1. Which of the following gases was absent in the atmosphere of the primitive earth?
(a) Methane
(b) Ammonia
(c) Oxygen
(d) Carbon dioxide
[U.P. R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2016]
Ans. (c) Oxygen
- The atmosphere of early Earth was made up of things like methane, ammonia, water vapor, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, and neon.
- There was no oxygen in the air at this time.
- It likely took many millions of years for oxygen to be created by single-celled organisms and build up in the atmosphere.
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2. According to recent proof, the life on earth emerged approximately –
(a) Before 20,000 years
(b) Before 2,00,000 years
(c) Before 20,00000 years
(d) Before 2,000,000,000 years
[40th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]
Ans. (d) Before 2,000,000,000 years
- Scientists estimate that the earth is around 4.6 billion years old, based on evidence from meteorites and other samples.
- It is believed that life on Earth began around 2 billion years ago.
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3. Which is the oldest organism on earth ?
(a) Blue-green algae
(b) Fungi
(c) Amoeba
(d) Euglena
[U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Mains) 2008]
Ans. (a) Blue-green algae
- Blue-green algae are the oldest living things on our planet. They get their energy from the sun through a process called photosynthesis.
- They are also called Cyanobacteria. They changed the planet by releasing oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis which allowed for more different types of life to exist.
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4. The book, The Origin of Species was written by
(a) Linnaeus
(b) Lamarck
(c) Mendel
(d) Darwin
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above
[65th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2019]
Ans. (d) Darwin
- Charles Darwin wrote about natural selection in his book “The Origin of Species” (1859).
- This book is seen as the basis for evolutionary biology.
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5. Darwin’s theory of natural selection is based on –
(a) Overproduction
(b) Struggle for existence and variation
(c) Survival of the fittest
(d) All of the above
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]
Ans. (d) All of the above
- Charles Darwin was an English geologist and is famous for his ideas about evolution.
- In 1859, he wrote a book called “On the Origin of Species” that explains his theory of evolution.
- This theory says that all living things change and adapt over time, with small changes that help them live better and have more babies. This is known as the “Darwinian Theory”.
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6. Who propounded the theory of evolution?
(a) Spencer
(b) Darwin
(c) Wallace
(d) Huxley
[M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010]
Ans. (b) Darwin
- Charles Robert Darwin was a famous English geologist, who is most famously known for his work on evolution.
- He wrote a book titled ‘On the Origin of Species’ in 1859, which proposed his theory that all species of organisms are created and developed through the natural process of selection of slight, inherited differences that help the individual compete, stay alive, and reproduce.
- This theory is referred to as the ‘Darwinian Theory”.
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7. Who explained first the evolution of life?
(a) Newton
(b) Einstein
(c) Charles Darwin
(d) Lamarck
[43rd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1999]
Ans. (d) Lamarck
- French biologist Lamarck is well-known for proposing the idea that acquired skills and attributes are passed on from one generation to the next.
- He was the first person to explain the theory of evolution to the public, which he did in 1809 in his book ‘Philosophie Zoologique’.
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8. The mutation theory of evolution was enunciated by
(a) Huxley
(b) Darwin
(c) Lamarck
(d) Hugo de Vries
[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]
Ans. (d) Hugo de Vries
- Hugo De Vries is famous for his idea that species are created through sudden changes, called mutations, that happen over time.
- He also believed that these mutations can be passed down to future generations.
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9. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below/the lists :
| List-I |
List-II |
| A. Theory of mutation |
1. Beadle and Tatum |
| B. Theory of evolution |
2. Jacob and Monod |
| C. One gene one enzyme |
3. Darwin’s hypothesis |
| D. Operon concept |
4. De Vries |
Code :
A B C D
(a) 3 4 1 2
(b) 4 3 1 2
(c) 4 3 2 1
(d) 3 4 2 1
[I.A.S. (Pre) 1998 ]
Ans. (b) 3 4 2 1
| List- I |
List- II |
| Theory of mutation |
De Vries |
| Theory of evolution |
Darwin |
| One gene one enzyme hypothesis |
Beadle and Tatum |
| Operon concept |
Jacob and Monod |
10. The main factor of evolution is –
(a) Mutation
(b) Achieved quality
(c) Vaginal birth
(d) Natural selection
[39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994]
Ans. (d) Natural selection
- Darwin’s theory of evolution states that natural selection is a key factor in the process of evolution.
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11. In the context of organic evolution, the loss of limbs in snakes is explained by the phenomenon of :
(a) Use and disuse of organs
(b) Adaptation to living in burrows
(c) Natural selection
(d) Inheritance of acquired characters
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2002]
Ans. (a) Use and disuse of organs
- Lamarckism, named after the scientist Lamarck, is the idea that a trait or ability developed by an organism during its lifetime can be passed down to its offspring.
