Transcript Document

INTERACTIVE
MULTIPLE CHOICE
QUESTIONS
Organisms and
their environment
The answers are provided.
Explanations of why the alternatives
are unsatisfactory are also offered
These multiple choice questions are similar to the ones
set by the GCSE and IGCSE Examination Boards
except that, in some cases, there may be more than one
acceptable answer
For this reason, even if you select a correct answer at
your first attempt, it is worth looking at all the
alternatives
(a) to see if there is a better answer and
(b) to see why some of the alternatives are
unacceptable
Question 1
Question 1
A thrush, a snail, a cabbage and a sparrow hawk are all part
of a food chain. Which of them is a primary (or ‘first
order’) consumer?
(a) The cabbage
(b) The snail
(c) The sparrow hawk
(d) The thrush
Question 2
No
The cabbage is the producer at the beginning of the food chain
Yes
The snail is the primary (first order) consumer. It eats
the cabbage leaves
No
The sparrow hawk is a tertiary (‘third order’) consumer
at the end of the food chain. It is a predator of the thrush
No
The thrush is the secondary (‘second order’) consumer. It
eats the snail and is itself eaten by the sparrow hawk
Question 2
In the nitrogen cycle, the bacteria in root nodules of
leguminous plants can convert atmospheric nitrogen into
nitrates. These bacteria are called …
(a) nitrifying bacteria
(b) denitrifying bacteria
(c) nitrite bacteria
(d) nitrogen-fixing bacteria
Question 3
No
Although the bacteria in root nodules ultimately increase the
nitrogen content of the soil, the term ‘nitrifying bacteria’
applies mainly to bacteria living freely in the soil. These
bacteria cannot use atmospheric nitrogen.
No
Denitrifying bacteria convert the nitrates in the soil
into atmospheric nitrogen.
No
Nitrite bacteria live freely in the soil and convert ammonium
ions into nitrates. They cannot use atmospheric nitrogen
Yes
The nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Rhizobium spp) live mainly in
root nodules of leguminous plants. They convert nitrogen
(from the air in the soil) into nitrates, which are eventually
incorporated into amino acids by the plant.
Question 3
The diagram
represents a
natural
recycling
process
sunlight
CONSUMERS
die
eaten
die
A
PRODUCERS
What is missing at A?
(a) Animals
minerals
and salts
decay
SOIL
(b) Plants
(c) Decomposers
(d) Bacteria
Question 4
No
Animals are the consumers
No
Plants are the producers
Yes
The decomposers, (mainly bacteria and fungi) break
down the dead remains of organisms and release their
products into the soil
No
Some bacteria are important decomposers, but there are
many species of bacteria which are not decomposers. Also,
there are many fungi which play a part in decay.
Question 4
In a food chain, the amount of energy passed from one
trophic level to the next ….
(a) increases
(b) decreases
(c) stays the same
(d) sometimes increases;
sometimes decreases
Question 5
No
The organisms at any trophic level will be using part of
their resources to produce energy, so there will be less to
pass to the next level
Yes
The organisms at any trophic level will be using part of
their resources to produce energy, so there will be less to
pass to the next level
No
The organisms at any trophic level will be using part of
their resources to produce energy, so there will be less to
pass to the next level
No
The amount of energy passed from one trophic level
to the next may vary but there is always a decrease
C
Question 5
At C …
(a) the death rate exceeds
the reproduction rate
(b) the reproduction rate
exceeds the death rate
population
The graph shows the sigmoid
curve for population growth.
B
A
(c) the death rate and reproduction rates are the same
(d) the death rate and reproduction rate decrease equally
time
Question 6
No
If the death rate exceeds the reproduction rate,
the population will decrease
No
If the reproduction rate exceeds the death rate, the
population will continue to grow
Yes
If organisms die at the same rate as they are created, the
population will be stable
Yes
If fewer organisms are created, but the death rate decreases at
the same rate, the population will stay the same but the point
of stability will be reached at a lower population level
Question 6
What is the source of energy on which nearly all living
organisms ultimately depend?
(a) Photosynthesis
(b) Respiration
(c) Combustion
(d) Sunlight
Question 7
No
Nearly all living organisms depend directly or indirectly on
photosynthesis by plants for their energy supply. But this is
not the ultimate source of energy
No
Respiration is the way in which most living organisms
derive energy from their food but it is not the ultimate
source of energy
No
Combustion is a source of energy for many processes but
not for living organisms
Yes
The process of photosynthesis in green plants uses energy
from sunlight for making food. The energy from this food is
used by nearly all living organisms either by eating plants or
eating each other
Question 7
Which of the following gases are the cause of acid rain?
(a) Carbon dioxide
(b) Carbon monoxide
(c) Nitrogen oxide
(d) Sulphur dioxide
Question 8
No
Carbon dioxide does dissolve in rain to form a weak solution
of carbonic acid (H2CO3) but this is normal and does not
contribute to what is known as ‘acid rain’.
However, it is thought to be making the ocean more acid and
this is a cause for concern
No
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas but does not
contribute to acid rain
Yes
Oxides of nitrogen dissolve in rain water to form
nitric acid which is very harmful to lakes and land
plants
Yes
Sulphur dioxide dissolves in water to form,
eventually, sulphuric acid. This damages lakes
and land plants
Question 8
Acute shortage of oxygen in lakes and rivers is caused
by …
(a) eutrophication
(b) the oxygen demand by the excess of
decaying plant material
(c) excess nitrate and phosphate
(d) excessive growth of algae
Question 9
No
Eutrophication refers to a high level of nutrients in a body of
water. It may cause excessive algal growth but is not a direct
cause of oxygen depletion
Yes
The oxygen demand of an excess of decomposing plant
material, e.g. algae, is the immediate cause of the
reduction in the oxygen content of the water in lakes and
rivers.
The excess of plant material is the result of eutrophication
No
Eutrophication results from high levels of nitrate and
phosphate in the water. But although this encourages
excessive algal growth it does not inevitably lead to
oxygen depletion.
No
The excessive growth of algae is not itself a cause of
oxygen depletion.
Question 9
Which of the following processes make no net contribution
of carbon dioxide to the Earth’s atmosphere?
(a) Growing crops
(b) Burning wood
(c) Burning coal
(d) Raising cattle
Question 10
Yes
The growing crops are photosynthesising and removing
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Yes
The carbon in wood comes from the carbon dioxide absorbed
by the tree in the course of photosynthesis. When the wood is
burned, the amount of carbon dioxide released is the same as
that taken in by photosynthesis
No
The carbon in coal comes from trees which were fossilized
about 300 million years ago. So the carbon dioxide released
from burning coal adds to the present day carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere
No
Respiration in cattle produces carbon dioxide which is
added to the atmosphere
Question 10
For the conservation of animals, the most important step
is…
(a) reduction in the use of pesticides
(b) preservation of habitat
(c) suppression of hunting
(d) captive breeding programmes
No
Reduction in the use of pesticides certainly helps to
conserve, for example, insect species and the
organisms which feed on them (e.g. birds) but it
affects only a limited range of animals
Yes
This is the most important step. If an animal’s
habitat is destroyed, it is unlikely to survive
No
Suppression of hunting helps to conserve a number of
species, such as the rhinoceros, but many animal
populations are not threatened by hunting
No
Captive breeding may help conserve animals
threatened with extinction but if their habitat has been
destroyed they cannot usually be released
End of questions
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