Improvement in Food Resources – MCQs with Answers and Explanations
CBSE Class 9 — Biology
Chapter 7: Improvement in Food Resources — Topic-wise MCQs (50)
These MCQs are prepared strictly as per NCERT Chapter 7 and are ideal for CBSE Class 9 exam practice.
Topic: Introduction & Importance (5 questions)
1. Which of the following best defines 'improvement in food resources'?
Correct: B
Improvement in food resources refers to measures that boost both amount and quality of food produced while ensuring sustainable agriculture — e.g., better varieties, improved practices, and efficient animal husbandry.
2. Which sector contributes directly to 'food resources' studied in this chapter?
Correct: A
Food resources include crops, dairy, poultry, fisheries and allied activities — all part of agriculture and animal husbandry.
3. Which of these is NOT an objective of improving food resources?
Correct: D
Decreasing food security is opposite of the goals; improvement aims to increase availability, access and nutritional value.
4. Which practice most directly helps in 'sustainable improvement' of food production?
Correct: B
Integrated farming and soil conservation maintain long-term productivity and ecological balance — essential for sustainability.
5. Which of these is a measure of 'quality improvement' in food resources?
Correct: B
Quality improvement refers to nutritional value, safety (lower residues/toxins), and desirable traits — not just quantity or price.
Topic: Crop Improvement & Plant Breeding (10 questions)
6. What is the main aim of plant breeding?
Correct: B
Plant breeding combines and selects parents to develop varieties with improved yield, resistance to pests/diseases, quality and adaptation to environments.
7. Hybrid vigour (heterosis) refers to:
Correct: B
Heterosis is when hybrid offspring show higher vigour, yield or other desirable traits than both parents — exploited in producing hybrid crops.
8. Which technique is commonly used to obtain disease-resistant crop varieties?
Correct: B
Selective breeding and hybridization are used to combine resistance genes and produce varieties that can resist specific pests/diseases.
9. A recombinant variety made by combining traits from two parents is called a:
Correct: B
Hybrids are offspring from controlled crosses between genetically different parents to combine desirable traits.
10. Which of the following helps plant breeders to evaluate many combinations quickly?
Correct: B
Progeny testing and structured field trials allow breeders to evaluate which crosses produce consistently better traits across environments.
11. Which breeding method involves self-pollination over many generations to obtain pure lines?
Correct: B
Selection (including pedigree and pure line selection) through repeated selfing produces stable, true-breeding lines used as parents in crosses.
12. Which of the following is a modern technique used in crop improvement (mentioned in NCERT)?
Correct: B
Tissue culture (micropropagation) allows rapid multiplication of disease-free, genetically identical plants and is a biotechnological tool in crop improvement.
13. Which term describes crossing two genetically different inbred lines to produce a high-yielding hybrid?
Correct: B
Heterosis breeding aims to exploit hybrid vigour by crossing inbred lines to produce hybrids that perform better than parents.
14. Which crop improvement practice helps to introduce a single desirable gene from one variety into another while keeping other traits same?
Correct: A
Backcrossing transfers a trait (like disease resistance) from a donor parent into a high-yielding recurrent parent while maintaining most parental traits.
15. Which statement about genetically modified (GM) crops is correct in brief NCERT terms?
Correct: B
GM crops are developed by inserting specific genes (from same or other species) to give new traits (e.g., pest resistance). NCERT describes biotechnology tools without blanket claims of harm.
Topic: Crop Production Practices (13 questions)
16. Which of the following is an example of an organic manure?
Correct: B
Farmyard manure is organic, provides nutrients and improves soil structure and microbial activity; the others are chemical fertilizers.
17. Chemical fertilisers primarily supply:
Correct: B
Chemical fertilisers supply concentrated nutrients — commonly nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) — to boost plant growth.
18. Green manure refers to:
Correct: B
Green manure crops (like legumes) are grown and then incorporated into soil to add organic matter and nitrogen via decomposition.
19. Which practice helps in conserving soil moisture and controlling weeds?
Correct: A
Mulching with organic material reduces evaporation, stabilises soil temperature and suppresses weeds, aiding soil moisture conservation.
20. Drip irrigation is particularly useful because it:
Correct: B
Drip systems deliver water at low rates near roots, improving efficiency and reducing evaporation and runoff compared to flood irrigation.
21. NPK on a fertilizer bag refers to:
Correct: B
Fertiliser labels indicate percentage composition of primary nutrients: N, P and K — essential for plant growth.
22. Which of the following is a biological method to increase soil fertility?
Correct: B
Legumes host nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules that convert atmospheric nitrogen into forms usable by plants, enriching soil naturally.
23. Which method is most suitable for irrigating orchards and vineyards?
Correct: B
Drip irrigation is ideal for perennial crops like orchards/vineyards because it conserves water and supplies it directly to roots.
24. Which of the following correctly matches practice with benefit?
Correct: B
Crop rotation breaks pest/disease cycles and can restore soil nutrients by alternating crops with different nutrient demands.
25. Which is NOT a function of good agricultural practices like timely weeding, irrigation and nutrient management?
Correct: C
Good practices aim to reduce pests through healthy crops; they do not inherently increase pest outbreaks — they often decrease them.
