TOP 1000+ MCQ Questions on Environmental Studies with FREE PDF: The MCQ Questions on Environmental Studies have been designed to cover all the aspects of Environmental Studies for IAS, PCS, NDA/NTS, and RRB Examinations. These Objective Type Questions on the Environment cover the following 1000+ MCQs in very elaborate detail: The History of Conservation, Problems of Environmental Pollution, Air Pollution and Quality Control, Soil Pollution and Conservation, Water Resources Management, Shifting Cultivation and Forest Degradation, Deforestation and Afforestation, Biosystematics and Biodiversity, Range Management and Grazing Pastures, Adaptive Management and Adaptive Reuse of Natural Resources, Marine Pollution: Causes and Prevention, Solid Waste Management: Issues and Challenges, Coastal Zones Management: The Case of South Asian States.
MCQ Questions on Environmental Studies
| Category | Topics |
|---|---|
| Climate Change | Global Warming Greenhouse Gases Carbon Footprint Climate Policies Renewable Energy |
| Biodiversity | Conservation Ecosystem Services Endangered Species Habitat Loss Ecological Restoration |
| Pollution | Air Pollution Water Pollution Plastic Pollution Soil Contamination Noise Pollution |
| Environmental Policy & Governance | Environmental Laws International Treaties Sustainable Development Goals Environmental Justice |
| Sustainable Resource Management | Sustainable Agriculture Water Management Forest Conservation Energy Efficiency |
| Environmental Health | Human Health Impacts Environmental Toxins Public Health Policies Occupational Health |
| Conservation Biology | Wildlife Conservation Marine Conservation Protected Areas Species Recovery Programs |
| Environmental Ethics & Philosophy | Anthropocentrism vs. Biocentrism Environmental Responsibility Environmental Education |
| Urban Environment | Urbanization Effects Sustainable Cities Urban Planning Green Infrastructure |
| Waste Management | Recycling Waste Reduction Landfills Circular Economy E-waste Management |
| Renewable Energy | Solar Power Wind Energy Hydroelectric Power Geothermal Energy Biomass Energy |
| Environmental Education | Environmental Awareness Curriculum Development Outdoor Education Citizen Science |
| Environmental Economics | Cost-benefit analysis Green Economics Market-Based Instruments Ecotourism |
| Climate Adaptation | Adaptation Strategies, Resilience Planning, Climate-Resilient Infrastructure |
MCQ Questions on Environmental Studies and Answers
1. Which one of the following is not a gaseous biogeochemical cycle
a. Nitrogen cycle
b. Carbon cycle
c. Sulfur cycle
d. Phosphorus cycle
Answer: Phosphorus cycle
2. Deserts, grasslands, forests and tundra regions are examples of
a. Biomes
b. Biogeographically regions
c. Ecosystems
d. Biospheres
Answer: Ecosystems
3. The upright pyramid of numbers is absent in
a. Lake
b. Pond
c. Grasslands
d. Forests
Answer: Forests
4. The final stable community in an ecological succession is
a. Climax
b. Pioneer
c. Sere
d. Carnivores
Answer: Climax
5. Mass of living matter at a trophic level in an area at any given time is called
a. Standing state
b. Standing crop
c. Humus
d. Detritus
Answer: Standing crop
6. Hydrarch succession takes place in
a. Dry areas
b. Bare area
c. Wetter areas
d. None of the above
Answer: Wetter areas
7. A herbivore is also known as a
a. Producer
b. First order consumer
c. Second order consumer.
