Environmental Issues – Short Introduction

This chapter covers the key challenges faced by our environment due to pollution, deforestation, and human activities. It discusses topics like:

Air, water, and soil pollution
Ozone layer depletion and global warming
Waste management and sustainable development
Biodiversity loss and conservation efforts

Understanding these issues is crucial for NEET aspirants as many MCQs are based on causes, effects, and control measures related to environmental problems.

NEET MCQs Environmental Issues

Catalytic converters are fitted into automobiles to reduce the emission of harmful gases. Catalytic
converters changes unburnt hydrocarbons into
a) Carbon dioxide and water b) Carbon monoxide
c) Methane d) Carbon dioxide and methane
What percentage of total area in hilly regions does the National Forest Policy (1988) suggest to be under
forests?
a) 67% b) 33% c) 64% d) 34%
Increase the atmospheric temperature due to CO2is called
a) Pasteur effect b) Green house effect c) Blackman effect d) Emerson effect
Which one of following is not an air pollutant?
a) Pollen from plants b) phosphates c) Carbon monoxide d) Hydrocarbon
DDT residues are rapidly passed through food chain causing biomagnifications because DDT is
a) Lipo soluble b) Moderately toxic
c) Non-toxic to aquatic animals d) Water soluble
Rain is called acid rain when its pH is below
a) 7 b) 6.5 c) 6 d) 5.6
CFCs are responsible for
a) Ozone layer depletion b) Global warming
c) Acid rain d) None of these
Acid rain is due to
a) CO2 and H2O b) CO2 and NO2 c) SO2 and NO2 d) SO2 andN2O
Noise is
a) Loud sound b) Sound of high frequency
c) Unwanted sound d) Constant sound
Domestic sewage contains nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus which favours the excessive growth of
planktonic (free floating) algae which can accelerate which of the following phenomenon?
a) Algal bloom b) Biomagnification c) Eutrophication d) Both (a) and (c)
High level radioactive waste can be managed in which of the following ways?
a) Open dumping b) Composting
c) Incineration d) Dumping in sealed containers
Polyblend is mixed with …A… to lay roads in …B… . Complete the given statement by choosing appropriate
option for A and B
a) A-bitumen; B-Bengaluru b) A-carbon; B-Delhi
c) A-plastic; B-Kolkata d) A-cement; B-Chennai
Most hazardous metal pollutant of automobile exhaust is
a) Cadmium b) Lead c) Mercury d) Copper
Which one of the following is mainly responsible for green houses effect?
a) SO2 b) CO2 c) CO d) O2
Which one of the following pairs is mismatched?
a) Biomass burning — Release of CO2 b) Fossil fuel burning — Release of CO2
c) Nuclear power —- Radioactive wastes d) Solar energy — Green house effect
Consider the following statements

Page| 2

I. Soil without a vegetation cover is eroded by both wind and water
II. Excessive irrigation results in water logging of soil
III. Increased salt concentration damages agriculture
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a) I and II b) I and III c) II and III d) I, II and III

