NDA (I) 2024 General Ability Test · Question 45 of 146

Correct — C, both similarities and differences. A species groups organisms that share defining similarities with one another while staying distinct through their differences from other species, so both criteria are needed to define it. Being a comprehension item the phrasing follows the passage, but the standard biological sense supports 'both', which is why the single-criterion options and 'none of the above' are ruled out.

• (a)Similarities only — Captures just the shared traits that unite members of one species and ignores that a species is also marked off by its differences from others.
• (b)Differences only — Captures just the contrast with other species and ignores the shared similarities that group members of the same species together.
• (d)None of the above — Once 'both similarities and differences' correctly states the basis, 'none of the above' cannot hold.

A comprehension item on how a species is defined — by the similarities shared among its members together with the differences that set it apart from other species.

No directly related past PYQ was found.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring is best described as a:

  • (a)genus
  • (b)species
  • (c)family
  • (d)phylum

  Answer(b) species — members share defining similarities and interbreed, while differing from other species.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  Classifying living things into groups relies mainly on:

  • (a)similarities alone
  • (b)differences alone
  • (c)both similarities and differences
  • (d)neither

  Answer(c) both similarities and differences — shared traits group organisms, contrasting traits separate them.