Chapter 1: The Living World – NEET Botany
Study The Living World, The Living World NEET Botany Chapter 1 guide covers the essential concepts students need for NCERT-based Biology learning and NEET preparation.
CBSE / IPE Exam Short Answer Questions
NCERT Class 11 Biology | ApnaCBT
Try answering all the questions before revealing the answers.
- What is taxonomy?
- What is systematics?
- Why do we classify living organisms?
- What is biodiversity?
- Why are scientific names standardised?
- What is binomial nomenclature?
- State the rules of binomial nomenclature.
- What is a taxon? Give examples.
- List the main taxonomic categories in order.
- Name the seven obligate taxonomic categories.
- What is the biological species concept?
- How do shared characteristics change across taxonomic categories?
- What is a genus? Give an example.
- Differentiate between monotypic and polytypic taxa.
- What is a family? Give an example.
- What is an order? Give an example.
- What is the difference between phylum and division?
- Name some intermediate taxonomic categories.
- What are vernacular names?
- Differentiate between taxonomy and systematics.
- Who is known as the father of taxonomy?
- What is the scientific name of humans?
- What is the scientific name of the housefly?
- State the order and family of the housefly.
- In the name Mangifera indica, identify the genus and specific epithet.
- What does “Linn.” mean in a scientific name?
- Give the taxonomic classification of humans.
- Give the taxonomic classification of the housefly.
- Why is Solanum considered a polytypic genus?
- Why are species considered dynamic groups?
1. What is taxonomy?
Taxonomy is the branch of biology concerned with the identification, nomenclature and classification of organisms.
Taxonomy is the branch of biology concerned with the identification, nomenclature and classification of organisms.
2. What is systematics?
Systematics deals with the diversity of organisms and their relationships, including their evolutionary relationships.
Systematics deals with the diversity of organisms and their relationships, including their evolutionary relationships.
3. Why do we classify living organisms?
Classification makes the study of living organisms easier. It helps in identification, comparison and understanding relationships among organisms.
Classification makes the study of living organisms easier. It helps in identification, comparison and understanding relationships among organisms.
4. What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms present on Earth.
Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms present on Earth.
5. Why are scientific names standardised?
Scientific names provide a universal and standard way to identify organisms, avoiding confusion caused by different local or common names.
Scientific names provide a universal and standard way to identify organisms, avoiding confusion caused by different local or common names.
6. What is binomial nomenclature?
Binomial nomenclature is the system of naming an organism using two words: its genus name and specific epithet.
Binomial nomenclature is the system of naming an organism using two words: its genus name and specific epithet.
7. State the rules of binomial nomenclature.
The genus name begins with a capital letter, while the specific epithet begins with a lowercase letter. Both words are italicised in print and underlined separately when handwritten. The names are Latin or latinised. The author’s name may follow the scientific name in Roman type.
The genus name begins with a capital letter, while the specific epithet begins with a lowercase letter. Both words are italicised in print and underlined separately when handwritten. The names are Latin or latinised. The author’s name may follow the scientific name in Roman type.
8. What is a taxon? Give examples.
A taxon is a taxonomic group at any level of classification. Examples include Insecta, Muscidae, Musca and Musca domestica.
A taxon is a taxonomic group at any level of classification. Examples include Insecta, Muscidae, Musca and Musca domestica.
9. List the main taxonomic categories in order.
Kingdom → Phylum (or Division in plants) → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species.
Kingdom → Phylum (or Division in plants) → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species.
10. Name the seven obligate taxonomic categories.
Kingdom, Phylum (or Division), Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species.
Kingdom, Phylum (or Division), Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species.
11. What is the biological species concept?
A species is generally understood as a group of organisms that can interbreed under natural conditions and produce fertile offspring, while being reproductively isolated from other such groups.
A species is generally understood as a group of organisms that can interbreed under natural conditions and produce fertile offspring, while being reproductively isolated from other such groups.
12. How do shared characteristics change across taxonomic categories?
The number of shared characteristics generally decreases as we move from species towards kingdom because higher categories contain increasingly diverse organisms.
