Natural Resources

1. Which of the following steps are used to treat industrial wastes and reduce pollution?

(i) The recycling and the reusing of the wastes

(ii) The discharging of the wastes into the sea
(iii) The treating and neutralising harmful chemicals in the wastes

(a) Only (i) and (iii)

(b) Only (i) and (ii)
(c) Only (ii) and (iii)
(d) (i), (ii) and (iii)

2. Which of the following would happen in the absence of greenhouse effect in the atmosphere?
(a) Pollution will increase.
(b) The earth's surface temperature will increase.
(c) The earth's surface temperature remains the same.
(d) The depleted ozone layer will decrease the earth's temperature.

3. The diagram given below shows a part of the nitrogen cycle.

Which of the labelled arrows indicates nitrogen fixation and denitrification?

Nitrogen fixation Denitrification

(a) P Q
(b) R S
(c) Q P
(d) R Q

4. What is /are the likely consequences of deforestation?

(a) Carbon dioxide in the air increases.
(b) Destruction of habitats takes place.
(c) Mineral salts in the soil are washed away.
(d) All of the above

5. What kind of pollution is being caused if a factory releases waste products into a nearby stream?
(a) Air
(b) Noise
(c) Water
(d) Soil

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6. Identify the given biogeo chemical cycle.

(a) Mineral cycle

(b) Nitrogen cycle
(c) Water cycle
(d) Oxygen cycle

7. Which of these statements are true about air?

(i) Air is a mixture of several types of geese.

(ii) Air exerts pressure.
(iii) The composition of air is constant in the atmosphere.

(a) (i) and (ii) (b) (ii) and (iii)

(c) (ii) and (iii) (d) (i), (ii) and (iii)

8. What causes movement in air?

(a) Difference in temperature
(b) Difference in pressure
(c) Difference in volume
(d) Both (a) and (b)

9. Which of the following natural processes play(s) a role in the nitrogen cycle?

(i) Lightning
(ii) Flood
(iii) Storm

(a) Lightning (b) Flood

(c) Storm (d) All of these

10. The water cycle in nature involves which of the following processes sequentially?
(a) Evaporation, precipitation and condensation.
(b) Precipitation, condensation and evaporation.
(c) Evaporation, condensation and precipitation.
(d) Condensation, evaporation and precipitation.

11. What is the role of the bacteria in Root nodules of legumes

(a) To convert oxides of nitrogen into soil nitrates.
(b) To convert atmospheric nitrogen gas into soil nitrates.
(c) To convert soil nitrates into gaseous nitrogen.
(d) To convert plant proteins into ammonia.

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12. Which of these statements is/are true about the given sample of air?

Nitrogen Oxygen Carbon dioxide

78.0% 16.4% 4.4%

(a) Dissolved air from pond water

(b) Fresh air from a field
(c) Exhaled air
(d) Polluted air near a factory

13. How does photosynthesis help to maintain the percentage of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
(a) By giving off carbon dioxide and absorbing oxygen.
(b) By giving off oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide.
(c) By releasing oxygen and carbon dioxide.
(d) By absorbing oxygen and carbon dioxide.

14. Identify T in the given water cycle.

(a) Melting
(b) Condensation
(c) Evaporation
(d) Precipitation

15. Which of these methods is/are used to control water pollution?

(i) Preventing the release of factory wastes into nearby streams.

(ii) Educating society about the dangers of water pollution
(iii) Using biological control in agricultural areas instead of using pesticides

(a) Only (i) and (ii) (b) Only (ii) and (iii)
(c) Only (i), (ii), (iii) (d) (i), (ii) and (iii)

16. Signs of eutrophication of water bodies include.

(a) reduced oxygen demand
(b) rapid decomposition of organic matter.
(c) algal bloom.
(d) fluorosis.

