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 reproduce. 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 proposed his theory that all species of organisms are created and developed through the natural process of selection.
- 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) Adaptation
- The reason for large-scale diversity among the organisms is Adaptation.
- Polyploidy is a condition in which the cells of an organism have more than two paired sets of chromosomes.
- Any change in a gene that is heritable is known as a Mutation.
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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 a connecting link 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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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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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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