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NEET Diversity in Living World MCQs with answers

429 questions on Diversity in Living World for NEET 2027. Below are 15 to try; tap a question to see its answer and explanation.

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15 sample questions

easy

1. Which among the following features is true regarding the gametophytic phase of pteridophytes?

  1. It is parasitic and completely dependent on the sporophyte.
  2. It represents the dominant, large tree-like phase of the lifecycle.
  3. It lacks rhizoids and directly produces seed-like propagules.
  4. It requires cool, damp, and shady places to grow and needs water for fertilisation.
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (D) It requires cool, damp, and shady places to grow and needs water for fertilisation.

The gametophyte of pteridophytes (prothallus) is a small, multicellular, free-living, mostly photosynthetic thalloid structure that requires cool, damp, and shady places to grow and depends on water for the transfer of antherozoids to the archegonium.

medium

2. The name virus, meaning venom or poisonous fluid, was given by Dmitri Ivanowsky (1892), who recognised certain microbes as the causal organism of:

  1. Rust of wheat
  2. Potato spindle tuber disease
  3. Mosaic disease of tobacco
  4. Smallpox
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (C) Mosaic disease of tobacco

Ivanowsky found that the organisms causing tobacco mosaic were smaller than bacteria because they passed through bacteria-proof filters.

hard

3. Identify the correct combination of characters for the organism Betta (Fighting fish):

  1. Marine habitat, placoid scales, gill slits without operculum
  2. Freshwater/aquarium habitat, terminal mouth, 4 pairs of gills covered by operculum
  3. Cartilaginous endoskeleton, air bladder absent, internal fertilisation
  4. Ventral mouth, heterocercal caudal fin, persistent notochord
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (B) Freshwater/aquarium habitat, terminal mouth, 4 pairs of gills covered by operculum

Betta (Fighting fish) is a bony fish (Class Osteichthyes) commonly kept in aquaria. Members of Osteichthyes typically have a terminal mouth, 4 pairs of gills covered by an operculum on each side, cycloid/ctenoid scales, and an air bladder.

medium

4. Select the animal having an endoskeleton composed of calcareous ossicles and an excretory system that is completely absent:

  1. Sepia
  2. Antedon
  3. Lepisma
  4. Gorgonia
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (B) Antedon

Antedon (sea lily) belongs to the phylum Echinodermata. Echinoderms possess an endoskeleton of calcareous ossicles and notably lack a specialized excretory system.

easy

5. According to the rules of binomial nomenclature, how should the author's name be cited when writing the scientific name of an organism?

  1. In an abbreviated form at the end of the biological name in Roman type
  2. In italics after the specific epithet
  3. In italics before the specific epithet
  4. Underlined separately along with the generic name
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (A) In an abbreviated form at the end of the biological name in Roman type

According to binomial nomenclature rules, the name of the author appears after the specific epithet, written in an abbreviated form and printed in Roman script (not italics), e.g., Mangifera indica Linn.

hard

6. Evaluate the following statements regarding Kingdom Monera: Statement I: Though bacterial structure is very simple, they are very complex in behaviour. Statement II: As a group, bacteria exhibit the most extensive metabolic diversity compared to any other group of organisms. Statement III: The vast majority of bacteria are photosynthetic autotrophs that make their own food from inorganic substrates. Which of the above statements are correct?

  1. I and II only
  2. II and III only
  3. I and III only
  4. I, II and III
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (A) I and II only

Statements I and II are accurate NCERT lines. Statement III is incorrect because the vast majority of bacteria are heterotrophs (they depend on other organisms or on dead organic matter for food), not autotrophs.

medium

7. Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Lichens are described as dual organisms consisting of a mutualistic association of a phycobiont and a mycobiont. Reason (R): The fungal partner synthesizes food for the autotrophic algal partner, while the algal partner provides anchorage and absorbs water and minerals. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer:

  1. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
  2. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
  3. (A) is true but (R) is false
  4. (A) is false but (R) is true
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (C) (A) is true but (R) is false