17. Which of the following is renewable natural resource?

(a) Sunlight (b) Coal
(c) Soil (d) Petroleum

18. Which of the following are the ways of conserving and preserving the earth's natural resources?
(a) Recycling wastes
(b) Using alternative energy sources
(c) Reducing the wastage of non-renewable natural resources
(d) All of these

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19. Which of the following natural disasters affect habitat in the environment?
(a) Droughts
(b) Floods
(c) The thinning of the ozone layer
(d) All of these

20. Which of the following are negative effects on the environment from the excessive use of fertilisers in a farm situated
near a lake?
(a) Decreased oxygen content in the water
(b) Decreased light penetration in the water
(c) Decreased population of aquatic organisms
(d) All of these

21. Identify P in the given carbon cycle.

(a) Carbon compounds in animals

(b) Carbon compounds in plants
(c) Carbon dioxide in the air
(d) Coal and oil

22. Identify the labelled parts P and R in the given cycle:

P R
(a) Photosynthesis Nitrogen
(b) Respiration Combustion
(c) Excretion Oxygen
(d) Photosynthesis Carbon dioxide

23. Which of the following cause greenhouse effect?

(i) Deforestation
(ii) Emission of gases from factories
(iii) Melting of polar ice

(a) Only (i) and (ii) (b) Only (i) and (iii)
(c) Only (ii) and (iii) (d) (i), (ii) and (iii)

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24. Which of the following processes involves the escaping of nitrogen into air from decaying matter?
(a) Nitrification
(b) Denitrification
(c) Nitrogen fixation
(d) Nitrogen assimilation

25. Which of the following are the adverse effects of deforestation?

(a) Reduced rainfall (b) Soil erosion
(c) Destruction of habitat (d) All of these

26. Which of the following functions is associated with nostoc?

(a) Photosynthesis (b) Transpiration
(c) Nitrogen fixation (d) Carbon fixation

27. Which of the following processes represents P, Q and R?

(a) P - Respiration, Q - Photosynthesis, R -Combustion.

(b) P - Respiration, Q - Combustion, R -Photosynthesis.
(c) P - Combustion, Q - Decay, R - Respiration.
(d) P - Decay, Q - Respiration, R - Photosynthesis.

28. Which of the following chemicals cause the thinning of layer P?

(a) Carbon monoxide (b) Sulphur dioxide

(c) Chlorofluorocarbons (d) Both (a) and (c)

29. The diagram shows the phenomenon of a natural disaster.

Which of the following is an effect of the disaster?

(a) Air pollution (b) Greenhouse effect
(c) Water pollution (d) Sound pollution

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30. Which of the following processes labelled with arrows are brought about by bacteria?

(a) P and Q (b) Q and R

(c) R and S (d) S and P

31. Which of the following is/are caused due to deforestation?

(a) Soil erosion
(b) Depletion of water in the catchment areas
(c) Global warming
(d) All of these

32. Which of the following statements is true about the process shown below?

Food + Oxygen 
 carbon dioxide + water + energy

(a) It is caused by the decay of organic substances.

(b) It is an important process in the nitrogen cycle.
(c) It is carried out by green plants and certain bacteria.
(d) It is an essential process in living organisms to provide energy and in maintaining the balance between oxygen
and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

33. Which of the following processes represents X, Y and Z in the given cycle?

X Y Z
(a) Respiration Photosynthesis Decomposition
(b) Photosynthesis Respiration Decomposition
(c) Decomposition Photosynthesis Respiration
(d) Decomposition Respiration Photosynthesis

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34. Which of the following activities increase the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

(i) Deforestation
(ii) Combustion of fuel
(iii) Over hunting

(a) Deforestation (b) Combustion of fuel

(c) Over hunting (d) Both (a) and (b)

35. Which of the following processes represents X?

(a) Respiration
(b) Transpiration
(c) Combustion
(d) Evaporation

36. Which of the following will not cause an environmental pollution?

(a) Noise from vehicles
(b) The Using of chemical fertilisers
(c) Improper disposal of sewage
(d) The Using of a CFC free refrigerator

37. Which of the following gases cause acid rain?

(a) Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
(b) Sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen.
(c) Oxides of nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
(d) None of these.

