In a population of moths, wing color became darker over time. Which of the following is the best evidence that the change in wing color was an evolutionary change?

The frequencies of the alleles for dark wing color in the moth population changed

The size of the moth population changed

The average length of the moths’ dark wings increased.

The number of eggs that females laid during each breeding season increased.

On the Galápagos Islands, finches adapted over time to different food sources through changes in their beak structure. Which of the following most likely resulted from the finches’ beak structure adaptations?

a decreased predation on finches

an increased competition among finches

An insect called the European corn borer can reduce the amount of corn from corn crops. To protect corn from this insect, scientists genetically modified corn plants. The scientists inserted a gene into the genome of corn plants. The gene codes for the production of a toxin that can kill the corn borer. What will most likely happen within the corn borer population over time?

Corn borers with resistance to the toxin will survive to reproduce and will become more common.

Corn borers will produce new genes and will become less common

Corn borers that can reproduce asexually will become more common.

Corn borers that start eating other insects to avoid the toxin will become less common.

Which of the following is the best evidence that two birds belong to the same species?

The two birds mate and produce fertile offspring

The two birds eat the same food.

The two birds have common behavior

The two birds are the same size and color.

Marsupials are a type of mammal found on the continent of Australia. Marsupials are hypothesized to have descended from an ancestral marsupial species, as represented by the diagram below. Which of the following conditions most likely caused the ancestral marsupial species to diversify into the many modern-day marsupial species found in Australia?

little competition for resources

Scientists have determined that the African savannah elephant and the African forest elephant are likely different species. Which of the following would provide the best evidence that the two types of elephant are different species?

comparing the genome of each type of elephant

comparing the diet of each type of elephant

comparing the size of each type of elephant

comparing the habitat of each type of elephant

Which of the following best describes the process of adaptive radiation?

A single species evolves into multiple distinct species, each adapted to a different environment.

Species remain unchanged over long periods of time.

Species evolve to become less adapted to their environment.

Species evolve to become more similar over time.

Which of the following is a key factor in the process of speciation?

Geographic isolation leading to reproductive isolation

A sudden change in the environment

Increased genetic diversity within a single population

A decrease in the mutation rate

Types of Natural Selection and Patterns of Evolution Quiz

1.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

According to Darwin, which one of the following would result in evolution?

Natural selection

acquired characteristics

vestigial organs

catastrophism

Answer explanation

According to Darwin, evolution occurs primarily through natural selection, where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce. This process leads to gradual changes in species over time.

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2.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Some individuals in a population possess traits or characteristics that make them better suited for a particular environment. What happens to these traits with each new generation?

These traits gradually begin to disappear

These traits will become stronnger and more dominant.

These traits will become more common among the offspring.

The number of offspring possessing these traits will stay the same from generation to generation.

Answer explanation

Traits that enhance survival and reproduction become more common among offspring due to natural selection. Over generations, these advantageous traits are passed on, leading to an increase in their prevalence in the population.

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3.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which of the following is true of natural selection?

It changes the frequency of a favorable adaptation in a population.

It results in changes in the environment.

It increases genetic diversity within a population.

It reduces the number of offspring produced in a population.

Answer explanation

Natural selection changes the frequency of favorable adaptations in a population, allowing those traits to become more common over generations, which enhances survival and reproduction.

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4.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

In order for a trait to be considered 'favorable' it must imporve the individual's ability to:

acquire food

survive and produce healthy offsprng

run fast

acquire shelther

Answer explanation

A trait is considered 'favorable' if it enhances an individual's ability to survive and produce healthy offspring, ensuring the continuation of their genes. Other options may contribute but do not encompass overall fitness.

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5.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

A farmer sprayed his cornfield with a pesticide and was pleased to note that most of the pest insects had been eliminated. After several years, the pesticide seemed to lose its effectiveness. What is the most likely explanation for this?

The environment changed which altered the chemical composition of the pesticide

There was a higher than normal rate of immigration of insects.

A few insects possessed genetic traits that prevented them from being killed and these favorable traits were passed to future offspring.

New and different types of insects moved into the cornfield

Answer explanation

The pesticide lost effectiveness because some insects had genetic traits that made them resistant. These resistant insects survived and passed their traits to future generations, leading to a population that the pesticide could no longer control.

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6.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Which one of the following statements is correct about natural selection?

Offspring inherit characteristics that their parents acquired in their lifetime

Individuals that survive have variations that make them best suited for their environment.

Survival is determined by those individuals that can produce the largest number of offspring.

In each generation, the number of variations in a population increases.

