Economic India Questions

18. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the second quarterly policy review which was released by the Reserve Bank of India on October 25, 2011?
(a) It hiked the short-term lending (repo) and automatically the borrowing (reverse repo) rates by 25 basis points each to 8.5 per
 and 7.5 per cent, respectively.
(b) It scaled down its GDP (gross domestic product) projection for 2011-12 in view of the 'stubbornly' high inflation and consequent economic slowdown in the wake of the grim global environment.

19. Which of the following statements regarding Basel III and the second quarterly policy review which was released by the Reserve Bank of India, is/are correct?
(a) The Reserve Bank of India. banks would have to be recapitalized to help them achieve Basel III capital adequacy norms.
(b) Basel III is the new international regulatory framework designed to correct the deficiencies in regulation, that led to the global financial crisis of 2008.
(c) Basel III seeks higher capital adequacy ratio to meet any financial exigency.
Select the correct answer us-
ing the codes given below:
(1) Both a and b
(2) Both b and c
(3) Both a and c
(4) All of the above
20. RBI Governor D. Subbarao while announcing the half-year Monetary Policy Review of 2011-12 in New Delhi on October 25, 2011, mentioned trial, including SBI and its subsidiaries there are, at pr
(1) 22 public sector banks
(2) 24 public sector banks
(3) 26 public sector banks
(4) 28 public sector banks

. Seeking to expand their economic cooperation and broad-base their trade basket, India and which country, on September 27, 2011, agreed to set a $3 billion trade target to be achieved by 2015 from the existing $1.5 billion?
(1) Singapore
(2) Thailand
(3) Myanmar
(4) Indonesia
2. Which of the following decisions was/were taken at fourth meeting of Joint Trade Commission , attended by the Union Commerce Minister, Anand Sharma, and the Myanmar's Minister of Commerce, U. Win Myint in September 2011?
(a) The need for working on two additional border trade points - Pangsau Pass (Arunachal Pradesh) and Avangkhung (Nagaland).
(b) Expansion of the list of items for border trade from 22 to 40.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(1) Only a
(2) Only b
(3) Neither a nor b
(4) Both a and b
3. In its recent biannual publication, World Economic Outlook, released in October 2011, the warned that the world economy was "in a dangerous new phase."
(1) World Bank
(2) Asian Development Bank
(3) International Monetary Fund
(4) UN Economic Council
4. According to data released by the Commerce Ministry in New Delhi in October 2011, Imports grew by to $38.4 billion during August 2011, translating into a trade deficit of $14 billion.
(1) 21.8 per cent
(2) 31.8 per cent
(3) 41.8 per cent
(4) 51.8 per cent
As per the data released by the Cominerce Ministry, in New Delhi on October 3, 2011, trade gap stood at   in the five-month period of April-August, 2011, against $47.70 billion in the same months in 2010.
(1) $34.9 billion
(2) $51.9 billion
(3) $54.9 billion
(4) $52.9 billion
6. India and Indonesia held talks in Jakarta in October 2011 for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with an aim to take forward the economic cooperation to a new level by achieving a bilateral trade target of - by 2015.
(1) $15 billion (2) $20 billion
(3) $25 billion (4) $35 billion
7. In a significant development, the amended double taxation agreement with whim country came into effect on October 10, 2011?
(1) Britain
(2) France
(3) Switzerland
(4) USA
8. Which of the following is/are correct regarding the revised India-Switzerland double taxation agreement that came into effect in October 2011?
(1) The revised treaty was approved by Swiss Parliament on June 17, 2011.
(2) As per Swiss rules, bilateral tax treaties are subject to public scrutiny for a period of 100 days, which ended on October 6, 2011.
(3) India had inked the agreement with Switzerland to revise the treaty in August, 2010.
(4) All of the above

