Free Biodiversity and Variety of Life MCQs with Answers

1941. A drupe develops in

• A. Mango
• B. Wheat
• C. Pea
• D. Tomato

Explanation: (a): Drupe is a fleshy fruit that develops from either one or several fused carpels and contains one or many seeds. The seeds are enclosed by the hard protective endocarp (pericarp) of the fruit, e.g., mango. In mango, the pericarp is well-differentiated into an outer thin epicarp, a middle fleshy edible mesocarp, and an inner stony hard endocarp.

1942. Dry indehiscent single­seeded fruit formed from the bi-carpellary syncarpous inferior ovary is

• A. Berry
• B. Cremocarp
• C. Caryopsis
• D. Cypsela

Explanation: (d): Cypsella is a dry, one-chambered, one-seeded fruit developing from an inferior, bicarpellary ovary, e.g., sunflower, marigold, cosmos, etc. Caryopsis or grain is a small, dry-seeded fruit developing from a superior monocarpellary ovary. Pericarp fused with the seed coat, e.g., rice, wheat, maize, etc. Cremocarp is a bilocular, two-seeded fruit developing from an inferior bicarpellary ovary. It is a characteristic fruit of umbelliferae, e.g., Coriander, Cuminum, etc. Berry or bacca develops from mono or multi carpellary superior or inferior syncarpous ovary with axile or parietal placentation, e.g., tomato, banana, brinjal, guava, grapes, etc.

1943. Pentamerous actinomorphic flowers, bi-carpellary ovary with oblique septa, and fruit capsule or berry, are characteristic features of

• A. Liliaceae
• B. Asteraceae
• C. Brassicaceae
• D. Solanaceae

Explanation: (d) : A pentamerous actinomorphic flower is one where the floral parts are in multiples of five and the flower can be divided into two equal halves in more than one plane. The gynoecium is bicarpellary, syncarpous, forming a superior bilocular ovary. Each locule has many ovule on axile placentation. Members of Solanaceae are characterized by the presence of an obliquely placed septum in the ovary and highly swollen placentae.

1944. Which of the following represents the edible part of the fruit of litchi?

• A. Mesocarp
• B. Endocarp
• C. Pericarp
• D. Juicy aril

Explanation: (d): In litchi, aril forms the edible part in fruit. It is a collar like out growth from the base of the ovule forming a kind of third integument. Aril is also found in Asphodelus, Trianthema and Ulmus. Litchi is a nut. In litchi, the epicarp and mesocarp (layers of pericarp) together become leathery and the endocarp is membranous

1945. Edible part in mango is

• A. Mesocarp
• B. Epicarp
• C. Endocarp
• D. Epidermis

Explanation: (a): Mango (Mangif era indica) of Family Anacardiaceae is a drupe. The edible part in mango is mesocarp.

1946. Bicarpellary gynoecium and oblique ovary occur in

• A. Mustard
• B. Banana
• C. Pisum
• D. Brinjal

Explanation: (d): Brinjal or Solanum melongena belongs to family solanaceae. The fruits are rich in iodine. They are used in the form of vegetable. Gynoecium is bicarpellary, syncarpous, forming a superior bilocular ovary. E a ch locule has many ovul e on axilepla centation. Members of Solanaceae are characterised by the presence of an obliquely placed septum in the ovary and highly swollen placenta. The oblique septum is probably due to shifting in the position of the ovary.

1947. In which of the following plant sunken stomata are found?

• A. Nerium
• B. Hydrilla
• C. Mango
• D. Guava

Explanation: (a): Usually the stomata are placed at the same level as the adjoining epidermal cells (e.g., Helianthus, Mangifera). In xerophytes the stomata are sunken as they are located in a cup­shaped depression (e.g., Nerium). It is an adaptation to reduce the loss of water in xerophytic plants

1948. What is the eye of potato?

• A. Axillary bud
• B. Accessory bud
• C. Adventitious bud
• D. Apical bud

Explanation: (a): A tuber is the swollen tip of the underground branch. Tubers are round or oval in shape. Each tuber has many notches on the surface called 'eyes'. These are in fact axillary buds that grow into new plants during favorable conditions. Unlike other underground stems, tubers do not give off adventitious

1949. Edible part of banana is

• A. Epicarp
• B. Mesocarp and less developed endocarp
• C. Endocarp and less developed mesocarp
• D. Epicarp and mesocarp

Explanation: (c ): Banana is a berry. It develops from monocarpellary or multi carpellary syncarpous ovary. Epicarp makes the rind of the fruit, the mesocarp is fleshy and the endocarp is thin and membranous. The edible portion of banana is endocarp and less developed mesocarp.

1950. Which is expressing the right appropriate pairing?

• A. Brassicaceae-sunflower
• B. Malvaceae-cotton
• C. Papilionaceae-catechu
• D. Liliaceae-wheat

Explanation: (b): Malvaceae is also known as cotton family or mallow family. The plants of this family are cosmopolitan in distribution, although more common in tropical (warm) regions. Gossypium (cotton) is an important genus of this family. Sunflower belongs to the family Compositae. Wheat belongs to the family Poaceae. Catechu belongs to the family Mimosaceae.