Biology MCQs Set 11 | UPSC, PSC, SSC Competitive Exam Practice Questions with Detailed Explanations

  1. Which process is responsible for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs?
    A) Filtration
    B) Diffusion
    C) Active transport
    D) Osmosis
    Correct Answer: B) Diffusion
    Explanation: Diffusion allows oxygen to move from the alveoli (high concentration) into the blood (low concentration) and carbon dioxide to move in the opposite direction, enabling efficient gas exchange during breathing.
  2. Which blood group is considered the universal donor?
    A) A
    B) B
    C) AB
    D) O
    Correct Answer: D) O
    Explanation: Blood group O negative lacks A, B, and Rh antigens, so it can be donated to any other group without causing an immune reaction, making it the universal donor.
  3. Which part of the brain is responsible for regulating hunger and thirst?
    A) Cerebellum
    B) Medulla oblongata
    C) Hypothalamus
    D) Cerebrum
    Correct Answer: C) Hypothalamus
    Explanation: The hypothalamus controls homeostatic functions, including hunger, thirst, body temperature, and hormone release, by responding to internal signals.
  4. Which mineral is essential for the formation of strong teeth and bones?
    A) Sodium
    B) Calcium
    C) Iron
    D) Zinc
    Correct Answer: B) Calcium
    Explanation: Calcium is a major component of bones and teeth, providing strength and structure. Its deficiency can lead to weak bones and dental problems.
  5. Which process describes the breakdown of food into simpler substances?
    A) Digestion
    B) Absorption
    C) Assimilation
    D) Egestion
    Correct Answer: A) Digestion
    Explanation: Digestion involves mechanical and chemical processes that break down complex food molecules into simpler forms that can be absorbed by the body.
  6. Which structure in plant cells is responsible for photosynthesis?
    A) Mitochondria
    B) Chloroplast
    C) Ribosome
    D) Nucleus
    Correct Answer: B) Chloroplast
    Explanation: Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, which captures sunlight and converts it into chemical energy during photosynthesis.
  7. Which hormone regulates the level of calcium in the blood?
    A) Insulin
    B) Parathyroid hormone
    C) Glucagon
    D) Adrenaline
    Correct Answer: B) Parathyroid hormone
    Explanation: Parathyroid hormone increases blood calcium levels by stimulating bone resorption, increasing calcium absorption in the intestine, and reducing calcium loss in urine.
  8. Which process enables water to move from the roots to the leaves of a plant?
    A) Transpiration
    B) Respiration
    C) Translocation
    D) Photosynthesis
    Correct Answer: A) Transpiration
    Explanation: Transpiration creates a pull that draws water upward from the roots through the xylem to the leaves, where it evaporates.
  9. Which vitamin is essential for blood clotting?
    A) Vitamin A
    B) Vitamin C
    C) Vitamin K
    D) Vitamin D
    Correct Answer: C) Vitamin K
    Explanation: Vitamin K is required for the synthesis of proteins involved in blood clotting, preventing excessive bleeding.
  10. Which organ is responsible for detoxifying harmful substances in the blood?
    A) Kidney
    B) Liver
    C) Pancreas
    D) Spleen
    Correct Answer: B) Liver
    Explanation: The liver metabolizes and detoxifies drugs, alcohol, and other harmful substances, converting them into less toxic forms for excretion.
  11. Which structure in the human eye is responsible for detecting light?
    A) Iris
    B) Lens
    C) Retina
    D) Cornea
    Correct Answer: C) Retina
    Explanation: The retina contains photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) that detect light and convert it into electrical signals sent to the brain.
  12. Which process describes the movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to low concentration?
    A) Active transport
    B) Diffusion
    C) Endocytosis
    D) Exocytosis
    Correct Answer: B) Diffusion
    Explanation: Diffusion is the passive movement of molecules down their concentration gradient, requiring no energy.
  13. Which part of the flower produces ovules?
    A) Stamen
    B) Anther
    C) Ovary
    D) Petal
    Correct Answer: C) Ovary
    Explanation: The ovary, part of the pistil, contains ovules, which develop into seeds after fertilization.
  14. Which enzyme breaks down fats in the digestive system?
    A) Amylase
    B) Lipase
    C) Pepsin
    D) Maltase
    Correct Answer: B) Lipase
    Explanation: Lipase is produced by the pancreas and breaks down dietary fats into fatty acids and glycerol in the small intestine.
  15. Which part of the neuron carries impulses away from the cell body?
    A) Dendrite
    B) Axon
    C) Synapse
    D) Nucleus
    Correct Answer: B) Axon
    Explanation: The axon is a long projection that transmits nerve impulses away from the neuron’s cell body toward other neurons or effectors.
  16. Which organ in the human body produces bile?
    A) Pancreas
    B) Liver
    C) Gallbladder
    D) Stomach
    Correct Answer: B) Liver
    Explanation: The liver produces bile, which is stored in the gallbladder and released into the small intestine to aid in fat digestion.
