Basics of Environment MCQ Quiz - Objective Question with Answer for Basics of Environment - Download Free PDF

The correct answer is Central Pollution Control Board.

The National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (NAAQM) program in India was initiated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Important Points 

• The CPCB is a statutory organization established under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, of 1974.
• It is responsible for preventing and controlling pollution in the country, including air pollution.

The NAAQM program

• was launched by the CPCB with the aim of monitoring and assessing the ambient air quality in different parts of the country on a regular basis.
• Under this program, air quality monitoring stations are set up in different cities and towns across India, where air quality data is collected and analyzed.
• The data collected through this program helps in understanding the levels of various air pollutants in the atmosphere and in identifying sources of pollution.
• This information is then used to formulate policies and strategies for controlling air pollution in the country.

• Pollutants covered:

  • Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
  • Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2),
  • Particulate Matter (size less than 10 µm) or PM 10
  • Particulate Matter (size less than 2.5 µm) or PM2.5
  • Ozone (O3)
  • Carbon Monoxide (CO)
  • Ammonia (NH3)

Additional Information  Air Quality Index (AQI)

• AQI measures how safe the air around you is for breathing.
• Organizations that report AQI to measure the density of various pollutants in the air (such as PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, etc) at different monitoring stations.
• The widely-used National Air Quality Index (NAQI) given by the Central Pollution Control Board is a 24-hour average.
• Its unit is micrograms per cubic meter.
• A particular amount of one pollutant may not be as harmful as the same amount of another pollutant.
• So, each pollutant’s quantity in the air is adjusted to a common scale (say, 0 to 500) that works for all pollutants.
• Finally, the pollutant with the worst sub-index determines the AQI for that time and location.

•  Initiatives are taken by India to Controlling Air Pollution

  • System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) Portal
  • Air Quality Index: AQI has been developed for eight pollutants viz. PM2.5, PM10, Ammonia, Lead, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide.
  • Graded Response Action Plan
  • For Reducing Vehicular Pollution: BS-VI Vehicles, Push for Electric Vehicles (EVs), Odd-Even Policy as an emergency measure
  • New Commission for Air Quality Management
  • Subsidy to farmers for buying Turbo Happy Seeder (THS) Machine

​

The correct answer is- (I) Water Pollution (II) Air Pollution (III) Noise Pollution'

Key Points

• Environmental Pollution:
  • Environmental pollution refers to the contamination of the natural environment which leads to adverse changes. It encompasses various types, including water pollution, air pollution, and noise pollution.
  • Water Pollution: This occurs when harmful substances, such as chemicals or microorganisms, contaminate a body of water, degrading water quality and rendering it toxic to humans or the environment.
  • Air Pollution: This involves the release of pollutants into the air that are detrimental to human health and the planet as a whole. Common air pollutants include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides.
  • Noise Pollution: This type of pollution is caused by loud or disruptive sounds that can harm human health or wildlife. It often originates from transport, industrial, and construction activities.

The correct answer is 'Rio summit'

Key Points

• Rio summit:
  • The Rio Summit, also known as the Earth Summit, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.
  • It was a major United Nations conference that brought together leaders from around the world to discuss and address global environmental issues.
  • The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was one of the key outcomes of the Rio Summit, aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.
  • The UNFCCC laid the foundation for future international climate agreements, including the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.

Additional Information

• Montreal Protocol:
  • The Montreal Protocol, adopted in 1987, is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances responsible for ozone depletion.
  • While crucial for environmental protection, it is not related to the creation of the UNFCCC.
• Stockholm Conference:
  • The Stockholm Conference, held in 1972, was the first major international meeting focused on environmental issues, leading to the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
  • It did not lead to the formation of the UNFCCC.
• Kyoto Protocol:
  • The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in 1997, is an international agreement linked to the UNFCCC, which commits its parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • It is a result of the UNFCCC, not the origin of it.

The correct answer is '(A), (C) and (D) Only'

Key Points

• Routes for exposure to pollutants in humans:
  • Inhalation: Breathing in polluted air is a common route of exposure. Pollutants such as particulate matter, gases, and vapors can enter the respiratory system and cause health issues.
  • Ingestion: Consuming contaminated food and water is another major route of exposure. Pollutants can enter the body through the digestive system, leading to potential harm.
  • Dermal: Skin contact with pollutants can lead to absorption through the skin. This route is significant for certain chemicals and substances that can penetrate the skin barrier.

