CUET UG Environmental Studies Previous Year Question Paper 2024: Previous Years Question Papers with Answers

CUET UG Environmental Studies Exam Overview 2024

The CUET UG Environmental Studies exam is one of the domain-specific tests within the CUET framework. It evaluates a candidate's understanding of environmental concepts, issues, and applications. The exam typically consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) covering topics such as ecology, biodiversity, environmental pollution, sustainable development, and environmental laws.​

CUET UG Environmental Studies Exam Analysis 2024

• Exam Date: May 24, 2024
• Shift: 2
• Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
• Total Questions: 50 MCQs (Attempt any 40)
• Marking Scheme: +5 for each correct answer, -1 for each incorrect answer.

Difficulty Level:

The overall difficulty level of the Environmental Studies paper was reported to be easy to moderate. Students found the questions to be straightforward and aligned with the NCERT syllabus. The paper was considered manageable within the allotted time. ​

Key Topics Covered:

While specific topic-wise distribution is not detailed in the available sources, the exam typically includes questions from the following areas:​

• Ecology and Ecosystems
• Biodiversity and Conservation
• Environmental Pollution
• Sustainable Development
• Environmental Laws and Policies

Student Reactions:

Candidates who appeared for the exam expressed that the paper was straightforward and aligned with the NCERT syllabus. The direct nature of the questions enabled students to attempt them confidently within the allotted time. ​

Conclusion:

The CUET UG 2024 Environmental Studies exam maintained a balanced approach, assessing candidates on various environmental topics. The easy to moderate difficulty level, coupled with questions primarily derived from NCERT materials, provided a fair testing ground for aspirants aiming to secure admission to undergraduate programs in environmental studies.

CUET UG Environmental Studies Previous Year Question Paper 2024

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

(1) Mercury

(2) Cadmium

(3) Arsenic

(4) Chromium

Ans- (2) Cadmium

2.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

Ans-(1) Smoke, water vapour, low temp

3.Arrange the stages of primary succession of plants from last stage to first stage:

(A) Reed-swamp

(B) Submerged plant

(C) Marsh Meadow

(D) Phytoplankton

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

(1) (A), (B), (C), (D)

(2) (C), (A), (B), (D)

(3) (D), (B), (A), (C)

(4) (A), (C), (B), (D)

Ans- (1) (A), (B), (C), (D)

4.Which factors can affect the soil respiration process?

(A) Temperature

(B) Soil moisture

(C) Aeration

(D) Number of microbes

(E) Organic matter quality

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

(1) (A), (C), (E)

(2) (A), (B), (C), (D)

(3) (B), (C), (D)

(4) (A), (B), (C), (D), (E)

Ans- (4) (A), (B), (C), (D), (E)

5. Which of the following is not a criteria air pollutant under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)?

(1) CO₂

(2) CO

(3) O₃

(4) Pb

Ans- (4) Pb

6.Match List-I (Forest Act/Policy) with List-II (Year):

List-I

(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

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

(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)

Ans- (4) (A) - (III), (B) - (I), (C) - (II), (D) - (IV)

7.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

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

(1) (A), (B), (C), (D)

(2) (A), (C), (B), (D)

(3) (D), (C), (B), (A)

(4) (D), (C), (A), (B)

Ans- (3) (D), (C), (B), (A)

8."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

Ans- (4) Solid waste disposal system

9.Which gas gives the lowest contribution to global warming?

(1) N₂O

(2) NO₂

(3) CFCs

(4) CH₄

Ans- (3) CFCs

10.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

Ans- (2) For social factors

11.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

Ans- (1) Capability expansion through economic growth

12.The Gandhian economy model does not contain elements of ___________.

(1) Multiplication of needs

(2) Rejection of class-war

(3) Protectionism

(4) Nationalism

Ans- (1) Multiplication of needs

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

(1) Dumping

(2) Incineration

(3) Pyrolysis

(4) Composting

Ans- (2) Incineration

14.Arrange the food distribution process from start to end in a food distribution system :

(A) Packaging

(B) Processing

(C) Storage

(D) Marketing

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(1) (A), (B), (C), (D)

(2) (C), (B), (A), (D)

(3) (A), (B), (D), (C)

(4) (C), (B), (D), (A)

Ans- (4) (C), (B), (D), (A)

15.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

Ans- (2) GDP helps understand whether an economy is growing

16.Match List-I (Protocol/Convention) with List-II (Year):

List-I

(A) Kyoto Protocol

(B) Montreal Protocol

(C) Bamako Convention

(D) Basel Convention

List-II

(I) 1987

(II) 1997

(III) 1989

(IV) 1998

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(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)

Ans- (1) (A) - (IV), (B) - (I), (C) - (II), (D) - (III)

17. Petroleum present in sedimentary rocks of a region can only be used when such regions are drilled out and put into use. Such petroleum reserves fall under the category of _____________ .

(1) Actual resources

(2) Potential resources

(3) Stock resources

(4) Reserve resources

Ans- (2) Potential resources

18.Which water storage types are used in Bihar?

(A) Bhundhis

(B) Ahar

(C) Kulhs

(D) Pynes

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

(1) (A) and (C) only

(2) (B) and (D) only

(3) (A) and (B) only

(4) (C) and (D) only

Ans- (4) (C) and (D) only

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

(1) Beta diversity

(2) Gamma diversity

(3) Alpha diversity

(4) Genetic diversity

Ans-(1) Beta diversity

20.Which is not a basic pillar of sustainable development?

(1) Environmental preservation

(2) Social equity

(3) Economic growth

(4) Urbanization

Ans- (2) Social equity

21.Which is a Kharif crop?

