Evolution Final Exam

A population of beetles produces hundreds of offspring each year, but only a small number survive to reproduce. Which Darwin principle does this best represent?

• Adaptation because individuals must compete for survival

• Overproduction of offspring because more individuals are produced than can survive

• Variation because offspring differ genetically

• Descent with modification because traits are inherited over generations

In a population of birds, some have longer beaks and some have shorter beaks. During a drought, birds with longer beaks survive because they can reach deeper seeds. What Darwin principle explains why some birds survived better?

• Overproduction because many birds were born

• Variation because individuals had different beak lengths

• Adaptation because long beaks improved survival in that environment

• Descent with modification because the species changed immediately

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A scientist observes that rabbits with thicker fur survive colder winters more often than rabbits with thin fur. Over many generations the population becomes dominated by thick fur rabbits. Which concept best explains this change?

• Natural selection favoring a beneficial trait

• Random mutation causing immediate species change

• Artificial selection by environmental forces

• Genetic drift eliminating all variation

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Which statement best describes descent with modification?

• Organisms inherit traits that increase survival and those traits become more common over generations

• Organisms intentionally change traits when environments shift

• Individual organisms evolve during their lifetime

• Environmental pressures create completely new genes

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A population of insects shows a wide range of wing sizes. Birds easily catch insects with small wings but struggle to catch insects with larger wings. Which outcome would most likely occur after many generations?

• Wing size decreases because birds eat larger insects

• Wing size increases because larger wings improve survival

• All insects develop identical wing sizes

• Birds evolve smaller beaks

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A population produces large numbers of offspring, but food resources remain constant. Which process most directly results from this situation?

• Increased mutation rates

• Competition for limited resources

• Instant speciation

• Elimination of genetic variation

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A trait spreads in a population because individuals possessing it survive and reproduce more frequently. Which mechanism explains this?

• Genetic engineering

• Natural selection

• Artificial breeding

• Random inheritance

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Which observation most strongly supports Darwin’s idea that variation is important for evolution?

• Individuals in a population differ in traits

• Organisms reproduce quickly

• Environments remain constant

• Fossils appear suddenly

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Which scenario best demonstrates adaptation?

• A species producing many offspring

• A beneficial trait increasing survival and reproduction

• A population shrinking due to disease

• Random mating within a population

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Two populations of the same species become separated by a mountain range. After thousands of years they can no longer interbreed. This is an example of

• Convergent evolution

• Gradualism

• Speciation

• Punctuated equilibrium

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