Q.60 Zoology ⭐ 360° Option Elimination Active

NEET 2020 Zoology Question 60 Solution

Topic: Ecosystem · Official NTA Booklet Code E1

Question

Match the trophic levels with their correct species examples in grassland ecosystem. (a) Fourth trophic level (i) Crow (b) Second trophic level (ii) Vulture (c) First trophic level (iii) Rabbit (d) Third trophic level (iv) Grass Select the correct option: (a) (b) (c) (d)

(1)(ii) (iii) (iv) (i)
(2)(iii) (ii) (i) (iv)
(3)(iv) (iii) (ii) (i)
(4)(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

✓

Verified Against NTA Final Answer Key

Option (1) : (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i)

📚 Ecosystem Easy

📋 Given Parameters & Problem Setup

Column I (Trophic Levels) (a) Fourth trophic level, (b) Second trophic level, (c) First trophic level, (d) Third trophic level

Column II (Grassland Species) (i) Crow, (ii) Vulture, (iii) Rabbit, (iv) Grass

⚡

The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ "Grass (T1) -> Rabbit (T2) -> Crow (T3) -> Vulture (T4)!"

⏱️ 25 seconds

First trophic level (producer) = Grass (c->iv). Second trophic level (herbivore) = Rabbit (b->iii). Third trophic level (carnivore) = Crow (d->i). Fourth trophic level (top carnivore) = Vulture (a->ii). Combination: (ii), (iii), (iv), (i) -> Option 1 in 10 seconds!

1 First trophic level (T1, Primary Producer): Grass -> (c) matches (iv).

2 Second trophic level (T2, Primary Consumer / Herbivore): Rabbit -> (b) matches (iii).

3 Third trophic level (T3, Secondary Consumer / Carnivore): Crow -> (d) matches (i).

4 Fourth trophic level (T4, Tertiary Consumer / Top Carnivore): Vulture -> (a) matches (ii).

5 Mapping: (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i) -> Option 1.

🛡️

Why You Can 100% Trust This Shortcut: NCERT Biology · Ecosystem (Energy Flow: Trophic Levels in Terrestrial Ecosystem)

📐

Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Step 1

Construct the Grassland Food Chain

In a grassland ecosystem, energy flows unidirectionally through trophic levels: Producers (T1) -> Primary Consumers/Herbivores (T2) -> Secondary Consumers/Carnivores (T3) -> Tertiary/Top Consumers (T4).

Step 2

Assign Species to Levels

T1 (First): Grass (autotrophic primary producer); T2 (Second): Rabbit (herbivore feeding on grass); T3 (Third): Crow (carnivore/omnivore consuming primary consumers); T4 (Fourth): Vulture (top scavenger/apex consumer feeding on carrion/carnivores).

Step 3

Map Against Columns

(a) Fourth trophic level matches (ii) Vulture; (b) Second trophic level matches (iii) Rabbit; (c) First trophic level matches (iv) Grass; (d) Third trophic level matches (i) Crow.

Step 4

Select Matching Option

The correspondence is (a)-(ii), (b)-(iii), (c)-(iv), (d)-(i), uniquely given by Option (1).

⭐

360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

Diagnose every choice: Know exactly why the right option works and why distractors fail.

4-Option Deep Scan

1 A

✓ 100% Correct

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Accurate pairing across all four trophic levels of the grassland ecosystem.

💡

Why this is airtight: None; straightforward ecological food chain.

2 B

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Incorrect; places rabbit at fourth trophic level and vulture at second.

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Inverting producers and top carnivores.

3 C

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Incorrect; assigns grass to the fourth trophic level.

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Confusing highest trophic level with primary producers.

4 D

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Incorrect; assigns crow to fourth and grass to third trophic level.

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Arbitrary sequence mapping.

⚠️

NTA Trap Alert: Trophic Level Numbering

First trophic level is ALWAYS the Producer (T1). Herbivores are T2. Never count top carnivore as T1!

🛡️ How to avoid the -1 mark: Always start counting from the green plant: Grass = T1 (First trophic level)!

📖

Core NEET Syllabus Standard

Zoology · Ecosystem Standard Benchmark

Core Scientific Principle Tested:

Syllabus Focus: Trophic Level Assignment in Grassland Ecosystem Food Chain

✓ Core NEET UG Syllabus Anchor Syllabus & Academic Standards ↗

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NEET 2020 Zoology Question 60 Solution

Question

The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ "Grass (T1) -> Rabbit (T2) -> Crow (T3) -> Vulture (T4)!"

Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Construct the Grassland Food Chain

Assign Species to Levels

Map Against Columns

Select Matching Option

360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

NTA Trap Alert: Trophic Level Numbering

Core NEET Syllabus Standard

Ready to attempt under real exam pressure?

🔗 Related Questions — Ecosystem

Trophic Levels and Consumer Classification in Grazing Food Chains

Unidirectional Energy Flow & Lindeman's 10% Law

Solar Energy as Primary Energy Source & Gross vs. Net Primary Productivity

Productivity of an Ecosystem and Its Units

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