30. Rearing and breeding fish in ponds, tanks and artificial reservoirs is called:
[Bihar TRE 3.0, Upper Primary Social Science, 19 July 2024]
(a) Aquaculture
(b) Pondering
(c) Pisciculture
(d) More than one of the above
(e) None of the above
Answer: (c) Pisciculture
Explanation: Pisciculture means the controlled breeding and rearing of fish for food or commerce. It is a specific type of aquaculture, which includes other aquatic organisms and plants. The exam’s expected precise term for fish farming is pisciculture rather than general aquaculture.
29. The cultivation, growing and harvesting of grapes is known as:
[UP Police Constable, 17 February 2024, Shift 1]
(a) Viticulture
(b) Sericulture
(c) Horticulture
(d) Pisciculture
Answer: (a) Viticulture
Explanation: Viticulture specifically concerns grapevines and the management and harvesting of grapes, whether for table consumption, raisins or processing. It is a specialization within horticulture. Sericulture is silk farming, whereas pisciculture concerns breeding and rearing fish under controlled conditions.
28. Which branch of botany is concerned with the study of photosynthesis?
[Bihar TRE 2.0, Upper Primary Social Science, 9 December 2023]
(a) Plant Taxonomy
(b) Ecology
(c) Plant Physiology
(d) More than one of the above
(e) None of the above
Answer: (c) Plant Physiology
Explanation: Plant physiology investigates how plants function, including photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration, growth and hormonal regulation. Photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical energy stored in organic compounds. Plant taxonomy focuses on naming and classifying plants rather than explaining their internal physiological processes.
27. Anthology : Study of flowers :: Apiology : ?
[CISF Constable (Fireman), 26 September 2023, Shift 1]
(a) Study of life
(b) Study of insects
(c) Study of bees
(d) Study of bacteria
Answer: (c) Study of bees
Explanation: Apiology is the specialized study of bees, including their biology, behaviour and relationships with flowering plants. It overlaps with entomology, the study of insects. Apiculture is different: it specifically involves keeping and managing bee colonies for products such as honey and wax.
26. Herpetology deals with which of the following?
[Punjab Police Constable, 10 August 2023, Shift 1]
(a) Study of fishes
(b) Study of amphibians and reptiles
(c) Study of mammals
(d) Study of atmosphere only
Answer: (b) Study of amphibians and reptiles
Explanation: Herpetology is a branch of zoology devoted to reptiles such as snakes and lizards, and amphibians such as frogs and salamanders. Their ecology and environmental sensitivity make them important subjects in conservation biology. Ichthyology, by comparison, deals specifically with fishes.
25. The study of plant pollen, spores and related microscopic particles, living or fossil, is known as:
[MP Forest Guard / Jail Prahari, 18 June 2023, Shift 3]
(a) Palaeobotany
(b) Ethnobotany
(c) Dendrology
(d) Palynology
Answer: (d) Palynology
Explanation: Palynology examines pollen, spores and certain other organic microfossils. Pollen grains preserved in sediments can help reconstruct ancient vegetation, climatic conditions and environmental changes. Palaeobotany studies fossil plants more broadly; dendrology focuses on trees and other woody plants.
24. Mycology is the study of:
[MP Forest Guard / Jail Prahari, 4 June 2023, Shift 3]
(a) Bacteria
(b) Fungi
(c) Algae
(d) Viruses
Answer: (b) Fungi
Explanation: Mycology investigates fungi such as mushrooms, moulds and yeasts, including their structure, reproduction, ecology and economic importance. Fungi play major roles in decomposition and nutrient recycling. Bacteriology, phycology and virology respectively deal with bacteria, algae and viruses.
23. Cytology is the study of:
[SSC MTS (2022 cycle), 17 May 2023, Shift 3]
(a) Cells
(b) Chloroplasts
(c) Tissues
(d) Genes
Answer: (a) Cells
Explanation: Cytology is the study of cells, including their microscopic structure, components and behaviour. Chloroplasts are organelles inside certain cells, while tissues are groups of cells studied under histology. Genetics deals with heredity and genes rather than every aspect of cellular organization.
22. Who described the structure and reproductive system of algae in 1935?
[SSC CGL (2022 cycle), Tier II, 6 March 2023]
(a) M. O. P. Iyengar
(b) F. E. Fritsch
(c) William Henry
(d) Carolus Linnaeus
Answer: (b) F. E. Fritsch
Explanation: F. E. Fritsch is noted for major work on algal structure, reproduction and classification, especially his influential treatment of algae. The study of algae is called phycology or algology. M. O. P. Iyengar made pioneering contributions to Indian phycology.
21. Which field studies interrelationships between organisms and their physical environment?
[OSSC CGL, 13 October 2022, Shift 2]
(a) Ecology
(b) Cytology
(c) Entomology
(d) Etiology
Answer: (a) Ecology
Explanation: Ecology studies how organisms interact with one another and with non-living surroundings, such as soil, water, climate and light. Cytology concerns cells, entomology concerns insects and etiology examines causes, often of diseases. Ecosystems are a central level of ecological study.
