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1.  The Living World
2| Objective NCERT Gear UP Biology

2 2
29 cm or 11.5 inch

Dried and pressed specimen

41 cm2 or 16.5 inch2

12 cm

Label containing – Date, place,

English name, vernacular name,
7 cm

botanical name, family &

LABEL
collector.

Fig: Herbarium Sheet showing label and specimen

Common Biological Genus Family Order Class Phylum/

Name Name Division

Man Homo sapiens Homo Hominidae Primata Mammalia Chordata

Housefly Musca Musca Muscidae Diptera Insecta Arthrophoda

Domestica

Mango Mangifera Mangifera Anacardiaceae Sapindales Dicotyledonae Angiospermae

indica

Wheat Triticum Triticum Poaceae Poales Monocotyledonae Angiospermae

aestivum

Fig: Organisms with their Taxonomic Categories

 CHAPTER
1 The Living World
NCERT-PICKS
• Father of Biology and • Growth cannot be taken as a defining property of
Zoology : Aristotle
• The Darwin of the 20th accumulation of matter called as accretion
century : Ernst Mayr
• Father of Botany : Theophrastus
• Father of Plant Physiology : Stephan Hales
Father of Experimental similar to parents in many aspects. They can be exact
Genetics : Morgan
• Father of Mycology : Micheli
• Father of DNA finger reproduction (two parents involved and gamete
printing : Alec. Jaffery
• Father of Indian Ecology : Ramdeo Mishra
• Father of Indian Mycology : E. J. Butler
• Father of Mutation : Hugo de Vries
• Father of Special Creation
Theory : Father Suarez
• Father of Modern Genetics : Bateson
• Ernst Mayr pioneered the currently accepted definition
of a biological species.
• Morphological concept of species given by Linnaeus.
• Increase in mass and increase in number of individuals
are twin characteristics of growth. All living organisms
grow.
• A multicellular organism grows by cell division.
• In majority of higher animals and plants, growth and
reproduction are mutually exclusive events as they can
occur independently.
• Increase in body mass is considered as growth, thus
non-living things such as mountains and sand dunes can
also grow.
• In living organisms, growth is from inside, which is
called intususception
living organisms as some non-living things can grow by
• In multicellular organisms, reproduction refers to the
production of progeny possessing features more or less
similar to those of parents. The progeny produced is
copies of their parents referred as clones, as in case of
asexual reproduction (only one parent involved) or
may have several variations introduced, as in sexual
formation as well as fusion occurs).
Table: Organisms and their mode of reproduction
Organisms Mode of Reproduction
Fungi Multiply and spread easily
due to the millions of asexual
spores they produce
Yeast and hydra Budding
Planaria (flat worms) Shows True regeneration
Fragmentation
Fungi, the filamentous
algae, the protonema of
mosses
Unicellular organisms like Cell division
bacteria, unicellular algae
or Amoeba
• In bacteria, unicellular algae or Amoeba, reproduction
is synonymous with growth, i.e., increase in number of
cells. Thus, cell division, growth and reproduction are
inclusive events in unicellular organisms.
• Reproduction cannot be called as all-inclusive defining
characteristic of living organisms as infertile humans,
mules and worker bees do not reproduce at all
• The sum total of all the chemical reactions occurring in
our body is metabolism.
46 | Objective NCERT Gear UP Biology
• Metabolism includes catabolism (breakdown reactions)
and anabolism (synthetic reactions).
• Anabolic reactions are endergonic as they require energy
for bond formation. In such reactions, small molecules
are combined to make large molecule. For example-
Photosynthesis where CO2 and H2O in presence of
sunlight and chlorophyll use to make Glucose.
• Catabolic reactions are exergonic as they release energy
on bond breakage.
• Plants respond to external factors like light, water,
temperature, other organisms, pollutants, etc. Hence they
also show response towards stimulus and thus they are
conscious.
• No non-living object exhibits metabolism.
• An isolated metabolic reaction(s) outside the body of an
organism, performed in a test tube is neither living nor
non-living.
• Metabolism is a defining feature of all living organisms
without exception, isolated metabolic reactions in vitro
are not living things but surely living reactions.
• Cellular organization of the body is the defining
feature of life forms.
• The most obvious and technically complicated feature of all
living organisms is this ability to sense their surroundings
or environment and respond to these environmental stimuli
which could be physical, chemical or biological. This ability
is termed as consciousness.
• Photoperiod affects reproduction in seasonal breeders.
• Human being is the only organism that is aware of himself,
i.e., has self-consciousness. Thus self consciousness is
not a characteristic feature of all living organisms.
• Consciousness is the defining property of living organisms
as it is possessed by all living organisms.
• The patients lying in coma in hospitals are called brain-
dead as they have no self-consciousness at that time.
• All living phenomena are due to underlying
interactions.
• Definition of living organisms: They are self-replicating,
evolving and self-regulating interactive systems capable
of responding to external stimuli.
Biodiversity
• The number of species that are known and described
range between 1.7-1.8 million. This refers to biodiversity
• Largest class is insecta and largest phylum is Arthropoda.
• Maximum Biodiversity is found in tropical rain forest.
Nomenclature
• Binomial nomenclature system given by Carolus
Linnaeus. Each name has two components – the generic
name and the specific epithet.
• We know the plants and animals in our own area by their
local/ vernacular names but these local names would
vary from place to place, even within a country that can
create a lot of confusion. Thus, it is a need to standardize
the naming of living organisms such that a particular
organism is known by the same single name all over the
world.
• Nomenclature or naming is only possible when the
organism is described correctly and we know to
what organism the name is attached to. This is called
identification.
• Tautonyms: If both generic and specific names are same,
these are called tautonyms. e.g., Rattus rattus
• Nomenclature: Standardize the naming of living organisms
For Naming of Plants
▪▪ International Code for Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN).
For Naming of Animals
▪▪ International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN).
Rules of Nomenclature
• Biological names are generally in Latin and written
in italics. They are latinized or derived from Latin
irrespective of their origin.
• The first word in a biological name represents the genus
while the second component denotes the specific epithet.
• Both the words in a biological name, when handwritten,
are separately underlined, or printed in italics to
indicate their Latin origin.
• The first word denoting the genus starts with a capital
letter while the specific epithet starts with a small letter.
• Name of the author appears after the specific epithet,
i.e., at the end of the biological name and is written in an
abbreviated form, in Roman script.
Taxonomy and Systematics
• Since it is nearly impossible to study all the living
organisms, thus it becomes necessary to classify them
which involves grouping of organisms into convenient
categories based on some easily observable characters.
• The scientific term for taxonomic categories is taxa.
Taxa can indicate categories at very different levels. For
example- Plantae is a taxa (kingdom), Triticum is also a
taxa (genus), but at different levels.
• Thus, based on characteristics, all living organisms can be
classified into different taxa. This process of classification
is taxonomy.
 The Living World | 47

