CUET Environmental Studies Question Paper 2024 (Available)- Download Solutions and Answer Key pdf

The disease "Itai-Itai" is caused by contamination of drinking water with which of the following?

• (1) Mercury
• (2) Cadmium
• (3) Arsenic
• (4) Chromium

Which of the following are required for photochemical smog formation in the atmosphere?

• (1) Smoke, water vapour, low temp
• (2) NOx, SO2, high temp
• (3) NOx, VOCs, high temp
• (4) Smoke, NOx, low temp

Arrange the stages of primary succession of plants from last to first:
(A) Reed-swamp
(B) Submerged plant
(C) Marsh Meadow
(D) Phytoplankton

• (1) (A), (B), (C), (D)
• (2) (C), (A), (B), (D)
• (3) (D), (B), (A), (C)
• (4) (A), (C), (B), (D)

Which factors can affect the soil respiration process?
(A) Temperature
(B) Soil moisture
(C) Aeration
(D) Number of microbes
(E) Organic matter quality

• (1) (A), (C), (E)
• (2) (A), (B), (C), (D)
• (3) (B), (C), (D)
• (4) (A), (B), (C), (D), (E)

Which is not a criteria air pollutant under NAAQS?

• (1) CO₂
• (2) CO
• (3) O₃
• (4) Pb

Match List-I (Forest Act/Policy) with List-II (Year):
(A) Forest Act
(B) National Forest Policy
(C) Forest Conservation Act
(D) Wildlife Protection Act
List-II
(I) 1927
(II) 1988
(III) 1980
(IV) 1972

• (1) (A) - (I), (B) - (II), (C) - (III), (D) - (IV)
• (2) (A) - (II), (B) - (III), (C) - (I), (D) - (IV)
• (3) (A) - (IV), (B) - (II), (C) - (III), (D) - (I)
• (4) (A) - (III), (B) - (I), (C) - (II), (D) - (IV)

Arrange from lowest to highest dry weight in a biomass pyramid of a grassland ecosystem:
(A) Primary Producer
(B) Primary Consumer
(C) Secondary Consumer
(D) Tertiary Consumer

• (1) (A), (B), (C), (D)
• (2) (A), (C), (B), (D)
• (3) (D), (C), (B), (A)
• (4) (D), (C), (A), (B)

"Curitiba," a city in Brazil, is famously known for its ____________.

• (1) Organic farming practices
• (2) Water network projects
• (3) Integrated transport system
• (4) Solid waste disposal system

Which gas gives the lowest contribution to global warming?

• (1) N₂O
• (2) NO₂
• (3) CFCs
• (4) CH₄

Nomadic movements are not considered as migrations because people move ___________.

• (1) For economic reasons
• (2) For social factors
• (3) Without any intention
• (4) For physical reasons

Which of the following does not explain the relationship between human development and economic development?

• (1) Capability expansion through economic growth
• (2) Capability expansion through poverty reduction
• (3) Capability expansion through social services
• (4) Capability expansion through environmental degradation

The Gandhian economy model does not contain elements of ___________.

• (1) Multiplication of needs
• (2) Rejection of class-war
• (3) Protectionism
• (4) Nationalism

Which method is most suitable for safe disposal of hospital solid waste?

• (1) Dumping
• (2) Incineration
• (3) Pyrolysis
• (4) Composting

Arrange the food distribution process from start to end:
(A) Packaging
(B) Processing
(C) Storage
(D) Marketing

• (1) (A), (B), (C), (D)
• (2) (C), (B), (A), (D)
• (3) (A), (B), (D), (C)
• (4) (C), (B), (D), (A)

Which is an incorrect statement regarding GDP?

• (1) GDP does not measure sustainability of growth
• (2) GDP helps understand whether an economy is growing
• (3) GDP reflects annual trends of inflation and prices
• (4) GDP helps understand shifts in the annual changes in the economy

Match List-I (Protocol/Convention) with List-II (Year):
(A) Kyoto Protocol
(B) Montreal Protocol
(C) Bamako Convention
(D) Basel Convention
List-II
(I) 1987
(II) 1997
(III) 1989
(IV) 1998

• (1) (A) - (IV), (B) - (I), (C) - (II), (D) - (III)
• (2) (A) - (IV), (B) - (I), (C) - (III), (D) - (II)
• (3) (A) - (I), (B) - (IV), (C) - (III), (D) - (II)
• (4) (A) - (II), (B) - (I), (C) - (III), (D) - (IV)

Petroleum in sedimentary rocks falls under which resource category?

