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WorksheetsBiodiversity and Natural Selection
Total questions: 37
Worksheet time: 41mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Some mammals such as Moose, Deer, and Water Buffalos have defensive adaptations such as horns or antlers to fight predators. Males also use them to fight other males during mating season.
Select the choice that correctly describes the adaptations described in the narrative above.
Select the choice that correctly describes the adaptations described in the narrative above.
a)
The antlers and horns are structural adaptations, and the fighting is a behavioral adaptation.
b)
These mammals are carnivores that use their antlers to attack and kill their prey.
c)
Antlers are examples of behavioral adaptations used by Moose and Deer
d)
Deer and Moose antlers are structural adaptations, but horns are not.
2.
The habitat of a moth species included trees with both light and dark colored bark.Therefore the moth species included both light and dark colored variants.Then the light-colored trees were wiped out by a disease, and within a few years nearly all the moths in this forest were dark colored. Which of the following choices BEST explains what happened?
a)
The light moths that survived all had dark offspring in order to adapt to the change.
b)
The dark moths were less visible to predators, so mostly light moths were eaten.
c)
The few light moths that survived did not mate, and therefore they had no offspring.
d)
The light moths changed their wing pigments to darker colors to avoid being eaten.
3.
Why is biodiversity important in fighting disease in food crops?
a)
It prevents one disease from wiping out an entire food crop.
b)
It prevents habitat loss of native species.
c)
It provides different foods for different populations.
d)
It prevents fungal disease from wiping out corn crops.
4.
Variation happens as a result of the exchange of genetic information as it is passed fromparent to offspring.Which of the following is true about inherited variation?
a)
Variation can influence the resources that are available to an organism.
b)
Variation can influence whether organisms are more likely to survive to reproduce.
c)
Variation can influence the amount of rainfall in an ecosystem
d)
Variation can influence the amount of available food in an ecosystem
5.
In a population of spiders there are three different sizes: small, medium, and large.
---The large spiders are easily seen by predators.
---Small spiders have a difficult time finding food.
What will most likely happen to this population of spiders after many generations?
---The large spiders are easily seen by predators.
---Small spiders have a difficult time finding food.
What will most likely happen to this population of spiders after many generations?
a)
Small and large spiders will mutate
b)
Medium spiders will be the most plentiful
c)
Large spiders will learn to hide from predators
d)
Small and medium spiders will be the least plentiful
6.
Which statement best explains how natural selection occurs?
a)
when adaptations help an organism reproduce and survive.
b)
when organisms are geographically isolated.
c)
when an organism’s offspring grow vestigial structures.
d)
when characteristics from the parent organism are inherited.
7.
Forests are often preserved to protect biodiversity. This helps preserve the unique characteristics of the organisms that live there. Sometimes these forests are divided into separate sections that are spread out instead of one continuous forest. This is known as forest fragmentation. Which types of organisms will be the least likely to be affected by forest fragmentation?
a)
herbivorous birds that are able to migrate great distances
b)
omnivores that hibernate in winter in order to conserve energy
c)
omnivores that burrow underground deep in to the soil.
d)
herbivorous mammals that are dependent upon specific plants for food
8.
Fossils found in the bottom layers of sediment are probably older than fossils found in top layers because...?
a)
the bottom layers have folded over the top layers.
b)
all of the layers are the same age.
c)
the bottom layers are younger than the top layers.
d)
the bottom layers are older than the top layers.
9.
If layer W is 100 million years old and layer Z is 500 million year old, how old is layer X?
a)
over 500 million years old
b)
under 100 million years old
c)
there is no way to estimate the age of layer X
d)
between 100 and 500 million years old
10.
The diagram below represents several sedimentary layers of Earth’s crust after erosion from a river has exposed some of the lower layers.
Which would be the most significant benefit to a scientist studying Earth’s past at this location?
Which would be the most significant benefit to a scientist studying Earth’s past at this location?
a)
Scientists would be able to determine that volcanic activity was present during the time of the oldest exposed sediment layer.
b)
Scientists would be able to determine if the rocks were metamorphic or igneous.
c)
Scientists would be able to determine if there was water at this location.
d)
Scientists would be able to look at fossilized remains of past life dating back to the oldest exposed layer of sediment.
11.
The diagram below shows a stack of rock layers.
Layer R contains a well-known index fossil that is 100 million years old. Based on this information and the law of superposition, you can make the following claim.
Layer R contains a well-known index fossil that is 100 million years old. Based on this information and the law of superposition, you can make the following claim.
a)
Layers T and M are younger than 100 million years.Layers X and G are older than 100 million years.
b)
Layers T, M, X, and G are all younger than 100 million years.
c)
Layers T, M, X, and G are all older than 100 million years.
d)
Layers T and M are older than 100 million years.Layers X and G are younger than 100 million years.
12.
which of the following is true?
a)
zoo population increased after reintroduced populations increased
b)
zoo populations decreased after 15-20 years of reintroducing organisms back into the wild
c)
as reintroduced populations decreased zoo populations decreased
d)
there aren't any true statements here
13.
