NEET Previous Year Questions (2016-21): The Living World Notes | Study Biology Class 11 - NEET

Q.1. Which one of the following belongs to the family Muscidae?  [NEET 2021]

(a) Cockroach

(b) House fly 

(c) Firefly 

(d) Grasshopper

Correct Answer is Option (b)

• Muscidae are commonly known as house flies or stable flies.

• These are found worldwide in distribution and contain almost 4,000 described species in over 100 genera.

• Cockroaches belong to the family Blattidae.
• Firefly belongs to the family Lampyridae.
• Grasshopper belongs to the family Acrididae.

Q.2. Select the correctly written scientific name of Mango, which was first described by Carolus Linnaeus.     [NEET 2019]

(a) Mangifera Indica

(b) Mangifera Indica Car. Linn

(c) Mangifera indica Linn

(d) None

Correct Answer is Option (c)

• According to Binomial Nomenclature, the first word denoting the genus starts with a capital letter while the specific epithet starts with a small letter
  Example: Scientific name of mango is Mangifera indica.
• The author's name appears after the specific epithet, i.e., at the end of the biological name, and is written in an abbreviated form.
  Example: Mangifera indica Linn. which indicates this species was first described by Linnaeus.

NCERT Reference: Page Number 7 of NCERT

Q.3. Which of the following is against the rules of ICBN?     [NEET 2019]

(a) Handwritten scientific names should be underlined.
(b) Every species should have a generic name and a specific epithet.
(c) Scientific names are in Latin and should be italicized when printed.
(d) Generic and specific names should be written starting with small letters.

Correct Answer is Option (d)

According to the international code for botanical nomenclature (ICBN), the first word denoting the genus starts with a capital letter while the specific epithet starts with a small letter.

Option a,b and c are considered under the rules of ICBN.

Q.4. The contrasting characteristics generally in a pair used for identification of animals in Taxonomic key are referred to as:   [ NEET 2019]

(a) Lead

(b) Couplet

(c) Doublet

(d) Alternate

Correct answer is option (b)

Key is a taxonomical aid used for identification of plants and animals based on the similarities and dissimilarities. The keys are based on the contrasting characters generally in a pair called couplet.

Hence, the correct option is B

NCERT Reference: Page no. 13 of topic “1.4.5 Key” of chapter 1 of NCERT

Q.5. Match the items given in Column I with those in column II and select the correct option given below.     [NEET 2018]

(a) a→iii, b→iv, c→i, d→ii 

(b) a→i, b→iv, c→iii, d→ii 

(c) a→ii, b→iv, c→iii, d→i 

(d) a→iii, b→ii, c→i, d→iv

Correct Answer is Option (d)

NCERT Reference: Topic “Taxonomical aids” of Chapter 1 in NCERT

Q.6. The label of a herbarium sheet does not carry information on    [NEET 2016]

(a) Date of collection

(b) Name of collector

(c) Local names

(d) Height of the plant

Correct Answer is Option (d)

• A herbarium is a collection of plants, which have been dried, pressed, mounted on herbarium sheets, identified, and classified according to some approved system of classification. The storage of herbarium sheets forms a repository for future use.
• A printed label (7 × 12 cm) giving the following information is fixed on the lower, right corner of the herbarium sheet:
  (i) Scientific name of the plant
  (ii) Common/vernacular name
  (iii) Family
  (iv) Locality
  (v) Date of collection
  (vi) Collection number
  (vii) Name of collector
  (viii) Plant characteristics (optional)
  (ix) Name of institution (optional)
  NCERT Reference: Topic “Herbarium” of Chapter 1 in NCERT

Q.7. Match column I with column II for housefly classification and select the correct option using the codes given below.     [NEET 2016]

(a) A-(iii), B-(i), C-(iv), D-(ii)

(b) A-(iii), B-(ii), C-(iv), D-(i)

(c) A-(iv), B-(iii), C-(ii), D-(i)

(d) A-(iv), B-(ii), C-(i), D-(iii)

Correct Answer is Option (a)

The housefly (Musca domestica) is an Arthropoda (Phylum) and is classified under Class Insecta. Its taxonomy is as below:

• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Diptera
• Family: Muscidae
• Genus: Musca
• Species: Domestica

Q.8. Study the four statements (A - D) given below and select the two correct ones out of them.

(A) Definition of biological species was given by Ernst Mayr.

(B) Photoperiod does not affect reproduction in plants.

(C) Binomial nomenclature system was given by R.H. Whittaker.

(D) In unicellular organisms, reproduction is synonymous with growth.

The two correct statements are:     [NEET 2016]

(a) B and C

(b) C and D

(c) A and D

(d) A and B

Correct Answer is Option (c) 

Photoperiod affects the reproduction in plants by regulating the flowering timing of the plants. The binomial system of nomenclature was given by Carolus Linnaeus. R. H. Whittaker proposed 5 kingdom classification of living organisms.

Q.9. Nomenclature is governed by certain universal rules. Which one of the following is contrary to the rules of nomenclature?     [NEET 2016]

(a) Biological names can be written in any language.

(b) The first word in a biological name represents the genus name, and the second is a specific epithet.

(c) The names are written in Latin and are italicized when printed.

(d) When written by hand, the names are to be underlined.

Correct Answer is Option (a)

Binomial nomenclature (also known as binary nomenclature) is a formal system for naming living things that consists of two parts (Genus & Species), both of which should be written in Latin grammatical forms.

Example: Homo sapiens

Q.10. It is much easier for a small animal to run uphill than for a large animal, because     [NEET 2016]

(a) It is easier to carry small body weight.

(b) Smaller animals have a higher metabolic rate.

(c) Small animals have a lower O₂ requirement.

(d) The efficiency of muscles in large animals is less than in small animals.

Correct Answer is Option (b)

The metabolic rate of an animal is proportional to its size. The metabolic rate of a larger animal is lower. Because of their high metabolic rate, little animals can climb uphill faster than large animals.

NCERT Reference: The Introduction to the “Living” of chapter 1 of NCERT