Complete Environment & Ecology MCQs for UPSC, PSC and SSC(Part-7)

  1. Which of the following ecosystems has the highest primary productivity?
    (A) Desert
    (B) Tropical rainforest
    (C) Tundra
    (D) Grassland
    Answer: (B)
  2. Which cycle involves the movement of carbon among the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms?
    (A) Nitrogen cycle
    (B) Carbon cycle
    (C) Water cycle
    (D) Phosphorus cycle
    Answer: (B)
  3. Which of the following is a non-point source of water pollution?
    (A) Sewage treatment plant
    (B) Industrial discharge pipe
    (C) Urban runoff
    (D) Oil spill from a ship
    Answer: (C)
  4. Which atmospheric layer is ideal for radio communication?
    (A) Troposphere
    (B) Stratosphere
    (C) Mesosphere
    (D) Ionosphere
    Answer: (D)
  5. Which of the following types of biodiversity represents the variety of ecosystems in a region?
    (A) Genetic diversity
    (B) Species diversity
    (C) Ecosystem diversity
    (D) Molecular diversity
    Answer: (C)
  6. Which international treaty aims to protect endangered plants and animals?
    (A) CITES
    (B) CBD
    (C) UNFCCC
    (D) Basel Convention
    Answer: (A)
  7. Which species is used as a bioindicator of water pollution?
    (A) Peacock
    (B) Algae
    (C) Frog
    (D) Deer
    Answer: (C)
  8. Which of the following is an example of overexploitation leading to extinction?
    (A) Passenger pigeon
    (B) Panda
    (C) Blue whale
    (D) Kangaroo
    Answer: (A)
  9. The gradual increase in the Earth’s average temperature is known as –
    (A) Greenhouse effect
    (B) Global warming
    (C) Ozone depletion
    (D) Acidification
    Answer: (B)
  10. Which Indian state has the largest forest cover by area?
    (A) Arunachal Pradesh
    (B) Madhya Pradesh
    (C) Maharashtra
    (D) Odisha
    Answer: (B)
  11. Which international agreement restricts hazardous waste movement across countries?
    (A) Basel Convention
    (B) Montreal Protocol
    (C) Kyoto Protocol
    (D) Paris Agreement
    Answer: (A)
  12. What does “Anthropogenic” mean in environmental studies?
    (A) Natural
    (B) Man-made
    (C) Biological
    (D) Geological
    Answer: (B)
  13. The phenomenon where warm surface water is replaced by cold nutrient-rich water is called –
    (A) El Niño
    (B) La Niña
    (C) Upwelling
    (D) Downwelling
    Answer: (C)
  14. Which of the following is a greenhouse gas emitted by rice fields?
    (A) Carbon monoxide
    (B) Nitrous oxide
    (C) Methane
    (D) Hydrogen
    Answer: (C)
  15. Which organization awards the “Champions of the Earth” award?
    (A) UNEP
    (B) UNDP
    (C) UNFCCC
    (D) UNESCO
    Answer: (A)
  16. Which Indian sanctuary is famous for Asiatic lions?
    (A) Gir National Park
    (B) Sunderbans
    (C) Kanha National Park
    (D) Jim Corbett Park
    Answer: (A)
  17. Which factor affects the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?
    (A) Birth rate
    (B) Death rate
    (C) Resource availability
    (D) Migration
    Answer: (C)
  18. What is the main purpose of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)?
    (A) Increase industrial output
    (B) Predict environmental consequences
    (C) Promote urbanization
    (D) Build dams
    Answer: (B)
  19. Which of the following is NOT a fossil fuel?
    (A) Natural gas
    (B) Petroleum
    (C) Uranium
    (D) Coal
    Answer: (C)
  20. Which gas has the highest global warming potential (GWP)?
    (A) Methane
    (B) Nitrous oxide
    (C) Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)
    (D) Carbon dioxide
    Answer: (C)
  21. Which is the largest river delta in the world?
    (A) Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta
    (B) Amazon Delta
    (C) Nile Delta
    (D) Mississippi Delta
    Answer: (A)
  22. Which forest type acts as a carbon sink by absorbing maximum CO2?
    (A) Tropical rainforest
    (B) Temperate forest
    (C) Mangrove forest
    (D) Coniferous forest
    Answer: (A)
  23. Which pollutant is primarily responsible for eutrophication?
    (A) Phosphates
    (B) Sulphur dioxide
    (C) Carbon dioxide
    (D) Methane
    Answer: (A)
  24. Which method is used to combat desertification?
    (A) Mulching
    (B) Deforestation
    (C) Slash and burn
    (D) Irrigation
    Answer: (A)
