Biology MCQs Set 12 | UPSC, PSC, SSC Competitive Exam Practice Questions with Detailed Explanations

  1. Which organ in the human body is primarily responsible for filtering urea from the blood?
    A) Liver
    B) Kidney
    C) Spleen
    D) Pancreas
    Correct Answer: B) Kidney
    Explanation: The kidneys filter urea and other nitrogenous wastes from the blood, forming urine. The liver produces urea from ammonia, but excretion is performed by the kidneys.
  2. What is the main function of the human trachea?
    A) Absorb oxygen
    B) Transport air to the lungs
    C) Filter blood
    D) Produce sound
    Correct Answer: B) Transport air to the lungs
    Explanation: The trachea (windpipe) is a tube that carries inhaled air from the throat to the bronchi and into the lungs for gas exchange.
  3. Which plant hormone is responsible for promoting cell division?
    A) Ethylene
    B) Cytokinin
    C) Abscisic acid
    D) Gibberellin
    Correct Answer: B) Cytokinin
    Explanation: Cytokinins stimulate cell division and growth, especially in plant roots and shoots. Ethylene promotes ripening, abscisic acid induces dormancy, and gibberellin promotes stem elongation.
  4. Which structure in the human digestive system prevents food from entering the windpipe?
    A) Larynx
    B) Epiglottis
    C) Pharynx
    D) Trachea
    Correct Answer: B) Epiglottis
    Explanation: The epiglottis is a flap of cartilage that closes over the trachea during swallowing, preventing food from entering the airway.
  5. What is the primary function of mitochondria in animal cells?
    A) Protein synthesis
    B) Energy production
    C) Lipid storage
    D) Waste removal
    Correct Answer: B) Energy production
    Explanation: Mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration, converting glucose and oxygen into ATP, the cell’s main energy currency.
  6. Which vitamin deficiency causes pellagra?
    A) Vitamin B1
    B) Vitamin B3
    C) Vitamin B6
    D) Vitamin B12
    Correct Answer: B) Vitamin B3
    Explanation: Pellagra is caused by a deficiency of niacin (vitamin B3), leading to dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia.
  7. What is the role of the human alveoli?
    A) Absorb nutrients
    B) Exchange gases
    C) Filter blood
    D) Store oxygen
    Correct Answer: B) Exchange gases
    Explanation: Alveoli are tiny sacs in the lungs where oxygen diffuses into the blood and carbon dioxide diffuses out during respiration.
  8. Which element is essential for the synthesis of chlorophyll in plants?
    A) Iron
    B) Magnesium
    C) Potassium
    D) Sodium
    Correct Answer: B) Magnesium
    Explanation: Magnesium is the central atom in the chlorophyll molecule and is necessary for photosynthesis in plants.
  9. Which blood component transports carbon dioxide mainly as bicarbonate ions?
    A) Plasma
    B) Red blood cells
    C) Platelets
    D) White blood cells
    Correct Answer: A) Plasma
    Explanation: Most carbon dioxide is transported in the blood as bicarbonate ions dissolved in the plasma, with a smaller portion carried by red blood cells.
  10. Which organ is responsible for producing digestive enzymes and hormones like insulin?
    A) Liver
    B) Pancreas
    C) Gallbladder
    D) Spleen
    Correct Answer: B) Pancreas
    Explanation: The pancreas produces digestive enzymes for the small intestine and hormones such as insulin and glucagon for blood sugar regulation.
  11. Which process involves the movement of water through the plant from roots to leaves and out through the stomata?
    A) Respiration
    B) Transpiration
    C) Photosynthesis
    D) Translocation
    Correct Answer: B) Transpiration
    Explanation: Transpiration is the evaporation of water from plant leaves, creating a pull that moves water upward from the roots.