• Basis of modern taxonomic studies: External and
internal structure, along with the structure of cell,
development process and ecological information of
organisms.
• The earliest classifications were based on the ‘uses’ (as
food, shelter, clothing) of various organisms.
• The branch of biology that deals with diversity,
classification as well as evolutionary relationship among
organisms is referred to as systematics.
• Systematics can be referred as taxonomy (characterization,
identification, classification and nomenclature) +
evolutionary relationships. Thus systematic is broader
branch than taxonomy.
• Characterization, identification, classification and
nomenclature are the processes that are basic to taxonomy.
• The word systematics is derived from the Latin word
‘systema’ which means systematic arrangement of
organisms.
• Linnaeus used Systema Naturae as the title of his
publication.
Taxonomic Category
• Classification is not a single step process but involves
hierarchy (arrangement of anything in increasing or
decreasing order) of steps in which each step represents a
rank or category or taxa which is a unit of classification.
Since the category is a part of overall taxonomic
arrangement, it is called the taxonomic category and all
categories together constitute the taxonomic hierarchy.
• Taxonomical Heirarchy: as we go from species
(smallest category) to kingdom (largest category),
common characters go on decreasing or differences go
on increasing.
Species → Genus → Family → Order → Class →
Phylum (for animals)/ Division(for plants) → Kingdom
(these are called as the 7 obligate categories).
• Suffix -ales is used for order & suffix -aceae is used for
family.

Taxonomical Aids (Tools for Taxonomy)

• Taxonomic studies require correct classification and identification (requires intensive laboratory and field studies) of
organisms. The collection of actual specimens of plant and animal species is essential and is the prime source of taxonomic
studies. These are also fundamental to studies and essential for training in systematics.
• It is used for classification of an organism, and the information gathered is also stored along with the specimens. In some
cases the specimen is preserved for future studies. Biologists have established certain procedures and techniques to store
and preserve the information as well as the specimens.
Herbarium Store house of collected plant specimens that are dried, pressed and preserved on sheets.
These specimens, along with their descriptions on herbarium sheets (41.5cmX29cm or 16.5”X11.5”),
become a store house or repository for future use. The herbarium sheets also carry a label providing
information about date and place of collection, English, local and botanical names, family, collector’s
name, etc.
Herbaria also serve as quick referral systems in taxonomical studies.
HgCl2 protects specimens from insects and pests.
Botanical Gardens These specialised gardens have collections of living plants for reference. Plant species in these gardens
are grown for identification purposes and each plant is labelled indicating its botanical/scientific name
and its family.
The famous botanical garden at Kew (England) is the largest herbarium in the world and Indian
Botanical Garden, Howrah (India) has largest herbarium in India.
National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow (India) is also quite famous.

Museum Museums have collections of preserved plant and animal specimens for study and reference.
Specimens are preserved in the containers or jars in preservative solutions (formalin).
Insects are preserved in insect boxes after collecting, killing and pinning.
Larger animals like birds and mammals are usually stuffed and preserved.
48 | Objective NCERT Gear UP Biology

Zoological Parks These are the places where wild animals are kept in protected environments under human care and
which enable us to learn about their food habits and behavior.
All animals in a zoo are provided, as far as possible, the conditions similar to their natural habitats.
Children love visiting these parks, commonly called Zoos.
Key Key is another taxonomical aid used for identification of plants and animals based on the similarities
and dissimilarities.
The keys are based on the contrasting characters generally in a pair called couplet.
It represents the choice made between two opposite options that result in acceptance of only one and
rejection of the other. Each statement in the key is called a lead.
Keys are generally analytical in nature.
Flora Flora, manuals, monographs and catalogues are some means of recording descriptions which also helps
in correct identification of organism.
It contains the actual account of habitat and distribution of plants of a given area. These provide the
index to the plant species found in a particular area.
J.D.Hooker wrote “Flora of British India”.

Manuals They are useful in providing information for identification of names of species found in an area.

Monographs They contain information on any one taxon.

• Concepts of Hotspots : Norman Myers

• Most diversity rich zone in India : Western Ghat and Eastern Himalaya.
• Term classification: A.P.de Candolle
• Three domains of Life : Carl Woese, 1990
• Sympatric : Species inhabiting same geographical area
• Allopatric : Species inhabiting different geographical area

