Important Questions Class 11 Biology Chapter 1: Diversity in the Living World

Chapter 1 of CBSE curriculum Class 11 Biology teaches students about Diversity in the Living World. 

Have you ever looked around and thought about how unique the Earth Is? It has the five main elements needed for life and sustains a large diversity of life, from extremely tiny unseen microorganisms to 120 feet dinosaurs. Have you ever wondered how they lived? How are they classified? How do we even identify each of the organisms? 

This chapter in the NCERT book summarises all this essential information. The chapter teaches us the basic fundamentals of life. It tells us that one is considered living if one has a consciousness, i.e. a self-consciousness to decide what is right or wrong or when it can reproduce. It tells us that an organism is considered living when it can exhibit the metabolism process because every species needs the energy to live. The chapter covers all the  Important Questions of  Class 11 Biology Chapter 1. It also teaches about the five kingdoms of classification in different orders. 

Every living organism has a common name, but a common name is used for that organism worldwide. The process of naming an organism is called Nomenclature. The nomenclature was first discovered by a famous biologist Carolus Linnaeus. According to him, each common name consists of two significant components: a generic name and a specific epithet. Furthermore, there are eight major taxonomic groups through which the organisms are classified and organised. 

These taxonomic groups help to identify, compare, and study the species. So, to get a deeper understanding of the chapter, this article contains the Important Questions Class 11 Biology Chapter 1. 

Get Access to CBSE Class 11 Biology Important Questions & Answers for the Academic Year 2022-23.

Class 11 Biology Chapter-wise important questions are available for free to students, and these questions are perfect for self-study.

Check out CBSE Class 11 Biology Important Questions for other chapters as well:

Important Questions of Biology Class 11 Chapter 1

As we know, Biology is more of a theory-based content to solve important questions. This subject requires constant reading, revising, and learning. At Extramarks, we understand the value of such a subject. We ensure that you get not only this, but we also create the Important Questions Class 11 Biology Chapter 1 from different sources such as the NCERT textbook, NCERT exemplar, and other reference books. We have also collected detailed step-by-step explanations for each question picked  from CBSE’s previous year’s question papers. Students can register with Extramarks and access Important Questions Class 11 Biology Chapter 1 and much more.

Apart from Biology Class 11 Chapter 1 Important Questions, students can easily find materials like NCERT Solutions, CBSE revision notes, and past year question papers from NCERT books.  

Given below are some  of the questions and their solutions from our question bank of Chapter 1 Class 11 Biology Important Questions.It’s recommended for students who want to maximise their potential and get excellent grades in Biology.

Question 1. Why are living organisms classified?

Answer 1. 

The Earth is home to millions of organisms; some get instinct while others are discovered. Each organism has a local name based on where or who discovered them. So a proper standard classification is necessary to avoid confusion. Also, the standard classification helps in researching and studying the species.

Question 2. As we go from species to Kingdom in a taxonomic hierarchy, the number of common characteristics

1. Will decrease
2. Will increase
3. Remain the same
4. May increase or decrease

Answer 2: Option (a) is the correct option. 

Explanation: An organism is classified based on its characteristics; as it gets selected from sepsis to Kingdom, its characteristics become unique and uncommon from other organisms. 

Question3. Name two organisms that do not reproduce.

Answer 3 – The organisms that cannot reproduce are sterile. Examples of such animals are Mules and Worker Bees. 

Question 4. Linnaeus is considered the Father of Taxonomy. Name two other botanists known for their contribution to the field of plant taxonomy.

Answer 4- Carolus Linnaeus is considered the father of taxonomy as he discovered classification of species. The other two botanists known for their contribution to the field of plant taxonomy are G Bentham and Joseph Dalton Hooker. 

Question 5. Botanical gardens and zoological parks have:

1. Collection of endemic living species only
2. Collection of exotic living species only
3. Collection of endemic and exotic living species
4. Collection of only local plants and animals

Solution 5 – option (c ) is the correct answer. 

Explanation: Biological gardens and zoological parks are formed to protect native and foreign species. That way, they collect and safeguard both endemic and exotic species. 

Question 6. The scientific name of the Mango is given below. Identify the written name correctly. 

Mangifera Indica

Mangifera indica

Answer 6 –

The correct name for Mango is Mangifera indica because a legal name is derived from two components: Genus and species. The first word of the name represents Genus, while species is the second word. Here Mangifera is the genus name while India is the species name. The first letter of the Genus should always be in the capital, and the first letter of the species should always be small. That’s why the correct name is Mangifera indica. . 

Question 7. The classification system is changing very frequently. Discuss why?

Answer 7

The classification system is changing because many new organisms and species are often discovered. The new species must be added and organised into a classification. 

Question 8. From the identification of individuals and populations, what do we learn?

Answer 8 –

The Earth is a diverse planet with people from various regions supporting different religions. So we learn about their gender, skin colour, food, culture, language, ethnicity, and fashion. These are the factors through which we can quickly identify a person. 

