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TEST: Evolution & Natural Selection

Total questions: 40

Worksheet time: 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Which of the following was likely the earliest stage of organism development?
a)
Photosynthetic Organisms
b)
Anaerobic Prokaryotes
c)
Multicellular Eukaryotes
d)
Aerobic Eukaryotes
2.
Other than adding oxygen to the atmosphere what was an early benefit of photosynthesis
a)
formation of the protective ozone layer
b)
no benefits, oxygen is a toxic byproduct
c)
aerobic organisms could no longer survive
d)
carbon dioxide was produced which we need to breathe
3.
Who stated (incorrectly) that changes acquired during an organism's lifetime are passed to its offspring?
a)
Lamarck
b)
Darwin
c)
Malthus
d)
Miler & Urey
4.
What idea means: Body parts that are used become stronger and those that aren't become weaker?
a)
Theory of evolution
b)
Theory of natural selection
c)
Law of allelic frequency
d)
Law of use and disuse
5.
Individuals with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce is the definition for:
a)
Geographic Isolation
b)
Adaptation
c)
Natural Selection
d)
Acquired Traits
6.
An inherited trait that increases an organism's chance for survival.
a)
Fitness
b)
Acquired Trait
c)
Adaptation
d)
Gene Pool
7.
Species separated by a physical barrier will eventually develop into 2 different species.
a)
Allelic Frequency
b)
Genetic Drift
c)
Natural Selection
d)
Geographic Isolation
8.
Which of the following has the potential to cause genetic change?
a)
mutations
b)
environmental changes
c)
radiation & chemicals
d)
all of these
9.
Which of the following best describes a behavioral adaptation?
a)
birds migrate for winter
b)
beak type for specific type of food
c)
longer necks to reach taller trees 
d)
quills or claws for protection
10.
Which of the following is NOT an example of micro-evolution?
a)
antibiotic resistance
b)
beak type in finches
c)
peppered moths (due to pollution)
d)
pesticide resistance
11.
Which of the following is the best description for how molecular (biochemical) homology is evidence for evolution?
a)
similar embryonic developement
b)
homologous structures (wings)
c)
similarity in nucleotide sequences
d)
the fossil record
12.
Body structures that are not the same structurally, but that are used for the same purpose.
a)
homolous
b)
analogous
c)
vestigial
d)
none of the above
13.
Body structures that are no longer of use by the body, but that indicate an evolutionary link.
a)
homologous
b)
analogous
c)
vestigial
d)
none of the above
14.
Which of the following types of structures provide the best evidence of a link to a past ancestor?
a)
homologous, analogous, and vestigial
b)
homologous and vestigial
c)
homologous and analogous
d)
analogous and vestigial
15.

Which cell organelle MOST likely evolved from a prokaryote that was able to use oxygen?

a)

chlorplast

b)

golgi body

c)

mitochondria

d)

ribosome

16.
When a chance occurrence eliminates several members of a small population, what best describes the result in the terms of evolution?
a)
geographic isolation
b)
mutation
c)
molecular homology
d)
genetic drift
17.
Which of the following would you expect to find for two closely related species of trees?
a)
fewer genes in common
b)
greater differences in DNA
c)
fewer metabolic processes in common
d)
greater anatomical similarity
18.
Natural selection CAN NOT occur without:
a)
competition for unlimited resources
b)
gradual warming of Earth
c)
genetic variation in a species
d)
asexual reproduction in species
19.
Why are rapidly occurring environmental changes more likely to cause extinction than slowly occurring changes?
a)
slow changes allow time for adaption
b)
rapid changes require little adaptation
c)
slow changes affect only small regions
d)
rapid changes have a global effect
20.
What usually enables insects to be resistant to pesticides or bacteria to be resistant to antibiotics and to pass those traits on?
a)
meiosis
b)
mutation
c)
immune response
d)
migration
21.

Which of the following is an adaptation that plants and animals had to develop to adapt to life on land?

a)

internal fertilization

b)

prevent dehydration

c)

respiratory system

d)

All of these

22.
If a genetic mutation causes a brown snake to be white, this will most likely:
a)
benefit the snake
b)
harm the snake
c)
increase reproductive rates
d)
decrease competition for resources
23.
Which scenario would likely cause natural selection to occur?
a)
catastrophic destruction of habitat by a severe storm
b)
centuries of gradual climate change
c)
rapid and profound climate change
d)
immediate loss of a primary food source
24.

Why is the fossil record incomplete?

a)

Organisms didn't die in the right place to be preserved as fossils.

b)

Many fossils have been destroyed by geologic processes.

c)

Only a fraction of fossils have been found to date.

d)

All of these

25.

