Part 7 – Endangered Organisms, Extinction & Red Data Book (25 MCQs)

Q1. Which organization publishes the Red Data Book?

a) UNEP
b) IUCN
c) WWF
d) UNESCO

Answer: b) IUCN

Explanation:

(a) Incorrect → UNEP deals with environmental policies.
(b) Correct → IUCN maintains the Red Data Book.
(c) Incorrect → WWF is an NGO.
(d) Incorrect → UNESCO runs MAB programme, not RDB.

Q2. The IUCN Red List classifies species based on:

a) Genetic variation
b) Risk of extinction
c) Population size only
d) Number of zoos housing them

Answer: b) Risk of extinction

Explanation:

(a) Incorrect → Not based on genetics alone.
(b) Correct → Main criterion is extinction risk.
(c) Incorrect → Population size is one factor but not the only one.
(d) Incorrect → Zoos are unrelated to IUCN classification.

Q3. Which of the following is NOT a category in IUCN Red List?

a) Critically endangered
b) Vulnerable
c) Extinct in the wild
d) Domesticated

Answer: d) Domesticated

Explanation:

(a) Correct → Valid IUCN category.
(b) Correct → Valid IUCN category.
(c) Correct → Valid IUCN category.
(d) Correct answer → “Domesticated” is not an IUCN category.

Q4. Which of the following species is listed as critically endangered in India?

a) Lion-tailed macaque
b) Peacock
c) House sparrow
d) Indian cobra

Answer: a) Lion-tailed macaque

Explanation:

(a) Correct → Lion-tailed macaque is critically endangered.
(b) Incorrect → Peacock is not endangered.
(c) Incorrect → Sparrow is declining but not endangered.
(d) Incorrect → Cobra not in critically endangered list.

Q5. Which of the following is extinct?

a) Passenger pigeon
b) Indian rhinoceros
c) Asiatic lion
d) Indian wild ass

Answer: a) Passenger pigeon

Explanation:

(a) Correct → Hunted to extinction.
(b) Incorrect → Rhino still survives.
(c) Incorrect → Asiatic lion still in Gir.
(d) Incorrect → Wild ass exists in Rann of Kutch.

Q6. Which of the following is an example of extinction in the wild but existing in captivity?

a) Dodo
b) Cheetah in India
c) Père David’s deer
d) Passenger pigeon

Answer: c) Père David’s deer

Explanation:

(a) Incorrect → Dodo is completely extinct.
(b) Incorrect → Cheetah in India is regionally extinct, but species survives elsewhere.
(c) Correct → Extinct in wild, preserved in zoos.
(d) Incorrect → Passenger pigeon = completely extinct.

Q7. Which type of extinction is most common in modern times?

a) Background extinction
b) Mass extinction
c) Anthropogenic extinction
d) Natural extinction

Answer: c) Anthropogenic extinction

Explanation:

(a) Incorrect → Background = normal rate.
(b) Incorrect → Mass extinctions are rare.
(c) Correct → Human activities cause modern extinctions.
(d) Incorrect → Natural extinction occurs slowly.

Q8. The extinction of dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous was an example of:

a) Background extinction
b) Anthropogenic extinction
c) Mass extinction
d) Co-extinction

Answer: c) Mass extinction

Explanation:

(a) Incorrect → Not normal background rate.
(b) Incorrect → Humans not responsible.
(c) Correct → Dinosaurs perished in a mass extinction event.
(d) Incorrect → Not due to dependency on another species.

Q9. Regional extinction refers to:

a) Loss of species globally
b) Loss of species from a local area
c) Loss of ecosystem
d) Extinction of entire genus

Answer: b) Loss of species from a local area

Explanation:

(a) Incorrect → Global = true extinction.
(b) Correct → Regional extinction = locally lost, survives elsewhere.
(c) Incorrect → That’s ecosystem loss.
(d) Incorrect → Not genus extinction.

Q10. Which of the following species is regionally extinct in India?

a) Dodo
b) Cheetah
c) Passenger pigeon
d) Tasmanian wolf

Answer: b) Cheetah

Explanation:

(a) Incorrect → Dodo extinct globally.
(b) Correct → Cheetah extinct in India since 1952, survives in Africa.
(c) Incorrect → Passenger pigeon extinct globally.
(d) Incorrect → Tasmanian wolf extinct globally.

Q11. Which Indian mammal is listed as vulnerable?

a) Asiatic lion
b) Indian elephant
c) Blue whale
d) Sloth bear

Answer: b) Indian elephant

Explanation:

(a) Incorrect → Asiatic lion = endangered.
(b) Correct → Indian elephant = vulnerable.
(c) Incorrect → Blue whale = endangered.
(d) Incorrect → Sloth bear = not critically endangered.

Q12. Which species is categorized as endangered?

a) Asiatic lion
b) Peacock
c) House sparrow
d) Crow

Answer: a) Asiatic lion

Explanation:

(a) Correct → Asiatic lion = endangered, Gir forest.
(b) Incorrect → Peacock not endangered.
(c) Incorrect → Sparrow declining but not endangered.
(d) Incorrect → Crow is common.

