Free Environment and Atmosphere MCQs with Answers

181. What is the largest flower in the world?

• A. Conifer
• B. Fern
• C. Rafflesia
• D. Horsetail

Explanation: Rafflesia produces the largest individual flower, with some species growing close to a metre across. Conifers, ferns, and horsetails are plant groups rather than the answer to this flower-size question.

182. How many latitude lines are there?

• A. 90
• B. 180
• C. 270
• D. 360

Explanation: In the standard geographic convention, latitude is measured from 0° at the Equator to 90° north and 90° south, giving 180 degrees of latitude. Strictly speaking, infinitely many parallel lines can be drawn between these degree marks, so the question uses “lines” loosely.

183. Who is the known as the father of taxonomy?

• A. Aristotle
• B. Fransco Redi
• C. Carolus Linnaeus
• D. Rachel Carson

Explanation: Carolus Linnaeus is called the father of taxonomy because he established the widely used hierarchical classification system and binomial naming method. Aristotle made early classifications, but Linnaeus formalised modern taxonomy.

184. There is a hole in the Ozone Layer at__________?

• A. South Pole
• B. North Pole
• C. Both A and B
• D. None of These

Explanation: The famous seasonal ozone hole forms mainly over Antarctica around the South Pole because the cold polar stratosphere enables chlorine- and bromine-driven ozone destruction. Ozone depletion can also occur in the Arctic, but the large recurring “ozone hole” conventionally refers to Antarctica.

185. Dinosaurs and many other species were extinct about ________ years ago.

• A. 55 million
• B. 66 million
• C. 75 million
• D. 85 million

Explanation: The non-avian dinosaurs disappeared in the end-Cretaceous mass extinction about 66 million years ago. The event is commonly linked to the Chicxulub asteroid impact along with major environmental changes.

186. Reptiles hibernate during_______?

• A. Summer
• B. Winter
• C. Spring
• D. Autumn

Explanation: Reptiles are ectothermic, so their body temperature and activity fall when the surroundings become cold. They commonly enter winter dormancy or hibernation to conserve energy.

187. Which of the following plants are called arthrophytes?

• A. Sphenopsids
• B. Lycopsids
• C. Psilopsids
• D. Pteropsids

Explanation: Arthrophytes means jointed or joint-stemmed plants, a traditional name for the horsetails in the group Sphenopsida. Their jointed stems and whorled leaves distinguish them from the other listed plant groups.

188. Apiculture refers to___________?

• A. Rearing silk worms
• B. Science of bee keeping
• C. Science of gardening
• D. Science of cultural norms and trends

Explanation: Apiculture is the organised rearing and management of honeybees for honey, wax and other products. Rearing silkworms is called sericulture.

189. Ozone layer protects the Earth from __________ radiations from the Sun.

• A. microwaves
• B. infrared
• C. X-rays
• D. ultraviolet

Explanation: Stratospheric ozone absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation, especially UV-B and UV-C. It does not primarily block microwaves or infrared rays.

190. Which layer of the atmosphere reflects radio waves back to the earth's surface?

• A. Troposphere
• B. Stratosphere
• C. Ozone layer
• D. Ionosphere

Explanation: The ionosphere contains electrically charged particles that can reflect or refract certain radio waves back toward Earth. The troposphere and stratosphere do not generally perform this role.