d. Third order consumer
Answer: First order consumer
8. In an ecotone, the species which become abundant are called:
a. Edge species
b. Keystone species
c. Endemic species
d. Foster species
Answer: Edge species
9. The objective of Environment studies is
a. Raise consciousness about environment conditions
b. To teach environmentally appropriate behaviour
c. Create an environmental ethic sensitive society
d. All of the above
Answer: All of the above
10. Which of the following is not influenced by human activities?
a. Destruction of mangroves and wetlands
b. Depletion of ground water
c. Increased extinction rate of species
d. None of the above
Answer: None of the above
11. Atmosphere consists of 79 percent Nitrogen and 21 percent Oxygen by
a. Volume
b. Weight
c. Density
d. All of these
Answer: Weight
12. The word ‘Environment’ is derived from
a. Greek
b. French
c. Spanish
d. English
Answer: French
13. Which among the following is a climatic factor?
a. pressure
b. humidity
c. temperature
d. all of the above
Answer: All of the above
14. World environment day is on:
a. 5th May
b. 5th June
c. 18th July
d. 16th August
Answer: 5th June
15. Which of the following are major environmental issues involved in mining?
a. air pollution
b. water pollution
c. soil degradation
d. all of the above
Answer: all of the above
16. Sustainable development means
a. meeting present needs without compromising on future needs
b. progress of human beings
c. balance between human needs and the ability of earth to provide the resources
d. all of the above
Answer: balance between human needs and the ability of earth to provide the resources
17. The most important remedy to avoid negative impact due to industrialisation is
a. industry should be closed
b. don’t allow new industrial units
c. industry should treat all the wastes generated by it before disposal
d. industries should be shifted far away from human habitats
Answer: industry should treat all the wastes generated by it before disposal
18. Sustainable development will not aim at
a. Social economic development which optimizes the economic and social benefits available in the present, without spoiling the likely potential for similar benefits in the future
b. Reasonable and equally distributed level of economic well being that can be perpetuated continually
c. Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations to meet their own needs
d. Maximising the present day benefits through increased resource consumption
Answer: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations to meet their own needs
19. Which of the following is management option for air pollution?
a. Regulations and standards
b. Transport planning
c. Using CNG as fuel
d. All of these
Answer: All of these
20. Development activities on the hydrosphere cause
a. Air pollution
b. Soil pollution
c. Water pollution
d. Soil erosion
Answer: Soil erosion
21. The species restricted to be present in one region are called
a. Edge species
b. Endemic species
c. Endangered species
d. Keystone species
Answer: Endemic species
22. The basic requirements of human beings are provided by
a. Industrialisation
b. Agriculture
c. Nature
d. Urbanisation
Answer: Nature
23. Environment is the life support system that includes
a. Air
b. Water
c. Land
d. All of the above
Answer: All of the above
24. The term ‘Environment’ has been derived from the French word which means to encircle or surround
a. Environ
b. Oikos
c. Geo
d. Aqua
Answer: Environ
25. Biosphere is
a. The solid shell of inorganic materials on the surface of the earth
b. The thin shell of organic matter on the surface of the earth comprising of all the living things
c. The sphere which occupies the maximum volume of all the spheres
d. All the above
Answer: The thin shell of organic matter on the surface of the earth comprising of all the living things
26. The adverse effect of modern agriculture is
a. Water pollution
b. Soil degradation
c. Water logging
d. All of the above
Answer: Soil degradation
27. Soil erosion removes surface soil which contains
a. Organic matter
b. Plant nutrients
c. Both a and b
d. none of the above
Answer: Organic matter
28. Water logging is a phenomenon in which
a. Crop patterns are rotated
b. Soil root zone becomes saturated due to over irrigation
c. Erosion of soil
d. None of the above
Answer: Soil root zone becomes saturated due to over irrigation
29. The impact of construction of dams
a. Submerged forest
b. Loss of wild life habitat
c. Damages downstream ecosystem
d. All of the above
Answer: All of the above
30. What would you do to prevent environmental damage
a. Plant trees
b. Halt deforestation
c. Control pollution
d. All of the above
Answer: All of the above
31. Environmental impact assessment
a. is the study of feasibility of a project
b. is a study of bio-physical characteristics of the environment that may result from a human action
c. Both a and b
d. None of the above
Answer: is a study of bio-physical characteristics of the environment that may result from a human action
32. Which of the following is the most environmental friendly agricultural practice?
a. Using chemical fertilizers
b. Using insecticides
c. Organic farming
d. None of the above
Answer: Organic farming
33. A herbivore is also known as a
a. Producer
b. First order consumer
c. Second order consumer.
d. Third order consumer
Answer: First order consumer
34. A product of photosynthesis is
a. Carbon dioxide
b. Water
c. Oxygen
d. Chlorophyll
Answer: Oxygen
35. Primary source of energy in a food web is/are
a. Green plants
b. Sun
c. Inorganic nutrients
d. Animals
Answer: Sun
36. A group of living organisms of the same kind living in the same place and at the same time refers to a
a. Community
b. Species
c. Population
d. Consumers
Answer: Population
37. If in a population, natality is balanced by mortality, then there will be
a. Decrease in population growth
b. Increase in population growth
c. Zero population growth
d. Over population
Answer: Zero population growth
38. In a pyramid of numbers in grassland ecosystems, the largest population is that of
a. Herbivores
b. Primary consumers
c. Secondary consumer
d. Producers
Answer: Herbivores
39. Which of these belong to the category of primary consumers in grazing food chain
a. snakes and frogs
b. Insects and cattle
c. Eagle and snakes
d. Cow and rabbit
Answer: Cow and rabbit
40. The pyramid of energy is always upright for any ecosystem, this situation indicates that
a. Herbivores have better energy conversion efficiency than carnivores
b. Producers have the lowest energy conversion efficiency
c. Carnivores have a better energy conversion efficacy than herbivores
d. Energy conversion efficiency is same at all trophic levels
Answer: Energy conversion efficiency is same at all trophic levels
41. Which of the ecological pyramid is always upright
a. Pyramid of numbers
b. Pyramid of biomass
c. Pyramid of energy
d. All of the above
Answer: Pyramid of energy
42. Which one of the following is not a gaseous biogeochemical cycle
a. Nitrogen cycle
b. Carbon cycle
c. Sulphur cycle
d. Phosphorus cycle
Answer: Phosphorus cycle
43. Deserts, grasslands, forests and tundra regions are the examples of
a. Biomes
b. Biogeographically regions
c. Ecosystems
d. Biospheres
Answer: Ecosystems
44. The upright pyramid of numbers is absent in
a. Lake
b. Pond
c. Grasslands
d. Forests
Answer: Forests
45. The final stable community in ecological succession is
a. Climax
b. Pioneer
c. Sere
d. Carnivores
Answer: Climax
46. Mass of living matter at a trophic level in an area at any given time is called
a. Standing state
b. Standing crop
c. Humus
d. Detritus
Answer: Standing crop
47. Hydrarch succession takes place in
a. Dry areas
b. Bare area
c. Wetter areas
d. None of the above
Answer: Wetter areas
48. A herbivore is also known as a
a. Producer
b. First order consumer
c. Second order consumer
d. Third order consumer
Answer: First order consumer
49. A product of photosynthesis is
a. Carbon dioxide
b. Water
c. Oxygen
d. Chlorophyll
Answer: Oxygen
50. Primary source of energy in a food web is/are
a. Green plants
b. Sun
c. Inorganic nutrients
d. Animals
Answer: Sun
51. A group of living organisms of the same kind living in the same place and at the same time refers to a
a. Community
b. Species
c. Population
d. Consumers
Answer: Population
52. Which of these organisms has a diet consisting only of plant matter
a. Omnivores
b. Carnivores
c. Herbivores
d. Insectivores
Answer: Herbivores
53. The true end of any food chain is the
a. Decomposer
b. Predator
c. Consumer
d. Human
Answer: Decomposer
54. The second trophic level in a lake is
a. Phytoplankton
b. Zooplanktons
c. Fishes
d. Benthos
Answer: Zooplanktons
55. Which of the following can act as a pioneer species in a xerach succession
a. Lichens
b. Humans
c. Herbs
d. Animals
Answer: Lichens
56. Energy flow in an ecosystem is
a. Bidirectional
b. Unidirectional
c. Multidirectional
d. All rounds
Answer: Multidirectional
57. Which of the following is an example of a man-made ecosystem
a. Tissue culture
b. Herbarium
c. Aquarium
d. Forest
Answer: Aquarium
58. Pyramid of energy in a pond ecosystem is always
a. Inverted
b. Upright
c. Linear
d. Irregular
Answer: Upright
59. If in a population, natality is balanced by mortality, then there will be
a. Decrease in population growth
b. Increase in population growth
c. Zero population growth
d. Over population
Answer: Zero population growth
60. In a pyramid of numbers in grassland ecosystems, the largest population is that of
a. Herbivores
b. Primary consumers
c. Secondary consumer
d. Producers
Answer: Herbivores
61. Which of these belong to the category of primary consumers in grazing food chain
a. snakes and frogs
b. Insects and cattle
c. Eagle and snakes
d. Cow and rabbit
Answer: Cow and rabbit
62. The pyramid of energy is always upright for any ecosystem, this situation indicates that
a. Herbivores have better energy conversion efficiency than carnivores
b. Producers have the lowest energy conversion efficiency
c. Carnivores have a better energy conversion efficacy than herbivores
d. Energy conversion efficiency is same at all trophic levels
Answer: Energy conversion efficiency is same at all trophic levels
63. Which of the ecological pyramid is always upright
a. Pyramid of numbers
b. Pyramid of biomass
c. Pyramid of energy
d. All of the above
Answer: Pyramid of energy
64. Which of these organisms has a diet consisting only of plant matter
a. Omnivores
b. Carnivores
c. Herbivores
d. Insectivores
Answer: Herbivores
65. The true end of any food chain is the
a. Decomposer
b. Predator
c. Consumer
d. Human
Answer: Decomposer
66. The second trophic level in a lake is
a. Phytoplankton
b. Zooplanktons
c. Fishes
d. Benthos
Answer: Zooplanktons
67. Which of the following can act as a pioneer species in a xerach succession
a. Lichens
b. Humans
c. Herbs
d. Animals
Answer: Lichens
68. Energy flow in an ecosystem is
a. Bidirectional
b. Unidirectional
c. Multidirectional
d. All rounds
Answer: Multidirectional
69. Which of the following is an example of a man-made ecosystem
a. Tissue culture
b. Herbarium
c. Aquarium
d. Forest
Answer: Aquarium
70. Pyramid of energy in a pond ecosystem is always
a. Inverted
b. Upright
c. Linear
d. Irregular
Answer: Upright
71. A product of photosynthesis is
a. Carbon dioxide
b. Water
c. Oxygen
d. Chlorophyll
Answer: Oxygen
72. Primary source of energy in a food web is/are
a. Green plants
b. Sun
c. Inorganic nutrients
d. Animals
Answer: Sun
73. A group of living organisms of the same kind living in the same place and at the same time refers to a
a. Community
b. Species
c. Population
d. Consumers
Answer: Population
74. Which of these organisms has a diet consisting only of plant matter
a. Omnivores
b. Carnivores
c. Herbivores
d. Insectivores
Answer: Herbivores
75. The true end of any food chain is the
a. Decomposer
b. Predator
c. Consumer
d. Human
Answer: Decomposer
76. The second trophic level in a lake is
a. Phytoplankton
b. Zooplanktons
c. Fishes
d. Benthos
Answer: Zooplanktons
77. Which of the following can act as a pioneer species in a xerach succession
a. Lichens
b. Humans
c. Herbs
d. Animals
Answer: Lichens
78. Energy flow in an ecosystem is
a. Bidirectional
b. Unidirectional
c. Multidirectional
d. All rounds
Answer: Multidirectional
79. Which of the following is an example of a man-made ecosystem
a. Tissue culture
b. Herbarium
c. Aquarium
d. Forest
Answer: Aquarium
80. Pyramid of energy in a pond ecosystem is always
a. Inverted
b. Upright
c. Linear
d. Irregular
Answer: Upright
81. If in a population, natality is balanced by mortality, then there will be
a. Decrease in population growth
b. Increase in population growth
c. Zero population growth
d. Over population
Answer: Zero population growth
82. In a pyramid of numbers in grassland ecosystems, the largest population is that of
a. Herbivores
b. Primary consumers
c. Secondary consumer
d. Producers
Answer: Herbivores
83. Which of these belong to the category of primary consumers in grazing food chain
a. snakes and frogs
b. Insects and cattle
c. Eagle and snakes
d. Cow and rabbit
Answer: Cow and rabbit
84. The pyramid of energy is always upright for any ecosystem, this situation indicates that
a. Herbivores have better energy conversion efficiency than carnivores
b. Producers have the lowest energy conversion efficiency
c. Carnivores have a better energy conversion efficacy than herbivores
d. Energy conversion efficiency is same at all trophic levels
Answer: Energy conversion efficiency is same at all trophic levels
85. Which of the ecological pyramid is always upright
a. Pyramid of numbers
b. Pyramid of biomass
c. Pyramid of energy
d. All of the above
Answer: Pyramid of energy
86. Which one of the following is not a gaseous biogeochemical cycle
a. Nitrogen cycle
b. Carbon cycle
c. Sulphur cycle
d. Phosphorus cycle
Answer: Phosphorus cycle
87. Deserts, grasslands, forests and tundra regions are the examples of
a. Biomes
b. Biogeographically regions
c. Ecosystems
d. Biospheres
Answer: Ecosystems
88. The upright pyramid of numbers is absent in
a. Lake
b. Pond
c. Grasslands