Self Assessment Questions
What is Living? [NCERT Pg 3-5]
1. Which of the following is the defining property of living
organism?
a. Reproduction b. Metabolism
c. Consciousness d. Cell division
2. Which of the following do not reproduces?
a. Phytoplankton b. Worker bee
c. Queen bee d. Mycoplasma
3. Isolated metabolism reaction outside the body performed
in test tube is
a. Living
b. Non - living
c. Neither living nor non-living
d. Both (a) and (b)
4. Defining feature of life forms?
a. Metabolism b. Consciousness
c. Cellular organization d. Both (b) and (c)
5. In which organism reproduction can be considered as
synonymous with growth?
a. Amoeba
b. Planaria
c. Star fish
d. More than one option are correct
6. The twin characteristics of growth are:
a. Increase in number of individuals, increase in mass
b. Increase in height and increase in mass
c. Increase in molecular weight and increase in mass
d. Increase in size and decrease in mass
7. A living organism is unexceptionally differentiated from
a non-living structure on the basis of
a. Reproduction
b. Growth and movement
c. Interaction with environment
d. Responsiveness
8. Select a non-living object showing growth
a. Mountain b. Boulder
c. Sand mound d. All the above
9. Glucose in taken in test tube and acted upon by
hexokinase enzyme. Resulting substrate is glucose - 6 -
phosphate. This isolated metabolic reaction is:
a. Occurring in test tube which can be considered as
living reaction
b. Considered to be in vivo
c. Considered to be in vitro and non-living reaction.
d. Considered as non-living reaction
The Living World | 49
Diversity in Living World [NCERT Pg 6-8]
10. Described biodiversity range?
a. 1.7 - 1.8 million b. 1.1 - 1.8 trillion
c. 1.7 - 1.8 billion d. 17 - 18 billion
11. ICBN codes for?
a. International Code of Botanical Nomenclature
b. International Code of Binomial Nomenclature
c. International Code of Botanimal Naming
d. International Code of Binomial Naming
12. ICZN codes for:
a. International Code for Zoological Nomenclature
b. International Code for Zoological Naming
c. International Coding for Zoological Nomenclature
d. Inbreeding Code for Zoological Nomenclature
13. The title used by Linnaeus for his publication was
a. Systema Naturae
b. Genera Naturae
c. Altis vortex
d. Die Nature lichen pflanzen
14. The science of giving names to living beings called
a. Nomenclature b. Identification
c. Classification d. Characterization
15. Select the correctly written botanical/ zoological name
a. Panthera tigris b. Mangifera Indica
c. Sativum pisum d. homo sapiens
16. Biological names, when hand written, should necessary
be:
a. Underlined b. Bold (antics)
c. In capital letter d. Italics
17.
In binomial nomenclature, the first and second
components represent:
a. Genus and species
b. Genus and class
c. Species and genus
d. Kingdom and class
18. The main purpose of classification of organisms is to
a. Study geography
b. Locate plants and animals
c. Establish relationships amongst organisms
d. Study evolution
19. Determining whether a collected organism is entirely
new or already known is called
a. Nomenclature b. Identification
c. Classification d. Characterisation
 50 | Objective NCERT Gear UP Biology
20. The word systematics is derived from
a. Greek word systema b. Italic word systema
c. Latin word systema d. English word systema
21. In Mangifera indica Linn; indica refers to
a. Genus b. Author
c. Family d. Species
22. The study of different kinds of organisms and their
diversties and also the relationship among them referred
to as
a. Category b. Systematics
c. Classifications d. Publication
23. A paper was published in a journal of Flora of Dist.
Nellore. In which branch of botany should this paper be
placed?
a. Morphology b. Taxonomy
c. Evolution d. Ecology
24. In binomial nomenclature proposed by Linnaeus, every
organism has
a. Two names, one Latin and other common
b. Two names, one scientific and other vernacular
c. One scientific name, given by two scientists
d. One scientific/biological name with two words - a
genus and a species
25. Taxonomic hierarchy refer to
a. Classification of species based on the fossil record
b. A list of botanists or zoologists who have worked on
the taxonomy of a species or group
c. a group of senior taxonomists who decide the
nomenclature of animals and plants
d. Stepwise arrangement of all categories for
classification of animals and plants
26. One of the first acts in taxonomy is
a. Identification b. Description
c. Naming d. Classification
27. Basis of Taxonomy are:
a. Identification - Characterization - Classification -
Nomenclature
b. Characterization - Identification - Classification -
Nomenclature
c. Classification - Characterization - Identification -
Nomenclature
d. Nomenclature - Classification - Identification -
characterization
28. The scientific name of banyan is written as Ficus
bengalensis L. which of the following is a correct
statement regarding this?
a. Letter L signifies Latin language.
b. The name should be reverse with bengalensis
preceding Ficus
c. Letter L signifies taxonomist Linnaeus
d. Bengalensis is generic name
29. Systematics takes into account:
a. Evolutionary relationship between organisms.
b. Breeding relationship between organisms.
c. Economic relationship between organisms.
d. None of these
30. In a scientific name, the name of the author is printed in
a. Capital letters b. Bold ( antics)
c. Italics d. Roman
31. Few rules are written below regarding binomial
nomenclature. Identify the wrong one:
a. Biological names are latinized and written in italics
b. Generic and specific name starts with capital letter
c. Generic and specific name when hand written are
underlined
d. All are correct
32. Which is not the component of taxonomy?
a. Identification b. Responsiveness
c. Nomenclature d. Classification
33. In taxonomy the first step is:
a. Identification b. Nomenclature
c. Classification d. Affinities
Taxonomic Categories [NCERT Pg 8-11]
34. As we go lower from kingdom to species the number of
common characteristics goes on
a. Increasing b. Remain unchanged
c. Decreasing d. Sometimes decreasing
35. Taxon represents:
a. Rank in classification
b. Basic unit of classification
c. Both of these
d. None of these
36. Lowest category of animal kingdom is
a. Genus b. Family
c. Species d. Taxon
37. Which of the following taxonomic categories contains
organisms least similar to one another?
a. Genera b. Family
c. Class d. Species
38. Which of the following combinations is correct for
wheat ?
a. Genus : Triticum, Family : Anacardiaceae, Order :
Poales, Class : Monocotyledonae
b. Genus : Triticum, Family : Poaceae, Order : Poales,
Class : Dicotyledonae
c. Genus : Triticum, Family : Poaceae, Order :
Sapindales, Class : Monocotyledonae
d. Genus : Triticum, Family : Poaceae, Order : Poales,
Class : Monocotyledonae