RBI, SEBI, BANKING AND FINANCE Questions

1. With reference to the reconstitution of the Reserve Bank of India's Central Board in eptember 2011, who among the following has/have found places in the Board?
(1) GMR Group head G. M. Rao
(2) Former Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) chairman Anil Kakodkar
(3) Dipankar Gupta, former JNU professor
(4) All of the above
2. The Reserve Bank of India, on September 26, 2011, relaxed norms for infrastructure companies with direct foreign equity up to to raise fund overseas without government permission.
(1) 18 per cent
(2) 20 per cent
(3) 25 per cent
(4) 30 per cent
a. Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Power, on September 30, 2011, received the approval of the Reserve Bank of India for raising $2.2 billion from the U.S. and Chinese banks for the 3,960-MW Sasan ultra mega power project in
(1) Gujarat
(2) Maharashtra
(3) Madhya Pradesh
(4) Chhattisgarh
4. According to the Reserve Bank of India's recent balance of payments (BOP) data released in October 2011, the trade deficit has widened to from $31.38 billion in 2010 despite an impressive export perfor mance.
(1) $33.54 billion
(2) $35.54 billion
(3) $37.54 billion
(4) $39.54 billion
5. In the notification issued on Rupee Export Credit Interest Rates in October 2011, the Reserve Bank of India said that Exporters of will be eligible for the interest subven- tion to be available up to March 31, 2012.
(1) Handicrafts
(2) Handlooms
(3) Carpets
(4) All of the above
6. Federal Bank, in October 2011, signed a MoU with National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) with the objective of facilitating smooth credit flow to which of the following sector?
(1) Micro enterprises
(2) Small enterprises
(3) Medium enterprises
(4) All of the above
7. The amendments in which of the following banking la.ws was approved by the Union Cabinet in October 2011 to help lending agencies effectively tackle the problem of bad loans?
(a) Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAE.SI) Act, 2002.
(b) Recovery of Debts due to
Banks and Financial Insti-
tutions (RDBF) Act, • 1993. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(1) Only a
(2) Only b
(3) Both a and b
(4) Neither a nor b
8. The Union Cabinet, in October 2011, decided to raise the authorised capital of the IIFCL (India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd.) to Rs.5,000 crore from the current Rs.2,000 crore, to enable higher lending to the infrastructure sector in keeping to the funding needs, pegged during the Twelfth Plan (2012-17) at ( 1 ) $1 trillion
(2) 81.5 trillion
(3) $2 trillion
(4) $2.5 trillion
9. In its Regional Economic Outlook for Asia-Pacific,- released in October 2011, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said that commodity price rise had fed to generalised inflation in countries such as
(1) Hong Kong special administrative region
(2) India, Indonesia and Korea
(3) Malaysia and Thailand
(4) All of the above
10. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in October 2011, permitted PayPal to receive what amount per transaction for exporting goods and services as against $500 per transaction until now?
(1) $1000
(2) $1500
(3) $2000
(4) $3000
11. Which bank made a foray into the insurance sector on October 17, 2011, by acquiring a 30 per cent stake in MetLife India, a life insurance company, subject to regulatory approvals?
(1) Bank of Baroda
(2) Punjab National Bank
(3) Union Bank
(4) State Bank of India
12. With reference' to the announcernent made by SEBI regarding KYC Regulation Authority in October 2011, which of the following statements is/ are correct?
(a) It will ease the burden alike 'on the intermediaries as well as the common man, seeking to make investments.
(b) Setting up this mechanism would ensure that KYC exercise is undertaken only once and enabling all intermediaries to access a prospective client's number for getting his KYC status.
Select the correct answer using the ,codes given below:
(1) Both a and b
(2) Neither ,a nor b
(3) Only a
(4) Only b
13. During the India visit of Nepali Prime Minister Baburam Bhatta.rai in October 2011, India provided a $250-million line of credit to finance infrastructure projects, at the concessional rate of interest of 1.75 per cent annually. A MoU in this regard was signed by Nepal's Finance Ministry and India's
(1) Indian Overseas Bank
(2) Exim Bank
(3) Oriental Bank of Commerce
(4) Reserve Bank of India
14. With reference to Reserve Bank of India's own Lokpal, or the Banking Ombudsman, which was in news in October 2011, which of the following statements is /are correct?
(a) It was introduced in 1995 by the RBI
(b) It t was only in the year 2011 that the Banking Ombudsmen were given permission by the authori ties to reveal the details to the media.
(c) There are 15 Banking Om- budsmen all over the coun try.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(1) Only a
(2) Both b and c
(3) All of the above
(4) Both a and c
15. The Banking Ombudsman, which was in news in October. 2011, is meant to be an inexpensive and expeditious form of grievance redressal relating to deficiencies of customer services rendered by the banks on selected grounds or aspects. How many grounds or aspects are there?
(1) 11 (2) 17
(3) 23 (4) 36
16. RBI Oovernor D. Subbarao ,while announcing the half-year Monetary Policy Review of 2011-12 in New Delhi on October 25, 2011, said that
(a) Price rise is likely to come down and another hike may not be warranted.
(b) Controlling inflation is imperative for sustaining growth over the medium-term and for increasing the potential growth rate.
(c) The potential growth rate is not a long-term constant; nor is it exogenously determined.
Select the correct answer USing the codes given below:
(1) Both a and b
(2) Both b and c
(3) Both a and c
(4) All of the above
17. While announcing the half-year Monetary Policy Review of 2011-12 in New Delhi on October 25, 2011, the Reserve Bank of India, while maintaining the inflation rate at 7 per. cent for 2011-12, the RBI revised the growth rate projection from 8 to
(1) 7.1 per cent
(2) 7. 4 per cent
(3) 7.6 per cent
(4) 7.7 per cent

