Question Bank — Patterns in Life: Diversity and Classification

NCERT Class 9 Science · Chapter 12 · CBSE Board Pattern

Class 9 Science Chapter 12 Question Bank CBSE Board Pattern

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

  1. Which criterion is used to place bacteria in Kingdom Monera?
    (a) Presence of membrane-bound nucleus
    (b) Unicellular prokaryotic cell structure
    (c) Autotrophic mode of nutrition only
    (d) Multicellular body organisation

  2. The two-kingdom system proposed by Linnaeus placed organisms into:
    (a) Monera and Protista
    (b) Plantae and Animalia
    (c) Fungi and Protista
    (d) Monera and Fungi

  3. Endemic species are those that:
    (a) Are found in all biodiversity hotspots
    (b) Occur naturally only in a particular region
    (c) Are always unicellular
    (d) Reproduce only asexually

  4. Assertion (A): Fungi are placed in a separate kingdom from Plantae.
    Reason (R): Fungi are heterotrophic and absorb nutrients from dead or decaying matter, whereas plants are autotrophic.
    (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. Which of the following shows the correct sequence of classification levels from broadest to most specific?
    (a) Species → Genus → Family → Order → Class → Phylum → Kingdom
    (b) Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
    (c) Kingdom → Class → Phylum → Order → Family → Genus → Species
    (d) Genus → Species → Family → Order → Class → Phylum → Kingdom

  6. Cyanobacteria are placed in Kingdom Monera because they:
    (a) Are eukaryotic and multicellular
    (b) Are prokaryotic and perform photosynthesis
    (c) Lack cell wall
    (d) Reproduce only sexually

  7. Assertion (A): Bryophytes are called amphibians of the plant kingdom.
    Reason (R): They require water for reproduction although they can live on land.
    (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. The scientific name of an organism consists of:
    (a) Phylum and class names
    (b) Genus and species names
    (c) Family and order names
    (d) Kingdom and phylum names

  9. Which kingdom includes organisms with chitinous cell wall and saprophytic nutrition?
    (a) Plantae
    (b) Fungi
    (c) Protista
    (d) Monera

  10. The presence of notochord at least once in life is a characteristic feature of:
    (a) Invertebrates only
    (b) Protochordates and vertebrates
    (c) Porifera and Cnidaria
    (d) Arthropoda only

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

  1. Define biodiversity. Name any two endemic species found in India.
  2. State two limitations of Aristotle’s classification system.
  3. Differentiate between autotrophic and heterotrophic mode of nutrition with one example each from the chapter.
  4. What is binomial nomenclature? Who introduced it?
  5. List any two criteria used for five-kingdom classification.
  6. Why are bryophytes called amphibians of the plant kingdom?

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

  1. Explain any three ways in which biological classification helps us in studying living organisms.
  2. Describe the basis of placing organisms into Kingdom Monera. Give two examples.
  3. Distinguish between Thallophyta and Bryophyta on the basis of body organisation and vascular tissue.
  4. What are the advantages of the five-kingdom classification over the two-kingdom system?
  5. Explain the hierarchical nature of classification with a suitable example from the chapter.

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

  1. Describe the five-kingdom classification system proposed by Whittaker. Draw a labelled concept map/concept diagram showing the kingdoms along with the main criteria (cell type, level of organisation, mode of nutrition, cell wall) used for grouping. (Diagram description required)
  2. Explain the classification of Kingdom Plantae into five classes with one characteristic feature and one example of each class.
  3. Describe the gradual increase in complexity of body organisation in invertebrates from Porifera to Echinodermata with at least one example from each phylum.

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

Case 1

The Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh supports nearly 300 bird species including four species of hornbills. These hornbills nest only in large old trees with cavities and feed on specific fruits. Different hornbill species are found in different parts of the forest depending on tree size and fruit availability.

(i) How does classification help scientists study the distribution of hornbill species in the reserve?
(ii) Name the kingdom and phylum to which hornbills belong.
(iii) What would happen to hornbill populations if large old trees disappear from the forest?
(iv) Which criterion of classification would be most useful to distinguish the four hornbill species from one another?

