Sub: ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Sub Code: BESK508

QUESTION BANK

1. The term ‘Environment’ has been derived from the French word ......................... which
means to encircle or surround
a) Environ

2. The objective of environmental education is

a) Raise consciousness about environmental conditions
b) To teach environmentally appropriate behaviour
c) Create an environmental ethic

3. Which of the following conceptual spheres of the environment is having theleast storage capacity for
matter?
a) Atmosphere

4. Which of the following components of the environment are effective transporters of matter?
a) Atmosphere and Hydrosphere

5. Biosphere is
a) The thin shell of organic matter on the surface of earth comprising of all the living things

6. Atmosphere consists of 79 per cent Nitrogen and 21 per cent Oxygen by

a) Volume

7. Which of the following is a biotic component of an ecosystem?

a) Fungi

8. In an ecosystem, the flow of energy is

a) Unidirectional

9. Which Pyramid is always upright

a) Energy

10. In complex ecosystems the degree of species diversity is

a) High

11. The organisms who directly feed on producers are called

a) Herbivores

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12. The sequence of eating and being eaten in an ecosystem is called
a) Food Chain

13. Which of the following is a producer in an ecosystem

a) Plants and some bacteria capable of producing their own food

14. Which of the following statements is false?

a) Energy is recycled in an ecosystem

15. The largest reservoir of nitrogen in our planet is

a) Atmosphere

16. In aquatic ecosystem phytoplankton can be considered as a

a) Producer

17. The basic requirements of human beings are provided by

a. Nature

18. Environment is the life support system that includes

a. Air
b. Water
c. Land

19. In an ecosystem biological cycling of materials is maintained by

a. Producer
b. Consumer
c. Decomposer

20. Organisms which feed directly or indirectly on producers are called

a. Consumers

21. The primary producers in a forest ecosystem are

a) Chlorophyll containing trees and plants

22. Abiotic component includes

a) Soil b) Temperature c)Water

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 23. Which of the following statement is true
a) Green plants are self nourishing

24. Primary consumer is

a) Herbivores

25. A predator is
a) An animal that feeds upon another animal

26. Access to food is mainly determined by

a) Household income

27. The word ‘Environment’ is derived from

a) French
28. Which among the following is a climatic factor?
a) Pressure b) humidity c) temperature
29. The major atmospheric gas layer in stratosphere is
a) Ozone

30. Which atmospheric sphere is closest to the earth surface?

a) Troposphere
31. Which of the following is the terrestrial ecosystem?
a) Forest b) Grass land c) Desert
32. Ecological pyramids are studies of
a) Pyramid of numbers b) Pyramid of biomass
b) Pyramid of energy

33. World Environment day is on

a) 5th June

34. Factors responsible for balanced ecosystem are

a) Balance between predator and prey
b) Balance between vegetation, herbivorous and carnivorous
c) Balance between competing species and biotic factors

35. Which of the following is absorbed by green plants from the atmosphere?
a) Carbon dioxide

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 36. Habitat refers to
a) Physical conditions of the place where organisms live
b) Chemical conditions of the place where organisms live

37. Essential component of social security are

a) Maintaining natural capital
38. Socio – economic security in environmental aspects involves
a) Fairness & equity in distribution costs for complete existing generation
b) Welfare of the present generation
c) Intra and inter generational equity of resources
39. A food web consists of
a) Interlocking food chains

40. Which of the following statements are true?

a) Energy can be converted from one form to another, but some
percentage is lost into the environment

41. Which of the following conditions must be fulfilled to ensure food security?
a) Food must be available
b) Each person must have access to it
c) Food utilized/consumed must fulfill nutritional requirements

42. Which of the following is not the environmental effect of industrialization,

in general?
a. Economic growth

43. Which of the following are major environmental issues involved in mining?
a. Air pollution from dust
b. Water pollution
c. Soildegradation

44. Sustainable development means

a. Meeting present needs without compromising on the future needs
b. Progress in human well beings
c. Balance between human needs and the ability of Earth to provide the resources

45. Plants use .................... gas for photosynthesis

a) Carbon dioxide

46. Deforestation means

a) Destruction of forests

47. What percentage of its geographical area of a country should be under forest
cover?
a) 33%

48. About ..................... % of the earth’s surface is covered by water

a) 71%

49. During photosynthesis, trees produce

a) Oxygen
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 50. Forests prevent soil erosion by binding soil particles in their
a) Roots
51. Major causes of deforestation are
a) Shifting cultivation b) Fuel requirements
c) Raw materials for industries

