Natural Selection Review

Black and brown bears have dark fur. They live in wooded areas. Polar bears have

white fur. They live in Arctic areas. How does the color of each bear’s fur help it

survive?

• The color helps each type of bear blend into its environment.

• The color of each matches its food source so hunting is easier.

• The color absorbs the right amount of sun each needs for warmth.

• The color is a signal to the enemies of each to keep them from attacking.

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The environment of a particular species of rabbit is becoming colder over time. Rabbits with which of the following traits will best be able to survive and reproduce?

• Shorter legs

• Thicker fur

• Longer ears

• Longer whiskers

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Which of the following provides the best reasoning behind a fox with thick fur having a survival advantage over other foxes?

• there is more competition for food in the fox population

• the air temperature significantly decreases in winter

• a drought occurs, limiting the amount of water available

• a new disease appears that infects the foxes

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If a species is unable to adapt within a changing environment what can happen to that species?

• Extinction

• Genetic variation

• Adaptation

• Competition

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Which of these conditions is most likely to cause a species to become extinct due to environmental change?

• Less genetic variation

• More genetic variation

• Specific food preferences

• More competition for food

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Environmental changes may lead to the evolution of a species. Polar bears live in the Arctic. Ice in the Arctic is melting fast, reducing the range where a polar bear can live. If polar bears do not have adaptations that allow them to survive these changes, what may happen to them?

• They may become extinct

• They may change the environment

• They may become another species

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At the zoo, Anya observes that the red kangaroos are of several sizes and colors. What characteristic of populations is Anya observing?

• Evolution

• Genetic variation

• Natural selection

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Suppose a few brown mice had a mutation that resulted in a new allele that caused their fur to turn white in colder temperatures. Which of the following factors has the greatest effect on whether brown fur will become more common in mice population?

• If enough food and water were available

• If the new allele for fur color increases the survival of the mice

• If the new allele is presented more in females

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A mosquito population was sprayed with a certain brand of insecticide, a poison that kills mosquitoes. After being sprayed, the number of surviving mosquitoes within the population was counted and recorded as a percentage of the total. This process was repeated until a total of six

generations of mosquitoes had been sprayed. The results are shown in the table above. Which statement best describes the table above?

• The population of mosquitoes decreased from generation 1 to 6 because the insecticide killed more of the offspring.

• Generation 5 had fewer numbers of mosquitoes surviving than Generation 2 due to a smaller initial population.

• Generation 1 did not survive because it had several members that were old and weak.

• The survival rate of the mosquito population increased from generation 1 to 6 which may be due to insecticide resistance in the mosquito population.

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A long drought caused the plant species that produced seeds between 3 - 9 mm in size to go extinct. What does the Theory of Natural Selection predict will most likely happen to the population of seed-eating birds over time?

• It will adapt and the birds that ate the medium sized seeds will learn to eat fish, insects, or other animals

• It will diverge into two species: one that eats small seeds and one that eats large seeds.

• It will permanently shrink to approximately 25% of its current size

• It will go extinct because there aren’t enough seeds to support all of the individuals

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