General Science Biology Questions (MCQs) for Competitive Exams
1. Which among the following does not have a cell wall?
[A] Euglena
[B] Mycoplasma
[C] Paramecium
[D] Gonyaulax
Answer: B [Mycoplasma]
Notes:
Mycoplasma is a genus of bacteria that lacks a cell wall around their cell membrane. Without a cell wall, they are unaffected by many common antibiotics such as penicillin or other beta-lactam antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis. In comparison to other prokaryotes, they are consequently placed in a separate class Mollicutes(mollis, soft; cutis, skin).
2. Which of the following plants is carnivorous?
[A] Cypress Vine
[B] Venus Flytrap
[C] Amaryllis
[D] Hyacinth
Answer: B [Venus Flytrap]
Notes:
The Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) is a carnivorous plant native to subtropical wetlands on the East Coast of the United States in North Carolina and South Carolina. It catches its prey chiefly insects and arachnids with a trapping structure formed by the terminal portion of each of the plant’s leaves, which is triggered by tiny hairs on their inner surfaces.
3. Which one of the following statements about Pyrolysis, which is a process for solid waste treatment is incorrect?
[A] It converts the waste into solid, liquid and gas of which the resultant liquid and gas can be used to produce energy.
[B] The process occurs at a temperature above 430°C at atmospheric pressure
[C] The process occurs under high pressure at temperature above 430° C
[D] It is a thermochemical decomposition of organic waste
Answer: B [The process occurs at a temperature above 430°C at atmospheric pressure]
Notes:
Pyrolysis is a thermo-chemical decomposition of organic material at elevated temperatures in the absence of oxygen (or any halogen). Pyrolysis generally takes place well above atmospheric pressure at temperatures exceeding above 430 °C.
4. Which of the following is an endemic species?
[A] Horn bill
[B] Nicobar pigeon
[C] Indian Rhino
[D] Pink head duck
Answer: A [Horn bill]
Notes:
The Malabar Grey Hornbill is a hornbill that is endemic to the Western Ghats and associated hills of southern India. They are found mainly in dense forest and around rubber or coffee plantations.
5. Which of the following statements about phloem transport is correct?
[A] Phloem transport occurs unidirectionally
[B] Gravity influences phloem transport
[C] Ca+ is the most abundantcation in phloem sap
[D] Sugar is transported in phloem as non-reducing sugar
Answer: D [Sugar is transported in phloem as non-reducing sugar]
Notes:
According to mass flow of hypothesis describing the translocation of solute, the food is synthesised in form of glucose, transported in form of non-reducing sugar through sieve cells and stored in form of starch. Therefore, translocation of solutes is active process that requires expenditure of energy.
6. Which one of the following is the respiratory pigment in man?
[A] Haemocyanin
[B] Haemoerythrin
[C] Haemoglobin
[D] b-Carotene
Answer: [C] Haemoglobin
Notes:
A respiratory pigment is a molecule, such as haemoglobin in humans, that increases the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. The four most common invertebrate respiratory pigments are haemoglobin, haemocyanin, haemerythrin and chlorocruorin.
7. Chlorophyll was first isolated and named by ____:
[A] Chlorophyll
[B] Pelletier
[C] Caventou
[D] Caventou and Pelletier
Answer: [D] Caventou and Pelletier
Notes:
Chlorophyll was first isolated and named by Joseph Bienaimé Caventou and Pierre Joseph Pelletier in 1817. It is a chemical found in the chloroplasts of plants that allows the plant to absorb light. Energy from the light is used in photosynthesis to make glucose.
8. Commercially valued cork is obtained from ____:
[A] Quercusuber
[B] Cycas
[C] Cedrus Deodara
[D] Ficus
Answer: [A] Quercusuber
Notes:
Cork is a prime-subset of bark tissue that is harvested for commercial use primarily from Quercus suber. It is endemic to the Mediterranean region. Cork is composed of suberin, a hydrophobic substance and, because of its impermeable, buoyant, elastic, and fire retardant properties, it is used in a variety of products, such as wine stoppers.