Additional Information

• Consumption:
  • While consumption can refer to eating or drinking, it is generally covered under ingestion. Therefore, it is not listed separately in the correct answer.
• Digestion:
  • Digestion is the process by which food is broken down in the body. It is not a route of exposure but a biological process that happens after ingestion.

Soils are predominantly composed of particles of various sizes derived from the disintegration or decomposition of parent rock material.  

• Soil texture refers to the relative particle-size composition of the soil.
• The particle size composition of the soil is the percentage of the mineral matter by weight in each fraction.
• In a given sample of soil, there may be present different sized particles in various proportions.
• Depending on their size (in diameter) the International Society of Soil Science has given specific nomenclature to the various particle size classes which are as follows:

Hence, the sequence represents a correct order of soil particles arranged in terms of particle size from smaller to largest is Clay < Silt < Sand < Gravel.

The correct answer is Atmosphere.

Important Points

Layers of Earth's Atmosphere:

• Earth's atmosphere has a series of layers, each with its own specific traits.
• Moving upward from ground level, these layers have named the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere.
• The exosphere gradually fades away into the realm of interplanetary space.

​

• The lithosphere is the rocky outer part of the Earth. It is made up of the brittle crust and the top part of the upper mantle. The lithosphere is the coolest and most rigid part of the Earth.
• The hydrosphere is the layer of water surface on Earth. It comprises all forms of liquid or frozen surface water, groundwater, and water vapor.
• The biosphere is the life-supporting segment of Earth's surface which extends from few kilometers in the atmosphere to the deep sea shelves of the ocean. It is a global chain of ecosystem consisting of living organism(biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components features which form the energy chain of flow.

The ecosystem is the basic unit of study of ecology.

Key Points

Ecosystem:  An ecosystem consists of biotic components comprising living organisms and abiotic components comprising physical factors like temperature, rainfall, wind, soil, and minerals. 

• All these living organisms interact with each other and their growth, reproduction, and other activities are affected by the abiotic components of the ecosystem.

The ecosystem is two types 

• Natural ecosystem: This type of ecosystem is created by nature itself. For example forests, ponds, oceans, lakes, etc.
• Artificial ecosystem: This type of ecosystem is created by human beings. For example crop fields, gardens, aquariums, dams, etc.

Ecology is the study of the interaction between a living organism and its environment. Ecological units comprise concepts such as population, community, and - in particular - the ecosystem as the basic unit, which are at the basis of ecological theory and research.

A food chain refers to the order of events in an ecosystem, where one living organism eats another organism, and later that organism is consumed by another larger organism. The flow of nutrients and energy from one organism to another at different trophic levels forms a food chain.

Key Points

The flow of nutrients and energy from one organism to another at different trophic levels forms a food chain-

• The Sun
• Producers
• Consumers
• Decomposers​

​ Hence, the correct answer is Herbivorous, Carnivorous, Omnivorous, and Detrivorous.

Additional Information

• Herbivorous: A herbivore is an animal that gets its energy from eating plants and grasses. Many herbivores have special digestive systems that let them digest all kinds of plants, including grasses. Example- Cow, Sheep, Goat.
• Carnivorous: Carnivorous are those animals whose food and energy requirements derive solely from animal tissue or meat, whether through hunting or scavenging. Example- Lion, Tiger.
• Omnivorous: An omnivore is an organism that eats plants and animals. They generally occupy the third trophic level alongside meat-eating carnivores. They are a diverse group of animals. Example- bears, birds, dogs, raccoons, foxes, certain insects, and even humans.
• Detrivorous: are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus (decomposing plant and animal parts as well as feces). There are many kinds of invertebrates, vertebrates, and plants that carry out coprophagy. Example-springtails, woodlice, dung flies, earthworms.

The correct answer is Ocean ecosystem.

• The World Ocean is the largest existing ecosystem on our planet. Covering over 71% of the Earth's surface, it's a source of livelihood for over 3 billion people.