  12. Which hormone is secreted by the thyroid gland to regulate metabolism?
    A) Insulin
    B) Thyroxine
    C) Adrenaline
    D) Glucagon
    Correct Answer: B) Thyroxine
    Explanation: Thyroxine (T4) is produced by the thyroid gland and regulates the body’s metabolic rate, growth, and development.
  13. What is the function of the human gallbladder?
    A) Produce bile
    B) Store and concentrate bile
    C) Digest proteins
    D) Absorb nutrients
    Correct Answer: B) Store and concentrate bile
    Explanation: The gallbladder stores bile produced by the liver and releases it into the small intestine to help digest fats.
  14. Which type of immunity is acquired by vaccination?
    A) Innate immunity
    B) Passive immunity
    C) Active immunity
    D) Natural immunity
    Correct Answer: C) Active immunity
    Explanation: Vaccination stimulates the body to produce its own antibodies and memory cells, providing long-term active immunity.
  15. Which structure in the human heart pumps oxygenated blood to the body?
    A) Right atrium
    B) Right ventricle
    C) Left atrium
    D) Left ventricle
    Correct Answer: D) Left ventricle
    Explanation: The left ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood into the aorta, distributing it throughout the body.
  16. Which mineral is essential for the synthesis of hemoglobin?
    A) Calcium
    B) Iron
    C) Zinc
    D) Potassium
    Correct Answer: B) Iron
    Explanation: Iron is a key component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that binds and transports oxygen.
  17. Which process describes the movement of food through the digestive tract by muscular contractions?
    A) Digestion
    B) Absorption
    C) Peristalsis
    D) Assimilation
    Correct Answer: C) Peristalsis
    Explanation: Peristalsis is the wave-like contraction of smooth muscles that moves food along the digestive tract.
  18. Which vitamin is essential for the absorption of calcium from the intestine?
    A) Vitamin A
    B) Vitamin B12
    C) Vitamin C
    D) Vitamin D
    Correct Answer: D) Vitamin D
    Explanation: Vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium from the intestine, which is vital for healthy bones and teeth.
  19. Which blood vessel carries deoxygenated blood from the body to the heart?
    A) Pulmonary vein
    B) Aorta
    C) Vena cava
    D) Pulmonary artery
    Correct Answer: C) Vena cava
    Explanation: The vena cava (superior and inferior) carries deoxygenated blood from the body back to the right atrium of the heart.
  20. Which hormone is responsible for stimulating uterine contractions during childbirth?
    A) Estrogen
    B) Progesterone
    C) Prolactin
    D) Oxytocin
    Correct Answer: D) Oxytocin
    Explanation: Oxytocin, released by the pituitary gland, stimulates powerful uterine contractions during labor and also aids milk ejection during breastfeeding.
  21. Which organ in the human body is responsible for detoxifying drugs and alcohol?
    A) Kidney
    B) Liver
    C) Pancreas
    D) Spleen
    Correct Answer: B) Liver
    Explanation: The liver metabolizes and detoxifies drugs, alcohol, and other harmful substances, making them less toxic for excretion.
  22. Which process produces ATP in the absence of oxygen?
    A) Aerobic respiration
    B) Anaerobic respiration
    C) Photosynthesis
    D) Chemosynthesis
    Correct Answer: B) Anaerobic respiration
    Explanation: Anaerobic respiration (fermentation) produces ATP without oxygen, but yields less energy than aerobic respiration.
  23. Which part of the human skeleton protects the spinal cord?
    A) Skull
    B) Rib cage
    C) Vertebral column
    D) Pelvis
    Correct Answer: C) Vertebral column
    Explanation: The vertebral column (spine) surrounds and protects the spinal cord from injury.
  24. Which enzyme breaks down proteins in the small intestine?
    A) Amylase
    B) Lipase
    C) Trypsin
    D) Maltase
    Correct Answer: C) Trypsin
    Explanation: Trypsin, produced by the pancreas, digests proteins into smaller peptides in the small intestine.
