Evolution and Natural Selection - Quiz

1. In Biology, what is evolution? Select the best definition from the choices below.

• This is when individuals change their adaptations.
• This is how natural selection occurs.
• This is the variety of species that live on Earth.
• This is the gradual change of heritable traits of living things over time.

2. TRUE OR FALSE: Evolution states that all living organisms descended from a single common ancestor.

• True
• False

3. Charles Darwin is well known for his theory of evolution by natural selection, but this theory was actually independently discovered by another scientists around the same time. What is the name of that person? You may answer with only the first name or the second name, or you can give both names (i.e. two words maximum) - do not include a period at the end of your answer.

4. While on the Galapagos islands, Darwin observed variety in one type of animal that was later used to help him form his theory of natural selection. Which type of animal was this?

• Finches
• Giant turtles
• Lemurs
• Bananas

5. What can cause genetic variation between individuals of the same species? Select all that apply.

• Mitosis
• Meiosis
• Mutations
• DNA fragmentation

6. Natural selection can also be described as "Survival of the ____________". What is the missing word? Type your answer as a single word with no period at the end.

7. Which type of phenotypic variation can be seen in the beetle population shown above?

• Size
• Coloration
• Number of legs
• Antenna length

8. Over time, natural selection causes the beetle population to evolve. If the environment in which they are living is stable (i.e. the leaves stay the same), which variety of beetle would you expect to become more common in the population?

• Variety A
• Variety B

9. A characteristic that enables an organism to survive in its environment is called a/an _______________". What is the missing word? Type your answer as a single word with no period at the end.

10. TRUE or FALSE: Natural selection cannot act upon a population of clones.

• True
• False