🌍 Diversity in Living Organisms – Class 9 Science MCQs

Section 1: Introduction & Basis of Classification (Q1–Q25)

Q1. The branch of biology dealing with classification is called:

A. Morphology
B. Taxonomy
C. Ecology
D. Physiology

✅ Correct Answer: B. Taxonomy

Explanation:

• A. Morphology → Study of external features.
• B. Correct, taxonomy = classification of organisms.
• C. Ecology → Relation between organisms & environment.
• D. Physiology → Study of functions.

Q2. The system of giving each organism a two-part name is called:

A. Binomial nomenclature
B. Trinomial nomenclature
C. Classification
D. Nominal system

✅ Correct Answer: A. Binomial nomenclature

Explanation:

• A. Correct, two-part name (Genus + Species).
• B. Trinomial not used in NCERT syllabus.
• C. Classification is broader.
• D. Not a scientific term.

Q3. Binomial nomenclature was given by:

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

✅ Correct Answer: B. Carolus Linnaeus

Explanation:

• A. Darwin → Evolution theory.
• B. Correct, Linnaeus introduced binomial system.
• C. Whittaker → Five-kingdom classification.
• D. Aristotle → First classification.

Q4. In binomial nomenclature, the first word represents:

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

✅ Correct Answer: B. Genus

Explanation:

• A. Species is second word.
• B. Correct, first = genus.
• C, D. Higher taxonomic levels.

Q5. Which is the correct way of writing scientific names?

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

✅ Correct Answer: C. Homo sapiens

Explanation:

• A. Wrong, species name should be small.
• B. Wrong, genus must start with capital.
• C. Correct, Genus capital + species small.
• D. All caps incorrect.

Q6. Who is known as the “Father of Zoology”?

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

✅ Correct Answer: B. Aristotle

Explanation:

• A. Darwin → Evolution.
• B. Correct, Aristotle classified animals (with/without red blood).
• C. Linnaeus → Taxonomy.
• D. Haeckel → Proposed Protista.

Q7. The five-kingdom classification was proposed by:

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

✅ Correct Answer: C. Whittaker

Explanation:

• A. Evolution.
• B. Binomial nomenclature.
• C. Correct, Whittaker (1969).
• D. Protista, not full 5 kingdoms.

Q8. Which of the following is not a criterion for classification?

A. Complexity of cell structure
B. Mode of nutrition
C. Habitat only
D. Body organization

✅ Correct Answer: C. Habitat only

Explanation:

• A, B, D → Correct criteria.
• C. Habitat alone is not scientific for classification.

Q9. Prokaryotes belong to kingdom:

A. Protista
B. Monera
C. Fungi
D. Plantae

✅ Correct Answer: B. Monera

Explanation:

• A. Protista → Eukaryotic unicellular.
• B. Correct, bacteria = prokaryotes = Monera.
• C. Fungi → Eukaryotic decomposers.
• D. Plantae → Multicellular autotrophs.

Q10. Eukaryotic unicellular organisms belong to:

A. Monera
B. Protista
C. Fungi
D. Plantae

✅ Correct Answer: B. Protista

Explanation:

• A. Monera → Prokaryotic.
• B. Correct, protists = unicellular eukaryotes.
• C. Fungi → Multicellular (mostly).
• D. Plantae → Multicellular autotrophs.

Q11. Fungi are different from plants because they:

A. Lack cell wall
B. Are autotrophic
C. Cannot make their own food
D. Are multicellular always

✅ Correct Answer: C. Cannot make their own food

Explanation:

• A. Wrong, fungi have chitin cell wall.
• B. Wrong, they are heterotrophic.
• C. Correct, fungi depend on others (saprophytic/parasitic).
• D. Some fungi are unicellular (yeast).

Q12. In Whittaker’s classification, bacteria belong to:

A. Protista
B. Fungi
C. Monera
D. Plantae

✅ Correct Answer: C. Monera

Explanation:

• A. Protista = unicellular eukaryotes.
• B. Fungi = decomposers.
• C. Correct, Monera = prokaryotes (bacteria).
• D. Plantae = autotrophs.