- Lamarck’s theory of evolution suggests that this is true.
- If an organism does not need a particular trait, it will eventually lose it.
- Likewise, if a trait is useful, it can be passed down to future generations.
- For example, snakes no longer have limbs because they don’t need them – this is an example of the use and disuse of organs.
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12. The reason of large-scale diversity among the organisms is –
(a) Adaptation
(b) Cooperation
(c) Mutation
(d) Polyploidy
[56th to 59th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2015]
Ans. (c) Mutation
- Six different factors have been identified that contribute to the genetic diversity of a population.
- The three main factors are gene and chromosomal mutations, which are the main sources of biological changes, and gene recombinations, which increase the variation of individual genotypes.
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13. Among living organisms, which one of the following is the most responsible factor for bringing about the origin of a new species?
(a) Isolation
(b) Mutation
(c) Natural selection
(d) Sexual reproduction
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2002]
Ans. (b) Mutation
- In biology, a mutation is a permanent change to the genetic material in an organism, virus, or other genetic elements.
- These changes are caused by damage to DNA or RNA, errors while copying the genetic material, or by the insertion or removal of pieces of the genetic material.
- Mutations play a role in both normal and abnormal biological processes, like evolution, cancer, and the development of the immune system.
- They are also the main factor in the emergence of new species.
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14. Latest ancestor of modern human is
(a) Java man
(b) Cro-Magnon man
(c) Neanderthal man
(d) Peking man
[39th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1994]
Ans. (b) Cro-Magnon man
- Cro-Magnon is a term used to refer to the first early modern humans. The oldest known evidence of them dates back to 43,000 years ago.
- They were known for being strong and muscular, with short and wide faces and prominent chins.
- Their brain size was larger than the average for modern humans, at 1,600 cubic centimeters.
- However, new research suggests that they are not much different from modern humans and should not be given a different name.
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15. Archaeopteryx is –
(a) Most ancient bird of Jurassic age
(b) Reptile of Jurassic period
(c) Reptile of Triassic period
(d) Reptile of both Triassic and Jurassic period
[40th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1995]
Ans. (a) Most ancient bird of Jurassic age
- Archaeopteryx is considered a bridge between reptiles and birds.
- It has features of both animals, and is believed to be one of the oldest birds, dating back about 150 million years ago to the Jurassic period.
- It is seen as the first bird to have evolved from reptiles.
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16. ‘Archaeopteryx’ is a connecting link between which of the following classes of animal?
(a) Amphibia and Aves
(b) Reptilia and Aves
(c) Reptilia and Mammalia
(d) Aves and Mammalia
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (b) Reptilia and Aves
- Archaeopteryx is an important link between reptiles and birds, which dates back to around 150 million years ago. It was during the Jurassic period, when a lot of dinosaurs were living.
- It is the oldest-known bird, and it has characteristics of both reptiles and birds, making it the first modified bird from reptiles.
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17. Mammoth is the ancestor of-
(a) Dog
(b) Horse
(c) Camel
(d) Elephant
[R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 2008]
Ans. (d) Elephant
- Extinct mammoth is more closely related to today’s African elephant or Asian elephant.
- Modern elephants and wooly mammoths share a common ancestor, that lived about 6 million years ago.
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18. Dinosaurs were :
(a) Cenozoic reptiles
(b) Mesozoic birds
(c) Paleozoic amphibians
(d) Mesozoic reptiles
[U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2001]
Ans. (d) Mesozoic reptiles
- The Mesozoic Era was when dinosaurs lived and lasted for around 180 million years, from 250 to 65 million years ago.
- This era is divided into three different periods – Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous.
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19. Dinosaurs were in–
(a) Paleozoic era
(b) Cenozoic era
(c) Mesozoic era
(d) Pleistocene era
[U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 1998]
Ans. (c) Mesozoic era
- The Mesozoic Era was the time of the dinosaurs and lasted for around 180 million years, from 250 to 65 million years ago.
- It was made up of three periods – the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
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20. With reference to the evolution of living organisms, which one of the following sequences is correct?
(a) Octopus-Dolphin-Shark
(b) Pangolin-Tortoise-Hawk
(c) Salamander-Python-Kangaroo
(d) Frog-Crab-Prawn
[I.A.S. (Pre) 2009]
Ans. (c) Salamander-Python-Kangaroo
- Salamanders are amphibians with tails that have been around for 360 million years.
- Pythons are reptiles that have been around for 300 million years, and kangaroos are mammals with pouches that have been around for 145 million years.
- In answer to the question, the correct order is Salamander, Python, and then Kangaroo.
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