Assertion is true. However, Reason is false because the autotrophic algal partner (phycobiont) prepares food for the fungus, whereas the fungal partner (mycobiont) provides shelter and absorbs mineral nutrients and water for its partner.

medium

8. Animals in which the body cavity is not lined by mesoderm, and the mesoderm is present as scattered pouches between ectoderm and endoderm, are:

  1. Diploblastic, e.g. sponges
  2. Coelomates, e.g. annelids
  3. Acoelomates, e.g. Platyhelminthes
  4. Pseudocoelomates, e.g. Aschelminthes
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (D) Pseudocoelomates, e.g. Aschelminthes

Aschelminthes are pseudocoelomates; Platyhelminthes are acoelomates; annelids, molluscs, arthropods, echinoderms, hemichordates and chordates are coelomates.

medium

9. A taxonomic aid that contains information on any ONE taxon is a:

  1. Manual
  2. Monograph
  3. Catalogue
  4. Flora
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (B) Monograph

A monograph covers one taxon in detail. A flora is an account of the habitat and distribution of plants of a given area, and manuals help identify species found in an area.

NCERT Class 11

hard

10. Given below are two statements: Statement I: Microspores and megaspores in heterosporous pteridophytes germinate to give rise to male and female gametophytes, respectively. Statement II: Retention of the female gametophyte with developing young embryo on the parent sporophyte for variable periods is a precursor to the seed habit. In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer:

  1. Both Statement I and Statement II are true
  2. Both Statement I and Statement II are false
  3. Statement I is true but Statement II is false
  4. Statement I is false but Statement II is true
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (A) Both Statement I and Statement II are true

In heterosporous pteridophytes like Selaginella and Salvinia, microspores develop into male gametophytes and megaspores develop into female gametophytes. The female gametophytes are retained on parent sporophytes where the zygote develops into a young embryo; this event is considered an important precursor in the evolution of the seed habit.

hard

11. Given below are two statements. Statement I: Birds are homoiothermous. Statement II: Reptiles have a dry cornified skin with epidermal scales or scutes. Choose the correct answer.

  1. Both Statement I and Statement II are correct
  2. Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
  3. Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
  4. Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (A) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct

Birds are warm-blooded (homoiothermous) and reptiles have dry cornified skin with scales or scutes.

hard

12. In Ascomycetes, the asexual spores (conidia) and sexual spores are respectively produced:

  1. Endogenously in sporangia, and exogenously on basidia
  2. Inside asci, and on conidiophores
  3. In gemma cups, and in capsules
  4. Exogenously on conidiophores, and endogenously in sac-like asci
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (D) Exogenously on conidiophores, and endogenously in sac-like asci

Ascomycetes produce conidia exogenously on special mycelia called conidiophores. Sexual ascospores are produced endogenously in sac-like asci, arranged in fruiting bodies called ascocarps.

NCERT Class 11

medium

13. Match Column I with Column II and select the correct option: Column I A. Triticum aestivum B. Mangifera indica C. Musca domestica D. Homo sapiens Column II 1. Sapindales 2. Poales 3. Primata 4. Diptera

  1. A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
  2. A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
  3. A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
  4. A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (A) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3

Triticum aestivum belongs to the order Poales, Mangifera indica belongs to Sapindales, Musca domestica belongs to Diptera, and Homo sapiens belongs to Primata.

medium

14. The red colour of red algae (Rhodophyceae) is due to the predominance of the pigment:

  1. Fucoxanthin
  2. r-phycoerythrin
  3. Chlorophyll b
  4. Carotene
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (B) r-phycoerythrin

Red algae contain r-phycoerythrin; most are marine and found in warmer areas, both near the surface and at great depths.

medium

15. Coralloid roots associated with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria are found in:

  1. Cedrus
  2. Ginkgo
  3. Pinus
  4. Cycas
Show answer and explanation

Answer: (D) Cycas

Cycas has specialised coralloid roots that harbour N2-fixing cyanobacteria. In Pinus, roots form a fungal association called mycorrhiza.

NCERT Class 11

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