39. How many obligate categories or ranks are found in a
hierarchical level of classification?
a. 7 b. 5
c. 6 d. 10
40. The highest taxon in taxonomic hierarchy is
a. Species b. Genus
c. Order d. Kingdom
41. Which is not a taxon in Linnaeus hierarchy?
a. Class & order b. Kingdom & Class
c. Genus & species d. Phylum & family
42. Identity the incorrect statement:
a. Class like Mammalia is involved in phylum Chordata
b. Order like Insecta is involved in class Mandibulate
c. Genus like Panthera is involved in family Felidae.
d. Order like Primata is involved in class Mammalia
43. Taxonomic hierachy is given following; select the
correct match:
Taxonomic category Examples
a. Class Sapindales, Insecta
b. Order Primata, Diptera
c. Genus Musca, Poales
d. Family Triticum, Muscidae
Species [NCERT Pg 9]
44. A group of individual organisms with fundamental
similarities is
a. Family b. Species
c. Class d. Kingdom
45. All the three names, indica, tuberosum and leo represents
a. Family b. Genus
c. Category d. Species are respectively:
46. Which of the following is a species?
a. Tamarindus b. Homo
c. Triticum aestivum d. Indica
47. Which is less general in characters as compared to
genus? a. Hominidae b. Hominini
a. Family d. Class
c. Division d. Species
48. Select a species not related to genus Solanum
a. tabacum b. tuberosum
c. nigrum d. melongena
Genus [NCERT Pg 9]
49. Genus represents
a. An individual plant or animal
b. A collection of plants or animals
c. Group of related species of plants or animals
d. A group of plants in a given area.
The Living World | 51
50. Linnaeus put similar species into a larger group called
the
a. Species b. Family
c. Kingdom d. Genus
51. In a taxonomic hierarchy, genus is interpolated between
a. Kingdom and class b. Phylum and order
c. Order and species d. Family and species
52. The taxonomic category below the level of family is
a. Class b. Order
c. Phylum d. Genus
53. Potato, Tobacco, Brinjal, Mango belong to how many
genera?
a. 5 b. 3
c. 4 d. 2
Family [NCERT Pg 9]
54. The species (man, housefly, mango, wheat, dog, cat,
lion, tiger, potato, brinjal, makoi and leopard) given here
belong to how many different families?
a. 4 b. 7
c. 5 d. 6
55. In taxonomical hierarchy, the category below the level
of order is
a. Class b. Species
c. Phylum d. Family
56. Family and order of Triticum aestivum (wheat) are
a. Poaceae, Monocotyledonae
b. Poaceae, Poales
c. Poales, Monocotyledonae
d. None is correct
57. Family - order - class of Musca domestica (Housefly)
a. Muscidae - Insecta - Hymenoptera
b. Muscidae - Diptera - Mandibulata
c. Hymenoptera - Insecta - Mandibuleta
d. Muscidae - Diptera - Insecta
58. Family of man (Homo sapiens) is:
c. Primata d. Ceboideae
59. Wheat belongs to which family?
a. Solanaceae b. Anacardiaceae
c. Convolvulaceae d. Poaceae
60. In a taxonomic hierarchy, family is interpolated between:
a. Kingdom and class b. Class and order
c. Order and genus d. Class and genus
Order and Class [NCERT Pg 10]
61. Order polymoniales include
a. Convolvulaceae b. Solanaceae
c. Both (a) and (b) d. None of these
 52 | Objective NCERT Gear UP Biology
62. Carnivora includes
a. Canidae b. Felidae
c. Both (a) & (b) d. None of these
63. Order polymoniales is based on
a. Reproductive character
b. Floral character
c. Evolutionary character
d. None of these
64. Diptera is the class of
a. Mango b. Housefly
c. Maize d. Corn
65. Dicotyledonae is the class of
a. Mango b. Maize
c. Wheat d. Corn
66. When organisms are in the same class but not in same
family, the taxonomic term is called as:
a. Order b. Genus
c. Family d. Species
67. The category that includes related order is
a. Families b. Phylum
c. Class d. Kingdom
Phylum [NCERT Pg 10]
68. House fly belongs to
a. Order - Insecta b. Family - Musca
c. Genus - Diptera d. Phylum - Arthropoda
69. Which of the following categories possess least number
of related characters?
a. Order b. Phylum
c. Class d. Species
70. Two animals belong to the same kingdom but different
classes. They may belong to the same
a. Phylum b. Order
c. Class d. Family
71. In case of plants, classes with a few similar characters
are assigned to a higher category called
a. Class b. Order
c. Division d. Family
72. Based on the common features, fishes, amphibians,
reptiles, birds are included in
a. Arthropoda b. Chordata
c. Mammalia d. Insecta
Herbarium [NCERT Pg 11-12]
73. The herbarium sheets carry a label providing information
about
a. Botanical name
b. Collector's name
c. Date and place of collection
d. All of these
74. Largest Herbarium in the world is situated in
a. Kew b. L.A.
c. Johannesburg d. Brazil
75. Collection of plants that usually have been dried, pressed
and preserved on sheets is called
a. Herbarium b. Botanical gardens
c. Museums d. Zoological parks
76. The largest herbarium of the world is
a. Royal Botanical Gardens.
b. Museum of Natural history.
c. Indian Botanical Garden.
d. National Botanical Gardens
77. Which of the following provide ecological, economical
and ethanobotanical data of any plant species?
a. Botanical garden b. Herbarium
c. Zoological park d. Photographs
Botanical Garden and Museum [NCERT Pg 12]
78. Insects are preserved in insect boxes after:
a. Collecting - Killing - Pinning
b. Killing - Collecting - Pinning
c. Killing - Pinning - Collecting
d. None of these
79. The famous Botanical Gardens are
a. Royal Botanical Garden, Kew
b. Indian botanical Garden, Howrah
c. National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow
d. All the above
80. Plant species in botanical gardens are labeled to indicate
a. English and local name
b. Collectors name
c. Botanical name and family
d. Family and place of collection
81. In museums specimens are preserved in the containers
having
a. Staining solutions b. Antibiotics
c. Chilled ethonol d. Preservative solutions
82. National Botanical Research Institute located in:
a. Chennai b. Lucknow
c. Darjeeling d. Kolkata
83. Larger animals like birds and mammals are usually
stuffed and preserved in
a. Herbarium b. Zoo
c. Zoological Parks d. Museum
84. The collection of preserved plants and animals for study
and reference is called:
a. Museum b. Keys
c. Herbarium d. Flora

85. In museums, larger animals like birds and mammals are:
a. Collected, killed and pinned
b. Stuffed and preserved
c. Preserved in natural habitat
d. Both (a) and (b)
86. Museums are known to preserve:
a. Insects
b. Larger animals
c. Skeleton of animals
d. All of these
Zoological Parks [NCERT Pg 13]
87. Wild animals are kept in protected environment in
a. Garden
b. Museum
c. Biological parks
d. Zoological parks
88. The purpose of zoological parks is
a. To entertain the public
b. To learn their food habits and behaviour
c. Both (a) and (b)
d. To hunt various animals
89. Not applicable to zoological parks:
a. In vivo mode of conservation
b. Wild animals are kept under human care
c. Wild animals are kept in separate enclosures
d. All are true
90. Zoological parks have collection of
a. Endemic living species only
b. Exotic living species only
The Living World | 53
c. Both endemic and exotic living species
d. Local plants and animal
91. Children love visiting these places, commonly called as
a. Herbarium
b. Zoos
c. Keys
d. Flora and Monographs
Key and Other Taxonomical Aids
[NCERT Pg 13-14]
92. Each statement in key is called
a. Couplet b. Lead
c. Principle d. None of these
93. Providing information for identification of names of
species found in an area
a. Fauna b. Flora
c. Monograph d. Manuals
94. The recorded description contain information on any
one taxon is called
a. Flora b. Manuals
c. Monographs d. Catalogues
95. Which one serves as quick referral system in taxonomical
studies
a. Botanical Gardens b. Museums
c. Manual d. Herbarium
96. A taxonomical aid used for identification of plants and
animals based on the similarities and dissimilarities is
called
a. Herbarium b. Museum
c. Key d. Garden
 54 | Objective NCERT Gear UP Biology

