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A farmer replaces the… (Class 12 Biology SQP 2026-27, Q20B)

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BiologyCBSE Class 12 · Sample paper, session 2026-27 · 2 marks · Very short answer

CBSE Class 12 Biology sample paper 2026-27: question 20(B)

From the official CBSE sample question paper for 2026-27, section B, question 20(B), for 2 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q20(B) · 2 marks · Very short answerCompetency-basedBiotechnology and its Applications

A farmer replaces the GM crop with a conventional variety. Predict any two challenges she/he may face. Support your answer with two reasons.

Source: official sample paper from cbseacademic.nic.in (PDF). See it in the full Sample paper 2026-27.

Hints

Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.

Hint 1

List the advantages GM crops give farmers.

Hint 2

The farmer loses each advantage when switching to a conventional variety.

Step-by-step solution

Each step shows the marks it earns, as an examiner would award them. Checked by an independent re-solve from the question paper.

  1. Challenge 1: more pesticide use. The conventional variety lacks built-in pest resistance (for example, the Bt toxin). The farmer will therefore need more chemical pesticides, which raises costs and pollution.

    1 mark

  2. Challenge 2: lower yield or faster soil depletion. The conventional crop is less tolerant of abiotic stresses such as drought, cold, salt and heat, so it gives lower yields under stress. It also uses minerals less efficiently, so it may deplete soil fertility faster.

    1 mark

Answer: (1) More pesticide use, because there is no pest resistance. (2) Lower yield under abiotic stress (or faster soil nutrient depletion), because there is no stress tolerance or efficient mineral use.

Where the marks are

  • First challenge with reason, e.g. more pesticide due to lack of pest resistance (1 mark)
  • Second challenge with reason, e.g. lower yield under stress or soil nutrient depletion (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Biotechnology and its Applications, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paperSample paper 2026-27: every question, by section.

The question is transcribed from the official paper; figures are described in words. The solution, hints and chapter tag are ours. Spotted an error? Write tosupport@questionbuddy.in.