India Economic Questions

27 According to official data released in New Delhi in October 2011, with regard to direct taxes, the gross mop-up was 23 per cent higher at Rs. 2,57.042 crore in the first-half of 2011- 12 against Rs.2,08,971 crore garnered during the same period last fiscal, mainly on account of higher realization during the first quarter.
(1) House Tax
(2) Wealth Tax
(3) Corporate tax
(4) All of the above
28. Which of the follovving is/are the major findings of the official data for the period, April-July, 2011, released in New Delhi on October 7, 2011?
(I) Import of products of small-scale industries such as umbrellas, locks, toys and glassware went up by 50.4 per cent to Rs.659.83 crore
(2) Import of milk, tea and coffee witnessed a decline 41.8 per cent and 5.8 per cent, respectively
(3) Foodgrains imports
dropped by 92.1 per cent
(4) All of the above
29. The new draft Telecom Policy unveiled by Union Communications Minister Kapil Sibal in New Delhi in October 2011 targets convergence of in a bid to offer superior service experience to consumers.
(1) Mobile telephony
(2) Multimedia
(3) Broadcast services
(4) All of the above
30. Which of the following statements is/are true regarding the draft Telecom Policy unveiled by Union Communications Minister Kapil Sibal in October 2011?
(1) It likens' broadband col n nectivity to basic necessities like health and education
(2) It proposes to work towards a :Right to Broadband- for every citizen
(3) It aims to achieve 175 million broadband connec Lions by 2017
(4) All of the above
31. In the lIP (Index of Industrial Production) data released in New Delhi on October 12, 2011, industrial growth remained tepid at _in. August, 2011, as compared to 4.5 per cent in August 2010.
(1) 4.2 per cent
(2) 4.1 per cent
(3) 4.3 per cent
(4) 3.9 per cent
32. As per the HP (Index of Industrial Production) data released in October 2011, factory output during August 2011 rose by a mere as compared to 4.7 per cent in 2010.
(1) 2.5 per cent
(2) 3.5 per cent
(3) 4.5 per cent
(4) 3.9 per cent
33. Inaugurating the India Electricity 2011, the 6th International Exhibition and Conference on Power Sector in New Delhi in October 2011, Power Minister Sushi! Kumar Shinde announced that over of capacity was under construction for being available in the XII Plan (2012-17).
(1) 80,000 MW
(2) 60,000 MW
(3) 100,000 MW
(4) 50,000 MW
34. As per the WPI (Wholesale Price Index) data for September released in New Delhi in October 2011, what was the main reason behind the still high inflation rate for the month for September 2011?
(1) Food articles
(2) Vegetables
(3) Manufactured Products
(4) All of the above
35.. Which Of the following statements regarding exports imder Chapters 61 and 62 of the Foreign Trade Poi iey and i.itnnounced in New Delhi in Sep tember 2011, is correct?
(1) Exports of items under Chapters 61 and 62 • have shown a declining Trend during 201(1)11
(2) Total exports to
der Chapters 61 and 62 declined cluring 2010-201 I
(3) This sector has high potential to achieve higher level of exports and generate great einploynient op port unities
(4) All of the above
38. Which of the following statements related to the Foreign Trade Policy 2009-2014 an nounced in October 201 1 is/ are correct?
(1) It was decided to extend Market Linked Focus Product Scheme (MLFPS) for exports to U.S. ancl FU under Chapters 61 and 62
(2) Items under. Chapters 61 and 62 were granted duty credit under MLFPS for export to U.S. till September 30, 2010, and for EU up to March 2011
(3) At present, readyniade garments are not covered under FPS/MLFPS
(4) All of the above
37. The World Steel Association, in October -2011., forecast that India's steel consuMption is: likely to grow by. 4.3 per cent to reach 67.7 Million tonnes due to economic growth.. In 2012, the growth rate will accelerate to
(1) 5.2 per cent
(2) 6.4 per cent
(3) 7.9 per cent
(4).8.1 per cent

