100 MCQs on Environmental Science for PhD Entrance Exam

100 MCQs on Environmental Science for PhD Entrance Exam

Here are some MCQs on Environmental Science which will be helpful in the Entrance Exams for the PhD or any post graduation examinations

  1. Question: What is the primary source of energy for photosynthesis?
    • A) Nitrogen
    • B) Oxygen
    • C) Sunlight
    • D) Carbon dioxide
  2. Question: Which greenhouse gas is primarily responsible for global warming?
    • A) Carbon dioxide
    • B) Methane
    • C) Nitrous oxide
    • D) Ozone
  3. Question: What is the major component of the ozone layer?
    • A) Oxygen
    • B) Nitrogen
    • C) Ozone
    • D) Carbon dioxide
  4. Question: What is the term for the loss of a species from a particular habitat or the entire planet?
    • A) Extinction
    • B) Erosion
    • C) Evaporation
    • D) Decomposition
  5. Question: Which of the following is a non-renewable resource?
    • A) Wind energy
    • B) Solar energy
    • C) Fossil fuels
    • D) Biomass
  6. Question: What is the main cause of acid rain?
    • A) Nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide
    • B) Carbon dioxide
    • C) Methane
    • D) Ozone
  7. Question: What is the largest reservoir of freshwater on Earth?
    • A) Lakes
    • B) Rivers
    • C) Glaciers and ice caps
    • D) Groundwater
  8. Question: Which environmental law regulates the disposal of hazardous waste in the United States?
    • A) Clean Water Act
    • B) Clean Air Act
    • C) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
    • D) Endangered Species Act
  9. Question: What is the term for the gradual increase in the Earth’s average temperature due to human activities?
    • A) Global warming
    • B) Ice age
    • C) Greenhouse effect
    • D) El Niño
  10. Question: What is the primary function of wetlands in an ecosystem?
  • A) Carbon sequestration
  • B) Energy production
  • C) Desertification
  • D) Soil erosion control
  1. Question: What is the primary cause of the hole in the ozone layer?
    • A) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
    • B) Methane
    • C) Nitrogen oxides
    • D) Sulfur hexafluoride
  2. Question: Which biome is characterized by low temperatures, permafrost, and a short growing season?
    • A) Tropical rainforest
    • B) Tundra
    • C) Grassland
    • D) Desert
  3. Question: In the water cycle, what process involves the conversion of water vapor into liquid water?
    • A) Evaporation
    • B) Condensation
    • C) Transpiration
    • D) Precipitation
  4. Question: What is the main cause of eutrophication in freshwater ecosystems?
    • A) Deforestation
    • B) Industrial pollution
    • C) Excessive nutrient runoff
    • D) Oil spills
  5. Question: Which environmental issue is associated with the loss of biodiversity?
    • A) Acid rain
    • B) Desertification
    • C) Deforestation
    • D) Greenhouse effect
  6. Question: What is the primary function of the Montreal Protocol?
    • A) Address climate change
    • B) Reduce ozone-depleting substances
    • C) Control deforestation
    • D) Regulate water pollution
  7. Question: Which of the following is a renewable energy source derived from the Earth’s internal heat?
    • A) Solar power
    • B) Geothermal energy
    • C) Hydroelectric power
    • D) Biomass
  8. Question: What is the term for the process by which a habitat becomes progressively drier and more desert-like?
    • A) Eutrophication
    • B) Desertification
    • C) Acidification
    • D) Salinization
  9. Question: What is the primary cause of the “hole in the ozone layer”?
    • A) Pesticides
    • B) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
    • C) Volcanic activity
    • D) Acid rain
  10. Question: Which gas is most responsible for the enhanced greenhouse effect?
    • A) Methane
    • B) Carbon dioxide
    • C) Nitrous oxide
    • D) Water vapor
  11. Question: Which environmental phenomenon is characterized by an abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean?
    • A) El Niño
    • B) La Niña
    • C) Monsoon
    • D) Typhoon
  12. Question: What is the primary cause of coral bleaching in coral reefs?
    • A) Pollution
    • B) Overfishing
    • C) Elevated sea temperatures
    • D) Sedimentation
  13. Question: Which of the following is a major greenhouse gas released during the combustion of fossil fuels?
    • A) Hydrogen
    • B) Methane
    • C) Carbon monoxide
    • D) Carbon dioxide
  14. Question: What is the term for the process by which a body of water becomes enriched in nutrients, leading to excessive plant growth?
