WBBHSC Class 12 Environmental Studies Higher Secondary Examination 2022

WBBHSC Class 12 Environmental Studies Higher Secondary Examination 2022

Time: 3 Hours 15 Minutes

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

Full Marks – 80

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

(i) In the year 2025, the population of India will be around—

1. 140 crores
2. 100 crores
3. 200 crores
4. None of these

(ii) In which year did E. O. Wilson first coin the word ‘Biodiversity’?—

1. 1985
2. 1995
3. 1980
4. 2000

Or, In which year was the ‘Biodiversity Act’ promulgated in India?—

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

(iii) What is the present total number of threatened fish species in India?—

1. 72
2. 39
3. 5
4. 2

(iv) How many species of mammals are found in India?—

1. 372
2. 51
3. 101
4. None of these

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

1. 2000
2. 1970
3. 1972
4. None of these

Or, Which of the following countries is most rich in biodiversity?—

1. Japan
2. Iran
3. Brazil
4. Iraq

(vi) The name of the first biosphere reserve of India is—

1. Manas
2. Panchmarhi
3. Nilgiri
4. None of these

(vii) In which state of India is the ‘Keoladeo National Park’ situated?—

1. Madhya Pradesh
2. Rajasthan
3. Uttar Pradesh
4. None of these

Or, In which state of India is ‘Panchmarhi Biosphere Reserve’ situated?—

1. Karnataka
2. Tamil Nadu
3. Madhya Pradesh
4. Uitur Pradesh

(viii) How much quantity of tar balls (a byproduct of petroleum refining) are deposited on the Goa coast every year ?—

1. 40 tonnes
2. 120 tonnes
3. 80 tonnes
4. None of these

Or, How many species of insects are found in India?—

1. 57000
2. 2000
3. 1000
4. None of these

(ix) The scientific name of the Bot (Banyan) tree is—

1. Mangifera indica
2. Albizzia procera
3. Ficus hengalensis
4. None of these

(x) The three major objectives of sustainable development are—

1. economic, ecological and social development
2. economic growth, private profit and market expansion
3. human population growth, urbanization and environmental pollution
4. none of these

(xi) Approximately how many species of fern are found in the Andaman-Nicobar Islands?—

1. 200
2. 180
3. 120
4. None of these

(xii) One example of a biological component of soil is—

1. fungus
2. sand
3. water
4. none of these

(xiii) The use of green manure results in—

1. biomagnification
2. biodiversity loss
3. bioluminescence
4. None of these

(xiv) The species not definitely found in the last 50 years is termed as—

1. Extinct
2. Very rare
3. Rare
4. Endangered

(xv) In which year was the ‘Convention on Biodiversity⁵ (C.B.D.) held?—

1. 1992
2. 1980
3. 1972
4. 2002

Or, How many plant species are found in the Western Ghat region of India only?—

1. 1500
2. 1000
3. 2500
4. 200

(xvi) ‘Vermicompost’ is one type of—

1. chemical pesticide
2. cyanobacteria
3. biofertilizer
4. green algae

(xvii) In which state of India is the ‘Agasthyamajai Biosphere Reserve’ situated?—

1. Kerala
2. Maharashtra
3. Rajasthan
4. Tamil Nadu

(xviii) Which one of the following plants is used in the manufacture of tranquillizer medicines?—

1. Dioscorea
2. Bot (Banyan)
3. Sarpagandha
4. Mango

(xix) The time required for the development of 2.5 cm of soil strata on the surface of the Earth is around—

1. 3000 years
2. 5000 years
3. 10000 years
4. 200 – 1000 years

(xx) Sandy soil is dominantly found in—

1. desert
2. mountain peak
3. volcanic mouth
4. none of these

(xxi) From which country was the plant ‘Lantana camara’ brought to India?—

1. Mexico
2. Japan
3. China
4. Canada

(xxii) An example of renewable resource is—

1. natural gas
2. lignite
3. fire wood
4. none of these

(xxiii) Phosphobacterium is one type of—

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

(xxiv) The main function of ‘D.D.T? is to—

1. fix phosphorus for nutrition
2. maintain soil humidity
3. act as pesticide
4. none of these

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

1. What is ‘Blue Baby Syndrome’? Or; What is ‘Mixed Farming’?
2. What is the purpose of ‘seed bank’? Or; What do you mean by ‘gene erosion’?
3. What is the source of ‘black soil’? Or; What is ‘nematode’?
4. What is the full form of ‘I.P.M.’? Or; What do you mean by ‘physical pest control’?
5. What do you mean by ‘soil nutrients’? Or; What do you mean by ‘soil acidity’?
6. What type of pollution arises from ‘fossil fuels’? Or; What do you mean by ‘deep ecology’ ?
7. What are ‘biodiversity hot spots’? Or; What do you mean by ‘endangered species’?
8. What is ‘Red Data Book”? Or; What are ‘endemic species’?
9. What do you mean by ‘carrying capacity’ of environment?
10. What do you mean by ‘aesthetic value’ of biodiversity?
11. What is ‘Azolla’ ?
12. What do you mean by ‘sustainable yield’?
13. What is ‘domesticated biodiversity’?
14. Give an example of ‘World Heritage Site’ of India.
15. What is ‘Jhum cultivation’?
16. What is ‘I.R. 36′?

PART – A [Marks: 40]

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

(i) Explain the different causes of the destruction of biodiversity. 8

Or, “India is a mega biodiversity nation.” – Explain with examples

(ii) Discuss the necessity of wildlife conservation.

Or, State the role of human beings in maintaining the balance in nature.

(iii) State the major steps necessary for improving the quality of life at present and future times.

Or; What do you mean by ‘sustainable society’? Explain briefly its relationship with ‘sustainable development’. 3 + 5

(iv) Discuss the importance of soil in crop production. 8

(v) Discuss the importance of ‘biofertilizer’ in sustainable agriculture management. 8