Diversity in the Living World — NEET Biology MCQs with Solutions
Free NEET Biology Diversity in the Living World MCQs with step-by-step solutions (30 questions). Part of The Living World. Practise online on Prepizo — no login needed.
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Questions with solutions
Q1 — Diversity in the Living World · easy · theory
The number of living species that are currently known and described ranges between:
A. 1.7 – 1.8 million ✓ Correct
B. 17 – 18 million
C. 0.7 – 0.8 million
D. 1.7 – 1.8 billion
Solution: NCERT states that the number of species known and described ranges between 1.7 and 1.8 million.
Q2 — Diversity in the Living World · easy · theory
The number and types of organisms present on earth is referred to as:
A. Systematics
B. Biodiversity ✓ Correct
C. Taxonomy
D. Nomenclature
Solution: Biodiversity refers to the number and types (range and variety) of organisms present on earth.
Q3 — Diversity in the Living World · easy · theory
Each different kind of plant, animal or organism represents a:
A. Kingdom
B. Genus
C. Family
D. Species ✓ Correct
Solution: Every distinct kind of organism you observe represents a species — the basic unit of biodiversity.
Q4 — Diversity in the Living World · easy · theory
The process of standardising the naming of living organisms so that an organism is known by the same name all over the world is called:
A. Characterisation
B. Classification
C. Identification
D. Nomenclature ✓ Correct
Solution: Nomenclature is the process of assigning a standardised name so that the same organism is known by one name everywhere.
Q5 — Diversity in the Living World · medium · theory
Nomenclature of an organism is possible only after its:
A. Domestication
B. Correct description and identification ✓ Correct
C. Extinction
D. Cultivation
Solution: Naming (nomenclature) is possible only when the organism is described correctly and we know to which organism the name is attached — i.e. after identification.
Q6 — Diversity in the Living World · easy · theory
Scientific names for plants are based on principles and criteria provided in the:
A. International Code of Microbial Nomenclature
B. International Code for Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) ✓ Correct
C. International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN)
D. International Code of Viral Nomenclature
Solution: Plants are named according to the International Code for Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN).
Q7 — Diversity in the Living World · easy · theory
Animals are named according to the rules laid down in the:
A. International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) ✓ Correct
B. International Code of Bacteriological Nomenclature
C. International Zoological Register
D. International Code for Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN)
Solution: Animal taxonomists follow the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN).
Q8 — Diversity in the Living World · medium · theory
A major purpose of giving scientific names is to ensure that:
A. Every organism has many names
B. Each organism has only one name, not used for any other organism ✓ Correct
C. Only common names are used
D. Names differ from country to country
Solution: Scientific names ensure that each organism has a single universally accepted name that has not been used for any other known organism.
Q9 — Diversity in the Living World · easy · theory
The system of providing a name with two components (generic name + specific epithet) is called:
A. Vernacular naming
B. Polynomial nomenclature
C. Binomial nomenclature ✓ Correct
D. Trinomial nomenclature
Solution: Binomial nomenclature gives each organism a two-word name: the generic name (genus) and the specific epithet.
Q10 — Diversity in the Living World · easy · theory
The system of binomial nomenclature was given by:
A. Charles Darwin
B. Robert Whittaker
C. Carolus Linnaeus ✓ Correct
D. Ernst Mayr
Solution: Carolus Linnaeus introduced the binomial system of nomenclature, which is practised by biologists worldwide.
Q11 — Diversity in the Living World · easy · theory
In the scientific name Mangifera indica, the word "Mangifera" represents the _____ and "indica" represents the _____.
A. Genus; specific epithet ✓ Correct
B. Order; species
C. Family; genus
D. Specific epithet; genus
Solution: In Mangifera indica, Mangifera is the genus (generic name) and indica is the specific epithet.
Q12 — Diversity in the Living World · easy · theory
According to the rules of nomenclature, biological names are generally written in:
A. Greek and in capitals
B. English and printed in bold
C. Latin and printed in italics ✓ Correct
D. Any regional language
Solution: Biological names are generally in Latin (or Latinised) and are printed in italics to indicate their Latin origin.
Q13 — Diversity in the Living World · medium · theory
When a biological name is handwritten, the two words should be:
A. Underlined as a single stretch
B. Joined together
C. Separately underlined ✓ Correct
D. Written in capitals
Solution: When handwritten, the genus and specific epithet are each underlined separately to indicate their Latin origin.
Q14 — Diversity in the Living World · medium · theory
In a correctly written binomial name, the genus and specific epithet begin with:
A. Capital letters for both
B. A small letter (genus) and a capital letter (specific epithet)
C. Small letters for both
D. A capital letter (genus) and a small letter (specific epithet) ✓ Correct
Solution: The first word (genus) starts with a capital letter while the specific epithet starts with a small letter, e.g. Mangifera indica.
Q15 — Diversity in the Living World · medium · theory
Which of the following is the correctly written scientific name of mango?
A. Mangifera Indica
B. Mangifera indica ✓ Correct
C. MANGIFERA INDICA
D. mangifera indica
Solution: Only Mangifera indica is correct: genus capitalised, specific epithet in small letters, both in italics.
Q16 — Diversity in the Living World · medium · theory
In the name "Mangifera indica Linn.", the abbreviation "Linn." indicates:
A. The specific epithet
B. The family of the mango
C. The author (Linnaeus) who first described the species ✓ Correct
D. The place of collection
Solution: The author's name appears after the specific epithet, in abbreviated form; "Linn." shows the species was first described by Linnaeus.
Q17 — Diversity in the Living World · medium · theory
The name of the author in a biological name is written:
A. After the specific epithet, in an abbreviated form ✓ Correct
B. In italics like the species name
C. Before the genus, in full
D. Between the genus and species
Solution: The author's name is placed at the end of the biological name (after the specific epithet) and is abbreviated.
Q18 — Diversity in the Living World · easy · theory
The process by which anything is grouped into convenient categories based on some easily observable characters is called:
A. Nomenclature
B. Classification ✓ Correct
C. Identification
D. Reproduction
Solution: Classification is the grouping of organisms into convenient categories on the basis of easily observable characters.
Q19 — Diversity in the Living World · medium · theory
The scientific term for the convenient categories (such as "plants", "mammals", "dogs", "wheat") used to study organisms is:
A. Species
B. Codes
C. Taxa ✓ Correct
D. Genera
Solution: These categories are collectively called taxa; taxa can indicate categories at very different levels.
Q20 — Diversity in the Living World · medium · theory
Which of the following correctly shows that taxa exist at different levels?
A. A dog is the same as a cat
B. A dog is a mammal, and mammals are animals ✓ Correct
C. Wheat and rice are one taxon
D. Plants and animals are one taxon
Solution: Dogs, mammals and animals are taxa at different (increasingly broad) levels — a dog is a mammal and a mammal is an animal.
Q21 — Diversity in the Living World · easy · theory
The process of classification of organisms based on their characteristics is called:
A. Morphology
B. Taxonomy ✓ Correct
C. Physiology
D. Ecology
Solution: Taxonomy is the process of classifying organisms into different taxa based on their characteristics.
Q22 — Diversity in the Living World · medium · theory
Which of the following forms the basis of modern taxonomic studies?
A. Only the colour of the organism
B. Only the local (common) name
C. Only the size of the organism
D. External and internal structure, cell structure, development process and ecological information ✓ Correct
Solution: Modern taxonomy is based on external and internal structure, the structure of the cell, the development process and ecological information.
Q23 — Diversity in the Living World · medium · theory
The four processes that are basic to taxonomy are:
A. Growth, reproduction, metabolism and consciousness
B. Collection, drying, pressing and mounting
C. Characterisation, identification, classification and nomenclature ✓ Correct
D. Digestion, respiration, excretion and circulation
Solution: Characterisation, identification, classification and nomenclature are the processes basic to taxonomy.
Q24 — Diversity in the Living World · medium · theory
The earliest classifications of organisms by human beings were based on the:
A. Cell ultrastructure
B. DNA sequences
C. "Uses" of various organisms ✓ Correct
D. Number of chromosomes
Solution: Early humans needed food, clothing and shelter, so the earliest classifications were based on the uses of various organisms.
Q25 — Diversity in the Living World · easy · theory
The branch of study concerned with the kinds and diversity of organisms and the relationships among them is called:
A. Anatomy
B. Ecology
C. Nomenclature
D. Systematics ✓ Correct
Solution: Systematics deals with the diversity of organisms and the evolutionary relationships among them.
Q26 — Diversity in the Living World · medium · theory
The word "systematics" is derived from the Latin word "systema", which means:
A. Systematic arrangement of organisms ✓ Correct
B. Study of cells
C. Naming of animals
D. Grouping by size
Solution: Systematics comes from the Latin "systema", meaning the systematic arrangement of organisms.
Q27 — Diversity in the Living World · medium · theory
The title "Systema Naturae" was used by Linnaeus for his:
A. Herbarium
B. Publication (book) ✓ Correct
C. Museum
D. Botanical garden
Solution: Linnaeus used "Systema Naturae" as the title of his publication.
Q28 — Diversity in the Living World · medium · theory
Compared with taxonomy, the scope of systematics was later enlarged to also include:
A. Identification, nomenclature and classification, and evolutionary relationships ✓ Correct
B. Only the study of fossils
C. Only the collection of specimens
D. Only the naming of plants
Solution: The scope of systematics was widened to include identification, nomenclature and classification, and it takes into account evolutionary relationships between organisms.
Q29 — Diversity in the Living World · easy · theory
Knowing to which organism a particular name is attached (i.e. describing it correctly) is the process of:
A. Nomenclature
B. Metabolism
C. Identification ✓ Correct
D. Reproduction
Solution: Identification is recognising an organism correctly so that the right name can be attached to it.
Q30 — Diversity in the Living World · medium · theory
That all present-day living organisms are related to each other and to organisms that ever lived is a key idea that led to movements for:
A. Destruction of forests
B. Ending classification
C. Conservation of biodiversity ✓ Correct
D. Abandoning scientific names
Solution: The recognition of shared similarities and relatedness among organisms humbled humans and led to cultural movements for the conservation of biodiversity.