CHAPTER 2: LIFE ON EARTH
50 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQs)
1. What is a biome?
(A) A small area containing only one species
(B) A large natural region with particular plants and animals under similar climatic conditions
(C) A region without vegetation
(D) A place occupied only by humans
Answer: (B) A large natural region with particular plants and animals under similar climatic conditions
2. The word “bio” in biome is derived from the Greek word “bios”, which means:
(A) Earth
(B) Climate
(C) Life
(D) Water
Answer: (C) Life
3. What is the main difference between a biome and an ecosystem?
(A) A biome is a large natural region, while an ecosystem involves interactions among living and non-living things
(B) A biome contains only animals, while an ecosystem contains only plants
(C) A biome is always aquatic, while an ecosystem is always terrestrial
(D) There is no difference between them
Answer: (A) A biome is a large natural region, while an ecosystem involves interactions among living and non-living things
4. Which of the following is a factor that determines the type of biome?
(A) Only population size
(B) Only road connectivity
(C) Only the number of buildings
(D) Temperature and precipitation patterns
Answer: (D) Temperature and precipitation patterns
5. Which of the following is a terrestrial biome?
(A) Ocean
(B) Coral reef
(C) Grassland
(D) River
Answer: (C) Grassland
6. Which of the following is an aquatic biome?
(A) Desert
(B) Tundra
(C) Grassland
(D) Freshwater wetland
Answer: (D) Freshwater wetland
7. Where are tropical rainforests mainly found?
(A) Near the Equator
(B) Near the North Pole only
(C) In regions with almost no rainfall
(D) Only in temperate regions
Answer: (A) Near the Equator
8. Which of the following is one of the world’s largest tropical rainforest regions?
(A) Gobi Desert
(B) Amazon Basin
(C) Thar Desert
(D) Tibetan Plateau
Answer: (B) Amazon Basin
9. Why are tropical rainforests known as rich storehouses of biodiversity?
(A) They contain no microorganisms
(B) They receive no rainfall
(C) They support a wide variety of plant and animal life and genetic resources
(D) They contain only one type of tree
Answer: (C) They support a wide variety of plant and animal life and genetic resources
10. Why are forests sometimes called the “lungs of the Earth”?
(A) They prevent all natural disasters
(B) They produce all the Earth’s freshwater
(C) They stop the movement of air
(D) They help maintain oxygen levels and balance the Earth’s climate
Answer: (D) They help maintain oxygen levels and balance the Earth’s climate
11. Which of the following is the correct sequence of rainforest vegetation layers from top to bottom?
(A) Forest floor, understory, upper canopy, emergent layer
(B) Emergent layer, upper canopy, understory, forest floor
(C) Upper canopy, forest floor, emergent layer, understory
(D) Understory, emergent layer, forest floor, upper canopy
Answer: (B) Emergent layer, upper canopy, understory, forest floor
12. What is a major characteristic of grasslands?
(A) They are covered mainly with grass and have few trees
(B) They receive no rainfall throughout the year
(C) They are permanently covered with ice
(D) They are covered entirely by dense forests
Answer: (A) They are covered mainly with grass and have few trees
13. Temperate grasslands are known as which of the following in different regions?
(A) Tundras and taigas
(B) Savannas and rainforests
(C) Prairies and steppes
(D) Mangroves and wetlands
Answer: (C) Prairies and steppes
14. Tropical grasslands are also known as:
(A) Taiga
(B) Tundra
(C) Temperate deciduous forests
(D) Savannas
Answer: (D) Savannas
15. Which of the following animals is commonly associated with African savannas?
(A) Polar bear
(B) Giraffe
(C) Arctic fox
(D) Reindeer
Answer: (B) Giraffe
16. Why do grasslands develop in regions with moderate rainfall?
(A) Moderate rainfall supports grasses but may be insufficient for dense forests
(B) Moderate rainfall prevents all plant growth
(C) Grasslands develop only where water is permanently frozen
(D) Grasslands require no soil
Answer: (A) Moderate rainfall supports grasses but may be insufficient for dense forests
