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Lesson 3: Darwin's Theory of Evolution Through Natural Selection

Total questions: 34

Worksheet time: 45mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Who was the naturalist that traveled the world to study plants and animals?
a)
Albert Einstein
b)
Charles Darwin
c)
Charles Barkley
d)
Isaac Newton
2.

The gradual change in species over time is...

a)

Evolution

b)

Nucleotide

c)

Adaptation

d)

Natural Selection

3.
To adjust to a changing environment
a)
Mutation
b)
Adapt
4.
Darwin wrote that organisms with traits that are best suited to the environment will ________________
a)
increase in number
b)
become extinct
5.
What characteristic did Darwin observe about the finches on the Galapagos Islands?
a)
Their feathers 
b)
Genotypes 
c)
Their beaks
d)
Their body sizes
6.
Which term refers to the process by which individuals that are better suited to the environment survive and reproduce therefore passing down their genes to their offspring? 
a)
Evolution 
b)
Variation 
c)
Adaptation
d)
Natural Selection 
7.
The white feathers of a snowy owl allow it to blend in with its environment during the winter months (snow). This is an example of ________________
a)
Species
b)
Environmental Change
c)
Adaptation
d)
Variation
8.
Genetic differences between organisms of the same species
a)
Variation
b)
Adaptation
c)
Behavior
d)
Environment
9.

The struggle for existence against other members of an organisms species is

a)

Competition

b)

Natural Selection

c)

gene flow

d)

genetic drift

10.
What is the advantage of having different shaped beaks?
a)
To look different from other species.
b)
To be able to eat the food readily available in the environment.
c)
To protect itself against predators.
d)
To protect itself against prey.
11.
Which of the following is NOT an example of natural selection? 
a)
People selectively breeding hamsters.
b)
Insect populations developing resistance to certain pesticides.
c)
Bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics.
d)
Male birds of certain species developing colorful feathers to attract female mates.
12.
What is this an example of?
a)
diversity of species
b)
variation
c)
vestigial structures
d)
DNA studies
13.
Which organisms are most likely to survive?
a)
the best adapted
b)
the fastest
c)
the strongest
d)
the most domesticated (tamed)
14.

How does natural selection drive evolution?

a)

It does not; natural selection and evolution are entirely separate processes.

b)

Before they can reproduce, individuals must adapt certain traits through natural selection.

c)

Within a generation, natural selection causes populations to eliminate unfavorable traits.

d)

Over time, natural selection causes living populations to evolve environmental adaptations.

15.

What question regarding the traits of Galápagos finches did Darwin consider for many years?

a)

How had an original finch been modified in different ways for different purposes?

b)

Why were these finch species only found in certain parts of the world?

c)

Why couldn’t finches with narrow beaks consume a diet of seeds in addition to insects?

d)

How did this great variety of finch species survive in the same ecosystem?

16.
Darwin referred to this as survival of the fittest. Over time, it results in changes in the inherited characteristics of a population because organisms with adaptations that make them fit for their environment will survive and reproduce better than those without favorable traits.
a)
Natural Selection
b)
Genetic Variation
c)
Survival of the Fittest
17.

On what group of islands did Darwin make his most famous observations?

a)

Galapagos

b)

Madagascar

c)

Hawaii

d)

Beagle

18.

What led Darwin to his idea of natural selection?

a)

Individuals had certain traits that made them more successful.

b)

The Galápagos finches had a unique method of adaptation.

c)

Ecosystems with limited resources fostered great biodiversity.

d)

All of the above.

19.

A group of individuals of the same species that live and reproduce in the same place is called

a)

a community.

b)

a population.

c)

an organization.

d)

a civilization.

20.

Individuals in a population are not all

a)

compatible.

b)

identical.

c)

the same species.

d)

living in one ecosystem.

21.

What does genetic variation describe?

a)

similarities in the inherited traits of different individuals

b)

similarities between species in an ecosystem

c)

differences in the inherited traits of different individuals

d)

differences between various species’ mating preferences

22.

When individuals with certain inherited traits are more likely to survive and reproduce than those with less favorable traits, ______ occurs.

a)

genetic selection

b)

natural selection

c)

favored survival

d)

struggle for existence

23.

How does natural selection drive evolution?

a)

It does not; natural selection and evolution are entirely separate processes.

b)

Before they can reproduce, individuals must adapt certain traits through natural selection.

c)

Within a generation, natural selection causes populations to eliminate unfavorable traits.

d)

Over time, natural selection causes living populations to evolve environmental adaptations.

24.

Which statement about adaptations is true?

a)

They are inherited.

b)

They are developed quickly.

c)

They cannot change over time.

d)

They are the same in every species.

25.

Although he was initially sent to medical school, what was Charles Darwin's true passion?

a)

arts

b)

mathematics

c)

nature

d)

writing

26.

What was the primary goal of the Beagle's voyage?

a)

to transport passengers to North America

b)

to search for new forms of medicine

c)

to map the coast of South America

d)

to explore the Southern hemisphere

27.

What was Darwin's designated role on the Beagle?

a)

documenting the journey as the ship's journalist

b)

studying animals and plants as the ship's naturalist

c)

providing food for the crew as the ship's cook

d)

taking care of the passengers as the ship's surgeon

28.

What argument did geologist Charles Lyell make that would later become important to Darwin’s work in South America?

a)

The Earth’s age was impossible to calculate.

b)

Some of Earth’s features resulted from gradual processes over long time periods.

c)

Earth’s features were created within a short period of time and have not yet changed.

d)

Land formations in South America cannot be found elsewhere in the world.

29.

What did Darwin find especially remarkable about species of the Galápagos Islands?

a)

All of these species were birds.

b)

These species had very little biodiversity.

c)

Darwin could not study these species without the assistance of other naturalists.

d)

Many of these species resembled mainland South American species.

30.

After the Beagle's voyage ended, Darwin spent time thinking about the ______ of Galápagos finches.

a)

beauty

b)

habitats

c)

rarity

d)

traits

31.

What question regarding the traits of Galápagos finches did Darwin consider for many years?

a)

How had an original finch been modified in different ways for different purposes?

b)

Why were these finch species only found in certain parts of the world?

c)

Why couldn’t finches with narrow beaks consume a diet of seeds in addition to insects?

d)

How did this great variety of finch species survive in the same ecosystem?

32.

Darwin used the Galápagos finches as evidence that

a)

traits are not hereditary.

b)

living things change over time.

c)

birds are different than other species.

d)

organisms in a species have no relation to one another.

33.

According to Darwin, ______ in species could result from many ______ over long periods of time.

a)

population growth; births

b)

mating; interactions

c)

big changes; small changes

d)

extinction; deaths

34.

Eventually, Darwin realized that all living things were engaged in a ______ because there were not enough resources for all of them.

a)

genetic ritual

b)

fight to the death

c)

temporary competition

d)

struggle for existence