1. Which science focuses on life forms and living processes?
a) Physics
b) Biology
c) Chemistry
d) Geology
a) Physics
b) Biology
c) Chemistry
d) Geology
2. Early man perceived difference between which two types of matter?
a) Water and land
b) Living and inanimate
c) Metal and wood
d) Plants and fungi
a) Water and land
b) Living and inanimate
c) Metal and wood
d) Plants and fungi
3. What is the main object of awe in the early history of biology?
a) Weapons
b) Inanimate matter
c) Food
d) Tools
a) Weapons
b) Inanimate matter
c) Food
d) Tools
4. Which field deals with the description and classification of life forms?
a) Physics
b) Astronomy
c) Biology
d) Mathematics
a) Physics
b) Astronomy
c) Biology
d) Mathematics
5. The recognition of similarities among living organisms highlighted what?
a) Evolutionary connections
b) Laws of gravity
c) Electrical circuits
d) Planets and stars
a) Evolutionary connections
b) Laws of gravity
c) Electrical circuits
d) Planets and stars
6. Who is called “The Darwin of the 20th century”?
a) Charles Darwin
b) Ernst Mayr
c) Gregor Mendel
d) Linnaeus
a) Charles Darwin
b) Ernst Mayr
c) Gregor Mendel
d) Linnaeus
7. Which prize is NOT part of biology’s “triple crown” awarded to Ernst Mayr?
a) Balzan Prize
b) Crafoord Prize
c) International Prize for Biology
d) Nobel Peace Prize
a) Balzan Prize
b) Crafoord Prize
c) International Prize for Biology
d) Nobel Peace Prize
8. The extraordinary diversity of living organisms may be observed in which habitat?
a) Mountains
b) Deserts
c) Oceans
d) All of the above
a) Mountains
b) Deserts
c) Oceans
d) All of the above
9. The fundamental question “What is living?” leads to which kind of questions?
a) Only philosophical
b) Only technical
c) Both technical and philosophical
d) Only ethical
a) Only philosophical
b) Only technical
c) Both technical and philosophical
d) Only ethical
10. The wide range of organisms observed in a forest is called:
a) Ecology
b) Biodiversity
c) Taxonomy
d) Botanical classification
a) Ecology
b) Biodiversity
c) Taxonomy
d) Botanical classification
11. What is nomenclature?
a) System of reproduction
b) System of naming organisms
c) System of nutrition
d) System of photosynthesis
a) System of reproduction
b) System of naming organisms
c) System of nutrition
d) System of photosynthesis
12. Which code governs the naming of animals?
a) ICBM
b) ICZN
c) ICBN
d) ICMR
a) ICBM
b) ICZN
c) ICBN
d) ICMR
13. The two parts of a scientific name are known as:
a) Order and family
b) Family and genus
c) Generic name and specific epithet
d) Phylum and species
a) Order and family
b) Family and genus
c) Generic name and specific epithet
d) Phylum and species
14. Binomial nomenclature was introduced by:
a) Mendel
b) Linnaeus
c) Mayr
d) Darwin
a) Mendel
b) Linnaeus
c) Mayr
d) Darwin
15. In “Mangifera indica,” ‘Mangifera’ refers to:
a) Family
b) Genus
c) Specific epithet
d) Order
a) Family
b) Genus
c) Specific epithet
d) Order
16. Scientific names are traditionally written in which format?
a) Italics
b) Bold
c) Underlined only
d) All caps
a) Italics
b) Bold
c) Underlined only
d) All caps
17. The author’s name in biological nomenclature indicates:
a) Translator
b) Discoverer of the species
c) Place of discovery
d) Country of origin
a) Translator
b) Discoverer of the species
c) Place of discovery
d) Country of origin
18. Which is essential before an organism can be named?
a) Genetic test
b) Identification
c) Radioactive labeling
d) Growth in laboratory
a) Genetic test
b) Identification