Q13. The species “Dodo” became extinct due to:

a) Overhunting by humans
b) Climate change
c) Co-extinction
d) Alien invasion

Answer: a) Overhunting by humans

Explanation:

(a) Correct → Dodo hunted to extinction in Mauritius.
(b) Incorrect → Not climate-driven.
(c) Incorrect → Not dependent extinction.
(d) Incorrect → No invasive alien involvement.

Q14. Which term refers to species with very small populations that may go extinct soon?

a) Endangered
b) Vulnerable
c) Rare
d) Critically endangered

Answer: d) Critically endangered

Explanation:

(a) Incorrect → Endangered less severe.
(b) Incorrect → Vulnerable = less threatened.
(c) Incorrect → Rare ≠ imminent extinction.
(d) Correct → Critically endangered = immediate risk.

Q15. Which Indian species is critically endangered?

a) Gangetic dolphin
b) Great Indian Bustard
c) Asiatic lion
d) Indian elephant

Answer: b) Great Indian Bustard

Explanation:

(a) Incorrect → Gangetic dolphin = endangered.
(b) Correct → Great Indian Bustard = critically endangered.
(c) Incorrect → Asiatic lion = endangered.
(d) Incorrect → Elephant = vulnerable.

Q16. Which species is extinct in the wild but exists in captivity?

a) Père David’s deer
b) Steller’s sea cow
c) Dodo
d) Indian cheetah

Answer: a) Père David’s deer

Explanation:

(a) Correct → Preserved only in captivity.
(b) Incorrect → Sea cow completely extinct.
(c) Incorrect → Dodo extinct globally.
(d) Incorrect → Cheetah survives in Africa, not only captivity.

Q17. Which of the following describes background extinction?

a) Sudden loss of many species
b) Slow, natural extinction over time
c) Extinction due to invasive species
d) Extinction caused by humans

Answer: b) Slow, natural extinction over time

Explanation:

(a) Incorrect → That is mass extinction.
(b) Correct → Background = natural, slow loss.
(c) Incorrect → That is alien species effect.
(d) Incorrect → Anthropogenic extinction.

Q18. Which Indian bird species is critically endangered due to habitat destruction and hunting?

a) Peacock
b) Vulture
c) Great Indian Bustard
d) Crow

Answer: c) Great Indian Bustard

Explanation:

(a) Incorrect → Peacock common.
(b) Incorrect → Vultures endangered, not critically.
(c) Correct → Bustard critically endangered.
(d) Incorrect → Crow abundant.

Q19. Which term applies to species found nowhere else in the world?

a) Endangered
b) Endemic
c) Rare
d) Exotic

Answer: b) Endemic

Explanation:

(a) Incorrect → Endangered ≠ restricted.
(b) Correct → Endemic species are restricted to a region.
(c) Incorrect → Rare doesn’t mean endemic.
(d) Incorrect → Exotic = non-native.

Q20. Which Indian mammal is listed as endangered due to poaching for skin and habitat loss?

a) Indian tiger
b) Blue bull
c) Nilgiri tahr
d) Black buck

Answer: a) Indian tiger

Explanation:

(a) Correct → Endangered, saved by Project Tiger.
(b) Incorrect → Blue bull (nilgai) is not endangered.
(c) Incorrect → Nilgiri tahr = endangered but less famous.
(d) Incorrect → Black buck = near threatened, not endangered.

Q21. Which Indian freshwater mammal is endangered due to river pollution?

a) Dugong
b) Gangetic dolphin
c) Crocodile
d) Tortoise

Answer: b) Gangetic dolphin

Explanation:

(a) Incorrect → Dugong = marine sea cow.
(b) Correct → Gangetic dolphin = endangered freshwater mammal.
(c) Incorrect → Crocodile = reptiles, not mammals.
(d) Incorrect → Tortoise ≠ mammal.

Q22. Which of the following is listed as a vulnerable species in India?

a) Peacock
b) Indian elephant
c) Asiatic lion
d) Tiger

Answer: b) Indian elephant

Explanation:

(a) Incorrect → Peacock not threatened.
(b) Correct → Vulnerable category.
(c) Incorrect → Endangered.
(d) Incorrect → Endangered.

Q23. Which extinct bird was once endemic to Mauritius?

a) Passenger pigeon
b) Dodo
c) Kiwi
d) Bustard

Answer: b) Dodo

Explanation:

(a) Incorrect → North American bird.
(b) Correct → Dodo extinct in Mauritius.
(c) Incorrect → Kiwi still exists in New Zealand.
(d) Incorrect → Bustard endangered, not extinct.

Q24. Which of the following is an endangered reptile of India?

a) Gharial
b) House lizard
c) Garden gecko
d) Wall lizard

Answer: a) Gharial

Explanation:

(a) Correct → Gharial = endangered crocodilian.
(b) Incorrect → House lizard = common.
(c) Incorrect → Garden gecko = common.
(d) Incorrect → Wall lizard = common.

Q25. Which of the following is a critically endangered bird of India?

a) Peacock
b) Great Indian Bustard
c) Sparrow
d) Crow

Answer: b) Great Indian Bustard

Explanation:

(a) Incorrect → Peacock common.
(b) Correct → Bustard critically endangered.
(c) Incorrect → Sparrow declining, not CE.
(d) Incorrect → Crow abundant.

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Part 7 – Endangered Organisms, Extinction & Red Data Book (25 MCQs)