Free Printable Evolution Test CP

1.

Evolution refers to change over a long period of time in

a)

a fossil

b)

an embryo

c)

a population

d)

a rock

2.

Which is an example of evolution based on comparative biochemistry?

a)

Both birds and bats have wings.

b)

Human embryos have a tail-like structure at one stage of their development.

c)

Sheep insulin can be substituted for human insulin.

d)

The structure of a whales's flipper is similar to that of a human hand.

3.

In recent years, certain strains of flies have been observed to be resistant to the effects of the insecticide DDT. Although variation for the resistance was probably present in the fly population prior to the use of DDT, the adaptive value of the genetic trait did NOT become apparent until

a)

the pesticide was introduced into the environment.

b)

interbreeding between different fly species occurred.

c)

the pesticide was chemically analyzed.

d)

acquired traits were inherited.

4.

Structures having similar origin but adapted for different purposes, such as the flipper of a whale and arm of a human, are called

a)

homozygous structures

b)

homologous structures

c)

identical structures

d)

embryological structures

5.

Which concept was NOT included by Darwin in his theory of evolution?

a)

overproduction in a population

b)

struggle for existence

c)

genetic basis for variations

d)

survival of the fittest

6.

Natural selection can BEST be defined as

a)

elimination of the smallest organisms by the largest organisms

b)

survival and reproduction of those organisms that occupy the largest area in the environment

c)

survival of the strongest organisms

d)

survival of those organisms genetically best adapted to the environment

7.

According to the theory of natural selection, genes responsible for new traits that are beneficial to the survival of a species in a particular environment will usually

a)

not change in frequency

b)

decrease gradually in frequency

c)

decrease suddenly in frequency

d)

increase in frequency

8.

Certain insects resemble the twigs of trees. Based on modern evolutionary theory, the most probable explanation for this is that

a)

natural selections of many variations had occurred

b)

a single gene mutation caused the resemblance

c)

the insect changed because they ate the wood of the trees

d)

genes were transferred from the trees to the insects

9.

What evolutionary concept is indicated when the WEAKEST members of a species are killed off?

a)

production of mutations

b)

survival of the fittest

c)

speciation

d)

use and disuse

10.

Two organisms can be considered to be of different species if they

a)

live in two different geographical areas

b)

mutate at different rates depending on their environment

c)

have genes drawn from the same gene pool

d)

cannot mate with each other and produce fertile offspring

11.

Which statement BEST describes evolution?

a)

Evolution often proceeds from complex to simpler organisms

b)

Evolution is a predictable change from simple to complex organisms

c)

Evolution is a process of change through time

d)

Evolution causes organisms to develop characteristics they need

12.

Some variations within species are the result of

a)

asexual reproduction

b)

sexual reproduction

c)

vegetative propagation

d)

mitosis

13.

The diagram below represent stages in the embryonic development of four organisms. The similarities in embryonic development shown in the diagrams suggest that these organisms

a)

all undergo external development

b)

may have evolved from a common ancestor

c)

are all members of the same species

d)

have adaptations for the same environment as adults

14.

The diagram below represent homologous structures. The study of evolutionary relationships between these structures is known as comparative

a)

embryology

b)

biochemistry

c)

anatomy

d)

cytology

15.

According to this information, the closest evolutionary relationship most likely exists between the

a)

human and chimpanzee

b)

human and gorilla

c)

chimpanzee and the gorilla

d)

horse and zebra

16.

The information in the chart provides data that can help in the identification of possible evolutionary relationships from the study of comparative

a)

embryology

b)

biochemistry

c)

cytology

d)

anatomy

17.

Which concept state that the presence of favorable variations enables organisms to adapt successfully to a change in the environment?

a)

artificial selection

b)

natural selection

c)

reproductive isolation

d)

use and disuse

18.

A wolf in Alaska tends to attack and kill animals that are weak rather than those that are strong. This tendency is most closely associated with the concept of

a)

use and disuse

b)

natural selection

c)

punctuated equilibrium

d)

geographic isolation

19.

The structural changes that occurred in certain plants over time, enabling them to thrive in dry habitats, are examples of

a)

succession

b)

adaptations

c)

energy-flow relationships

d)

nutritional relationships

20.

Which factor may have played a role in the development of the polar bear in Alaska and the brown bear in Russia into separate species?

a)

mitotic cell division

b)

geographical isolation

c)

artificial selection

d)

asexual reproduction

21.

Which two factors provide the genetic basis for variation within a species?

a)

asexual reproduction and geographic isolation

b)

mutations and sexual reproduction

c)

competition and protein synthesis

d)

constant gene frequency and reproductive isolation

22.

Natural selection that changes the distribution of a trait to favor one extreme phenotype is called

a)

stabilizing selection

b)

normalizing selection

c)

disruptive selection

d)

directional selection

23.

In a population of birds, immediate beak size is selected against, and both very small and very large beak sizes are favored. What type of selection is this an example of?

a)

directional

b)

stabilizing

c)

disruptive

d)

normal

24.

When a few individuals start colony is most likely results in

a)

more variety in the new population

b)

mutation due to disruptive selection

c)

genetic drift through the founder effect

d)

extinction due to the bottleneck effect

25.

Reproductive isolation occurs when

a)

the gene pools of the different populations have become very diversified

b)

some catastrophic event greatly reduces the size of a population

c)

members of different populations can no longer mate successfully

d)

a small number of individuals moves and starts a new population

26.

Disruptive selection occurs when selective pressures favor phenotypes that are

a)

in a normal distribution

b)

close to the mean

c)

at both extremes

d)

toward one extreme

27.