c) Radioactive labeling
d) Growth in laboratory
19. Why is classification necessary?
a) For confusion
b) For convenience and universal understanding
c) For language development
d) For map making
a) For confusion
b) For convenience and universal understanding
c) For language development
d) For map making
20. What is the scientific term for classification categories?
a) Names
b) Taxa
c) Orders
d) Types
a) Names
b) Taxa
c) Orders
d) Types
21. Taxonomy is the science of:
a) Geology
b) Classification
c) Drawing
d) Measuring
a) Geology
b) Classification
c) Drawing
d) Measuring
22. What branch of biology deals with systematic arrangement and classification of organisms?
a) Genetics
b) Systematics
c) Evolution
d) Ecology
a) Genetics
b) Systematics
c) Evolution
d) Ecology
23. The taxonomic process includes:
a) Nomenclature only
b) Characterization, identification, classification and nomenclature
c) Evolution only
d) Physiology only
a) Nomenclature only
b) Characterization, identification, classification and nomenclature
c) Evolution only
d) Physiology only
24. Linnaeus used which publication title?
a) Systema Naturae
b) Origin of Species
c) Genera Plantarum
d) Evolutionis
a) Systema Naturae
b) Origin of Species
c) Genera Plantarum
d) Evolutionis
25. Systematics, as a branch, includes study of:
a) Only plants
b) Identification, nomenclature, classification, evolution
c) Only anatomy
d) Only genetics
a) Only plants
b) Identification, nomenclature, classification, evolution
c) Only anatomy
d) Only genetics
26. Classification is based on:
a) Arbitrary selection
b) Observable characteristics
c) Alphabetical order
d) Language
a) Arbitrary selection
b) Observable characteristics
c) Alphabetical order
d) Language
27. Which term refers to a group of organisms at any taxonomic rank?
a) Taxon
b) Family
c) Class
d) Order
a) Taxon
b) Family
c) Class
d) Order
28. The lowest taxonomic category is:
a) Genus
b) Family
c) Species
d) Kingdom
a) Genus
b) Family
c) Species
d) Kingdom
29. Which organism represents the genus “Homo”?
a) Mouse
b) Human
c) Lion
d) Cat
a) Mouse
b) Human
c) Lion
d) Cat
30. All living organisms, including plants and animals, have which as the lowest taxonomic category?
a) Family
b) Order
c) Species
d) Kingdom
a) Family
b) Order
c) Species
d) Kingdom
31. Which is the correct sequence of taxonomic categories ascending order?
a) Species → Genus → Family → Order → Class → Phylum → Kingdom
b) Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
c) Order → Genus → Species → Family → Class → Phylum → Kingdom
d) Family → Phylum → Kingdom → Class → Species → Order → Genus
a) Species → Genus → Family → Order → Class → Phylum → Kingdom
b) Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
c) Order → Genus → Species → Family → Class → Phylum → Kingdom
d) Family → Phylum → Kingdom → Class → Species → Order → Genus
32. What does a genus comprise?
a) Species from different families
b) A group of related species
c) Only one species
d) Families of related orders
a) Species from different families
b) A group of related species
c) Only one species
d) Families of related orders
33. Which of the following is a scientific name for human beings?
a) Panthera leo
b) Mangifera indica
c) Musca domestica
d) Homo sapiens
a) Panthera leo
b) Mangifera indica
c) Musca domestica
d) Homo sapiens
34. Class Mammalia includes:
a) Only humans
b) Mammals like monkeys, gorillas, cats, dogs, etc.
c) Only cats and dogs
d) Only insects
a) Only humans
b) Mammals like monkeys, gorillas, cats, dogs, etc.
c) Only cats and dogs
d) Only insects
35. In plants, the term “division” refers to a level equivalent to:
a) Class in animals
b) Phylum in animals
c) Genus in animals
d) Order in animals
a) Class in animals
b) Phylum in animals
c) Genus in animals
d) Order in animals
36. The family Felidae includes which genera?
a) Panthera only
b) Felis only
c) Panthera and Felis
d) Canidae and Felidae
a) Panthera only
b) Felis only
c) Panthera and Felis
d) Canidae and Felidae
37. The order Carnivora includes:
a) Only cats
b) Only dogs
c) Families Felidae and Canidae
d) Only dogs and hyenas
a) Only cats
b) Only dogs
c) Families Felidae and Canidae
d) Only dogs and hyenas
38. Which is NOT a part of the class Mammalia?
a) Gibbon
b) Tiger
c) Housefly
d) Gorilla
a) Gibbon
b) Tiger
c) Housefly
d) Gorilla
39. What are taxonomic categories collectively called?
a) Systematics
b) Hierarchy
c) Orders
d) Classes
a) Systematics
b) Hierarchy
c) Orders
d) Classes
40. Which taxonomic category contains the fewest shared characteristics?
a) Family
b) Class
c) Kingdom
d) Species
a) Family
b) Class
c) Kingdom
d) Species
41. The family Poaceae includes which genus?
a) Triticum
b) Felis
c) Panthera
d) Dicotyledonae
a) Triticum
b) Felis
c) Panthera
d) Dicotyledonae
42. Which of the following organisms belongs to the order Diptera?
a) Homo sapiens
b) Musca domestica
c) Triticum aestivum
d) Panthera leo
a) Homo sapiens
b) Musca domestica
c) Triticum aestivum
d) Panthera leo
43. In the given table, “Angiospermae” is a:
a) Family
b) Division
c) Genus
d) Order
a) Family
b) Division
c) Genus
d) Order
44. To which phylum does housefly (Musca domestica) belong?
a) Arthropoda
b) Anacardiaceae
c) Homo
d) Poaceae
a) Arthropoda
b) Anacardiaceae
c) Homo
d) Poaceae
45. “Order” is a higher category than:
a) Class
b) Family
c) Kingdom
d) Division
a) Class
b) Family
c) Kingdom
d) Division
46. Which feature is basic for modern taxonomic studies?
a) Molecular structure
b) Cell structure and development process
c) Colour of organism
d) Location only
a) Molecular structure
b) Cell structure and development process
c) Colour of organism
d) Location only
47. As we go higher in taxonomic hierarchy:
a) Number of shared characteristics increases
b) Number of shared characteristics decreases
c) Number of taxa becomes equal
d) It becomes easier to classify
a) Number of shared characteristics increases
b) Number of shared characteristics decreases
c) Number of taxa becomes equal
d) It becomes easier to classify
48. The genus “Solanum” includes which of the following?
a) Potato and brinjal
b) Lion and tiger
c) Cat and dog
d) Housefly and mango
a) Potato and brinjal
b) Lion and tiger
c) Cat and dog
d) Housefly and mango
49. Who expanded the scope of systematics?
a) Charles Darwin
b) Carolus Linnaeus
c) Ernst Mayr
d) Gregor Mendel
a) Charles Darwin
b) Carolus Linnaeus
c) Ernst Mayr
d) Gregor Mendel
50. The classification and naming of organisms helps in:
a) Only academic knowledge
b) Forestry, agriculture, industry and resource management
c) Music
d) Cooking
a) Only academic knowledge
b) Forestry, agriculture, industry and resource management
c) Music
d) Cooking
51. The term “division” is mostly used in the taxonomy of:
a) Animals
b) Plants
c) Microorganisms
d) Fungi
a) Animals
b) Plants
c) Microorganisms
d) Fungi
52. The correct binomial nomenclature for mango is:
a) Mangifera Indica
b) Mangifera indica
c) Mangifera-indica
d) Mangifera Indicum
a) Mangifera Indica
b) Mangifera indica
c) Mangifera-indica
d) Mangifera Indicum
53. The lowest category for any organism in taxonomy is:
a) Genus
b) Species
c) Family
d) Order
a) Genus
b) Species
c) Family
d) Order
54. “Musca domestica” refers to:
a) Human
b) Mango
c) Housefly
d) Cat
a) Human
b) Mango
c) Housefly
d) Cat
55. The system of naming organisms with two names is called:
a) Binomial nomenclature
b) Trinomial nomenclature
c) Quadrinomial nomenclature
d) Universal naming
a) Binomial nomenclature
b) Trinomial nomenclature
c) Quadrinomial nomenclature
d) Universal naming
56. For plants, the code followed is:
a) ICZN
b) ICBN
c) ICMC
d) IBSC
a) ICZN
b) ICBN
c) ICMC
d) IBSC
57. “Felidae” is the family of:
