WBBHSC Class 12 Environmental Studies Higher Secondary Examination 2019

WBBHSC Class 12 Environmental Studies Higher Secondary Examination 2019

Time: 3 Hours 15 Minutes

(First 15 Minutes for reading the question paper only, 3 Hours for writing) 

Full Marks – 80

PART – B [Marks: 40]

1. Select the correct answer out of the options given against each question and write in the box provided on right-hand side bottom: [1 × 24 = 24]

(i) The process of gradual increase in the concentration of metallic elements at each successive level of the food chain is called—

1. Bionutrition
2. Biochemical demand
3. Biomagnification
4. none of these

(ii) What is the maximum permissible limit of annual average concentration of sulphur dioxide in the air of industrial area?—

1. 80 microgram / cubic m
2. 50 microgram / cubic m
3. 60 microgram / cubic m
4. 15 microgram / cubic m

(iii) Phosphobactrium is one form of—

1. biofertilizer
2. organochlorine
3. toxic metal
4. none of these

(iv) How much area of global agricultural land is getting unfit for agriculture every year—

1. 80 lakh hectares
2. 30 lakh hectares
3. 40 lakh hectares
4. 20 lakh hectares

(v) Approximately how many persons in the entire world suffer from illness due to pesticide poisoning every year?—

1. 4,00,000
2. 1,00,000
3. 3,00,000
4. 7,00,000

(vi) What is the maximum permissible limit of the annual average concentration of Suspended Particulate Matter (S. P. M.) in the air of a sensitive area?—

1. 360 microgram / cubic m
2. 50 microgram / cubic m
3. 70 microgram / cubic m
4. 1 microgram / cubic m

(vii) In which year was the ‘Wildlife Protection Act’ promulgated in India?—

1972

1970

1982

2002

(viii) The name of a long-lived hazardous pesticide is—

1. D.D T.
2. Rhizobium
3. Urea
4. Phosphate

(ix) In which year was the ‘Convention on Biodiversity’ held?—

1. 1992
2. 1972
3. 1984
4. 2002

How many numbers of angiosperm species presently exist in India?—

1. 204
2. 14500
3. 372
4. 428

(xi) What is India’s rank in the world in respect of mammalian diversity?—

1. 8th
2. 5th
3. 15th
4. 10th

(xii) In which year was the ‘Earth Summit’ held—

1. 1972
2. 1992
3. 2002
4. 1982

(xiii) Which type of soil is very rich in minerals?—

1. Sandy soil
2. Alluvial soil
3. Black soil
4. None of these

(xiv) What is the present total number of threatened bird species in India?—

1. 72
2. 17
3. 2
4. 3

(xv) What is the maximum permissible limit of noise at night time in a silent zone?—

1. 50 decibel
2. 65 decibel
3. 45 decibel
4. 40 decibel

(xvi) How many Biosphere Reserves were formed in India till 2007? —

1. 14
2. 15
3. 16
4. 18

(xvii) Which plant has the scientific name ‘Azadirachta Indica’—

1. Mango
2. Blackberry
3. Jackfruit
4. Neem

(xviii) In which the State of India is the ‘Dehang Debang Biosphere Reserve’ situated?—

1. Assam
2. Sikkim
3. Meghalaya
4. Arunachal Pradesh

(xix) What is the present total number of threatened amphibian species in India?—

1. 93
2. 3
3. 81
4. 17

(xx) The dead and decomposed organic end products that remain in the soil are called—

1. Loam
2. Humus
3. Laterite
4. none of these

(xxi) Which disease is caused due to the effect of excess nitrogen?—

1. Blue Baby Syndrome
2. Typhoid
3. Giardiasis
4. Polio

(xxii) The main reason for the destruction of Mali’s civilization was—

1. environmental disaster
2. economic crisis
3. social crisis
4. none of these

(xxiii) In which year was the report ‘Our Common Future’ published?—

1. 1992
2. 1984
3. 1972
4. 1987

(xxiv) In which year was the ‘Biodiversity Act’ promulgated in India?—

1. 2002
2. 2005
3. 2004
4. none of these

2. Answer the following questions in verv brief (Alternatives are to be noted): [1 × 16 = 16]

1. What is ‘Jhum cultivation’? Or, What is‘Taungya’?
2. Give an example of ‘Bio-insecticide’ ? Or; Name a major plant disease.
3. In which year was the ‘Factories Act’ promulgated in India?
4. What is the maximum permissible limit of ‘arsenic’ in drinking water as per IS 10500?
5. What do you mean by ‘tissue culture’? Or; What do you mean by ‘habitat fragmentation’?
6. What do you mean by ‘hot spots’ of biodiversity? Or; What do you mean by ‘biogeochemical cycle’?
7. What is ‘R. S. P. M’?
8. What do you understand by ‘sustainable lifestyle’? Or; Give one example of ancient ‘water civilization’.
9. What is ‘Azolla’? Or; What is the source of ‘Alluvial soil’?
10. What do you understand by ^kBio-herbicide’? Or; What is ‘cyanobacteria’?
11. What do you mean by ‘economic development’? Or; What is ‘Eailh capital’?
12. In v hich year was the ‘Indian Forests Act’ promulgated?
13. What do you mean by ‘hardness’ of drinking water?
14. In which year was the ‘Elephant Project’ launched in India?
15. What is a ‘gene pool’?
16. What is the full form of ‘N. A. E. B.’?

PART    A [Marks: 40]

Answer the following questions (Alternatives are to be noted) : [8 × 5 = 40]

(i) Discuss briefly the different types of ‘biodiversity*. What is a ‘seed bank’ ?6 + 2

Or; Discuss the relationship between ‘environmental pollution’ and ‘biodiversity’. What do you understand by ‘value of biodiversity’? 6 + 2

(ii) What do you mean by ‘environmental management’? Discuss its importance in the Indian context. 2 + 6

Or; Discuss with examples the relationship between ‘environmental management’ and ‘development/ What is ‘Joint Forest management’ ? 6 + 2

(iii) Discuss the importance of ‘biofertilizer’ in sustainable agriculture management. What is ‘Mixed Farming’? 5 + 3

Or; What do you mean by ‘Integrated Pest Management’? State the role of ‘Mycorrhiza’ in crop production. 5 + 3

(iv) Discuss the major challenges faced in achieving sustainable development. What do you mean by ‘ecological development’? 6 + 2

(v) State elaborately the different principles of sustainability. 8