Environmental Science Multiple Choice Questions with Answers:

1. _____is the example of non-renewable natural resources

a) Water
b) Solar energy
c) Crops
d) Coal and petroleum

2. The Chipko movement was originated in_____district of Uttarkhand

a) Harridwar
b) Dehradun
c) Champawat
d) Chamoli

3. Van Mahotsav includes

a) Planting and protecting trees
b) Destruction of trees should be curtailed
c) Restoration of green cover
d) All the above

4. Forest Conservation Act was established in

a) 1952
b) 1988
c) 1980
d) 1970

5. The Wild Life Protection Act was established in

a) 1952
b) 1972
c) 1980
d) 1970

6. The Provisions of Wild Life Protection Act are

a) Prohibit killing and hunting of specified animals
b) Constitute sanctuaries, national parks, and closed areas for wildlife conservation
c) Special scheme for preservation of endangered species
d) All the above

7. Which of the following is a fossil fuel?

a) Tar
b) Coal
c) Petroleum
d) All the above

8. Soil erosion can be prevented by

a) Afforestation
b) Deforestation
c) Over growing
d) Removal of vegetation

9. Green House effect refers to

a) Cooling of earth
 b) Trapping of UV rays
c) Warming of earth
d) Cultivation of plants

10. Global warming will cause the following problem

a) Melting of glaciers
b) Raising of ocean level
c) Sinking of islands
d) All the above

11. Common energy source in village is

a) Coal
b) Biogas
c) Electricity
d) Wood and animal dung

12. Jim Corbett National Park was established in

a) Uttar Pradesh
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Gujarat
d) Uttarkhand

13. Soil erosion is caused by

a) Deforestation
b) Farming and mining
c) Overgrazing by cattle
d) All the above

14. ______ is used for generation of electricity

a) Tar
b) Coal
c) Petroleum
d) All the above

15. Biogas is otherwise called as

a) Vermi gas
b) Methane
c) Gobar gas
d) Gobal gas

16. The fossil fuel is extracted by a technique called ___________

a) Hydro energy
b) Hydraulic fracturing
c) Hydraulic fraction
d) Hypodrilling fraction

17. Earth’s surface is covered with nearly _____ of water.

a) 70%
b) 74%
c) 72%
d) 73
18. Hydropower plants convert the kinetic energy of flowing water into_______
a) Mechanical energy
b) Tidal energy
c) Wind energy
d) Electricity

19. The main purpose of rainwater harvesting is to recharge the

a) Gardens
b) Wells
c) Canals
d) Groundwater table

20. Disposal of any kind of electrical and electronic waste is called

a) Waste
b) Domestic waste
c) Vegetable waste
d) e-waste

21. Removal of microorganisms from the sewage water is by

a) Aeration
b) Pre-screening
c) Disinfection
d) Sludge removal

22. Process of burning of non-biodegradable solid waste is called _______

a) Composting
b) Incinerations
c) Segregation
d) Sanitary landfilling

23. Deforestation is caused by

a) Overpopulation and shifting cultivation
b) The increase in demand for fuel
c) Overgrazing and forest fires
d) All the above

24. _____ is an elixir of life

a) Air
b) Water
c) Food
d) All the above

25. Deforestation generally decreases

a) Rainfall
b) Drought
c) Global warming
d) Soil erosion

26. The volume of water on the earth is

a) 1.4 billion cu km
 b) 1.5 billion cu km
c) 1.8 billion cu km
d) 2 billion cu km

27. _____ % of earth's surface is filled with water

a) 67%
b) 77%
c) 87%
d) 97%

28. ____ % of water is needed by man

a) 1%
b) 2%
c) 3%
d) 4%

29. Botanical Survey of India is located in

a) Gujarat
b) Delhi
c) Calcutta
d) Tamil Nadu

30. The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) was established in the year
a) 1870
b) 1880
c) 1890
d) 1990

