Statement I: Plants form second trophic level.
Statement II: Herbivores eat grass and form first trophic level.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Both Statements I and II are incorrect.
Organisms are placed at trophic levels by what they eat. Producers (plants) belong to the first trophic level, herbivores (primary consumers) to the second and carnivores (secondary consumers) to the third.
Statement I: Plants form second trophic level. — False. Plants are producers and form the first trophic level.
Statement II: Herbivores eat grass and form first trophic level. — False. Herbivores feed on producers such as grass, so they are primary consumers at the second trophic level.
NCERT Extract:
Energy Flow – “… Based on the source of their nutrition or food, organisms occupy a specific place in the food chain that is known as their trophic level. Producers belong to the first trophic level, herbivores (primary consumer) to the second and carnivores (secondary consumer) to the third (Figure 12.2).”