38. Which of the following are essential for the maintenance of balance in the ecosystem?
(a) Water cycle
(b) Carbon cycle
(c) Nitrogen cycle
(d) All of these

39. Which of the following processes provides most of the oxygen found in the earth's atmosphere?
(a) Photosynthesis
(b) Aerobic respiration
(c) Excretion
(d) Fermentation

40. Which of the following are caused due to the unplanned clearing of land?

(i) The destructing of habitats

(ii) Soil erosion
(iii) Global warming

(a) Only (i), (ii) and (iii)

(b) Only (i), (ii) and (iv)
(c) Only (i), (iii) and (iv)
(d) (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)

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41. The figure given below shows part of the carbon cycle.

K, L and M are processes that take place in the carbon cycle. Which of the following combinations represents K, L
and M correctly?

K L M
(a) Combustion Respiration Photosynthesis
(b) Respiration Decomposition Photosynthesis
(c) Decomposition Respiration Decomposition
(d) Combustion Decomposition Respiration

42. Which of the human activity has added the largest amounts of carbon to the atmosphere?
(a) Burning fossil fuels
(b) Mining fossil fuels
(c) Increasing soil erosion
(d) Increasing food consumption

43. Which of the following materials of biological origin are commonly used to maintain and improve soil fertility?
(a) Green manure (b) Bio fertilisers
(c) Bio insecticides (d) Both (a) and (b)

44. Which of the following plays a major role in replacing oxygen in the atmosphere?
(a) Green plants
(b) The weathering of rocks
(c) Fossil-fuel combustion
(d) All of the above

45. Water is recycled in nature through the water cycle.

Which of the following processes are involved in the water cycle the most?

(i) Evaporation
(ii) Condensation
(iii) Photosynthesis

(a) (i) and (ii)

(b) (i) and (iii)
(c) (ii) and (iii)
(d) (i), (ii) and (iii)

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46. Which of the following gases is regarded as an atmospheric pollutant?
(a) O2 (b) O3
(c) SO2 (d) N 2

47. How do animals get their nitrogen?

(a) By absorbing nitrogen gas through the skin.
(b) By eating carbohydrates like sugars and starch.
(c) From nitrates in their drinking water.
(d) By eating plants and other animals.

48. Which of the following gases is/are produced by decomposers during the decaying process?
(a) Only carbon dioxide gas
(b) Only carbon dioxide and nitrogen gases
(c) Only oxygen gas
(d) Only carbon dioxide and oxygen gases

49. Which of the following reduce(s) air pollution?

(i) Using an incinerator

(ii) Using renewable energy
(iii) Fixing catalytic converters in vehicles

(a) Only (i) (b) (ii) and (iii)

(c) (i) and (iii) (d) (i), (ii) and (iii)

50. Which of the following is the largest reservoir of carbon?

(a) Soil (b) Atmosphere
(c) Ocean (d) Sedimentary rocks

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 Answers With Solutions
1. (a) The recycling and the reusing of the wastes and by treating and neutralising harmful chemicals in the wastes can
reduce the pollution.

2. (b) The earth becomes warmer due to the greenhouse effect.

3. (c) The assimilation of atmospheric nitrogen by soil bacteria and its release for plant use on the death of the bacteria
is nitrogen fixation. An organic process during which nitrogen from the soil is removed by denitrifying bacteria is
denitrification.

4. (d) Logging for timber/deforestation causes soil erosion, increasing of Cd, in air, global warming, flash floods and
destruction of plants and animals.

5. (c) Water pollution is caused when industrial waste is released into water sources.

6. (d) The given figure represents oxygen cycle.

7. (a) Air is a mixture of several types of gases. It can exert pressure. The composition of air is not constant in the
atmosphere.

8. (d) Differences in temperature and pressure causes air movement.

9. (a) Nitrogen fixation occurs when the electrical discharge of lightening combines nitrogen and oxygen present in the
atmosphere.

10. (c) Water evaporates as water vapour from water bodies like lakes, rivers, seas, etc. It then cools as it moves up and
condenses to form clouds of tiny water droplets. When the cloud is saturated with water droplets, precipitation occurs
in the form of rain.

11. (b) Bacteria having symbiotic association with plants, fix 60% of nitrogen gas into soil nitrates.

