Q.196 Zoology ⭐ 360° Option Elimination Active

NEET 2024 Zoology Question 196 Solution

Topic: Organisms and Populations · Official NTA Booklet Code T1

Question

Given below are two statements: Statement I: Gause's competitive exclusion principle states that two closely related species competing for different resources cannot exist indefinitely. Statement II: According to Gause's principle, during competition, the inferior will be eliminated. This may be true if resources are limiting. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

(1)Statement I is true but Statement II is false.
(2)Statement I is false but Statement II is true.
(3)Both Statement I and Statement II are true.
(4)Both Statement I and Statement II are false.

✓

Verified Against NTA Final Answer Key

Option (2) : Statement I is false but Statement II is true.

📚 Organisms and Populations Medium

📋 Given Parameters & Problem Setup

Statement I Gause’s competitive exclusion principle states that two closely related species competing for different resources cannot exist indefinitely.

Statement II According to Gause’s principle, during competition, the inferior will be eliminated. This may be true if resources are limiting.

⚡

The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ Gause’s Principle Exact Wording Trap

⏱️ Save ~25 seconds

Gause’s principle applies to species competing for the SAME limiting resources (Statement I says "different resources" -> FALSE)! Statement II correctly notes the inferior species will be eliminated -> TRUE!

1 Check Statement I: "two closely related species competing for different resources cannot exist indefinitely" -> FALSE! Gause’s principle applies strictly to species competing for the SAME limiting resources.

2 Check Statement II: "during competition, the inferior will be eliminated. This may be true if resources are limiting" -> TRUE! Competitive exclusion holds true when resources are limiting.

3 Conclusion: Statement I is false but Statement II is true -> Option (2) / B.

🛡️

Why You Can 100% Trust This Shortcut: NCERT Biology · Organisms and Populations (Gause’s Competitive Exclusion Principle)

📐

Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Step 1

Review Gause’s Competitive Exclusion Principle

NCERT defines Gause’s 'Competitive Exclusion Principle' as follows: "two closely related species competing for the SAME resources cannot co-exist indefinitely and the competitively inferior one will be eliminated eventually." Statement I says "competing for different resources", which completely subverts the definition. Thus, Statement I is false.

Step 2

Evaluate Limiting Resource Criterion (Statement II)

This competitive exclusion may be true if resources are limiting, but not otherwise. More recent studies do not support such gross generalisation about competition; they point out that species facing competition might evolve mechanisms that promote co-existence rather than exclusion (e.g., resource partitioning). However, as stated under Gause's core principle, under limiting resources the inferior is eliminated. Thus, Statement II is true.

Step 3

Formulate Option Selection

Statement I is false but Statement II is true, matching Option (2).

⭐

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 (1)

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Statement I is false and Statement II is true.

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Statement I is false and Statement II is true.

2 (2)

✓ 100% Correct

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Accurately recognizes that Gause’s principle strictly requires competition for the SAME resources, not different ones.

💡

Why this is airtight: None.

3 (3)

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Statement I is false.

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Statement I is false.

4 (4)

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Statement II is factually true.

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Statement II is factually true.

⚠️

NTA Trap Alert: Glancing Over "Different" vs "Same"

Reading "competing for different resources" as "competing for resources" without catching the word "different".

🛡️ How to avoid the -1 mark: If species use DIFFERENT resources, they do not compete and can easily coexist indefinitely.

📖

Core NEET Syllabus Standard

Biology Core Zoology · Organisms and Populations Standard Benchmark

Core Scientific Principle Tested:

"Gause’s ‘Competitive Exclusion Principle’ states that two closely related species competing for the same resources cannot co-exist indefinitely and the competitively inferior one will be eliminated eventually. This may be true if resources are limiting, but not otherwise."

Syllabus Focus: Gause’s Competitive Exclusion Principle: Assumptions and Invariant Rules

✓ Core NEET UG Syllabus Anchor Syllabus & Academic Standards ↗

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NEET 2024 Zoology Question 196 Solution

Question

The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ Gause’s Principle Exact Wording Trap

Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Review Gause’s Competitive Exclusion Principle

Evaluate Limiting Resource Criterion (Statement II)

Formulate Option Selection

360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

NTA Trap Alert: Glancing Over "Different" vs "Same"

Core NEET Syllabus Standard

Ready to attempt under real exam pressure?

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