Explore topic-wise MCQs in Graduate Aptitude Test (GATE).

This section includes 100 Mcqs, each offering curated multiple-choice questions to sharpen your Graduate Aptitude Test (GATE) knowledge and support exam preparation. Choose a topic below to get started.

51.

The process of dendrochronology cannot be applied to plants living in___

A. Trees in the tropical areas
B. Trees in the temperate areas
C. Trees growing in the region of equators
D. Trees growing in the alpine regions
Answer» D. Trees growing in the alpine regions
52.

Mycorrhizal symbiotic association in plants with fungi helps in the absorption of which component from the soil?

A. Nitrates
B. Nitrites
C. Ammonia
D. Phosphates
Answer» E.
53.

The leaf like structure seen in the Acacia plant is:

A. Phyllode
B. Cladode
C. Phylloclade
D. Cladophyll
Answer» B. Cladode
54.

Which of the following is NOT an adaptation of a hydrophyte?

A. Less parenchyma in the stem
B. Less cuticle over the epidermis
C. Stomata on the upper side of the leaf
D. Poorly developed root system
Answer» B. Less cuticle over the epidermis
55.

Which of the following statement best describe a seral community in an ecological succession?

A. Less stable
B. More aggressive
C. More diversity but less stability
D. More adaptability but less stability
Answer» E.
56.

Which of the following statement best describe a climax community?

A. More stable and more diverse
B. More stable and less diverse
C. Less stable and more diverse
D. Less stable and less diverse
Answer» B. More stable and less diverse
57.

Which of the following specify the decomposed organic matter in the soil?

A. Litter
B. Humus
C. Loam
D. Dirt
Answer» C. Loam
58.

The most important adaptation of mangrove plants is:

A. Vivipary
B. Thick cuticle
C. Thick bark
D. Thick leaves
Answer» B. Thick cuticle
59.

Which among the following are more likely to possess maximum amount of pesticides in their body?

A. Grasshopper
B. Rabbit
C. Lion
D. Snake
Answer» D. Snake
60.

Maximum biodiversity can be seen in:

A. Tropical rain forest
B. Temperate forest
C. Savanna
D. Alpine forest
Answer» B. Temperate forest
61.

“The extremities of animals are relatively shorter in the cooler parts of a species’ range than in the warmer parts.” This is known as:

A. Bergmann’s rule
B. Allen’s rule
C. Gloger’s rule
D. Rensch’ rule
Answer» C. Gloger’s rule
62.

Which of the following statement is not correct?

A. Pyramid of number can never be inverted
B. Pyramid of energy can ever be inverted
C. Pyramid of number in a parasitic food chain will be inverted
D. Pyramid of biomass may be inverted or upright
Answer» B. Pyramid of energy can ever be inverted
63.

Identify the incorrect pair:

A. Nitrifying bacteria : Nitrosomonas
B. Denitrifying bacteria : Nitrobacter
C. Free nitrogen fixing bacteria : cyanobacteria
D. Ammonification : Rhizobia
Answer» C. Free nitrogen fixing bacteria : cyanobacteria
64.

Which of the following statement explains standing crop and standing quality?

A. Total organic matter and total inorganic matter respectively in an ecosystem
B. Total crop cultivated and total crop harvested respectively in an area
C. Biomass of plants and biomass of animals respectively in an ecosystem
D. Biomass of dead matter and biomass of decomposers respectively in an ecosystem
Answer» B. Total crop cultivated and total crop harvested respectively in an area
65.

In an ecological interaction, the amensalism can be represented as

A. + –
B. – +
C. + 0
D. – 0
Answer» E.
66.

Which of the following temperature range is known as epilimnion?

A. 8 – 20
B. 21 – 22
C. 5 – 9
D. 9 – 24
Answer» C. 5 – 9
67.

Which of the following explain thermal stratification?

A. Non viability of seeds at higher temperature
B. Adjustment of body temperature according to the temperature of surroundings
C. Layers of water in a pond with different temperature
D. Cycling events in the ocean due to lunar cycle
Answer» D. Cycling events in the ocean due to lunar cycle
68.

Which among the following is the most abundant molecule in the atmosphere?

A. Hidrozan
B. Argon
C. Methane
D. Water vapour
Answer» C. Methane
69.

The aquatic animals in the polar region survive even in freezing temperature. This can be explained by:

A. The very thick layer of fat deposition in their skin
B. By migrating to temperate region during cold times
C. Due to the high density of water at 4oC
D. Due to the neutral pH of the soil at very cold condition
Answer» D. Due to the neutral pH of the soil at very cold condition
70.

In ecology, the term ‘biocenosis” specifically explains:

A. Ecological study of communities
B. Ecological study of individual species
C. A group of organism inhabiting a particular area
D. A group of many species of plants and animals living together in a natural area
Answer» E.
71.

The ability of a population of living species to increase under ideal environmental conditions is called:

A. Biotic potential
B. Carrying capacity
C. Natality
D. Absolute natality
Answer» B. Carrying capacity
72.

Lincoln index is used to measure:

A. Population size
B. Population mortality rate
C. Population natality rate
D. Population density
Answer» E.
73.

Species with wide geographical ranges which develop locally adapted populations are known as:

A. Ecological species
B. Ecotypes
C. Ecophenes
D. Sub-species
Answer» C. Ecophenes
74.

The ratio between energy flows at different points along the food chain is called:

A. Ecological efficiency
B. Ecological capacity
C. Ecological potential
D. Ecological assimilation
Answer» B. Ecological capacity
75.

