About this quiz
50 questions covering every section of the note on ecosystems, biodiversity, pollution, the ozone layer, the greenhouse effect, climate change in Nepal, sustainable development, global agreements and environment days.
This Lok Sewa practice set has 50 multiple-choice questions (Subject: Science and Technology · For: Kharidar, Nayab Subba, Section Officer · Level: Easy). Take the quiz above first; after that, use the study list below to revise every question with its correct answer and a short explanation.
Study list: all 50 questions with answers and explanations
In an ecosystem, which organisms break down dead plants and animals and return nutrients to the soil?
- A) Producers
- B) Herbivores
- C) Decomposers ✔
- D) Carnivores
Why: Decomposers such as bacteria and fungi break down dead bodies and recycle nutrients.
Which of the following is an abiotic component of an ecosystem?
- A) Sunlight ✔
- B) Fungi
- C) Grass
- D) Deer
Why: Abiotic components are the non-living parts such as sunlight, air, water and soil.
In the food chain grass → deer → tiger, what is the deer?
- A) Producer
- B) Primary consumer (herbivore) ✔
- C) Decomposer
- D) Top carnivore
Why: The deer eats the producer (grass) directly, so it is a herbivore or primary consumer.
According to the ten percent law, about how much energy passes from one trophic level to the next?
- A) 50 percent
- B) 90 percent
- C) 100 percent
- D) 10 percent ✔
Why: Only about 10 percent of energy moves to the next level; the rest is used up or lost as heat.
Many local types of rice within one species show which level of biodiversity?
- A) Genetic diversity ✔
- B) Species diversity
- C) Ecosystem diversity
- D) Habitat loss
Why: Variety within a single species is genetic diversity.
Keeping wild animals in a zoo or seeds in a seed bank is an example of what?
- A) In situ conservation
- B) Poaching
- C) Ex situ conservation ✔
- D) Habitat destruction
Why: Ex situ conservation protects species outside their natural homes; national parks are in situ.
Which is Nepal's first national park, established in 1973?
- A) Sagarmatha National Park
- B) Chitwan National Park ✔
- C) Bardiya National Park
- D) Langtang National Park
Why: Chitwan National Park, set up in 1973, was the first national park of Nepal.
Which gases mainly cause acid rain?
- A) Oxygen and nitrogen
- B) Helium and argon
- C) Methane and water vapour
- D) Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides ✔
Why: Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from burning fuel dissolve in rainwater and make it acidic.
In which unit is the loudness of noise measured?
- A) Hertz
- B) Decibel ✔
- C) Dobson unit
- D) Pascal
Why: Loudness of sound is measured in decibels (dB); Dobson units measure ozone.
Heavy growth of algae in a lake because of too many nutrients from fertilizer and sewage is called what?
- A) Eutrophication ✔
- B) Sublimation
- C) Desertification
- D) Ozone depletion
Why: Excess nutrients cause eutrophication; the algae use up oxygen and fish die.
Which serious groundwater problem is found in some parts of the Terai?
- A) Excess ozone
- B) Radioactive water
- C) Arsenic contamination ✔
- D) Too much oxygen
Why: Arsenic in groundwater is a known health problem in some Terai areas.
In which layer of the atmosphere is most of the ozone found?
- A) Troposphere
- B) Mesosphere
- C) Thermosphere
- D) Stratosphere ✔
Why: The ozone layer lies in the stratosphere, roughly 15 to 35 km above the Earth.
What does the ozone layer protect us from?
- A) Ultraviolet rays of the Sun ✔
- B) Visible light
- C) Rainwater
- D) Radio waves
Why: The ozone layer absorbs most of the Sun's harmful UV rays that cause skin cancer and cataracts.
CFCs harm the ozone layer by releasing which element in the stratosphere?
- A) Oxygen
- B) Chlorine ✔
- C) Carbon
- D) Nitrogen
Why: Sunlight breaks CFC molecules and frees chlorine atoms, which destroy ozone molecules.
Which of these is NOT a greenhouse gas?
- A) Carbon dioxide
- B) Methane
- C) Nitrous oxide
- D) Nitrogen ✔
Why: Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide trap heat; nitrogen, the main gas of air, does not.
Paddy fields, cattle and rubbish dumps release which greenhouse gas?
- A) Ozone
- B) Carbon monoxide
- C) Methane ✔
- D) Nitrous oxide
Why: Methane is produced in paddy fields, by cattle and in rubbish dumps.
What is the rise in the average temperature of the Earth due to extra greenhouse gases called?
- A) Global warming ✔
- B) Ozone hole
- C) Acid rain
- D) Eutrophication
Why: More greenhouse gases trap more heat, raising the Earth's average temperature; this is global warming.
What does GLOF stand for?
- A) Global Land Ozone Flow
- B) Green Land Of Forests
- C) Great Lake Overflow Fund
- D) Glacial Lake Outburst Flood ✔
Why: A GLOF is a sudden flood when the wall holding back a glacial lake breaks.
Tsho Rolpa, one of Nepal's most dangerous glacial lakes, is in which district?
- A) Solukhumbu
- B) Dolakha ✔
- C) Mustang
- D) Rasuwa
Why: Tsho Rolpa lies in Dolakha; its level was lowered by about 3 metres in 2000 to reduce the GLOF risk.
The Government of Nepal held a cabinet meeting at Kalapatthar in December 2009 mainly to do what?
- A) Celebrate a new constitution
- B) Open a hydropower plant
- C) Draw world attention to climate change ✔
- D) Plan a mountaineering expedition
Why: The meeting near Everest base camp, held before the Copenhagen conference, highlighted the threat of climate change to the Himalaya.