  25. Which hormone controls the reabsorption of water in the kidneys?
    A) Adrenaline
    B) Insulin
    C) Antidiuretic hormone
    D) Thyroxine
    Correct Answer: C) Antidiuretic hormone
    Explanation: Antidiuretic hormone (ADH), produced by the pituitary gland, increases water reabsorption in the kidneys to maintain fluid balance.
  26. Which process describes the transfer of genetic information from DNA to mRNA?
    A) Translation
    B) Transcription
    C) Replication
    D) Mutation
    Correct Answer: B) Transcription
    Explanation: Transcription is the process by which genetic information from DNA is copied into messenger RNA for protein synthesis.
  27. Which vitamin deficiency causes beriberi?
    A) Vitamin B1
    B) Vitamin B2
    C) Vitamin B6
    D) Vitamin B12
    Correct Answer: A) Vitamin B1
    Explanation: Beriberi is caused by a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1), affecting the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
  28. Which structure in the human eye changes shape to focus light?
    A) Cornea
    B) Lens
    C) Iris
    D) Retina
    Correct Answer: B) Lens
    Explanation: The lens is flexible and changes shape (accommodation) to focus light onto the retina for clear vision.
  29. Which hormone stimulates the production of red blood cells?
    A) Insulin
    B) Erythropoietin
    C) Glucagon
    D) Thyroxine
    Correct Answer: B) Erythropoietin
    Explanation: Erythropoietin, produced by the kidneys, stimulates the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells in response to low oxygen levels.
  30. Which disease is caused by a deficiency of vitamin C?
    A) Rickets
    B) Scurvy
    C) Pellagra
    D) Beriberi
    Correct Answer: B) Scurvy
    Explanation: Scurvy results from vitamin C deficiency, leading to bleeding gums, weak connective tissue, and poor wound healing.
  31. Which part of the plant absorbs water and minerals from the soil?
    A) Leaf
    B) Stem
    C) Root
    D) Flower
    Correct Answer: C) Root
    Explanation: Roots anchor the plant and absorb water and minerals from the soil, supplying them to the rest of the plant.
  32. Which enzyme breaks down starch into maltose?
    A) Amylase
    B) Lipase
    C) Pepsin
    D) Trypsin
    Correct Answer: A) Amylase
    Explanation: Amylase, found in saliva and pancreatic juice, breaks down starch into maltose, a disaccharide sugar.
  33. Which mineral is essential for muscle contraction and nerve transmission?
    A) Iron
    B) Calcium
    C) Magnesium
    D) Zinc
    Correct Answer: B) Calcium
    Explanation: Calcium ions are crucial for muscle contraction, nerve impulse transmission, and blood clotting.
  34. Which hormone regulates the basal metabolic rate in humans?
    A) Insulin
    B) Thyroxine
    C) Adrenaline
    D) Progesterone
    Correct Answer: B) Thyroxine
    Explanation: Thyroxine, produced by the thyroid gland, increases the basal metabolic rate, affecting how quickly the body uses energy.
  35. Which process describes the fusion of male and female gametes?
    A) Pollination
    B) Fertilization
    C) Germination
    D) Implantation
    Correct Answer: B) Fertilization
    Explanation: Fertilization is the union of sperm and egg, resulting in the formation of a zygote.
  36. Which structure in the human ear converts sound vibrations into nerve impulses?
    A) Ossicles
    B) Cochlea
    C) Eardrum
    D) Semicircular canals
    Correct Answer: B) Cochlea
    Explanation: The cochlea is a spiral-shaped organ that converts sound vibrations into electrical signals for the brain to interpret as sound.
  37. Which vitamin is necessary for the synthesis of visual pigments in the retina?
    A) Vitamin A
    B) Vitamin B6
    C) Vitamin C
    D) Vitamin D
    Correct Answer: A) Vitamin A
    Explanation: Vitamin A is required for the production of rhodopsin, a pigment in the retina essential for vision in low light.
  38. Which process describes the movement of water from an area of low solute concentration to high solute concentration through a membrane?
