Q. 1. Which one of the following is the best description of the term ‘ecosystem’?
(a) A community of organisms interacting with one another
(b) That part of the Earth which is inhabited by living organisms
(c) A community of organisms together with the environment in which they live
(d) The flora and fauna of a geographical area
Answer. (c)
Explanation
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the non-living
components of their environment, interacting as a system. These biotic and abiotic
components are regarded as linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows.
Q. 2. With reference to an organization known as ‘BirdLife International’, which of the
following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations.
2. The concept of ‘biodiversity hotspots’ originated from this organization.
3. It identifies the sites known/ referred to as ‘Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas’.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer. (c)
Explanation
Statement 2 is wrong.
BirdLife international is a global partnership of conservation organisations that strives to
conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards
sustainability in the use of natural resources.
It is the World’s largest partnership of conservation organisations, with over 120 partner
organizations 120 partner organizations.
Together the BirdLife Partnership forms the leading authority on the status of birds, their
habitats and the issues and problems affecting bird life.
Its “Important Bird and Biodiversity Area” (IBA) Programme aims to identify, monitor and
protect a global network of IBAs for the conservation of the world’s birds and other wildlife.
Q. 3. With reference to the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA),
which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. It is a Public Limited Government Company.
2. It is a Non-Banking Financial Company.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Self Explanatory
Q. 4. Which of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating
vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity?
(a) Bhitarkanika National Park
(b) Keibul Lamjao National Park
(c) Keoladeo Ghana National Park
(d) Sultanpur National Park
Answer. (b)
Explanation
Keibul Lamjao National Park is the only floating park in the world, located in Manipur, and an
integral part of Loktak Lake.
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Q. 5. With reference to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and CITES is an international agreement
between governments.
2. IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural
environments.
3. CITES is legally binding on the States that have joined it, but this Convention does
not take the place of national laws.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer. (b)
Explanation
IUCN is a voluntary organization (NOT an agency of UN). Even if you knew this much, you
could eliminate all other options, to select (b).
Statements 2 and 3 are correct.
Q. 6. With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal found in India, which of the following statements
is/are correct?
1. It is a herbivorous marine animal.
2. It is found along the entire coast of India.
3. It is given legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act; 1972.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only
Answer. (c)
Explanation
Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Self-Understood
Statement 2 is wrong: In India, dugong is found off the Gujarat Coast (Gulf of Kutch), Tamil
Nadu coast (Gulf of Mannar), Palk Bay and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Q. 7. Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?
(a) Saltwater crocodile
(b) Olive ridley turtle
(c) Gangetic dolphin
(d) Gharial
Answer. (c)
Explanation
River Dolphin (or Gangetic Dolphin) is the National Aquatic Animal of India. This mammal is
also said to represent the purity of the holy
Ganga as it can only survive in pure and fresh water. They are locally known as “susu”,
because of the noise it makes while breathing. This species inhabits parts of the Ganges,
Meghna and Brahmaputra rivers in India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, and the
Karnaphuli River in Bangladesh.
Q. 8. Which one of the following is associated with the issue of control and phasing out of
the use of ozone-depleting substances?
(a) Bretton Woods Conference
(b) Montreal Protocol
(c) Kyoto Protocol
(d) Nagoya Protocol
Ans. (b)
Explanation
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (a protocol to the
Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer) is an international treaty designed
to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are
responsible for ozone depletion.
• Bretton Woods Conference relates to IMF and World Bank.
• Kyoto Protocol is about cutting emissions of greenhouse gases.
• Nagoya protocol is about benefit sharing from the gains by genetic resources.
Q. 9. Which of the following statements regarding ‘Green Climate Fund’ is/are correct?
1. It is intended to assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices
to counter climate change.
2. It is founded under the aegis of UNEP, OECD, Asian Development Bank and World
Bank.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer. (a)
Explanation
Only statement 1 is correct.
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a fund within the framework of the UNFCCC founded as a
mechanism to redistribute money from the developed to the developing world, in order to
assist the developing countries in adaptation and mitigation practices to counter climate
change.
Q. 10. ‘BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes’ is managed by the
(a) Asian Development Bank
(b) International Monetary Fund
(c) United Nations Environment Programme
(d) World Bank
Self-Explanatory
Q. 11. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee is constituted under the
(a) Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
(b) Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
(c) Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
(d) Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
Answer. (c)
Explanation
The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the apex body constituted in the
Ministry of Environment and Forests under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
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Q. 12. In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living trees into robust
bridges across the streams. As the time passes, these bridges become stronger. These
unique ‘living root bridges’ are found in
(a) Meghalaya
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Jharkhand
(d) Tamil Nadu
Answer. (a)
Explanation
Meghalaya’s double-decker and single-decker root bridges are unique in the world and are a
sight to behold.
The bridges are tangles of massive thick roots, which have been intermingled to form a
bridge that can hold several people at a time.
Khasi people have been trained to grow these bridges across the raised banks of streams to
form a solid bridge, made from roots.
The living bridges are made from the roots of the Ficus elastic tree, which produces a series
of secondary roots that are perched atop huge boulders along the streams or the riverbanks
to form bridges.
Q. 13. With reference to ‘Forest Carbon Partnership Facility’, which of the following
statements is/are correct?
1. It is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society and indigenous
peoples.
2. It provides financial aid to universities, individual scientists and institutions involved in
scientific forestry research to develop eco-friendly and climate adaptation technologies for
sustainable forest management.
3. It assists the countries in their ‘REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and
Forest Degradation+)’ efforts by providing them with financial and technical assistance.
Select the correct answer using the code” given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer. (c)
Explanation
The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) is a global partnership of governments,
businesses, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples; focused on reducing emissions from
deforestation and forest degradation, forest carbon stock conservation, the sustainable
management of forests, and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing
countries. FCPF grants fund to developing countries; but not to to universities, individual
scientists and institutions.
FCPF has been formed under REDD+.
NOTE: Also read about the four strategic objectives of the FCPF.
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