Practice 25 NSO Class 6 Olympiad-level MCQs on Chapter 2, ‘Diversity in the Living World,’ covering biodiversity, plant and animal grouping, monocots and dicots, adaptations and habitats, complete with answers and detailed explanations..
NSO Class 6 Olympiad MCQs: Diversity in the Living World
Q1. The variety of plants and animals found in a particular region is best described in the chapter as:
(a) Adaptation
(b) Biodiversity
(c) Habitat
(d) Venation
Answer: (b) Biodiversity
Explanation: The chapter states, ‘The variety of plants and animals found in a particular region contributes to the biodiversity of that region.’
Q2. Which of these is NOT one of the criteria for grouping plants and animals mentioned in the chapter (Fig. 2.2)?
(a) Presence/absence of flowers
(b) Hard/soft stem
(c) Eating habits
(d) Number of chromosomes
Answer: (d) Number of chromosomes
Explanation: The chapter’s suggested criteria are presence/absence of flowers, hard/soft stem, eating habits, and the place they live — not chromosome number, which is not mentioned at this level.
Q3. A plant is tall with a hard, thick, brown, woody stem, and its branches start higher up, away from the ground. Based on the chapter, this plant should be classified as a:
(a) Herb
(b) Shrub
(c) Tree
(d) Climber
Answer: (c) Tree
Explanation: Trees are described as tall plants with hard, thick, brown, woody stems whose branches typically start higher up on the stem, away from the ground, e.g., a mango tree.
Q4. Which set correctly matches a plant with its group, as given in the chapter’s examples?
(a) Mango – Herb, Rose – Tree, Tomato – Shrub
(b) Mango – Tree, Rose – Shrub, Tomato – Herb
(c) Mango – Shrub, Rose – Herb, Tomato – Tree
(d) Mango – Tree, Rose – Herb, Tomato – Shrub
Answer: (b) Mango – Tree, Rose – Shrub, Tomato – Herb
Explanation: The chapter’s Table 2.3 classifies mango as a tree, rose as a shrub (branches close to the ground, hard but thinner stem), and tomato as a herb (short, soft, green stem).
Q5. A plant has a weak stem and needs external support to grow upward, winding around a pole or fence. According to the chapter, such a plant is called a:
(a) Shrub
(b) Herb
(c) Climber
(d) Creeper
Answer: (c) Climber
Explanation: The chapter states, ‘Some plants with weak stems need support to climb and grow, and are called climbers,’ distinguishing them from creepers, which spread along the ground.
Q6. In a hibiscus leaf, the veins form a net-like pattern on either side of a thick middle vein. This type of venation is called:
(a) Parallel venation
(b) Reticulate venation
(c) Radial venation
(d) Fibrous venation
Answer: (b) Reticulate venation
Explanation: The chapter describes this net-like pattern, seen in hibiscus leaves, as reticulate venation.
Q7. Banana and grass leaves show veins running side by side without forming a network. This pattern is called:
(a) Reticulate venation
(b) Radial venation
(c) Parallel venation
(d) Branching venation
Answer: (c) Parallel venation
Explanation: The chapter states that banana and grass leaves exhibit parallel venation, where veins run parallel to each other.
Q8. The main root of a plant, with smaller side roots arising from it (as seen in mustard and hibiscus), is called a:
(a) Fibrous root
(b) Taproot
(c) Aerial root
(d) Prop root
Answer: (b) Taproot
Explanation: The chapter explains that mustard and hibiscus have one main root with smaller side roots, and this main root is called a taproot.
Q9. Common grass has a bunch of similar-sized thin roots arising from the base of the stem. This type of root system is called:
(a) Taproot
(b) Fibrous root
(c) Storage root
(d) Adventitious taproot
Answer: (b) Fibrous root
Explanation: The chapter describes grass roots as a bunch of similar-sized thin roots from the base of the stem, calling this a fibrous root system.
Q10. Based on Activity 2.7 of the chapter, which of the following statements about leaf venation and root type is generally TRUE?