39. The Union Government constituted a panel headed by Planning Commission member, B. K. Chaturvedi in October 2011 to look into proposed relocation of NTPC's 1,980-MW North Karanpura plant in
(1) Orissa
(2) Jharkhand
(3) Chhattisgarh
(4) Andhra Pradesh
40. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh went into a huddle with his top advisers and officials on October 15, 2011, to take, stock of the economic situation in the backdrop of an uncertain global environment. The review came at a time
(1) When inflation was at an '!uncomfortable" high
(2) Fears of a slide in growth
(3) Ahead of monetary policy review
(4) All of the above
41. The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, in October 2011 directed that IVIaharatna companies to set aside at least 1 per cent of their profit after tax (PAT) for expenditure on
(1) Labour welfare
(2) Health welfare
(3) Research and Development
(4) Environmental awareness
42. Inaugurating the fourth International Civil Aviation Negotiation (ICAN) conference in Mumbai on October 17, 2011, President Pratibha Patil said that in the period from 2005 to 2010, considerable money had been invested in airport development in the' country. What is the amount that the President specifically mentioned'?
ECONOMY : Objective Questions
(1) $5 billion
(2) $10 billion
(3) $15 billion
(4) $20 billion
43. At the 'Economic Editors' Conference' in New Delhi on October 19, 2011, on the issue of black money, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that
(a) A huge information network had been created through amended DTAAs (double taxation avoidance agreements) with 81 na tions.
(b) India has entered into four 'IIEAs (tax information exchange agreements) with four tax havens, for investigations into transactions by Indians involving black money based on information received from different parts of the world were in progress.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(1) Both a and b
(2) Neither a nor b
(3) Only a
(4) Only b
44. Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (PMEAC) Chairman C. Rangarajan, on October 20, 2011, pitched for rollback of the excise duty stimulus that was provided to the industry to combat the slowdown in the wake of the global meltdown in
(1) 2007 (2) 2008
(3) 2009 (4) 2010
45. In a report titled 'Doing Busi ness 2012: Doing Business in a More Transparent World' which was released in October 2011, the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation said that between June 2010 and May 2011
(a) India still ranks low over-
all in the Doing Business
assessment, with its rank
improving marginally from
139 to 132 between the
2011 and 2012 reports.
(b) There were 245 business regulatory reforms worldwide, which was 13 per cent more reforms than in the previous year among whom China, India, and the Russian Federation are among the 30 economies that improved the most over time.
Select the correct answer us-
ing the codes given below:
(1) Neither a nor b
(2) Both a and b
(3) Only a
(4) Only b
46. Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh. Ahluwalia. on October 22, 2011, pitched for a cut in subsidies and higher revenue generation to facilitate increased funding of priority areas during the 12th Plan (2012-17). Which of the following areas were cited by him as priority areas?
I I) Education and health
(2) Infrastructure and water management
(3) Skill development
(4) All of the above
47. The Union Cabinet on October 25, 2011, gave its approval to the long-awaited ambitious National Manufacturing Policy (IMP), which seeks to
(1) Set up mega industrial zones
(2) Create 100 million jobs by 2022
(3) Put India on a par with manufacturing powers such as China and Japan
(4) All of the above