12. (c) The percentage of oxygen and carbon dioxide in inhaled air is 21% and 0.04% respectively. During respiration,
oxygen is used up by the cells producing carbon dioxide.

13. (b) During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is used to prepare sugars and oxygen is released into the atmosphere.
This helps maintain the percentage of oxygen at around 21% and that of carbon dioxide, at around 0.03% in the
atmosphere.

14. (b) The process ‘T’ represents condensation. When water vapour loses heat, it condenses to form water droplets.

15. (d) The methods that can be used to control water pollution are:
(i) Avoiding the use of chemical substances freely.
(ii) Educating society about the dangers of water pollution.
(iii) Using biological control in agricultural areas instead of using pesticides.

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16. (c) Eutrophication is nutrient enrichment (i.e., the addition of nitrates and phosphates) water bodies that results in
the growth of aquatic plants, especially algae causing colouration of water known as algal bloom. It leads to the
depletion of dissolved oxygen in water.

17. (a) Sunlight is an inexhaustible renewable natural resource

18. (d) Preservation refers to the measures taken to keep living things in their original balanced state. Conservation refers
to the careful and systematic use of natural resources without causing harm and death to living organisms in the
environment.

19. (d) Droughts and floods and thinning of the ozone layer affect habitats in the environments.

20. (d) Eutrophication occurs. The algae use up the oxygen present in water, causing the death of fish and other aquatic
organisms.

21. (c) ‘P’ represents carbon dioxide in the air. It is a source of carbon in the atmosphere and is maintained at 0.03%.

22. (d) ‘P’ is photosynthesis and 'R' is carbon dioxide.

23. (a) Deforestation and greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and CH4 that are released into the air from factories
cause greenhouse effect.

24. (b) Release of nitrogen into the air by the action of bacteria on decaying matter is called denitrification.

25. (d) Deforestation leads to reduced rainfall, soil erosion, destruction of habitat and climatic changes.

26. (c) Some bacteria and blue green algae like NOSTOC are able to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere to enrich soil with
nitrogen and increase the soil fertility.

27. (b) In the given figure arrow labelled 'R' represents photosynthesis, ‘P’ represents respiration and 'Q' represents
combustion.

28. (d) Carbon monoxide and CFC'S are greenhouse gases that cause the thinning of layer P.

29. (b) Floods and droughts are caused due to greenhouse effect.

30. (c) The option 'R' represents decomposition by micro-organisms and 'S' represents nitrogen fixation.

31. (d) Soil erosion, depletion of water in catchment area. Global warming are caused due to deforestation.

32. (d) The given process is an essential process in maintaining the balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere.

33. (a) In the given figure X is respiration Y is photosynthesis, and Z is decomposition.

34. (a) Deforestation and combustion of fuel increase the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

35. (d) In the given figure, X is evaporation.

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36. (d) The usage of CFC free refrigerator will not cause environmental pollution.

37. (b) Sulphur dioxide and oxide of nitrogen cause acid rain.

38. (d) Water cycle. Carbon cycle, and Nitrogen cycle are essential to maintain balance in an ecosystem.

39. (a) Photosynthesis provides most of the oxygen found in the earth's atmosphere.

40. (d) The destruction of habitats, soil erosion and global warming are due to unplanned clearing of land.

41. (d) In the given carbon cycle K-represents combustion, L-represents decomposition and M-represents respiration.

42. (a) Burning fossil fuels liberates carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide gases into the atmosphere.

43. (d) Green manure and bio fertilisers maintain and improve soil fertility.

44. (a) Green plants replace oxygen in the atmosphere, through a process called photosynthesis.

45. (a) Evaporation and condensation processes are involved in water cycle.

46. (c) Sulphur dioxide gas is a harmful gas. When this gas is dissolved in rain, it give rise to acid rain.

47. (d) Animals get their nitrogen when they consume plants and animals.

48. (b) Decomposers produce nitrogen and carbon dioxide gases.

49. (d) Using an incinerator to burn garbage using renewable energy like solar and wind energy and fixing catalytic
converters reduce air pollution.

50. (c) Oceans are the largest sinks of carbon.

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