Since the origin and diversification of life on Earth, there have been five episodes of mass extinction of species. How is the sixth extinction, which is in progress, different from the previous episodes? (NEET 2026)
- A.The present net species extinction rate is zero.
- B.The current species extinction rate is nearly 10 times faster than in previous episodes.
- C.The present species extinction rates are 100 to 1000 times faster than in the pre-human times.✓
- D.The current species extinction rates are far lower than those in previous episodes.
Correct Answer
(C) The present species extinction rates are 100 to 1000 times faster than in the pre-human times.
Solution & Explanation
Answer: (3) The present species extinction rates are 100 to 1000 times faster than in the pre-human times. [option C] Solution: The difference between the ongoing Sixth Extinction and the five previous mass extinctions lies in the rate: current rates are 100 to 1,000 times faster than pre-human times, and human activities drive this acceleration. Option (1) is false (the net rate is high, not zero), option (2) understates the figure (it is 100-1000x, not ~10x), and option (4) is the opposite of the truth. NCERT: NCERT Class XII Biology, Ch 13 Biodiversity and Conservation, p.222, lines 16-18: "the current species extinction rates are estimated to be 100 to 1,000 times faster than in the pre-human times and our activities are responsible for the faster rates."