The number of shared characteristics generally decreases as we move from species towards kingdom because higher categories contain increasingly diverse organisms.
13. What is a genus? Give an example.
A genus is a taxonomic category that groups closely related species. For example, Solanum includes potato, tomato and brinjal.
A genus is a taxonomic category that groups closely related species. For example, Solanum includes potato, tomato and brinjal.
14. Differentiate between monotypic and polytypic taxa.
A monotypic taxon contains only one constituent at the relevant level, whereas a polytypic taxon contains multiple constituent groups or species.
A monotypic taxon contains only one constituent at the relevant level, whereas a polytypic taxon contains multiple constituent groups or species.
15. What is a family? Give an example.
A family groups related genera that share certain characteristics. Solanaceae is an example of a plant family that includes genera such as Solanum, Petunia and Datura.
A family groups related genera that share certain characteristics. Solanaceae is an example of a plant family that includes genera such as Solanum, Petunia and Datura.
16. What is an order? Give an example.
An order is a taxonomic category that groups related families. Carnivora, for example, includes the families Felidae and Canidae.
An order is a taxonomic category that groups related families. Carnivora, for example, includes the families Felidae and Canidae.
17. What is the difference between phylum and division?
Phylum is commonly used for major taxonomic groups in animals, while division is commonly used for comparable groups in plants.
Phylum is commonly used for major taxonomic groups in animals, while division is commonly used for comparable groups in plants.
18. Name some intermediate taxonomic categories.
Examples include subfamily, suborder, subspecies and variety.
Examples include subfamily, suborder, subspecies and variety.
19. What are vernacular names?
Vernacular names are the common or local names used for organisms in a particular language or region.
Vernacular names are the common or local names used for organisms in a particular language or region.
20. Differentiate between taxonomy and systematics.
Taxonomy deals with identification, nomenclature and classification. Systematics studies organismal diversity and relationships, including evolutionary relationships.
Taxonomy deals with identification, nomenclature and classification. Systematics studies organismal diversity and relationships, including evolutionary relationships.
21. Who is known as the father of taxonomy?
Carolus Linnaeus is known as the father of taxonomy.
Carolus Linnaeus is known as the father of taxonomy.
22. What is the scientific name of humans?
Homo sapiens.
Homo sapiens.
23. What is the scientific name of the housefly?
Musca domestica.
Musca domestica.
24. State the order and family of the housefly.
Order: Diptera; Family: Muscidae.
Order: Diptera; Family: Muscidae.
25. In the name Mangifera indica, identify the genus and specific epithet.
Genus: Mangifera; specific epithet: indica.
Genus: Mangifera; specific epithet: indica.
26. What does “Linn.” mean in a scientific name?
“Linn.” is an abbreviated author citation referring to Linnaeus.
“Linn.” is an abbreviated author citation referring to Linnaeus.
27. Give the taxonomic classification of humans.
Kingdom: Animalia → Phylum: Chordata → Class: Mammalia → Order: Primata → Family: Hominidae → Genus: Homo → Species: Homo sapiens.
Kingdom: Animalia → Phylum: Chordata → Class: Mammalia → Order: Primata → Family: Hominidae → Genus: Homo → Species: Homo sapiens.
28. Give the taxonomic classification of the housefly.
Kingdom: Animalia → Phylum: Arthropoda → Class: Insecta → Order: Diptera → Family: Muscidae → Genus: Musca → Species: Musca domestica.
Kingdom: Animalia → Phylum: Arthropoda → Class: Insecta → Order: Diptera → Family: Muscidae → Genus: Musca → Species: Musca domestica.
29. Why is Solanum considered a polytypic genus?
Solanum is polytypic because it includes many different species, such as potato, tomato and brinjal.
Solanum is polytypic because it includes many different species, such as potato, tomato and brinjal.
30. Why are species considered dynamic groups?
Species are dynamic because populations can change over time through variation, natural selection and evolution.
Species are dynamic because populations can change over time through variation, natural selection and evolution.