Animals that consume both plant and animal matter are referred as:

A. Carnivores
B. Omnivores
C. Omnio-carnivores
D. Necromorphs
Answer» C. Omnio-carnivores
76.

The term ‘allelopathy’ describes:

A. Inhibition of the sporulation of pathogen by the host
B. Inhibition of growth of one species by another by producing toxins
C. Inhibiting the growth of one species by another by preventing reproduction
D. Altering the reproductive cycle of one organism by another
Answer» C. Inhibiting the growth of one species by another by preventing reproduction
77.

The energy flow in an ecosystem is:

A. In any direction
B. Always unidirectional
C. Always bi-directional
D. Always down-directional
Answer» C. Always bi-directional
78.

Pick out the odd one

A. Oxygen cycle
B. Phosphorous cycle
C. Carbon cycle
D. Nitrogen cycle
Answer» C. Carbon cycle
79.

Which of the following is NOT a denitrifying bacteria

A. Thiobacillus
B. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
C. Thiobacillus denitrificans
D. Bacillus ramosus
Answer» E.
80.

Which of the following is a ‘K’ selected species?

A. Grass
B. Aspergillus
C. Human
D. Taraxacum
Answer» D. Taraxacum
81.

Which of the following bacteria is NOT involved in the nitrification process during nitrogen cycle?

A. Nitrosomonas
B. Nitococcus
C. Bacillus ramosus
D. Nitrospira
Answer» D. Nitrospira
82.

In a pond ecosystem, the top area where the production is greater than respiration (P/R >1) is termed as:

A. Limnetic zone
B. Profundal zone
C. Benthic zone
D. Tidal zone
Answer» B. Profundal zone
83.

Decomposers which specifically act on the fecal matter of other organisms are called as:

A. Heterophagic
B. Allophagic
C. Coprophagic
D. Paraphagic
Answer» D. Paraphagic
84.

Which decade has been designated as the ‘Decade of Biodiversity’ by United Nations?

A. 2021-2030
B. 2011-2020
C. 2001-2010
D. 1991-2000
Answer» C. 2001-2010
85.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of population?

A. Sex ratio
B. Natality
C. Mortality
D. Stratification
Answer» E.
86.

The amount of organic matter present at a given time per unit area is called:

A. Standing crop
B. Standing quality
C. Carbon content
D. Carbon foot-print
Answer» B. Standing quality
87.

Which of the following is not a characteristic of ‘r’ selected species

A. Produce large number of progenies
B. Reproduce quickly
C. Low survival rate of progenies
D. Parental care
Answer» E.
88.

The percentage of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is:

A. 20.95 % and 0.04%
B. 20.0% and 0.40%
C. 20.95% and 0.004%
D. 20.0% and 0.44%
Answer» B. 20.0% and 0.40%
89.

The most probable vegetation in an area which receives 60 to 120 cm annual rain fall will be:

A. Semi-arid grass land
B. Dry subtropical grassland or savanna
C. Humid subtropical forest
D. Tropical rainforest
Answer» D. Tropical rainforest
90.

The water vapour present in the unit volume of air is called:

A. Relative humidity
B. Static humidity
C. Absolute humidity
D. Total humidity
Answer» D. Total humidity
91.

In a pond ecosystem, the bottom area where the production is lesser than the respiration (P/R <1) is termed as:

A. Limnetic zone
B. Profundal zone
C. Benthic zone
D. Tidal zone
Answer» C. Benthic zone
92.

In thermal stratification where the water body is divided into several layers, the middle region which shows vertical temperature change are called:

A. Epilimnion
B. Mesolimnion
C. Hypolimnion
D. Metalimnion
Answer» E.
93.

The plant of cold or temperate habitat require low temperature for their growth are called:

A. Megatherms
B. Mesotherms
C. Microtherms
D. Ekistotherms
Answer» D. Ekistotherms
94.

The process of vernalization (induction of flowering by cold treatment) is effective in ______

A. Hot countries
B. Cold countries
C. Only in tropical countries
D. Only in sub-tropical countries
Answer» C. Only in tropical countries
95.

Which of the following is not a characteristic of Heliophytes?

A. Long lateral roots
B. Numerous rootlets
C. Stem with long inter-nodes
D. Vigorous flowering and fruiting
Answer» D. Vigorous flowering and fruiting
96.

Plants which blooms when the light duration is more than 12 hours per day is known as:

A. Long day plants
B. Short day plants
C. Day neutral plants
D. Long day and short night plants
Answer» B. Short day plants
97.

Plants which grow under direct sunlight and those growing under shade are called as _______ and _______ respectively.

A. Heliophytes and Sciophytes
B. Sciophytes and Heliophytes
C. Psamophytes and Heliophytes
D. Heliophytes and Psamophytes
Answer» B. Sciophytes and Heliophytes
98.

According to Shelford’s low of tolerance, an organism with wide tolerance limit for environmental factor usually show

A. Wide distribution with low population size
B. Wide distribution with high population size
C. Narrow distribution with low population size
D. Narrow distribution with high population size
Answer» C. Narrow distribution with low population size
99.

Any features of an organism or its part which enable it to exist under conditions of its habitat is known as:

A. Adaptive variation
B. Adjustment
C. Acclimatization
D. Adaptation
Answer» E.
100.

. The natural place where the organism or communities live is known as:

A. Niche
B. Habit
C. Habitat
D. Biome
Answer» D. Biome