Part 3 – Taxonomy and Systematics (25 MCQs)

Q1. Which of the following is the correct definition of taxonomy?

A. Study of cells and tissues
B. Naming, identification, and classification of organisms
C. Study of ecosystem interactions
D. Study of genes and heredity

Answer: B. Naming, identification, and classification of organisms

A. Incorrect: That’s cytology/histology.
B. Correct: Taxonomy deals with naming, describing, and classifying.
C. Incorrect: Ecology studies interactions.
D. Incorrect: Genetics studies heredity.

Q2. The basic unit of classification in taxonomy is:

A. Genus
B. Species
C. Family
D. Order

Answer: B. Species

A. Genus → Incorrect, broader category.
B. Species → Correct, fundamental unit of taxonomy.
C. Family → Incorrect, higher rank.
D. Order → Incorrect.

Q3. Who defined taxonomy as “the theory and practice of classification of organisms”?

A. Linnaeus
B. Julian Huxley
C. Theophrastus
D. Aristotle

Answer: B. Julian Huxley

A. Linnaeus → Incorrect, Father of taxonomy.
B. Huxley → Correct, modern definition.
C. Theophrastus → Incorrect, Father of botany.
D. Aristotle → Incorrect, Father of zoology.

Q4. Which term refers to the study of diversity of organisms along with their evolutionary relationships?

A. Ecology
B. Morphology
C. Systematics
D. Genetics

Answer: C. Systematics

A. Ecology → Incorrect.
B. Morphology → Incorrect.
C. Systematics → Correct, includes taxonomy + phylogeny.
D. Genetics → Incorrect.

Q5. The word “taxonomy” was first coined by:

A. Linnaeus
B. De Candolle
C. Darwin
D. Whittaker

Answer: B. De Candolle

A. Linnaeus → Incorrect.
B. De Candolle → Correct.
C. Darwin → Incorrect.
D. Whittaker → Incorrect.

Q6. Who is called the Father of Taxonomy?

A. Aristotle
B. Linnaeus
C. Theophrastus
D. Darwin

Answer: B. Linnaeus

A. Aristotle → Incorrect, Father of Zoology.
B. Linnaeus → Correct, formal binomial nomenclature.
C. Theophrastus → Incorrect, Father of Botany.
D. Darwin → Incorrect, Father of Evolution.

Q7. Which is the correct sequence of steps in taxonomic study?

A. Identification → Nomenclature → Classification
B. Classification → Identification → Nomenclature
C. Nomenclature → Identification → Classification
D. Classification → Nomenclature → Identification

Answer: A. Identification → Nomenclature → Classification

A. Correct sequence.
B. Incorrect.
C. Incorrect.
D. Incorrect.

Q8. Which is NOT a component of systematics?

A. Classification
B. Nomenclature
C. Identification
D. Digestion

Answer: D. Digestion

A. Classification → Part of systematics.
B. Nomenclature → Part of systematics.
C. Identification → Part of systematics.
D. Digestion → Correct, physiological process.

Q9. Which international body regulates the rules of botanical nomenclature?

A. ICZN
B. ICBN
C. WHO
D. FAO

Answer: B. ICBN

A. ICZN → For animals.
B. ICBN → Correct, International Code of Botanical Nomenclature.
C. WHO → Incorrect.
D. FAO → Incorrect.

Q10. Which international code deals with naming animals?

A. ICBN
B. ICZN
C. ICMN
D. ICVN

Answer: B. ICZN

A. ICBN → Plants.
B. ICZN → Correct, International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.
C. ICMN → Incorrect.
D. ICVN → Incorrect.

Q11. Which one is NOT a principle of binomial nomenclature?

A. Each name has two words.
B. Genus name is written first.
C. Specific epithet is capitalized.
D. Scientific names are in Latin.

Answer: C. Specific epithet is capitalized

A. Correct rule.
B. Correct rule.
C. Incorrect, species name is lowercase.
D. Correct rule.

Q12. Which taxonomic category is the most specific?