  17. Which disease is caused by a deficiency of vitamin B12?
    A) Scurvy
    B) Rickets
    C) Pernicious anemia
    D) Night blindness
    Correct Answer: C) Pernicious anemia
    Explanation: Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to pernicious anemia, characterized by large, immature red blood cells and neurological symptoms.
  18. Which structure in the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs?
    A) Right atrium
    B) Right ventricle
    C) Left atrium
    D) Left ventricle
    Correct Answer: C) Left atrium
    Explanation: The left atrium receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs via the pulmonary veins before passing it to the left ventricle.
  19. Which hormone is responsible for the “fight or flight” response?
    A) Insulin
    B) Adrenaline
    C) Thyroxine
    D) Progesterone
    Correct Answer: B) Adrenaline
    Explanation: Adrenaline, secreted by the adrenal medulla, prepares the body to respond to stress by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and energy availability.
  20. Which process allows plants to reproduce without seeds?
    A) Sexual reproduction
    B) Vegetative propagation
    C) Pollination
    D) Germination
    Correct Answer: B) Vegetative propagation
    Explanation: Vegetative propagation is a form of asexual reproduction where new plants grow from parts such as stems, roots, or leaves, without the need for seeds.
  21. Which part of the human skeleton protects the heart and lungs?
    A) Skull
    B) Rib cage
    C) Pelvis
    D) Vertebral column
    Correct Answer: B) Rib cage
    Explanation: The rib cage is a bony structure that surrounds and protects the heart and lungs from injury.
  22. Which hormone stimulates milk production in mammals?
    A) Oxytocin
    B) Prolactin
    C) Estrogen
    D) Progesterone
    Correct Answer: B) Prolactin
    Explanation: Prolactin, produced by the pituitary gland, stimulates the mammary glands to produce milk after childbirth.
  23. Which process describes the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia by bacteria?
    A) Nitrification
    B) Denitrification
    C) Nitrogen fixation
    D) Ammonification
    Correct Answer: C) Nitrogen fixation
    Explanation: Nitrogen fixation is carried out by certain bacteria and converts inert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which plants can use.
  24. Which part of the human ear is responsible for maintaining balance?
    A) Cochlea
    B) Semicircular canals
    C) Ossicles
    D) Eardrum
    Correct Answer: B) Semicircular canals
    Explanation: The semicircular canals in the inner ear detect head movements and help maintain the body’s sense of balance.
  25. Which mineral is necessary for the synthesis of thyroid hormones?
    A) Calcium
    B) Iron
    C) Iodine
    D) Magnesium
    Correct Answer: C) Iodine
    Explanation: Iodine is an essential component of thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism. Its deficiency can cause goiter.
  26. Which type of blood vessel has the thickest walls?
    A) Vein
    B) Artery
    C) Capillary
    D) Venule
    Correct Answer: B) Artery
    Explanation: Arteries have thick, muscular walls to withstand the high pressure of blood pumped from the heart.
  27. Which vitamin is essential for healthy skin and vision?
    A) Vitamin A
    B) Vitamin C
    C) Vitamin D
    D) Vitamin K
    Correct Answer: A) Vitamin A
    Explanation: Vitamin A is necessary for the maintenance of healthy skin, vision, and immune function.
  28. Which process occurs in the mitochondria of cells?
    A) Photosynthesis
    B) Aerobic respiration
    C) Protein synthesis
    D) DNA replication
    Correct Answer: B) Aerobic respiration
    Explanation: Mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration, where glucose is broken down in the presence of oxygen to produce ATP.
  29. Which gland is known as the “master gland” of the endocrine system?
    A) Thyroid
    B) Pituitary
    C) Adrenal
    D) Pancreas
    Correct Answer: B) Pituitary
    Explanation: The pituitary gland controls the activity of other endocrine glands by secreting various hormones.
  30. Which disease is caused by a deficiency of vitamin D in children?
    A) Rickets
    B) Scurvy
    C) Beriberi
    D) Pellagra
    Correct Answer: A) Rickets
    Explanation: Rickets is a bone disorder in children caused by vitamin D deficiency, resulting in soft, weak bones.
  31. Which part of the plant is responsible for producing seeds?
    A) Root
    B) Stem
    C) Flower
    D) Leaf
    Correct Answer: C) Flower
    Explanation: Flowers contain reproductive organs that produce seeds after fertilization.
  32. Which organ in the human body is responsible for producing insulin?
    A) Liver
    B) Pancreas
    C) Kidney
    D) Spleen
    Correct Answer: B) Pancreas
    Explanation: The pancreas contains beta cells that produce insulin, a hormone that lowers blood glucose levels.
  33. Which process describes the movement of water molecules from high to low concentration through a membrane?
    A) Active transport
    B) Osmosis
    C) Diffusion
    D) Endocytosis
    Correct Answer: B) Osmosis
    Explanation: Osmosis is the passive movement of water molecules through a semi-permeable membrane from an area of high water concentration to low water concentration.