9. On an average how many million red blood cells are present in a healthy human adult man per mm3 of blood?
[A] 1.5 – 2
[B] 2 – 2.5
[C] 5 – 5.5
[D] 9 – 9.5
Answer: C [5 – 5.5]
Notes:
The primary function of the red blood cells, or erythrocytes, is to carry oxygen from the lungs to body tissues and to transfer carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs. The RBC is a count of the number of red blood cells per cubic millimeter of blood. Newborns: 4.8 – 7.2 million Adults: (males): 4.6 – 6.0 million.
10. In cactus, the spines are the modified ____.
[A] Stem
[B] Buds
[C] Leaves
[D] Stipulse
Answer: [C] Leaves
Notes:
Most cactus morphologists have concluded that cactus spines are modified leaves. They are wholly transformed leaves that protect the plant from herbivores, radiate heat from the stem during the day, and collect and let drip condensed water vapour during the cooler night.
General Science Biology Questions
11. Which of the following is the case with codominance products?
[A] Produced from both the alleles
[B] Produced from one allele
[C] Incompletely produced from both alleles
[D] None are functional
Answer: [A] Produced from both the alleles
Notes:
In the case of codominance, the product is formed from both the alleles. It is expressed in its completeness and no allele dominates the other.
12. A dark brown, earth-like substance containing balanced macro and micronutrients:
[A] Vermicompost
[B] Azotobacter
[C] Tricho-Card
[D] Bio Compost
Answer: D [Bio Compost]
Notes:
A dark brown, earth-like substance containing balanced macro and micronutrients is called Bio Compost.
13. What is “Bed Method” in vermicomposting?
[A] Beds of chemicals matter are prepared
[B] Beds of organic matter are prepared
[C] Beds of phosphorus are prepared
[D] All of the above
Answer: [B] Beds of organic matter are prepared
Notes:
In vermicomposting, the Bed Method involves preparing beds of organic matter.
14. Which inhibits the translation of mRNA?
[A] Increase
[B] Knock out
[C] Clearing
[D] Silencing
Answer: [D] Silencing
Notes:
The one that inhibits the translation of mRNA is silencing. It controls the expression of a gene by inhibiting its expression.
15. How many approaches are there in order to clone the complete genome?
[A] 1
[B] 2
[C] 3
[D] 4
Answer: [B] 2
Notes:
There are basically two approaches to cloning the entire genome. In the first approach, systematic cloning is performed and the second approach is based on randomly cloning overlapping fragments.
16. Which of the following are examples of hydrophilic molecules?
[A] Sugar
[B] Cellulose
[C] Starch
[D] All of the above
Answer: [D] All of the above
Notes:
A molecule whose interaction with water and other polar substances is more thermodynamically favorable than its interaction with oil or other hydrophobic solvents is called a hydrophilic molecule. Sugar, salt, starch, and cellulose are examples of hydrophilic molecules.
17. ____ being a higher category, is the assemblage of families which exhibit a few similar characters:
[A] Class
[B] Species
[C] Genus
[D] Order
Answer: [D] Order
Notes:
Order is an assemblage of families which exhibit a few similar characters. The similar characters are less in number as compared to different genera included in a family. A class includes one or more orders.
18. The part of brain which controls emotional reactions in our body is ____.
[A] Hypothalamus
[B] Meninges
[C] Cerebrum
[D] Thalamus
Answer: [A] Hypothalamus
Notes:
The brain’s limbic system controls emotional expression through the hypothalamus, which has control over the body’s emotional responses systems. The hypothalamus is responsible for regulating hunger, thirst, response to pain, levels of pleasure, sexual satisfaction, anger and aggressive behavior, etc. It also regulates pulse, blood pressure, breathing, and arousal in response to emotional circumstances.
