Energy Resources & Sustainability MCQs

1. Renewable exhaustible resource:

a) Forest b) Coal c) Petroleum d) Natural gas

Correct Answer: a) Forest

Explanation:
Forests are renewable (can regrow) but exhaustible (can be depleted if overused). Fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, gas) are non-renewable exhaustible resources that take millions of years to form.

2. Inexhaustible energy source:

a) Coal b) Natural gas c) Nuclear d) Hydropower

Correct Answer: d) Hydropower

Explanation:
Hydropower is considered inexhaustible as it relies on the water cycle (solar-powered evaporation and precipitation). Fossil fuels and nuclear materials are exhaustible, though nuclear fusion could be inexhaustible if harnessed.

3. Biogas is:

a) Renewable b) Conventional c) Non-conventional d) Both (a) & (c)

Correct Answer: d) Both (a) & (c)

Explanation:
Biogas is renewable (produced continuously from organic waste) and non-conventional (not part of traditional energy systems). Conventional energy refers to established sources like fossil fuels.

4. Species restricted to an area:

a) Endemic species b) Endangered species c) Exotic species d) Extinct species

Correct Answer: a) Endemic species

Explanation:
Endemic species are native and restricted to specific geographic locations (islands, mountain ranges). Examples include the Komodo dragon (Indonesia) and Western Ghats' lion-tailed macaque.

5. IUCN stands for:

a) International Union for Conservation of Nature b) International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources c) International Universal Conservation Network d) Indian Union for Conservation of Nature

Correct Answer: b) International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

Explanation:
Founded in 1948, IUCN is the global authority on species conservation status (Red List) and sustainable development. While commonly called "International Union for Conservation of Nature", its full legal name includes "and Natural Resources".

6. Uses of forests:

a) Timber production b) Climate regulation c) Biodiversity conservation d) All the above

Correct Answer: d) All the above

Explanation:
Forests provide provisioning services (timber, food), regulating services (carbon sequestration, water cycling), cultural services (recreation), and supporting services (habitat for biodiversity).

7. CO₂ absorbed by 1 acre forest/year:

a) 2 tons b) 4 tons c) 6 tons d) 8 tons

Correct Answer: c) 6 tons

Explanation:
A mature forest absorbs ~2.5-6 tons CO₂/acre/year through photosynthesis. Tropical forests absorb more than temperate forests. This "carbon sink" function helps mitigate climate change.

8. Oxygen released by 1 acre forest/year:

a) 4 tons b) 6 tons c) 8 tons d) 10 tons

Correct Answer: a) 4 tons

Explanation:
Through photosynthesis, forests release oxygen as a byproduct. Approximately 4 tons of O₂ are produced annually per acre, supporting terrestrial and aquatic life.

9. Essential for a healthy environment:

a) CO₂ b) O₂ c) N₂ d) CH₄

Correct Answer: b) O₂

Explanation:
Oxygen (O₂) is essential for aerobic respiration in most organisms. While CO₂ is needed for photosynthesis and N₂ is abundant, O₂ availability directly determines habitat suitability for animals.

10. Environmental equilibrium regulated by:

a) Forest resources b) Water resources c) Mineral resources d) Human resources

Correct Answer: a) Forest resources

Explanation:
Forests maintain ecological balance by regulating climate (carbon cycle), water cycles (transpiration), soil stability, and biodiversity through complex food webs and nutrient cycling.

11. Peace/prosperity to mankind from:

a) Forest resources b) Mineral resources c) Fossil fuels d) Nuclear energy

Correct Answer: a) Forest resources

Explanation:
Forests provide sustainable livelihoods (non-timber forest products), regulate climate (reducing natural disasters), and maintain cultural/spiritual values - all contributing to long-term human prosperity without conflict over finite resources.

12. Minimum forest area for ecological balance:

a) 25% b) 33% c) 50% d) 66%

Correct Answer: b) 33%

Explanation:
The National Forest Policy (1988) recommends 33% forest cover (60% in hills, 20% in plains) for ecological stability. Currently, India has ~24% forest and tree cover.

13. Deforestation reduces:

a) Rainfall b) Soil fertility c) Biodiversity d) All the above

Correct Answer: d) All the above

Explanation:
Deforestation disrupts the water cycle (reducing rainfall), exposes soil to erosion (depleting nutrients), and destroys habitats (causing species extinction), demonstrating interconnected ecological impacts.

14. World Forestry Day:

a) March 21 b) April 22 c) June 5 d) September 16

Correct Answer: a) March 21

Explanation:
Established by the UN in 2012, International Day of Forests (March 21) raises awareness about all types of forests. This date coincides with the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.

15. "Living planet" due to:

a) Forests b) Mountains c) Deserts d) Water

Correct Answer: d) Water

Explanation:
Earth is called the "living planet" primarily because liquid water enables biochemical reactions essential for life. Water's unique properties (solvent, temperature regulation) make it fundamental to all known life forms.

16. Essential for all life:

a) Water b) Oxygen c) Carbon dioxide d) Nitrogen

Correct Answer: a) Water

Explanation:
Water is the universal solvent for biochemical reactions and comprises 60-90% of living organisms. While oxygen is needed by aerobes, some life (anaerobes) thrives without it, but all life requires water.

17. UN declared International Year of Freshwater:

a) 2000 b) 2001 c) 2002 d) 2003

Correct Answer: d) 2003

Explanation:
The UN declared 2003 as International Year of Freshwater to highlight global water challenges. This led to the Water for Life Decade (2005-2015) and influenced Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

18. Soil erosion caused by:

a) Deforestation b) Overgrazing c) Improper farming d) All the above

Correct Answer: d) All the above

Explanation:
Soil erosion results from vegetation removal (deforestation), compacting soil with livestock (overgrazing), and exposing bare soil to rain/wind (monocropping, up-down ploughing). These practices destroy soil structure and root networks that hold soil.

19. Plants with no soil-binding capacity:

a) Annual crops b) Grasses c) Shrubs d) All the above

Correct Answer: d) All the above

Explanation:
While all plants help prevent erosion to some degree, deep-rooted perennial trees are most effective. Annual crops (shallow roots), grasses (fibrous roots), and shrubs (moderate roots) provide less soil stabilization than mature forests.

20. 1 Giga joule = ?

a) 29 barrels of oil b) 59 barrels of oil c) 89 barrels of oil d) 119 barrels of oil

Correct Answer: b) 59 barrels of oil

Explanation:
1 GJ ≈ 59 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE). This energy conversion helps compare different energy sources. 1 barrel (159 liters) of oil contains ~6.12 GJ of energy, making 1 GJ ≈ 1/6.12 barrels ≈ 0.163 barrels (so 1 GJ ≈ 1/0.0169 ≈ 59 BOE).

Energy Resources & Sustainability MCQs

1. Energy Resources

2. Conservation & Ecology

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