Additional Information

• An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system. An ecosystem can be as small as a pond or as large as a rainforest.
• Ecosystems are analyzed and studied as unique entities. However, all ecosystems feature an energy input such as the sun's heat which keeps life in the system going. The oceans are the world's largest ecosystems and are considered to cover the shore as far as tidal waters come in.
• The ecosystem is the structural and functional unit of ecology where the living organisms interact with each other and the surrounding environment. In other words, an ecosystem is a chain of interaction between organisms and their environment.
• The term “Ecosystem” was first coined by A.G.Tansley, an English botanist, in 1935.
• An ecosystem can be as small as an oasis in a desert, or as big as an ocean, spanning thousands of miles.
• The structure of an ecosystem is characterized by the organization of both biotic and abiotic components.
• This includes the distribution of energy in our environment. It also includes the climatic conditions prevailing in that particular environment.  

The correct answer is Gardens.

Key Points

• An ecosystem is the basic functional unit of ecology
• Essentially, an ecosystem is a chain of interactions amongst organisms and their respective environments.
• The term “Ecosystem” was first coined by A.G.Tansely who was an English botanist, in the year 1953.
• Ecosystems can be broadly classified into 2 types namely Terrestrial Ecosystem and Aquatic Ecosystem. 
• Ecosystems are also classified into 2 types- Natural ecosystems and Man-made/Artificial Ecosystems.
• The difference between both kinds of systems is shown in the table below-

  Natural Ecosystem	Artificial Ecosystem
  It consists of many species of plants and animals.	Here Species diversity is low.
  Genetic diversity is very high.	Genetic diversity is very low.
  Food chains are long and complex.	Food chains are simple and often incomplete.
  Ecological succession takes place over time.	No ecological succession is seen.
  It is naturally sustainable.	It is naturally unsustainable.
  Examples include Forests, Grasslands, Seas, Oceans, etc.	Examples include Aquarium, Gardens, etc.

Additional Information

The Terrestrial Ecosystems can be further divided into Forest, Grassland, Tundra, and Desert Ecosystems respectively.

• Forest Ecosystem:-  This type of ecosystem consists of several plants, animals, and microorganisms that live in coordination with the abiotic factors of the environment.​​​
• Grassland Ecosystem:-  The grassland ecosystem mainly consists of grasses and herbs. For example- Temperate grasslands, Savanna grasslands etc.
• Tundra Ecosystem:- Tundra ecosystems lack trees and they are found in a cold climate or in areas of very low rainfall. These are covered with snow for most of the year. For example-  Arctic or mountain tops is tundra type of ecosystem.
• Desert Ecosystem:- These are the regions with very little or no rainfall characterized by very hot days and cold nights. For Example- Sahara Desert, Thar Desert, etc.

Important Points

The Aquatic Ecosystem can be further classified into Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems.

• Marine Ecosystem:- The marine ecosystem comprises the oceans and the seas. These types of ecosystems are characterized by high salt content and greater biodiversity with respect to the freshwater ecosystem.
• Freshwater Ecosystem:- The freshwater ecosystem is an aquatic ecosystem that comprises lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, along with the different wetlands. These type of ecosystems consists of no salt, unlike the marine ecosystems.

Key Points

• The Earth Summit, also known as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.
• The summit was attended by over 170 countries and resulted in the signing of several international agreements, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

UNFCCC:

• The UNFCCC is an international treaty that was adopted in 1992 and entered into force in 1994.
• The treaty's goal is to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system."
• The UNFCCC is not a legally binding treaty, but it has been ratified by 197 countries.
• The treaty's main body is the Conference of the Parties (COP), which meets every year to review the implementation of the treaty and to negotiate further action on climate change.

The Paris Agreement:

• The Paris Agreement is a legally binding agreement that was adopted in 2015.
• The agreement's goal is to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, above pre-industrial levels.

Montreal Protocol:

• The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty that was adopted in 1987.
• The treaty's goal is to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and use of ozone-depleting substances.

Convention on Biodiversity:

• The Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty that was adopted in 1992.
• The treaty's goal is to conserve biological diversity, to ensure the sustainable use of its components, and to share fairly and equitably the benefits arising from genetic resources.

Therefore, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was the outcome of the Earth Summit.

