CSS Environmental Science MCQs

This comprehensive set of MCQs on Environmental Science for the Central Superior Services (CSS) examination is carefully designed to cover all major topics outlined in the CSS syllabus. Addressing areas such as ecosystems, environmental pollution, climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable development, these MCQs aim to equip aspiring CSS candidates with a deep understanding of the principles and challenges of environmental science.

Who should practice CSS Environmental Science MCQs?

Candidates preparing for the CSS examination who seek to develop a solid understanding of environmental science concepts and their real-world applications.
Individuals interested in environmental policies, conservation efforts, and sustainability practices essential for public administration roles.
University students focused on high-yield topics such as ecological principles, environmental impact assessment, and global environmental issues, which are crucial for the CSS Environmental Science syllabus.
Anyone looking to enhance their knowledge on the management of natural resources, pollution control, and climate action strategies.
Students committed to mastering environmental science to excel in competitive exams and contribute to environmentally sustainable decision-making in public and private sectors.

1. The United Nations Conference on Human Environment held in 1972 is commonly known as the:

A) Paris Conference
B) Stockholm Conference
C) Rio Summit
D) Kyoto Protocol

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2. “Our Common Future,” published in 1987, is also known as the:

A) Brundtland Report
B) Agenda 21
C) Earth Charter
D) Green Paper

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3. The Rio Summit of 1992 primarily focused on:

A) Nuclear disarmament
B) Biodiversity conservation
C) Sustainable development
D) Trade liberalization

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4. Agenda 21, a product of the 1992 Rio Summit, is a plan for:

A) National defense policies
B) Sustainable development worldwide
C) Economic growth in developed countries
D) Educational reforms

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5. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were launched by the UN in:

A) 2000
B) 1995
C) 2015
D) 2010

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6. A primary concern of the Industrial Revolution related to the environment was:

A) Preservation of ecosystems
B) Increased pollution and resource consumption
C) Adoption of solar energy
D) Reduction of waste

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7. Which summit focused on assessing the progress made since the 1992 Rio Summit?

A) World Summit on Sustainable Development, 2002
B) Kyoto Summit
C) Copenhagen Accord
D) Stockholm Conference

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8. The Rio+20 Summit held in 2012 revisited which major global issue?

A) Desertification
B) Food security
C) Climate change
D) Sustainable development

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9. The concept of “carrying capacity” refers to the:

A) Maximum population size an environment can sustain
B) Economic capacity of a country
C) Population of a specific animal species
D) Average income level in urban areas

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10. An “ecological footprint” measures:

A) Biodiversity in an area
B) The human demand on Earth’s resources
C) Carbon emissions from cars
D) The size of ecosystems

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11. Sustainable agriculture aims to:

A) Increase crop yields at any cost
B) Eliminate the use of pesticides
C) Conserve resources for future generations
D) Ensure maximum exports

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12. Urbanization poses a significant challenge to sustainable cities by increasing:

A) Biodiversity
B) Green spaces
C) Pollution and waste generation
D) Crop production

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13. “Environmental Biology” is the study of:

A) Human anatomy
B) Ecosystems and living organisms
C) Chemistry of pollutants
D) Geographical mapping

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14. Environmental Chemistry primarily examines:

A) Physical properties of water
B) Chemical processes within the environment
C) Geological processes
D) Soil erosion

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15. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is part of the:

A) Kyoto Protocol
B) Paris Agreement
C) Montreal Protocol
D) Stockholm Convention

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16. Environmental Microbiology involves studying:

A) Plant genetics
B) Microorganisms and their environmental interactions
C) Atmospheric pressure
D) Forest ecosystems

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17. Greenhouse gases contribute to:

A) Ozone depletion
B) The greenhouse effect
C) Reduced atmospheric oxygen
D) Soil erosion

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18. “Global warming” refers to the:

A) Rise in Earth’s average temperature
B) Decline in sea levels
C) Increase in biodiversity
D) Reduction in pollution levels

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19. Which substance is primarily responsible for ozone layer depletion?