Rank Boosters

Fact Based Round Combination Round

1. Herbarium is: 9. Which of the following is correctly matched ?
a. A garden where medicinal plants are grown a. Humans – Primata – the family
b. Garden where herbaceous plants are grown b. Housefly – Musca – an order
c. Dry garden c. Tiger – tigris – the species
d. Chemical to kill plants
d. Cuttle Fish – Mollusca – a class
2. Taxonomic hierarchy refers to
a. Stepwise arrangement of all categories for 10. Study the following order with Family; order; class and
classification of plants and animals phylum /division.
b. A group of senior taxonomists who decide the I. Hominidae primata mammalia Chordata
nomenclature of plants and animals II. Muscidae Diptera Insecta Arthropoda
c. A list of botanists or zoologists who have worked on
III. Anacardiaceae Sapindales Dictoyledonae
taxonomy of a species or group.
Spermatophyta
d. Classification of species based on fossil record.
IV. Poaceae Poales Monoyledonae Spermatophyta
3. For higher plants, flowers are chiefly used as a basis of
classification, because: The correct sequence
a. These show a great variety in colour a. I & II b. II, III, IV
b. It can be preserved easily c. II & IV d. I, II, III & IV
c. Reproductive parts are more conservative than vegetative 11. Match the columns and find out the correct combination:
parts
d. They have strong fragrance Common name Biological name
4. In taxonomical hierarchy, class is interpolated between A. Tobacco 1. Mangifera indica
a. Family and genus b. Phylum and order B. Potato 2. Triticum vulgare
c. Order and family d. Kingdom and phylum
C. Brinjal 3. Nicotiana tabacum
5. The most convenient way for easy identification of
plants and animals by applying diagnostic feature is use D. Wheat 4. Solanum tuberosum
of 5. Solanum melongena
a. Herbarium b. Botanical gardens
c. Museum d. Taxonomic keys a. A-4 B-3 C-1 D-2
6. Classification systems have many advantages. Which of b. A-3 B-4 C-5 D-2
the following is not a goal of biological classification? c. A-1 B-2 C-3 D-4
a. To depict convergent evolution
b. To clarify relationships among organisms d. A-2 B-1 C-4 D-3
c. To help us remember organisms and their traits
12. Match the columns and find out the correct combination:
d. To identify and name organisms
A. Family 1. Felis
7. Species is considered:
a. As basic unit of classification B. Kingdom 2. Sapindales
b. The largest unit of classification C. Order 3. Solanum
c. Artificial concept of human mind which cannot be D. Species 4. Animalia
defined in absolute terms
5. Anacardiaceae
d. Real unit of classification devised by taxonomists
8. Plant preservation centers in which the collected plants a. A-5 B-4 C-2 D-1
are preserved as dry specimens, according to any b. A-4 B-5 C-3 D-2
recognised system of classification is called
c. A-1 B-2 C-3 D-4
a. Flora b. Herbarium
c. Museum d. Botanical garden d. A-3 B-2 C-4 D-5
 The Living World | 55

13. Match the columns and find out the correct combination: 17. Incorrect statement are:
A. Couplet 1. Information of any one taxon A. Animals, mammals, dogs, alsatians represent taxa at
different levels.
B. Lead 2. Preserved specimen
B. Biology is the story of evolution of living organisms
C. Monograph 3. Specially designed for ready on earth.
reference
C. Nomenclature is only possible when the organism is
D. Manuals 4. Each statement in the key described correctly.
5. A pair of contrasting characters D. In animals, growth is seen only up to a certain age.
E. Non-living objects also grow if we take increase in
a. A-5 B-4 C-1 D-3
body mass as a criteria of growth.
b. A-4 B-2 C-3 D-1
F. Human being is the only organism who is aware of
c. A-1 B-3 C-2 D-4 himself.
d. A-3 B-1 C-4 D-2 a. C b. B
c. A d. None of these
Conceptual Round
18. Read the following statements.
14. Choose the correct statements from following: A. Isolated-metabolic reactions in-vitro are living
A. Taxonomic hierarchy includes seven obligate things.
categories. B. Reproduction is synonymous with growth in
Chlamydomonas.
B. Each taxon represents a unit of classification.
C. Reproduction is an all inclusive defining
C. In unicellular algae,reproduction is synonymous characteristic of living organisms.
with growth. D. Extrinsic growth cannot be taken as defining
a. A & B b. B & C property of living organisms.
c. A & C d. All are correct How many of the above statement (s) is/are not true?
a. One b. Two
15. Read the following statements and identify the correct
c. Three d. Four
statements:
19. Consider the following statements and select correct set
A. Biodiversity refers to the number and types of
of option.
organisms present on earth.
A. The most obvious and technically complicated
B. The local names would vary from place to place, features are metabolism and consciousness.
even within a country. B. Growth and reproduction are mutually inclusive
C. The number of species that are known and described events for euglenoids and chrysophytes.
range between 1.7-1.8 million. C. Generally, families and orders are identified on the
D. International Code for Botanical Nomenclature basis of aggregates of vegetative characters only.
(ICBN) provides scientific names for plants D. Herbarium serves as quick referral system in
taxonomical studies.
E. Nomenclature or naming is only possible when the
a. B, C & D b. A, C & D
organism is described correctly.
c. B & D d. A, B, C & D
a. A and B only b. A, B and C only
c. A, D and C only d. All of these 20. Read the following statements.
A. Manuals are useful in providing information for
16. Incorrect statement is: identification of names of species found in an area.
a. Naming is only possible when the organism is B. Potato and brinjal are related species, which has
described correctly. more characters in common in comparison to shimla
b. Scientific names for plants are based on the principles mirch.
and criteria provided in ICBN. C. CO2 dissolving in water, a physical process, is a
c. Description of any organism should enable the people catalysed reaction in living systems.
(in any part of the world) to arrive at the same name. D. Museums have collection of skeletons of animals.
d. Category denotes rank, and these categories or ranks a. A and C are correct b. Only B correct
are merely morphological aggregates. c. B incorrect d. All are correct
 56 | Objective NCERT Gear UP Biology
Advance Round
21. Read the following statements and select the correct ones.
A. Increase in mass and increase in number of
individuals are twin characteristics of growth
B. Metabolic reactions can be demonstrated outside the
body in isolated cell-free system
C. Museums have collection of sketches of animals.
a. A and B b. B and C
c. A and C d. All of these
22. The scientific name of banyan is written as Ficus
bengalensis L. Which of the following statements is
26. Study the following statements regarding the preparation
correct regarding this?
a. Letter L. signifies Latin language
b. The name should be written reverse with bengalensis
c. Letter L. signifies the taxonomist Linnaeus.
d. bengalensis is generic name.
23. Which of the following statements is not correct?
a. Biodiversity is occurrrence of variety of life forms
differing in morphology, anatomy, habitats and habits.
b. Systematics is the branch of biology that deals with
cataloguing plants, animals and other organisms into
categories that can be named, remembered, compared
and studied.
c. Taxonomy is the branch of biology that deals with
principles and procedures of identification and
nomenclature of organisms
d. Biodiversity is the study of aquatic life forms on the
basis of morphological features only.
24. Select the incorrect statement with respect to the taxon,
‘genus’.
a. It is a group or assemblage of related species
27. Read the following statements:
b. A genus essentially possesses more than one number
of species.
c. Lion, Tiger, Leopard are closely related species which
have been placed in the genus Panthera and are
respectively named as Panthera leo, P. tigris and P.
pardus.
d. Solanum, Penicillium, Withania and Asparagus are
the examples of genera.
25. Read the following statements regarding biological
museums:
A. Biological museums are generally set up in
educational institutes such as schools and colleges
B. Museums have collections of preserved plant and
animal specimens for study and reference
C. Specimens are preserved in the containers or jars in
preservative solutions.
D. Insects are preserved in insect boxes after collecting,
killing and pinning.
E. Larger animals like birds and mammals are usually
stuffed and preserved
F. Skeletons of mammals are not allowed to be kept in
museums
Which of the above statements is/are not correct?
a. B and C b. A and F
c. E only d. F only
of herbarium sheets.
A. Herbaria serve as quick referral system.
B. Every details regarding the plant such as locality,
ecological conditions, vegetative and floral
characters, etc., should be noted.
C. Plants are evenly pressed by unfoloding all the plant
parts between blotting papers (or newspapers) with
the help of plant pressers.
D. Blotting papers need not be changed until the plant
gets dried
E. After drying, the plant specimen is carefully
mounted/pasted on the herbarium sheets
F. The herbarium sheet is labelled on the lower right
hand corner representing the local and botanical
name, date of collection etc.
Which of the above statements is/are not correct
a. A only b. D only
c. A and D d. C and D
A. The taxonomic hierarchy for Mangifera indica can
written as
Plantae → Angiospermae → Dicotyledonae →
Sapindales → Anacardiaceae → Mangifera indica
B. Tautonym is the taxonomic designation used for
certain plants having trinomial nomenclature
C. Taxonomic keys are generally analytical in nature
D. Family Fabaceae is divided into three sub-families,
i.e., Leguminosae, Mimosaceae and Caesalpiniaceae
Which of the following combinations of above
statements are correct?
a. A and B b. A and C
c. C and D d. A, C and D