  25. Which of the following is an example of a terrestrial ecosystem?
    (A) Coral reef
    (B) River
    (C) Pond
    (D) Grassland
    Answer: (D)
  26. Which of the following is a Ramsar Site in India?
    (A) Nanda Devi
    (B) Chilika Lake
    (C) Valley of Flowers
    (D) Jim Corbett
    Answer: (B)
  27. Which environmental movement began in 1973 in India?
    (A) Narmada Bachao Andolan
    (B) Save Silent Valley
    (C) Chipko Movement
    (D) Appiko Movement
    Answer: (C)
  28. Which international treaty is aimed at the conservation of wetlands?
    (A) Basel Convention
    (B) Ramsar Convention
    (C) Kyoto Protocol
    (D) Montreal Protocol
    Answer: (B)
  29. Which of the following causes noise pollution?
    (A) Plastic waste
    (B) Heavy traffic
    (C) Acid rain
    (D) Ozone depletion
    Answer: (B)
  30. Which natural phenomenon leads to loss of topsoil?
    (A) Soil erosion
    (B) Landslides
    (C) Volcanoes
    (D) Tectonic activity
    Answer: (A)
  31. Which energy resource is classified as non-renewable?
    (A) Solar
    (B) Wind
    (C) Coal
    (D) Biomass
    Answer: (C)
  32. Which country is most affected by coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef?
    (A) India
    (B) Australia
    (C) Japan
    (D) Brazil
    Answer: (B)
  33. Which organization manages the World Heritage Sites?
    (A) UNEP
    (B) UNFCCC
    (C) UNESCO
    (D) WHO
    Answer: (C)
  34. Which of the following is an ex-situ conservation strategy?
    (A) National Park
    (B) Wildlife Sanctuary
    (C) Botanical Garden
    (D) Biosphere Reserve
    Answer: (C)
  35. Which aquatic ecosystem is known for high biodiversity?
    (A) River
    (B) Lake
    (C) Pond
    (D) Coral reef
    Answer: (D)
  36. Which type of energy is generated from tides?
    (A) Biomass energy
    (B) Tidal energy
    (C) Geothermal energy
    (D) Solar energy
    Answer: (B)
  37. The instrument to measure noise pollution is –
    (A) Seismometer
    (B) Hydrometer
    (C) Sound level meter
    (D) Thermometer
    Answer: (C)
  38. Which of these can cause “thermal pollution” in water bodies?
    (A) Deforestation
    (B) Industrial discharge
    (C) Agricultural runoff
    (D) Sewage disposal
    Answer: (B)
  39. Which natural disaster is caused mainly due to underwater earthquakes?
    (A) Tsunami
    (B) Hurricane
    (C) Tornado
    (D) Flood
    Answer: (A)
  40. Which forest type is predominant in the Himalayas?
    (A) Mangrove
    (B) Alpine
    (C) Tropical deciduous
    (D) Tropical rainforest
    Answer: (B)
  41. Which practice is most harmful for coral reefs?
    (A) Sustainable fishing
    (B) Coral mining
    (C) Eco-tourism
    (D) Protected areas
    Answer: (B)
  42. Which of these gases is used as a refrigerant but harms the ozone layer?
    (A) Methane
    (B) CFCs
    (C) Nitrous oxide
    (D) Carbon dioxide
    Answer: (B)
  43. The primary producers in oceans are –
    (A) Zooplanktons
    (B) Phytoplanktons
    (C) Jellyfish
    (D) Sharks
    Answer: (B)
  44. Which of these countries has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060?
    (A) USA
    (B) India
    (C) China
    (D) Australia
    Answer: (C)
  45. Which is the world’s largest desert (non-polar)?
    (A) Gobi Desert
    (B) Kalahari Desert
    (C) Thar Desert
    (D) Sahara Desert
    Answer: (D)
  46. Which act in India provides for the protection of environment?
    (A) Air Act
    (B) Environment Protection Act, 1986
    (C) Water Act
    (D) Wildlife Protection Act
    Answer: (B)
  47. Which gas is used in the process of photosynthesis?
    (A) Oxygen
    (B) Carbon dioxide
    (C) Nitrogen
    (D) Methane
    Answer: (B)
  48. The term “Anthropocene” is related to –
    (A) Geological time dominated by humans
    (B) Animal migration
    (C) Rain cycle
    (D) Marine food chains
    Answer: (A)
  49. Which of these is an example of a pioneer species?
    (A) Oak
    (B) Lichen
    (C) Grass
    (D) Mangrove
    Answer: (B)
  50. Which part of the plant helps reduce transpiration?
    (A) Stomata
    (B) Cuticle
    (C) Xylem
    (D) Phloem
    Answer: (B)

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