a) Dogs
b) Cats
c) Bears
d) Insects
a) Dogs
b) Cats
c) Bears
d) Insects
58. Which taxonomic category comes immediately after ‘class’?
a) Family
b) Genus
c) Order
d) Species
a) Family
b) Genus
c) Order
d) Species
59. “Panthera leo” is the scientific name of:
a) Cat
b) Tiger
c) Lion
d) Dog
a) Cat
b) Tiger
c) Lion
d) Dog
60. The study of identification, nomenclature, and classification is called:
a) Ecology
b) Systematics
c) Evolution
d) Genetics
a) Ecology
b) Systematics
c) Evolution
d) Genetics
61. Which of the following contains multicellular eukaryotes?
a) Bacteria
b) Fungi
c) Viruses
d) Archaea
a) Bacteria
b) Fungi
c) Viruses
d) Archaea
62. Which term is used for the process of grouping organisms on the basis of shared features?
a) Classification
b) Accumulation
c) Collection
d) Habitation
a) Classification
b) Accumulation
c) Collection
d) Habitation
63. The systematic position of organisms is determined mostly by:
a) Physical appearance only
b) Evolutionary relationships
c) Habitat only
d) Colour
a) Physical appearance only
b) Evolutionary relationships
c) Habitat only
d) Colour
64. All scientific names in binomial nomenclature must be:
a) Written in English
b) Italicized or underlined
c) Written in uppercase
d) In bold
a) Written in English
b) Italicized or underlined
c) Written in uppercase
d) In bold
65. Components of biodiversity include:
a) Genetic, species, ecosystem diversity
b) Only species diversity
c) Only genetic diversity
d) None of these
a) Genetic, species, ecosystem diversity
b) Only species diversity
c) Only genetic diversity
d) None of these
66. The term “species” was first used by:
a) Aristotle
b) Linnaeus
c) Mayr
d) Darwin
a) Aristotle
b) Linnaeus
c) Mayr
d) Darwin
67. The taxa arranged in ascending order are:
a) Species → Kingdom
b) Genus → Species
c) Family → Class → Order
d) Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
a) Species → Kingdom
b) Genus → Species
c) Family → Class → Order
d) Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
68. The science of naming organisms is called:
a) Nomenclature
b) Systematics
c) Biology
d) Botany
a) Nomenclature
b) Systematics
c) Biology
d) Botany
69. Which of the following is a major criterion in animal taxonomy?
a) Mode of nutrition
b) Nature of nucleic acids
c) Type of habitat
d) Blood group
a) Mode of nutrition
b) Nature of nucleic acids
c) Type of habitat
d) Blood group
70. “Triticum aestivum” is the scientific name for:
a) Rice
b) Wheat
c) Corn
d) Oat
a) Rice
b) Wheat
c) Corn
d) Oat
71. The binomial system of nomenclature ensures:
a) Confusion in names
b) A unique, universally accepted name
c) Multiple names for each organism
d) Only local acceptance
a) Confusion in names
b) A unique, universally accepted name
c) Multiple names for each organism
d) Only local acceptance
72. In classification, classes with similar characteristics are grouped into:
a) Orders
b) Kingdoms
c) Phyla/Divisions
d) Families
a) Orders
b) Kingdoms
c) Phyla/Divisions
d) Families
73. Who established modern taxonomy?
a) Aristotle
b) Linnaeus
c) Darwin
d) Mayr
a) Aristotle
b) Linnaeus
c) Darwin
d) Mayr
74. The term “hierarchy” in taxonomy refers to:
a) Random order
b) Definite sequence of categories
c) Chaotic structure
d) Equal rank of all taxa
a) Random order
b) Definite sequence of categories
c) Chaotic structure
d) Equal rank of all taxa
75. Which is higher: Order or Family?
a) Order
b) Family
c) Species
d) Genus
a) Order
b) Family
c) Species
d) Genus
76. “Systema Naturae” was authored by:
