Q.1 Who is considered the father of modern taxonomy?
Charles Darwin
Gregor Mendel
Carolus Linnaeus
Aristotle
Explanation - Carolus Linnaeus developed the binomial nomenclature system for naming species, which forms the basis of modern taxonomy.
Correct answer is: Carolus Linnaeus
Q.2 Which taxonomic category is the most inclusive?
Genus
Family
Phylum
Species
Explanation - Phylum is higher in the hierarchy than class, order, family, genus, and species, making it the most inclusive among these options.
Correct answer is: Phylum
Q.3 The correct sequence of taxonomic hierarchy from broadest to most specific is:
Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
Species, Genus, Family, Order, Class, Phylum, Kingdom
Class, Kingdom, Order, Phylum, Genus, Family, Species
Family, Genus, Species, Order, Class, Phylum, Kingdom
Explanation - Taxonomic hierarchy moves from broadest (Kingdom) to most specific (Species) as shown in the correct option.
Correct answer is: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
Q.4 Binomial nomenclature includes the name of the:
Order and Family
Genus and Species
Class and Order
Family and Genus
Explanation - In binomial nomenclature, each organism is given a two-part name: the first part is the genus, and the second is the species.
Correct answer is: Genus and Species
Q.5 Which of the following is a prokaryotic domain?
Archaea
Plantae
Fungi
Animalia
Explanation - Archaea are prokaryotic organisms, lacking a defined nucleus, unlike members of Plantae, Fungi, and Animalia which are eukaryotic.
Correct answer is: Archaea
Q.6 Who introduced the concept of ‘Species Plantarum’?
Charles Darwin
Carolus Linnaeus
Ernst Haeckel
Robert Hooke
Explanation - Linnaeus published 'Species Plantarum' in 1753, which laid the foundation for the modern system of naming plants.
Correct answer is: Carolus Linnaeus
Q.7 Which system of classification is based on evolutionary relationships?
Artificial system
Natural system
Phylogenetic system
Phenetic system
Explanation - The phylogenetic system classifies organisms based on evolutionary history and genetic relationships.
Correct answer is: Phylogenetic system
Q.8 The term 'taxon' refers to:
A group of organisms classified together
The study of fossils
A type of ecosystem
A genetic mutation
Explanation - A taxon is any group of organisms given a formal taxonomic name, such as species, genus, or family.
Correct answer is: A group of organisms classified together
Q.9 Which of the following kingdoms includes organisms that are mostly multicellular and autotrophic?
Plantae
Fungi
Protista
Monera
Explanation - Kingdom Plantae primarily includes multicellular, autotrophic organisms that perform photosynthesis.
Correct answer is: Plantae
Q.10 What is the primary basis for classification in the five-kingdom system proposed by R.H. Whittaker?
Cell structure and mode of nutrition
Habitat and size
Color and morphology
Reproductive behavior only
Explanation - Whittaker classified organisms into five kingdoms based on cell structure (prokaryotic/eukaryotic) and nutritional patterns (autotroph/heterotroph).
Correct answer is: Cell structure and mode of nutrition
Q.11 Which kingdom includes decomposers that absorb nutrients from dead organic matter?
Fungi
Plantae
Animalia
Protista
Explanation - Fungi are saprophytic organisms that play a vital role in decomposition by absorbing nutrients from dead matter.
Correct answer is: Fungi
Q.12 Which of the following is not a feature of the phylum Chordata?
Dorsal hollow nerve cord
Notochord
Segmented body
Exoskeleton
Explanation - Chordates have a notochord, dorsal nerve cord, and segmented body, but an exoskeleton is characteristic of arthropods, not chordates.
Correct answer is: Exoskeleton
Q.13 Which taxonomic category comes immediately above 'Genus'?
Family
Order
Class
Species
Explanation - The hierarchy is Species < Genus < Family < Order < Class < Phylum < Kingdom.
Correct answer is: Family
Q.14 The system of nomenclature where the same name cannot be used for two different species is called:
Binomial nomenclature
Homonymy
Synonymy
Priority principle
Explanation - Homonymy in nomenclature ensures that each species has a unique name and avoids duplication.
Correct answer is: Homonymy
Q.15 Which kingdom contains organisms with prokaryotic cells and peptidoglycan in their cell walls?
Monera
Protista
Fungi
Plantae
Explanation - Monera includes bacteria which are prokaryotic and have peptidoglycan in their cell walls.
Correct answer is: Monera
Q.16 In modern taxonomy, molecular data is primarily used to determine:
Morphological similarities
Behavioral traits
Evolutionary relationships
Habitat preferences
Explanation - Molecular data, such as DNA sequencing, helps in understanding phylogenetic relationships between organisms.
Correct answer is: Evolutionary relationships
Q.17 Who proposed the three-domain system of classification?
Carl Linnaeus
R.H. Whittaker
Carl Woese
Ernst Haeckel
Explanation - Carl Woese proposed the three-domain system (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya) based on differences in ribosomal RNA.
Correct answer is: Carl Woese
Q.18 Lichens are classified under which kingdom?
Fungi
Plantae
Protista
Monera
Explanation - Although lichens are symbiotic associations of fungi and algae, they are classified under kingdom Fungi.
Correct answer is: Fungi
Q.19 Which of the following best defines a 'clade'?
A group of organisms with similar habitat
A group of organisms sharing a common ancestor
A group of organisms with identical morphology
A group of organisms discovered at the same time
Explanation - A clade consists of an ancestor and all its descendants, forming a single branch in the phylogenetic tree.
Correct answer is: A group of organisms sharing a common ancestor
Q.20 Which kingdom includes mostly unicellular eukaryotes?
Protista
Plantae
Animalia
Fungi
Explanation - Kingdom Protista primarily includes unicellular eukaryotes like amoeba and paramecium.
Correct answer is: Protista
Q.21 The principle of priority in nomenclature states that:
The oldest valid name should be used
The newest name should be used
Two names can be used simultaneously
Name should be based on morphology only
Explanation - According to the principle of priority, the first published valid name of a species has precedence over later names.
Correct answer is: The oldest valid name should be used
Q.22 Which kingdom was added by Whittaker to separate fungi from plants?
Fungi
Protista
Monera
Animalia
Explanation - Whittaker recognized Fungi as a separate kingdom due to differences in nutrition and cell structure from plants.
Correct answer is: Fungi
Q.23 An example of convergent evolution leading to similar traits in unrelated organisms is:
Wings of birds and bats
Leaves of oak and maple
Roots of carrot and radish
Petals of rose and hibiscus
Explanation - Birds and bats evolved wings independently, showing functional similarity despite different evolutionary origins.
Correct answer is: Wings of birds and bats
Q.24 Which of the following characters is most useful for classification at the species level?
Morphology
Reproductive isolation
Habitat preference
Color pattern
Explanation - Reproductive isolation is a key biological criterion to define species, as members of the same species can interbreed.
Correct answer is: Reproductive isolation