17. Which Indian region is described in the chapter as a major salt desert?
(A) Sundarbans
(B) Western Ghats
(C) Rann of Kutch
(D) Andaman Islands
Answer: (C) Rann of Kutch
18. What happens to the Rann of Kutch during the monsoon?
(A) It becomes a permanent glacier
(B) It turns into a marshy wetland
(C) It becomes a dense tropical rainforest
(D) It remains completely dry throughout the year
Answer: (B) It turns into a marshy wetland
19. Which of the following plants is specially adapted to survive in desert conditions?
(A) Cactus
(B) Pine
(C) Spruce
(D) Larch
Answer: (A) Cactus
20. Which statement correctly describes the tundra biome?
(A) It has hot and wet weather throughout the year
(B) It is dominated by dense tropical forests
(C) It receives moderate rainfall and supports extensive farming
(D) It has very cold conditions, long winters and short summers
Answer: (D) It has very cold conditions, long winters and short summers
21. What is permafrost?
(A) Permanently flowing river water
(B) Soil that remains frozen for most or all of the year
(C) A layer of desert sand
(D) A type of tropical vegetation
Answer: (B) Soil that remains frozen for most or all of the year
22. Which vegetation is commonly found in the tundra biome?
(A) Coconut palms and mangroves
(B) Tall tropical rainforest trees
(C) Mosses, lichens and small shrubs
(D) Dense evergreen tropical vegetation
Answer: (C) Mosses, lichens and small shrubs
23. Which of the following animals is adapted to survive in tundra conditions?
(A) Giraffe
(B) Camel
(C) Elephant
(D) Arctic fox
Answer: (D) Arctic fox
24. Approximately what proportion of the Earth’s surface is covered by aquatic biomes, according to the chapter?
(A) One-fourth
(B) One-half
(C) Three-fourths
(D) One-tenth
Answer: (C) Three-fourths
25. Which of the following is a freshwater biome?
(A) River
(B) Open ocean
(C) Coral reef
(D) Sea
Answer: (A) River
26. How do marine biomes influence the Earth’s climate?
(A) They prevent all rainfall
(B) They store and distribute heat
(C) They eliminate seasonal changes
(D) They stop the movement of air
Answer: (B) They store and distribute heat
27. In a biome pyramid, which organisms form the base?
(A) Top predators
(B) Secondary consumers
(C) Primary consumers
(D) Producers such as plants and algae
Answer: (D) Producers such as plants and algae
28. What happens to available energy as we move up the trophic levels of a biome pyramid?
(A) It increases continuously
(B) It remains exactly the same
(C) It decreases because energy is lost at each level
(D) It becomes unlimited
Answer: (C) It decreases because energy is lost at each level
29. Which of the following is an example of a primary consumer?
(A) A herbivore that feeds on plants
(B) A plant that performs photosynthesis
(C) A top predator
(D) A non-living component of the ecosystem
Answer: (A) A herbivore that feeds on plants
30. How do animals contribute to the interconnectedness of biomes?
(A) They prevent all vegetation growth
(B) They help in pollination and seed dispersal
(C) They eliminate microorganisms
(D) They stop nutrient recycling
Answer: (B) They help in pollination and seed dispersal
31. What is biodiversity?
(A) The study of rocks alone
(B) The number of human settlements in a region
(C) The variety of life, including species, genetic differences and ecosystems
(D) The total quantity of rainfall in a year
Answer: (C) The variety of life, including species, genetic differences and ecosystems
32. Which of the following is identified as a biodiversity-rich region in India?
(A) The Thar Desert alone
(B) The entire Indo-Gangetic Plain only
(C) The cold desert of Ladakh alone
(D) The Western Ghats
Answer: (D) The Western Ghats
33. What is the main purpose of protected areas such as national parks and wildlife sanctuaries?
(A) To promote uncontrolled hunting
(B) To preserve critical habitats and protect biodiversity
(C) To replace all forests with buildings
(D) To encourage habitat destruction
Answer: (B) To preserve critical habitats and protect biodiversity
34. How can rivers, mountains and valleys influence wildlife conservation?
(A) They can act as geographical barriers or corridors affecting animal movement
(B) They prevent all animal movement everywhere
(C) They have no relationship with animal movement
(D) They eliminate genetic variation
Answer: (A) They can act as geographical barriers or corridors affecting animal movement
