens, herbaria are valuable chiefly because they act as:
A Purely decorative displaysB Seed banks for farmingC Referral aids for identificationD Live plant breeding centresShow answer & explanation →
Q52.
A phylogenetic system of classification groups organisms according to their:
A Economic usefulnessB Alphabetical namesC Habitat type onlyD Evolutionary relationshipsShow answer & explanation →
Q53.
The main advantage of binomial names over local common names is that they are:
A Universal and unambiguousB Shorter in every tongueC Easy to translate dailyD Always based on colourShow answer & explanation →
Q54.
Floras, manuals, monographs, keys and catalogues are together called:
A Taxonomic ranksB Taxonomic aidsC Taxonomic keysD Taxonomic taxaShow answer & explanation →
Q55.
The concept defining a species as interbreeding natural populations reproductively isolated from others is the:
A Typological conceptB Morphological conceptC Biological species conceptD Ecological niche ideaShow answer & explanation →
Q56.
Two organisms are placed in the same Family but different Genera. What can be concluded about their relationship?
A They retain enough genetic compatibility to interbreed and produce fertile offspring as commonly observed in practice in many documented casesB They share fewer characteristics than two organisms in the same Genus, but more than two organisms only sharing the same OrderC They are reproductively identical populations that should be classified under the same Species according to conventional understandingD They diverged so long ago that essentially no morphological characters remain shared between them in routine practice overallShow answer & explanation →
Q57.
Why is a dichotomous key structured as a series of paired contrasting choices (couplets) rather than a single descriptive list?
A It was generally adopted from herbarium labeling conventions dating to the 18th century, without real taxonomic purpose in most cases under typical conditionsB Each couplet forces a binary decision based on one contrasting character, progressively narrowing down the identification until a unique answer is reachedC It is restricted largely to angiosperm plant identification, since animal traits cannot ever be paired this way according to standard textbooks in general practiceD It largely substitutes for memorizing the kingdom-to-species hierarchy used in classification as commonly described in most textbook accountsShow answer & explanation →
Q58.
Why are viruses generally excluded from the five-kingdom classification system?
A They reproduce by binary fission, unlike any kingdom-level organismB They are far too small in size for any optical taxonomic method to resolveC They lack a true cellular structure and replicate using host cell machineryD They are built of RNA, and the system covers DNA-based organismsShow answer & explanation →
Q59.
When a new species is found to fit none of the existing genera in a family, taxonomists usually respond by:
A Placing it into whichever existing genus seems closest in appearanceB Erecting a new genus after comparing its characters with related taxaC Assigning it directly to a kingdom without intermediate ranksD Setting the specimen aside as unclassifiable for the time beingShow answer & explanation →
Q60.
Two species are described as 'sister species' in a phylogenetic sense when they:
A Live in the same habitat with little shared evolutionary history according to standard textsB Belong to unrelated families that resemble each other by chance in most observed casesC Are two different common names applied to the same organism under typical physiological conditionsD Share a more recent common ancestor with each other than with any other speciesShow answer & explanation →
Q61.
A key difference between a museum collection and a herbarium as taxonomic aids is that:
A A museum collection is used mainly for studying microorganisms in most reference accountsB A museum mainly stores live animals, a herbarium stores fossils in general clinical practiceC A herbarium stores dried, pressed plants; a museum holds broader preserved samplesD A herbarium specimen is mounted without any reference data as frequently documentedShow answer & explanation →
Q62.
Why does identification using a dichotomous key sometimes give an unreliable result for a damaged or incomplete specimen?
A Each couplet relies on one contrasting feature, so a missing structure misleads that stepB Dichotomous keys work for animal specimens, not plant ones under normal conditions as generally observedC The key lists every related species no matter which character is chosen under usual circumstancesD Dichotomous keys are built without using morphological characters in typical laboratory settingsShow answer & explanation →
Q63.
How does the concept of a 'species' for sexually reproducing organisms generally differ from its application to organisms that reproduce mainly asexually?
A Asexual organisms rarely receive formal species names from taxonomists in the majority of documented casesB Sexual organisms are grouped by habitat type, asexual ones by body size as widely reportedC The biological species concept applies the same way across all life forms according to most studiesD Sexual species rely on interbreeding, asexual ones on morphological and genetic similarityShow answer & explanation →
Q64.
Why is a polynomial (descriptive, multi-word) naming system considered less practical than the binomial system for modern taxonomy?
A Binomial names cannot be standardised across different countriesB Polynomial systems could be applied mainly to plants, rarely animalsC Polynomial names were shorter, making species harder to tell apartD Polynomial names grew long and inconsistent as more species were describedShow answer & explanation →
Q65.
Which statement best explains why metabolism, though common to all living organisms, is not by itself a sufficient criterion to distinguish living from non-living matter?
A Metabolism is restricted to multicellular organisms, not unicellular onesB Isolated metabolic reactions in cell-free extracts are not considered aliveC Non-living matter typically shows a faster metabolic rate than living matterD Metabolism occurs in plants but is absent in most animal cellsShow answer & explanation →
Q66.
A defining feature of living things is metabolism, which means non-living objects:
A do not show metabolismB also metabolise fullyC grow like organismsD reproduce themselvesShow answer & explanation →
Q68.
A monograph is a document that contains information on:
A a single taxonB every known taxonC the whole kingdomD industrial chemicalsShow answer & explanation →
Q69.
In the name Mangifera indica, the word "indica" represents the:
A species epithetB the genus nameC the family nameD the order nameShow answer & explanation →
Q70.
A botanical garden maintains collections of:
A living plantsB only dried plantsC wild animalsD ancient fossilsShow answer & explanation →
Q71.
A taxonomic key identifies organisms using pairs of ___ characters:
A contrastingB identicalC randomD purely chemicalShow answer & explanation →
Q72.
Living organisms are self-replicating, self-regulating systems that are able to respond to:
A external stimuliB only gravityC only heatD nothing at allShow answer & explanation →
Q73.
Which of the following is NOT a defining property of a living organism?
A being permanently motionlessB the process of growthC the process of reproductionD the process of metabolismShow answer & explanation →
Q74.
The internationally agreed rules for naming plants and animals are laid down by the:
A ICBN and ICZN codesB local town councilsC individual scientistsD ordinary dictionariesShow answer & explanation →
Q75.
Consciousness - the awareness of surroundings and of oneself - is most fully shown by:
A human beingsB solid rocksC still waterD pure metalsShow answer & explanation →