What adaptation did plants and animals have to make to move from life in the water to life on land?

a)

How to reproduce & prevent dehydration

b)

Structures to allow breathing under water

c)

Structures to allow for survival without oxygen

d)

No adaptations were needed

26.

Which of the following statements is TRUE about population growth?

a)

Population size is limited by available resources.

b)

If populations grow exponentially, resources will increase to meet demand.

c)

If populations grow exponentially, birth rate will continue to exceed death rate.

d)

Plant and animal populations in nature do not mimic human population principles.

27.

Which of the following was true about the animals that Darwin studied on the Galapagos Islands?

a)

The tortoises all had different shells depending on the island they were from.

b)

The finches all had different beaks depending on what island they were from.

c)

The tortoises and finches had adapted from their original ancestor to life on their particular island.

d)

All of these are true.

28.

Which of the following BEST defines Natural Selection?

a)

Species that are separated by a physical barrier will eventually develop into 2 different species.

b)

Individuals with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

c)

Organisms can change the size and shape of certain body parts by using or not using them.

d)

Organisms pass traits they acquire during their lifetime to their offspring.

29.

What is the BEST definition of an adaptation?

a)

The ability of an organisms to survive and reproduce.

b)

When populations can't breed due to geographic separation.

c)

The frequency with which a certain allele appears in the gene pool.

d)

An inherited trait that increases an organisms chance for survival.

30.

Which of the following is the best description for the comparison of a butterfly's wing to that of a bat's wing?

a)

Homologous

b)

Analogous

c)

Vestigial

d)

None of these

31.

Which of the following will happen if a geographically isolated species is reintroduced after a long period of time?

a)

They will be able to breed and produce viable offspring.

b)

The will be unable to breed because they have diverged into 2 different species.

c)

As long as the barrier is removed they will converge back into a single species.

d)

It is not possible for a species to become geographically isolated.

32.

Which of the following best indicates that genetic drift has occurred in a population?

a)

A large number of a common rabbit species has been geographically separated by a highway.

b)

An insect has wiped out thousands of elm trees in the southeastern United States.

c)

A few of the only pesticide resistant insects on a local farm were killed during a heavy rain.

d)

A once eradicated disease has sickened the entire population of penguins in Antarctica.

33.

In a population of brown snakes, a snake is born with a white spotted pattern. Which factor will have the most influence on whether this trait will become common in the brown snake population?

a)

The ability of the snake to survive and reproduce.

b)

The appearance of other new traits in the baby snake.

c)

The history of the pattern in previous snake populations.

d)

The presence of thermal energy changing the snake pattern.

34.

Which best explains why antibiotics lose their effectiveness over a period of years?

a)

Antibiotics break down very quickly when digested in the body.

b)

Antibiotics can kill bacteria only within the first few hours of illness.

c)

Antibiotics are effective at first, but become weak before killing off harmful bacteria.

d)

Antibiotics are effective at killing some bacteria, but the stronger bacteria survive and reproduce.

35.

Hatchling sea turtles are typically dark in color. Occasionally, a sea turtle hatches that is almost white in color. When crawling from the nest on the beach to the ocean, this light-colored sea turtle could be at risk for sunburn. The light color of the turtle would most likely:

a)

Help turtles have better chances at surviving.

b)

Cause the shell of the turtle to become stronger.

c)

Reduce the chances of surviving to reproduce.

d)

Help develop a new species of sea turtle.

36.

When the pesticide DDT was first used, it killed nearly every mosquito it touched. Within a few years however, many mosquitoes became resistant to DDT and survived. What enabled this to happen?

a)

Meiosis

b)

Migration

c)

Immune Responses

d)

Gene mutations

37.

Which statement best explains why natural selection acts on an organism's phenotype rather than genotype?

a)

More than one phenotype can result from the same genotype.

b)

More than one genotype can result in the same pheotype.

c)

Both homozygous genotypes result in the same phenotype.

d)

Only heterozygous phenotypes result from the same genotype.

38.

A genetic mutation has caused the fur color of field mice to contrast with their environment. This type of mutation will most likely:

a)

benefit the mice

b)

harm the mice

c)

increase reproductive rates

d)

decrease competition for resources

39.

Two species of wood mouse live on opposite sides of a river. Which is a likely reason they have become a separate species?

a)

The mate at different times.

b)

They have different courtship rituals.

c)

Their gametes cannot fertilize each other.

d)

Geography prevents mating from occurring.

40.

Who contributed to Darwin's theories with their observations of birth and death rate in populations?

a)

Lamark

b)

Malthus

c)

Watson

d)

Mendel