In India, the Air Prevention and Control of pollution Act came into force in …A…, but was amended in …B…
to include …C… as an air pollutant
Complete the given statement by choosing appropriate option for A-C
a) A-1980, B-1986, C-water b) A-1981, B-1987, C-noise
c) A-1982, B-1988, C-radioactive d) A-1983, B-1989, C-soil
Which method is used to remove particulate matter present in exhaust of thermal power plant?
a) Wet scrubbers b) Absorption
c) Electrostatic precipitator d) Gravitational method
Restoring a forest cover over an area where one existed earlier but was removed at some point of time in
the past is called
a) Reforestation b) Afforestation c) Deforestation d) None of these
For the control of air pollution in Delhi, all buses of Delhi were converted to run on …A… by the end of
…B… as per the directives of the …C…
Complete the given statement by choosing appropriate options for A-C
a) A-compressed natural gas, B-2000, C-High Court
b) A-Shale gas, B-2001, C-Central Government
c) A-compressed natural gas, B-2002, C-Supreme Court
d) A-Liquid pressure gas compressed natural gas, B-2003, C-Delhi Government
Green house gases are
a) CFCs,CO2NH4 and NO2
b) O2,N2 and NO2
c) N2,CO2 and NH4
d) None of the above
In which state of India, Ecosave toilets are not found?
a) Kerala b) Delhi c) Sri Lanka d) None of these
Identify the correctly matched pair.
a) Montreal protocol – Global warming b) Kyoto protocol – Climate change
c) Ramsar convention – Ground water pollution d) Basal convention – Biodiversity conservation
Study carefully the following pie diagram representing the relative contribution of various greenhouse
gases to total global warming. Identify the gases 𝐴,𝐵,𝐶 and 𝐷 a) A-N2O,B−CO2,C−CH4,D−CFCs b) A-CO2,B−CH4,C−CFCs,D−N2O
c) A-CH4,,B−CFCs,C−N2O,D−CO2 d) A-CFCs,,B−N2O,C−CO2,D−CH4
The main cause of pollution is metrocities is
a) Burning of fossil fuels
b) Water plants
c) Domestic products
d) None of these

Page| 3

Chipko movement (1974) is the world’s known eco development programme, started by Sunder Lal
Bahuguna in Tehri Garhwal (Uttarakhand). It is associated with
a) Plant conservation b) Deforestation c) Reforestation d) Afforestation
Which one of the following is a most efficient device to eliminate particulate matters from the industrial
emissions?
a) Cyclonic separators b) Trajectory separators
c) Pyrolysis d) Electrostatic precipitator
Kyoto protocol is related with
a) Ozone layer depletion
b) Green house effect
c) Water pollution
d) Conservation of wildlife
…….. is an undesirable change in physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air, land, water or soil
a) Pollution b) Ecological disturbance
c) Ecological deterioration d) Adulteration
For the best ecological balance, land mass of a country in plains covered with forests
a) 23% b) 33% c) 44% d) 35%
Desertification has become a major problem due to
a) Decreased natural resources b) Increased urbanization
c) Increased population d) All of the above
Why CNG is considered as good fuel over diesel/petrol?
I. CNG burns most efficiently without leaving any unburnt remnant behind
II. CNG is cheaper than petrol or diesel
III. CNG cannot be siphoned off by thieves and adulterated like petrol or diesel
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a) I and II b) I and III c) II and III d) I, II and III
Eutrophicated lake has BOD
a) Lower
b) Higher
c) Dependent on climate
d) May be lower or higher
A sewage treatment process, in which a portion of the decomposer bacteria present in the waste is
recycled into the beginning of the process, is called
a) Cyclic treatment b) Primary treatment
c) Activated sludge treatment d) Tertiary treatment
Consider the following statements about harmful effects of radioactive pollution
I. Radiations from nuclear wastes causes mutation at a very high rate
II. At high doses, nuclear radiations are lethal
III. At low doses, radiations cause disorders and cancer
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a) I and II b) I and III c) II and III d) All of these
In 2002 AD, according to research, the concentration of CFCsreached to
a) 368 ppm b) 1750 ppb c) 261 ppt d) 326 ppb
Photochemical smog formed in congested metropolitan cities mainly consist of
a) Ozone, peroxyacetyl nitrate and NOx b) Smoke, peroxyacetyl nitrate and SO2
c) Hydrocarbon, SO2and CO2 d) Hydrocarbon , ozone and SO2
If there is no greenhouse effect, the average temperature at the surface of earth would have been
a) 15℃ b) −18℃ c) −6℃ d) 20℃
A disease caused by eating fish contaminated by industrial waste containing mercury compounds is
known as