Case 2

A student prepared a hay infusion and observed moving unicellular organisms under the microscope. Some organisms had a true nucleus and were either autotrophic or heterotrophic.

(i) To which kingdom do these observed organisms belong?
(ii) State two features that distinguish these organisms from bacteria.
(iii) Name any two organisms that the student might have observed.
(iv) How do such organisms contribute to aquatic food chains?

▶ Answer Key Attempt all questions first,
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Section A

  1. (b) — Unicellular prokaryotic cell structure (1 mark)
  2. (b) — Plantae and Animalia (1 mark)
  3. (b) — Occur naturally only in a particular region (1 mark)
  4. (a) — Both true and R explains A (1 mark)
  5. (b) — Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species (1 mark)
  6. (b) — Are prokaryotic and perform photosynthesis (1 mark)
  7. (a) — Both true and R explains A (1 mark)
  8. (b) — Genus and species names (1 mark)
  9. (b) — Fungi (1 mark)
  10. (b) — Protochordates and vertebrates (1 mark)

Section B

  1. Enormous variety of life forms on Earth (1 mark); Nilgiri tahr, Lion-tailed macaque (or any two endemic species) (1 mark)
  2. Relied only on external characteristics/habitat; placed unrelated organisms together (2 marks)
  3. Autotrophic — prepare own food (e.g., plants) (1 mark); Heterotrophic — depend on others (e.g., animals) (1 mark)
  4. System of naming with two parts (genus + species) (1 mark); Carolus Linnaeus (1 mark)
  5. Cell type (prokaryote/eukaryote), level of organisation (unicellular/multicellular), mode of nutrition, presence/absence of cell wall (any two) (2 marks)
  6. Live on land but require water for reproduction (2 marks)

Section C

  1. Makes study systematic (1 mark); helps understand relationships (1 mark); aids conservation and identification of new organisms (1 mark)
  2. Unicellular prokaryotes (1 mark); lack membrane-bound nucleus (1 mark); examples: bacteria, cyanobacteria (1 mark)
  3. Thallophyta: undifferentiated thallus body, no vascular tissue (1.5 marks); Bryophyta: slight differentiation into rhizoids, stem-like and leaf-like parts, no true vascular tissue (1.5 marks)
  4. Separated unicellular eukaryotes (Protista) and prokaryotes (Monera); placed fungi separately on the basis of nutrition and cell wall (3 marks)
  5. Classification proceeds from broad (Kingdom) to specific (Species) groups (1 mark); each lower level shares more common features (1 mark); example: Tiger — Kingdom Animalia … Species P. tigris (1 mark)

Section D

  1. Five kingdoms: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia (2 marks); labelled diagram showing criteria (cell type, organisation, nutrition, cell wall) linking each kingdom (3 marks)
  2. Thallophyta — thallus body, aquatic (1 mark); Bryophyta — amphibians, need water for reproduction (1 mark); Pteridophyta — vascular tissue, true roots/stems/leaves (1 mark); Gymnosperms — naked seeds, cones (1 mark); Angiosperms — flowers, fruits, enclosed seeds (1 mark)
  3. Porifera — cellular level, pores (1 mark); Cnidaria — tissue level, tentacles (1 mark); Platyhelminthes — organ level, bilateral symmetry (1 mark); Nematoda — two openings (1 mark); Annelida — segmentation (1 mark); Arthropoda — exoskeleton, jointed appendages; Mollusca — soft body, muscular foot; Echinodermata — endoskeleton (any 5 phyla with features) (5 marks total)

Section E

Case 1

(i) Helps understand distribution patterns and ecological relationships (1 mark)
(ii) Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata (1 mark)
(iii) Loss of nesting sites and food → decline in hornbill population (1 mark)
(iv) External features, feeding habits or genetic similarity (1 mark)

Case 2

(i) Kingdom Protista (1 mark)
(ii) True nucleus (eukaryotic), may be autotrophic or heterotrophic (1 mark)
(iii) Amoeba, Paramecium, Euglena (any two) (1 mark)
(iv) Link in food chains, produce oxygen, serve as food (1 mark)

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All questions are answerable from the NCERT chapter text. Reviewed by GFIS faculty.