Q1. As we go from species to kingdom in a taxonomic hierarchy, the number of common characteristics a. Will decreaseWill decrease b. Will increase c.Remain same d.May increase or decrease Answer: (a) Will decrease ​ Explanation: Number of common characters is maximum among members of a particular species. On the other hand, number of common characters is minimum among members of a particular kingdom. Q2. Which of the following ‘suffixes’ used for units of classification in plants indicates a ​ taxonomic category of ‘family’. (a) – Ales (b) – Onae (c) – Aceae (d) – Ae Answer: (c) – Aceae ​ Explanation: You can consider the names of families, e.g. Solanaceae, fabaceae, etc. ​ Q3. The term ‘systematics’ refers to: ​ (a) Identification and study of organ systems (b) Identification and preservation of plants and animals (c) Diversity of kinds of organisms and their relationship (d) Study of habitats of organisms and their classification Answer: (c) Diversity of kinds of organisms and their relationship ​ Explanation: In fact, the need for a proper classification system was felt because of huge ​ diversity of organisms. Based on certain relationships, organisms were classified into different group and sub-groups. Q4. Genus represents ​ (a) An individual plant or animal (b) A collection of plants or animals (c) Group of closely related species of plants or animals (d) None of these Answer: (c) Group of closely related species of plants or animals ​ Explanation: Taxon genus is just above the taxon species. ​ Q5. The taxonomic unit ‘Phylum’ in the classification of animals is equivalent to which ​ hierarchical level in classification of plants (a) Class (b) Order (c) Division (d) Family Answer: (c) Division ​ Explanation: In the animal kingdom, phylum comes just after the kingdom. Similarly, in the ​ plant kingdom, division comes just after the kingdom. Q6. Botanical gardens and zoological parks have ​ (a) Collection of endemic living species only (b) Collection of exotic living species only (c) Collection of endemic and exotic living species (d) Collection of only local plants and animals Answer: (c) Collection of endemic and exotic living species ​ Explanation: To understand this, you can visit the zoo at Delhi or Kolkata. You can also ​ search in Google image and you will find giraffes; along with tigers and lions. Tigers and Lions are endemic species while giraffes are an exotic species. Q7. Taxonomic key is one of the taxonomic tools in the identification and classification of ​ plants and animals. It is used in the preparation of (a) Monographs (b) Flora (c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of these Answer: (c) Both (a) and (b) ​ Q8. All living organisms are linked to one another because ​ (a) They have common genetic material of the same type (b) They share common genetic material but to varying degrees (c) All have common cellular organization (d) All of above Answer: (b) They share common genetic material but to varying degrees ​ Explanation: In fact, the whole theory of evolution is based on similarity of genetic ​ materials which indicates towards common ancestry for living organisms. Variations in similarity of genetic material give biodiversity which we see all around us. Q9. Which of the following is a defining characteristic of living organisms? ​ (a) Growth (b) Ability to make sound (c) Reproduction (d) Response to external stimuli Answer: (d) Response to external stimuli ​ Explanation: Rest of the characters may not be apparent at every instance of time. But ​ response to external stimuli can always be confirmed as and when required. So, this is considered as a defining characteristic of living organisms. Q10. Match the following and choose the correct option: ​ A. Family (i) tuberosum. B. Kingdom (ii) Polymoniales C. Order (iii) Solanum D. Species (iv) Plantae E. Genus (v) Solanaceae Options (a) (i)-D, (ii)-C, (iii)-E, (iv)-B, (v)-A (b) (i)-E, (ii)-D, (iii)-B, (iv)-A, (v)-C (c) (i)-D, (ii)-E, (iii)-B, (iv)-A, (v)-C (d) (i)-E, (ii)-C, (iii)-B, (iv)-A, (v)-D Answer: (a) (i)-D, (ii)-C, (iii)-E, (iv)-B, (v)-A ​ Explanation: The order of taxa is as follows: Kingdom Order Family Genus ​ Species Classification of potato: Kingdom: Plantae order: Solanales Family: Solanaceae Genus: Solanum Species: tuberosum VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS Q11. Linnaeus is considered as Father of Taxonomy. Name two other botanists known for ​ their contribution to the field of plant taxonomy? Answer: G Bentham and Joseph Dalton Hooker. Both are famous for their work on “classification of plants based on natural characteristics”. Q12. What does ICZN stand for? ​ Answer: ICZN stands for International Code for Zoological Nomenclature. ​ Q13. Couplet in taxonomic key means _____. ​ Answer: Contrasting characters ​ Q14. What is a Monograph? ​ Answer: A monograph contains information on any one taxon. A monograph provides work ​ on primary research. Q15. Amoeba multiplies by mitotic cell division. Is this phenomena growth or ​ reproduction? Explain. Answer: After mitosis in Amoeba there is no growth in size of the organism rather two new ​ organisms are formed. Hence, formation of new cells in Amoeba is reproduction. Q16. Define metabolism. ​ Answer: All the biological reactions in a living being are collectively called metabolism. ​ Metabolism is of two types, viz, anabolism and catabolism. Q17. Which is the largest botanical garden in the world? Name a few well known botanical ​ gardens in India. Answer: The Royal Botanical Garden in Kew (London) is the largest botanical garden in the ​ world. Some of the well known botanical gardens in India are as follows: (a) Indian Botanical Garden, Sibpur, Kolkata (b) Lloyad Botanical Garden, Darjeeling (c) Botanical Garden of FRI, Dehradun (d) National Botanical Garden, Lucknow SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS Q18. A ball of snow when rolled over snow increases in mass, volume and size. Is this ​ comparable to growth as seen in living organisms? Why? Answer: Yes, it is true that a snowball gains mass, volume and size; when it is rolled over. But in this case, the increase in size of the ball is due to accumulation of material from outside. In case of growth in a living being, the growth happens because of accumulation of material inside the cells of the organisms when the cell cycle is carried out in the cell i.e. meiosis and mitosis divisions leading to formation of new protoplasm and nuclear mass. Thus, growth in a snowball is different as compared to the growth in a living being. Q19. In a given habitat we have 20 plant species and 20 animal species. Should we call this ​ as ‘diversity’ or ‘biodiversity’? Justify your answer. Answer: Whenever we discuss biodiversity, we consider all the life forms on the earth. In other words, the term ‘biodiversity’ is a universal term which describes all the living organisms on the earth. But when we consider a smaller geographical area; like an ecosystem or a particular habitat; then the term ‘diversity’ is used. In other words diversity is the variety of life found at one place in one time. So, the given example of the habitat visualizes diversity. Q20. International Code of Botanical nomenclature (ICBN) has provided a code for ​ classification of plants. Give hierarchy of units of classification botanists follow while classifying plants and mention different ‘Suffixes’ used for the units. Answer: As per the ICBN, various hierarchies of units for classifying plants and suffixes used for such hierarchies are as follows: Hierarchy Suffix Kingdom - Plantae Division - Phyta Class - Ae Order - Ales Family - Eae or – Ceae Genus - It is the first term of scientific name of organism which usually has Latin origin and written in italics. Species -It is the second term of the scientific name which usually has Latin origin and written in italics. Q21. A plant species shows several morphological variations in response to altitudinal ​ gradient. When grown under similar conditions of growth, the morphological variations disappear and all the variants have common morphology. What are these variants called? Answer: These variants are called biotypes. All biotypes are similar genetically but they are ​ different morphologically. The morphological difference happens because of the differences in abiotic factors like temperature, pH of soil, climate etc. The difference in abiotic factors is the result of different altitudinal gradients. Q22. How do you prepare your own herbarium sheets? What are the different tools you ​ carry with you while collecting plants for the preparation of a herbarium? What information should a preserved plant material on the herbarium sheet provide for taxonomical studies? Answer: Following are the various steps of preparing herbarium: ​ (a) Collection: This step involves collection of a particular species. (b) Pressing: This step involves spreading the specimen and pressing it between two sheets of paper so as to preserve most of the parts. (c) Drying: This step usually involves drying under the sun. (d) Poisoning: Sometimes, antifungal treatment needs to be given to the specimen to preserve it for a longer duration. (e) Mounting: This step involves mounting the specimen over a herbarium sheet. (f) Labelling: This step involves writing full information and classification of the specimen. Different tools which need to be carried while collecting plants for the preparation of a herbarium are; digger and pruning knife, sickle, vasculum, polythene bags, old newspaper or magazine, blotting paper, plant press, field notebooks, herbarium sheets, glue, labels, etc. The preserved material should have thorough information and classification. This should include the names of division, order, family, genus and species. Q23. What is the difference between flora, fauna and vegetation? Eichhornia crassipes is ​ called as an exotic species while Rauvolfia serpentina is an endemic species in India. What do these terms exotic and endemic refer to? Answer: The sum of plant species in a given geographical area is called flora of that area.