Most Missed Evolution Test Questions

Parasitic flies are attracted to crickets that chirp. In a population of crickets, some chirp and some do not. Crickets on the islands with the flies do not chirp while crickets on the islands with no flies do chirp. What factors BEST explain this pattern?

• The parasitic fly moved to multiple islands

• The silent crickets are better at attracting mates

• The silent crickets were less likely to be located by flies

• The loud noise from mating calls helped defend the crickets on the islands with the fly

What could Darwin NOT have used as evidence to support the theory of evolution back in 1837?

• the fossil record

• anatomical similarities

• biochemical information

• biogeographical information

Answer explanation

biochemical = DNA evidence

Which of these BEST demonstrates natural selection?

• The pelvic bones in snakes have grown because they don't have legs

• A population of flowers takes over an area because they attract the most bees

• The human appendix has shrunk over time because it is not used

• A population of mice grows larger because predators moved away from the area

When can genetic drift occur?

• It can occur in small populations when genes increase or decrease by chance over time

• It can occur in large populations when genes increase or decrease by chance over time

• It can occur in large populations when genes increase or decrease as a result of natural selection over time

• It can occur in small population when genes increase or decrease as a result of natural selection

Answer explanation

Genetic drift is RANDOM CHANGE that changes a population. Small populations are more likely to have genetic drift.

As an environment changes, some organisms have a higher fitness than others. Natural selection acts directly on...

• future traits

• existing traits

• individual organisms

• genetic material

A population of squirrels is split in two by a river. They change over time into two separate populations. The river dries up and the two populations can live together again, but they can't have fertile offspring. Why not?

• The squirrel population had more mutations living together than apart

• The squirrel populations did not have enough genetic differences to produce offspring

• The squirrel population divided into a dominant and recessive population of one species

• The squirrel population on either side of the river did not experience gene flow and became two different species

Galapagos finches have beak types that favor different foods. Seed and plant eating finches have short, thick beaks. Insect eating finches have thin, pointed beaks. 78% of the finches on an island have beaks like Finch 1. What conclusion can you make about the food on this island?

• There are only insects for food

• There are many seeds and nuts

• There is a wide variety of foods for the finches to eat

• There are many insects

Answer explanation

Finch 1 has a short, thick beak, which means it eats seeds and nuts.

Speciation is BEST described as...

• decrease in a species due to changes in the environment

• differences among species living in a community

• similarities among similar species in different parts of the world

• changes in characteristics of a group within a species that causes a new species to be formed

How does bottleneck effect lead to genetic changes in a population of organisms?

• It causes some genes to be removed from a population, causing an increase in a population

• It causes some genes to be removed from a population because there is a decrease in a population

• It causes genes to be added to a population due to a natural disaster

• It causes genes to be added to a population because there is an increase in organisms

Answer explanation

When a natural disaster occurs (flood, fire), it takes some genes out of a population at random. This is because only some of the organisms survive to pass on their genes.

The picture below shows the result of treating bacteria with antibiotics. The red bacteria represent mutated bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. What will MOST LIKELY happen next/

• No bacteria will be left after the red bacteria mutate and are killed by the antibiotic

• The red bacteria will remain but will not be able to reproduce

• The red bacteria will reproduce, creating an equal number of red and blue offspring

• The red bacteria will reproduce and pass on their mutation to their offspring