CAPF AC 2020 Q43: Environment & Ecology – Biodiversity & Conservation
Which one of the following does NOT illustrate the importance of the Coral Reef?
- (a) They provide employment to the people
- (b) They supply building materials
- (c) They protect shoreline from storms
- (d) They protect communities from earthquakes
Answer: (d) They protect communities from earthquakes
Explanation
Importance of coral reefs
How to think: a reef is a wall of limestone in shallow sea.
It can stop waves.
It cannot stop the ground from shaking.
| Statement | True? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| (a) They provide employment to the people | Yes | Fishing and tourism depend on reefs |
| (b) They supply building materials | Yes | Coral limestone is used for lime and building |
| (c) They protect shoreline from storms | Yes | Reefs break the force of waves and storm surges |
| (d) They protect communities from earthquakes | No | An earthquake comes from inside the earth; a reef cannot block it |
More on coral reefs:
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Built by | Tiny animals called coral polyps |
| Nickname | Rainforests of the sea |
| Main threat | Coral bleaching from warm water |
Answer: (d) They protect communities from earthquakes.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Reefs do give employment through fishing and tourism.
- (b) Incorrect. Reefs do supply building material in the form of coral limestone.
- (c) Incorrect. Reefs do protect the shoreline by breaking storm waves.
- (d) CORRECT. Reefs cannot protect against earthquakes, so this does not show their importance.
Key point
Coral reefs: jobs (fishing, tourism), limestone, shoreline protection from waves and storms, rich biodiversity. They give no protection from earthquakes.
Remember
Reefs stop waves, not earthquakes.
Common mistakes
- Missing the word NOT and marking a true benefit.
- Confusing protection from storm waves with protection from earthquakes.
- Thinking corals are plants; they are animals living with algae.
Exam tip
Find the option that is physically impossible. Nothing on the sea surface can stop an earthquake.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI Geography — Fundamentals of Physical Geography (oceans and coral reefs)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — coral reef