Q.1 Which layer of the Earth’s atmosphere contains the ozone layer that protects life from harmful ultraviolet radiation?
Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Explanation - The ozone layer is located in the stratosphere, which absorbs and scatters ultraviolet solar radiation.
Correct answer is: Stratosphere
Q.2 Which of the following is considered a renewable source of energy?
Coal
Natural Gas
Solar Energy
Petroleum
Explanation - Solar energy is renewable because it is derived from the Sun, which provides a continuous and sustainable supply of energy.
Correct answer is: Solar Energy
Q.3 Deforestation primarily contributes to which environmental problem?
Soil Erosion
Ozone Layer Depletion
Acid Rain
Earthquakes
Explanation - Removing forests exposes soil to wind and water erosion, reducing fertility and increasing the risk of landslides.
Correct answer is: Soil Erosion
Q.4 Which greenhouse gas is most responsible for global warming?
Oxygen
Carbon Dioxide
Nitrogen
Helium
Explanation - Carbon dioxide traps heat in the atmosphere, contributing significantly to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
Correct answer is: Carbon Dioxide
Q.5 Which environmental issue is primarily caused by excessive use of fertilizers in agriculture?
Air Pollution
Eutrophication
Deforestation
Desertification
Explanation - Fertilizers rich in nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into water bodies, causing overgrowth of algae and depletion of oxygen.
Correct answer is: Eutrophication
Q.6 The phenomenon of ‘El Niño’ primarily affects which environmental factor?
Wind Patterns
Ocean Currents
Volcanic Activity
Earthquakes
Explanation - El Niño is characterized by the warming of ocean surface waters in the Pacific, disrupting normal ocean currents and climate patterns.
Correct answer is: Ocean Currents
Q.7 Which of the following is an effect of acid rain?
Melting Glaciers
Damaging Forests
Earthquakes
Tsunamis
Explanation - Acid rain results from sulfur and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere, which can damage leaves, soil, and aquatic life.
Correct answer is: Damaging Forests
Q.8 Which of these is a major cause of desertification?
Overgrazing
Tectonic Activity
Glacial Retreat
Earthquakes
Explanation - Excessive grazing removes vegetation cover, leaving soil exposed to erosion and degradation, leading to desertification.
Correct answer is: Overgrazing
Q.9 Which international agreement aims to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases to combat climate change?
Kyoto Protocol
Montreal Protocol
Paris Agreement
Geneva Convention
Explanation - The Paris Agreement (2015) aims to limit global warming to below 2°C by reducing greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
Correct answer is: Paris Agreement
Q.10 Which environmental problem results from the depletion of groundwater faster than its natural recharge?
Waterlogging
Aquifer Depletion
Flooding
Eutrophication
Explanation - Over-extraction of groundwater lowers water tables, leading to aquifer depletion and scarcity of fresh water.
Correct answer is: Aquifer Depletion
Q.11 Which of the following is a non-point source of water pollution?
Factory discharge
Oil spill from a tanker
Agricultural runoff
Sewage pipe discharge
Explanation - Non-point source pollution comes from diffuse sources like agricultural fields, rather than a single identifiable point.
Correct answer is: Agricultural runoff
Q.12 Which soil conservation technique involves plowing along the natural contours of the land?
Terracing
Contour Plowing
Crop Rotation
Deforestation
Explanation - Contour plowing reduces runoff and soil erosion by following the natural slope of the land.
Correct answer is: Contour Plowing
Q.13 Which human activity is the primary driver of habitat loss for many wildlife species?
Urbanization
Fishing
Cycling
Hiking
Explanation - Expansion of cities and infrastructure destroys natural habitats, endangering wildlife species.
Correct answer is: Urbanization
Q.14 Which gas is released from landfills and contributes to climate change?
Oxygen
Methane
Argon
Nitrogen
Explanation - Methane is produced during anaerobic decomposition of organic waste in landfills and is a potent greenhouse gas.
Correct answer is: Methane
Q.15 Which environmental disaster is caused by the release of radioactive substances?
Oil Spill
Nuclear Accident
Deforestation
Acid Rain
Explanation - Nuclear accidents release radioactive materials into the environment, which can cause long-term ecological and health impacts.
Correct answer is: Nuclear Accident
Q.16 Which of the following is an effect of global warming on oceans?
Rising sea levels
Increased salinity
Reduced tidal activity
Stronger magnetic fields
Explanation - Global warming melts glaciers and ice sheets, causing thermal expansion of seawater and rising sea levels.
Correct answer is: Rising sea levels
Q.17 Which process involves the gradual loss of fertile topsoil?
Erosion
Sedimentation
Weathering
Deposition
Explanation - Erosion removes the nutrient-rich top layer of soil due to wind, water, or human activities, reducing fertility.
Correct answer is: Erosion
Q.18 Which of these is an example of a point source of pollution?
Runoff from a farm
Effluent from a factory pipe
Urban stormwater
Acid rain
Explanation - Point source pollution comes from a single, identifiable source, like a pipe discharging wastewater.
Correct answer is: Effluent from a factory pipe
Q.19 Which term refers to the variety of life in all its forms, levels, and combinations?
Biodiversity
Ecosystem
Biome
Habitat
Explanation - Biodiversity encompasses the variety of species, genetic variation, and ecosystems in the environment.
Correct answer is: Biodiversity
Q.20 Which of the following contributes most to urban heat islands?
Green spaces
High-rise buildings and concrete surfaces
Lakes and rivers
Wind patterns
Explanation - Concrete and asphalt absorb and retain heat, causing cities to be warmer than surrounding rural areas.
Correct answer is: High-rise buildings and concrete surfaces
Q.21 Which phenomenon leads to the thinning of the ozone layer?
CFC emissions
CO2 emissions
Methane release
Oil spills
Explanation - Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) release chlorine atoms in the stratosphere, which destroy ozone molecules.
Correct answer is: CFC emissions
Q.22 Which of the following is a direct effect of deforestation on the carbon cycle?
Increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Decrease in methane levels
Increase in oxygen levels
Reduction in greenhouse gases
Explanation - Trees absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis; cutting them down releases stored carbon, increasing atmospheric CO2.
Correct answer is: Increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Q.23 Which type of pollution is primarily responsible for the phenomenon known as 'smog'?
Air Pollution
Water Pollution
Soil Pollution
Noise Pollution
Explanation - Smog is caused by the accumulation of pollutants, including particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, in the atmosphere.
Correct answer is: Air Pollution
Q.24 Which agricultural practice can help restore soil fertility naturally?
Monoculture
Crop Rotation
Slash and Burn
Overgrazing
Explanation - Rotating different crops reduces soil nutrient depletion and helps maintain soil fertility.
Correct answer is: Crop Rotation