Evolution, Natural Selection and the Fossil Record

Who is known as the father of the theory of evolution by natural selection?

• Gregor Mendel

• Charles Darwin

• Alfred Wallace

• Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

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DOK Level 1: Recall

What is the main mechanism by which evolution occurs according to Darwin?

• Genetic Drift

• Natural Selection

• Mutation

• Gene Flow

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DOK Level 1: Recall

Which of the following is an example of an adaptation in species?

• A bird's beak shape suited for its food source

• A random mutation in a gene

• A sudden change in climate

• A volcanic eruption

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DOK Level 1: Recall

What type of evidence for evolution is provided by the fossil record?

• Direct observation of species change

• Genetic similarities between species

• Physical remains of organisms from the past

• Behavioral similarities between species

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DOK Level 1: Recall

Which of the following best describes natural selection?

• The process by which organisms with favorable traits survive and reproduce

• The random change in allele frequencies in a population

• The movement of genes from one population to another

• The formation of new species

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

How does the concept of "survival of the fittest" relate to natural selection?

• It means that only the strongest individuals survive

• It means that individuals best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce

• It means that all individuals have an equal chance of survival

• It means that only the largest populations survive

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

Explain how a population of insects might develop resistance to a pesticide over time.

• The insects mutate to become resistant immediately

• The insects that are naturally resistant survive and reproduce, passing on the resistance to their offspring

• The pesticide changes the insects' DNA

• The insects learn to avoid the pesticide

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

Which of the following is an example of evidence for evolution from comparative anatomy?

• Similar bone structures in the limbs of humans, whales, and bats

• The presence of similar DNA sequences in different species

• The fossil record showing gradual changes over time

• The observation of natural selection in action

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DOK Level 2: Skill/Concept

Describe how the fossil record supports the theory of evolution.

• It shows that all species have remained unchanged over time

• It provides evidence of gradual changes in species over long periods

• It shows that species appear suddenly without any ancestors

• It only contains fossils of extinct species

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DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking

How can the study of embryology provide evidence for evolution?

• By showing that embryos of different species look completely different

• By showing that embryos of different species have similar stages of development

• By showing that embryos do not change over time

• By showing that only mammals have similar embryonic stages

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DOK Level 3: Strategic Thinking