  34. Which hormone is responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics in females?
    A) Testosterone
    B) Estrogen
    C) Progesterone
    D) Insulin
    Correct Answer: B) Estrogen
    Explanation: Estrogen, produced by the ovaries, promotes the development of female secondary sexual characteristics such as breast development and wider hips.
  35. Which organ filters blood to remove waste and excess water, forming urine?
    A) Liver
    B) Kidney
    C) Spleen
    D) Pancreas
    Correct Answer: B) Kidney
    Explanation: The kidneys filter waste products and excess water from the blood, producing urine for excretion.
  36. Which part of the human respiratory system prevents food from entering the windpipe?
    A) Larynx
    B) Epiglottis
    C) Trachea
    D) Bronchi
    Correct Answer: B) Epiglottis
    Explanation: The epiglottis is a flap of tissue that closes over the trachea during swallowing, preventing food from entering the airway.
  37. Which vitamin deficiency causes scurvy?
    A) Vitamin A
    B) Vitamin B12
    C) Vitamin C
    D) Vitamin D
    Correct Answer: C) Vitamin C
    Explanation: Scurvy is caused by a deficiency of vitamin C, leading to bleeding gums, weakness, and poor wound healing.
  38. Which process produces gametes in animals?
    A) Mitosis
    B) Meiosis
    C) Binary fission
    D) Budding
    Correct Answer: B) Meiosis
    Explanation: Meiosis is a type of cell division that produces gametes (sperm and eggs) with half the normal chromosome number.
  39. Which hormone stimulates the release of glucose from the liver into the blood?
    A) Insulin
    B) Glucagon
    C) Thyroxine
    D) Cortisol
    Correct Answer: B) Glucagon
    Explanation: Glucagon, produced by the pancreas, signals the liver to convert stored glycogen into glucose and release it into the blood.
  40. Which part of the human skeleton protects the brain?
    A) Rib cage
    B) Pelvis
    C) Skull
    D) Vertebral column
    Correct Answer: C) Skull
    Explanation: The skull is a bony structure that encases and protects the brain from injury.
  41. Which enzyme breaks down proteins in the stomach?
    A) Amylase
    B) Lipase
    C) Pepsin
    D) Maltase
    Correct Answer: C) Pepsin
    Explanation: Pepsin is a protease enzyme secreted by the stomach that digests proteins into smaller peptides.
  42. Which structure in the plant cell stores water, nutrients, and waste products?
    A) Mitochondria
    B) Chloroplast
    C) Vacuole
    D) Ribosome
    Correct Answer: C) Vacuole
    Explanation: The vacuole is a large, membrane-bound organelle in plant cells that stores water, nutrients, and waste products, helping maintain cell turgor.
  43. Which process describes the transfer of pollen from anther to stigma?
    A) Fertilization
    B) Germination
    C) Pollination
    D) Seed dispersal
    Correct Answer: C) Pollination
    Explanation: Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male anther to the female stigma, enabling fertilization in plants.
  44. Which mineral is essential for the production of hemoglobin?
    A) Calcium
    B) Iron
    C) Potassium
    D) Sodium
    Correct Answer: B) Iron
    Explanation: Iron is a key component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
  45. Which organ in the human body stores bile?
    A) Liver
    B) Pancreas
    C) Gallbladder
    D) Stomach
    Correct Answer: C) Gallbladder
    Explanation: The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver, releasing it into the small intestine to aid in fat digestion.
  46. Which process describes the breakdown of glucose to release energy in the absence of oxygen?
    A) Aerobic respiration
    B) Anaerobic respiration
    C) Photosynthesis
    D) Chemosynthesis
    Correct Answer: B) Anaerobic respiration
    Explanation: Anaerobic respiration (fermentation) breaks down glucose without oxygen, producing less energy and byproducts like lactic acid or ethanol.
  47. Which part of the human blood is responsible for clotting?
    A) Red blood cells
    B) White blood cells
    C) Platelets
    D) Plasma
    Correct Answer: C) Platelets
    Explanation: Platelets are cell fragments that help form clots to stop bleeding at injury sites.
  48. Which hormone regulates the sleep-wake cycle?
    A) Melatonin
    B) Insulin
    C) Adrenaline
    D) Thyroxine
    Correct Answer: A) Melatonin
    Explanation: Melatonin, produced by the pineal gland, regulates circadian rhythms and the sleep-wake cycle.
  49. Which process describes the movement of food through the digestive tract by muscular contractions?
    A) Peristalsis
    B) Digestion
    C) Absorption
    D) Assimilation
    Correct Answer: A) Peristalsis
    Explanation: Peristalsis is the wave-like contraction of smooth muscles that moves food along the digestive tract.
  50. Which organ in the human body is responsible for producing urea?
    A) Kidney
    B) Liver
    C) Pancreas
    D) Spleen
    Correct Answer: B) Liver
    Explanation: The liver converts toxic ammonia, a byproduct of protein metabolism, into urea, which is then excreted by the kidneys in urine.

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