Page| 4

a) Bright’s disease b) Minamata disease c) Hashimoto disease d) Osteosclerosis

The cause of decline in the population of reptiles and birds is
a) DDT b) Biofertilizer c) Bioinsecticides d) Sewage
Consider the following statements regarding deforestation
I. It is removal, decrease or deterioration of forest cover of an area
II. It leads to soil erosion
III. Deforestation often causes flash floods
IV. Deforested area can be used variously as cropland, industrial area, residential area, fallow land, etc.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a) I, II and III b) II, III and IV c) I, III and IV d) I, II, III and IV
Increase in concentration of a toxicant at successive trophic levels is called
a) Eutrophication b) Accelerated eutrophication
c) biomagnification d) Cultural eutrophication
In the town of Arcata situated on northern coast of …A… , an integrated waste water treatment process
was developed with the help of biologists from …B… . Here A and B refers to
a) A-Florida; B-Barry University b) A-California; B-Humboldt State University
c) A-Florida; B-Abilence Christian University d) A-California; B-Becker University
Secondary sewage treatment is mainly a
a) Mechanical process b) Chemical process c) Biological process d) Physical process
Which of the following diseases is related to cadmium pollution?
a) Minamata b) Pneumoconiosis c) Anaemia d) Itai-itai
Shell of egg in bird becomes thin (not properly formed) due to the pollution of pesticides. This occurs due
to disturbed
a) Calcium metabolism b) Phosphorus metabolism
c) Sodium metabolism d) Potassium metabolism
Which of the following are the main harmful effects of deforestation?
I. Increase in carbon dioxide concentration in atmosphere
II. Loss of biodiversity due to habitat destruction
III. Disturbance in hydrologic cycle
IV. Desertification
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a) I, II and III b) II, III and IV c) I, III and IV d) I, II, III and IV
Study the following statements regarding Ecosave toilet and select the incorrect ones
a) They are working in Shri Lanka and Kerala
b) Composting method for recycling of human excreta
c) Recycled materials forms natural fertilisers
d) Enhance the need for chemical fertilisers
The atmosphere around earth is warmed because
a) Warm air cannot escape, as in a greenhouse
b) Molecules in the atmosphere are warmed by radiation from earth and retain that heat
c) Fossil fuels release heat
d) Plants release CO2
Which of the following is not used for disinfection of drinking water?
a) Phenyl b) Chloramines c) Chlorine d) Ozone
Earth’s climate
a) Has been stable over the history of the planet
b) Is changing as a result of natural and human processes
c) Will stabilize over the next century, according to the predictions of most scientists
d) Has been documented to have changed once due to the evolution of green photosynthesizing plants
Jhum cultivation refers to

Page| 5

a) Cultivation of neem trees b) Cultivation of medicinal plants
c) Tribal methods of shifting cultivation d) Cultivation of timber plants