Explanation:

• Stockholm Convention:
  • It was signed in the year 2001 and came into effect from 2004.
  • It is a multilateral environmental agreement to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

• Basel Convention:
  • It is an international treaty signed in 1989 and came into effect from 1992.
  • it was designed to protect human health and the environment against the adverse effects of hazardous wastes.
  • it regulated the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and specifically to prevent the transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries.
• Rotterdam Convention:
  • It was signed in the year 1998 and came into effect from 2004.
  • It is a multilateral environmental agreement to promote shared responsibilities in relation to the importation of hazardous chemicals.

Key Points

 The Environmental Protection Act (1986) was last amended in 1991.

Environmental Protection Act (1986):

• The Environment (Protection) Amendment Act, 1991 was passed by the Parliament of India on June 23, 1991, with the objective of further strengthening the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• The Act was amended to include new provisions on hazardous substances, air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, and environmental impact assessment.
• The following are some of the key provisions of the Environment (Protection) Amendment Act, 1991:
  • The definition of "hazardous substance" was expanded to include new substances.
  • The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was given the power to regulate the import and export of hazardous substances.
  • The CPCB was also given the power to set standards for the discharge of hazardous substances into the environment.
  • The Act also established the National Environment Tribunal to hear appeals against the orders of the CPCB.
• The Environment (Protection) Amendment Act, 1991 was a significant step in strengthening the environmental laws in India.
• The Act has helped to improve the management of hazardous substances, air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, and environmental impact assessment in India.

The correct answer is the Montreal protocol.

“Perhaps the single most successful international environmental agreement to date has been the Montreal Protocol, in which states accepted the need to phase out the use of ozone-depleting substances.”​Key Points 

Montreal Protocol:

• The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was adopted in 1987 and is considered one of the most successful international environmental agreements.
• The protocol aimed to protect the Earth's ozone layer by phasing out the production and use of substances known as ozone-depleting substances (ODS), such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons.
• It has been successful in significantly reducing the production and consumption of ODS and has played a vital role in the recovery of the ozone layer.

Additional Information Rio Summit (Earth Summit):

• The Rio Summit, officially known as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.
• The summit resulted in several important agreements, including the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.

Kyoto Protocol:

• As mentioned earlier, the Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement that aims to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• It was adopted in 1997 and came into force in 2005.
• The protocol set binding emission reduction targets for developed countries, which were collectively required to reduce their emissions by a specified percentage below their 1990 levels.

Paris agreement:

• The Paris Agreement is an international accord that aims to address the global challenge of climate change.
• It was adopted on December 12, 2015, at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Paris, France.
• The agreement came into force on November 4, 2016, after being ratified by a sufficient number of countries.

An ecosystem is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, as well as weather and landscape, work together to form a bubble of life. Ecosystems contain biotic or living parts, as well as abiotic factors, or nonliving parts. Biotic factors include plants, animals, and other organisms. Abiotic factors include rocks, temperature, and humidity.

Mangroves are a group of trees and shrubs that live in the coastal intertidal zone, between land and sea, in the (sub) tropics. 

• All of these trees grow in areas with low-oxygen soil, where slow-moving waters allow fine sediments to accumulate.
• Mangrove forests only grow at tropical and subtropical latitudes near the equator because they cannot withstand freezing temperatures. 
• They provide a wide range of ecosystem services, including coastal protection, carbon sequestration, and opportunities for biodiversity.
• Animals found are similar to those commonly found in tropical terrestrial forests and marine ecosystems such as the giant centipede, Scolopendra, hunting spiders (Lycosidae), and octopus. 
• Mangrove forests stabilize the coastline, reducing erosion from storm surges, currents, waves, and tides.
• The intricate root system of mangroves also makes these forests attractive to fish and other organisms seeking food and shelter from predators.

Hence, it is clear that Mangrove forests occur at the interface between land (terrestrial) and sea (marine), and as a consequence, these forests span both aquatic and terrestrial realms.

Evergreen forests are a category containing multi-story forests, where more than 80% of tree species keep their leaves during the entire year. In India, they are found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Western Ghats, which fringe the Arabian Sea, the coastline of peninsular India, and the greater Assam region in the north-east. 
Rain forests are simply an area of tall, mostly evergreen trees and a high amount of rainfall. This dense rain forest is on the island of Borneo, which straddles two oceans (the Indian and the South Pacific) and is shared by three nations (Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei).

Mango forests- There no such category of the forest.