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Science — CBSE Class 10 board question

Q1. [1]
Which of the following limits the number of trophic levels in a food chain ?
  1. (A) Availability of water
  2. (B) Deficient food supply
  3. (C) Decrease in energy at higher levels
  4. (D) Pollution in air
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2026 31/2/1 Q7
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 06:41 · grounding rag
Model Answer

(C) Decrease in energy at higher levels

The loss of energy at each trophic level is so great that very little usable energy remains after four trophic levels, limiting food chain length.

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Explanation

The textbook (Chapter 13, "What you have learnt") explicitly states: "There is a loss of energy as we go from one trophic level to the next, this limits the number of trophic levels in a food-chain." Only ~10% of energy passes to the next level, so after 3–4 levels, usable energy is negligible. Examiners expect you to pick (C) and may ask for a one-line justification.

Source: Chapter 13, Section 13.1.1 & What You Have Learnt

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Previous-year CBSE Grade 10 board exam questions, organised by subject and chapter, each with a model answer — free to read and print.