CBSE Class 12 Biology MCQs with Answers & Explanations (NCERT): Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production

Course & Examination Details

• Course: CBSE Class 12 Biology
• Unit: Unit III – Biology and Human Welfare
• Chapter: Chapter 9 – Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production
• Prescribed Textbook: NCERT Biology Class XII
• Examination: CBSE Class 12 Board Examination
• Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
• Pattern: Conceptual, application-based, competency-oriented
• Syllabus Alignment: Strictly as per NCERT

Section A: Animal Husbandry

Q1. Animal husbandry primarily aims at:

A. Crop improvement
B. Livestock management
C. Soil fertility
D. Pest control

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Animal husbandry deals with scientific management of livestock to improve productivity of milk, meat, eggs, and other products.

Q2. Which of the following is a product of dairy farming?

A. Honey
B. Milk
C. Wool
D. Silk

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Dairy farming focuses on milk production from cows and buffaloes.

Q3. Poultry farming is mainly practised for:

A. Milk and meat
B. Honey and wax
C. Eggs and meat
D. Wool and fur

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Poultry farming involves rearing birds for eggs and meat.

Q4. Inbreeding involves mating between:

A. Different species
B. Different breeds
C. Closely related individuals
D. Unrelated individuals

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Inbreeding is mating between closely related individuals of the same breed.

Q5. The major disadvantage of continuous inbreeding is:

A. Hybrid vigour
B. Increased yield
C. Inbreeding depression
D. Disease resistance

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Continuous inbreeding leads to accumulation of harmful recessive genes causing inbreeding depression.

Q6. Cross-breeding results in:

A. Reduced productivity
B. Loss of traits
C. Hybrid vigour
D. Inbreeding depression

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Cross-breeding combines desirable traits and produces heterosis or hybrid vigour.

Q7. Apiculture is related to:

A. Fish farming
B. Bee-keeping
C. Poultry farming
D. Sericulture

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Apiculture is the scientific rearing of honeybees.

Q8. An important role of honeybees in agriculture is:

A. Pest control
B. Nitrogen fixation
C. Pollination
D. Weed removal

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Bees enhance pollination, increasing crop yield.

Section B: Plant Breeding

Q9. Plant breeding aims to improve:

A. Only yield
B. Only quality
C. Yield, quality, and resistance
D. Soil fertility

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Plant breeding targets higher yield, better quality, and resistance to stresses.

Q10. Germplasm refers to:

A. Fertilisers
B. Improved crop varieties
C. Genetic resources of plants
D. Plant diseases

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Germplasm is the collection of genetic resources used in breeding programmes.

Q11. Crossing genetically different plants is called:

A. Selection
B. Mutation
C. Hybridisation
D. Inbreeding

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Hybridisation combines desirable traits from different parents.

Q12. Selection in plant breeding means:

A. Removing weak plants
B. Choosing desirable plants
C. Inducing mutations
D. Producing hybrids

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Selection identifies plants with desirable traits for further breeding.

Q13. Which of the following is an abiotic stress?

A. Fungal infection
B. Bacterial disease
C. Drought
D. Insect attack

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Abiotic stresses are non-living factors like drought, heat, and salinity.

Q14. Breeding for disease resistance helps to:

A. Increase pesticide use
B. Reduce yield
C. Reduce crop loss
D. Increase cost of production

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Disease-resistant crops reduce loss and pesticide dependence.

Q15. Mutation breeding involves:

A. Natural selection
B. Inducing genetic mutations
C. Cross-breeding only
D. Tissue culture

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Mutation breeding creates genetic variation by inducing mutations.

Section C: Biofortification

Q16. Biofortification refers to:

A. Use of fertilisers
B. Improving nutritional value of crops
C. Food preservation
D. Pest resistance only

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Biofortification enhances nutrient content of crops.

Q17. Which nutrient is commonly increased through biofortification?

A. Fibre
B. Iron
C. Fats
D. Water

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Iron, zinc, vitamin A, and proteins are commonly targeted.

Q18. Biofortification is important because it:

A. Increases crop price
B. Reduces crop diversity
C. Reduces malnutrition
D. Replaces agriculture

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Biofortified crops help combat micronutrient deficiencies.

Q19. Biofortification differs from supplementation because it:

A. Is more expensive
B. Works at production level
C. Requires medicines
D. Is temporary

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Biofortification improves food quality at the source.

Section D: Single Cell Protein (SCP)

Q20. Single cell protein is obtained from:

A. Higher plants
B. Animals
C. Microorganisms
D. Minerals

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: SCP is produced using microorganisms like algae, yeast, and bacteria.

Q21. Which organism is used as SCP?

A. Wheat
B. Rice
C. Spirulina
D. Potato

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Spirulina is a commonly used SCP source.

Q22. One major advantage of SCP is:

A. Low protein content
B. Slow growth
C. Requires less land
D. High cost

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: SCP grows rapidly and requires minimal land and resources.

Q23. SCP helps reduce:

A. Food wastage
B. Protein deficiency
C. Crop yield
D. Biodiversity

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: SCP provides an alternative protein source.

Q24. SCP production is eco-friendly because it:

A. Uses chemical fertilisers
B. Requires forests
C. Utilises waste materials
D. Increases pollution

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: SCP production can use industrial and agricultural waste.

Section E: Tissue Culture

Q25. Tissue culture is based on the principle of:

A. Mutation
B. Hybridisation
C. Totipotency
D. Heterosis

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Totipotency is the ability of a plant cell to regenerate into a whole plant.