    • A) Oligotrophication
    • B) Eutrophication
    • C) Hypoxia
    • D) Desalination
  15. Question: Which international agreement aims to limit global temperature increase and combat climate change?
    • A) Kyoto Protocol
    • B) Basel Convention
    • C) Rio Declaration
    • D) Montreal Protocol
  16. Question: In ecology, what is the term for a species that has a disproportionate impact on its environment relative to its abundance?
    • A) Indicator species
    • B) Keystone species
    • C) Invasive species
    • D) Endangered species
  17. Question: What is the primary function of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)?
    • A) Humanitarian aid
    • B) Conservation of endangered species
    • C) Promotion of renewable energy
    • D) Environmental policy advocacy
  18. Question: Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?
    • A) Troposphere
    • B) Stratosphere
    • C) Mesosphere
    • D) Thermosphere

  1. Question: What is the primary cause of soil erosion?
    • A) Deforestation
    • B) Overgrazing
    • C) Urbanization
    • D) Acid rain
  2. Question: What is the main component of natural gas?
    • A) Methane
    • B) Carbon dioxide
    • C) Nitrous oxide
    • D) Sulfur hexafluoride
  3. Question: Which of the following is a major cause of soil salinization?
    • A) Deforestation
    • B) Over-irrigation
    • C) Acid rain
    • D) Urbanization
  4. Question: What is the primary source of indoor air pollution in many developing countries?
    • A) Industrial emissions
    • B) Tobacco smoke
    • C) Radon gas
    • D) Pesticides
  5. Question: What is the term for the process of converting waste materials into reusable materials?
    • A) Recycling
    • B) Incineration
    • C) Landfilling
    • D) Composting
  6. Question: Which oceanic zone is characterized by its depth, lack of light, and extremely low temperatures?
    • A) Epipelagic zone
    • B) Mesopelagic zone
    • C) Bathypelagic zone
    • D) Abyssopelagic zone
  7. Question: What is the primary greenhouse gas emitted from the agricultural sector?
    • A) Methane
    • B) Carbon dioxide
    • C) Nitrous oxide
    • D) Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
  8. Question: Which international treaty aims to protect biodiversity by promoting the sustainable use of biological resources?
    • A) Ramsar Convention
    • B) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
    • C) Basel Convention
    • D) Stockholm Convention

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  1. Question: What is the primary role of decomposers in an ecosystem?
    • A) Produce oxygen
    • B) Break down dead organic matter
    • C) Fix nitrogen
    • D) Conduct photosynthesis
  2. Question: What is the primary cause of the “hole in the ozone layer” over Antarctica?
    • A) Volcanic emissions
    • B) Industrial pollutants
    • C) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
    • D) Deforestation
  3. Question: Which of the following is a non-point source of water pollution?
    • A) Factory discharge pipe
    • B) Oil spill
    • C) Urban sewage treatment plant
    • D) Agricultural runoff
  4. Question: What is the term for the gradual increase in the acidity of oceans due to absorption of excess carbon dioxide?
    • A) Eutrophication
    • B) Ocean acidification
    • C) Desalination
    • D) Hypoxia
  5. Question: What is the primary cause of the formation of the ozone hole in the stratosphere?
    • A) Nitrogen oxides
    • B) Sulfur dioxide
    • C) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
    • D) Carbon monoxide
  6. Question: Which of the following is a renewable source of energy derived from the Earth’s internal heat?
    • A) Wind energy
    • B) Solar energy
    • C) Geothermal energy
    • D) Hydroelectric power
  7. Question: What is the term for the process of converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form plants can use?
    • A) Nitrification
    • B) Denitrification
    • C) Nitrogen fixation
    • D) Ammonification
  8. Question: Which environmental organization focuses on the conservation of wetlands and their resources?
    • A) Greenpeace
    • B) World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
    • C) Ramsar Convention
    • D) Sierra Club
  9. Question: What is the primary cause of the depletion of the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere?
    • A) Nitrogen oxides
    • B) Sulfur hexafluoride
    • C) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
    • D) Methane
  10. Question: Which layer of the atmosphere is characterized by a decrease in temperature with increasing altitude?
    • A) Troposphere
    • B) Stratosphere
    • C) Mesosphere
    • D) Thermosphere
  11. Question: What is the primary source of mercury pollution in aquatic ecosystems?
    • A) Industrial discharges
    • B) Deforestation
    • C) Agricultural runoff
    • D) Coal combustion
  12. Question: Which of the following is a key component of sustainable agriculture?
    • A) Monoculture
    • B) Pesticide-intensive practices
    • C) Crop rotation
    • D) Clear-cutting
  13. Question: What is the main contributor to indoor air pollution in urban areas?
    • A) Radon gas
    • B) Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
    • C) Particulate matter
    • D) Carbon monoxide
  14. Question: Which international agreement aims to phase out the production and consumption of substances that deplete the ozone layer?