31. ____ % of water is present in the plant and animal body

a) 40-55%
b) 55-65%
c) 60-65%
d) 65-75%

32. Of the total rainfall, ____% falls on the sea

a) 57%
b) 67%
c) 77%
d) 87%

33. ____ % of water vapor rises from the sea surface

a) 54%
b) 64%
c) 74%
d) 84%
34. The most important natural resource that shapes the earth's surface and regulates our
climate
a) Forest resources
b) Food resources
c) Land resources
d) Water resources

35. ____ % of water is used for agriculture in India

a) 63%
b) 73%
c) 83%
d) 93%

36. The first state in India to make roof-top Rain Water Harvesting Structure compulsory is
a) Tamil Nadu
b) Karnataka
c) Kerala
d) None of these

37. Rainwater is referred to as

a) Underground water
b) Potable water
c) River water
d) None of the above

38. World Water Day is celebrated on

a) March 12
b) March 22
c) March 25
d) March 30

39. Water scarcity is mainly caused due to

a) Overpopulation
b) Low rainfall
c) Over-exploitation
d) Unequal access

40. Water is a renewable natural resource because

a) It can be reused again
b) It is being recycled by humans
c) It is renewed through reduction
d) It is renewed and recharged through the hydrological cycle

41. Flood is caused mainly due to

a) Deforestation and overgrazing by animals
b) Mining and rapid industrialization
c) Global warming
d) All the above
42. Drought occurs when rainfall is less than
a) 25-35% of rainfall
b) 25-50% of rainfall
c) 35-45% of rainfall
d) 35-50% of rainfall

43. Famine occurs when rainfall is below

a) Below 30%
b) Below 40%
c) Below 50%
d) Below 60%

44. Name the tree that lowers the water table due to excessive transpiration
a) Coconut trees
b) Mango trees
c) Eucalyptus trees
d) All the above

45. ____ are the pride of India

a) Rivers
b) Oceans
c) Dams
d) Ponds

46. The major problem caused by upstream dams is

a) Tribal people get displaced from their native homes
b) The flora and fauna get depleted
c) Breeding of vectors and the spread of diseases take place
d) All the above

47. ____ Dam is situated in a region of high seismicity

a) Sardar Sarovar Dam
b) Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
c) Bhakra Nangal Dam
d) Tehri Dam

48. Which dam is the largest in India?

a) Tehri
b) Bhakra Nangal
c) Sardar Sarovar
d) Nagarjuna Sagar

49. Which natural factor causes drought?

a) Over-cultivation
b) Rain failure
c) Over-grazing
d) None of the above

50. Desertification of the Cauvery region is caused by

a) Deforestation
b) Urbanization
 c) Raising agriculture and industry
d) All the above

51. The forest that occurs in low rainfall areas

a) Evergreen forest
b) Coniferous forest
c) Deciduous forest
d) All the above

52. The forest that occurs in high rainfall areas

a) Evergreen forest
b) Coniferous forest
c) Temperate forest
d) Tundra forest

53. First national park in India

a) Bandipur National Park
b) Gir National Park
c) Sunderbans National Park
d) Jim Corbett National Park

54. _______ kilometers above the earth's surface is the atmosphere

a) 500 km
b) 1000 km
c) 1500 km
d) 2000 km

55. Biosphere exists on earth between _____ meters below sea level and _____ meters above
sea level
a) 5000 m and 6000 m
b) 10000 m and 5000 m
c) 10000 m and 6000 m
d) 6000 m and 5000 m

56. Living things in an environment are known as

a) Abiotic elements
b) Biotic elements
c) Animals and microorganisms
d) Plants

57. People derive pleasure from seeing which factors?

a) Physical factors
b) Social factors
c) Economic factors
d) Aesthetic factors

58. Which of the following is not an air pollutant?

a) Smoke
b) Carbon Dioxide
c) Nitrogen Gas
d) Sulphur Dioxide
59. Which part of the plant evaporates water?
a) Stomata
b) Fruit
c) Branch
d) Root

60. Nuclear family refers to

a) Any family born after 1950
b) Family includes parents and their children
c) Entire family including children, their parents, and grandparents
d) Only husband and wife

61. In which year was the U.N. Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm?
a) 1962
b) 1972
c) 1982
d) 1992

62. People should become aware of the dangers of

a) Population explosion
b) Deforestation and ozone layer depletion
c) Industrialization and global warming
d) All the above

