MCQs – Class 10 Geography Chapter 2: Forest and Wildlife Resources | CBSE | GPN

🧠 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) - Chapter 2: Forest and Wildlife Resources

This section contains 30 questions designed to test core concepts from the chapter. It includes standard, assertion-reasoning, and case-based questions to fully prepare you for the exam pattern.

Standard MCQs (1 Mark Each)

Choose the single correct option for questions 1 to 15.

Which of the following is a species that is no longer found after searches in areas where they could likely occur?

(a) Endemic species

(b) Extinct species

(c) Vulnerable species

(d) Rare species

Answer: (b) Extinct species
Explanation: An extinct species is one that has completely disappeared from a specific area or from the entire planet.
The Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal is severely threatened by:

(a) Tourism

(b) Mining (dolomite)

(c) Air pollution

(d) Urban expansion

Answer: (b) Mining (dolomite)
Explanation: The Buxa Tiger Reserve faces significant ecological disruption from ongoing dolomite mining activities.
Which one of the following is NOT a factor responsible for the depletion of forests?

(a) Agricultural expansion

(b) Large-scale developmental projects

(c) Afforestation

(d) Mining

Answer: (c) Afforestation
Explanation: Afforestation is the process of planting trees to create forests, which conserves and expands forest cover, not depletes it.
In which category of species is the Asiatic Cheetah placed?

(a) Endangered

(b) Extinct in India

(c) Vulnerable

(d) Normal

Answer: (b) Extinct in India
Explanation: The Asiatic Cheetah was declared extinct in India in 1952, though a small population survives in Iran.
The Himalayan Yew is a medicinal plant found in:

(a) Himalayan region

(b) Western Ghats

(c) Thar Desert

(d) Gangetic Plains

Answer: (a) Himalayan region
Explanation: The Himalayan Yew (Taxus wallichiana) is a coniferous tree found in the Himalayan mountains, valued for a chemical used in anti-cancer drugs.
Which one of the following is an example of a rare species?

(a) Asiatic Buffalo

(b) Blue Sheep

(c) Hornbill

(d) Desert Fox

Answer: (c) Hornbill
Explanation: The Hornbill is categorized as a rare species in India, with small populations that could be at risk if negative factors continue.
The forest cover in India, according to the State of Forest Report 2021, is approximately what percentage of the geographical area?

(a) 18%

(b) 22%

(c) 25%

(d) 33%

Answer: (b) 22%
Explanation: The India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021 estimated the total forest and tree cover to be about 24.62% of the geographical area, with forest cover alone being approximately 21.71%.
Which one of the following is a threatened species of India?

(a) Black Buck

(b) Indian Rhino

(c) Asiatic Lion

(d) All of the above

Answer: (d) All of the above
Explanation: The Black Buck, Indian Rhino (Great One-horned Rhinoceros), and Asiatic Lion are all classified under various threatened categories (Vulnerable, Endangered) in India.
Which of the following is NOT a conservation category for wildlife as per the IUCN?

(a) Normal

(b) Critically Endangered

(c) Vulnerable

(d) Extinct

Answer: (a) Normal
Explanation: The IUCN Red List categories include Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, etc. "Normal" is not a formal IUCN classification.
Project Tiger was launched in India in the year:

(a) 1973

(b) 1980

(c) 1992

(d) 2000

Answer: (a) 1973
Explanation: Project Tiger was initiated on April 1, 1973, to ensure a viable population of Bengal tigers in their natural habitats.
Sacred Groves are:

(a) Parts of trees worshipped by tribals

(b) Forest patches protected by temples or communities for religious/cultural reasons

(c) Large government-owned forests

(d) Nurseries for medicinal plants

Answer: (b) Forest patches protected by temples or communities for religious/cultural reasons
Explanation: Sacred Groves are tracts of forest or natural vegetation preserved on religious grounds, serving as important reservoirs of biodiversity.
Which of the following is a keystone species?

(a) Fig tree

(b) Leopard

(c) Indian Wild Ass

(d) Both (a) and (b)

Answer: (d) Both (a) and (b)
Explanation: Both fig trees (as a food source for many animals) and leopards (as apex predators) are examples of keystone species whose presence is crucial for ecosystem stability.
The Chipko Movement was primarily a movement to protect:

(a) Wildlife

(b) Forests

(c) Water resources

(d) Agricultural land

Answer: (b) Forests
Explanation: The Chipko Movement (1970s) in Uttarakhand was a forest conservation movement where people embraced trees to prevent them from being cut down.
‘Beej Bachao Andolan’ (Save the Seeds Movement) was started in:

(a) Tehri-Garhwal, Uttarakhand

(b) Silent Valley, Kerala

(c) Sundarbans, West Bengal

(d) Bastar, Chhattisgarh

Answer: (a) Tehri-Garhwal, Uttarakhand
Explanation: The Beej Bachao Andolan, aimed at preserving traditional agricultural seeds and promoting biodiversity, began in the Tehri-Garhwal region.
The Himalayan region is rich in endemic species because:

(a) It has a very hot climate

(b) It is geographically isolated

(c) It receives heavy rainfall

(d) It has large deserts

Answer: (b) It is geographically isolated
Explanation: Geographic isolation, like that of islands or mountain ranges such as the Himalayas, leads to the evolution of species found nowhere else (endemic species).