Assertion & Reason Based Questions
Directions: These questions consist of two statements each,
printed as Assertion and Reason. While answering these
questions, you are required to choose any one of the following
four responses.
A. If both Assertion and Reason are True and the
Reason is a correct explanation of the Assertion.
B. If both Assertion and Reason are True but Reason
is not a correct explanation of the Assertion.
C.  If Assertion is True but the Reason is False.
D.  Assertion is False but Reason is True.
28. Assertion: Both the words in a biological name when
handwritten, are separately underlined or printed in
italics.
Reason: This is done to indicate their latin origin.
29. Assertion: Botanical gardens are one of the important
taxonomic aids used in taxonomic studies.
Reason: In botanical garden, plant specimens are dried,
pressed and preserved on sheets.
30. Assertion: Living organisms undergo the process known
as accretion.
Reason: Living organisms show internal as well as
external growth.
31. Assertion: Complexity of classification increases from
kingdom to species.
Reason: Common characters increase from kingdom to
species.
32. Assertion: Zoological parks are places/institution where
preserved plant, animal artistic and educational material
are exhibited to public.
Reason: Museums are of different kinds, like art,
history, science and general museum which exhibit their
material to public awareness.
The Living World | 57
Statement Based Questions
Directions: These questions consist of two statements each,
printed as Statement-I and Statement-II. While answering
these questions, you are required to choose any one of the
following four responses.
A.  Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct.
B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are incorrect.
C.  Statement-I is correct & Statement-II is incorrect.
D.  Statement-I is incorrect & Statement-II is correct.
33. Statement-I: Genera aggregates distantly related
species.
Statement-II: Character of family is more general as
compared to character of genus.
34. Statement-I: In binomial nomenclature, the first word is
specific epithet.
Statement-II: Underlining indicates their Latin origin.
35. Statement-I: The biological species concept helps us to
ask how species are formed.
Statement-II: The concept of biological species focuses
our attention on the question of how reproductive
isolation comes about.
36. Statement-I: Hierarchical system of classification
is useful to reduce the voluminous description in the
catalogue of organisms.
Statement-II: Characters of a larger category (like
division) are not repeated for smaller/lower categories
(family and order).
37. Statement-I: Cellular organisation of the body is the
defining feature of life forms.
Statement-II: Metabolic reactions cannot be
demonstrated outside the body in cell free system.
 58 | Objective NCERT Gear UP Biology

NCERT Exemplar Problems

1. As we go from species to kingdom in a taxonomic 7. Taxonomic key is one of the taxonomic tools in the
hierarchy, the number of common characteristics: identification and classification of plants and animals. It
a. Will decrease b. Will increase is used in the preparation of:
c. Remain same d. May increase or decrease a. Monographs b. Flora
2. Which of the following ‘suffixes’ used for units of c. Both (a) and (b) d. None of these
classification in plants indicates a taxonomic category of 8. All living organisms are linked to one another because:
‘family’? a. They have common genetic material of the same type
a. — Ales b. — Onae
b. They share common genetic material but to varying
c. — Aceae d. — Ae
degrees
3. The term ‘systematics’ refers to: c. All have common cellular organization
a. Identification and study of organ systems d. All of the above
b. Identification and preservation of plants and animals
9. Which of the following is a defining characteristic of
c. Diversity of kinds of organisms and their relationship
living organisms?
d. Study of habitats of organisms and, their classification
a. Growth
4. Genus represents: b. Ability to make sound
a. An individual plant or animal c. Reproduction
b. A collection of plants or animals d. Response to external stimuli
c. Group of closely related species of plants or animals
10. Match the following and choose the correct option.
d. None of these
A. Family 1. Tuberosum
5. The taxonomic unit ‘Phylum’ in the classification of
B. Kingdom 2. Polymoniales
animals is equivalent to which hierarchical level in
classification of plants: C. Order 3. Solanum
a. Class b. Order D. Species 4. Plantae
c. Division d. Family E. Genus 5. Solanaceae
6. Botanical gardens and Zoological parks have: a. A-4 B-3 C-5 D-2 E-1
a. Collection of endemic living species only
b. A-5 B-4 C-2 D-1 E-3
b. Collection of exotic living species only
c. A-4 B-5 C-2 D-1 E-3
c. Collection of endemic and exotic living species
d. Collection of only local plants and animals d. A-5 B-3 C-2 D-1 E-4
 The Living World | 59