(1) Wheat

(2) Rice

(3) Cucumber

(4) Mustard

Ans- (3) Cucumber

22.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

Ans- (2) Locals use forest resources sustainably

23.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

Ans- (4) Optimal capacity of ecosystem

24.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

Ans- (2) Continuous availability at a limited rate

25.Arrange the following radiation in increasing order of wavelength:

(A) UV-C

(B) UV-B

(C) UV-A

(D) Infra-red

(E) Microwave

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

(1) (C), (B), (A), (D), (E)

(2) (A), (B), (C), (E), (D)

(3) (A), (B), (C), (D), (E)

(4) (E), (D), (C), (B), (A)

Ans- (2) (A), (B), (C), (E), (D)

26.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

Ans- (3) Positive production externalities

27.Arrange the atmospheric layers from the Earth’s surface upwards:

(A) Mesosphere

(B) Stratosphere

(C) Stratopause

(D) Mesopause

(E) Troposphere

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

(1) (E), (C), (B), (D), (A)

(2) (E), (C), (B), (A), (D)

(3) (E), (B), (C), (A), (D)

(4) (E), (B), (C), (D), (A)

Ans- (4) (E), (B), (C), (D), (A)

28.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

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

(1) (A) and (E) only

(2) (A), (B), and (E) only

(3) (A), (C), and (D) only

(4) (A), (B), (C), and (E) only

Ans- (3) (A), (C), and (D) only

29.Which of the following are examples of resources?

(A) Materials

(B) Energy

(C) Knowledge

(D) Services

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

(1) (A) and (D) only

(2) (A), (B), and (D) only

(3) (A), (B), and (C) only

(4) (A), (B), (C), and (D)

Ans- (3) (A), (B), and (C) only

30.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

Ans- (3) The Bamako Convention

Read the following passage and answer the next five questions :

Agricultural runoff, sewage and industrial effluents are major causes of deterioration of water quality in lakes and ponds. Productivity of lakes and ponds (for example algal bloom and phytoplankton bloom) increases manifold due to agricultural runoff as well as due to excess inputs of nutrients including limiting nutrients, but this continuous increased productivity leads to death of lakes and ponds. The dissolved oxygen, BOD, temperature, turbidity and salinity are important parameters of water quality in a lake and change naturally on day and night basis as well as seasonal basis. But, anthropogenic inputs change these parameters abruptly and adversely impact water quality of the lakes. As a result, water in lakes and ponds does not remain fit for human consumption as well as for livestock. Immediate attention and affirmative actions are needed to protect lakes and ponds in our environment.

31.Continuous increase of productivity in lakes causes ____________.

(1) Biomagnification in lakes

(2) Bioaccumulation in lakes

(3) Eutrophication in lakes

(4) Bioconcentration in lakes

Ans- (2) Bioaccumulation in lakes

32.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

Ans- (2) Remains low in winter and high in summer

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

(1) High salinity

(2) High turbidity

(3) High dissolved oxygen

(4) High BOD

Ans- (3) High dissolved oxygen

34.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

Ans- (3) Low dissolved oxygen and high BOD

35.Which is a limiting nutrient in lakes and ponds?

(1) Iron

(2) Phosphorus

(3) Magnesium

(4) Sulphur

Ans- (3) Magnesium

Read the following passage and answer the next five questions :

Species interaction and the productivity are two important components of any given ecosystem. In an ecosystem, interspecific interactions arise from the interaction of population of two different species. Such interactions could be beneficial to both species, harmful to both species, beneficial to one and harmful to other or vice-versa. There are also cases that exist where only one species is harmed or benefitted and the other remains unaffected. On the other hand, productivity of an ecosystem starts with photosynthesis by green plants and is measured as amount of biomass produced over a period of time. Such biomass becomes available for consumption to heterotrophs.

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

(1) Primary production

(2) Gross primary productivity

(3) Net primary productivity

(4) Secondary productivity

Ans- (1) Primary production

37.The rate of organic matter production during photosynthesis is __________.

(1) Primary production

(2) Gross primary productivity

(3) Net primary productivity

(4) Standing crop

Ans- (3) Net primary productivity

38.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

Ans- (4) One is benefitted, other unaffected

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

(1) Predation

(2) Parasitism

(3) Competition

(4) Mutualism

Ans- (1) Predation

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

(1) Commensalism

(2) Amensalism

(3) Mutualism

(4) Competition

Ans- (2) Amensalism

41.Match List-I (Author) with List-II (Book/Poem):

List-I

(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

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

(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)

Ans- (3) (A) - (II), (B) - (IV), (C) - (III), (D) - (I)

42.Match List-I (Concept) with List-II (Proposed by):

List-I

(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)

Ans- (4) (A) - (IV), (B) - (I), (C) - (III), (D) - (II)

43.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

Ans- (1) Deep ecology

44.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

Ans- (2) Sustainable use of renewable resources

45.The first Earth Day was celebrated on __________.

(1) 20 April, 1970

(2) 22 April, 1970

(3) 05 June, 1970

(4) 20 April, 1972

Ans- (1) 20 April, 1970

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

(1) Regulators

(2) Migrators

(3) Conformers

(4) Suspenders

Ans- (1) Regulators

47.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

Ans- (2) Immigration

48.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

Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

(1) (A), (B), and (D) only

(2) (A), (B), and (C) only

(3) (A), (B), (C), and (D)

(4) (B), (C), and (D) only

Ans- (4) (B), (C), and (D) only

49.Match List-I (State) with List-II (National Park):

List-I

(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)

Ans- (3) (A) - (IV), (B) - (I), (C) - (II), (D) - (III)

50.Which soil type has high water retention capacity?

(1) Sandy soil

(2) Loamy soil

(3) Sandy silt soil

(4) Clayey soil

Ans- (2) Loamy soil