Problems associated with natural resources MCQs With Answer

Problems associated with natural resources MCQs With Answer is a focused collection designed for B.Pharm students to understand environmental challenges that affect pharmaceutical science and public health. This introduction highlights key issues: natural resource depletion, pollution of air, water and soil, biodiversity loss, overharvesting of medicinal plants, groundwater contamination, and climate-driven impacts on drug supply chains. Emphasis on sustainable management, environmental impact assessment, and contamination control links ecological problems to drug quality, raw material sourcing, and regulatory compliance. The keyword-rich approach helps revision and exam preparation while strengthening interdisciplinary knowledge essential for pharmaceutical practice. Now let’s test your knowledge with 50 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. What is the primary cause of groundwater depletion in many regions?

• Natural seasonal variation
• Excessive groundwater extraction for irrigation and industry
• Increased rainfall due to climate change
• Migration of aquatic species

Correct Answer: Excessive groundwater extraction for irrigation and industry

Q2. Which problem is most directly linked to overharvesting of medicinal plants?

• Soil erosion
• Biodiversity loss and possible extinction of species
• Air pollution
• Increased fossil fuel use

Correct Answer: Biodiversity loss and possible extinction of species

Q3. Eutrophication of water bodies is primarily caused by:

• Heavy metal deposition
• Nutrient runoff rich in nitrogen and phosphorus
• Acid rain
• Oil spills

Correct Answer: Nutrient runoff rich in nitrogen and phosphorus

Q4. Which contaminant is of greatest concern for herbal drug safety when plants grow in polluted soil?

• Particulate matter
• Heavy metals like lead and cadmium
• Ozone
• Noise pollution

Correct Answer: Heavy metals like lead and cadmium

Q5. Acid rain mainly results from atmospheric emissions of:

• Carbon monoxide and methane
• Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)
• Oxygen and nitrogen
• Particulate organic matter

Correct Answer: Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)

Q6. Salinization of agricultural land is commonly caused by:

• Excessive irrigation and poor drainage
• Overuse of organic fertilizers
• Crop rotation
• Afforestation

Correct Answer: Excessive irrigation and poor drainage

Q7. Which practice helps conserve medicinal plant resources sustainably?

• Clear-cutting plant habitats
• Unregulated wild harvesting
• Controlled cultivation and propagation of medicinal species
• Replacing native species with exotics

Correct Answer: Controlled cultivation and propagation of medicinal species

Q8. What environmental issue can increase microbial contamination risk in pharmaceutical water supplies?

• Air pollution only
• Surface water contamination and inadequate wastewater treatment
• Noise pollution near plants
• Increased biodiversity

Correct Answer: Surface water contamination and inadequate wastewater treatment

Q9. Deforestation primarily contributes to which of the following problems?

• Increased aquifer recharge
• Loss of habitat and carbon sequestration capacity
• Reduced soil erosion
• Improved medicinal plant diversity

Correct Answer: Loss of habitat and carbon sequestration capacity

Q10. Which pollutant is most associated with industrial discharge harming aquatic ecosystems?

• Pharmaceutical residues and untreated chemicals
• Natural organic matter only
• Pure oxygen
• Ambient sound

Correct Answer: Pharmaceutical residues and untreated chemicals

Q11. Overgrazing leads to which environmental problem?

• Increased groundwater levels
• Vegetation loss and soil erosion
• Enhanced forest regeneration
• Reduction of desertification

Correct Answer: Vegetation loss and soil erosion

Q12. Which concept describes the maximum sustainable population or use level an environment can support?

• Ecological footprint
• Carrying capacity
• Biochemical oxygen demand
• Gross domestic product

Correct Answer: Carrying capacity

Q13. Industrial mining impacts on natural resources often include:

• Creation of new wetlands
• Habitat destruction, soil contamination, and acid mine drainage
• Immediate reforestation
• Reduction in erosion

Correct Answer: Habitat destruction, soil contamination, and acid mine drainage

Q14. Which process can remediate heavy metal contaminated soils used for medicinal plants?

• Phytoremediation using metal-accumulating plants
• Irrigating with saline water
• Increasing pesticide application
• Burning the topsoil

Correct Answer: Phytoremediation using metal-accumulating plants

Q15. Groundwater contamination by nitrates is primarily linked to:

• Industrial gaseous emissions
• Agricultural fertilizer leaching and septic systems
• Overgrazing alone
• Deforestation

Correct Answer: Agricultural fertilizer leaching and septic systems

Q16. Which practice in pharmaceutical manufacturing reduces environmental pollution?

• Zero wastewater treatment
• Green chemistry and waste minimization
• Discharging untreated effluents
• Single-use non-recyclable packaging exclusively

Correct Answer: Green chemistry and waste minimization

Q17. Desertification is most commonly accelerated by:

• Sustainable land management
• Overexploitation of vegetation, drought, and poor agricultural practices
• Increase in rainfall
• Urban green spaces expansion

Correct Answer: Overexploitation of vegetation, drought, and poor agricultural practices

Q18. Which is a direct consequence of biodiversity loss relevant to drug discovery?

• Increased raw material options for drugs
• Loss of potential novel bioactive compounds from extinct species
• Lower regulation of pharmaceuticals
• Decreased competition in the herbal market

Correct Answer: Loss of potential novel bioactive compounds from extinct species

Q19. Thermal pollution from industrial effluent affects aquatic life by:

• Decreasing water temperature beneficially
• Raising water temperature, reducing dissolved oxygen and stressing organisms
• Neutral effect on aquatic ecosystems
• Increasing ice formation

Correct Answer: Raising water temperature, reducing dissolved oxygen and stressing organisms

Q20. Which indicator measures organic pollution in water bodies and helps assess resource quality?

• pH alone
• Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
• Soil texture
• Airborne particulate index

Correct Answer: Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)

Q21. Which international approach helps conserve transboundary natural resources?

• Unilateral exploitation
• International treaties and cooperative management
• Ignoring environmental impact assessments
• Open-market privatization without regulation

Correct Answer: International treaties and cooperative management

Q22. Urbanization primarily pressures natural resources by:

• Reducing demand for water
• Increasing land-use change, pollution, and resource consumption
• Expanding forest cover
• Enhancing groundwater recharge

Correct Answer: Increasing land-use change, pollution, and resource consumption

Q23. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are problematic because they:

• Degrade immediately
• Accumulate in the environment and bioaccumulate in food chains
• Are harmless to humans
• Only affect non-living matter

Correct Answer: Accumulate in the environment and bioaccumulate in food chains

Q24. Which soil property is most affected by deforestation and leads to lower agricultural productivity?

• Increased soil fertility
• Loss of topsoil and reduced organic matter
• Higher soil moisture retention permanently
• Decreased soil compaction

Correct Answer: Loss of topsoil and reduced organic matter

Q25. Pharmaceutical residues in the environment can contribute to:

• Enhanced water purification
• Antibiotic resistance and ecological impacts on non-target species
• Reduction in pharmaceutical demand
• Improved soil fertility

Correct Answer: Antibiotic resistance and ecological impacts on non-target species

Q26. Which strategy is important for sustainable water resource management in pharma facilities?

• Continuous single-source withdrawal without audits
• Water recycling, treatment, and efficient use
• Discharging high-strength effluents to rivers
• Using potable water for all noncritical processes

Correct Answer: Water recycling, treatment, and efficient use

Q27. Landfills can threaten natural resources mainly through:

• Providing habitat for endangered species
• Leachate contamination of groundwater and methane emissions
• Reducing local temperatures beneficially
• Increasing biodiversity

Correct Answer: Leachate contamination of groundwater and methane emissions

Q28. Which agricultural practice reduces soil erosion and conserves resources?

• Monoculture with no cover crops
• Contour farming and mulching
• Clear-cutting surrounding vegetation
• Continuous tilling on steep slopes

Correct Answer: Contour farming and mulching

Q29. Illegal wildlife trade affects natural resource conservation by:

• Promoting legal cultivation
• Driving species decline and undermining ecosystem services
• Enhancing habitat protection
• Stabilizing native populations

Correct Answer: Driving species decline and undermining ecosystem services

Q30. Which measure reduces the carbon footprint of pharmaceutical products?

• Using inefficient transport modes
• Adopting energy-efficient processes and renewable energy
• Increasing single-use plastics in packaging
• Relying solely on fossil fuel energy

Correct Answer: Adopting energy-efficient processes and renewable energy

Q31. Which is a common indicator of groundwater quality deterioration?

• Decreased salinity
• Elevated nitrate and heavy metal concentrations
• Improved color and odor
• Higher dissolved oxygen

Correct Answer: Elevated nitrate and heavy metal concentrations

Q32. Which technique helps assess environmental impacts before development of resource projects?

• Post-construction monitoring only
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
• Ignoring stakeholder input
• Random sampling without baseline data

Correct Answer: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Q33. Which phenomenon increases due to melting glaciers and affects water resources?

• Permanent increase of mountain biodiversity
• Altered river flows and seasonal water scarcity
• Improved groundwater recharge uniformly
• Lower sea levels

Correct Answer: Altered river flows and seasonal water scarcity

Q34. Which pollutant class from agriculture poses direct threat to aquatic ecosystems?

• Herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizer runoff
• Solid rock fragments only
• Natural leaf litter exclusively
• Ambient temperature variations only

Correct Answer: Herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizer runoff

Q35. Which term describes the long-term decline in soil productivity due to intensive agriculture?

• Soil formation
• Soil degradation
• Afforestation
• Soil enrichment

Correct Answer: Soil degradation

Q36. Which approach balances resource use and conservation on a landscape scale?

• Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM)
• Isolated resource extraction without planning
• Unlimited exploitation
• Random habitat destruction

Correct Answer: Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM)

Q37. Which contaminant in drinking water can cause methemoglobinemia particularly in infants?

• Lead
• Nitrate
• Ozone
• Plastic particles

Correct Answer: Nitrate

Q38. Which of the following is a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel dependence affecting resource scarcity?

• Expanding coal mining
• Investing in renewable energy like solar and wind
• Increasing diesel usage
• Clearing forests for fuelwood only

Correct Answer: Investing in renewable energy like solar and wind

Q39. Which practice helps prevent contamination of raw herbal material by microbes?

• Poor post-harvest drying and storage
• Hygienic harvesting, proper drying, and controlled storage conditions
• Storing in damp, warm environments
• Mixing with contaminated soil

Correct Answer: Hygienic harvesting, proper drying, and controlled storage conditions

Q40. Which legal instrument often governs protection of endangered species used in pharmaceuticals?

• Trade tariffs only
• Conventions like CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)
• Unregulated international markets
• Local advertising laws

Correct Answer: Conventions like CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)

Q41. Which is an effect of oil spills on coastal natural resources?

• Enhanced fish populations
• Severe damage to marine life, habitats, and fisheries
• Improved mangrove growth
• Cleaner beaches

Correct Answer: Severe damage to marine life, habitats, and fisheries

Q42. Which monitoring parameter is critical for assessing air quality around pharma plants?

• Soil pH only
• Concentrations of VOCs, SO2, NOx, and particulate matter
• Groundwater depth only
• Number of trees planted

Correct Answer: Concentrations of VOCs, SO2, NOx, and particulate matter

Q43. Which intervention reduces nutrient runoff from farms into rivers?

• Buffer strips and riparian vegetation
• Directly channeling runoff into streams
• Clearing riparian zones
• Increasing fertilizer application without controls

Correct Answer: Buffer strips and riparian vegetation

Q44. Which form of pollution is most responsible for deteriorating coral reefs?

• Excess nutrients, sedimentation, and thermal stress
• Noise pollution only
• Plastic bottles exclusively
• Increased ocean salinity alone

Correct Answer: Excess nutrients, sedimentation, and thermal stress

Q45. Which action best addresses contamination of groundwater by industrial solvents?

• Leaving contamination untreated
• Site remediation techniques like pump-and-treat and in-situ chemical oxidation
• Drilling more wells nearby
• Installing more septic tanks

Correct Answer: Site remediation techniques like pump-and-treat and in-situ chemical oxidation

Q46. What role does sustainable harvesting play in supply of pharmaceutical raw materials?

• Ensures long-term availability and quality of raw materials
• Guarantees infinite yield regardless of practice
• Has no impact on raw material supply
• Reduces product quality always

Correct Answer: Ensures long-term availability and quality of raw materials

Q47. Which environmental problem increases the risk of contamination in crop-based excipient sources?

• Improved irrigation systems
• Use of contaminated irrigation water and polluted soils
• Strict quality control in processing
• Organic cultivation with clean inputs

Correct Answer: Use of contaminated irrigation water and polluted soils

Q48. Which practice helps the pharmaceutical industry reduce solid waste impacts?

• Implementing waste segregation, recycling, and take-back programs
• Mixing all waste and sending to landfill
• Burning hazardous waste in open air
• Exporting waste without treatment

Correct Answer: Implementing waste segregation, recycling, and take-back programs

Q49. Which factor most influences sustainable fisheries and aquatic resource management?

• Unlimited fishing effort
• Catch limits, monitoring, and protected areas
• Destruction of spawning grounds
• Ignoring local communities

Correct Answer: Catch limits, monitoring, and protected areas

Q50. How does climate change most directly threaten natural resources used in pharma?

• Increasing global stability of ecosystems
• Altering distribution and productivity of medicinal plants and water availability
• Making all regions uniformly more fertile
• Decreasing incidence of extreme weather events

Correct Answer: Altering distribution and productivity of medicinal plants and water availability

G S Sachin

I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.

Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com