52. Blue baby syndrome (methaemoglobinemia) is caused by the contamination of water due to:
a) Nitrates

53. India has the largest share of which of the following?

a) Mica

54. Out of the following nutrients in fertilizer, which one causes minimum water pollution?
a) Potassium

55. What is the permissible range of PH for drinking water as per the Indian Standards?
a) 6.5 to 8.5

56. What is the maximum allowable concentration of fluorides in drinking water?

a) 1.50 milligram per liter

57. Excess fluorides in drinking water is likely to cause

a) fluorosis

58. Which of the following is a non point source of water pollution?

a) Urban and suburban lands

59. Which of the following is a primary characteristic of forest ecosystems?

 High canopy cover and complex vegetation structure

60. Which ecosystem is known for its extreme temperatures and low precipitation
levels?

 Desert

61. What is the primary function of wetlands in an ecosystem?

 To act as natural water filters and prevent flooding

62. Which of the following is a typical characteristic of a river ecosystem?

 Flowing water with high oxygen content

63. Which ecosystem has the highest biodiversity among aquatic ecosystems?

 Oceanic

64. In desert ecosystems, which adaptation helps plants survive harsh conditions?

 Deep root systems and water storage capabilities

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65. Which of the following best describes the role of oceans in regulating global climate?

 They help stabilize temperatures by absorbing and releasing heat.

66. Which ecosystem is particularly known for having nutrient-rich soil that supports a
wide variety of plant and animal species?

 Wetland

67. In lake ecosystems, which zone is closest to the shore and typically has the most plant
and animal life?

 Littoral zone

68. Coral reefs are primarily found in which type of ecosystem?

 Oceanic

69. Which global event marked the beginning of modern sustainability efforts by setting
environmental goals?

 Earth Summit (1992)

70. What is the primary purpose of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

 To eliminate poverty and protect the planet

71. Which of the following was a set of goals established before the SDGs to address
global issues?

 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

72. What is meant by "capacity development" in the context of sustainability?

 Enhancing a country’s ability to achieve sustainable development through improved

skills, knowledge, and resources

73. Which international agreement focuses specifically on reducing greenhouse gas

emissions and mitigating climate change?

 Paris Agreement

74. 16. One target of sustainability efforts in urban areas is to promote "sustainable
cities and communities." This involves:

 Affordable housing and accessible public transportation

75. What is a significant challenge for implementing sustainability practices in

developing nations?

 Limited economic resources and capacity development

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76. Which of the following actions is essential for achieving sustainable economic growth
as per sustainability principles?

 Promotion of renewable energy sources

77. The concept of "sustainable development" was popularized by which report, which
defined it as "development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs"?

 Brundtland Report (Our Common Future)

78. Which of the following is a key advantage of solar energy?

 Abundant and renewable energy source

79. What is one of the primary disadvantages of using hydrogen as a fuel source?

 Challenges in storage and transportation

80. Which energy system utilizes the temperature difference between warm surface
water and cold deep water to generate electricity?

 Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)

81. A major benefit of wind energy is:

 Its zero greenhouse gas emissions during operation

82. Which of the following accurately describes a challenge with tidal energy systems?

 Potential negative impact on marine ecosystems

83. Which country is currently a leader in solar energy production globally?

 China

84. What is the main limitation of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) for
widespread use?

 High costs and limited locations with the necessary temperature gradients

85. One of the main applications of hydrogen fuel is in:

 Heavy-duty transportation and fuel cells

86. Which of the following is a common application of tidal energy?

 Generating electricity for grid distribution in coastal areas

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87. A disadvantage of wind energy is:

 Dependence on wind availability, leading to intermittent energy supply

88. What is the primary goal of disaster management in the context of natural resource
management?

 To reduce human and environmental losses from natural hazards

89. Which of the following is a key principle of sustainable mining?

 Minimizing environmental impact while ensuring economic benefits

90. The Kyoto Protocol established which mechanism to help reduce global carbon
emissions?

 Carbon trading and cap-and-trade system

91. Which of the following is a commonly cited benefit of carbon trading?

Provides financial incentives for emission reduction

92. Which disaster management strategy focuses on reducing the risk of hazards before
they occur?

 Mitigation

93. A case study on sustainable mining practices in Australia’s Pilbara region primarily
focuses on:

 Minimizing water use and rehabilitating land post-mining

94. Which of the following is a commonly discussed criticism of carbon trading?

 It allows companies to "buy" their way out of reducing emissions.

95. In the context of disaster management, the term "resilience" refers to:

 A community's ability to resist, absorb, and recover from disasters

96. Which country is widely recognized for implementing a successful carbon trading
system that has reduced national carbon emissions?

 European Union (EU)