Evolution and Natural Selection

Which is the best evidence of an evolutionary relationship between two organisms?

• similarity of behavior

• similarity in DNA

• similarity in habitat

• similarity in niche

Natural selection can be best defined as the ________.

• survival of the biggest and strongest organisms in the population

• elimination of the smallest organisms by the biggest organisms

• survival and reproduction of the organisms that occupy the largest area

• survival and reproduction of the organisms that are genetically best adapted to the environment

Upon close examination of the skeleton of an adult python, a pelvic girdle and leg bones can be observed. These features are an example of _______.

• vestigial structures

• homologous structures

• comparative embryology

• artificial selection

Which combination of characteristics in a population would provide the greatest potential for evolutionary change?

• large population, many mutations

• small population, few mutations

• small population, many mutations

• large population, few mutations

Hawaiian honeycreepers are a group of birds with similar body shape and size. However, they vary greatly in color and beak shape. Each species occupies its own niched and is adapted to the foods available in its niche. The evolution from a common ancestor to a variety of species is an example of ____.

• vegetative propagation

• convergent evolution

• cross-pollination

• divergent evolution

The movement of genes into and out of a gene pool is called ________?

• gene flow

• nonrandom mating

• random mating

• direct evolution

A pattern of evolution that results when unrelated species begin to appear similar because of environmental conditions is ______.

• convergent evolution

• disruptive evolution

• divergent evolution

• directional selection

Which even contributed most directly to the evidence of aerobic organisms?

• An increase in the concentration of methane in the ancient atmosphere.

• An increase in the number of organisms carrying on fermentation.

• The presence of organism able to carry on photosynthesis.

• A decrease in the sun's light intensity.

Within a decade of the introduction of a new insecticide, nearly all of the descendants of the target pests were immune to the usual-sized dose. The most likely explanation for this immunity to the insecticide is that __________.

• It destroyed organisms that cause disease in the insects, thus allowing them to live longer.

• Eating the insecticide cause the bugs to become resistant to it.

• Eating the insecticide cause the bugs to become less resistant to it.

• Eating the insecticide caused the bugs that were not resistant to it, leaving the bugs that already had the genetic mutation to survive and reproduce.

When an ancestral species evolves into an array of species to fit a number of diverse habitats, it is called _______.

• Convergent evolution

• Adaptive radiation

• Specialized functioning

• Spontaneous generation