63. Environmental education is a deliberate effort to accomplish the noble task of

a) Conserving the environment
b) Safeguarding the environment
c) Awareness among people on natural resources
d) All the above

64. Man-made environment includes

a) Human groups
b) Material infrastructure
c) Institutional systems
d) All the above

65. Environmental studies provide knowledge on

a) Richness and conservation of biodiversity
b) Relationship of ecosystems
c) Understanding environmental pollution and control
d) All the above

66. Life originated on the surface of the earth approximately ____ million years ago
a) 1500
b) 2500
c) 3500
d) 4500
67. Which gas is mainly responsible for global warming?
a) CO₂
b) SO₂
c) N₂
d) CH₄

68. The gas that destroys chlorophyll in plant leaves is

a) SO₃
b) CO₂
c) SO₂
d) H₂S

69. Which of the following three R's is regarded as environment-friendly?

a) Reduce, Rebuild, Restrict
b) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
c) Read, Register, Recall
d) Random, Reduce, Recall

70. What is biodiversity?

a) Many populations of one species in one forest
b) Many types of flora and fauna in one forest
c) Many types of flora and fauna in many forests
d) All the above are true

71. Environment includes

a) Abiotic factors
b) Biotic factors
c) Nitrogen and oxygen
d) Abiotic and biotic components

72. The amount of CO₂ in the air that we exhale is about

a) 4%
b) 8%
c) 12%
d) 16%

73. What does the ozone layer absorb?

a) Gamma rays
b) X-rays
c) Ultraviolet rays
d) Infrared rays

74. The term "green revolution" was coined by

a) M.S. Swaminathan
b) Charles Elton
c) William Gaud
d) E. Odum
75. Biotic resources include
a) Plants and animals
b) Human population
c) Coal and oil
d) All the above

76. ____ % of the world area consists of forest land

a) 25%
b) 30%
c) 31%
d) 33%

77. Tropical rainforests are found between ____ north latitude and ____ south latitude
a) 30° and 35°
b) 30° and 30°
c) 55° and 65°
d) 30° and 45°

78. Why should we conserve forests and wildlife?

a) To protect biodiversity
b) To maintain balance
c) To continue the food chain
d) All the above

79. Water harvesting is a method which

a) Increases the groundwater level
b) Is not practiced in modern days
c) Has no relation with groundwater
d) Decreases the groundwater level

80. A non-renewable source of energy is

a) Wildlife
b) Fossil fuels
c) Water
d) Forest

81. A renewable exhaustible natural resource is

a) Forest
b) Coal
c) Petroleum
d) Minerals

82. An inexhaustible and renewable source of energy is

a) Wood
b) Natural gas
c) Fossil fuel
d) Hydropower
83. Biogas is which type of natural resources
a) Renewable
b) Inexhaustible
c) Non-conventional
d) Both a) and c)

84. A species restricted to a given area is

a) Endemic species
b) Allopatric species
c) Sympatric species
d) Sibling species

85. IUCN Stands for

a) International Union for Conservation of Nature
b) International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
c) International Union Council for Nature
d) International Union council for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

86. Uses of forest include

a) Productive function
b) Protective function
c) Regulative function
d) All the above

87. One acre of forest absorbs _____ tons of CO₂

a) 2 tons
b) 4 tons
c) 6 tons
d) 8 tons

88. _____ tons of O₂ released by one acre of forest

a) 4 tons
b) 8 tons
c) 12 tons
d) 16 tons
89. ____ is very essential for a healthy environment
a) CO₂
b) O₂
c) H₂O
d) All the above

90. Regulation of environmental equilibrium is successfully achieved by

a) Forest resources
b) Water resources
c) Food resources
d) Land resources
91. The peace, prosperity, and happiness to mankind are given by
a) Forest resources
b) Water resources
c) Food resources
d) Land resources