Assertion-Reasoning Questions (1 Mark Each)

Directions: For questions 16 to 20, a statement of Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R). Choose the correct option:

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A

(d) A is false but R is true

Assertion (A): Loss of diversity in one species can lead to the loss of another.
Reason (R): Species are connected through complex ecological networks and food webs.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: The interconnectedness of species in an ecosystem means the decline of one (like a prey species or a pollinator) can directly cause the decline of another.
Assertion (A): Deforestation leads to soil erosion.
Reason (R): Tree roots bind the soil, and their canopy reduces the impact of raindrops.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: The reason correctly explains how forests prevent soil erosion. Removing trees removes these protective functions, leading to erosion.
Assertion (A): The Himalayan Yew is under threat.
Reason (R): It is a useless shrub with no economic value.
Answer: (c) A is true but R is false
Explanation: The Himalayan Yew is indeed threatened due to over-exploitation. However, the reason is false because it has high medicinal value (source of taxol, an anti-cancer drug).
Assertion (A): The conservation of wildlife requires the protection of entire habitats.
Reason (R): Animals cannot survive for long outside their natural ecosystem.
Answer: (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Explanation: In-situ conservation (protecting animals in their natural habitat) is most effective because species depend on the specific conditions and resources of their ecosystem.
Assertion (A): Joint Forest Management (JFM) involves local communities.
Reason (R): Local communities have no stake in the protection of forests.
Answer: (c) A is true but R is false
Explanation: JFM was launched in 1988 precisely to involve local communities in forest management. The reason is false because communities are key stakeholders who depend on forest resources.

Case-Based Questions (1 Mark Each)

For questions 21 to 25, read the case/source carefully and answer.

Case: "The extinction of a single species like a pollinator insect can lead to the disappearance of many plant species that depend on it, which in turn affects herbivores and then their predators."
What key ecological concept does this case illustrate?

(a) Food Chain

(b) Ecological Balance

(c) Trophic Level

(d) All of the above

Answer: (d) All of the above
Explanation: The case illustrates interconnected food chains forming a food web (a), the maintenance of stability within an ecosystem (b), and the impact across different feeding levels (c).
Case: Study the data on India's forest cover change:

Year Forest Cover (% of geographical area) Key Observation

1987 ~19.5% Significant deforestation in previous decades

2021 ~21.7% Modest increase due to conservation efforts

What does this trend primarily indicate?

(a) India has achieved its 33% forest cover goal.

(b) Deforestation has completely stopped.

(c> Conservation and afforestation efforts have had a positive, though limited, impact.

(d) The forest cover is continuously declining.

Answer: (c) Conservation and afforestation efforts have had a positive, though limited, impact.
Explanation: The data shows recovery from a low point, indicating the success of policies, but the increase is modest and far from the target, highlighting ongoing challenges.
Case: "The Silent Valley movement in Kerala successfully halted a hydroelectric project to protect a rich tropical rainforest and its unique biodiversity, including the Lion-tailed Macaque."
What was the central idea behind this movement?

(a) Opposition to all development projects

(b) Prioritizing ecological preservation over disruptive development in critical habitats

(c> Demand for more hydroelectric power

(d) Protecting the interests of the mining industry

Answer: (b) Prioritizing ecological preservation over disruptive development in critical habitats
Explanation: The movement emphasized that some ecosystems are too valuable and irreplaceable to be sacrificed for development, advocating for sustainable alternatives.
Case: "India is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, home to 7-8% of all recorded species. However, it also has a large number of species that are threatened."
What is the main paradox presented here?

(a) High biodiversity coexists with a high level of threats to that biodiversity.

(b) India has no endemic species.

(c) Biodiversity is only found in deserts.

(d) There are no conservation laws in India.

Answer: (a) High biodiversity coexists with a high level of threats to that biodiversity.
Explanation: The case highlights the challenge India faces: possessing immense natural wealth (biodiversity) while simultaneously having significant pressures (habitat loss, poaching) that endanger it.
Case: Read the following on conservation strategies:

"Conservation strategies include protected areas like National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries (in-situ), as well as zoos, botanical gardens, and seed banks (ex-situ)."
What is the fundamental difference between in-situ and ex-situ conservation?

(a) Cost involved

(b) Protecting species within their natural habitat vs. outside it

(c) One is for plants, the other for animals

(d) Level of government involvement

Answer: (b) Protecting species within their natural habitat vs. outside it
Explanation: In-situ conservation protects ecosystems and species in their natural surroundings. Ex-situ conservation involves protecting species by removing them from their natural habitat.

Year	Forest Cover (% of geographical area)	Key Observation
1987	~19.5%	Significant deforestation in previous decades
2021	~21.7%	Modest increase due to conservation efforts

📚 Maximizing Your Practice

Initial run: Complete all questions first, covering the answers.

Evaluate: Check your answers against the solutions provided.

Focus review: For incorrect answers, study the related topic in your notes.

Speed drill: Try to finish the set in under 25 minutes to build exam pace.

Repeat: Revisit challenging questions after a few days to reinforce learning.

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