Q13. Which group has organisms with cell walls but no chlorophyll?

A. Protista
B. Monera
C. Plantae
D. Fungi

✅ Correct Answer: D. Fungi

Explanation:

• A. Protista → Some with chlorophyll.
• B. Monera → Some autotrophic.
• C. Plantae → Chlorophyll present.
• D. Correct, fungi → cell wall + no chlorophyll.

Q14. The term “taxonomy” was coined by:

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

✅ Correct Answer: A. De Candolle

Explanation:

• A. Correct, coined term taxonomy.
• B. Linnaeus → Classification.
• C. Aristotle → Early classification.
• D. Evolution.

Q15. Which is the lowest category of classification?

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

✅ Correct Answer: C. Species

Explanation:

• A. Higher level.
• B. Above species.
• C. Correct, species = basic unit.
• D. Higher.

Q16. Which is the highest taxonomic category?

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

✅ Correct Answer: C. Kingdom

Explanation:

• A, B, D → Lower than kingdom.
• C. Correct, kingdom is highest level in Whittaker’s system.

Q17. Which characteristic is common to all organisms?

A. Similar body design
B. Nutrition
C. Cellular structure
D. Habitat

✅ Correct Answer: C. Cellular structure

Explanation:

• A. Different body designs exist.
• B. Nutrition varies (auto/heterotrophic).
• C. Correct, all living organisms are made of cells.
• D. Different habitats exist.

Q18. The scientific name of man is:

A. Homo erectus
B. Homo sapiens
C. Homo habilis
D. Homo neanderthalensis

✅ Correct Answer: B. Homo sapiens

Explanation:

• A, C, D → Other human ancestors.
• B. Correct, modern humans = Homo sapiens.

Q19. Which of these is a feature of Monera?

A. Nucleus present
B. Membrane-bound organelles present
C. Cell wall present, nucleus absent
D. Multicellular

✅ Correct Answer: C. Cell wall present, nucleus absent

Explanation:

• A. Wrong, no true nucleus.
• B. No membrane-bound organelles.
• C. Correct, prokaryotic with cell wall.
• D. Mostly unicellular.

Q20. The scientific name of mango is:

A. Mangifera indica
B. Mangifera Indica
C. mangifera indica
D. Mangifera Indica L.

✅ Correct Answer: A. Mangifera indica

Explanation:

• A. Correct, genus capital + species small.
• B. Wrong capitalisation.
• C. Wrong, genus must start capital.
• D. “L.” not used in Class 9 level.

Q21. The correct sequence of taxonomic hierarchy is:

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

✅ Correct Answer: A. Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species

Explanation:

• A. Correct hierarchy (KPCOFGS).
• B, C, D → Incorrect order.

Q22. The term “species” refers to:

A. A group of organisms able to interbreed
B. Group of similar families
C. Group of similar classes
D. Group of similar orders

✅ Correct Answer: A. A group of organisms able to interbreed

Explanation:

• A. Correct, species can interbreed & produce fertile offspring.
• B, C, D → Higher categories.

Q23. What is the main advantage of classification?

A. Easy identification
B. Study of relationships
C. Simplifies study of organisms
D. All of these

✅ Correct Answer: D. All of these

Explanation:

• All are valid advantages of classification.

Q24. Which feature is not used for classification?

A. Cell structure
B. Evolutionary relationship
C. Mode of reproduction
D. Color of body

✅ Correct Answer: D. Color of body

Explanation:

• A, B, C → Scientific features.
• D. Color is not valid.

Q25. The plant and animal classification was first proposed by:

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

✅ Correct Answer: C. Aristotle

Explanation:

• A. 5-kingdom system.
• B. Evolution theory.
• C. Correct, Aristotle classified plants & animals.
• D. Binomial nomenclature.

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