(a) Plants with reticulate venation generally have fibrous roots, and those with parallel venation have taproots
(b) Plants with reticulate venation generally have taproots, and those with parallel venation have fibrous roots
(c) All plants have the same type of root regardless of their venation
(d) Root type has no relation with venation in any plant
Answer: (b) Plants with reticulate venation generally have taproots, and those with parallel venation have fibrous roots
Explanation: The chapter concludes, ‘Generally, plants with reticulate venation have taproots while those with parallel venation have fibrous roots,’ as seen in sadabahar (taproot, reticulate) and lemongrass (fibrous, parallel).
Q11. When a chickpea seed is split open, it separates into two equal parts, each called a cotyledon. Plants with such two-part seeds are called:
(a) Monocotyledons
(b) Dicotyledons
(c) Bicotyledons
(d) Tricotyledons
Answer: (b) Dicotyledons
Explanation: The chapter states that chickpea seeds split into two parts, each called a cotyledon, and plants with two cotyledons in their seeds are called dicotyledons (dicots).
Q12. Maize seeds have only a single thin cotyledon. Based on the chapter, maize would therefore be classified as a:
(a) Dicot with reticulate venation
(b) Monocot with parallel venation
(c) Dicot with parallel venation
(d) Monocot with reticulate venation
Answer: (b) Monocot with parallel venation
Explanation: Maize has a single cotyledon (monocot), and the chapter states monocot plants generally have parallel venation and fibrous roots.
Q13. A plant is later found to have reticulate venation and a taproot system. Based on the pattern described in the chapter, its seed is most likely to be:
(a) A monocot seed with a single cotyledon
(b) A dicot seed with two cotyledons
(c) A seed with three cotyledons
(d) A seed with no cotyledons at all
Answer: (b) A dicot seed with two cotyledons
Explanation: The chapter states that dicot plants have reticulate venation and a taproot system, linking two cotyledons, reticulate venation and taproots together — as seen in chickpea.
Q14. Wheat is described in the chapter as an example of a plant with:
(a) Fibrous roots and reticulate venation
(b) Taproots and parallel venation
(c) Fibrous roots and parallel venation
(d) Taproots and reticulate venation
Answer: (c) Fibrous roots and parallel venation
Explanation: The chapter explicitly states, ‘Wheat is an example of a plant with fibrous roots and parallel venation in its leaves,’ matching the monocot pattern.
Q15. A crow flies and walks using its wings and legs, while an ant only walks using its legs. This comparison illustrates that:
(a) All animals move using exactly the same body parts
(b) Different animals use different body parts, and sometimes more than one, for movement
(c) Only birds are capable of any movement at all
(d) Movement in animals cannot be grouped or compared
Answer: (b) Different animals use different body parts, and sometimes more than one, for movement
Explanation: Table 2.5 in the chapter shows that different animals (crow, ant, goat, pigeon, housefly, fish) use different body parts — legs, wings, fins — sometimes more than one, for movement.
Q16. According to the chapter, a fish has a streamlined body and uses fins mainly to:
(a) Breathe on land
(b) Move/swim in water
(c) Climb trees
(d) Dig burrows in soil
Answer: (b) Move/swim in water
Explanation: The chapter states fish ‘have streamlined bodies and fins for movement in water,’ as shown in Fig. 2.8a.
Q17. The special features that enable a plant or animal to survive in a particular region (such as the conical shape of a deodar tree or the fleshy stem of a desert cactus) are called:
(a) Habitats
(b) Adaptations
(c) Venations
(d) Cotyledons
Answer: (b) Adaptations
Explanation: The chapter defines adaptations as ‘the special features that enable plants and animals to survive in a particular region.’
Q18. The place where a plant or animal lives, which provides it food, water, air, and shelter, is called its:
(a) Adaptation
(b) Ecosystem service
(c) Habitat
(d) Biodiversity index
Answer: (c) Habitat
Explanation: The chapter defines habitat as ‘the place where plants and animals live,’ which provides them food, water, air, shelter and other needs.
Q19. Camels from the hot desert of Rajasthan have long legs, wide hooves and one hump, while camels from the cold desert of Ladakh have shorter legs and two humps. What does this comparison best illustrate?