A) Carbon dioxide
B) CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons)
C) Nitrogen
D) Methane

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20. Acid rain is primarily caused by the emission of:

A) Carbon monoxide
B) Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
C) Oxygen
D) Hydrogen sulfide

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21. Environmental Toxicology is concerned with:

A) Studying soil composition
B) The effects of toxic substances on ecosystems and human health
C) Increasing plant biodiversity
D) Monitoring water quality only

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22. A major global environmental challenge related to deforestation is:

A) Ozone depletion
B) Biodiversity loss
C) Decrease in desert areas
D) Population growth

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23. Desertification primarily results from:

A) Excessive rainfall
B) Deforestation and unsustainable farming practices
C) Urbanization
D) Glacial movements

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24. The “carbon footprint” concept measures:

A) Energy efficiency
B) Total greenhouse gas emissions from an entity
C) Water consumption rates
D) Recycling efforts

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25. Climate patterns in tropical regions are typically characterized by:

A) Cold, dry winters
B) High temperatures and heavy rainfall
C) Constant snowfall
D) Seasonal droughts

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26. Climate change adaptation refers to:

A) Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
B) Adjusting practices to minimize climate change impacts
C) Increasing use of fossil fuels
D) Promoting urban sprawl

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27. The role of India, China, and the USA in the Copenhagen Accord of 2009 primarily concerned:

A) Military strategies
B) Environmental policies and greenhouse gas emissions
C) Trade agreements
D) Space exploration

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28. Environmental Governance involves:

A) Industrial planning
B) Policy, legal, and institutional frameworks for environmental protection
C) Military spending
D) Space exploration

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29. Pakistan’s National Conservation Strategy was launched in:

A) 2005
B) 1992
C) 1987
D) 2010

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30. The Environmental Protection Act of Pakistan was enacted in:

A) 2000
B) 1997
C) 1985
D) 2015

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31. Pakistan’s National Climate Change Policy was introduced in:

A) 2010
B) 2012
C) 2005
D) 2008

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32. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety primarily focuses on:

A) Water pollution control
B) Protection from genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
C) Climate change adaptation
D) Global waste management

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33. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) aims to:

A) Regulate air quality
B) Conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable use of resources
C) Promote recycling in cities
D) Reduce industrial emissions

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34. CITES is an international agreement that regulates:

A) Nuclear energy use
B) Trade in endangered species
C) Urban development
D) Air quality standards

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35. The Ramsar Convention is associated with the protection of:

A) Forests
B) Wetlands
C) Marine life
D) Urban parks

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36. CMS, or the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species, addresses the conservation of:

A) Stationary wildlife
B) Plants
C) Migratory animals
D) Aquatic organisms

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37. The Kyoto Protocol is a global treaty aimed at reducing:

A) Ozone-depleting substances
B) Biodiversity loss
C) Greenhouse gas emissions
D) Water consumption

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38. The Montreal Protocol focuses on:

A) Deforestation
B) Marine conservation
C) Ozone layer protection
D) Urban waste management

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39. The purpose of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is to:

A) Measure agricultural yield
B) Predict environmental effects of proposed projects
C) Increase industrial production
D) Monitor air quality only

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40. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) primarily assesses:

A) Environmental impacts of policy or program decisions
B) Local air quality only
C) Soil erosion rates
D) Agricultural development

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41. ISO 14000 series is a family of standards related to:

A) Energy management
B) Environmental management
C) Food safety
D) Occupational health

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42. An Environmental Management System (EMS) helps an organization:

A) Improve product quality
B) Meet environmental objectives and legal requirements
C) Increase profit margins
D) Promote tourism

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43. OHSAS 18000 focuses on:

A) Environmental conservation
B) Energy efficiency
C) Occupational health and safety
D) Biodiversity protection

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44. A participatory approach to environmental management means:

A) The involvement of government only
B) Including community and stakeholders in decision-making
C) Relying on technology alone
D) Excluding local communities

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45. Geographic Information System (GIS) technology is useful for:

A) Data collection and spatial analysis
B) Water quality measurement
C) Air pollution control
D) Soil conservation only

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46. Remote Sensing technology primarily helps with:

A) Monitoring weather patterns and environmental changes from a distance
B) Managing waste disposal
C) Increasing agricultural yield
D) Economic forecasting

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47. Ecological restoration aims to:

A) Develop industrial zones
B) Restore ecosystems to their natural state
C) Increase human population
D) Promote urban sprawl

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48. Energy conservation involves:

A) Increasing energy consumption
B) Reducing energy waste and using energy efficiently
C) Expanding fossil fuel usage
D) Promoting nuclear energy

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49. A sustainable city prioritizes:

A) Industrial expansion over everything else
B) Environmental health, resource efficiency, and quality of life
C) Automobile use
D) Energy waste

