Evolution Quiz

What is the scientific theory of evolution?

• A theory that explains the diversity of life on Earth

• A well-substantiated explanation of how species change over time

• A hypothesis about the origin of the universe

• A concept describing the behavior of gases

What does natural selection refer to?

• The survival and reproduction of the least adapted individuals

• The random mutation of genes in a population

• The process by which better adapted individuals survive and reproduce more successfully

• The extinction of species that cannot adapt to environmental changes

What is genetic variation?

• The uniformity of genetic material within a population

• The diversity of genetic material within a population or species

• The cloning of genes to produce identical individuals

• The study of hereditary diseases

What is adaptation in the context of evolution?

• The process by which organisms forget their innate behaviors

• The biological mechanism by which organisms adjust to new environments or changes in their current environment

• The ability of organisms to remain unchanged over time

• The development of new species without environmental influence

What are environmental factors in evolution?

• The stable conditions that prevent organisms from changing

• The gradual process by which organisms diversify and adapt over millions of years

• The immediate weather patterns affecting an organism's behavior

• The artificial settings created by humans that affect animal behavior

What does extinction refer to?

• The migration of a species to a different habitat

• The evolution of a species into a new form

• The death of every member of a species

• The preservation of a species in fossil records

What are fossils?

• The living organisms found in the deepest parts of the ocean

• The trace or remains of an organism that lived long ago, most commonly preserved in sedimentary rock

• The DNA sequences used to clone extinct animals

• The historical documents that record the existence of ancient civilizations

What does the fossil record show?

• That all organisms have remained the same throughout history

• That many kinds of extinct organisms were very different in form from any now living

• That fossils are unreliable sources of historical data

• That fossils can only be found in volcanic rock

What is meant by "similar structures" in the context of evolution?

• Structures in different species that have identical functions

• Structures in different species that have no relation to each other

• Analogous structures that may have similar form or function but are not derived from a common ancestor

• Identical genetic sequences found in different species

What is a common ancestor?

• The first organism to exist on Earth

• The last universal ancestor shared by all living organisms

• A species that is common in all ecosystems

• A well-known historical figure in the study of evolution