19. Saprophytes are the organisms which depend for food on ____.
[A] Inorganic chemical compounds
[B] Living plants
[C] Living animals
[D] Dead and decaying material
Answer: [D] Dead and decaying material
Notes:
Saprophytes are the organisms which depend for food on dead and decaying material. They secrete digestive substances into the surrounding environment and break down the organic matter into simpler substances. The nutrients thus produced are absorbed directly through the cell membranes of the organisms.
20. In females, the uterus is ____.
[A] Single
[B] Double
[C] Triple
[D] Quadruple
Answer: [A] Single
Notes:
Females have single uterus, also known as womb. It is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of humans and most other mammals. It is within the uterus that the fetus develops during gestation.
General Science Biology Questions
21. Equisetum is an example of__?
[A] Bryophytes
[B] Pteridophytes
[C] Gymnosperms
[D] None of these
Answer: [B] Pteridophytes
Notes:
Equisetum is an example of pteridophytes. Hornworts, liverworts, and mosses are all examples of bryophytes. Cycas, pinus, Thuja, Cedrus, Abies, Larix are some of the examples of gymnosperms.
22. Which of the following is not a characteristic of leaves?
[A] Leaf arises from the node
[B] It is exogenous in origin
[C] It has a bud at its axis
[D] Produce diaspores without fertilization
Answer: [D] Produce diaspores without fertilization
Notes:
Characteristics of leaves: The leaf emerges from the node, it is exogenous in origin, has a bud on its axis, the growth of the leaf is limited, the leaves do not have an apical bud.
23. Which plant tissue is the only tissue with the highest refractive index due to the presence of pectin?
[A] Sclerenchyma
[B] Collenchyma
[C] Parenchyma
[D] Laticiferous
Answer: B [Collenchyma]
Notes:
Collenchyma tissue is the only tissue with the highest refractive index due to the presence of pectin.
24. Downy mildew disease is caused by which of the following?
[A] Fungus
[B] Bacteria
[C] Virus
[D] None of these
Answer: [A] Fungus
Notes:
Downy mildew disease is caused by fungus (Pseudoperonospora cubensis). Downy mildew can infect all cucumbers, including cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and squash.
25. Which characters are not typical to class mammalia?
[A] Alveolar lungs
[B] Seven cervical vertebrae
[C] Thecodont dentition
[D] Ten pairs of cranial nerves
Answer: [D] Ten pairs of cranial nerves
Notes:
Alveolar lungs, Seven cervical vertebrae, and Thecodont dentition are characters of class Mammalia whereas Anamniotes have 10 pairs of cranial nerves.
26. The scientific name of peacock is _________.
[A] Pavo cristatus
[B] Gallus gallus
[C] Columbia livia
[D] None of these
Answer: [A] Pavo cristatus
Notes:
The scientific name of the peacock is Pavo cristatus. Columbia Livia is the scientific name of rock dove, rock pigeon, or common pigeon.
27. Which one has a poison gland?
[A] Male platypus
[B] Scoliodon
[C] Rat snake
[D] Wall lizard
Answer: [A] Male platypus
Notes:
The male platypus has a spur on the inner side of each ankle that is connected to a poison gland located on top of the thighbone.
28. Which of the following is found in the cells lining blood vessels?
[A] Columnar epithelium
[B] Connective tissue
[C] Squamous epithelium
[D] Smooth muscle tissue
Answer: [C] Squamous epithelium
Notes:
Squamous epithelium is found in the cells lining blood vessels. It is composed of epithelial cells that are distinctively flat and scale-like.
29. What does your thalamus control?
[A] Motor activity
[B] Emotion
[C] Controls your hormone system
[D] Both 1 and 2
Answer: [D] Both 1 and 2
Notes:
Motor activity, emotion, memory, arousal, and other sensorimotor association functions are controlled by the thalamus.
30. The auditory nerve carries _____.
[A] Smell information
[B] Taste information
[C] Balance information
[D] Sound information
Answer: [D] Sound information
Notes:
The auditory nerve carries sound information. The acoustic nerve is a sensory nerve essential for hearing. It is also called cochlear nerve.
