The Living World — 50 MCQs
(NCERT Class 11 Biology)
1. A mule, formed by crossing a horse and a donkey, is unable to
reproduce further. Which defining feature of life does this scenario
best challenge, when growth and metabolism are still occurring in the
mule? A) Metabolism B) Reproduction as a universal characteristic of
every individual organism C) Consciousness D) Cellular organisation
2. A dead leaf lying on the ground shows an increase in mass after a
heavy rain due to water absorption. Why is this NOT considered
“growth” in the biological sense? A) It lacks chlorophyll B) The
increase is external and not from cell division/increase in cell number
from within C) Dead matter cannot absorb water D) Growth only
applies to animals
3. A single-celled amoeba reproduces by binary fission and shows an
increase in cell number. Which pair of characteristics does this
example simultaneously illustrate? A) Consciousness and metabolism
B) Growth and reproduction C) Death and senescence D) Evolution
and adaptation
4. Which of the following is the most appropriate reason why
“growth” alone cannot be used as a defining feature exclusive to living
organisms? A) Growth requires sunlight B) Non-living objects like
mountains and crystals also increase in mass C) Growth is reversible
in all organisms D) Growth does not require cell division
5. All chemical reactions occurring inside an organism’s body, taken
together, are collectively termed: A) Reproduction B) Metabolism C)
Homeostasis D) Catabolism only
6. No non-living object shows this property when isolated and placed
on a laboratory table, making it a unique and defining feature of living
organisms according to NCERT: A) Growth B) Reproduction C)
Metabolism D) Death
7. A sterile worker bee cannot reproduce, yet it is unquestionably
alive. This example is used in NCERT to argue that: A) Reproduction
is a defining feature only at the level of a population/species, not
necessarily every individual B) Bees are an exception to metabolism
C) Sterility is a sign of death D) Consciousness is absent in worker
bees
8. “Self-consciousness” as a defining property of life is considered
problematic by NCERT mainly because: A) It cannot be measured
objectively for all organisms, e.g., when a person is unconscious or
under anaesthesia B) Only humans possess self-consciousness C)
Plants do not have a nervous system D) It is the same as metabolism
9. A person under deep anaesthesia continues to show a heartbeat
and blood pressure but does not respond to stimuli. As per NCERT’s
discussion, this person is: A) Not living, since consciousness is absent
B) Still living, since metabolic reactions continue C) In a state of death
D) Undergoing reproduction
10. According to NCERT, the ability to sense the environment and
respond to it through the senses is termed: A) Reproduction B)
Consciousness C) Homeostasis D) Adaptation
, 11. Which of these is identified as the most appropriate and defining
characteristic that distinguishes ALL living organisms from non-living
ones, without exception? A) Growth B) Reproduction C) Metabolism
D) Movement
12. A virus outside a host cell shows no metabolic activity, yet exhibits
characteristics of life once inside a host cell. This is why viruses are
often described as organisms existing at the: A) Boundary line
between living and non-living B) Kingdom Monera exclusively C)
Highest taxonomic category D) Level of consciousness alone
13. The total number of species estimated to have been described so
far, according to NCERT, is approximately: A) 1.7–1.8 million B)
50,000 C) 10 million D) 500 million
14. The branch of science dealing with identification, nomenclature,
and classification of organisms is called: A) Systematics B) Taxonomy
C) Ecology D) Physiology
15. A student argues that “taxonomy” and “systematics” mean exactly
the same thing with no difference at all. What is the more accurate
distinction as per NCERT? A) Systematics additionally considers
evolutionary relationships between organisms, going beyond mere
identification and classification B) Taxonomy applies only to animals,
systematics only to plants C) There is no accepted difference; the
terms are pure synonyms D) Systematics is an older term no longer
used
16. The process by which any basic unit of biodiversity (species,
genus, etc.) is given a distinctive name following universal rules is
called: A) Identification B) Nomenclature C) Classification D)
Characterisation
17. Why is nomenclature done using Latin-based scientific names
rather than local/common names? A) Latin names are shorter B)
Scientific names are universally recognised and avoid confusion
caused by different common names in different regions/languages C)
Latin is the language of DNA D) Common names are banned by law
18. The set of rules and conventions followed by botanists worldwide
for naming plants is know as: A) International Code of Botanical
Nomenclature (ICBN, now ICN) B) International Code of Zoological
Nomenclature (ICZN) C) Systema Naturae D) Species Plantarum Code
19. In the scientific name Mangifera indica, which part represents the
specific epithet? A) Mangifera B) indica C) Both together D) Neither;
this is not a valid binomial
20. As per the rules of binomial nomenclature, how should a scientific
name typically be written in printed text? A) Both words in capital
letters B) Genus name starting with a capital letter, species name in
lowercase, both italicised C) Both words underlined but never
italicised D) Genus name in lowercase, species name capitalised
21. When a scientific name is handwritten or typed without italics,
what convention must be followed instead? A) Nothing extra is
required B) The genus and species names are separately underlined
C) The name is written in brackets D) The name is written entirely in
capitals
22. The scientific system of binomial nomenclature, using two-word
names for species, was given by: A) Charles Darwin B) Carolus
Linnaeus C) Robert Whittaker D) Aristotle
23. A taxonomist observes several similar plant specimens that
interbreed freely in nature and produce fertile offspring but do not
interbreed with other similar-looking groups. This set of organisms