92. Minimum area of forest required to maintain good ecological balance is ____%
a) 30%
b) 33%
c) 35%
d) 40%

93. Deforestation leads to the reduction of ____

a) Rainfall
b) Soil erosion
c) Groundwater depletion
d) All the above

94. World forestry day celebrated on

a) March 21
b) April 21
c) May 21
d) June 21

95. Because of the presence of ____ our planet is named the living planet
a) Air
b) Food
c) Forest
d) Water

96. _____ is very essential for the sustenance of all living organisms
a) Water
b) Food
c) Forest
d) Air

97. The U.N. Council declared ____ year as the international year of freshwater
a) 1973
b) 1983
c) 1993
d) 2003

98. Soil erosion is caused by

a) Deforestation
b) Grazing
c) Landslides
d) All the above
99. ____ plants which have no soil-binding capacity start growing
a) Parthenium
b) Lantana
c) Xanthium
d) All the above

100. One Giga joule equals to _____

a) 49 barrels of oil
b) 59 barrels of oil
c) 69 barrels of oil
d) 79 barrels of oil

101. An average person consumes about ____ Giga joules per year
a) 300 Giga joules
b) 400 Giga joules
c) 500 Giga joules
d) 600 Giga joules

102. In the underdeveloped countries ______ million people die every year due to food
scarcity
a) 20 million
b) 30 million
c) 40 million
d) 50 million

103. ____ is the second generation of pesticides which enter into the food chain
a) Malathion
b) Boric Acid
c) Diazinon
d) DDT

104. Which of the following non-renewable energy sources is the lifeline of the global
economy
a) Coal
b) Biogas
c) Nuclear energy
d) Petroleum

105. The most abundantly available fossil fuel in India is _________

a) Coal
b) Natural Gas
c) Petroleum
d) Oil
106. ____ Gas is used in automobiles to reduce air pollution
a) Liquid Petroleum Gas
b) Compressed Natural Gas
c) Synthetic Gas
d) All the above

107. Biomass energy is derived from____

a) Cattle dung
b) Wood
c) Agriculture wastes
d) All the above

108. _____ plants are rich in hydrocarbons which are used in diesel engines
a) Sorghum
b) Sugarcane
c) Cactus
d) Jatropha curcas and oil palms

109. Biogas is a mixture of ______

a) Methane and CO₂
b) Methane, CO₂ and H₂
c) Methane, CO₂, H₂ and H₂S
d) None of the above

110. An aerobic degradation of animal wastes which produces biogas is known as

a) Methane
b) Propane
c) Ethane
d) Butane

111. _____ is pollution-free and a cheap source of energy

a) Biomass energy
b) Nuclear energy
c) Biofuels
d) Biogas

112. ____ fuels are the future fuel for mankind

a) Biofuels
b) Hydrogen fuels
c) Biogas
d) Biomass energy
113. When hydrogen combines with oxygen, it produces about ____ kilo-joules per mol of
energy
a) 284 Kilo-joules
b) 384 Kilo-joules
c) 484 Kilo-joules
d) 584 Kilo-joules

114. LED stands for

a) Light Emitting Device
b) Light Emitting Diode
c) Light Encryption Device
d) Light Event Detector

115. The term ecosystem was first introduced by

a) Utpary
b) Earnest Haeckel
c) Sir Arthur Tansley
d) Sukachev

116. The word ecology was coined by

a) Sir Arthur Tansley
b) Earnest Haeckel
c) Utpary
d) Sukachev

117. In an ecosystem, the energy flow is always

a) Always unidirectional
b) Always bidirectional
c) In any direction
d) Always down directional

118. The upper part of an aquatic ecosystem contains

a) Benthos
b) Plankton
c) Nekton
d) Both (1) and (2)

119. The region of Earth where life exists is known as

a) Hydrosphere
b) Biosphere
c) Lithosphere
d) Atmosphere
120. In the biosphere, energy is received from
a) The Sun
b) The interior of the Earth
c) Both A) and B)
d) Work

121. Ecosystem is the smallest unit of

a) Biosphere
b) Lithosphere
c) Ionosphere
d) Mesosphere

122. Ecology deals with the study of

a) Environment
b) Living and non-living substances
c) Living beings
d) All the above

123. The pyramid of energy in an ecosystem is

a) Always upright
b) Always inverted
c) May be upright or inverted
d) None of the above

