Biology: Plants, Animals and Classification MCQs

Solved general science MCQs on classification of living things, animal groups, plant tissues, nitrogen fixation, plant hormones, pollination and adaptations.

1. 1

   Who is known as the father of taxonomy and introduced binomial nomenclature?

   ACarl LinnaeusBGregor MendelCAristotleDCharles Darwin

   Correct answer: A. Carl Linnaeus

   Linnaeus gave every species a two-part name: genus + species, such as Homo sapiens.

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2. 2

   The five-kingdom classification of living organisms was proposed in 1969 by:

   ACarl WoeseBR. H. WhittakerCCarl LinnaeusDErnst Haeckel

   Correct answer: B. R. H. Whittaker

   The five kingdoms are Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia.

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3. 3

   The scientific name of modern humans is:

   APan troglodytesBHomo habilisCHomo erectusDHomo sapiens

   Correct answer: D. Homo sapiens

   Homo is the genus and sapiens ("wise") the species; Pan troglodytes is the chimpanzee.

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4. 4

   The largest animal ever known to have lived is the:

   ABlue whaleBAfrican elephantCGiraffeDWhale shark

   Correct answer: A. Blue whale

   The blue whale can exceed 30 m in length; the whale shark is the largest fish.

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5. 5

   Which of these is a mammal?

   ABatBPenguinCCrocodileDShark

   Correct answer: A. Bat

   Bats feed their young on milk and have hair; they are the only mammals capable of true flight.

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6. 6

   A starfish is actually a(n):

   AmolluscBamphibianCfishDechinoderm

   Correct answer: D. echinoderm

   Despite its name, the starfish (sea star) has no backbone and belongs to the echinoderms, like sea urchins.

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7. 7

   How many legs does an insect have?

   A4B6C8D10

   Correct answer: B. 6

   Insects have six legs and three body parts; spiders, with eight legs, are arachnids, not insects.

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8. 8

   Animals whose body temperature changes with their surroundings, such as snakes and lizards, are called:

   AmammalsBwarm-bloodedComnivoresDcold-blooded

   Correct answer: D. cold-blooded

   Reptiles, amphibians and fish are cold-blooded (ectothermic); birds and mammals are warm-blooded.

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9. 9

   Animals that do not have a backbone are called:

   AchordatesBvertebratesCinvertebratesDmammals

   Correct answer: C. invertebrates

   Insects, worms, snails and jellyfish are invertebrates; they make up most animal species.

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10. 10

    In plants, water and minerals are carried from the roots to the leaves by the:

    AphloemBcambiumCxylemDstomata

    Correct answer: C. xylem

    Xylem carries water upward; phloem carries food made in the leaves to other parts of the plant.

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12. 11

    The root nodules of leguminous plants (peas, beans) contain bacteria that:

    Afix atmospheric nitrogenBmake the roots grow deeperCproduce oxygenDcause disease

    Correct answer: A. fix atmospheric nitrogen

    Rhizobium bacteria in the nodules convert nitrogen from the air into compounds that plants can use.

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13. 12

    In a cactus, the leaves are modified into spines mainly to:

    Areduce water lossBmake foodCstore seedsDcatch insects

    Correct answer: A. reduce water loss

    Spines reduce the surface area through which water is lost; the green stem carries out photosynthesis.

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14. 13

    Which of these is an insectivorous plant?

    AMango treeBPitcher plantCWheatDCactus

    Correct answer: B. Pitcher plant

    The pitcher plant traps insects to get nitrogen, because it grows in nitrogen-poor soil.

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15. 14

    Which plant hormone mainly causes cell elongation and makes shoots bend towards light?

    ACytokininBAuxinCAbscisic acidDEthylene

    Correct answer: B. Auxin

    Auxin collects on the shaded side of the shoot and makes those cells grow longer, so the shoot bends towards light.

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16. 15

    Pollination carried out by wind is called:

    AZoophilyBAnemophilyCHydrophilyDEntomophily

    Correct answer: B. Anemophily

    Anemophily is wind pollination, as in maize and grasses; entomophily is pollination by insects.

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17. 16

    Which gas is released by green plants during photosynthesis?

    ACarbon dioxideBMethaneCOxygenDNitrogen

    Correct answer: C. Oxygen

    Plants take in carbon dioxide and water and, using sunlight, make glucose and release oxygen.

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18. 17

    Mushrooms belong to which group of organisms?

    APlantsBAlgaeCFungiDBacteria

    Correct answer: C. Fungi

    Fungi have no chlorophyll and cannot make their own food; they absorb nutrients from dead or living matter.

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19. 18

    Silkworms feed on the leaves of the:

    ANeemBBanyanCTeakDMulberry

    Correct answer: D. Mulberry

    Mulberry silk, from the silkworm Bombyx mori, is the most common type of silk; rearing silkworms is called sericulture.

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20. 19

    Whales breathe with the help of:

    Atheir skinBair sacs in their finsCgillsDlungs

    Correct answer: D. lungs

    Whales are mammals and must come to the surface to breathe air through the blowhole.

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21. 20

    Which of these is usually NOT required for a seed to germinate?

    AOxygenBWaterCSunlightDSuitable temperature

    Correct answer: C. Sunlight

    Most seeds germinate in the dark using stored food; the seedling needs light only once it starts making its own food.

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