Consider the following statements:Some mushrooms have medicinal properties.Some mushrooms have psych

Q: What is UPSC Prelims?

UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2023 UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology paper.

Q: How can I prepare for UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology?

To prepare for UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology, practice previous year questions (PYQs), understand concepts thoroughly, and solve mock tests regularly. This 2023 question covers Biodiversity – Types, Hotspots & Threats topic.

Q: What is the difficulty level of this question?

This UPSC Prelims 2023 Environment & Ecology question has a hard difficulty level.

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You can find more UPSC Prelims previous year questions on AspirantMitraa. Browse by subject, topic, year, and difficulty level to practice effectively.

Question

Consider the following statements:Some mushrooms have medicinal properties.Some mushrooms have psychoactive properties.Some mushrooms have insecticidal properties.Some mushrooms have bioluminescent properties.How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: D — All four statements are correctStep-by-step Solution:Statement 1: Correct – Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus) has medicinal properties (antioxidant, anti‑inflammatory). Many mushrooms are used in traditional medicine.Statement 2: Correct – Psilocybin (magic mushrooms) contains psychoactive compounds that alter perception and mood.Statement 3: Correct – Several fungi produce insecticidal compounds (e.g., Lactarius species) as a defence mechanism.Statement 4: Correct – Some mushrooms (e.g., Mycena, Armillaria) are bioluminescent, using luciferins to attract insects.Why other options are incorrect:Options A, B, C: All four statements are true, so any option that says fewer than four is incorrect.Key Concept: Fungi exhibit remarkable chemical diversity. Medicinal mushrooms are used in cancer support (e.g., Turkey tail), psychoactive ones are under research for depression, insecticidal fungi are explored as biopesticides, and bioluminescence aids spore dispersal.

Consider the following statements:Some mushrooms have medicinal properties.Some mushrooms have psychoactive properties.Some mushrooms have insecticidal properties.Some mushrooms have bioluminescent properties.How many of the above statements are correct?

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Consider the following statements:Some mushrooms have medicinal properties.Some mushrooms have psychoactive properties.Some mushrooms have insecticidal properties.Some mushrooms have bioluminescent properties.How many of the above statements are correct?

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More Questions from Biodiversity – Types, Hotspots & Threats

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