(a) Camels from different regions are not actually related at all
(b) Adaptations can differ even within the same kind of animal depending on the habitat’s conditions
(c) Only the number of humps changes in different environments, nothing else
(d) Desert animals never adapt to their surroundings
Answer: (b) Adaptations can differ even within the same kind of animal depending on the habitat’s conditions
Explanation: The chapter uses hot-desert and cold-desert camels to show how differing conditions (sand vs. snow, food scarcity, temperature) lead to different adaptations such as leg length, hoof width, hump number and hair growth.
Q20. Rhododendrons in the Shola forests of Nilgiris are shorter with smaller leaves, while rhododendrons in the mountains of Sikkim are taller. This shows that:
(a) Rhododendrons are not affected by their surrounding conditions
(b) Even the same type of plant can show different features in different regions to survive local conditions
(c) Only animals show adaptations, never plants
(d) Height in plants never changes based on the environment
Answer: (b) Even the same type of plant can show different features in different regions to survive local conditions
Explanation: The chapter uses this example to show that ‘plants such as rhododendrons may exhibit different features in different regions to survive the conditions of those regions.’
Q21. Based on the chapter, which of the following pairs is an example of a terrestrial habitat?
(a) A pond and a lake
(b) A river and an ocean
(c) A forest and a desert
(d) A pond and an ocean
Answer: (c) A forest and a desert
Explanation: The chapter lists forests, deserts, grasslands and mountains as examples of terrestrial habitats, while ponds, lakes, rivers and oceans are aquatic habitats.
Q22. Frogs are able to live both in water and on land. According to the chapter, animals with this ability are called:
(a) Terrestrial animals
(b) Aquatic animals
(c) Amphibians
(d) Marine animals
Answer: (c) Amphibians
Explanation: The chapter states, ‘Some animals, such as frogs, can live in water as well as on land. These are called amphibians.’
Q23. The Bengal Tiger, Cheetah and Great Indian Bustard have all declined in population in India mainly because of:
(a) Excess biodiversity in their habitats
(b) Loss of their natural habitats due to human activities
(c) Too many protected areas being created for them
(d) Their inability to move using legs or wings
Answer: (b) Loss of their natural habitats due to human activities
Explanation: The chapter states their populations ‘declined in India due to loss of natural habitats caused by human activities,’ which led to projects like Project Tiger and the Cheetah Reintroduction Project.
Q24. Sacred groves, as described in the chapter, are significant for biodiversity mainly because they are:
(a) Government-run zoos for endangered animals
(b) Undisturbed forest patches protected traditionally by local communities, preserving plants and animals
(c) Man-made gardens with only ornamental flowering plants
(d) Areas specifically created for cutting timber sustainably
Answer: (b) Undisturbed forest patches protected traditionally by local communities, preserving plants and animals
Explanation: The chapter describes sacred groves as ‘undisturbed patches of forests’ protected by local communities, home to diverse plants and animals, calling them ‘a community protected treasure of biodiversity.’
Q25. Janaki Ammal, mentioned in the chapter’s ‘Know a scientist’ feature, is best known for:
(a) Documenting bird diversity across India and writing books on Indian birds
(b) Being a botanist who helped document India’s plant biodiversity and played a key role in the Save Silent Valley movement
(c) Initiating the Cheetah Reintroduction Project in 2022
(d) Inventing the scientific method described in Chapter 1
Answer: (b) Being a botanist who helped document India’s plant biodiversity and played a key role in the Save Silent Valley movement
Explanation: The chapter describes Janaki Ammal as an Indian botanist who documented plant biodiversity and played a key role in the ‘Save Silent Valley’ movement, unlike Salim Ali, who is known for bird documentation.
Q26. A duck has webbed feet, while a pigeon does not. Based on the chapter’s discussion of body parts and movement, webbed feet most likely help a duck to:
(a) Climb trees more easily than a pigeon
(b) Paddle and move more effectively in water
(c) Fly at much greater heights than other birds
(d) Dig burrows in the soil for shelter
Answer: (b) Paddle and move more effectively in water
Explanation: Since the chapter links body parts to the habitat and movement of animals (e.g., fins for swimming, legs for walking), webbed feet — broader and connected by skin — are suited to paddling and moving through water, unlike a pigeon’s feet, which suit walking and perching.