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50. Urbanization without sustainability measures often leads to:

A) Improved air quality
B) Increased pollution and resource depletion
C) Conservation of natural resources
D) Decreased waste generation

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51. Environmental Economics primarily studies the:

A) Stock market
B) Interaction between economic systems and the environment
C) Biodiversity in cities
D) Industrial revenue

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52. Environmental Geology helps us understand:

A) Climate patterns
B) The impact of geological processes on ecosystems
C) Agricultural productivity
D) Pollution control

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53. Environmental Geography focuses on:

A) Studying human history
B) Analyzing spatial aspects of human-environment interactions
C) Monitoring only forests
D) Economic forecasting

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54. Which of the following contributes most to soil pollution?

A) Household waste
B) Agricultural pesticides and industrial waste
C) Forest vegetation
D) Ocean currents

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55. Water logging is a condition often caused by:

A) Heavy deforestation
B) Poor irrigation and drainage systems
C) Increased animal grazing
D) Urban construction

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56. Salinity in soil can lead to:

A) Improved soil fertility
B) Reduced agricultural productivity
C) Increased tree density
D) Better crop yields

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57. Deforestation has a direct impact on:

A) Increasing soil erosion
B) Reducing greenhouse gases
C) Enhancing biodiversity
D) Increasing rainfall

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58. Desertification is most commonly caused by:

A) Soil conservation
B) Overgrazing and unsustainable land use
C) Renewable energy use
D) Urban afforestation

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59. Eutrophication occurs when there is an excessive accumulation of:

A) Oxygen in water
B) Nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus in water bodies
C) Salt in soil
D) Carbon in the atmosphere

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60. Global warming is largely caused by the increase of which gas?

A) Helium
B) Oxygen
C) Carbon dioxide
D) Nitrogen

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61. The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that:

A) Decreases global temperatures
B) Helps regulate Earth’s temperature by trapping heat
C) Increases oxygen levels
D) Removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

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62. The primary gas responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer is:

A) Carbon dioxide
B) Methane
C) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
D) Nitrogen

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63. Acid rain is mainly caused by:

A) Emission of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
B) Increased carbon dioxide levels
C) Deforestation
D) Ocean acidification

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64. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is part of which environmental agreement?

A) Montreal Protocol
B) Ramsar Convention
C) Kyoto Protocol
D) Basel Convention

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65. REDD+ is an initiative aimed at reducing emissions from:

A) Transportation
B) Landfills
C) Deforestation and forest degradation
D) Industrial activities

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66. A carbon footprint refers to:

A) The area covered by forests
B) The amount of greenhouse gases produced by an individual or activity
C) The land used for agriculture
D) The natural growth of carbon-based plants

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67. In global environmental politics, the Copenhagen Accord of 2009 was significant because it:

A) Established binding targets for all countries
B) Recognized the need for immediate action on climate change
C) Focused exclusively on water conservation
D) Was rejected by the United Nations

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68. The National Conservation Strategy of Pakistan was introduced in:

A) 1988
B) 1992
C) 1995
D) 2000

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69. Pakistan’s Environmental Protection Act of 1997 primarily focuses on:

A) Regulating only air pollution
B) Ensuring sustainable environmental governance
C) Improving agricultural yield
D) Increasing urbanization

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70. The primary purpose of the Pak-EPA (Review of IEE/EIA) Regulations 2000 is to:

A) Increase industrial production
B) Provide guidelines for environmental impact assessment
C) Regulate mining activities
D) Monitor fishing in Pakistan

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71. The National Drinking Water Policy of Pakistan was implemented in:

A) 2012
B) 2009
C) 2005
D) 2015

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72. Sanitation Policy in Pakistan is essential for:

A) Encouraging only rural health initiatives
B) Enhancing waste management and public health
C) Preventing industrial growth
D) Promoting air quality

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73. The purpose of the Millennium Development Goals was to:

A) End all fossil fuel use
B) Address global social and environmental challenges
C) Establish trade routes
D) Enhance military cooperation

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74. Solid Waste Management Plan 2005 in Pakistan was aimed at:

A) Increasing plastic production
B) Reducing pollution through effective waste disposal and recycling
C) Deforestation
D) Water conservation only

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75. The National Environmental Policy Act of Pakistan was introduced in:

A) 1995
B) 2000
C) 2005
D) 2010

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76. Hazardous Substances Rules 2005 in Pakistan were created to:

A) Encourage the use of pesticides
B) Regulate the handling and disposal of hazardous materials
C) Promote oil production
D) Increase industrial waste

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77. The National Climate Change Policy of 2012 in Pakistan addresses:

A) Air pollution only
B) A wide range of climate and environmental issues
C) Biodiversity exclusively
D) Nuclear energy use

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78. Which global initiative was created to prevent trade in endangered species?

