Evolution Test Review

Which statement about the members of a population that live long enough to reproduce is consistent with the theory of natural selection?

• They transmit characteristics acquired by use and disuse to their offspring.

• They tend to produce fewer offspring than others in the population.

• They are the ones that are best adapted to survive in their environment.

• They will perpetuate unfavorable changes in the species.

When lions prey on a herd of antelopes, some antelopes are killed and some escape. Which part of Darwin’s concept of natural selection might be used to describe this situation?

• acquired characteristics

• reproductive isolation

• survival of the fittest

• descent with modification

Which phrase best defines evolution by natural selection?

• an adaptation of a species to its environment

• a sudden replacement of one population by another

• changes in a species as it becomes more perfect

• a process of change in species over time

Which statement is in agreement with Darwin’s theory of evolution?

• More offspring are produced than can possibly survive.

• The organisms that are the fittest are always largest and strongest.

• The number of offspring is not related to fitness.

• Acquired characteristics that are inherited are the cause of evolution.

Modern sea star larvae resemble some primitive vertebrate larvae. This similarity may suggest that primitive vertebrates

• share a common ancestor with sea stars.

• evolved from sea stars.

• evolved before sea stars.

• belong to the same species as sea stars.

Darwin’s theory of evolution suggests that

• species change over time.

• extinct species are not related to living species.

• different species can interbreed.

• animals that look alike are the most closely related.

Modern experiments that simulate conditions thought to exist on early Earth can produce

• some bases contained in RNA and RNA nucleotides.

• DNA molecules.

• living things composed of cells.

• proteins that can catalyze complex chemical reactions.

The first organisms on Earth were most like today’s

• bacteria

• eukaryotes.

• multicellular organisms.

• DNA molecules.

One scientific hypothesis about the origin of life holds that

• RNA replaced DNA as the most stable information-storing molecule.

• RNA nucleotides were formed from simple organic molecules in an abiotic stew.

• proteins that duplicate themselves came to function in information storage.

• as cells evolved, RNA came to direct protein synthesis.

One necessary condition for the evolution of the first life on Earth was

• the presence of DNA.

• abundant oxygen in the atmosphere.

• the presence of photosynthetic organisms.

• the presence of liquid water.