London Zoo's Komodo dragon - see question 10

As decision-makers discuss the future of the planet's flora and fauna at the 2004 CITES conference in Bangkok, test your knowledge of the web of life.

Question 1

There are an estimated 13-14 million species in the world. How many of those have been recorded and described?

A: 1.75 million B: 5 million C: 7 million D: 11 million

Question 2

What is the biggest threat to species?

A: Habitat loss B: Hunting, fishing and collecting C: Alien invasive species

Question 3

How many plant species are used in medicines worldwide?

A: 100 � 200 B: 1,000 � 2,000 C: 10,000 � 20,000 D: 100,000 � 200,000

Question 4

The Rosy Periwinkle is a plant species native to Madagascar. What condition is it used to treat?

A: Kidney stones B: Heart disease C: Leukaemia D: Rheumatism

Question 5

Which country has the most endangered plants in the world?

A: Indonesia B: Malaysia C: Ecuador D: Brazil

Question 6

Wild wheat varieties found in Turkey have a genetic property valued at $US50 million a year. What is it?

A: Resistance to pesticides B: High levels of vitamin A C: Resistance to plant disease D: Twice yearly crops

Question 7

The Sumatran tiger is at risk of extinction. Which everyday product is behind the threat?

A: Hamburgers - the tiger�s rainforest home is being cut down to make way for cattle. B: Paper � logging companies are exploiting the forests for paper pulp. C: Toothpaste � workers collecting an ingredient from the sap of a certain tree are disturbing the tigers� breeding cycle. D: All of the above are true.

Question 8

What happened when a predatory snail from the US was introduced on the Pacific island of Moorea to control an imported African edible snail?

A: The edible snails� shells were too tough to crack, so the predatory snails died out. B: The predatory snail picked up a local disease, which was then carried back to the US in imported goods. C: Instead of eating the African edible snail, the predator turned on a local species, which is now at risk of dying out. D: The predatory snail was palatable to a local monkey species, and the sudden abundance of food triggered a population explosion.

Question 9

During the 1990s, by how much was the Earth's forest cover reduced every minute?

A: 0.37 football pitches B: 3.7 football pitches C: 37 football pitches D: 370 football pitches

Question 10

Dinosaurs were wiped out in the mass extinction 65 million years ago - or were they? Which modern day group of animals do many experts say are technically dinosaurs?

A: Crocodiles B: Komodo dragons C: Frogs D: Birds

 Press the button and see how you have done