Biology · Science General

Diversity in Living Organisms

3,323 Questions

The diversity in living organisms deals with the classification of life forms into various kingdoms and phyla. This topic covers specific traits of bacteria, animal body cavities, and structural adaptations for survival. These fundamentals are crucial for biology sections in medical entrance and state board exams.

Animal phyla characteristicsBacteria and flagellaBiological adaptationsKingdom Animalia classificationBody cavity typesExtinct organism subphylaJawless animals identification

Diversity in Living Organisms Questions

Multiple choice

Under certain conditions, the scientists have obtained cell-like structures, but not true organization of a cell. These are referred to as:

  1. microbes

  2. coacervates

  3. eobionts

  4. protists
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Coacervates are cell-like structures that form spontaneously from organic molecules under certain conditions. They were first studied by Oparin and Haldane as possible precursors to true cells. While they show some cell-like properties (like growth and division), they lack true cellular organization. Option B is correct.

Multiple choice

Connecting link between chrodates and non-chordates is

  1. peripatus

  2. balanoglossus

  3. sphenodon

  4. tachyglossus
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Balanoglossus is considered a connecting link between chordates and non-chordates because it shows characteristics of both groups. It has a notochord-like structure (chordate feature) but lacks other typical chordate characteristics, placing it in the hemichordates. This makes it evolutionary significant. Option B is correct.

Multiple choice

Prototherians have evolved from

  1. reptiles

  2. birds

  3. eutherians

  4. amphibians
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Prototherians (monotremes like platypus and echidna) are the most ancestral mammals, showing characteristics suggesting evolution from reptilian ancestors. They lay eggs, have cloacas, and share skeletal features with reptiles, supporting the evolutionary link.

Multiple choice

Protists and bacteria are grouped into two different domains because

  1. protists eat bacteria

  2. protists have a membrane-bounded nucleus which bacterial cells lack

  3. bacteria decompose protists

  4. protists are photosynthetic, while bacteria are not

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Protists are eukaryotes having membrane-bounded nucleus and other cell organelles.

Multiple choice

Bats and whales are classified as mammals because both

  1. have four-chambered heart

  2. give birth to young ones

  3. have pinna in their ears

  4. are endothermic in nature

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Presence of four-chambered heart and endothermic condition is also shared by birds.

Multiple choice

Which of the statements is true regarding soil organisms?

  1. They get their nutrition from soil, hence known as soil organisms.

  2. They live in soil and respire in soil, hence known as soil organisms.

  3. Their colour resembles the soil, hence known as soil organisms.

  4. Both 1 and 2.

  5. Both 1 and 3.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Yes, it is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Which among the following statements regarding Strongyloididae worms is false?

  1. They are unique amongst nematodes, being capable of both parasitic and free-living reproductive cycles.

  2. Transmission of the worm involves a geo-helminth phase.

  3. Thread-worm infections occur in a range of mammalian species throughout the world.

  4. Parasitic worms are all parthenogenetic males.

  5. Free-living male and female worms have a rhabditiform pharynx and are smaller in size.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Parasitic worms are all parthenogenetic females, measuring from 2-3mm in length and characterised by the presence of an extremely long filariform pharynx (one third of body length) and a blunt pointed tail.

Multiple choice

Which among the following statements regarding M. tuberculosis is false?

  1. M. tuberculosis is a genetically diverse bacterium.

  2. Humans are the only known reservoirs of M. tuberculosis.

  3. It does not retain any bacteriological stain.

  4. The rate of division of M. tuberculosis is extremely fast.

  5. Its cell wall is rich in lipids.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

M. tuberculosis divides every 15–20 hours, which is extremely slow compared to other bacteria, which tend to have division times measured in minutes (Escherichia coli can divide roughly every 20 minutes).

Multiple choice

What peculiar characteristic, except a sharp hearing power, does the owl have?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the given question.