General Science Biology Questions
31. Guinea pigs used in medical research belong to which of the following categories?
[A] Rodents
[B] Black swine
[C] Stocky and brown in colour
[D] Found in Asia only
Answer: [A] Rodents
Notes:
The guinea pig or domestic guinea pig also known as cavy or domestic cavy, is a species of rodent belonging to the family Caviidae and the genus Cavia.
32. At which of the following ages Rennin and lactase disappear in the human body?
[A] Two
[B] Three
[C] Five
[D] Eight
Answer: [A] Two
Notes:
By the age of two, the rennin and lactase enzymes start disappearing, however, these enzymes completely disappear by the age of eight in humans. After this, the stomach of person becomes mature enough to produce pepsin to digest the food.
33. Which of the following is the subject matter of genetics?
[A] Forms and features of plant parts
[B] Heredity and variations
[C] The disorder of living beings
[D] None of these
Answer: [B] Heredity and variations
Notes:
Genetics is the study of heredity in general and genes in particular. Genetics is one of the central pillars of biology and overlaps with many other fields such as agriculture, medicine and biotechnology.
34. The branch of science that deals with the study of the mental faculties of the brain including emotions is known as__?
[A] Phenology
[B] Phycology
[C] Phrenology
[D] Proctology
Answer: [C] Phrenology
Notes:
The branch of science that deals with the study of the mental faculties of the brain including emotions is known as Phrenology.
35. What is a jelly-like substance found floating inside the plasma membrane called?
[A] Cell sap
[B] Cytoplasm
[C] Karyoplasm
[D] Mitochondria
Answer: [B] Cytoplasm
Notes:
The jelly-like substance inside the plasma membrane in which all the organelles float is called cytoplasm.
36. Which of the following viruses is not linked to human cancer?
[A] Hepatitis C virus
[B] Hepatitis B virus
[C] Varicella-Zoster virus
[D] Herpes simplex virus type 2
Answer: [C] Varicella-Zoster virus
Notes:
Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B and Herpes simplex virus type 2 viruses which are linked to human cancer.
37. Which of the following can be done in the cultivation of plant viruses?
[A] Tissue culture
[B] Cultures of separated cells
[C] Whole plants
[D] All of the above
Answer: [D] All of the above
Notes:
The cultivation of plant viruses can be done in tissue culture, cultures of separated cells and whole plants.
38. Which of the following is a characteristic of angiosperms?
[A] Seed-bearing plants
[B] Seeds are enclosed within fruits
[C] Both 1 & 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: [C] Both 1 & 2
Notes:
Characteristics of angiosperms: Seed plants, seeds are sealed inside the fruit, presence of well differentiated plant body, produce flowers during their lifetime, presence of two subtypes – monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous.
39. Whooping cough is caused by which of the following?
[A] Bordetella pertussis
[B] Helicobacter pylori
[C] Yersinia pestis
[D] Treponema pallidum
Answer: [A] Bordetella pertussis
Notes:
Pertussis is a respiratory disease commonly known as whooping cough. It is a very contagious disease caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis.
40. An anaerobic process in which energy can be released from glucose even when oxygen is not available is called__.
[A] Putrefaction
[B] Fermentation
[C] Glycolysis
[D] None of these
Answer: [B] Fermentation
Notes:
An anaerobic process in which energy can be released from glucose even when oxygen is not available is called Fermentation.
General Science Biology Questions
41. Maximum number of animals species belong to which among the following groups?
[A] Mammalia
[B] Aves
[C] Pisces
[D] Arthropoda
Answer: [D] Arthropoda
Notes:
Arthropoda is the largest phylum of animal kingdom because around 2/3rd of all the named species on Earth belong to this phylum.
Ants, mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, shrimp, crabs, spiders, scorpions etc. are examples of arthropods. There are three main classes of arthropods as follows:
Insects: This includes mosquitoes, cockroaches, ants, flies, bees, moths, grasshoppers, beetles and butterflies
Crustaceans: This includes crabs, lobsters, shrimp and barnacles
Arachnids: This includes scorpions, spiders and mites
Further, a few other classes are onychophorans (velvet worms), diplopods (millipedes) and chilopods (centipedes).