• (1) Actual resources
• (2) Potential resources
• (3) Stock resources
• (4) Reserve resources

Which water storage types are used in Bihar?
(A) Bhundhis
(B) Ahar
(C) Kulhs
(D) Pynes

• (1) (A) and (C) only
• (2) (B) and (D) only
• (3) (A) and (B) only
• (4) (C) and (D) only

The diversity of organisms that share the same habitat is called ___________.

• (1) Beta diversity
• (2) Gamma diversity
• (3) Alpha diversity
• (4) Genetic diversity

Which is not a basic pillar of sustainable development?

• (1) Environmental preservation
• (2) Social equity
• (3) Economic growth
• (4) Urbanization

Which is a Kharif crop?

• (1) Wheat
• (2) Rice
• (3) Cucumber
• (4) Mustard

The concept of Joint Forest Management does not include:

• (1) Government works with locals to manage forests
• (2) Locals use forest resources sustainably
• (3) Infrastructure development
• (4) Sustainable conservation of forests

The ability of the environment to absorb waste and pollution is referred to as __________.

• (1) Source function of ecosystem
• (2) Sink function of ecosystem
• (3) Carrying capacity of ecosystem
• (4) Optimal capacity of ecosystem

Which is a main characteristic of perpetual resources?

• (1) Consumption at a very fast rate
• (2) Continuous availability at a limited rate
• (3) Unconditional availability
• (4) Not formed naturally

Arrange the following radiation in increasing order of wavelength:
(A) UV-C
(B) UV-B
(C) UV-A
(D) Infra-red
(E) Microwave

• (1) (C), (B), (A), (D), (E)
• (2) (A), (B), (C), (E), (D)
• (3) (A), (B), (C), (D), (E)
• (4) (E), (D), (C), (B), (A)

A bee-keeper in an orchard enabling pollination is an example of ___________.

• (1) Negative production externalities
• (2) Negative consumption externalities
• (3) Positive production externalities
• (4) Positive consumption externalities

Arrange the atmospheric layers from the Earth’s surface upwards:
(A) Mesosphere
(B) Stratosphere
(C) Stratopause
(D) Mesopause
(E) Troposphere

• (1) (E), (C), (B), (D), (A)
• (2) (E), (C), (B), (A), (D)
• (3) (E), (B), (C), (A), (D)
• (4) (E), (B), (C), (D), (A)

Which of the following is associated with ozone destruction in the stratosphere?
(A) CFCs
(B) Polar stratospheric clouds
(C) UV-B
(D) UV-A
(E) Cl radicals

• (1) (A) and (E) only
• (2) (A), (B), and (E) only
• (3) (A), (C), and (D) only
• (4) (A), (B), (C), and (E) only

Which of the following are examples of resources?
(A) Materials
(B) Energy
(C) Knowledge
(D) Services

• (1) (A) and (D) only
• (2) (A), (B), and (D) only
• (3) (A), (B), and (C) only
• (4) (A), (B), (C), and (D)

Which treaty prohibits the import of hazardous waste into African nations?

• (1) The Basel Convention
• (2) The Capetown Convention
• (3) The Bamako Convention
• (4) The Madagascar Convention

Continuous increase of productivity in lakes causes ____________.

• (1) Biomagnification in lakes
• (2) Bioaccumulation in lakes
• (3) Eutrophication in lakes
• (4) Bioconcentration in lakes

Dissolved oxygen in water ____________.

• (1) Remains constant in winter and summer
• (2) Remains low in winter and high in summer
• (3) Remains high in winter and low in summer
• (4) Doesn't depend on water temperature

Agricultural runoff causing excess suspended particles in water results in __________.

• (1) High salinity
• (2) High turbidity
• (3) High dissolved oxygen
• (4) High BOD

Water with high algal and phytoplankton growth is expected to have __________.

• (1) High dissolved oxygen
• (2) High dissolved oxygen and high BOD
• (3) Low dissolved oxygen and high BOD
• (4) Low dissolved oxygen and low BOD

Which is a limiting nutrient in lakes and ponds?