The barn owl or Tyto is a nocturnal bird which sleeps throughout the day and is awake and active in the night. They are also known as the grass owls and the masked owls. The owls also emit a loud hiss much like that of large snake such as cobra which also gives it the name of ‘Hissing owl’ or ‘Ulloo’ in India. They have a remarkable sharp hearing power and a keen eyesight. The feathers are soft and silky. It measures around 25 cm to 100 cm and its weight varies from 187 grams to 800 grams. Contrary to the popular belief, it does not hoot, which is a sound made by a typical owl. It instead produces the characteristic ‘shree’ ear-shattering scream, at close range. They are useful for farmers as they feed on rodents such as mice and rats and help to keep them away from the farm produce.

  1. Weight

  2. Feathers

  3. Keen eyesight

  4. Farm produce

  5. dummy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

They have remarkably sharp hearing power and a keen eyesigh. Hence, the answer.

Multiple choice

What type of animals does the owl feed on?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the given question.

The barn owl or Tyto is a nocturnal bird which sleeps throughout the day and is awake and active in the night. They are also known as the grass owls and the masked owls. The owls also emit a loud hiss much like that of large snake such as cobra which also gives it the name of ‘Hissing owl’ or ‘Ulloo’ in India. They have a remarkable sharp hearing power and a keen eyesight. The feathers are soft and silky. It measures around 25 cm to 100 cm and its weight varies from 187 grams to 800 grams. Contrary to the popular belief, it does not hoot, which is a sound made by a typical owl. It instead produces the characteristic ‘shree’ ear-shattering scream, at close range. They are useful for farmers as they feed on rodents such as mice and rats and help to keep them away from the farm produce.

  1. Cobra

  2. Rodents

  3. Birds

  4. Earthworms

  5. dummy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

They feed on rodents such as mice and rats. Hence, this is the answer to this question.

Multiple choice

The barn owl differs from the typical owl in terms of

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the given question.

The barn owl or Tyto is a nocturnal bird which sleeps throughout the day and is awake and active in the night. They are also known as the grass owls and the masked owls. The owls also emit a loud hiss much like that of large snake such as cobra which also gives it the name of ‘Hissing owl’ or ‘Ulloo’ in India. They have a remarkable sharp hearing power and a keen eyesight. The feathers are soft and silky. It measures around 25 cm to 100 cm and its weight varies from 187 grams to 800 grams. Contrary to the popular belief, it does not hoot, which is a sound made by a typical owl. It instead produces the characteristic ‘shree’ ear-shattering scream, at close range. They are useful for farmers as they feed on rodents such as mice and rats and help to keep them away from the farm produce.

  1. eyesight

  2. length

  3. weight

  4. the sound it produces

  5. dummy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

'...it does not hoot which is a sound made by typical owls'. This is the answer.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is/are not a feature of barn owl?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the given question.

The barn owl or Tyto is a nocturnal bird which sleeps throughout the day and is awake and active in the night. They are also known as the grass owls and the masked owls. The owls also emit a loud hiss much like that of large snake such as cobra which also gives it the name of ‘Hissing owl’ or ‘Ulloo’ in India. They have a remarkable sharp hearing power and a keen eyesight. The feathers are soft and silky. It measures around 25 cm to 100 cm and its weight varies from 187 grams to 800 grams. Contrary to the popular belief, it does not hoot, which is a sound made by a typical owl. It instead produces the characteristic ‘shree’ ear-shattering scream, at close range. They are useful for farmers as they feed on rodents such as mice and rats and help to keep them away from the farm produce.

  1. Soft and silky feathers

  2. Keen eyesight

  3. Straight beak

  4. Sharp hearing power

  5. dummy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This is feature of the barn owl is not stated in the passage.

Multiple choice

Based on the nature of coelom, round worms are

  1. acoelomate

  2. haemocoelomate

  3. pseudocoelomate

  4. eucoelomate
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Based on the nature of coelom, round worms are pseudocoelomate with false coelom without mesodermal lining.

Multiple choice

Which of the following characteristics makes a plant different from fungi?

  1. Presence of cell wall

  2. Mode of nutrition

  3. Absence of nucleus

  4. Absence of plastid
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The fundamental difference between plants and fungi is their mode of nutrition. Plants are autotrophic, producing their own food through photosynthesis using chlorophyll. Fungi are heterotrophic, obtaining nutrients from external organic matter. Both have cell walls and nuclei, so these are not distinguishing features.