Question 9. Which of the following ‘suffixes’ used for units of classification in plants indicates a taxonomic category of ‘family’?

1. – Ales
2. – One
3. – Aceae
4. – Ae

Solution 9 – option (c ) is the answer. 

 Explanation: Every category in classification has its suffix. So the suffix for the category of the Family is “Aceae.”

Question 10. All living organisms are linked to one another because of

1. They have the common genetic material of the same type
2. They share common genetic material but to varying degrees
3. All have a common cellular organisation
4. All of the above.

Solution 10 – option (b) is the correct answer.

Explanation: Every living organism is different and unique. Each of these specimens has the same genetic material, i.e., DNA, but as each organism is different, so is its genetic material. 

Question 11. What does ICZN stand for?

Answer 11-

ICZN is known as the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. It classifies, organises, and arranges the zoological species. 

Question 12. Write a short note on zoological parks. 

Answer 12-

 Zoological parks, also known as zoos, are places where mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and fishes are guarded and cared for. They are even displayed to the public for study and tourism. These animal groups are both endemic and exotic and are given intense care that cannot be provided in their natural habitat. 

Question 13. Who gave the binomial name of classification?

Answer 13 – 

Carolus Linnaeus, a famous Biologist, gave the binomial name of classification. 

Question 14. What are the universal rules of nomenclature?

Answer 14 – 

The five main rules of nomenclature are-

1. These names are derived from Latin, so these names should always be written in Italics. 
2. The biological world is composed of two components- genus and species. Genus represents the first word, while the second word represents the species epithet.
3. When written in hand or typed, the name should always be underlined and written or printed in Italics.
4. The first letter of the first word representing genus should always be in the capital, while the first letter of the species should always be small. E.g.- Panthera Tigris (tiger)
5. The author’s name is generally used at the end of the biological name. E.g.- Panthera Tigris (Linn). It indicates the name of the person that discovered the species. 

Question 15. How is a key helpful in the identification and classification of an organism?

Answer 15 –

 A key contains some information or clues regarding the organism. They are used to identify organisms with similar characteristics. Furthermore, they can classify the organism based on its similarities and dissimilarities. They are also called taxonomical aid because of their requirement to classify an organism like Family, Genus, and species. 

Question 16. Define and understand the following terms

a)Phylum b) Class c) Family

1. d) Order e) Genus

Answer 16 – 

1. a) Phylum- A phylum falls between Kingdom and class. It is also known as the third most broad category of classification. It is a classification level that contains a large group of animals. E.g.  The Chordata group is a widespread example of Phylum. 
2. b) Class- Class falls between phylum and order. The further specific division of Phylum is where the organism is divided based on their similarities. E.g., class Mammalia
3. c) Family- Family falls between order and genus. It is often referred to as a category that contains one or more genera. E.g., The family Liliaceae consists of 15 genera. 
4. d) Order- It comprises groups or families that contain a shared set of similar characteristics. It falls between family and class. E.g. Class Mammalia consists of Order Chiroptera, Order primates, and Order Insectivora. 
5. e) Genus- It is one of the main components of biological nomenclature. The organism placed here represents closely related species.For example, Allium cepa (commonly known as onion). The Allium is the generic name whereas the cepa is the specific name.. 

Question 17. Define Metabolism.

Answer 17 – 

The energy released into our body through chemical reactions is known as metabolism. Metabolism is essential as our body requires energy for growth and development. This is a never-ending process which means it is continuous. This process breaks down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to release energy. 

Metabolism is of two major types- Catabolism and Anabolism—the process where complex food material is broken down into simple food material. While the process of anabolism is just the opposite, anabolism is the formation of complex molecules from simpler ones. 

Question 18. Brassica competes Linn

1. Give the common name of the plant.
2. What do the first two parts of the name denote?
3. Why are they written in italics?
4. What is the meaning of Linn written at the end of the name?

Answer 18 – 

1. Brassica competes  Linn is the common name for Mustard. This plant is native to the Mediterranean and consists of the Family Brassica.
2. The first two parts of the name is the standard binomial name of the Mustard plant. The first part is the Genus, while the second part is the species. They are differentiated based on their first letter. The first letter of Genus should always be capitalised, while the first letter of Species epithet should always be small. 
3. The common name is written in Italics because it indicates Latin origin. It is an important rule to remember that when handwritten, the common name should always be underlined and, when printed, be in Italics.
4. In Brassica competes with Linn, the word Linn indicates the name of the scientist that first discovered this species. Hence in this, Linn indicates the name, Linnaeus. 

Question 19. How do we prepare herbarium sheets? What different tools do you carry with you while collecting plants to prepare a herbarium? What information should a preserved plant material on the herbarium sheet provide for taxonomic studies?

Answer 19- 

The herbarium sheets are prepared in six main steps – Collection, pressing, drying, poisoning, mounting, and labelling. 

