Evolution Quiz

An insecticide is a chemical that kills insects. Most insects are killed the first time they are exposed to an insecticide. However, some insects carry a gene that enables them to survive their first exposure to an insecticide. When these surviving insects reproduce, this gene may be inherited by their offspring. The number of insecticide-resistant insects usually increases over time because increasing numbers of offspring with this gene are able to survive and reproduce. Which process enables increasing numbers of insects to survive their initial exposure to an insecticide?

• cloning

• mutation

• natural selection

• genetic engineering

More than 1.5 million species of animals have been described, yet all of them have DNA that is made of the same building blocks. This is evidence that all animals have

• a common ancestor
• identical fossils
• similar appearances
• identical DNA sequences

A species that lacks the variation necessary to adapt to a changing environment is more likely to

• develop many mutated cells
• become extinct over time
• begin to reproduce sexually
• develop resistance to diseases

Which statement is best supported by evolution?

• Genetic alterations occur every time cell reproduction occurs.
• The fossil record provides samples of every organism that ever lived.
• Populations that have advantageous characteristics will increase in number.
• Few organisms survive when the environment remains the same.

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

• similarity in behavior
• similarity in DNA
• similarity in habitat
• similarity in niche

The structure shown below has similar structure and origin. These structures are called

• homologous structures
• vestigial structures
• analogous structures
• more structures

The finches below are similar except for beak design. The different beak suggests that they split from a common ancestor. This is known as

• Divergent Evolution
• Convergent Evolution
• Equilibrium evolution
• Respiration

Below are parts of the mitochondrial DNA codes for the American black bear, the giant panda, the red panda, and the raccoon. Based on this information, which two species are most closely related?

• American black bear and giant panda
• American black bear and raccoon
• Red panda and raccoon
• Red panda and giant panda

An isolated population of fritillary, a species of butterfly, lives in a damp meadow. The fritillary larvae feed only on a species of violet plant that lives in the meadow. The adult fritillary does not fly far from the violet plants. One summer, a virus causes the violet plants to die. As a result of the absence of violets, the fritillary population will most likely

• increase and flourish
• decrease to a level near extinction
• switch to a different type of food
• evolve immediately into a new species of butterfly

A scientist wants to determine how closely Tibetan antelopes are related to North American antelopes. Which of these would be most accurate to compare?

• their niches
• their DNA sequences
• their physical characteristics
• their behavioral characteristics