The Living World — Class 11 MCQs with Answers
Class 11 CBSE Biology · Chapter 1
90 practice questions · 30 Easy · 30 Medium · 30 Hard · Updated
Jump to the 6 solved questions
Practise the most important Class 11 CBSE Biology questions from Chapter 1, "The Living World". You get 9 timed quizzes made from 90 NCERT-based MCQs, with answers and explanations. The questions are split into 30 Easy, 30 Medium and 30 Hard. Warm up on the basics, then move on to the exam-level questions that top scorers in CBSE & Maharashtra HSC Board exams, MHT-CET and NEET UG get right.
To score well in "The Living World", focus on diagrams, key terms and knowing NCERT line by line. Each MCQ here is timed and uses exam-style marking (+4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 skipped). This helps you stay accurate when time is short, just as real papers need. Every question has a short explanation, so a wrong answer becomes a quick lesson. It is the fastest way to fix gaps before a test.
Use this chapter for focused revision. Start with the Easy set to check your basics on The Living World, then move to Medium and Hard to practise applying them. Your accuracy, streaks and XP save automatically. This chapter also adds to your overall Class 11 Biology mastery score. Try the 6 sample questions below: tap an option to see the answer and a worked explanation. Sign in free to start practising.
The Living World — important questions & MCQs with answers (Class 11 Biology)
6 solved questions from this chapter's difficulty levels, each with its answer and explanation. Tap an option to check yourself.
0 of 6 answered
- Q1 of 6Easy
Defining feature unique to living organisms:
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Answer: Cellular organisation with metabolism
Explanation: NCERT names cellular organisation, metabolism and consciousness as the defining properties of life; reproduction is not, since mules and worker bees cannot reproduce. Metabolism alone occurs in vitro in cell extracts, movement occurs in non-living fluids too, and mass is universal — none alone defines life.
- Q2 of 6Easy
Binomial nomenclature was given by:
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Answer: Linnaeus
Explanation: Linnaeus proposed binomial nomenclature (Species Plantarum, 1753). Mendel founded genetics, Darwin explained evolution by natural selection, and Whittaker gave the five-kingdom system — none of them named species.
- Q3 of 6Medium
The word systematics is derived from the Latin word *systema* meaning:
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Answer: Systematic arrangement of organisms
Explanation: Systema is Latin for 'systematic arrangement,' the root Linnaeus used in Systema Naturae for his ordered classification of organisms — the opposite of random arrangement, and unrelated to habitat or mutation.
- Q4 of 6Medium
Twin characteristics of growth are:
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Answer: Increase in mass and increase in number of individuals
Explanation: Growth has two components together: increase in mass and increase in cell or individual number — not either alone, and certainly not a decrease in either, which describes decline, not growth.
- Q5 of 6Hard
Lowest taxonomic category:
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Answer: Species
Explanation: Species is the lowest, most basic rank in the taxonomic hierarchy — a group of interbreeding organisms. Genus, family and kingdom sit progressively higher, grouping many species together, not the reverse.
- Q6 of 6Hard
Assertion: Living organisms are self-replicating. Reason: They are made up of chemicals only.
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Answer: Both A and R true; R does not explain A
Explanation: Both statements are individually true, but being made of chemicals doesn't explain self-replication — that specifically needs organised, heritable genetic material (DNA), not just chemical composition.
The Living World notes: key concepts (Class 11 Biology)
Living things are defined not by growth or reproduction alone but by metabolism and self-consciousness; the sheer diversity of life forces classification. This chapter builds the vocabulary of taxonomy — nomenclature, ranked hierarchy and the taxonomic aids that store and organise biological knowledge.
- Growth
- Growth in living organisms is intrinsic, from inside by cell division; non-living bodies like mountains grow by external accretion — so it is not defining.
- Metabolism
- The sum of all chemical reactions in the body. No non-living object shows metabolism, making it a defining property; isolated in-vitro reactions are not living.
- Reproduction
- Production of offspring resembling the parent, sexually or asexually. Not an all-or-none trait — sterile mules and worker bees still count as living.
- Consciousness
- Ability to sense the surroundings and respond to stimuli. Humans alone show self-consciousness; NCERT treats consciousness as the defining property of life.
