Evolution Quiz #1

According to Darwin, any inherited characteristic that increases an organism’s chances of survival in a particular environment is a(an)-

• mutation

• gene

• adaptation

• determination

Structures that have different in forms, but have the same function

• homologous structures

• original structures

• analogous structures

• vestigial structures

In humans, the appendix is an inherited, but it is an organ that humans can survive without, making it an example of a(n)-

• vestigial structure

• original structure

• analogous structure

• homologous structure

The bones in a human arm, a whale flipper and a bat wing are examples of

• homologous structures

• vestigial structures

• analogous structures

• original structure

Which layer will contain the most primitive fossils?

• A

• B

• C

• D

Which statement accurately describes natural selection?

• Individual organisms change their genes to adapt to their environment.

• The genetic composition of a population remains in equilibrium.

• More advantageous traits become more common in populations

• Beneficial and useful traits are acquired during the lifetime of an organism

In cats, the bones in the legs involved in walking are very similar in structure to the bones of whales' flippers that are involved in swimming. These are examples of

• homologous structures

• vestigial structures

• analogous structures

• embryonic development

What type of homologies could we determine with the following picture?

• anatomical homologies

• molecular homologies

• embryological homologies

• original homologies

Which bill is the most poorly adapted

for eating seeds?

• Grasping bill

• Parrot-like bill

• large-crushing bill

• pointed crushing bill

The graph below indicates the changes over time in a particular trait in a population of shrew (small rodent-like animal). Which statement best explains what occurred after 10 years?

• A mutation in the shrew population made the trait more common.

• Inheritance of the trait slowed as the population of shrews decreased.

• The shrew population began breeding with another shrew population

• An environmental change favored the trait for selection within the population.