EXERCISE II DIVERSITY

SECTION A: NEST PYQs

1. Conjugation in E. coli is a microbial process wherein conjugative plasmids are transferred

from one bacterium to another that does not possess it. This requires physical contact between
the cells involved in the transfer. In an experiment performed in a sterilized U-tube, strains P
(resistance to ampicillin encoded in its plasmid) and Q (resistance to tetracycline encoded in
its genome) were grown in an appropriate medium without an antibiotic. A 0.22 µm pore size
nitrocellulose membrane placed in between the two arms serves as a partition. In a parallel
identical experiment the 0.22 pm membrane was replaced by a 30 µm nitrocellulose
membrane. After allowing enough time for the conjugation process to occur, an aliquot from
each arm is plated on either ampicillin or tetracycline antibiotic containing plate. Choose the
correct statement about the outcome of the experiment.

NEST 2020
a. Strain Q would be ampicillin resistant in experiment 1
b. Strain P would be tetracycline resistant in experiment 2
c. Strain Q would be ampicillin resistant in experiment 2
d. Strain P would be tetracycline resistant in experiment 1
2. Cladogram is a diagram used to represent the evolutionary relationship between groups of organisms.
The following cladogram shows the relationship between some groups of vertebrates. From the options
provided, identify the features that denote M, N, O, P, Q and R in the correct order.

NEST 2019
a. Vertebrae,Bony skeleton,Four limbs , Amniotic egg, Eggs with shells , Hairs
b. Vertebrae, Hairs, Bony skeleton, Four limbs, Amniotic eggs, Eggs with shells
c. Vertebrae, Bony skeleton,Four limbs, Amniotic eggs, Eggs with shells, Hairs
d. Vertebrae, Four limbs, Bony skeleton, Eggs with shells, Hairs, Amniotic egg

3. A matrix for the presence or absence of certain features in vertebrates P, Q, R, S and T is given below.
Presence of a character is denoted by '1' while absence is denoted by ‘0’.

Which of the following statements is true?

NEST 2017
a. Q could be either rat or gorilla
b. P most likely represents a bird
c. T could be a lizard
d. S could be a snake
4. Stems have played an important role in plant evolution. Their functions have changed and evolved
over a period of time. From the list given below (i to iv), identify the functions performed by stems in
different types of plants.

(i) Photosynthesis.
(ii) Support.
(iii) Storage.
(iv) Spread and dispersal of plants.

NEST 2015
a. i and ii only
b. i,ii and iii
c. ii and iv
d. i , ii , iii and iv

5. Cladograms are branched diagrams representing evolutionary relationships. A clado- gram with
representative animals is shown below.

The traits M, N, O and P would represent

NEST 2016
a. M:nails , N:Jaws , O:Furs , P:Opposable thumb
b. M:Lungs , N-Vertebral column , O:Bipedal locomotion , P-Mammary glands
c. M:Vertebral column , N:Jaws , O:Mammary glands , P-Nails
d. M:Lungs , N:Claws , O:Fur , P:Opposable thumb
6. In plant growth and development , which of the following sequence of events is correct?
NEST 2014
a. Sporophyte→ mitosis→ gametes→ meiosis
b. gamete→ meiosis→ gametophyte→ sporophyte
c. gametophyte→ meiosis→ zygote→ gametes
d. zygote→ sporophyte→ meiosis→ gametes

7. Insectivorous plants have evolved an ability to capture and digest insects in addition to their
ability to photosynthesize. Which of the following nutritional requirements is most likely being
partially met by this "carnivorous" ability of plants?
NEST 2012
a. Carbon
b. Hydrogen
c. Nitrogen
d. Oxygen

8. Whittaker had proposed a five-kingdom system for classification of living organisms, which are
(i) Monera, (ii) Protista, (iii) Plantae, (iv) Fungi and (v) Animalia. However, based on molecular
methods of taxonomy, this has now been revised to a three-domain system. These three domains
are:

NEST 2011
a. Monera , Protista , Eukarya
b. Bacteria, Protista ,Eukarya
c. Bacteria ,Eukarya ,Archaea
d. Bacteria , Plants , Animals

9. The major difference between the mosses and ferns is ?

NEST 2010
a. Ferns lack alternation of generation while mosses show the same
b. Mosses are facultative aerobes while ferns are obligate aerobes
c. Vascular bundles of ferns show xylem vessels while those of mosses lack it
d. Sporophytes of ferns live much longer as compared to sporophytes of mosses
10. Microbes "GE" and "OG" are facultative aerobes. Their doubling time is comparable to each
other. When grown together, they do not affect the growth of each other. GE can utilise either
glucose or ethanol as carbon source. OG can use only glucose as carbon source.
An inoculum containing equal number of GE and OG were grown together with glucose as the
sole source of carbon. After a certain duration, only GE was present and not OG. The reason for
this is that culture was grown under

NEST 2010
a. Aerobic condition throughout
b. Anaerobic condition throughout
c. Anaerobic condition initially and then under aerobic condition
d. Aerobic condition initially and then under anaerobic condition

11. Key features in the evolution of the animal kingdom against the time scale are shown in the
figure.

These traits 1,2,3 are:

NEST 2008
a. 1- lobed fins 2- jaws 3- limbs
b. 1-vertebrae 2-limbs 3-amniotic membrane
c. 1-swim bladder 2- lungs 3- hair
d. 1- lungs 2- jaws 3- milk
12. The generalized life cycle of a moss is shown. The ploidy levels at stages A(sporophyte), B
and C respectively are

NEST 2007
a. 2n,2n and n
b. n, n and n
c. 2n,n and n
d. 2n,n and 3n

SECTION B: KVPY PYQs

13. Which one of the following pairs give rise to fruit and seed, respectively in a typical
angiosperm plant?
KVPY SA 2020
a. Ovule and ovary
b. Ovary and pollen
c. Pollen and anther
d. Ovary and ovule
14. Match the following:-

Choose the correct option:

KVPY SA 2020
a. P-ii Q-i R-iv S-iii
b. P-ii Q-iv R-i S-iii
c. P-iii Q-iv R-i S-ii
d. P-iv Q-iii R-ii S-i

15. Which one of the following is a bryophyte?

KVPY SA 2019
a. Liverwort
b. Volvox
c. Chlamydomonas
d. Fern

16. Bombyx mori belongs to the order

KVPY SA 2016
a. Lepidoptera
b. Diptera
c. Hymenoptera
d. Coleoptera

17. In which of the following phyla is the body segmented?

KVPY SA 2015
a. Porifera
b. Annelida
c. Platyhelminthes
d. Echinodermata
18. A pathogen which cannot be cultured in an artificial medium is?
KVPY SA 2013
a. Protozoa
b. Virus
c. Bacteria
d. Fungus

19. Which of the following biological phenomena involves a bacteriophage?

KVPY SA 2012
a. Transformation
b. Conjugation
c. Transduction
d. Translocation

20. Which one of the following pairs was excluded from Whittaker's five kingdom
classification?
KVPY SX 2019
a. Viruses and Lichens
b. Algae and Euglena
c. Lichens and algae
d. Euglena and viruses

21. Which one of the following phyla is a pseudocoelomate?

KVPY SX 2019
a. Cnidaria
b. Nematoda
c. Mollusca
d. Chordates
22. Which one of the following statements is true for viruses?
KVPY SX 2018
a. All viruses possess a protein coat around its genetic material at all stages of
their life cycle
b. All viruses contain RNA as genetic material
c. All viruses contain DNA as genetic material
d. All viruses replicate only within host cell