Past Year Questions

1. Select the correctly written scientific name of Mango 4. Study the four statements (A–D) given below and select the
which was first described by Carolus Linnaeus  (2019) two correct ones out of them:  (2016 -II)
a. Mangifera indica Car. Linn.
A. Definition of biological species was given by Ernst
b. Mangifera indica Linn.
c. Mangifera indica Mayr.
d. Mangifera Indica B. Photoperiod does not affect reproduction in plants.
2. Match the items given in Column I with those in Column C. Binomial nomenclature system was given by R.H.
II and select the correct option given below  (2018) Whittaker.
Column-I Column-II D.
In unicellular organisms, reproduction is
A. Herbarium i. It is a place having a collection of synonymous with growth.
preserved plants and animals.
The two correct statements are
B. Key ii. A list that enumerates
a. A and D b. A and B
methodically all the species
found in an area with brief c. B and C d. C and D
description aiding identification 5. The label of a herbarium sheet does not carry information
C. Museum iii. Is a place where dried and pressed on: (2016 - II)
plant specimens mounted on
a. Local names b. Height of the plant
sheets are kept.
c. Date of collection d. Name of collector
D. Catalogue iv. A booklet containing a
list of characters and their 6. Which one of the following is not a correct statement?
alternates which are helpful in (2013)
identification of various taxa.
a. Key is a taxonomic aid for identification of specimens.
a. A-i B-iv C-iii D-ii
b. Herbarium houses dried, pressed and preserved plant
specimens.
b. A-iii B-ii C-i D-iv
c. Botanical gardens have collection of living plants for
c. A-ii B-iv C-iii D-i
reference.
d. A-iii B-iv C-i D-ii
d. A museum has collection of photographs of plants and
3. Given below are the various taxonomic aids used animals.
in taxonomy which facilitate identification and
7. Which of the following organisms is scientifically correctly
classification of organisms. Which one of the following
is wrong? (2017-Gujarat) named, correctly printed according to International Rules
a. Keys, floras, manuals, monographs and catalogues of Nomenclature and correctly described? (2012 Mains)
are useful aids for identification of plants and animals a. Musca domestica-The common house lizard, a reptile
b. Herbarium is created to house live specimens of plant b. Plasmodium falciparum-A protozoan pathogen
material causing the most serious type of malaria
c. Museums are established to keep preserved specimens
c. Felis tigris-The Indian tiger, well protected in Gir
of animals and plants
d. Botanical gardens and Zoological parks are Forests.
established to conserve and preserve live plants and d. E.coli-Full name Entamoeba coli, a commonly
animals respectively occurring bacterium in human intestine.
 60 | Objective NCERT Gear UP Biology

Answer Key

Self Assessment Questions

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
c b c d a a d d a a a a a a a a a
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34
c b c d b b d d a b c a d b b a a
35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51
a c c d a d d b b b d d d a c d d
52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68
d b b d b d a d c c c b b a a c d
69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85
b a c b d a a a b a d c d b d a b
86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96
d d c a c b b d c d c

Rank Boosters
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
c a c b d a a b c d b a a d d d d
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34
b c d d c d b d b d a c d b d d d
35 36 37
b a c

NCERT Exemplar Problems

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
a c c c c c c b d b

Past Year Questions

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
b d b a b d b

Explanations and NCERT References

Rank Boosters follows (with kingdom being the highest and species being
the lowest);
1. (c) Herbarium is a store house of collected plant specimens • Kingdom
that are dried, pressed and preserved on sheets. • Phylum/Division
2. (a) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 8; • Class

In classification, several steps are involved where every • Order
step shows a specific category called as taxon. This
• Family
category becomes part of whole taxonomic arrangement
and collectively constitutes the taxonomic hierarchy. The • Genus
arrangements of categories are done in stepwise manner as • Species