    • A) Kyoto Protocol
    • B) Basel Convention
    • C) Montreal Protocol
    • D) Rio Declaration
  15. Question: What is the term for the process by which water vapor is released from plants into the atmosphere?
    • A) Evaporation
    • B) Transpiration
    • C) Condensation
    • D) Precipitation
  16. Question: Which of the following is a major greenhouse gas released during the digestion of food by ruminant animals?
    • A) Methane
    • B) Carbon dioxide
    • C) Nitrous oxide
    • D) Sulfur hexafluoride
  17. Question: What is the primary cause of the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica?
    • A) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
    • B) Carbon dioxide emissions
    • C) Nitrous oxide emissions
    • D) Deforestation
  18. Question: Which environmental issue is associated with the loss of topsoil through wind or water erosion?
    • A) Desertification
    • B) Acid rain
    • C) Eutrophication
    • D) Deforestation
  19. Question: What is the primary role of the World Health Organization (WHO) in environmental health?
    • A) Wildlife conservation
    • B) Air quality monitoring
    • C) Water resource management
    • D) Disease prevention and control
  20. Question: Which of the following is an example of a point source of water pollution?
    • A) Agricultural runoff
    • B) Industrial discharge
    • C) Oil spill
    • D) Urban stormwater runoff
  21. Question: What is the primary cause of the formation of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
    • A) Oil spills
    • B) Marine dumping
    • C) Tsunamis
    • D) Coastal erosion
  22. Question: What is the primary component of smog that forms in urban areas?
    • A) Nitrogen oxides
    • B) Ozone
    • C) Sulfur dioxide
    • D) Particulate matter
  23. Question: Which of the following is a method of sustainable waste management that involves the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms?
    • A) Incineration
    • B) Landfilling
    • C) Recycling
    • D) Composting
  24. Question: What is the term for the process by which an ecosystem recovers from a disturbance?
    • A) Ecological succession
    • B) Biotic potential
    • C) Population dynamics
    • D) Genetic diversity
  25. Question: Which of the following is a key factor contributing to the loss of biodiversity?
    • A) Habitat conservation
    • B) Introduction of invasive species
    • C) Sustainable agriculture
    • D) Reduced pollution
  26. Question: What is the primary greenhouse gas produced by the livestock industry?
    • A) Methane
    • B) Carbon dioxide
    • C) Nitrous oxide
    • D) Ozone
  27. Question: Which international agreement aims to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of certain ozone-depleting substances?
    • A) Kyoto Protocol
    • B) Montreal Protocol
    • C) Paris Agreement
    • D) Basel Convention
  28. Question: What is the primary cause of ocean dead zones?
    • A) Eutrophication
    • B) Oil spills
    • C) Overfishing
    • D) Acidification
  29. Question: What is the main objective of the REDD+ program in the context of climate change?
    • A) Promoting sustainable fishing practices
    • B) Conserving biodiversity
    • C) Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation
    • D) Enhancing renewable energy sources
  30. Question: Which of the following is a characteristic of a sustainable urban development?
    • A) Increased dependence on fossil fuels
    • B) Urban sprawl
    • C) Green building practices
    • D) High levels of air pollution
  31. Question: What is the primary source of mercury pollution in the atmosphere?
    • A) Industrial emissions
    • B) Agricultural runoff
    • C) Volcanic activity
    • D) Deforestation
  32. Question: What is the primary greenhouse gas associated with the agricultural practice of rice cultivation?
    • A) Methane
    • B) Carbon dioxide
    • C) Nitrous oxide
    • D) Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
  33. Question: Which of the following is an example of a non-point source of air pollution?
    • A) Power plant stack
    • B) Automobile exhaust
    • C) Agricultural field
    • D) Industrial chimney
  34. Question: What is the term for the process by which pollutants are removed from water as it passes through soil?
    • A) Filtration
    • B) Precipitation
    • C) Adsorption
    • D) Desalination
  35. Question: Which of the following is a major factor contributing to the depletion of stratospheric ozone?
    • A) Acid rain
    • B) Nitrogen oxides
    • C) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
    • D) Particulate matter
  36. Question: What is the primary function of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in environmental science?
