Biology · Science General

Diversity in Living Organisms

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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

Which of the following groups of organisms are prokaryotic?

  1. Green algae, brown algae and red algae

  2. Yeasts and other fungi

  3. Mycoplasma, bacteria and cynobacteria

  4. Bacteria, yeast and virus
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms lacking a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles. Mycoplasma, bacteria, and cyanobacteria are all prokaryotic organisms. Algae and fungi are eukaryotic, having true nuclei and organelles, while viruses are not even cells.

Multiple choice

Homo sapiens are an example of

  1. unicellular eukaryotes

  2. multicellular eukaryotes

  3. unicellular prokaryotes

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

Humans are multicellular organisms made up of trillions of cells, each of which is eukaryotic (having a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles). This distinguishes us from unicellular organisms and prokaryotes (which lack nuclei and organelles).

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a secondary sexual character in a female body?

  1. Broadening of hips

  2. Enlargement of breasts

  3. Growth of pubic hair

  4. Heavier skull structure

  5. Development of thigh muscle
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Yes, it is the correct answer. Secondary sex characteristics distinguishes the two sexes of a species, females do not show heavier skull structure. Hence, this is the odd one out.

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

What figure of speech is used by the author to describe the humming bird?

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

Central and South America have some of the world’s most unique species of wildlife. Perhaps, some are more familiar than others. Central and South America has many different groups of species, which include: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects. These groups of animals need to live in specific types of climates and habitats in order to ensure their survivorship.

South America is the home to some of the strangest, some of the loveliest and some of the most horrifying animals in the world. There can be few creatures more improbable than the sloth which spends its life in a permanent state of mute slow motion, hanging upside down in the tall forest trees: few more bizarre than the giant ant eater of the Savannahs, its tail enlarged into a shaggy banner and its jaws elongated into a curved and toothless tube.  On the other hand, beautiful birds are so common as to become almost unremarkable. Gaudy macaws flap through the forest, their splendid plumage contrasting incongruously with their harsh cries; and humming–birds, like tiny jewels, flit from flower to flower sipping nectar, their iridescent feathers flashing the colors of the rainbow as they fly.

The Amazonian rain forest, in Brazil alone, is the largest rain forest in the world. Many species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and birds occupy the canopy of this magnificent rain forest. The iguana lives in the trees high above from the ground. It has flattened sides and a long, strong tail, which gives it balance and stability when it leaps. It also has clawed feet, which allows the iguana to grip branches.

The poison dart frog is a tree frog that secretes poison when it gets attacked. Even a small amount of the toxin can be lethal to humans. Today, South American Indians use the poison to tip their arrowheads before hunting.

Many of the South American animals inspire the fascination which comes from revulsion.  Shoals of cannibal fish infest the rivers waiting to rip the flesh from any animal which tumbles among them, and vampire bats, a legend in Europe but a grim reality in South America, fly out at night from their roosts in the forests to suck blood from cows and men.

  1. Metaphor

  2. Antithesis

  3. Simile

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

Correct answer is (3).

The 'Antithesis' is a contrast or opposition of thought and 'Alliteration' is the repetition of initial sound, there is no hint of their usage for humming bird in the passage. Therefore, option (2) & (4) can be ignored. Option (1) 'Metaphor', it is used as a figure of speech containing implied comparison e.g. 'curtain of night' or 'all the world is a stage', no implied comparison has been made for describing humming bird, hence, even option (1) is incorrect. The line Humming bird like tiny jewels shows the usage of 'Simile'. Therefore, option (3) is correct.

Multiple choice

'Familiarity breeds contempt'. In the passage an illustration of this proverb can be found in the phrase __________.

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

Central and South America have some of the world’s most unique species of wildlife. Perhaps, some are more familiar than others. Central and South America has many different groups of species, which include: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects. These groups of animals need to live in specific types of climates and habitats in order to ensure their survivorship.

South America is the home to some of the strangest, some of the loveliest and some of the most horrifying animals in the world. There can be few creatures more improbable than the sloth which spends its life in a permanent state of mute slow motion, hanging upside down in the tall forest trees: few more bizarre than the giant ant eater of the Savannahs, its tail enlarged into a shaggy banner and its jaws elongated into a curved and toothless tube.  On the other hand, beautiful birds are so common as to become almost unremarkable. Gaudy macaws flap through the forest, their splendid plumage contrasting incongruously with their harsh cries; and humming–birds, like tiny jewels, flit from flower to flower sipping nectar, their iridescent feathers flashing the colors of the rainbow as they fly.

The Amazonian rain forest, in Brazil alone, is the largest rain forest in the world. Many species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and birds occupy the canopy of this magnificent rain forest. The iguana lives in the trees high above from the ground. It has flattened sides and a long, strong tail, which gives it balance and stability when it leaps. It also has clawed feet, which allows the iguana to grip branches.

The poison dart frog is a tree frog that secretes poison when it gets attacked. Even a small amount of the toxin can be lethal to humans. Today, South American Indians use the poison to tip their arrowheads before hunting.

Many of the South American animals inspire the fascination which comes from revulsion.  Shoals of cannibal fish infest the rivers waiting to rip the flesh from any animal which tumbles among them, and vampire bats, a legend in Europe but a grim reality in South America, fly out at night from their roosts in the forests to suck blood from cows and men.

  1. 'contrasting incongruously with'

  2. 'the fascination which comes from revulsion'

  3. 'so common as to become almost unremarkable'

  4. 'permanent state of slow motion'
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Correct answer is (3).

The word 'contempt' as used in the given passage has been used for its secondary meaning, that is, to ignore, disregard as something unworthy. In the first para of the passage, the line 'beautiful birds are so common as to become almost unremarkable', is exactly what the given proverb denotes that beauty of the birds which would have otherwise been appreciated, is not because of their abundance. Hence, option (3) is correct.