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Darwin & His Theory of Evolution

Total questions: 23

Worksheet time: 23mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

____________ developed the theory of evolution by natural selection.

a)

Alfred Russel Wallace

b)

Charles Darwin

c)

Jean Baptiste Lamarck

d)

Thomas Malthus

2.

While on the Beagle, Darwin's observations included

a)

rock ledges that had clearly once been beaches.

b)

fossils of gigantic living mammals.

c)

rocks containing mountain fossil found in the sea.

d)

all of the above.

3.

Charles Lyell

a)

argued that Earth must be far older than most people believed.

b)

said that human populations grow faster than their resources.

c)

developed the idea of the inheritance of acquired characteristics.

d)

none of the above

4.

The inheritance of acquired characteristics states that

(Lamarck)

a)

traits an organism develops during its own lifetime are determined by nature.

b)

traits an organism develops during its own lifetime are not passed on to offspring.

c)

traits an organism develops during its own lifetime are passed on to offspring.

d)

traits an organism develops during its own lifetime are determined by evolution.

5.

Artificial selection

a)

occurs naturally in pigeons.

b)

is based on the inheritance of acquired characteristics.

c)

is when nature selects for beneficial traits.

d)

is when humans select form beneficial traits.

6.

The Galápagos Islands

a)

differ from one another in important ways.

b)

are where Darwin made some of his most important discoveries.

c)

each have some distinct plant and animal life.

d)

all of the above

7.

Darwin's reasoning included which of the following?

a)

Darwin assumed that species can change over time.

b)

Darwin knew that resources could grow faster than populations.

c)

Darwin inferred that artificial selection could change species over time.

d)

all of the above all of the above

8.

The Galápagos tortoises

a)

evolved as the Galápagos islands separated from each other.

b)

are able to swim between islands to eat any available food.

c)

have differently shaped shells depending on which island they inhabit.

d)

all of the above

9.

Jean Baptiste Lamarck

a)

was one of the first scientists to propose that species evolve over time.

b)

developed a widely accepted theory of evolution.

c)

determined that Earth must be far older than most people believed.

d)

said that famine and disease keep populations in check by killing off their weakest members.

10.

Darwin’s theory explains

a)

why some organisms have better fitness than others.

b)

why species face a struggle for existence.

c)

why giraffes have such long necks.

d)

all of the above.

11.

The work of Lamarck motivated Darwin to finish his work.

a)

True

b)

False

12.

Darwin had developed his ideas of evolution prior to the voyage of the Beagle. He just used the voyage to collect evidence of his ideas.

a)

True

b)

False

13.

Fitness refers to an organism’s relative ability to survive and produce fertile offspring.

a)

True

b)

False

14.

It took Darwin over 20 years to compile his findings, develop his theory, and publish his book.

a)

True

b)

False

15.

Lamarck convinced Darwin that populations could grow faster than their resources.

a)

True

b)

False

16.

Artificial selection is when nature chooses the traits beneficial for survival.

a)

True

b)

False

17.

Darwin was the first to provide convincing arguments and evidence to evolution.

a)

True

b)

False

18.

Darwin spent five years collecting information while on a voyage aboard the HMS Beagle

a)

True

b)

False

19.

Lyell determined that earth must be far older than most people believed.

a)

True

b)

False

20.

Darwin’s most important observations were made in Australia

a)

True

b)

False

21.

Darwin determined that man selects the variations among organisms that are most useful for survival.

a)

True

b)

False

22.

The theory of evolution by Natural Selection states that living things with beneficial traits produce more offspring than others do.

a)

True

b)

False

23.

Darwin saw that tortoises have differently shaped Noses depending on which island they live.

a)

True

b)

False