1

1.
When a bee, discovers a food
source near the hive, it passes on the
information to other bees by
(a)
Producing a singing sound
(b)
Producing a chemical indicator
(c)
Performing a round dance
(d)
All of the above
2.
Which one of the following is the
correct sequence of the food chain?
(a)
Herbivores,
Phytoplankton,
Whales & Carnivorous
(b)
Phytoplankton,
Herbivores,
Carnivorous & Whales
(c)
Phytoplankton,
Carnivorous,
Herbivores & Whales
(d)
Herbivores, Carnivorous, Whale
& Phytoplankton
3.
Which one of the following is the
correct sequence of the food chain?
(a)
Caterpillar, Blue-Tit, Kestrel &
leaf
(b)
Caterpillar, Kestrel, Blue-tit & leaf
(c)
Leaf, caterpillar, Kestrel & BlueTit
(d)
Leaf, Caterpillar, Blue-tit &
Kestrel
4.
In a food chain, energy transfer
(a)
From river to earth
(b)
Lower latitude to higher latitude
(c)
From one organism to other
organism
(d)
None of the above.
5.
Which one of the following is the
correct sequence of a food chain?
(UPSC Pre 2014)
(a)
Diatoms-Crustaceans-Herrings
(b)
Crustaceans-Diatoms-Herrings
(c)
Diatoms-Herrings-Crustaceans
(d)
Crustaceans-Herrings-Diatoms

FOOD CHAIN

6.
With reference to the food chain
in ecosystems, consider the following
statements
1.
A food chain illustrates the order
in which a chain of organisms feed upon
each other.
2.
Food chains are found within the
population of species.
3.
A food chain illustrates the
numbers of each organism, which are
eaten by others.
Which of the statements given above
is/are correct?
(a)
Only 1
(b)
1&2
(c)
1, 2 & 3
(d)
None of these.
7.
Which one of the following is the
process involved in photosynthesis?
(UPSC Pre 2014)
(a)
Potential energy is released to
form free energy
(b)
Free energy is converted into
potential energy and stored
(c)
Food is oxidized to release
carbon dioxide and water
(d)
Oxygen is taken, and carbon
dioxide and water vapour are given out
8.
What
would
happen
if
phytoplankton of an ocean is completely
destroyed for some reason?
1.
The ocean as a carbon sink
would be adversely affected.
2.
The food chains in the ocean
would be adversely affected.
3.
The density of ocean water would
drastically decrease.
Select the correct answer using the
codes given below: (UPSC Pre 2012)
(a)
1 and 2 only
(b)
2 only
(c)
3 only
(d)
1, 2 and 3
N.T.

9.
Vultures which used to be very
common in Indian countryside some
years ago are rarely seen nowadays.
This is attributed to (UPSC Pre 2012)
(a)
the destruction of their nesting
sites by new invasive species
(b)
a drug used by cattle owners for
treating their diseased cattle
(c)
scarcity of food available to them
(d)
a widespread, persistent and fatal
disease among them
10.
The declining trend in the
population of vultures is due to the use
of
(a)
Diclofenac drug
(b)
DDT
(c)
Cyanide
(d)
Methyl Isocyanate
11.
With reference to food chains in
ecosystems, consider the following
statements:
1.
A food chain illustrates the orderin which of organisms feed upon each
other.
2.
Food chains are found within the
populations of a species.
3.
A food chain illustrates the
numbers of each organism which are
eaten by others.
Which of the statements given above
is/are correct? (UPSC Pre 2013)
(a)
1 only
(b)
1 and 2 only
(c)
1, 2 and 3 only
(d)
None
12.
1.
2.
3.

