Question Bank — The Living World

QUESTION BANK

Chapter: The Living World (NCERT Class 11 Biology)

Section A — MCQs (10 questions, 1 mark each)

1. The scientific name of mango is written as Mangifera indica. In this name, Mangifera represents:
   (a) Species (b) Genus (c) Family (d) Order

2. Which of the following is the correct sequence of taxonomic categories in ascending order?
   (a) Species → Genus → Order → Phylum → Kingdom
   (b) Genus → Species → Family → Order → Class
   (c) Species → Genus → Family → Order → Class
   (d) Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Genus

3. The International Code for Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) provides rules for:
   (a) Naming animals only (b) Naming plants only (c) Naming both plants and animals (d) Classification of bacteria

4. Assertion (A): Biological names are written in italics when printed.
   Reason (R): They are Latinised or derived from Latin irrespective of their origin.
   (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
   (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
   (c) A is true but R is false.
   (d) A is false but R is true.

5. The lowest taxonomic category is:
   (a) Genus (b) Species (c) Family (d) Order

6. Systematics differs from taxonomy because it:
   (a) Deals only with nomenclature (b) Takes evolutionary relationships into account
   (c) Ignores classification (d) Is restricted to plants

7. Assertion (A): As we go higher from species to kingdom, the number of common characteristics decreases.
   Reason (R): Lower the taxa, more are the characteristics that the members within the taxon share.
   (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
   (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
   (c) A is true but R is false.
   (d) A is false but R is true.

8. Which of the following represents the correct binomial name?
   (a) Mangifera Indica (b) mangifera indica (c) Mangifera indica (d) Mangifera indica Linn.

9. Housefly belongs to the family:
   (a) Muscidae (b) Diptera (c) Insecta (d) Arthropoda

10. The term ‘taxon’ refers to:
    (a) A rank or category in classification (b) Only the species level (c) A local name of an organism (d) A non-living object

Section B — Very Short Answer (6 questions, 2 marks each)

1. Define nomenclature. Why is it necessary?

2. What is meant by binomial nomenclature? Give the scientific name of wheat.

3. Differentiate between taxonomy and systematics.

4. What is a taxon? Give two examples of taxa at different hierarchical levels.

5. Name the taxonomic categories to which Homo sapiens and Mangifera indica belong.

6. Why are local names of organisms not sufficient for scientific study?

Section C — Short Answer (5 questions, 3 marks each)

1. Explain any three universal rules of binomial nomenclature as given in the chapter.

2. Distinguish between genus and family with one example each from plants and animals.

3. What is the basis of modern taxonomic studies? List the essential characters used.

4. How does the number of common characteristics change as we move from species to kingdom? Explain with an example.

5. Why was the classification system of early man limited? How did systematic description improve biological knowledge?

Section D — Long Answer (3 questions, 5 marks each)

1. Describe the taxonomic hierarchy with a labelled schematic diagram showing all categories from species to kingdom in ascending order. Give one example of an organism (plant or animal) at each level.

2. Define classification. Explain the processes of characterisation, identification, nomenclature and classification. How are these processes interrelated?

3. What are taxonomic categories? Explain the categories species, genus, family, order and class with one suitable example each from the chapter.

Section E — Case/Source-Based (2 questions, 4 marks each)

Case 1

“Each different kind of plant, animal or organism represents a species. The number of species known and described range between 1.7–1.8 million. This refers to biodiversity… there is a need to standardise the naming of living organisms such that a particular organism is known by the same name all over the world. This process is called nomenclature… The scientific names ensure that each organism has only one name… Biologists follow universally accepted principles… Each name has two components – the Generic name and the specific epithet.”

Sub-questions:
(a) What is biodiversity according to the passage? (1 mark)
(b) Why is nomenclature necessary? (1 mark)
(c) Name the two components of a scientific name and give one example from the passage. (1 mark)
(d) State any two rules that ensure a scientific name is universally accepted. (1 mark)

Case 2

“Taxonomic studies of all known organisms have led to the development of common categories such as kingdom, phylum or division, class, order, family, genus and species… As we go higher from species to kingdom, the number of common characteristics goes on decreasing. Lower the taxa, more are the characteristics that the members within the taxon share.”

Sub-questions:
(a) List the taxonomic categories in descending order starting from kingdom. (1 mark)
(b) What happens to the number of shared characters as we move from species to kingdom? (1 mark)
(c) Why is species considered the lowest and most specific category? (1 mark)
(d) Give one example each of a plant division and an animal phylum mentioned in the chapter. (1 mark)