    • A) Wildlife conservation
    • B) Climate monitoring and research
    • C) Oceanography studies
    • D) Soil conservation
  37. Question: What is the primary cause of the greenhouse effect?
    • A) Industrial pollution
    • B) Increased solar radiation
    • C) Human activities releasing greenhouse gases
    • D) Volcanic eruptions
  38. Question: Which of the following is a renewable energy source derived from the movement of air?
    • A) Geothermal energy
    • B) Solar power
    • C) Wind energy
    • D) Hydroelectric power
  39. Question: What is the term for the process by which rocks and soils become contaminated with heavy metals through human activities?
    • A) Biomagnification
    • B) Leaching
    • C) Acidification
    • D) Bioaccumulation
  40. Question: Which environmental organization focuses on protecting rainforests and promoting biodiversity?
    • A) Greenpeace
    • B) Rainforest Foundation
    • C) Sierra Club
    • D) Conservation International
  41. Question: What is the main cause of the “ozone hole” over Antarctica?
    • A) Carbon dioxide emissions
    • B) Industrial pollutants
    • C) Nitrogen oxides
    • D) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
  42. Question: What is the primary greenhouse gas produced by the decomposition of organic matter in landfills?
    • A) Carbon dioxide
    • B) Methane
    • C) Nitrous oxide
    • D) Ozone
  43. Question: Which of the following is a method of sustainable water management that involves collecting and storing rainwater for later use?
    • A) Desalination
    • B) Irrigation
    • C) Rainwater harvesting
    • D) Dam construction
  44. Question: What is the term for the loss of water from leaves of plants into the atmosphere?
    • A) Transpiration
    • B) Evaporation
    • C) Condensation
    • D) Infiltration
  45. Question: What is the primary cause of coral reef degradation known as coral bleaching?
    • A) Ocean acidification
    • B) Increased salinity
    • C) Elevated sea temperatures
    • D) Overfishing
  46. Question: Which international agreement focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of migratory species of wild animals?
    • A) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
    • B) CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora)
    • C) Ramsar Convention
    • D) Bonn Convention
  47. Question: What is the term for the process by which pollutants are removed from the air by precipitation?
    • A) Leaching
    • B) Precipitation
    • C) Scrubbing
    • D) Filtration
  48. Question: What is the primary greenhouse gas released from the agriculture sector due to the fermentation of organic matter in the absence of oxygen?
    • A) Carbon dioxide
    • B) Nitrous oxide
    • C) Methane
    • D) Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
  49. Question: What is the main cause of soil erosion on hillsides?
    • A) Deforestation
    • B) Urbanization
    • C) Agriculture
    • D) Climate change
  50. Question: Which of the following is a method of sustainable fishing that involves catching only a specified amount of fish to ensure the population’s sustainability?
    • A) Blast fishing
    • B) Trawling
    • C) Bycatch
    • D) Quotas
  51. Question: What is the primary source of indoor air pollution caused by combustion in many developing countries?
    • A) Gas stoves
    • B) Candles
    • C) Solid fuel combustion (wood, dung, etc.)
    • D) Electric heaters
  52. Question: Which of the following is a key component of integrated pest management (IPM)?
    • A) Monoculture
    • B) Pesticide rotation
    • C) Genetic modification
    • D) Biological control methods
  53. Question: What is the term for the loss of water from the soil through evaporation and plant transpiration?
    • A) Infiltration
    • B) Percolation
    • C) Runoff
    • D) Evapotranspiration
  54. Question: Which of the following is an example of a non-point source of pollution in rivers?
    • A) Industrial discharge pipe
    • B) Oil spill
    • C) Agricultural runoff
    • D) Sewage treatment plant
  55. Question: What is the primary cause of the formation of acid rain?
    • A) Carbon dioxide emissions
    • B) Nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide emissions
    • C) Methane emissions
    • D) Particulate matter emissions
  56. Question: Which of the following is a major cause of deforestation?
    • A) Sustainable logging practices
    • B) Urbanization
    • C) Reforestation efforts
    • D) Agroforestry
  57. Question: What is the primary greenhouse gas released from landfills during the decomposition of organic waste?
    • A) Methane
    • B) Carbon dioxide
    • C) Nitrous oxide
    • D) Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
  58. Question: Which environmental issue is associated with the depletion of stratospheric ozone?
    • A) Global warming
    • B) Acid rain
    • C) Loss of biodiversity
    • D) Increased UV radiation
  59. Question: What is the term for the process by which plants and animals migrate to different regions in response to changing environmental conditions?