INDIAN GOVERNMENT POLICIES Questions objective type

1. The Union Cabinet., on September 30. 2011, approved the landmark the Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation (MMDR) Bill, 2011 that provides for mining companies to keep aside what percentage of their net profits for a Mineral Development Fund?
(1) 12 per cent
(2) 26 per cent
(3) 33 per cent
(4) 40 per cent
2. As per the Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation (MMDR) Bill, 2011, approved by the Union Cabinet in September 2011, what amount should the non-coal companies set aside for the Mineral Development Fund?
(1) Equivalent to the royalty they pay
(2) 7.5 per cent
(3) 10 per cent
(4) Equivalent to the rate of Service Tax in India
3. At a high level meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi in October 2011, it was decided that India would continue to allow Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) under the auto-. matic route for Greenfield investment in
(1) Drugs and pharmaceutical sector
(2) Textile sector
(3) Services sector
(4) Infrastructure sector
4. The high level meeting conven.ed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on
October 10, 2011, discussed the report of the Arun Maira committee, constituted by the Planning Commission to review the government's policy of allowing 100 per cent FDI in the
(1) Ports
(2) Pharmaceutical sector
(3) Food. and Processing Sector
(4) Oil blocks Exploration
5. As per the data released by the Commerce Ministry in September 2011, .merchandise exports from the 143 operational SEZs totalled in the April-June 2011 period.
(1) Rs. 22,255 crore
(2) Rs. 42,255 crore
(3) Rs. 72,255 crore
(4) Rs. 82,255 crore
6. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DG I) in September 2011 termed as 'economically unviable' the new natural gas finds in the Eastern offshore block by Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) at the $4.205 per mBtu (million British thermal unit) ap proved price.
(1) KG-D3
(2) KG- D6
(3) KG-D8
(4) KG-D9
7. The Union Government in September 2011 announced the reconstitution of the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC) under the chairmanship of
(I) K. Vittal
(2) Ashok Desai
(3) V. Krishnamurth3r
(4) Srinivasan Reddy
8. As per the provisional data released in New Delhi'on September 27,,2011, with aweight of in the Index of 'Indus trial Production (IIP), the eight core infratructure industries posted a lower of growth of 3.5 per cent in August 2011 as compared to 4.4 per cent achieved in the same month of 2010.
(1) 17.90 per cent
(2) 27.90 per cent
(3) 37.90 per cent
(4) 47.90 per cent
9. The Central Government on September 27, 2011, came out with a draft. National Public Private Partnership (PPP) policy with a view to
(1) Improve transparency
(2) Promote infrastructure sector projects
(3) Accelerate infrastructure projects
(4) Only 1 and 2
10. The draft National Public Private Partnership (PPP) policy brought out the Union government in September 2011
(1) proposes to expand the scope of the PPP scheme
(2) seeks to put in place the broad principles for pursuing a project on PPP basis
(3) provide a framework for identifying, structuring. awarding and managing PPP projects
(4) All of the above
11. Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Ana.nd Sharma, chairing the first meeting • of the Government-Industry Task Force in New Delhi in September 2011, announced that FDI inflows in the first seven months of the current calendar year was , 43 per cent increase over the previous pehod.
(1) $7.83 billion
(2) $12.83 billion
(3) $17.83 billion
(4) $19.83 billion

16. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAC) was in September 2011 appointed as external auditor of which UN organisations?
(1) International Atomic Energy Agency
(2) World Intellectual Property Organisation
(3) UNESCO
(4) Only I and 2
17. The Union Cabinet in September 2011 approved setting up of how many new National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs)?
(1) Five (2) Six
(3) Seven (4) Ten
18. The Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation (MMDR) Bill, 2011, was ap., proved by the Union Cabinet on September 30. 2011. It aims to ensure __ along with incentives encouraging good mining practides
(1) Transparency and equity
(2) Elimination of discretion
(3) Effective redress and regulatory mechanisms
(4) All of the above
19. The government, on October 2, 2011, launched a Web-based procedure of attesting employment contracts of Indian workers in which country to prevent exploitation by foreign employers?
(1) Kuwait
(2) Saudi Arabia
(3) United Arab Emirates
(4) All of the above
20. The Centre in October 2011 announced plans to issue multi-purpose smart identity cards to all adult citizens by 2013-end, a proposal that could help cut costs for the exchequer. The proposal has been made under the amendment to the Citizenship Act effected in
(1) 2001 (2) 2003
(3) 2006 (4) 2009
21. Communications and IT Minister Kapil Sibal. on October 3, 2011, unveiled the draft National Policy on Electronics, 2011 in New Delhi, aimed
crease: in market 'borrowing' in SeW.ernher 2011,- the 'Centre's gross market: borrowing . for the can i.ireliscal 2011-12 is set .to to noµ frorn the budgeted Rs..4.-17 lakh crore fOr tile year.
(1) Rs,. 4_67 lakh crore
(2) Rs. 4.70 lakh crore
(3) Rs. 4.871akh.crore
(4) Rs. 4.97 lakh crone
13. According to the revised Con solidated Fat Policy of 20l I releasedby the Departm,':nt of Industrial Policy and Promotio in New Delhi on Sel.)tetner 30, 2011, the government allowed
(I) Overseas investment in .beeLkeeping •
(2) Share-pledging for raising external debt
(3) Moved further with liberalisation of the MI regime
(4) All of the above
14. For giving a boost to the
Department :of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) in New Delhi in September 2011 announced that research and development in these sectors would be covered under the 'industrial parks' scheme, whore 100 per cent FIJI is permitted under the automatic route.
(1) Bio- technology
(2) Pharniaceutical
(3) Life sciences
(4) All of the above
i5. Union Communications and IT Minister kapilSibal on September 30, 2011, unveiled the National-Frequency Allocation Plan-2011 (NAFP) in New Delhi that will help in
(I) better Management of spectrum
(2) deVelopment and promotion of indigenous manufacturing and technologies in. the information tech-n ol op,,*y
(3) development of communication technology (ICT) sect(:)r
(4) All of the above
at achieving a turnover of $400 billion for the sector by
(1).1014 (2) 2016
(3)'2020 (4) 2022
22. The draft National Policy. on Electronics, 2011, released in New Delhi in Qetober 2011, proposed
(1) Setting up of over 200 electronic manufacturing clusters (E1V1CS)
(2) Providing assistance for setting up of Greenfield EMCs
(3) Upgradation of Brownfield EMCs
(4) All of the aboVe
23. Global ratings firm Moody's, on October 4, 2011, downgraded its rating of State Bank of India's (SBI) financial strength rating (BFSR) by one notch to " on account of the lend-
__
er's low Tier-1 capital ratio and deteriorating asset quality.
(1) CA- (2) D+
(3) E+ (4) D
24. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Moody's downgrading of State Bank of India?
(1) The downgrade was from 'C-
(2) SBI's NPAs reached a three-year high of 3.52 per cent of loans for the quarter ended June 30. 2011
(3) The revised rating,mapS to a baseline credit assess, ment (RCA) of Baa3
(4) All of-the above
25 . Communications and Informa-tion Technology Minister Kapil Sibal. on October 7., 2011, unveiled the draft. National Policy on Information Technology 2011 in New Delhi that envisages taking the overall revenue from the sector from $89 billion as of today to by 2020.
(1) $200 billion
(2) $300 billion
(3) $400 billion
(4) $500 billion

Population Biology

Population is a group of individuals of the same species inhabitirig the same area It is characterised by parameters like density, natality, mortality, age distribution, biotic potential etc. This chapter deals with the growth, and measurement of population and the different interactions among species.

5. The direct food relation between two species of ani¬mals in which one animal kills and eats up the other animal is referfed to as
(a) predation (b) scavenging
(c) parasitism (d) arnrnensalism
6. If in &population, the. rate of addition of new members is higher than the rate of loss of individuals, the graph prepared shows:
(a) declined growth (b) exponential growth
(c) zero population growth (d) steady state
7 In a biotic community, which of the following is a pro¬tective device?
(a) symbiosis (b) mimicry
(c) parasitism (d) commensalism
8. Which of the following is an example of stem parasite? (a) Santalum and Loranthus (b) Cassytha and Cuscuta (c) Loranthus and Viscum (d) Both b and c
9. Which of the following is not an insectivorous plant?
(a) Dionoea (b) Drosera
(c) Trapa (d) Nepenthes
10. A community is an aggregation of
(a) individuals of different kinds
(b) population of the same type
(c) individuals of a population
(d) individuals of the same kind
1 . Ecads are
(a) genetically dissimilar and producing viable offspring
(b) genetically dissimilar and producing variable offspring
(c) genetically similar and producing viable offspring
(d) genetically dissimilar and not producing viable off¬spring
12. Vanda is an example of
(a) root parasite (b) stem parasite
(c) hydrophyte (d) epiphyte
13. The protective mechanism shown by praying mantis is
(a) camouflage (b) mimicry
(c) symbiosis (d) competition
14. The relationship, between sucker fish and shark is
(a) protocooperation (b) commensalism
(c) parasitism (d) mutualism
Answer Key
1. (a) 2. (b)
8. (d) 9. (c) 3. (a) 4. (b) 5. (a) 6. (b) 7. (d)
10.(a) 11. (c) 12. (d) 13. (a) 14. (b)

What is a pyramid of biomass?