a) Darwin
b) Linnaeus
c) Mayr
d) Haeckel
a) Darwin
b) Linnaeus
c) Mayr
d) Haeckel
77. Related species are grouped together into a:
a) Family
b) Genus
c) Division
d) Order
a) Family
b) Genus
c) Division
d) Order
78. An organism’s scientific name consists of:
a) Only genus
b) Genus and specific epithet
c) Family only
d) Kingdom and order
a) Only genus
b) Genus and specific epithet
c) Family only
d) Kingdom and order
79. In which kingdom would you classify multicellular, non-green, eukaryotic organisms?
a) Plantae
b) Fungi
c) Protista
d) Animalia
a) Plantae
b) Fungi
c) Protista
d) Animalia
80. The first letter of the genus in the binomial system:
a) Is always lowercase
b) Is always uppercase
c) May be uppercase or lowercase
d) Is in italics only
a) Is always lowercase
b) Is always uppercase
c) May be uppercase or lowercase
d) Is in italics only
81. “Quercus” is a genus of:
a) Rose
b) Oak
c) Lily
d) Grass
a) Rose
b) Oak
c) Lily
d) Grass
82. Panthera tigris belongs to:
a) Mammalia
b) Aves
c) Reptilia
d) Amphibia
a) Mammalia
b) Aves
c) Reptilia
d) Amphibia
83. The term “taxon” refers to:
a) Plant family only
b) Any unit or group used in taxonomy
c) A fundamental atom
d) A region on Earth
a) Plant family only
b) Any unit or group used in taxonomy
c) A fundamental atom
d) A region on Earth
84. Linnaeus is known as:
a) Father of Genetics
b) Father of Taxonomy
c) Father of Evolution
d) Father of Anatomy
a) Father of Genetics
b) Father of Taxonomy
c) Father of Evolution
d) Father of Anatomy
85. Botanical gardens are primarily used for:
a) Tourism
b) Conservation and study of plants
c) Zoological study
d) Medical treatment
a) Tourism
b) Conservation and study of plants
c) Zoological study
d) Medical treatment
86. To which family does ‘Musca domestica’ belong?
a) Muscidae
b) Felidae
c) Canidae
d) Poaceae
a) Muscidae
b) Felidae
c) Canidae
d) Poaceae
87. Evolutionary history of taxa is called:
a) Ecology
b) Genetics
c) Phylogeny
d) Topography
a) Ecology
b) Genetics
c) Phylogeny
d) Topography
88. A group of similar genera forms a:
a) Family
b) Order
c) Class
d) Species
a) Family
b) Order
c) Class
d) Species
89. What is a ‘type specimen’?
a) A standard specimen on which description is based
b) Best-looking individual
c) Largest organism
d) Smallest organism
a) A standard specimen on which description is based
b) Best-looking individual
c) Largest organism
d) Smallest organism
90. Zoological parks are meant for:
a) Preservation of animals
b) Botanical studies
c) Plant conservation
d) Marine research only
a) Preservation of animals
b) Botanical studies
c) Plant conservation
d) Marine research only
91. The International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) governs the names of:
a) Fungi
b) Bacteria
c) Plants
d) Animals
a) Fungi
b) Bacteria
c) Plants
d) Animals
92. The process of arranging organisms into groups based on similarities is called:
a) Classification
b) Nomenclature
c) Hybridization
d) Experimentation
a) Classification
b) Nomenclature
c) Hybridization
d) Experimentation
93. “Trinomial nomenclature” includes:
a) Order, family, species
b) Genus, species, subspecies
c) Class, order, family
d) Genus, family, division
a) Order, family, species
b) Genus, species, subspecies
c) Class, order, family
d) Genus, family, division
94. All living organisms are divided into:
a) Three domains
b) Five kingdoms
c) Two families
d) Many genera only
a) Three domains
b) Five kingdoms
c) Two families
d) Many genera only
95. Which of the following tools is used in identification of plants and animals?
a) Computer
b) Key
c) Microscope
d) Hammer
a) Computer
b) Key
c) Microscope
d) Hammer
96. The basic unit of classification is:
a) Family
b) Genus
c) Species
d) Kingdom
a) Family
b) Genus
c) Species
d) Kingdom
97. In binomial nomenclature, specific epithet is:
a) The first word
b) The second word
c) Not used
d) Always capitalized
a) The first word
b) The second word
c) Not used
d) Always capitalized
98. The branch of biology that deals with heredity and variation is:
a) Genetics
b) Ecology
c) Taxonomy
d) Anatomy
a) Genetics
b) Ecology
c) Taxonomy
d) Anatomy
99. The animal kingdom is known as:
a) Animalia
b) Plantae
c) Fungi
d) Protista
a) Animalia
b) Plantae
c) Fungi
d) Protista
100. The foundation of taxonomy is:
a) Classification
b) Digestion
c) Circulation
d) Respiration
a) Classification
b) Digestion
c) Circulation
d) Respiration