26. Which of these is a natural method to control soil erosion in sloping fields?
Correct: A
Terraces reduce slope length and runoff velocity, minimizing soil erosion on hillsides and improving water retention.
27. Which nutrient deficiency commonly leads to stunted growth and yellowish leaves?
Correct: B
Nitrogen is vital for chlorophyll and protein synthesis; its deficiency often causes pale yellow leaves and poor growth.
28. Which is an advantage of using organic manure over chemical fertilisers?
Correct: B
Organic manures improve physical properties of soil, water-holding capacity and promote beneficial microbial activity, though nutrient release is slower.
Topic: Crop Protection & Pest Management (8 questions)
29. Which of the following is a biological control agent?
Correct: B
Biological control uses natural enemies (predators, parasites, pathogens) to reduce pest populations without chemicals.
30. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) primarily means:
Correct: B
IPM integrates multiple strategies (biological control, crop rotation, resistant varieties, minimal chemical use) to manage pests sustainably.
31. Which of the following is an example of a cultural method of pest management?
Correct: A
Cultural methods include crop rotation, intercropping, timely sowing, sanitation — all non-chemical approaches to reduce pest incidence.
32. Which of these is a fungal disease example affecting crops?
Correct: A
Rust is a common fungal disease in plants; others include blight and mildew. Managing involves resistant varieties and fungicides if necessary.
33. Which pesticide type targets weeds specifically?
Correct: B
Herbicides control unwanted plants (weeds). Insecticides target insects; fungicides target fungal diseases.
34. Which is a disadvantage of indiscriminate pesticide use?
Correct: A
Excessive pesticide use can cause pests to develop resistance, kill beneficial species (like pollinators), contaminate environment and harm human health.
35. The practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same field is called:
Correct: B
Intercropping reduces pest spread, improves resource use and may increase total yield per area compared to monoculture.
36. Which of the following is true about biological pesticides (biopesticides)?
Correct: B
Biopesticides (e.g., Bacillus thuringiensis toxin) are derived from natural sources, often target-specific and generally safer for environment and non-target species.
Topic: Animal Husbandry (8 questions)
37. Artificial insemination in cattle is used mainly to:
Correct: B
AI allows controlled breeding using semen from superior bulls, improving genetic quality and reducing risk of disease spread compared to natural mating.
38. Which of the following is a nutritive product obtained from animal husbandry?
Correct: B
Milk is a primary nutritive product from dairy animals; meat, eggs, and fish are other animal-derived foods.
39. Which practice improves milk yield in dairy farming?
Correct: A
Balanced feed, good health care (vaccination, deworming), sanitation, and improved breeds all contribute to higher milk yields.
40. What is the purpose of giving vaccines to farm animals?
Correct: B
Vaccination triggers immune response, preventing disease outbreaks and reducing morbidity and mortality among farm animals.
41. Which housing condition is important for poultry health and productivity?
Correct: B
Good housing reduces stress and disease, improving growth and egg production in poultry; ventilation and cleanliness are key.
42. Which feed ingredient is a major protein source in animal feeds?
Correct: B
Oilseed cakes (soybean, groundnut cake) are rich in protein and commonly used in livestock feeds to meet protein requirements.
43. Why is selective breeding used in animal husbandry?
Correct: B
Selective breeding chooses parents with desirable traits so offspring inherit improved production characteristics over generations.
44. What does 'broiler' refer to?
Correct: B
Broilers are chickens specially bred and raised for rapid growth to provide meat within a short period.
Topic: Dairy, Poultry, Fisheries & Apiculture (6 questions)
45. Which product is obtained by processing milk with bacterial fermentation?
Correct: B
Yogurt (curd) is formed when lactic acid bacteria ferment milk sugars, producing a thicker product with characteristic taste.
46. Which fish culture practice involves raising fish in pond enclosures?
Correct: B
Aquaculture is the practice of cultivating fish and other aquatic organisms in controlled environments such as ponds or tanks.
47. Beekeeping (apiculture) benefits agriculture mainly by:
Correct: A
Bees are important pollinators; apiculture supports crop pollination and provides honey and wax as value-added products.
48. Which measure improves egg production in layers?
Correct: B
Proper feeding (with required proteins, vitamins), sanitary housing and controlled lighting cycles support regular egg laying in layers.
49. Which of the following is a sustainable fishery practice?
Correct: B
Sustainable fisheries protect breeding stocks and habitats, enforce size/season limits, and use selective gear to avoid overexploitation.
50. Which practice is part of integrated farming systems?
Correct: A
Integrated farming links multiple enterprises (crop, livestock, fish) for efficient resource use, recycling of wastes, income diversification and sustainability.
How to use this page:
- Use these MCQs for revision, self-assessment and classroom quizzes.
- Teachers: copy individual MCQs into quizzes or worksheets; students: practice and read explanations carefully.
- All explanations are linked to NCERT concepts — revise the textbook for deeper understanding and diagrams.
Prepared for CBSE Class 9 study & revision — Chapter 7: Improvement in Food Resources.