124. Organic components include

a) Carbohydrates
b) Proteins
c) Fats
d) All the above

125. Which is called autotrophs

a) Green plants
b) Animals
c) Birds
d) All the above

126. Photosynthesis is a process by which plants prepare their own food by using
a) CO₂
b) H₂O
c) Light and chlorophyll
d) All the above

127. During photosynthesis, green plants produce their own food in the form of
a) Glucose
b) Fructose
c) Maltose
d) All the above
128. Example of Primary consumers
a) Rabbit
b) Frog
c) Snake
d) All the above

129. Secondary consumers derive their energy from

a) Producers
b) Herbivores
c) Tertiary consumers
d) From all

130. Examples of omnivores

a) Elephant and Camel
b) Frog and Small Bird
c) Fox and Lion
d) Man and Rat

131. ____ perform an invaluable service in the ecosystem by decomposing the organic
matter and making it available for reuse
a) Omnivores
b) Detrivores
c) Decomposers
d) All the above

132. Examples of detrivores

a) Bacteria and fungi
b) Snake and Big Fish
c) Rat and Birds
d) Beetles, Ants and Earthworms

133. The major functional attributes of the ecosystems include

a) Energy flow
b) Tropic structure
c) Nutrient cycle and productivity
d) All the above

134. The sequence of eating and being eaten in an ecosystem is known as

a) Food web
b) Food chain
c) Tropic structure
d) All the above

135. The following is the correct food chain of an aquatic ecosystem

a) Phytoplankton → Zooplankton → Fish → Bird → Vulture
b) Phytoplankton → Fish → Zooplankton → Bird → Vulture
c) Zooplankton → Phytoplankton → Vulture → Fish → Bird
d) Fish → Zooplankton → Phytoplankton → Bird → Vulture
136. The following is the correct food chain of a grassland ecosystem
a) Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Snake → Hawk
b) Grass → Grasshopper → Frog → Hawk → Snake
c) Grass → Frog → Grasshopper → Snake → Hawk
d) Grass → Grasshopper → Snake → Frog → Hawk

137. Carnivores are at

a) First tropic level
b) Second tropic level
c) Third tropic level
d) Fourth tropic level

138. An estuary is a place where

a) Rich in nutrients
b) Usually supports an abundance of fish
c) River joins with the sea
d) All the above

139. Importance of the food chain includes

a) Energy flow
b) Nutrient cycling
c) Ecological balance
d) All the above

140. In a network, different types of organisms are connected at different tropic levels as
a) Energy flow
b) Food chain
c) Tropic structure
d) Food web

141. Importance of the food web includes

a) Opens the flow of energy
b) Gives greater stability to the ecosystem
c) Number of options are available at each tropic level
d) All the above

142. Ecological pyramids were first devised by

a) Earnest Haeckel
b) Sir Arthur Tansley
c) E.P. Odum
d) Charles Elton

143. In a pond ecosystem, the pyramid of biomass is

a) Upright
b) Inverted
c) Spindle shaped
d) None of the above
144. The organic nutrients of dead plants and animals are converted into inorganic
substances by microbes which are absorbed by
a) Primary consumers
b) Secondary consumers
c) Primary producers
d) Secondary producers

145. Biogeochemical cycle includes

a) Nutrient cycling through biotic components
b) Nutrient cycling through abiotic components
c) Nutrient cycling through biotic and abiotic components
d) None of the above

146. In an ecosystem, one type of community is totally replaced by another over a period
of time is called
a) Ecological balance
b) Ecological succession
c) Both a) and b)
d) None of the above

147. The pioneers in xerarch succession are

a) Mosses
b) Crustose lichens
c) Crustose and foliose lichens
d) None of the above

148. The following forests are famous for the richest biodiversity
a) Tropical rain forests
b) Tropical deciduous forests
c) Temperate rain forests
d) Evergreen forests

149. Polar grassland is characterized by

a) Severe cold and strong wind
b) Summer sunshine
c) Ice remains frozen throughout the year
d) All the above

150. India has _____ million hectares of geographical area

a) 229 million hectares
b) 329 million hectares
c) 400 million hectares
d) 429 million hectares