    • A) Evolution
    • B) Hibernation
    • C) Migration
    • D) Adaptation
  60. Question: Which of the following is a renewable source of energy derived from the Earth’s internal heat?
    • A) Wind energy
    • B) Solar energy
    • C) Geothermal energy
    • D) Biomass
  61. Question: What is the primary cause of the greenhouse effect on Earth?
    • A) Water vapor
    • B) Carbon dioxide
    • C) Ozone
    • D) Methane
  62. Question: Which environmental organization is known for its focus on protecting endangered species and their habitats?
    • A) Greenpeace
    • B) World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
    • C) Sierra Club
    • D) Friends of the Earth
  63. Question: What is the primary source of methane emissions in agriculture?
    • A) Livestock digestion
    • B) Pesticide use
    • C) Irrigation practices
    • D) Deforestation
  64. Question: What is the term for the process of converting sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic cells? –
    • A) Wind power
    • B) Hydropower
    • C) Solar power
    • D) Biomass energy

Answers:

  1. C) Sunlight
  2. A) Carbon dioxide
  3. C) Ozone
  4. A) Extinction
  5. C) Fossil fuels
  6. A) Nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide
  7. C) Glaciers and ice caps
  8. C) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
  9. A) Global warming
  10. A) Carbon sequestration
  11. A) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
  12. B) Tundra
  13. B) Condensation
  14. C) Excessive nutrient runoff
  15. C) Deforestation
  16. B) Reduce ozone-depleting substances
  17. B) Geothermal energy
  18. B) Desertification
  19. B) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
  20. B) Carbon dioxide
  21. A) El Niño
  22. C) Elevated sea temperatures
  23. D) Carbon dioxide
  24. B) Eutrophication
  25. A) Kyoto Protocol
  26. B) Keystone species
  27. B) Conservation of endangered species
  28. B) Stratosphere
  29. A) Deforestation
  30. A) Methane
  31. B) Over-irrigation
  32. B) Tobacco smoke
  33. A) Recycling
  34. C) Bathypelagic zone
  35. C) Nitrous oxide
  36. B) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
  37. B) Break down dead organic matter
  38. C) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
  39. D) Agricultural runoff
  40. B) Ocean acidification
  41. C) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
  42. C) Geothermal energy
  43. C) Nitrogen fixation
  44. C) Ramsar Convention
  45. C) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
  46. A) Troposphere
  47. D) Coal combustion
  48. C) Crop rotation
  49. B) Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
  50. C) Montreal Protocol
  51. B) Transpiration
  52. A) Methane
  53. A) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
  54. A) Desertification
  55. D) Disease prevention and control
  56. B) Industrial discharge
  57. B) Marine dumping
  58. A) Nitrogen oxides
  59. D) Composting
  60. A) Ecological succession
  61. B) Introduction of invasive species
  62. A) Methane
  63. B) Montreal Protocol
  64. A) Eutrophication
  65. C) Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation
  66. C) Green building practices
  67. A) Industrial emissions
  68. A) Methane
  69. C) Agricultural field
  70. C) Adsorption
  71. C) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
  72. B) Climate monitoring and research
  73. C) Human activities releasing greenhouse gases
  74. C) Wind energy
  75. B) Leaching
  76. B) Rainforest Foundation
  77. D) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
  78. B) Methane
  79. C) Rainwater harvesting
  80. A) Transpiration
  81. C) Elevated sea temperatures
  82. D) Bonn Convention
  83. B) Precipitation
  84. C) Methane
  85. A) Deforestation
  86. D) Quotas
  87. C) Solid fuel combustion (wood, dung, etc.)
  88. D) Biological control methods
  89. D) Evapotranspiration
  90. C) Agricultural runoff
  91. B) Nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide emissions
  92. B) Urbanization
  93. A) Methane
  94. D) Increased UV radiation
  95. C) Migration
  96. C) Geothermal energy
  97. A) Water vapor
  98. B) World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
  99. A) Livestock digestion
  100. C) Solar power
MCQs on Environmental Science

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