3. (c) The reproductive structures of flowering plants are
subjected to a much lesser degree of evolutionary pressure
while vegetative characters such as structure, size or
shape of leaves are often environmentally controlled and
extremely variable within a genus or species.
4. (b) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 9;
According to taxonomical hierarchy, the categories
are arranged as; Kingdom – Phylum – Class – Order –
Family – Genus – Species. Thus, we can see that Class
lies between taxon Phylum and Order.
5. (d) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 13
Key is a taxonomical aid used for identification of plants
and animals based on the similarities and dissimilarities.
The keys are based on the contrasting characters
generally in a pair called couplet. Keys are generally
analytical in nature.
6. (a) The goals of classification includes recognition and
complete description of different species; development
of a system for easy identification of various species;
to establish relationships on the basis of resemblance
and differences between organisms; and formulating a
scheme of hierarchical grouping of species.
8. (b) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 12;
The preservation centers where collected specimen of
plants is kept after drying, pressing and preserving on
sheets are called herbarium. The arrangement is done
on the basis of system of classification that is accepted
universally. These sheets has a label which give us details
about the date as well as place of collection, vernacular,
English and botanical names, family, name of collector
etc.
9. (c) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 9;
Among the given options, third one is correct as the
specific epithet of tiger is tigris. Rest options are incorrect
as primata represents the order, Musca represents genus
and Mollusca represents phylum.
14. (d) Taxonomic hierarchy includes seven obligate
categories which are as follows:- (i) Kingdom (ii)
Phylum or division (iii) Class (iv) Order (v) Family (vi)
Genus (vii) Species.
In classification, several steps are involved where every
step shows a specific category called as taxon. Each
taxon is represented as unit of classification.
If we talk about growth then in case of unicellular
organisms like Amoeba, bacteria or unicellular algae,
reproduction is synonymous with growth which simply
means increase in the number of cells. Therefore, all the
given statements are true.
15. (d) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 6
The Living World | 61
16. (d) Category denotes rank and each rank or taxon
represents a unit of classification. These taxonomic
categories are distinct biological entities and not merely
morphological aggregates.
17. (d) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 4, 5 & 7
18. (b) Statement A and C are incorrect. An isolated
metabolic reaction(s) outside the body of an organism,
performed in a test tube is neither living nor non-living.
Reproduction also cannot be an all-inclusive defining
characteristic of living organisms.
19. (c) The most obvious and technically complicated
feature of all living organism would be sensing stimuli
and responding to it.
Families are characterized on the basis of both
vegetative and reproductive features of plant species.
Generally orders are identified based on the assemblage
of characters, i.e., not only vegetative other characters
are also involved.
20. (d) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 9 & 14
21. (d) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, A - Pg. 3; B & C - Pg. 5
All living organisms grow. Increase in mass and increase
in number of individuals are twin characteristics of
growth. The sum total of all the chemical reactions
occurring in our body is metabolism. Metabolic
reactions can be demonstrated outside the body in
cell-free systems. The most obvious and technically
complicated feature of all living organisms is this ability
to sense their surroundings or environment and respond
to these environmental stimuli which could be physical,
chemical or biological.
22. (c) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 7
In Ficus bengalensis L., letter L. signifies the taxonomist
Linnaeus. The first word Ficus represents the genus while
the second component bengalensis denotes the specific
epithet. Both the words in a biological name, when
handwritten, are separately underlined, or printed in italics
to indicate their Latin origin.
23. (d) Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability of
life on earth
Biodiversity includes living organisms from all sources,
including terrestial, marine and other aquatic systems
and the ecological complexes of which they are part.
24. (b) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 9
Genera are aggregates of closely related species.
Each genus may have one or more than one specific
epithets representing different organisms, but having
morphological similarities. For example, Lion (Panthera
leo), leopard (P. pardus) and tiger (P. tigris) with several
common features, are all species of the genus Panthera.
 62 | Objective NCERT Gear UP Biology
25. (d) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 12
Biological museums are generally set up in educational
institutes such as schools and colleges. Museums have
collections of preserved plant and animal specimens
for study and reference. Specimens are preserved in the
containers or jars in preservative solutions. Museums
often have collections of skeletons of animals too.
26. (b) The plants become dried by transferring their
moisture into the blotting sheets. Blotting papers need
to be changed regularly until the plant gets dried. The
changing time depends on the weather conditions.
27. (d) A tautonym is a scientific name of a species in which
both parts of the name have the same spelling. For
example., Rattus rattus.
Assertion & Reason Based Questions
28. (a) Biological names are generally in latin and written
in italics. They are latinised or derived from latin
irrespective of their origin. When hand written, generic
and specific epithet both the words in a biological name
are separately underlined or printed in italics showing
their latin origin.
29. (c) Botanical gardens have collections of living plants.
So, they play significant role in identification of plants
and thus, used in taxonomical studies.
30. (d) Living organism show internal growth due to addition
of material and formation of cells inside the body. Such
a method is called intussusception. Non-living things
grow due to the addition of similar materials to their
outer surface. The process is called accretion.
31. (b) Most common characters among individual members
are found in taxon species. Common characters decrease
from species to kingdom and members of a kingdom
have least number of common characters. Similarly,
complexity of classification decreases from species to
kingdom.
T : Higher the hierarchy, lesser are the C’s
(C’s : Common characters and complexity).
32. (d) Museums are source of ancient and present
information matter where preserved plants, animals,
artistic and educational material are exhibited for public
awareness. Museums can be categorized.
Statement Based Questions
33. (d) Family has a group of related genera with less
number of similarities as compared to genus and species.
So character of family is more general as compared to
character of genus. Genera aggregates closely related
species.
34. (d) In binomial nomenclature, the first-word represents
genus. Both the words in binomial nomenclature, when
handwritten are separately underlined.
35. (b) Ernst Mayr defined species as group of potentially
interbreeding natural populations which are reproductively
isolated from other groups. This focuses our attention on
how this isolation arose.
36. (a) Hierarchical classification reduces volume in
catalogue of plants and animals. It can be illustrated by
an example like Canis familiaris (dog).
It belongs to the family - Canidae, Genus-Canis is applied
to wolf and jackal of same family, but these belong to
different species therefore species have more similarities
than genus but genus has more organisms and vice-versa.
37. (c) Metabolic reactions can be demonstrated outside the
body in cell-free system.
NCERT Exemplar Problems
1. (a) Lower the taxa, more are the characteristic that the
members within the taxon share. So, lowest taxon share
the maximum number of morphological similarities,
while its similarities decrease as we move towards the
higher hierarchy, i.e., class, kingdom.
Thus, rest of the option are incorrect.
3. (c) The word systematics is derived from Latin word
‘Systema’ which means systematic arrangement of
organisms.
4. (c) Genus comprises a group of closely related species
which has more characters in common in comparison to
species of other genera. The other options do not define
genus.
5. (c) Division includes classes with few similar characters
of group of organism. It is equivalent to ‘Phylum’ in case
of animals.
6. (c) Botanical gardens and Zoological parks are used to
restore depleted population, reintroduce species, i.e.,
wild and restore degraded habitats of both exotic and
endemic living species.
Rest of the options are incorrect.
7. (c) Taxonomic keys are tools that help in identification
of organism based on the characters, which includes
both monograph and flora.
8. (b) All living organisms share common genetic material,
i.e., DNA but with variations, e.g., bacteria have
single stranded circular DNA while in highly evolved
eukaryotic cells of plants and animals, DNA is a long
double stranded helix.
9. (d) Response to external stimuli or to the environment
in which an organism lives, is the most important

characteristic of any living organism, besides growth
and reproduction.
Growth and ability to make sound are some properties
that can also be observed in non-living things. While
virus (which is not included under living organisms)
also show growth and reproduction.
Hence, these options are not true.
10. (b) The correct options matching with the columns
represent the taxonomic classification of plant potato are
Family — Solanaceae
Kingdom — Plantae
Order — Polymoniales
Genus —
Solanum
Species — tuberosum
Past Year Questions
1. (b) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 7
According to rules of binomial nomenclature, correctly
written scientific name of mango is Mangifera indica
Linn.
2. (d) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 11-13
Dried plant specimens are pressed and preserved on
sheets in herbarium. Key is a record of characters-based
identification of specimen and in museum, all kind of
plants and animals are preserved for exhibition purpose.
Catalogue helps in identification purpose.
3. (b) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 11
Herbarium is a store house of collected plant specimens
that are dried, pressed and preserved on sheets.
4.
(a) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 4-6
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The Living World | 63
Ernst Mayr pioneered the currently accepted definition
of a biological species.
Photoperiod affect reproduction in plants.
Binomial nomenclature system was given by Carolus
Linnaeus and is being practiced by biologists all over
the world.
When reproduction comes to unicellular organisms like
bacteria, unicellular algae or Amoeba, reproduction is
synonymous with growth, i.e., increase in number of
cells.
5. (b) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 12
The herbarium sheets carry a label providing information
about date and place of collection, English, local and
botanical names, family, collector’s name, etc
6. (d) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 12
A museum has a collection of dead remains of plants and
animals in preserved form.
Specimens are preserved in the containers or jars in
preservative solutions. Plant and animal specimens
may also be preserved as dry specimens. Insects are
preserved in insect boxes after collecting, killing and
pinning. Larger animals like birds and mammals are
usually stuffed and preserved. Museums often have
collections of skeletons of animals too.
7. (b) NCERT (XI) Ch - 1, Pg. 7 and 11
Plasmodium, a tiny protozoan, is responsible for malarial
disease. Different species of Plasmodium (P. vivax, P.
malaria and P. falciparum) are responsible for different
types of malaria. Of these, malignant malaria caused by
Plasmodium falciparum is the most serious one and can
even be fatal.