35. What is forest ecotourism?
(A) Uncontrolled extraction of forest resources
(B) Tourism that ignores local communities
(C) Responsible travel that supports nature conservation and local communities
(D) Construction of industries inside every forest
Answer: (C) Responsible travel that supports nature conservation and local communities
36. Where is Thenmala ecotourism located?
(A) Rajasthan
(B) Gujarat
(C) Bihar
(D) Keralam
Answer: (D) Keralam
37. What does the name “Thenmala” mean, according to the chapter?
(A) Green Valley
(B) Honey Hill
(C) Snow Mountain
(D) River Island
Answer: (B) Honey Hill
38. Which of the following is a forest resource used by rural and tribal communities?
(A) Honey
(B) Petroleum imported from another country
(C) Manufactured plastic
(D) Electronic equipment
Answer: (A) Honey
39. What are sacred groves?
(A) Areas reserved exclusively for industrial production
(B) Artificial lakes used only for transport
(C) Small forest patches protected by communities for religious and cultural purposes
(D) Areas where all vegetation has been removed
Answer: (C) Small forest patches protected by communities for religious and cultural purposes
40. Which movement in Uttarakhand involved village women hugging trees to prevent deforestation?
(A) Green Revolution
(B) White Revolution
(C) Bishnoi Movement
(D) Chipko Movement
Answer: (D) Chipko Movement
41. What is a Geographical Indication (GI) tag?
(A) A label identifying a product whose quality, reputation or characteristics are linked to a particular geographical origin
(B) A label used only for imported products
(C) A certificate showing that a product contains no natural ingredients
(D) A mark that identifies the population of a region
Answer: (A) A label identifying a product whose quality, reputation or characteristics are linked to a particular geographical origin
42. Which GI-tagged product mentioned in the chapter is associated with Kandhamal in Odisha?
(A) Tezpur Litchi
(B) Kandhamal Haldi
(C) Ramban Sulai Honey
(D) Khasi Mandarin
Answer: (B) Kandhamal Haldi
43. Channapatna Toys are associated with which state?
(A) Assam
(B) Odisha
(C) Karnataka
(D) Meghalaya
Answer: (C) Karnataka
44. According to the chapter, approximately what percentage of India’s forest cover is estimated to be prone to forest fires?
(A) 10 per cent
(B) 20 per cent
(C) 25 per cent
(D) 36 per cent
Answer: (D) 36 per cent
45. Which law recognises the rights of eligible Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers over forest land and resources they have traditionally depended upon?
(A) Forest Rights Act, 2006
(B) Indian Fisheries Act, 1897
(C) Bihar Fish Jalkar Management Act, 2006
(D) Wildlife tourism regulations
Answer: (A) Forest Rights Act, 2006
46. Which programme encourages local communities to participate in forest protection while benefiting from forest produce?
(A) Swadesh Darshan 2.0
(B) Joint Forest Management (JFM)
(C) Storm Surge Early Warning System
(D) Blue Economy Programme
Answer: (B) Joint Forest Management (JFM)
47. Mendha Lekha village is located in which district and state?
(A) Kollam, Keralam
(B) Tezpur, Assam
(C) Gadchiroli, Maharashtra
(D) Kandhamal, Odisha
Answer: (C) Gadchiroli, Maharashtra
48. Which principle is followed by the villagers of Mendha Lekha?
(A) One person owns the entire forest
(B) Forest resources must never be used
(C) Decisions are made only by outside authorities
(D) “Mawa Nate Mawa Raj”, meaning “our village, our rule”
Answer: (D) “Mawa Nate Mawa Raj”, meaning “our village, our rule”
49. What are ecological commons?
(A) Natural resources shared and used collectively by a community
(B) Resources owned exclusively by one private individual
(C) Manufactured goods sold in shops
(D) Areas where natural resources cannot support life
Answer: (A) Natural resources shared and used collectively by a community
50. Which traditional water-management structures are called “katas” in the chapter?
(A) Forest pathways built by tribal communities
(B) Three-sided reservoirs funded by the Gond kings in the Gondwana region
(C) Mountain passes used by traders
(D) Irrigation canals built only in Tamil Nadu
Answer: (B) Three-sided reservoirs funded by the Gond kings in the Gondwana region
CLASS 9 SOCIAL SCIENCE
CHAPTER 2: LIFE ON EARTH
20 ASSERTION–REASON QUESTIONS
Choose the correct option for each question.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
1. Assertion (A): Tropical rainforests are mainly found near the Equator.
Reason (R): These regions remain hot and wet throughout the year, supporting dense forest growth.