    A) Osmosis
    B) Diffusion
    C) Active transport
    D) Endocytosis
    Correct Answer: A) Osmosis
    Explanation: Osmosis is the passive movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane toward a higher solute concentration.
  39. Which hormone is responsible for stimulating milk ejection during breastfeeding?
    A) Oxytocin
    B) Prolactin
    C) Estrogen
    D) Progesterone
    Correct Answer: A) Oxytocin
    Explanation: Oxytocin causes the muscles around the mammary glands to contract, ejecting milk during breastfeeding.
  40. Which organ in the human body is responsible for producing bile?
    A) Liver
    B) Pancreas
    C) Gallbladder
    D) Spleen
    Correct Answer: A) Liver
    Explanation: The liver produces bile, which is important for the digestion and absorption of fats.
  41. Which mineral is essential for the formation of thyroid hormones?
    A) Calcium
    B) Iron
    C) Iodine
    D) Magnesium
    Correct Answer: C) Iodine
    Explanation: Iodine is a key component of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), necessary for regulating metabolism.
  42. Which structure in the human body is responsible for the sense of smell?
    A) Taste buds
    B) Olfactory bulb
    C) Cochlea
    D) Retina
    Correct Answer: B) Olfactory bulb
    Explanation: The olfactory bulb receives signals from olfactory receptors in the nose and processes them as smells.
  43. Which vitamin deficiency causes rickets in children?
    A) Vitamin A
    B) Vitamin C
    C) Vitamin D
    D) Vitamin K
    Correct Answer: C) Vitamin D
    Explanation: Vitamin D deficiency impairs calcium absorption, leading to weak, soft bones in children—a condition known as rickets.
  44. Which process describes the conversion of glucose into energy in the presence of oxygen?
    A) Anaerobic respiration
    B) Aerobic respiration
    C) Photosynthesis
    D) Fermentation
    Correct Answer: B) Aerobic respiration
    Explanation: Aerobic respiration uses oxygen to completely break down glucose, producing carbon dioxide, water, and a large amount of ATP.
  45. Which hormone is responsible for regulating blood sugar by increasing glucose uptake by cells?
    A) Glucagon
    B) Insulin
    C) Adrenaline
    D) Thyroxine
    Correct Answer: B) Insulin
    Explanation: Insulin, secreted by the pancreas, lowers blood sugar by promoting glucose uptake by cells and storage as glycogen.
  46. Which organ in the human body is responsible for filtering old red blood cells?
    A) Liver
    B) Kidney
    C) Spleen
    D) Pancreas
    Correct Answer: C) Spleen
    Explanation: The spleen filters and removes old or damaged red blood cells from circulation and helps fight infection.
  47. Which process describes the movement of food from the mouth to the stomach?
    A) Digestion
    B) Absorption
    C) Peristalsis
    D) Assimilation
    Correct Answer: C) Peristalsis
    Explanation: Peristalsis is the rhythmic contraction of muscles in the esophagus that pushes food toward the stomach.
  48. Which vitamin is essential for blood clotting?
    A) Vitamin A
    B) Vitamin C
    C) Vitamin D
    D) Vitamin K
    Correct Answer: D) Vitamin K
    Explanation: Vitamin K is necessary for the synthesis of clotting factors, preventing excessive bleeding.
  49. Which part of the plant is responsible for photosynthesis?
    A) Root
    B) Stem
    C) Leaf
    D) Flower
    Correct Answer: C) Leaf
    Explanation: Leaves contain chloroplasts, where photosynthesis takes place, converting sunlight into chemical energy.
  50. Which structure in the human brain controls voluntary muscle movements?
    A) Medulla oblongata
    B) Cerebellum
    C) Cerebrum
    D) Hypothalamus
    Correct Answer: C) Cerebrum
    Explanation: The cerebrum is responsible for voluntary muscle movements, reasoning, memory, and sensory perception.

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