- Cellular organisation
- Every living body is made of one or more cells — the basic structural and functional unit. This shared organisation underlies all other properties of life.
- Biodiversity
- About 1.7–1.8 million species are described so far, yet many remain unknown. This immense variety makes an ordered system of classification indispensable.
- Taxonomy
- The science of characterisation, identification, classification and nomenclature of organisms, using external, internal, cellular and developmental data.
- Systematics
- Study of the diversity of organisms and their evolutionary relationships. From Latin 'systema'; Linnaeus's great work was titled Systema Naturae.
- Binomial nomenclature
- Linnaeus's two-word Latin name: genus (capitalised) + species (lowercase), italicised or underlined, e.g. Mangifera indica. Author name may follow.
- Taxon
- A taxonomic group or unit of any rank that represents a real category of organisms — insects, mammals and the genus Panthera are all taxa.
- Species
- The lowest rank — a group of individuals with fundamental similarities able to interbreed. A species differs from allied species by distinct, stable traits.
- Genus
- A group of related species sharing more features with one another than with other genera. Panthera includes the lion, leopard and tiger together.
- Taxonomic hierarchy
- Kingdom, Phylum/Division, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species in descending order. As rank falls, shared characters rise and organism number drops.
- Taxonomic aids
- Tools for identification and study: herbarium, botanical gardens, museums, zoological parks and keys, plus flora, manuals, monographs and catalogues.
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The Living World — FAQs
What are the key concepts in Class 11 Biology The Living World?+
Living things are defined not by growth or reproduction alone but by metabolism and self-consciousness; the sheer diversity of life forces classification. This chapter builds the vocabulary of taxonomy — nomenclature, ranked hierarchy and the taxonomic aids that store and organise biological knowledge. Key ideas include Growth, Metabolism, Reproduction, Consciousness, Cellular organisation, Biodiversity.
What does Class 11 Biology Chapter 1 (The Living World) cover on XamBaaz?+
It has 90 NCERT-based MCQs on "The Living World": 30 Easy, 30 Medium and 30 Hard. Together they make 9 timed quizzes, and you never get the same set twice. Every question has an instant explanation. They help you prepare for CBSE & Maharashtra HSC Board exams, MHT-CET and NEET UG.
Are these "The Living World" questions free to practise?+
Yes. Sign in with Google to practise "The Living World" free. Full unlimited access is ₹1,999/year. One year from the day you pay. You stay in Class 11 till 31 March; on 1 April your account moves up to Class 12 and the rest of your year carries over. No chapter is charged separately.
How should I revise "The Living World" for the exam?+
Start with the Easy quiz to check your basics, then try Medium and Hard to practise applying them. There are 9 timed quizzes on this chapter, so you can come back for a fresh set instead of one you have seen. Read each explanation, retry the questions you miss, and track your accuracy until it stays high.
Are these "The Living World" MCQs available with answers?+
Yes. 6 sample questions are on this page with answers: tap an option, or "Show answer", to see the correct option and a step-by-step explanation. Sign in free with Google to start practising, with instant scoring.
Is there negative marking in the "The Living World" quizzes?+
Yes. The timed quizzes use exam-style marking: +4 for a right answer, −1 for a wrong one and 0 for a skip, the same negative marking as NEET UG. MHT-CET and CBSE board papers have no negative marking. Our mocks for those are scored their way.
What are the important questions from The Living World (Class 11 Biology)?+
The questions that matter most test Growth, Metabolism, Reproduction, Consciousness, Cellular organisation, Biodiversity. This page shows 6 solved important MCQs with answers and explanations. Sign in to practise all 90 questions on the chapter as timed quizzes.
Is there an online quiz for The Living World?+
Yes — Class 11 Biology The Living World has timed online quizzes at Easy, Medium and Hard levels, with instant scoring and a worked explanation on every question. The first quiz on the chapter is free.
Are there question answers and extra questions for The Living World (Class 11 Biology)?+
Yes. This page has 6 solved questions on The Living World, each with the correct answer and a short explanation. Sign in to practise all 90 questions on the chapter as timed quizzes.