Which of the following is not a green house gas?
a) Water vapour b) Carbon monoxide c) Methane d) Oxygen
Minamata occurs in
a) Japan b) Australia c) India d) China
In an area where DDT had been used extensively, the population of birds declined significantly because
a) Snake were feeding exclusively on birds b) Many of the birds eggs laid, did not hatch
c) Bird stopped laying eggs d) None of the above
The concept of Joint Forest Management (JFM) involves
a) Work in close association with the local communities for protecting and managing forests on mutual
benefits
b) Conservation of forest and agricultural land by the NGOs
c) Conservation of forest and agricultural land by the state government
d) Conservation of forest and agricultural land by the local communities
According to Kyoto protocol, the major nations abide to reduce concentration of green –house gases by
a) 2008 b) 2010 c) 2012 d) 2018
This pollutant causes burning sensation of throat and eyes and vomiting sensation.
a) Hydrogen sulphide b) Sulphur c) Hydrogen cyanide d) Arsenic substances
Drinking of mineral water with very low level of pesticides (about 0.02 ppm) for long periods may
a) Produce immunity against mosquito
b) Cause leukaemia (blood cancer) in most people
c) Cause cancer of the intestine
d) Lead to accumulation of pesticide residues in body fat
The major goal of the green revolution was to
a) Decrease the use of modern farm equipment
b) Decrease population growth
c) Increase agricultural production
d) Increase population growth
In scrubber, the exhaust is passed through a
a) Spray of water b) Spray of time c) Both (a) and (b) d) Spray of hot water
During day time, sound level is silent zone is
a) 50 dB b) 70 dB c) 20 dB d) 30 dB
In India, Jhum cultivation is practiced mainly in
a) North eastern states of India b) Western ghats of India
c) Gangetic plains d) Deccan plateau
The unfavorable alteration of environment due to human activities is termed as
a) Ecological disturbance b) Catastrophe
c) Ecological degradation d) Pollution
CO2,CH4,N2O and CFCs are called green house gases, because they can absorb
a) Ultraviolet radiation b) Long wave infra-red radiation
c) Visible light radiation d) X-rays radiation
Which one of the following is a correct option with reference to pathogenic bacteria and DDT?
a) Bacteria can undergo multiplication and DDT is degraded by living cells
b) Bacteria can be degrades by living cells and DDT can not be degraded by living cells.
c) Bacteria can undergo biological magnification and DDT can be degraded by living cells.
d) Bacteria can undergo biological magnification and DDT can not be degraded by living cells.
Expanded from of BOD is
a) Biochemical Oxygen Demand b) Biosynthetic Oxygen Demand
c) Biogeochemical Oxygen Destroyer d) Biological Oxygen Dimension

Page| 6

Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) usually refers to the damage caused by
a) Low temperature b) High temperature c) Radiation d) Pollution
Consider the following statements about pollution
I. Pollution is an undesirable change in physical, chemical or biological characteristics of air, land, water or
soil
II. The air act was amendid in 1987 to include noise as air pollutant
III. In order to control environmental pollution, the Government of India has passed the environment
Protection Act, 1976 to protect and improve the quality of our environment
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a) I and II b) I and III c) II and III d) I, II and III
The possible beneficial aspect of grazing animals is the
a) Removal of wild animals and pests b) Eradication of weeds
c) Removal of wild plants d) Addition of their excreta into the soil
Ozone hole results in
a) UV radiation reaches the earth b) Cataract
c) Increase in skin cancer d) All of the above
Given below a set of health problems
I. lack of sleep
II. high blood pressure
III. stress
IV. complete or partial hearing
V. anxiety
Which of the health problems given above are caused by noise pollution?
a) I, II and III b) II, III and IV c) II, III, IV and V d) I, II, III, IV and V
The intensity levels of whispering noise is
a) 10-15 dB b) 20-40 dB c) 45-50 dB d) 50-55 dB
Which of the following process is a cyclic, zero-waste procedure where waste products from one process
are cycled in as nutrients for other processes, allowing maximum utilisation of resources and increasing
the efficiency of production?
a) Natural farming b) Organic farming c) Chemical farming d) Artificial farming
The main component of photochemical smog is
a) SO2 b) PAN c) O3 d) Both (b) and (c)
The soil pollutants that affect the food chain and food web by killing microorganisms and plants are
a) Nitrogen oxides b) Pathogens c) Chemical fertilizers d) Pesticides
In acid rain, SO2 accounts by
a) 70% b) 100% c) 50% d) 30%
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), particles that are responsible for causing great
harm to human health are of diameter
a) 2.50 micrometers b) 5.00 micrometers c) 10.00 micrometers d) 7.5 micrometers
Which of the following are the causes for deforestation?
I. Human settlements
II. Forest fires
III. Hydroelectric projects
IV. Overgrazing by livestock
V. Demand of wood
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a) I, II and III b) III, IV and V c) II, III, IV and V d) I, II, III, IV and V
BOD is concerned with
a) Microbes b) Organic matter
c) Microbes and organic matter d) None of the above

Page| 7

NEET MCQs Environmental Issues – Free Pdf

Environmental Issues – Short Introduction