Consider the following:

Bats
Bears
Rodents

FOOD CHAIN

The phenomenon of hibernation can be

observed in which of the above kinds of
animals? (UPSC Pre 2014)
(a)
1 and 2 only
(b)
2 only
(c)
1, 2 and 3
(d)
Hibernation cannot be observed
in any of the above
13.
With reference to the food chains
in ecosystems, which of the following
kinds of organism is/are known as
decomposer organism/organisms?
1.
Virus
2.
Fungi
3.
Bacteria
Select the correct answer using the
codes given below (UPSC Pre 2014)
(a)
1 only
(b)
2 and 3 only
(c)
1 and 3 only
(d)
1, 2 and 3
14.
The
driving
force
of
ecosystem is
(a)
Biomass
(b)
Producer
(c)
Carbohydrates on producers
(d)
Solar energy

an

15.
Assertion (A): A biomass is the
net dry weight of organic material.
Reason (R): Biomass feeds the food
chain.
(a)
both A & R are true & R is the
correct explanation of A.
(b)
both A & 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.
16.
Consider
the
following
statements & select the correct answer
using the code given below

N.T.

The net photosynthesis for an entire

plant community is its primary
productivity
Biomass is the gross dry weight of
organic material
(a)
Both 1 & 2 are correct
(b)
Neither 1 nor 2 is correct
(c)
Only 1 is correct
(d)
Only 2 is correct
17.
Assertion (A): Biomass is the dry
weight of organic material
Reason (R): Biomass includes both the
above ground & below ground & both
living & dead
(a)
both A & R are true & R is the
correct explanation of A.
(b)
both A & 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.
18.
Which one of the following
statements is not correct?
(a)
Decomposers are final link in the
food chain
(b)
Decomposers are herbivores
(c)
Organisms like bacteria, fungi &
worms are decomposers
(d)
Decomposers digest & recycle
the organic debris & waste in the
environment
19.
Assertion (A) Nitrogen fixation is
a reduction process.
Reason (R) It is independent of
respiration.
(a)
If both A and R are true and R is
the correct explanation of A
(b)
If both A and R are true, but R is
not the correct explanation of A
(c)
If A is true, but R is false
(d)
If both A and R are false
20.

Bioaccumulation

FOOD CHAIN

and

bio-

magnifications differ because:

1.
Bio-magnification is a man-made
phenomenon whereas bio-accumulation
is a natural phenomenon.
2.
Example of bioaccumulation is
mercury accumulating in body tissues
as they are non-degradable whereas
example of bio magnification
is
accumulation of calcium in human body
for building bones.
Which of the above statements are
incorrect?
(a)
Only 1
(b)
Only 2
(c)
Both 1 & 2
(d)
Neither 1 nor 2
21.
Which one of the following
organisms is likely to show the highest
concentration of DDT, once it has been
introduced into the ecosystem?
(a)
Grasshopper
(b)
Toad
(c)
Snake
(d)
Cattle
22.
Spinosad is a reduced
insecticide which
(a)
Does not bioaccumulate
(b)
Volatilizes
(c)
Persists in the environment
(d)
Is highly toxic to humans

risk

23.
A pesticide which is a chlorinated
hydrocarbon is sprayed on a food crop.
The food chain is: Food crop -Rat Snake - Hawk. In this food chain, the
highest concentration of the pesticide
would accumulate in which one of the
following?
(a) Food crop
(b) Rat
(c) Snake.
N.T.

(d) Hawk
Brominated flame retardants are used in
many
household
products
like
mattresses and upholstery. Why is there
some concern about their use?
1. They are highly resistant to
degradation in the environment.
2. They are able to accumulate in
humans and animals.
Select the correct answer using the
code given below. (UPSC Pre 2014)
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

2.
nutrients to the surface.
3.
bottom-dwelling organisms to the
surface.
Which of the statements given above
is/are correct?
(a)
1 and 2
(b)
2 only
(c)
2 and 3
(d)
3 only

24.
Warm-blooded animal species
maintain thermal homeostasis primarily
through internal metabolic process.
Which of the following are not warmblooded?
1. Dog fish
2. Toad
3. Turtle
4. King Cobra
5. Pigeon
6. Bat
Code:
(a) Only 1, 4 and 6
(b) Only 1, 3 and 4
(c) Only 1, 2, 3 and 4
(d) Only 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6
Exp.: Mammals and birds are the only
warm-blooded animals.
25.
In the context of ecosystem
productivity, marine upwelling zones are
important as they increase the marine
productivity by bringing the
1.
decomposer microorganisms to
the surface.
FOOD CHAIN

N.T.