A tsunami has destroyed almost all of the palm trees in an area. This event will most likely lead to

a)

gene flow following disruptive selection

b)

microevolution by reproductive isolation

c)

speciation triggered by the founder effect

d)

genetic drift through the bottleneck effect

28.

What occurs when some elephants in a population migrate into another area and join another population?

a)

microevolution

b)

speciation

c)

gene flow

d)

genetic drift

29.

The evolution of hummingbird's beak and plants with deep tubes in their flowers is an example of

a)

convergence

b)

speciation

c)

coevolution

d)

radiation

30.

When individuals from two populations of squirrels can no longer successfully mate with one another, the chance that speciation will occur

a)

increases

b)

decreases

c)

becomes zero

d)

stays the same

31.

The total and permanent disappearance of a species from Earth is called

a)

radiation

b)

equilibrium

c)

coevolution

d)

extinction

32.

What are two main sources of genetic variation?

a)

recombination and reproduction

b)

mutations and recombination

c)

recombination and extinction

d)

mutations and extinction

33.

Scientists studying a moth population in a woods in New York State recorded the distribution of moth wing color as shown in the graph below. The woods contained trees whose bark was predominantly gray.

A fungus infection affected nearly all trees in the woods so that the coloration of the tree bark was changed to a brown-black color. How would you expect the distribution graph to change?

a)

directional shift towards the right morphs

b)

an increase in the intermediate morph only

c)

directional shift towards the left morphs

d)

and increase in gray and black morphs

34.

Scientists studying a moth population in a woods in New York State recorded the distribution of moth wing color as shown in the graph below. The woods contained trees whose bark was predominantly gray.

As a result of a fungus infection that changed the color of the bark to a brown-black color, the change in the moth wing color distribution would most probably occur by the

a)

ingestion of pigmentation from fungus spores

b)

inheritance of an acquired characteristic

c)

production of fungus-induced gene mutations

d)

natural selection of favorable variations

35.

The diagrams below represent the changes in a habitat containing a population of nonflying insects, represented by x, over a period of time. Diagram A represents the distribution of these insects before a major canyon was formed. Diagram B represents the distribution of insects after a canyon was formed, and Diagram C represents the insect distribution after the canyon was filled in as a result of a shift in the Earth's surface.

Thousands of years after the canyon was formed, the insects in area 2 appeared different from those in area 1. This difference was probably due to

a)

x and X no longer sharing the same gene pool

b)

insect migration across the canyon

c)

x and X interbreeding freely

d)

more atmospheric oxygen in area 2 than in area 1

36.

The diagrams below represent the changes in a habitat containing a population of nonflying insects, represented by x, over a period of time. Diagram A represents the distribution of these insects before a major canyon was formed. Diagram B represents the distribution of insects after a canyon was formed, and Diagram C represents the insect distribution after the canyon was filled in as a result of a shift in the Earth's surface.

After the canyon was filled, x and X would no longer be considered the same species if

a)

they could no longer interbreed and produce fertile offspring

b)

they were different colors

c)

they were different sizes

d)

their feeding habits changed

37.

The diagram below illustrates the distribution of fossils in undisturbed layers of silt at the bottom of the ocean.

a)

The fossils in the layer A are older than those in layer C

b)

The fossils in layer A are older than those in layer B

c)

The fossils in layer B are older than those in layer C

d)

The fossils in layer C are older than those in layer A

38.

Some scientists are concerned about the overuse of antibiotic drugs. Since the discovery of the first antibiotic, these drugs have been widely used in the treatment of many types of bacterial infections, such as tuberculosis, gonorrhea, strep throat, and some types of pneumonia. Today, antibiotics are sometimes given to livestock in their food to help prevent certain infections. This widespread use of antibiotics is believed to have accelerated the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant forms of bacteria.

These resistant bacteria are increasing in number because of their adaptive advantage. In addition, nonresistant bacteria die due to the presence of the antibiotics. The reduction in the number of resistant bacteria, since they do not have to compete with the nonresistant bacteria.

Another factor that account for increasing numbers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is the passing of genes for this resistance between resistant and nonresistant forms. This transfer of genes occurs when plasmids, round DNA fragments founds in cytoplasm of bacteria, are exchanged when bacteria come in contact with one another.

An adaptive advantage that some types of bacteria have is their

a)

resistance to certain antibiotics

b)

resistance to certain infections

c)

ability to cause disease

d)

ability to secrete antibiotics.

39.

Some scientists are concerned about the overuse of antibiotic drugs. Since the discovery of the first antibiotic, these drugs have been widely used in the treatment of many types of bacterial infections, such as tuberculosis, gonorrhea, strep throat, and some types of pneumonia. Today, antibiotics are sometimes given to livestock in their food to help prevent certain infections. This widespread use of antibiotics is believed to have accelerated the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant forms of bacteria.

These resistant bacteria are increasing in number because of their adaptive advantage. In addition, nonresistant bacteria die due to the presence of the antibiotics. The reduction in the number of nonresistant bacteria, since they do not have to compete with the resistant bacteria.

Another factor that account for increasing numbers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is the passing of genes for this resistance between resistant and nonresistant forms. This transfer of genes occurs when plasmids, round DNA fragments founds in cytoplasm of bacteria, are exchanged when bacteria come in contact with one another.

What usually happens when nonresistant bacteria die due to the presence of antibiotics?

a)

Infections in livestock do not occur.

b)

Resistant bacteria increase in number.

c)

Resistant bacteria become nonresistant.

d)

Treatment of bacterial infections becomes unnecessary.

40.

What would be the most probably effect of reproductive isolation in a population?

a)

It has no effect on variations in the species.

b)

It favors the production of a new species.

c)

It prevents the occurrence of mutations.

d)

It encourages the mixing of gene pools.

Evolution Test CP

Total questions: 40

Worksheet time: 20mins

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