1. Collection- In this step, the leaves of the required species are collected. 
2. Pressing- Next, the preservation of the required species is done. The leaves or the specimens of the species pressed hard between two sheets. 
3. Drying- After pressing, the specimen is kept for drying in the sun. Drying ensures that there is no moisture present in the specimen.
4. Poisoning- In the process, the specimen is injected with antifungal and antibacterial treatments to prevent the growth of fungi and bacteria. This is a very crucial step for preservation. 
5. Mounting- In this step, the specimen is mounted on the sheet with glue and cello tapes. This step ensures that the specimen is tightly bound.  
6. Labelling- The specimen’s labelling is done to identify the species. The labelling is usually done in the lower right-hand corner, including the name of the species, the date of its collection, its habitat, and its native location. 

There are no specific tools one needs to carry to collect plants. Essential tools like newspaper, knife, polythene bags, glue, blotting paper, herbarium sheets, and a notebook are required. 

The necessary information the herbarium sheet should contain for preserving the species is Genus, species, native location, and habitat. This information is written down on the lower right corner of the herbarium sheet. 

Question 20. For identification, mention some of the taxonomic aids. Also, discuss in detail taxonomic aids.

Answer 20 – 

For identification, classification, and studying purposes, taxonomic aids are used. They are different taxonomic aids that help in the identification of a species. 

The taxonomic aids are herbarium sheets, botanical gardens, zoological parks, and museums. 

1. Herbarium Sheets contain six main steps that help correctly identify plant specimens. The steps include collection, pressing, drying, poisoning, mounting, and labelling. Through this method, the plant specimens are preserved and stored for educational purposes. 
2. Botanical Gardens – They preserve exotic living plants. They are also called specialised gardens because these gardens are devoted to the conservation and study of living plants.
3. Zoological Parks – Zoological parks, also known as zoos, are places where mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and fishes are guarded and taken care of. They are even displayed to the public for study and tourism.
4. Museums – They are institutions that are devoted to preserving our history in the form of paintings, art, and sculptures. 

Question 21. What are the three codes of Nomenclature?

Answer 21 – 

The codes of nomenclature help in the proper identification and classification of species. These codes generate rules that must be followed for naming species or specimens. The three codes of Nomenclature are

1. International Code of Botanical Nomenclature.
2. International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.
3. International Code of Bacteriological Nomenclature

Question 22. Growth and reproduction are not taken as defining properties of all living beings.

Answer 22 – 

 Growth and reproduction are not the properties of all living beings because all non-living things have the property of growth, i.e., they can multiply, increase, or accumulate on the surface.

Further, worker bees and mules are sterile and live in nature. Reproduction cannot be taken as a defining property because this organism does not reproduce but still comes under living beings. 

Question 23. What is the binomial system of nomenclature? Who proposed this system? Why is binomial Nomenclature the most acceptable mode of naming organisms?

Answer 23 

The binomial system of Nomenclature helps to name a species and identify them. The standard binomial name consists of two significant components: genus and species. The first word is the Genus or generic word, while the second word is the specific name or word. This system was proposed by a famous biologist called Carolus Linnaeus. Biological Nomenclature is the most acceptable mode of naming an organism because it follows and regulates all the universal rules of Nomenclature given by the International Code of Botanical, zoological, and Bacteriological Nomenclature. 

Question 24. The largest botanical garden in the world? Name a few well-known botanical gardens in India.

Answer 24 

 According to the Biologist, the most extensive botanical garden is in Kew, England. The botanical garden is Royal Botanic Garden, and it covers 300 acres of land full of living plants. Some well-known Botanical gardens in India are – Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden, West Bengal. Lalbagh, Bangalore. Agri Horticulture Society of India, Kolkata. 

Benefits of Solving Important Questions Class 11 Biology Chapter 1

Some of the benefits that the students may experience if they practise from the Extramarks NCERT curriculum-based Important Questions Class 11 Biology Chapter 1 are:

• The Important Questions Class 11 Biology Chapter 1 are based on the NCERT syllabus and adhere to the latest CBSE  curriculum.
• The answers are provided in a simple and easy-to-comprehend language for the students, which provides a clear understanding of the topic. Our answers also cover most of the possible questions that could be expected in the examinations.
• Questions cover the entire chapter, covering all major topics from the chapter, ensuring no topic has been overlooked. . 
• Subject matter experts have prepared these important questions with years of experience to provide the students with a smooth and deep learning experience so that they do not need to look elsewhere for any assistance. 
• The important questions in Class 11 Biology Chapter 1 enhance students’ confidence to face their examinations and excel academically.

Extramarks credibility lies in providing reliable and trusted study material related to NCERT from Classes 1 to 12 for all the subjects.

Extramarks provides a repository of resources such as NCERT textbooks, NCERT revision notes, CBSE sample papers, CBSE past year question papers, Important Questions Class 11 Biology Chapter 1 and mock tests for the students of Classes 1 to 12. Students may click on the links given below to access and benefit from using these resources: