Which of the following is the most important cause for animals and plants being driven to extinction?
Answer: (A) Habitat loss and fragmentation. Answer: (A) Habitat loss and fragmentation.
- A.Habitat loss and fragmentation✓
- B.Drought and floods
- C.Economic exploitation
- D.Alien species invasion
Correct Answer
(A) Habitat loss and fragmentation
Solution & Explanation
Answer: (A) Habitat loss and fragmentation. Solution: Among the four causes of biodiversity loss ('The Evil Quartet'), NCERT explicitly states that habitat loss and fragmentation is the most important cause driving animals and plants to extinction. Alien species invasion (option 4) is one of the quartet but not ranked the most important, while drought/floods and economic exploitation as worded are not the chief cause. NCERT: NCERT Class XII Biology, Ch 13 Biodiversity and Conservation, p.222, lines 30-32: "Habitat loss and fragmentation: This is the most important cause driving animals and plants to extinction."