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
2. Assertion (A): Grasslands generally have dense forests with many tall trees.
Reason (R): Grasslands develop in regions where rainfall is moderate and may be insufficient to support dense forests.
Answer: (D) Assertion A is false, but Reason R is true.
3. Assertion (A): The Rann of Kutch changes into a marshy wetland during the monsoon.
Reason (R): The Rann of Kutch is a salt desert that becomes a vast white salt desert during the dry season.
Answer: (B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
4. Assertion (A): Permafrost makes it difficult for trees to grow in the tundra biome.
Reason (R): Tundra soil remains frozen almost throughout the year.
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
5. Assertion (A): Marine biomes play an important role in influencing the Earth’s climate.
Reason (R): Marine biomes store and distribute heat and support diverse forms of life.
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
6. Assertion (A): Available energy increases as we move up the trophic levels of a biome pyramid.
Reason (R): Energy is lost at each trophic level as heat during metabolic processes.
Answer: (D) Assertion A is false, but Reason R is true.
7. Assertion (A): Biodiversity includes only the number of different animal species in a region.
Reason (R): Biodiversity also includes plants, microorganisms, genetic differences, habitats and ecological processes.
Answer: (D) Assertion A is false, but Reason R is true.
8. Assertion (A): Sacred groves can help conserve biodiversity.
Reason (R): Sacred groves are small forest patches protected by local communities for religious and cultural purposes.
Answer: (B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
9. Assertion (A): The Forest Rights Act, 2006 recognises the rights of eligible forest-dwelling communities over forest land and resources they have traditionally depended upon.
Reason (R): The Act allows eligible communities to collect minor forest produce and recognises certain traditional land rights.
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
10. Assertion (A): Ecological commons are resources owned exclusively by a single individual.
Reason (R): Ecological commons include shared natural resources such as forests, rivers, lakes, grazing lands and biodiversity.
Answer: (D) Assertion A is false, but Reason R is true.
11. Assertion (A): Forests help maintain the Earth’s climate.
Reason (R): Forests help maintain oxygen levels and support the balance of natural systems.
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
12. Assertion (A): Deserts are unable to support any form of life.
Reason (R): Some desert plants and animals have special adaptations that help them survive heat and dryness.
Answer: (D) Assertion A is false, but Reason R is true.
13. Assertion (A): The tundra biome is highly sensitive to changes in temperature.
Reason (R): The tundra has harsh winters, short summers and frozen soil, making its ecosystem fragile.
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
14. Assertion (A): The number of organisms and available energy generally decrease at higher levels of a biome pyramid.
Reason (R): Energy is lost at each trophic level during metabolic processes.
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
15. Assertion (A): Wildlife corridors are useful for biodiversity conservation.
Reason (R): Geographical features such as rivers, mountains and valleys can influence animal movement and gene flow.
Answer: (B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
16. Assertion (A): Ecotourism should involve responsible travel and respect for local communities.
Reason (R): Ecotourism aims to minimise environmental impact while supporting conservation and local livelihoods.
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
17. Assertion (A): Forests provide resources that support the livelihoods of rural and tribal communities.
Reason (R): Forests provide products such as honey, fruits, bamboo, medicinal plants, fuel and fodder.
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
18. Assertion (A): A Geographical Indication (GI) tag identifies a product whose qualities or reputation are linked to a particular place.
Reason (R): GI tagging can help protect region-specific products and generate economic benefits for local communities.
Answer: (B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
19. Assertion (A): The villagers of Mendha Lekha make decisions collectively through the Gram Sabha.
Reason (R): The village follows the principle “Mawa Nate Mawa Raj”, meaning “our village, our rule”.
Answer: (A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
20. Assertion (A): Protecting ecological commons is important only for the economic interests of individuals.
Reason (R): Ecological commons support community livelihoods, ecological balance, climate regulation and biodiversity conservation.
Answer: (D) Assertion A is false, but Reason R is true.