The well-known definition of sustainable development comes from which report of 1987?
- A) Kyoto Report
- B) Stockholm Report
- C) Agenda 21
- D) Brundtland Report (Our Common Future) ✔
Why: The Brundtland Report, "Our Common Future", defined sustainable development in 1987.
How many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations in 2015?
- A) 17 ✔
- B) 8
- C) 21
- D) 13
Why: There are 17 SDGs to be achieved by 2030; goal 13 is climate action.
The Montreal Protocol of 1987 is related to which issue?
- A) Protection of wetlands
- B) Trade in endangered animals
- C) Protection of the ozone layer ✔
- D) Desertification
Why: The Montreal Protocol phases out CFCs and other substances that deplete the ozone layer.
In which year was the Paris Agreement on climate change adopted?
- A) 1997
- B) 2015 ✔
- C) 1992
- D) 2005
Why: The Paris Agreement was adopted at COP21 in 2015; 1997 is the Kyoto Protocol and 1992 the UNFCCC.
World Environment Day is celebrated every year on which date?
- A) 5 June ✔
- B) 22 April
- C) 16 September
- D) 22 March
Why: World Environment Day is 5 June; 22 April is Earth Day, 16 September is Ozone Day and 22 March is Water Day.
Producers in an ecosystem are:
- A) Green plants ✔
- B) Animals
- C) Fungi
- D) Bacteria only
Why: Make their own food.
Herbivores are:
- A) Primary consumers ✔
- B) Producers
- C) Secondary consumers
- D) Decomposers
Why: Eat plants.
Air pollution in Kathmandu is mainly measured as:
- A) PM2.5 ✔
- B) pH
- C) Decibel
- D) Hertz
Why: Fine particulate matter.
Main source of carbon monoxide pollution in cities is:
- A) Vehicle exhaust ✔
- B) Trees
- C) Rivers
- D) Wind
Why: Incomplete burning.
Noise above about how many decibels is harmful?
- A) 85 dB ✔
- B) 20 dB
- C) 40 dB
- D) 10 dB
Why: Prolonged exposure.
Soil pollution is mainly caused by:
- A) Excess chemical fertilisers and pesticides ✔
- B) Rain
- C) Grass
- D) Sunlight
Why: Chemicals.
Global warming is mainly caused by:
- A) Greenhouse gases ✔
- B) Ozone layer
- C) Oxygen
- D) Nitrogen
Why: CO2, methane etc.
The main greenhouse gas emitted by burning fossil fuels is:
- A) Carbon dioxide ✔
- B) Oxygen
- C) Nitrogen
- D) Argon
Why: CO2.
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in:
- A) 1997 ✔
- B) 1987
- C) 2015
- D) 1992
Why: Emission targets.
The UNFCCC was adopted at the Earth Summit in:
- A) 1992 (Rio de Janeiro) ✔
- B) 1972 (Stockholm)
- C) 2015 (Paris)
- D) 1997 (Kyoto)
Why: Rio, 1992.
The Paris Agreement aims to limit warming well below:
- A) 2 °C (aiming for 1.5 °C) ✔
- B) 5 °C
- C) 0.5 °C
- D) 10 °C
Why: Temperature goal.
COP stands for:
- A) Conference of the Parties ✔
- B) Committee of Pollution
- C) Council of Planet
- D) Centre of Protection
Why: UNFCCC meetings.
The ozone hole was first discovered over:
- A) Antarctica ✔
- B) Arctic
- C) Nepal
- D) Sahara
Why: 1985.
Ozone layer lies in the:
- A) Stratosphere ✔
- B) Troposphere
- C) Mesosphere
- D) Thermosphere
Why: Stratosphere.
Weather phenomena occur mainly in the:
- A) Troposphere ✔
- B) Stratosphere
- C) Ionosphere
- D) Exosphere
Why: Lowest layer.
Nepal's cabinet meeting at Kalapatthar (2009) highlighted:
- A) Climate change in the Himalaya ✔
- B) Tourism year
- C) Federalism
- D) Census
Why: Near Everest base camp.
Nepal's underwater cabinet meeting was held by:
- A) Maldives ✔
- B) Nepal
- C) Bhutan
- D) India
Why: Maldives, 2009 (Nepal held one at Kalapatthar).
The Environment Protection Act of Nepal is from:
- A) 2076 BS ✔
- B) 2053 BS
- C) 2049 BS
- D) 2063 BS
Why: Replaced the 2053 Act.
EIA is required to:
- A) Assess environmental impact before projects ✔
- B) Collect taxes
- C) Hire staff
- D) Audit accounts
Why: Environmental Impact Assessment.
Biodegradable waste includes:
- A) Vegetable peels ✔
- B) Plastic
- C) Glass
- D) Metal cans
Why: Decomposes naturally.
Earth Day is celebrated on:
- A) 22 April ✔
- B) 5 June
- C) 16 September
- D) 22 March
Why: 22 April.
World Water Day is on:
- A) 22 March ✔
- B) 22 April
- C) 5 June
- D) 16 October
Why: 22 March.
International Ozone Day is on:
- A) 16 September ✔
- B) 5 June
- C) 22 April
- D) 1 December
Why: Montreal Protocol.
Arsenic contamination in groundwater is a problem mainly in:
- A) Terai districts ✔
- B) High Himalaya
- C) Kathmandu hills
- D) Mustang
Why: Nawalparasi, Rautahat etc.
Deforestation contributes to climate change by:
- A) Reducing carbon absorption ✔
- B) Increasing oxygen
- C) Cooling the earth
- D) Increasing rainfall always
Why: Fewer carbon sinks.