A. Order
B. Genus
C. Species
D. Family

Answer: C. Species

A. Order → Higher level.
B. Genus → Broader than species.
C. Species → Correct, most specific.
D. Family → Higher.

Q13. The term “Systema Naturae” is associated with:

A. Aristotle
B. Linnaeus
C. Darwin
D. Whittaker

Answer: B. Linnaeus

A. Aristotle → Incorrect.
B. Linnaeus → Correct, published in 1735.
C. Darwin → Incorrect.
D. Whittaker → Incorrect.

Q14. Which taxonomic aid helps in quick identification of plants and animals?

A. Herbarium
B. Key
C. Museum
D. Botanical garden

Answer: B. Key

A. Herbarium → Collection of specimens.
B. Key → Correct, based on contrasting characters.
C. Museum → Collection for study.
D. Botanical garden → Live plants.

Q15. Which taxonomic category includes organisms of different genera but similar characters?

A. Species
B. Genus
C. Family
D. Order

Answer: C. Family

A. Species → Too specific.
B. Genus → Contains species only.
C. Family → Correct.
D. Order → Higher category.

Q16. The correct example of binomial nomenclature is:

A. Homo sapiens
B. Homo Sapiens
C. homo sapiens
D. HOMO SAPIENS

Answer: A. Homo sapiens

A. Correct → Genus capitalized, species lowercase.
B. Incorrect → Specific epithet wrongly capitalized.
C. Incorrect → Genus should be capitalized.
D. Incorrect → Not written in all caps.

Q17. Which taxonomic category comes directly above “Genus”?

A. Family
B. Species
C. Order
D. Class

Answer: A. Family

A. Correct.
B. Incorrect, lower than genus.
C. Incorrect.
D. Incorrect.

Q18. In binomial nomenclature, the second word represents:

A. Genus
B. Family
C. Specific epithet
D. Order

Answer: C. Specific epithet

A. Genus → First word.
B. Family → Higher category.
C. Specific epithet → Correct.
D. Order → Irrelevant.

Q19. Which is an example of correct trinomial nomenclature?

A. Corvus splendens splendens
B. Homo sapiens sapiens
C. Mangifera indica indica
D. All of these

Answer: D. All of these

A. Correct.
B. Correct.
C. Correct.
D. Correct → All are valid trinomial names.

Q20. Which is NOT a purpose of classification?

A. To make study easier
B. To establish evolutionary relationships
C. To identify organisms
D. To eliminate species

Answer: D. To eliminate species

A. Correct → Purpose.
B. Correct → Purpose.
C. Correct → Purpose.
D. Correct answer → Not a purpose.

Q21. Which is true about binomial nomenclature?

A. Both words are capitalized.
B. Scientific names are italicized or underlined.
C. First word is species name.
D. It was given by Aristotle.

Answer: B. Scientific names are italicized or underlined.

A. Incorrect → Only genus is capitalized.
B. Correct.
C. Incorrect → First word is genus.
D. Incorrect → Linnaeus introduced it.

Q22. Which is the largest taxonomic category in Linnaean hierarchy?

A. Species
B. Phylum/Division
C. Class
D. Kingdom

Answer: D. Kingdom

A. Incorrect → Smallest.
B. Incorrect → Below kingdom.
C. Incorrect.
D. Correct → Kingdom is largest.

Q23. Which scientist first attempted a scientific basis of classification of animals?

A. Darwin
B. Linnaeus
C. Aristotle
D. Haeckel

Answer: C. Aristotle

A. Darwin → Incorrect.
B. Linnaeus → Later.
C. Aristotle → Correct.
D. Haeckel → Incorrect.

Q24. Which is NOT a taxonomic category?

A. Kingdom
B. Phylum
C. Class
D. Breed

Answer: D. Breed

A. Correct → Category.
B. Correct → Category.
C. Correct → Category.
D. Correct answer → Breed is variation, not a rank.

Q25. Which of the following shows the correct sequence of taxonomic categories from higher to lower?

A. Kingdom → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
B. Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
C. Species → Genus → Family → Order → Class → Phylum → Kingdom
D. Phylum → Species → Genus → Family → Order → Class → Kingdom

Answer: B. Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species

A. Incorrect → Missing phylum.
B. Correct sequence.
C. Incorrect → Reverse order.
D. Incorrect sequence.

✅ Part 3 Completed – 25 MCQs
This section covered taxonomy, nomenclature, systematics, hierarchy, and principles of classification.

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Part 3 – Taxonomy and Systematics (25 MCQs)