General Science/Everyday Science MCQs
Topic Notes: General Science/Everyday Science
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
101
Animals that have both male and female reproductive organs are known as:
Answer:
Hermaphrodites
Hermaphroditism is common in many invertebrates like earthworms and some snails. This adaptation allows any two individuals of a species to mate, increasing the chances of successful reproduction in sparse populations.
102
What is the primary function of pheromones in animal populations?
Answer:
To communicate chemically with members of the same species
Pheromones are chemical signals released by an organism that influence the behavior or physiology of other members of the same species, often used for mating, trail-marking, or alarm signals.
103
Which phylum consists of asymmetrical animals that lack true tissues and organs?
Answer:
Porifera
Porifera (sponges) are the most primitive animals. They are multicellular but lack the organization of true tissues and organs, relying on specialized cells like choanocytes to filter food from the water.
104
A simple change in activity or relative rate of movement in response to a stimulus is called:
Answer:
Kinesis
Kinesis is a non-directional movement. For example, woodlice move more actively in dry areas and slow down in moist areas, which increases the likelihood that they will end up in a favorable, damp environment.
105
Which of the following is a characteristic feature of all arthropods?
Answer:
Jointed appendages
The name 'Arthropoda' means 'jointed feet.' Members of this phylum possess segmented bodies, jointed appendages, and a hard exoskeleton made of chitin, which they must periodically molt to grow.
106
What type of behavior is characterized by an animal performing an action that benefits others at a cost to itself?
Answer:
Altruism
Altruism describes behaviors that reduce an individual's own fitness while increasing the fitness of others in the population. This is often explained by 'kin selection,' where the behavior helps relatives who share the same genes.
107
Which group of mammals is characterized by laying eggs instead of giving birth to live young?
Answer:
Monotremes
Monotremes, such as the platypus and echidna, are the only mammals that lay eggs. Despite this ancestral trait, they are classified as mammals because they possess hair and produce milk for their young.
108
The process by which an animal associates a neutral stimulus with a reward or punishment is known as:
Answer:
Classical conditioning
Classical conditioning, exemplified by Pavlov’s dogs, involves associating an arbitrary stimulus (like a bell) with a biological stimulus (like food), eventually eliciting the same response (salivation) from the arbitrary stimulus alone.
109
Which phylum includes animals with soft bodies, a muscular foot, and often a hard calcareous shell?
Answer:
Mollusca
Mollusca is a diverse phylum containing snails, clams, and octopuses. They share a common body plan involving a mantle (which may secrete a shell), a visceral mass containing internal organs, and a muscular foot for movement.
110
The development of a young animal's preference for a specific individual, usually its mother, during a critical period is called:
Answer:
Imprinting
Imprinting is a type of learning that is characterized by a specific 'sensitive period' early in life. Konrad Lorenz famously demonstrated this with graylag geese, which would follow the first moving object they saw after hatching.