• (1) Iron
• (2) Phosphorus
• (3) Magnesium
• (4) Sulphur

The biomass available for consumption by herbivores and decomposers is __________.

• (1) Primary production
• (2) Gross primary productivity
• (3) Net primary productivity
• (4) Secondary productivity

The rate of organic matter production during photosynthesis is __________.

• (1) Primary production
• (2) Gross primary productivity
• (3) Net primary productivity
• (4) Standing crop

Interaction between sea anemone and clownfish is an example of __________.

• (1) Both species benefitted
• (2) Both are harmed
• (3) One is harmed, other benefitted
• (4) One is benefitted, other unaffected

The species interaction in which both species are harmed is __________.

• (1) Predation
• (2) Parasitism
• (3) Competition
• (4) Mutualism

Mycorrhizal association between fungi and the roots of higher plants is best referred to as __________.

• (1) Commensalism
• (2) Amensalism
• (3) Mutualism
• (4) Competition

Match List-I (Author) with List-II (Book/Poem):
(A) Gary Snyder
(B) Wendell Berry
(C) Rachel Carson
(D) Barry Commoner
List-II
(I) Mountains and Rivers Without End
(II) The Closing Circle
(III) Silent Spring
(IV) A Place on Earth

• (1) (A) - (IV), (B) - (I), (C) - (III), (D) - (II)
• (2) (A) - (I), (B) - (IV), (C) - (III), (D) - (II)
• (3) (A) - (II), (B) - (IV), (C) - (III), (D) - (I)
• (4) (A) - (IV), (B) - (II), (C) - (III), (D) - (I)

Match List-I (Concept) with List-II (Proposed by):
(A) Ecology
(B) Ecosystem
(C) Human population growth
(D) Hot spots
List-II
(I) Norman Myers
(II) Ernst Haeckel
(III) Sir Arthur Tansley
(IV) T.R. Malthus

• (1) (A) - (I), (B) - (IV), (C) - (II), (D) - (III)
• (2) (A) - (I), (B) - (II), (C) - (III), (D) - (IV)
• (3) (A) - (II), (B) - (III), (C) - (IV), (D) - (I)
• (4) (A) - (IV), (B) - (I), (C) - (III), (D) - (II)

The ecological thought that believes in saving forests for their human benefits, like oxygen and rainfall, is known as __________.

• (1) Deep ecology
• (2) Social ecology
• (3) Eco-feminism
• (4) Shallow ecology

Which of the following is not a major goal of WWF?

• (1) To conserve biological diversity
• (2) Sustainable use of renewable resources
• (3) Reduction of pollution and waste
• (4) Creating a world fund for education

The first Earth Day was celebrated on __________.

• (1) 20 April, 1970
• (2) 22 April, 1970
• (3) 05 June, 1970
• (4) 20 April, 1972

The plants and animals that cannot maintain a constant internal environment are called __________.

• (1) Regulators
• (2) Migrators
• (3) Conformers
• (4) Suspenders

The number of individuals of the same species that enter a habitat during a given time period is referred to as __________.

• (1) Emigration
• (2) Immigration
• (3) Natality
• (4) Mortality

Which of the following statements are correct?
(A) Species that invade a bare area are called pioneers
(B) Pioneers in primary succession on rocks are usually lichens
(C) Pioneers in primary succession in water are reed swamps
(D) In secondary succession, invading species depend on soil, water, and environmental conditions

• (1) (A), (B), and (D) only
• (2) (A), (B), and (C) only
• (3) (A), (B), (C), and (D)
• (4) (B), (C), and (D) only

Match List-I (State) with List-II (National Park):
(A) Madhya Pradesh
(B) Arunachal Pradesh
(C) Meghalaya
(D) Tamil Nadu
List-II
(I) Namdapha National Park
(II) Guindy National Park
(III) Nokrek National Park
(IV) Kuno National Park

• (1) (A) - (IV), (B) - (I), (C) - (III), (D) - (II)
• (2) (A) - (IV), (B) - (III), (C) - (II), (D) - (I)
• (3) (A) - (IV), (B) - (I), (C) - (II), (D) - (III)
• (4) (A) - (I), (B) - (IV), (C) - (II), (D) - (III)

Which soil type has high water retention capacity?

• (1) Sandy soil
• (2) Loamy soil
• (3) Sandy silt soil
• (4) Clayey soil