55. What is a pyramid of biomass?
Biomass is the amount of living material present in an ecosystem, measured both as fresh weight or dry weight. In the case of a terrestrial ecosystem, the maximum biomass is with the producers. The biomass goes on decreasing with successive trophic levels. The pyramid of biomass in a terrestrial ecosystem becomes upright, ,but in an aquatic ecosystem, it is mostly inverted.
56. Write notes on pyramid of energy.
Producers have the maximum energy. Energy becomes progressively less at successive trophic levels. The amount of energy entering each successive trophic ievel gradually decreases as there is always loss of energy in the previous level. The pyramid of energy expresses the rate of food production.
57. Briefly explain ecological efficiencies.
Ecological efficiencies indicate the efficiency with which organisms exploit their food resources and convert the food into biomass which is made available to the next higher trophic level. The important efficiency measures for an ecosystem are (a) photosynthetic efficiency (b) net production efficiency (c) assimilation efficiency and (d) ecological efficiency.

66. What are the major biomes?
The regional biotic unit with climax vegetation is generally called a biome. Major biomes are (1) Forest biome (2) Grassland or Savanna biome and (3) Desert biome. Major forest biomes in India are (a) Tropical rain forest biome (b) Tropical deciduous forest biome (c) Temperate broad - leaved forest biome and (d) Temperate needle-leaf or coniferous forest biome.
Grassland ecosystems have treeless herbaceous plant cover. Desert biomes experience *longed moisture scarcity.
67. What are the characteristic features of temperate broad-leaved forests?
Here forests occur between 1500 to 2400 m altitude. Oak is the predominapt species. These plants are evergreen. Trees reach- 25-30m height with dense canopy. It is characterised with least developed herbaceous cover. Epiphytic flora is rich in oak forest. Annual rain fall is 10-25 cm.

Long Answer type Questions

73. What are the fundamental trophic levels? Describe the general make - up of each
The two fundamental trophic levels are producers and consumers.
(1) Producers (Autotrophs): Green plants are the producers in an ecosystem. Photosynthetic bacteria are also producers. These organisms convert light energy into chemical energy which is stored in glucose molecule. CO2 is absorbed and 02 is liberated as a result of this process. These organisms provide food for the rest.
(2) Consumers (Heterotrophs): They are members which consume the food synthesized by the producers. All living animals are thought to be consumers. Consumers may be of the following types.
(a) Primary consumers:- They include herbivores which depend upon green plants (First order). eg. cow, goat, rabbit, deer etc.
(b) Secondary consumers (Second order)- are carnivo. rous which eat the herbivores.
(c) Tertiary consumers are carnivorus animals which eai other carnivores. eg. Snakes eat fish, frog etc.
(d) Top consumers are carnivores of an ecosystem which are not killed and eaten by other animals.
eg. lion, vultures etc.

Short AnswerType Questions - Ecosystem

Short AnswerType Questions
43. What is an ecosystem? Write the main components of an ecosystem.
A stable, self-supporting ecological unit resulting from the interaction between biotic components and their abiotic environment is called ecosystem.
An ecosystem comprises two main components.
(1) Biotic - including plants, animals and microorganisms and •
(2) Abiotic - including substratum, water, minerals, CO2 and oxygen.
44. What are the biotic components of an ecosystem? Biotic components including living organisms which are of three types. ie. producers, consumers and decomposers.
Producers (Autotrophs) are photosynthetic organisms which fix light energy into organic molecules. Phytoplanktons and rooted plants are the chief producers. Consumers or phagotrophs are animals which generally ingest or swallow their food. They may be herbi¬vores (plant eaters) or carnivores (meat eaters).
Decomposers or saproirophs include bacteria and fungi which make dead organic matter into its simpler components.
45. What are the abiotic components of an ecosystem?
The abiotic components are of two types.
(a) Climatic factors - including temperature, light, wind, gases, humidity, rain and water.
(b) Edaphic factors-- including soil, substratum, topography, minerals and .pH.
46. Explain standing crop and standing state.
A trophic structure may be described in terms of the amount of living material present in different trophic levels at a given time This is called standing crop. The amount of nutrients, such as nitrogen;phosphorus and calcium present in the soil at any given time is re ferred to as the standing state.
Standing crop is expressed as biomass per unit area Standing states of nutrients, differ from one ecosystem to another or with seasons even in the same ecosystem.
47. Write a note on the structure of an ecosystem.
Biotic and abiotic components are physically organised to provide a characteristic structure of the ecosystem. The important structural features are species composi¬tion and stratification. Some ecosystems show tall plant canopy (tropical rain forest) and bewildering numbers of biological species, whereas an desert ecosystem shows onlya few sparsely distributed species.
48. What are the functions of an ecosystem?
Ecosystems possess a natural tendency to persist due
to a variety of functions. The important functions are
(a) productivity (b) decomposition (c) energy flow and
(d) nutrient cycle. These functions are carried out in the ecosystem through delicately 'balanced and controlled professes.
49. Write a note on productivity in an ecosystem.
The rate of biomass production is called productivity. The rate of capture of solar energy or biomass production by producers is called primary productivity, which is generally expressed in terms of grn-2year1 or kcal m-2,'
year--1. The rate of total production of organic material or capture of energy is known as Gross Primary Produc-tivity (GPP). Thd balance energy or biomass remaining after meeting the cost, of respiration of producers, is called Net Primary Productivity (NPP).
Net productivity = Gross productivity — Respiration rate.
50. Write a note on decomposition.
Decomposition involves the breakdown of complex organic components in detritus to CO2, water and inor 
ganic nutrients by decomposers. It involves mainly three
processes; such as fragmentation of detritus, leaching and catabolism. Fragmentation of detritus involves break-down of detritus by detritivores (eg. earthworm etc) into smaller par-ticles. Leeching involves removal of soluble substances. Catabolism involves enzymatic convection of the decomposing detri 
tus by bacteria and fungi to simpler components and inorganic substances.
What are the factors affecting the decomposiiion of detritus?
The rate of decomposition of detritus is regulated by the climatic factors and the chemical quality of the detritus. High temperature and moisture increases the rate of detritus decomposition. Within the same climatic conditions decomposition rate is sloWer if the detritus is rich in substances like Jignin and chitin.
52. What is food chain? What are the kinds of food chains? A nutritive interaction among biotic communities involving a producer, various levels of consumers and a de-.composer forms a food chain. Each step in a food chain is called a trophic level.
Two types of food chains can be distinguished in all ecosystems, grazing food chains and detritus food chains.
Grazing food chain extends from producers through .herbivores to carnivores. Detritus food chain begins with dead organic matter and passes through detritus - feed¬ing organisms in soil to organisms feeding on detritus feeders. Much larger fraction of energy flows through the detritus food chain.
53. What is a food web? Explain.
In natural conditions, several food chains are intercon nected with one another forming a network. This com¬plex interconnected food chains is called a food web. In a food web, there are several food chains. The food web becomes more complicated because of variability of taste and preferences, availability and compulsion and several other factors at each level.
54. What is the meaning of effect of energy in an ecosystem? Explain with examples how energyis lost at the various energy levels.
In the ecosystem, there is continuous and unidirectional flow of energy. The energy from the sun through the various energy levels finally reaches the tertiary consumers. These various energy levels Fare joined by a food chain. Many food chains overlap and form a food web. Trapped energy is fixed in the form of complex organic compounds and is used by herbivorous and carnivorous animals. But the energy does not terminate or end here. When the organism dies, the dead body gets mixed

with soil to release the energy to the decomposer level. Thus, at each level, organisms make use of energy for various life activities, and as a result some energy is lost and therefore supply of energy from the sun is continuously required.
55. The length of food chains in an ecosystem is gene ally limited to 3-4 trophic levels". Why?
Generally in an ecosystem about 1-5% of total solar radiation is utilized for biomass production. On an aver age, in different ecosystems, the herbivore assimilation or productivity approximates 10% of gross productivity of producers. The energy assimilated by herbivores is used in respiration and a fraction of assimilated energy (10%) is transferred to the next trophic level. This process goes on to the decomposer level. Because of these tremendous loss of energy at successive higher trophic levels, the residual energy is decreased to such an extend tliat no further trophic level can be supported. Therefore, the length of food chains in an ecosystem is generally limited to 3-4 trophic levels.
56. Write notes on pyramid of numbers.
The trophic structure and functions at successive trophic levels, are shown graphicaliy by means of ecological pyramids. The base of the pyfamid constitutes the pro ducer level.
A pyramid of numbers represents the number of indi viduals of various trophic levels per unit area at a given time The base represents the producers, while the apex is formed by the number of top carnivores. The intermediate consumers are placed between the two
In the case of a grassland ecosystem the pyramid is ° upright while in the case of a tree dominated ecosys tem, the pyramid is inverted because, a single tree can support many herbivores, which in turn provide food for a number of parasites. The top consumers will be still larger in number. As the number of organsims in each trophic level increases, the pyramid remains inverted.