42. “Minimata Disease ” is a severe neurological syndrome caused by eating fish and discovered in Japan. What was factor behind this disease?
[A] Arsenic Poisoning
[B] Mercury Poisoning
[C] Lead Poisoning
[D] Cadmium Poisoning
Answer: [B] Mercury Poisoning
Notes:
Minamata disease, sometimes referred to as Chisso-Minamata disease, is a neurological syndrome which is caused by severe mercury poisoning. Some of the symptoms of the disease are numbness in the hands and feet, ataxia, general muscle weakness, etc.
43. In which of the following diseases , nerve cells are affected?
[A] Tetanus
[B] Polio
[C] Whooping Cough
[D] Diphtheria
Answer: [B] Polio
Notes:
Nerve cells are affected in Polio. Polio also known as poliomyelitis, is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus. The virus spreads from person to person and can infect a person’s spinal cord, causing paralysis.
44. How many vertebrae does a human being have ?
[A] 33
[B] 36
[C] 29
[D] 19
Answer: [A] 33
Notes:
The vertebral column usually consists of 33 vertebrae: 24 presacral vertebrae (7 cervical, 12 thoracic, and 5 lumbar) followed by the sacrum (5 fused sacral vertebrae) and the coccyx (4 frequently fused coccygeal vertebrae).
45. Which among the following enzyme plays an important role in adding the building blocks to the primer in a sequence determined by the DNA template?
[A] Helicase
[B] Primase
[C] Polymerase
[D] Diastase
Answer: [C] Polymerase
Notes:
Polymerase enzyme plays an important role in adding the building blocks to the primer in a sequence determined by the DNA template. It synthesizes long chains of polymers or nucleic acids.
46. Which among the following is not rightly matched : (Ailments and affected parts of Body)
[A] Dermatitis – Skin
[B] Glossitis – Tongue
[C] Peritonitis – Abdomen
[D] Cystitis – Caecum
Answer: [D] Cystitis – Caecum
Notes:
Cystitis is related to Bladder.
47. Which among the following is the correct location of pyloric sphincter in human body?
[A] Between Oral cavity and esophagus
[B] Between Esophagus and Stomach
[C] Between Stomach and duodenum
[D] Between duodenum and Jejunum
Answer: [C] Between Stomach and duodenum
Notes:
Pyloric sphincter is located between stomach and duodenum. It is a small piece of smooth visceral muscle, which acts as a valve and regulates the flow of partially digested food from the stomach to the duodenum.
48. Which among the following helps to determine the character of a cell?
[A] Nucleus
[B] Chromosomes
[C] Genes
[D] Plasma
Answer: [C] Genes
Notes:
Genes helps to determine the character of a cell. Gene is the basic physical and functional unit of heredity and are made up of DNA. Some of the genes act as instructions to make molecules called proteins.
49. As per the WHO definition, within how many days of the termination of pregnancy, the death of a woman is counted in the Maternal Mortality?
[A] 36 Days
[B] 42 Days
[C] 56 Days
[D] 60 Days
Answer: [B] 42 Days
Notes:
As per the WHO definition, within 42 days of the termination of pregnancy, the death of a woman is counted in the Maternal Mortality, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy.
50. What is PRINT (Particle Replication in Non-wetting Templates) Technology ?
[A] It’s a technology related to genetic engineering and refers to duplication of the DNA codes.
[B] It’s a technology related to climate change and refers to a new technique of combating air pollution.
[C] It’s a new technology related to synthesis of artificial blood.
[D] None of the above.
Answer: [C] It’s a new technology related to synthesis of artificial blood.
Notes:
PRINT (Particle Replication in Non-wetting Templates) Technology is a new technology related to synthesis of artificial blood. PRINT method has been widely applied onto material sciences, drug delivery, electronic devices, optics, etc.