(NCERT Class 11 Biology)
1. A mule, formed by crossing a horse and a donkey, is unable to
reproduce further. Which defining feature of life does this scenario
best challenge, when growth and metabolism are still occurring in the
mule? A) Metabolism B) Reproduction as a universal characteristic of
every individual organism C) Consciousness D) Cellular organisation
2. A dead leaf lying on the ground shows an increase in mass after a
heavy rain due to water absorption. Why is this NOT considered
“growth” in the biological sense? A) It lacks chlorophyll B) The
increase is external and not from cell division/increase in cell number
from within C) Dead matter cannot absorb water D) Growth only
applies to animals
3. A single-celled amoeba reproduces by binary fission and shows an
increase in cell number. Which pair of characteristics does this
example simultaneously illustrate? A) Consciousness and metabolism
B) Growth and reproduction C) Death and senescence D) Evolution
and adaptation
4. Which of the following is the most appropriate reason why
“growth” alone cannot be used as a defining feature exclusive to living
organisms? A) Growth requires sunlight B) Non-living objects like
mountains and crystals also increase in mass C) Growth is reversible
in all organisms D) Growth does not require cell division
5. All chemical reactions occurring inside an organism’s body, taken
together, are collectively termed: A) Reproduction B) Metabolism C)
Homeostasis D) Catabolism only
6. No non-living object shows this property when isolated and placed
on a laboratory table, making it a unique and defining feature of living
organisms according to NCERT: A) Growth B) Reproduction C)
Metabolism D) Death
7. A sterile worker bee cannot reproduce, yet it is unquestionably
alive. This example is used in NCERT to argue that: A) Reproduction
is a defining feature only at the level of a population/species, not
necessarily every individual B) Bees are an exception to metabolism
C) Sterility is a sign of death D) Consciousness is absent in worker
bees
8. “Self-consciousness” as a defining property of life is considered
problematic by NCERT mainly because: A) It cannot be measured
objectively for all organisms, e.g., when a person is unconscious or
under anaesthesia B) Only humans possess self-consciousness C)
Plants do not have a nervous system D) It is the same as metabolism
9. A person under deep anaesthesia continues to show a heartbeat
and blood pressure but does not respond to stimuli. As per NCERT’s
discussion, this person is: A) Not living, since consciousness is absent
B) Still living, since metabolic reactions continue C) In a state of death
D) Undergoing reproduction
10. According to NCERT, the ability to sense the environment and
respond to it through the senses is termed: A) Reproduction B)
Consciousness C) Homeostasis D) Adaptation
, 11. Which of these is identified as the most appropriate and defining
characteristic that distinguishes ALL living organisms from non-living
ones, without exception? A) Growth B) Reproduction C) Metabolism
D) Movement
12. A virus outside a host cell shows no metabolic activity, yet exhibits
characteristics of life once inside a host cell. This is why viruses are
often described as organisms existing at the: A) Boundary line
between living and non-living B) Kingdom Monera exclusively C)
Highest taxonomic category D) Level of consciousness alone
13. The total number of species estimated to have been described so
far, according to NCERT, is approximately: A) 1.7–1.8 million B)
50,000 C) 10 million D) 500 million
14. The branch of science dealing with identification, nomenclature,
and classification of organisms is called: A) Systematics B) Taxonomy
C) Ecology D) Physiology
15. A student argues that “taxonomy” and “systematics” mean exactly
the same thing with no difference at all. What is the more accurate
distinction as per NCERT? A) Systematics additionally considers
evolutionary relationships between organisms, going beyond mere
identification and classification B) Taxonomy applies only to animals,
systematics only to plants C) There is no accepted difference; the
terms are pure synonyms D) Systematics is an older term no longer
used
16. The process by which any basic unit of biodiversity (species,
genus, etc.) is given a distinctive name following universal rules is
called: A) Identification B) Nomenclature C) Classification D)
Characterisation
17. Why is nomenclature done using Latin-based scientific names
rather than local/common names? A) Latin names are shorter B)
Scientific names are universally recognised and avoid confusion
caused by different common names in different regions/languages C)
Latin is the language of DNA D) Common names are banned by law
18. The set of rules and conventions followed by botanists worldwide
for naming plants is know as: A) International Code of Botanical
Nomenclature (ICBN, now ICN) B) International Code of Zoological
Nomenclature (ICZN) C) Systema Naturae D) Species Plantarum Code
19. In the scientific name Mangifera indica, which part represents the
specific epithet? A) Mangifera B) indica C) Both together D) Neither;
this is not a valid binomial
20. As per the rules of binomial nomenclature, how should a scientific
name typically be written in printed text? A) Both words in capital
letters B) Genus name starting with a capital letter, species name in
lowercase, both italicised C) Both words underlined but never
italicised D) Genus name in lowercase, species name capitalised
21. When a scientific name is handwritten or typed without italics,
what convention must be followed instead? A) Nothing extra is
required B) The genus and species names are separately underlined
C) The name is written in brackets D) The name is written entirely in
capitals
22. The scientific system of binomial nomenclature, using two-word
names for species, was given by: A) Charles Darwin B) Carolus
Linnaeus C) Robert Whittaker D) Aristotle
23. A taxonomist observes several similar plant specimens that
interbreed freely in nature and produce fertile offspring but do not
interbreed with other similar-looking groups. This set of organisms