Q26. A small piece of plant tissue used for culture is called:

A. Callus
B. Explant
C. Somaclone
D. Hybrid

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Explant is the starting plant tissue in tissue culture.

Q27. Callus is:

A. A root system
B. A shoot system
C. An unorganised mass of cells
D. A seedling

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Callus forms during tissue culture before differentiation.

Q28. Rapid multiplication of plants using tissue culture is called:

A. Hybridisation
B. Biofortification
C. Micropropagation
D. Mutation breeding

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Micropropagation produces large numbers of identical plants.

Q29. Plants produced by tissue culture are known as:

A. Hybrids
B. Mutants
C. Somaclones
D. Germplasm

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Somaclones are genetically identical tissue culture plants.

Q30. Hardening in tissue culture refers to:

A. Callus formation
B. Sterilisation
C. Acclimatisation of plantlets
D. Inoculation

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Hardening helps plantlets adapt to external conditions.

Section F: Integrated & Application-Based MCQs

Q31. Which practice increases milk yield in cattle?

A. Poor housing
B. Balanced feeding
C. Inbreeding depression
D. Lack of vaccination

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Balanced nutrition improves health and productivity.

Q32. Hybrid vigour is best observed in:

A. Inbreeding
B. Cross-breeding
C. Mutation breeding
D. Tissue culture

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Cross-breeding produces heterosis.

Q33. Which activity indirectly increases crop yield?

A. Poultry farming
B. Apiculture
C. Sericulture
D. Dairy farming

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Bees enhance pollination, increasing yield.

Q34. Which of the following is NOT an objective of plant breeding?

A. Higher yield
B. Disease resistance
C. Increased pollution
D. Improved quality

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Plant breeding aims at sustainability, not pollution.

Q35. Biofortified crops mainly help in combating:

A. Crop diseases
B. Malnutrition
C. Weeds
D. Soil erosion

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Biofortification improves nutrient intake.

Q36. SCP production is advantageous because microorganisms:

A. Grow slowly
B. Need large land area
C. Multiply rapidly
D. Are expensive

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Rapid growth makes SCP efficient.

Q37. Which technique produces disease-free plants?

A. Inbreeding
B. Hybridisation
C. Tissue culture
D. Mutation breeding

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Tissue culture produces pathogen-free plants.

Q38. Which of the following is an example of abiotic stress resistance?

A. Rust-resistant wheat
B. Drought-tolerant rice
C. Insect-resistant cotton
D. Virus-free banana

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Drought is an abiotic factor.

Q39. Animal breeding primarily improves:

A. Soil quality
B. Crop yield
C. Genetic traits of animals
D. Climate conditions

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Breeding improves genetic quality of livestock.

Q40. Which of the following contributes to sustainable agriculture?

A. Excess pesticide use
B. Biofortification
C. Monoculture
D. Overgrazing

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Biofortification enhances nutrition sustainably.

Section G: Board-Oriented MCQs

Q41. Which organism is NOT used in SCP production?

A. Yeast
B. Algae
C. Bacteria
D. Wheat

Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Wheat is a plant, not a microorganism.

Q42. Totipotency is a feature of:

A. Animal cells
B. Plant cells
C. Bacterial cells
D. Fungal cells

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Plant cells can regenerate into a whole plant.

Q43. The main objective of biofortification is to improve:

A. Taste only
B. Yield only
C. Nutritional quality
D. Shelf life

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Biofortification targets nutrient enrichment.

Q44. Which practice provides additional income and improves crop yield?

A. Dairy farming
B. Apiculture
C. Poultry farming
D. Sericulture

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Apiculture provides honey and enhances pollination.

Q45. Which of the following reduces dependence on chemical fertilisers?

A. Hybridisation
B. Plant breeding
C. Biofortification
D. SCP

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Biofortification improves nutrition without chemical inputs.

Q46. Which technique helps conserve rare plant species?

A. Inbreeding
B. Cross-breeding
C. Tissue culture
D. Mutation breeding

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Tissue culture aids conservation.

Q47. SCP is important mainly because it:

A. Increases food wastage
B. Requires fertile land
C. Is rich in protein
D. Grows slowly

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: SCP provides high-quality protein.

Q48. Which farming practice improves egg-laying capacity?

A. Apiculture
B. Dairy farming
C. Poultry farming
D. Fishery

Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Poultry farming focuses on egg production.

Q49. Which strategy improves both yield and nutrition?

A. Inbreeding
B. Biofortification
C. Overgrazing
D. Monoculture

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Biofortification enhances yield and nutrient content.

Q50. Chapter 9 mainly focuses on:

A. Human diseases
B. Food production improvement strategies
C. Genetics
D. Ecology

Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The chapter deals with biological strategies to enhance food production.

✔ Strictly NCERT-Based | ✔ CBSE Board Pattern | ✔ Concept-Clearing MCQs

🎯 Targeting Exams Section

This MCQ set is designed to support preparation for:

• CBSE Class 12 Biology Board Examination

• CBSE Pre-Board & Unit Tests

• CBSE Compartment / Improvement Exams

• NEET (UG) – Concept Reinforcement Level

• State Board Class 12 Exams aligned with NCERT syllabus

Questions follow the latest CBSE competency-based MCQ pattern, focusing on application, real-life agricultural practices, and conceptual clarity.

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• Biofortification MCQs Class 12 Biology