NEET The Living World PYQs & Practice Questions

10 free NEET Biology questions on The Living World, starting with previous year questions (2016–2026). Tap “Show answer” to check each one. No login needed.

Topics: Taxonomic Hierarchy · Taxonomic Categories · Systematics · Taxonomic Hierarchy - Genus · Equivalence of Taxonomic Ranks · Botanical Gardens and Zoological Parks · Taxonomic Tools · Unity Among Living Organisms · Defining Characteristics of Life · Characteristics of Living Organisms · Taxonomy and Systematics · Binomial Nomenclature

1. Q1NEET 2026Taxonomic Categories - Mango Classification

   Match List-I with List-II. List-I: (A) Family, (B) Genus, (C) Class, (D) Phylum, (E) Order List-II: (I) Sapindales, (II) Dicotyledonae, (III) Anacardiaceae, (IV) Angiospermae, (V) Mangifera Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

   • A. A-II, B-I, C-III, D-IV, E-V
   • B. A-II, B-III, C-V, D-I, E-IV
   • C. A-III, B-V, C-II, D-IV, E-I
   • D. A-I, B-V, C-II, D-IV, E-III
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   Answer: B — A-II, B-III, C-V, D-I, E-IV

   For the mango plant's taxonomic hierarchy: Family = Anacardiaceae (III), Genus = Mangifera (V), Class = Dicotyledonae (II), Phylum = Angiospermae (IV), Order = Sapindales (I). So A-III, B-V, C-II, D-IV, E-I.

2. Q2NEET 2026Taxonomic Hierarchy - Ascending Order

   Arrange the following taxonomic categories in ascending order. (a) Genus (b) Class (c) Order (d) Phylum (e) Family (f) Kingdom (g) Species Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

   • A. (a), (c), (d), (g), (f), (b), (e)
   • B. (g), (c), (d), (b), (e), (a), (f)
   • C. (f), (c), (b), (g), (d), (e), (a)
   • D. (g), (a), (e), (c), (b), (d), (f)
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   Answer: C — (f), (c), (b), (g), (d), (e), (a)

   The taxonomic hierarchy in ascending order (from most specific/narrow to broadest) is: Species → Genus → Family → Order → Class → Phylum → Kingdom. This matches the sequence (g) Species, (a) Genus, (e) Family, (c) Order, (b) Class, (d) Phylum, (f) Kingdom.

3. Q3NEET 2026Taxonomic Category - Genus

   Genus represents____________.

   • A. A population of plants and animals
   • B. A group of closely related species
   • C. A group of closely related families
   • D. An individual plant or animal
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   Answer: A — A population of plants and animals

   A genus is a taxonomic category comprising a group of closely related species that share more characteristics with each other than with species of other genera.

4. Q4NEET 2025Approaches to Study Biology

   Which one of the following statements refers to Reductionist Biology?

   • A. Physico-chemical approach to study and understand living organisms.
   • B. Physiological approach to study and understand living organisms.
   • C. Chemical approach to study and understand living organisms.
   • D. Behavioural approach to study and understand living organisms.
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   Answer: —

   Reductionist Biology applies the physico-chemical approach — concepts and techniques of physics and chemistry — to study and understand the function and structure of living organisms at the molecular level.

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5. Q5NEET 2016Herbarium

   The label of a herbarium sheet does not carry information on:

   • A. height of the plant
   • B. date of collection
   • C. name of collector
   • D. local names
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   Answer: —

   A herbarium sheet label carries date of collection, collector's name, and local names, but not the height of the plant.

6. Q6Characteristics of Living Organisms

   Which of the following is considered the most fundamental characteristic that distinguishes living organisms from non-living things?

   • A. Growth
   • B. Reproduction
   • C. Cellular organization
   • D. Response to stimuli
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   Answer: A — Growth

   Reproduction is considered the most fundamental characteristic of living organisms. While growth and response to stimuli can also occur in non-living things (e.g., crystals grow, iron responds to a magnet), reproduction — the ability to produce offspring — is unique to living organisms. However, among all options, reproduction is the defining feature emphasized in NCERT as the most inclusive criterion.

7. Q7Taxonomy and Systematics

   The branch of science that deals with identification, nomenclature, and classification of organisms is called:

   • A. Ecology
   • B. Taxonomy
   • C. Systematics
   • D. Morphology
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   Answer: A — Ecology

   Taxonomy is the branch of science dealing with identification, nomenclature, and classification of organisms. Systematics is broader and includes evolutionary relationships, while taxonomy is the practical aspect of naming and classifying. Ecology deals with interactions between organisms and their environment, and morphology deals with external structure.

8. Q8Taxonomic Hierarchy

   In the taxonomic hierarchy, which of the following represents the correct descending order from the highest to the lowest category?

   • A. Kingdom → Phylum → Order → Class → Family → Genus → Species
   • B. Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species
   • C. Kingdom → Class → Phylum → Order → Family → Genus → Species
   • D. Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Family → Order → Genus → Species
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   Answer: A — Kingdom → Phylum → Order → Class → Family → Genus → Species

   The correct descending taxonomic hierarchy is: Kingdom → Phylum → Class → Order → Family → Genus → Species. A common mnemonic is 'King Philip Came Over For Good Soup.' This is the standard classification system used in biological taxonomy.

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9. Q9Binomial Nomenclature

   The system of binomial nomenclature for naming organisms was introduced by:

   • A. Charles Darwin
   • B. Aristotle
   • C. Carolus Linnaeus
   • D. Ernst Haeckel
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   Answer: B — Aristotle

   Carolus Linnaeus introduced the system of binomial nomenclature in his work 'Systema Naturae.' In this system, each organism is given a two-part name — the first part is the genus name and the second is the species epithet. Both are written in Latin and italicized when printed.

10. Q10Binomial Nomenclature

    Which of the following correctly represents the scientific name of the common mango written as per rules of binomial nomenclature?

    • A. Mangifera Indica
    • B. mangifera indica
    • C. Mangifera indica
    • D. MANGIFERA INDICA
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    Answer: B — mangifera indica

    According to the rules of binomial nomenclature, the genus name starts with a capital letter while the species epithet starts with a small letter. When printed, both are italicized. When handwritten, they are underlined separately. Therefore, 'Mangifera indica' (italicized) is the correct representation of the scientific name of mango.