Answer explanation

The correct statement is that individuals that survive have variations making them best suited for their environment. This highlights the essence of natural selection, where advantageous traits enhance survival and reproduction.

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7.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Evolution is the change in the allele frequencies over time. Which of the following is not a factor that can cause the frequency of the alleles to change in a population?

Mutations

Gene flow and genetic drift

natural selection

Primary succession

Answer explanation

Primary succession refers to the process of ecosystem development on previously uninhabited land, which does not directly affect allele frequencies. In contrast, mutations, gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection do influence allele frequency changes.

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8.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Starlings ( a type of bird) produce an average of 5 eggs in each clutch. If there are more than five, then the parents cannot adequately feed the young. If there are fewer than five, predators may destroy the entire clutch. This is an example of?

Directional Selection

Stabilizing Selection

Disruptive Selection

Answer explanation

This is an example of Stabilizing Selection, as starlings produce an average of 5 eggs. Clutches with too many or too few eggs are less successful, favoring the average number for optimal survival.

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9.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

A scientist has observed animals in a particular habitat for some time. She notices that the slowest gazelles tend to fall victim to predators more frequently than faster ones. Over time, she notes that the gazelle herd on average runs faster. She is observing

Stabilizing selection

Directional selection

Disruptive selection

Answer explanation

The scientist observes that slower gazelles are more likely to be preyed upon, leading to a faster average speed in the herd over time. This is an example of directional selection, where one trait (speed) is favored.

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10.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

A scientist has observed animals in a particular habitat for some time. She notices that in a population of birds those with either short or long beaks can find more food than those with average sized beaks. Over time, she notices a higher proportion of birds in the population have either short or long beaks. She is observing:

Stabilizing selection

Disruptive selection

Directional selection

Answer explanation

The scientist observes that birds with short or long beaks have a survival advantage, leading to an increase in their proportion. This is an example of disruptive selection, where extreme traits are favored over average traits.

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Types of Natural Selection and Patterns of Evolution

23 questions

According to Darwin, which one of the following would result in evolution?

According to Darwin, evolution occurs primarily through natural selection, where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce. This process leads to gradual changes in species over time.

Some individuals in a population possess traits or characteristics that make them better suited for a particular environment. What happens to these traits with each new generation?

Traits that enhance survival and reproduction become more common among offspring due to natural selection. Over generations, these advantageous traits are passed on, leading to an increase in their prevalence in the population.

Which of the following is true of natural selection?

Natural selection changes the frequency of favorable adaptations in a population, allowing those traits to become more common over generations, which enhances survival and reproduction.

In order for a trait to be considered 'favorable' it must imporve the individual's ability to:

A trait is considered 'favorable' if it enhances an individual's ability to survive and produce healthy offspring, ensuring the continuation of their genes. Other options may contribute but do not encompass overall fitness.

A farmer sprayed his cornfield with a pesticide and was pleased to note that most of the pest insects had been eliminated. After several years, the pesticide seemed to lose its effectiveness. What is the most likely explanation for this?

The pesticide lost effectiveness because some insects had genetic traits that made them resistant. These resistant insects survived and passed their traits to future generations, leading to a population that the pesticide could no longer control.

Which one of the following statements is correct about natural selection?

The correct statement is that individuals that survive have variations making them best suited for their environment. This highlights the essence of natural selection, where advantageous traits enhance survival and reproduction.

Evolution is the change in the allele frequencies over time. Which of the following is not a factor that can cause the frequency of the alleles to change in a population?

Primary succession refers to the process of ecosystem development on previously uninhabited land, which does not directly affect allele frequencies. In contrast, mutations, gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection do influence allele frequency changes.

Starlings ( a type of bird) produce an average of 5 eggs in each clutch. If there are more than five, then the parents cannot adequately feed the young. If there are fewer than five, predators may destroy the entire clutch. This is an example of?

This is an example of Stabilizing Selection, as starlings produce an average of 5 eggs. Clutches with too many or too few eggs are less successful, favoring the average number for optimal survival.

A scientist has observed animals in a particular habitat for some time. She notices that the slowest gazelles tend to fall victim to predators more frequently than faster ones. Over time, she notes that the gazelle herd on average runs faster. She is observing

The scientist observes that slower gazelles are more likely to be preyed upon, leading to a faster average speed in the herd over time. This is an example of directional selection, where one trait (speed) is favored.

The scientist observes that birds with short or long beaks have a survival advantage, leading to an increase in their proportion. This is an example of disruptive selection, where extreme traits are favored over average traits.

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