Evolution Quiz (Spring 22)

The process by which all organisms change slowly over time because of slight gene variations is called

• natural selection
• artificial selection
• evolution
• gene pool

Who observed variations in the characteristics of plants and animals on different islands of the Galapagos?

• James Hutton
• Charles Lyell
• Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
• Charles Darwin

In addition to observing living organisms, Darwin studied the preserved remains of ancient organisms called

• fossils
• adaptations
• homologies
• vestigial structures

An inherited characteristic that increases an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its specific environment is called (n)

• vestigial structure
• adaptation
• speciation
• analagous structure

How well an organism survives and reproduces in its environment can be described as its

• fitness
• homologies
• common descent
• analogies

Which of the following conditions are necessary for natural selection to occur?

• overproduction of offspring
• variation within a population
• struggle for existence
• all of the above

Structures that have different mature forms but develop from the same embryonic tissue are called 

• analagous
• adaptations
• homologous
• fossils

Which of the following are examples of common descent involving molecular biology?

• homologous structures
• fossils
• analogous proteins
• universal genetic code in DNA

Darwin's observation that finches of different species on the Galapagos have many similar physical traits supports the hypothesis that these finches

• have the ability to interbreed
• acquired traits through use and disuse
• all eat the same type of food
• descended from a common ancestor

Whales are aquatic mammals that contain a pelvis bone.  Even though it does not aid in its movement, the function must have been used by a common ancestor of the whale.  Thus, the pelvis is referred to as a(n)

• vestigial structure
• analogous structure
• homologous structure