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Natural Selection

Total questions: 13

Worksheet time: 30mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Certain insects resemble the twigs of trees on which they live. The probable reason for this resemblance is that

a)

the trees caused a mutation to occur

b)

no mutations have taken place

c)

natural selection has favored this trait

d)

the insects needed to camouflage themselves

2.

A large number of houseflies were sprayed with an insecticide. Houseflies that can survive and resist this insecticide support the concept that

a)

species traits tend to remain constant

b)

biocides cause mutations

c)

variation exists within a species

d)

the environment does not change

3.

Which concept states that favorable variations allow organisms to adapt successfully to a change in the environment?

a)

natural selection

b)

use and disuse

c)

artificial selection

d)

reproductive isolation

4.

Cattail plants are being replaced by purple loosestrife plants in swamps. The two species have very similar environmental requirements. This observation best illustrates

a)

variation within a species

b)

competition between species

c)

isolation of species populations

d)

random recombination

5.

In an attempt to explain the diversity of living things, Darwin's theory of natural selection

a)

proved evolution took place

b)

described how mutations produced variations

c)

showed that only the largest animals survive

d)

described how evolution could have occurred

6.

If a species can no longer produce offspring, the species will

a)

become extinct

b)

evolve into a new species

c)

adapt to its environment

d)

move to a new location

7.

Evolution can be defined as

a)

the change in size of body structures through use and disuse

b)

the formation of fossils

c)

a process of growth in an organism

d)

a process of change through time

8.

Penicillin no longer kills certain types of bacteria that it did kill in the past. What is the reason for this?

a)

The mutation rate must have increased naturally.

b)

The strains have become resistant because they needed to do so for survival.

c)

A mutation was retained and passed on to succeeding generations because it had high survival value.

d)

The principal forces influencing the pattern of survival in a population are isolation and mating.

9.

After the Industrial Revolution, dark moths outnumbered white moths in cities. The reason for this change is

a)

the trait for dark color became dominant over the trait for light color

b)

the new environment favored the survival of dark moths over light moths

c)

light colored moths turned dark

d)

dark moths died due to overpopulation

10.

Animals with favorable variations reproduce more successfully than organisms with less favorable variations. This statement best describes the concept of

a)

overproduction

b)

use and disuse

c)

inheritance of acquired characteristics

d)

survival of the fittest

11.

A trait with low survival value to the members of a population will most likely

a)

undergo a series of mutations in succeeding generations

b)

cause the reproduction rate in individual organisms to increase

c)

decrease in frequency from one generation to the next

d)

remain unchanged in frequency through many generations

12.

An explanation for observations is supported by many experiments is called

a)

a theory

b)

a control

c)

homeostasis

d)

a hypothesis

13.

A cheetah can run short distances at very fast speeds. Such speed is an adaptation for

a)

obtaining food

b)

decreasing body temperature

c)

increasing the rate of digestion

d)

obtaining oxygen