A) Kyoto Protocol
B) Convention on Biological Diversity
C) CITES
D) Ramsar Convention

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79. The term “ecological footprint” measures:

A) The area of forest land in a country
B) The land and water resources required by humans to support their consumption and absorb their waste
C) The footprint size of endangered animals
D) Global air quality

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80. An Environmental Management System (EMS) is beneficial because it:

A) Focuses solely on biodiversity
B) Helps organizations meet environmental regulations and improve sustainability practices
C) Ensures economic profitability
D) Excludes all hazardous materials

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81. Environmental Toxicology studies:

A) The economic impact of pollution
B) The toxic effects of chemicals on the environment and living organisms
C) Urbanization processes
D) Air circulation patterns

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82. Environmental Biotechnology uses biological processes to:

A) Promote deforestation
B) Develop solutions for environmental issues
C) Increase industrial waste
D) Improve only agriculture

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83. Environmental Sociology examines the relationship between:

A) Society and environmental changes
B) Forest management only
C) Industrial profits
D) Animal behavior

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84. Water Pollution can be caused by:

A) Organic and inorganic contaminants
B) Sunlight exposure
C) Low soil moisture
D) Increased plant growth

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85. Noise Pollution primarily affects:

A) Air quality
B) Human health and well-being
C) Water purity
D) Soil fertility

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86. Global environmental issues are often discussed in which United Nations forum?

A) World Health Assembly
B) United Nations Environmental Assembly
C) UN Security Council
D) World Economic Forum

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87. Sustainable development encourages:

A) Exclusive economic growth
B) Balanced economic growth and environmental protection
C) Increasing deforestation
D) Fossil fuel dependence

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88. Industrial agriculture primarily contributes to:

A) Biodiversity conservation
B) Water and soil pollution
C) Energy production
D) Desertification prevention

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89. Renewable energy sources include:

A) Fossil fuels
B) Solar and wind energy
C) Nuclear power exclusively
D) Coal and oil

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90. The purpose of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is to:

A) Promote urbanization
B) Assess potential environmental impacts of projects before they are implemented
C) Increase pollution levels
D) Develop industrial zones exclusively

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91. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established to:

A) Promote fossil fuel use
B) Address global environmental issues through international cooperation
C) Eliminate biodiversity
D) Monitor global population growth

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92. The Kyoto Protocol aimed to:

A) End all industrial pollution
B) Set binding targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
C) Promote the use of nuclear energy
D) Increase deforestation rates

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93. Pakistan is a party to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, also known as:

A) Ramsar Convention
B) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
C) Convention on Biological Diversity
D) Montreal Protocol

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94. The National Environmental Policy of Pakistan 2005 focuses on:

A) Economic growth without considering environmental impacts
B) Reducing environmental degradation and promoting sustainability
C) Increasing industrial production only
D) Privatization of natural resources

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95. Which of the following is the main goal of sustainable urbanization?

A) To increase city population rapidly
B) To create energy-efficient and environmentally friendly urban areas
C) To reduce agricultural production
D) To focus on car-based transportation

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96. The concept of carrying capacity refers to:

A) The number of industries a country can support
B) The maximum population an environment can support sustainably
C) The economic resources available to a country
D) The amount of energy a country can generate

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97. The Montreal Protocol specifically addresses the:

A) Depletion of the ozone layer
B) Emission of greenhouse gases
C) Conservation of water resources
D) Protection of endangered species

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98. The concept of disaster risk management involves:

A) Increasing industrial waste
B) Mitigating the effects of environmental hazards and improving preparedness
C) Promoting deforestation
D) Ignoring environmental health risks

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99. The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is used to:

A) Monitor urban growth
B) Assess the potential environmental impacts of policies, plans, or programs
C) Increase carbon emissions
D) Promote wasteful use of resources

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100. Environmental Geology focuses on:

A) The study of air pollution
B) The impact of human activities on the Earth’s geology and natural resources
C) The development of new energy sources
D) The protection of marine life

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