d. Forests
Answer: Forests
89. The final stable community in ecological succession is
a. Climax
b. Pioneer
c. Sere
d. Carnivores
Answer: Climax
90. Mass of living matter at a trophic level in an area at any given time is called
a. Standing state
b. Standing crop
c. Humus
d. Detritus
Answer: Standing crop
91. Hydrarch succession takes place in
a. Dry areas
b. Bare area
c. Wetter areas
d. None of the above
Answer: Wetter areas
92. Which of the following is a fossil fuel?
a. Oil
b. Coal
c. Natural gas
d. All of the above
Answer: Coal
93. Which of the following is not an inexhaustible form of energy?
a. Water
b. Wind
c. Solar
d. Fossil
Answer: Solar
94. Biogas contains mainly
a. Methane
b. Propane
c. Butane
d. Carbon dioxide
Answer: Methane
95. The burning of fossil fuels releases a large amount of
a. Nitrogen into air
b. Sulphur into air
c. Carbon dioxide into air
d. Oxygen into air
Answer: Sulphur into air
96. A poisonous gas given out of a vehicle exhaust is
a. Methane
b. Ethane
c. Carbon dioxide
d. Carbon monoxide
Answer: Carbon monoxide
97. The purest form of coal is
a. Anthracite
b. Lignite
c. Peat
d. Bitumen
Answer: Peat
98. Which one of the following is used as a refrigerant?
a. Freon
b. Teflon
c. Ethanol
d. Benzol
Answer: Freon
99. Loss of forest has led to
a. Erosion of fertile soil
b. Global warming
c. Loss of habitat of plants and animals
d. All of the above
Answer: All of the above
100. What are the consequences of excessive mining in an area?
a. Air and water pollution
b. Deforestation
c. Migration of large numbers of population
d. All of the above
Answer: All of the above
101. Study of trends in human population growth and prediction of future growth is called
a. Demography
b. Psychology
c. Biography
d. Kalography
Answer: Demography
102. One of the critical mechanism by which the environment controls population of species is
a. Spread of disease
b. Removal of excreta
c. Supply of food
d. Control on death rate
Answer: Control on death rate
103. If the rate of addition of new member’s increases with respect to the individual lost of the same population, then the graph obtained has
a. Decline growth
b. Zero growth
c. Exponential growth
d. None of these
Answer: Exponential growth
104. The number of babies produced per thousand individuals is called
a. Natality
b. Mortality
c. Immigration
d. Emigration
Answer: Natality
105. The zero population growth due to equal birth and death rates is called
a. Fertility rate
b. Replacement level
c. Natural increase
d. Demographic transition
Answer: Demographic transition
PDF Download (MCQ Questions on Environmental Studies)
FAQ and Answers on Environmental Studies
What are the important questions of environmental studies?
Answer: The most important question in environmental studies is how we can live sustainably on this planet. That is to say, how can we achieve a high level of quality of life for all people without degrading the environment?
Environmental studies asks: What kind of world do we want to live in? Do we want to live in a world where only the rich can afford clean air and water? Where do we have to fight more and more wars over scarce resources like oil and other minerals? Or do we want a world where everyone has access to good education, health care, food, and clean water?
What are the main objectives of environmental studies?
Answer: According to UNESCO (1971), the objectives of environmental studies are:
(a) Creating the awareness about environmental problems among people.
(b) Imparting basic knowledge about the environment and its allied problems.
(c) Developing an attitude of concern for the environment.
(d) Strengthening social commitment to protect and improve the environment through action at local, national and international levels.
What are the elements of environmental studies?
Answer: The environment consists of the interacting systems of physical, biological, and cultural elements. These elements are interrelated, individually as well as collectively.
Physical elements: Physical elements are space, landforms, water bodies, climate, soils, rocks, and minerals.
Biological elements: Biological elements include all living organisms such as plants and animals.
Cultural elements: Cultural elements include human beings with their social institutions, beliefs and practices relating to the environment.
Categories: Environment and Ecology MCQs
LiveMCQs 