Evolution and Natural Selection Quiz

What is natural selection?

Hint: Think about how certain traits in organisms can lead to better survival and reproduction rates over generations.

• The process by which individuals with beneficial traits produce more offspring

• A random process that leads to the development of new species

• The ability of an organism to change its color in different environments

• A theory that states all organisms are created simultaneously

Answer explanation

Natural selection is the process by which individuals with beneficial traits produce more offspring, leading to the propagation of those traits in a population.

Which of the following best describes the role of Darwin's finches in the development of the theory of evolution?

Hint: Consider how different species of finches had different types of beaks, which were adaptations to their specific diets and environments.

• They proved that birds could fly

• They showed that species could change over time due to environmental pressures

• They were the first species to be discovered by Charles Darwin

• They disproved the theory of natural selection

Answer explanation

Darwin's finches showed that species could change over time due to environmental pressures, supporting the theory of evolution.

Who was NOT an influence on Charles Darwin?

Hint: Consider the time periods and fields of study of these individuals.

• Alfred Russel Wallace

• Thomas Malthus

• Gregor Mendel

• Charles Lyell

Answer explanation

Gregor Mendel was NOT an influence on Charles Darwin, as Mendel's work on genetics was not known to Darwin during his lifetime.

What is an adaptation?

Hint: Think about how certain traits help organisms in their environment.

• A temporary change in behavior in response to an environmental challenge

• A physical or behavioral trait that improves an organism's ability to survive and reproduce

• A random mutation that has no impact on an organism's fitness

• A conscious decision by an organism to change its appearance

Answer explanation

An adaptation is a physical or behavioral trait that improves an organism's ability to survive and reproduce, making the second answer choice the correct one.

Which of the following is NOT a mechanism of evolution?

Hint: Think about processes that directly change the genetic makeup of a population over time. One of the options is a process that does not contribute to the genetic variation or adaptation of species.

• Natural selection

• Genetic drift

• Artificial selection

• Photosynthesis

Answer explanation

Photosynthesis is not a mechanism of evolution. It is a process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll.

What evidence supports the theory of evolution?

Hint: Consider all types of scientific evidence that contribute to this theory.

• The fossil record

• Comparative anatomy

• Genetic similarities

• All of the above

Answer explanation

All of the above options provide evidence supporting the theory of evolution, including the fossil record, comparative anatomy, and genetic similarities.

What does survival of the fittest mean?

Hint: Think about how animals adapt to their environments over time.

• Only the strongest animals survive

• Individuals that are best adapted to their environment survive and reproduce

• Survival is determined by chance

• The oldest animals are the most fit for survival

Answer explanation

Survival of the fittest means that individuals that are best adapted to their environment survive and reproduce, highlighting the correct choice.

How did the Galápagos finches differ from one island to another?

Hint: Think about the role of natural selection and adaptation in different environments.

• In color only

• In size only

• In beak shape and size

• They did not differ

Answer explanation

The Galápagos finches differed from one island to another in beak shape and size, not just in color or size alone.

What role does genetic variation play in natural selection?

Hint: Think about how diversity within a species might affect its adaptability to changing environments.

• It has no role

• It decreases the survival rate of species

• It provides the raw material for selection to act upon

• It ensures that all individuals are identical

Answer explanation

Genetic variation provides the raw material for selection to act upon, allowing for the adaptation and evolution of species.

Which concept did Thomas Malthus introduce that influenced Darwin?

Hint: This concept deals with the relationship between population growth and resources.

• The idea that populations grow exponentially while resources grow linearly

• The concept of genetics

• The principle of uniformitarianism

• The law of superposition

Answer explanation

Thomas Malthus introduced the idea that populations grow exponentially while resources grow linearly, which influenced Darwin's theory of natural selection.