The following 20 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) are based on
Chapter 13: Earth as a System: Energy, Matter, and Life from the NCERT Class 9
Science textbook Exploration. Each question has four options - select the
best answer and click to check.
Instructions: Read each question carefully. Choose the most
appropriate option from (a), (b), (c), or (d). Click
Show Answer to reveal the correct answer with explanation.
Multiple Choice Questions
1The main external source of energy driving Earth's surface systems is the:
(a) Moon
(b) Sun
(c) Soil
(d) Ocean floor only
(b) is correct
Solar energy powers weather, the water cycle and photosynthesis.
2Which Earth sphere includes rocks, soil and landforms?
(a) Hydrosphere
(b) Geosphere
(c) Atmosphere
(d) Biosphere
(b) is correct
The geosphere is the solid Earth, including its rocks, soils, landforms and interior.
3Oceans, rivers, lakes and groundwater belong to the:
(a) Hydrosphere
(b) Cryosphere
(c) Geosphere
(d) Atmosphere
(a) is correct
The hydrosphere includes Earth's liquid water.
4Glaciers, snow and polar ice caps form the:
(a) Biosphere
(b) Cryosphere
(c) Atmosphere
(d) Geosphere
(b) is correct
The cryosphere is the frozen-water component of the Earth system.
5All living organisms and their habitats make up the:
(a) Atmosphere
(b) Biosphere
(c) Hydrosphere only
(d) Cryosphere
(b) is correct
The biosphere encompasses life and the regions it inhabits.
6Why is Earth's surface heated unevenly?
(a) Every place receives identical solar energy
(b) Earth's shape, tilt and surface differences alter received energy
(c) The Sun heats only oceans
(d) The atmosphere blocks all sunlight
(b) is correct
Solar angle, duration and surface properties vary across place and time.
7Near the equator, sunlight is generally more concentrated because it strikes the surface:
(a) More directly
(b) Only at night
(c) After passing through no atmosphere
(d) At a very low angle
(a) is correct
More direct rays spread the same incoming energy over a smaller surface area.
8A dark surface usually absorbs solar radiation:
(a) Less effectively than a light surface
(b) More effectively than a light surface
(c) Exactly like a mirror
(d) Only below freezing
(b) is correct
Darker surfaces have lower reflectivity and absorb a larger fraction of incoming energy.
9The fraction of incoming radiation reflected by a surface is called its:
(a) Albedo
(b) Humidity
(c) Salinity
(d) Velocity
(a) is correct
High-albedo surfaces such as fresh snow reflect much of the sunlight.
10The atmosphere warms the surface partly through the:
(a) Tyndall effect
(b) Greenhouse effect
(c) Sublimation of all water
(d) Removal of infrared radiation
(b) is correct
Greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit outgoing infrared energy.
11Local winds develop mainly because unequal heating creates differences in:
(a) Air pressure
(b) Atomic number
(c) Soil mass
(d) Day length only
(a) is correct
Warm air rises and pressure contrasts drive air from higher toward lower pressure.
12During daytime, a sea breeze usually blows:
(a) From land to sea
(b) From sea to land
(c) Straight upward only
(d) From poles to equator
(b) is correct
Land heats faster, so cooler denser air moves inland from the sea.
13Planetary winds are deflected by Earth's rotation through the:
(a) Tyndall effect
(b) Coriolis effect
(c) Greenhouse effect
(d) Photoelectric effect
(b) is correct
Rotation causes moving air and water to curve relative to Earth's surface.
14Ocean currents help regulate climate by transporting:
(a) Only salt
(b) Heat around the planet
(c) Only rocks
(d) No energy
(b) is correct
Currents redistribute thermal energy between regions.
15In the water cycle, conversion of liquid water into vapour is:
(a) Condensation
(b) Evaporation
(c) Precipitation
(d) Infiltration
(b) is correct
Solar heating drives evaporation from water bodies and moist surfaces.
16Plants move water vapour to the atmosphere through:
(a) Transpiration
(b) Respiration only
(c) Nitrogen fixation
(d) Combustion
(a) is correct
Water evaporates from plant surfaces, mainly through stomata.
17Photosynthesis affects the carbon cycle by:
(a) Releasing only carbon dioxide
(b) Taking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into biomass
(c) Stopping all respiration
(d) Creating fossil fuels instantly
(b) is correct
Plants and other producers fix atmospheric or dissolved carbon dioxide into organic matter.
What is covered in CBSE Class 9 Science Chapter 13 Earth as a System: Energy, Matter, and Life?
This chapter covers all key topics from Earth as a System: Energy, Matter, and Life as per CBSE 2026-27 syllabus.
Is this MCQ Test useful for CBSE board exams?
Yes, designed for CBSE Class 9 board exam preparation covering the complete syllabus.
Are these CBSE Class 9 Science MCQ Test updated for 2026-27?
Yes, all content at eBookPublisher is updated as per the latest 2026-27 CBSE syllabus.
How many chapters are in CBSE Class 9 Science?
All chapters of CBSE Class 9 Science are covered at eBookPublisher with free MCQ Test for each chapter.
Can I study Earth as a System: Energy, Matter, and Life online for free?
Yes, complete MCQ Test for Earth as a System: Energy, Matter, and Life is available free at eBookPublisher. Study online directly — no download needed.
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