How can fire be helpful in an ecosystem?
a)
It helps seeds germinate by opening the seeds under extreme heat.
b)
It spreads seeds to distant locations.
c)
It causes flowers on plants to bloom.
d)
It prevents animals from eating plant populations.
14.
Different biomes support different varieties of organisms. Think of a desert biome. In this environment you will see organisms that have adapted to the heat and low availability of water, such as a cacti, mouse or rattle snake. In which biome would you find an animal that has padding on its feet, white fur?
a)
Desert
b)
Tundra
c)
Forest
d)
Savannah
15.
This organism has a special adaptation that allows it to absorb oxygen. Where would you see this organism?
a)
Desert, where there is little water and hot temperatures.
b)
Tundra, where the animal lives at high altitudes and there is less breathable oxygen.
c)
Marine, Salt water or fresh waster where the oxygen must be absorbed from the water.
d)
All organisms have this adaptation.
16.
Coloring or another physical characteristic that help an organism blend in with its environment
a)
mimicry
b)
camouflage
c)
hibernation
d)
migration
17.
When an organism copies a characteristic of something else in order to better its chances for survival and reproduction
a)
hibernation
b)
camouflage
c)
mimicry
d)
migration
18.
The seasonal movement of an organism from one place to another
a)
camouflage
b)
migration
c)
hibernation
d)
function
19.
When an organism slows its life functions for a period of time to better its chances for survival during harsh conditions
a)
camouflage
b)
migration
c)
mimicry
d)
hibernation
20.
An example of a structural adaptation is...
a)
a turtle hiding inside its shell
b)
The spikes on a porcupine fish
c)
a rabbit burrowing underground
d)
a viper biting when threatened
21.
Which adaptation would NOT help a hawk catch a mouse?
a)
Hollow Bones
b)
Good eye sight
c)
Talons
d)
Camouflage
22.
Which feature of a rose helps it grow without being eaten by large animals?
a)
flowers with bright colors
b)
sharp thorns
c)
small seeds
d)
deep roots
23.
A scientist says that layers Y and M are the same age. How does he know this?
a)
They are found in the same type of rock.
b)
They are the lowest layers.
c)
They have the same type of fossil.
d)
They are near each other.
24.
In a particular habitat, owls eat mice and mice eat grass. If the owl population suddenly grows, then most likely
a)
the number of mice will decrease and the amount of grass will not change.
b)
the number of mice will increase and the amount of grass will increase.
c)
the number of mice will increase and the amount of grass will not change.
d)
the number of mice will decrease and the amount of grass will increase.
25.
Deer usually travel in groups of 2-3 sometimes more. How does staying in a group increase one deer’s chance to pass on his genes to the next generation?
a)
It increases the deer’s chances of survival.
b)
It protects the deer from the cold.
c)
It allows the deer to eat.
d)
It gives the deer time to think.
26.
Individuals that are well adapted to their environment will survive and produce:
a)
Fewer mutations
b)
Stronger genes
c)
More offspring
d)
Better traits
27.
What does sexual reproduction allow for?
a)
Increased genetic diversity
b)
Increased offspring
c)
Decreased genetic diversity
d)
Decreased rate of evolution
28.
Horse breeding for specific desired traits is an example of which type of evolutionary evidence?
a)
Artificial selection
b)
Embryology
c)
Fossils
d)
Biochemical molecules
29.
According to the theory of natural selection, some individuals more likely than others to survive and reproduce because they:
a)
pass on to their offspring their newly acquired traits.
b)
are better adapted to their environment than others and will pass on those adaptations to future offspring.
c)
do not pass on newly acquired traits.
d)
produce fewer offspring than others in the same environment.
30.
Brown mice survive and reproduce in their desert environment better than white mice because owls can see and eat the white mice more easily. In this situation, what is doing the selecting?
a)
Owl
b)
Desert Background
c)
Brown Mice
d)
White Mice
31.
Change over time
a)
Natural Selection
b)
Selective Breeding
c)
Homeostasis
d)
Evolution
32.
Which of these sentences best describes the term "species"?
a)
All members of a species are genetically identical.
b)
Members of one species can mate with members of other species.
c)
Individuals are members of the same species if they can mate and produce fertile offspring.
d)
A single species cannot live in a variety of environments.
33.
The theory of evolution by natural selection means that what is changing over time?
a)
The inherited traits of a population.
b)
The acquired traits of a population.
c)
Hair color and eye color
d)
Attractive features.
34.
The purpose of selective breeding is to
a)
Get bigger animals
b)
get smaller animals
c)
create animals with desirable traits
d)
create animals with bad traits
35.
A small portion of the population that is geographically isolated from the rest of the population runs the risk of decreased.
a)
genetic drift
b)
mutation rate
c)
natural selection
d)
genetic variation
36.
If an organism has a vestigial structure, that structure likely once had a function in a(n)
a)
close relative
b)
early ancestor
c)
unrelated organism
d)
embryological stage
37.
What is suggested by the similarity of early embryos of different species of vertebrates?
a)
no evolutionary relationships between the groups
b)
recent common ancestry
c)
similar environments in the past
d)
evolution froma distant common ancestor
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