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Breathing and Exchange of Gases: NEET previous year questions

Every Breathing and Exchange of Gases question from the official NEET papers on this site, with the answer and a worked solution.

The questions come from NEET 2026, Re-NEET 2026 and NEET 2020. Each shows its answer and solution when you open it, so you can attempt it first. For what the chapter covers and how NEET tests it, see the Breathing and Exchange of Gases guide.

Practise on the CBT screen5 questions, 5 minutes, marked +4 / −1Download PDF3 pages, 0.7 MB, with answers and solutions

NEET 2026 · the full paper

  1. NEET 2026 · Q138

    In humans, respiration occurs in the following steps. Arrange these steps in the correct order.

    Statement I: Diffusion of O2\mathrm{O}_{2} and CO2\mathrm{CO}_{2} between blood and tissues
    Statement II: Diffusion of O2\mathrm{O}_{2} and CO2\mathrm{CO}_{2} across alveolar membrane
    Statement III: Pulmonary ventilation by which atmospheric air is drawn in and CO2\mathrm{CO}_{2} rich alveolar air is released out
    Statement IV: Cellular respiration
    Statement V: Transport of gases by the blood

    1. (1)

      I, II, III, IV, V

    2. (2)

      V, I, III, IV, II

    3. (3)

      III, II, V, I, IV

    4. (4)

      III, I, II, V, IV

    Answer and solution

    Answer: (3)

    Respiration begins with pulmonary ventilation drawing in atmospheric air and expelling CO2\mathrm{CO}_{2}-rich alveolar air (Statement III), followed by diffusion of gases across the alveolar membrane (Statement II). Gases are then transported by the blood (Statement V), diffuse between blood and tissues (Statement I), and finally the cells utilise O2\mathrm{O}_{2} in cellular respiration releasing CO2\mathrm{CO}_{2} (Statement IV). The correct order is III, II, V, I, IV.

  2. NEET 2026 · Q144

    Match List-I with List-II.

    List I (Respiratory Volume)

    List II (Capacity in mL)

    P) ERV (Expiratory Reserve Volume)

    I) 2500 - 3000 mL

    Q) RV (Residual Volume)

    II) 500 mL

    R) IRV (Inspiratory Reserve Volume)

    III) 1000 - 1100 mL

    S) TV (Tidal Volume)

    IV) 1100 - 1200 mL

    Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

    1. (1)

      P-III, Q-IV, R-I, S-II

    2. (2)

      P-III, Q-I, R-IV, S-II

    3. (3)

      P-I, Q-III, R-II, S-IV

    4. (4)

      P-I, Q-II, R-III, S-IV

    Answer and solution

    Answer: (1)

    Standard respiratory values: Expiratory Reserve Volume (ERV) is about 1000-1100 mL (III), Residual Volume (RV) is about 1100-1200 mL (IV), Inspiratory Reserve Volume (IRV) is about 2500-3000 mL (I), and Tidal Volume (TV) is about 500 mL (II). Hence P-III, Q-IV, R-I, S-II.

Re-NEET 2026 · the full paper

  1. Re-NEET 2026 · Q150

    Sponges exchange O2\mathrm{O}_{2} with CO2\mathrm{CO}_{2} by __________.

    1. (1)

      simple diffusion over their entire body surfaces

    2. (2)

      moist cuticle

    3. (3)

      tracheal tubes

    4. (4)

      gills

    Answer and solution

    Answer: (1)

    Lower invertebrates such as sponges, coelenterates and flatworms have no specialised respiratory organs at all. Their bodies are thin enough and their cells close enough to the surrounding water that simple DIFFUSION across the whole body surface suffices for gas exchange. NCERT Class 11, Breathing and Exchange of Gases.

NEET 2020 · the full paper

  1. NEET 2020 · Q14

    Select the correct events that occur during inspiration.

    Statement I: Contraction of diaphragm
    Statement II: Contraction of external inter-costal muscles
    Statement III: Pulmonary volume decreases
    Statement IV: Intra pulmonary pressure increases

    1. (1)

      (III) and (IV)

    2. (2)

      (I), (II) and (IV)

    3. (3)

      only (IV)

    4. (4)

      (I) and (II)

    Answer and solution

    Answer: (4)

    Inspiration requires contraction of the diaphragm and external intercostal muscles. Thoracic and pulmonary volume increase while intrapulmonary pressure falls, so only statements (I) and (II) are correct. Chapter: Breathing and Exchange of Gases.

  2. NEET 2020 · Q86

    Identify the wrong statement with reference to transport of oxygen.

    1. (1)

      Partial pressure of CO2\mathrm{CO}_{2} can interfere with O2\mathrm{O}_{2} binding with haemoglobin

    2. (2)

      Higher H+ conc. in alveoli favours the formation of oxyhaemoglobin

    3. (3)

      Low pCO2 in alveoli favours the formation of oxyhaemoglobin

    4. (4)

      Binding of oxygen with haemoglobin is mainly related to partial pressure of O2\mathrm{O}_{2}

    Answer and solution

    Answer: (2)

    Higher H+\mathrm{H}^{+} concentration in the alveoli does not favour the formation of oxyhaemoglobin; instead, it promotes the release of O2\mathrm{O}_{2} from haemoglobin. Chapter: Breathing and Exchange of Gases.

Practise Breathing and Exchange of Gases in the app: it brings back the questions you get wrong, so the chapter improves, not just your memory of these. Or try the free CBT mock. All chapters: NEET chapter-wise PYQs.

Questions

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Yes. They are the questions NTA set in each paper, in its wording. The solutions are written by BrainIt.

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