23. CJD is a transmissible disease caused by

KVPY SX 2018
a. Virus
b. Viroids
c. Misfolded protein
d. Fungus

24. A researcher found petrified dinosaur faeces. Which one of the following is unlikely
to be found in this fossil?
KVPY SX 2018
a. Decayed conifer wood
b. Bamboo
c. Cycad
d. Giant fern

25. Match the following:

Column I Column II
P. Flame cells 1. Sponges
Q. Collar cells 2. Hydra
R. Stinging cells 3. Planaria
KVPY SX 2017
a. A-3 B-1 C-2
b. A-3 B-2 C-1
c. A-1 B-2 C-3
d. A-2 B-3 C-1
26. Which of the following species makes the largest true flower in the world?
KVPY SX 2016
a. Amorphophallus titanum
b. Rafflesia arnoldii
c. Nelumbo nucifera
d. Helianthus annuus

27. Which of the following results from conjugation in Paramoecium?

KVPY SX 2014
a. Cell death
b. Cell division
c. Budding
d. Recombination

28. Fission yeasts are

KVPY SX 2013
a. Archaebacteria
b. Eubacteria
c. Prokaryotes
d. Eukaryotes

29. The presence of plastids in Plasmodium suggest that

KVPY SX 2013
a. It is a plant species
b. It is a parasite with a cyanobacterium as an endosymbiont
c. It is a parasite with archaebacterium as an endosymbiont
d. It is a plant species with archaebacterium as an endosymbiont

30. Vibrio cholerae causes cholera in humans. Ganga water was once used successfully to
combat this infection. The possible reason could be?
KVPY SX 2012
a. High salt content of Ganga water
b. Low salt content of Ganga water
c. Presence of bacteriophages in Ganga water
d. Presence of antibiotics in Ganga water
31. Bacteria can survive by absorbing soluble nutrients via their outer body surface but
animals cannot because
KVPY SX 2010
a. Bacteria can’t ingest particles but humans can
b. Bacteria have a cell wall and animals don’t
c. Animals have too small surface area per unit volume than bacteria
d. Animals can’t metabolize soluble nutrients

SECTION C: IAT PYQs

32. Match the following features to animals.

Choose the correct combination. 1. Open circulatory system 3. Earthworm
5. Nephridia 2. Closed circulatory system 4. Malpighian tubules 6. Cockroach

IAT 2017
a. 1,3,4 and 2,5,6
b. 1,4,6 and 2,3,5
c. 1,5,6 and 2,3,4
d. 1,2,3 and 4,5,6

33. Which of the following is exclusively marine?

IAT 2018
a. Cnidaria
b. Echinodermata
c. Annelida
d. Porifera

34. Which of the following produces a dikaryotic phase in basidiomycetes?

IAT 2019
a. Karyogamy
b. Plasmogamy
c. Apogamy
d. Karyokinesis
35. Which one of the following helps in bacterial motility?
IAT 2019
a. Centrioles
b. Fimbriae
c. Microtubules
d. Flagella

36. Radial symmetry is not found in which of the following taxa?

IAT 2020
a. Ctenophora
b. Cnidaria
c. Cyclostomata
d. Echinodermata

37. Which of the following is not an asexual reproductive structure?

IAT 2021
a. Isogametes of cladophora
b. Zoospores of chlamydomonas
c. Conidia of penicillium
d. Gemmules in a sponge

38. Organisms in which of the following phyla are triploblastic, acoelomate and have bilateral
symmetry?
IAT 2022
a. Platyhelminthes
b. Mollusca
c. Arthropoda
d. Hemichordata
 EXERCISE II DIVERSITY
Answer key

1. C
2. A
3. A & D
4. D
5. D
6. D
7. C
8. C
9. D
10. C
11. C
12. C
13. D
14. B
15. A
16. A
17. B
18. B
19. C
20. A
21. B
22. D
23. C
24. B
25. A
26. B
27. B
28. D
29. B
30. D
31. C
32. B
33. B
34. B
35. D
36. D
37. A
38. A