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Evolution

Total questions: 39

Worksheet time: 53mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

In the Great Lakes region of North America, gray wolves and coyotes are similar species but do not mate because their breeding periods occur at different times of the year.

a)

Geographic isolation

b)

Temporal isolation

c)

Behavioral isolation

2.

The American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) and Fowler's toad (Bufo fowleri) live in the same area. However, The American toad mates in early summer while Fowler’s mates in late summer.

a)

Geographic isolation

b)

Behavioral isolation

c)

Temporal isolation

3.

A type of isolation in which two populations become separated by a physical barrier such as a canyon, river, lake, preventing the two populations from interbreeding.

a)

Geographic isolation

b)

Behavioral isolation

c)

Temporal isolation

4.

A population of chimpanzees was separated when the forest that they lived in had a section cut down and a town was built. After a long period of time, the chimpanzees came back into contact but were incapable of breeding. Which of the following best describes the process that occurred?

a)

adaptation

b)

speciation

c)

convergent selection

d)

stabilizing selection

5.

Which is an example of temporal isolation?

a)

flowers that bloom in different months

b)

birds that have different mating calls

c)

fruit flies that mate in different locations

d)

squirrels that have different fur colors

6.
Genetic drift is change in the allele frequency of a population due to...
a)
random chance
b)
natural selection
c)
non-random mating (sexual selection)
d)
artificial selection
7.
A virus killed most of the seals in the North Sea (e.g. dropped the population from 8000 to 800).  In an effort to help preserve the species, scientists caught 20 of the remaining seals and used them to start a new population in the northwest Pacific Ocean.  Which of the following statements would accurately describe the new   population?  
a)
The new seal population is genetically less diverse than the original population 
b)
The new seal population is genetically more diverse than the original population
c)
There is equal genetic variety compared  to the original population 
d)
None of the answers
8.

Which of the following is an example of the bottle neck effect?

a)

Bald Eagles are hunted until near extinction, population recovers.

b)

Small group of iguanas floats to an island, starts a new population.

c)

Red fox pups are more likely to survive in a snowy environment if they are born white.

d)

Farmer chooses seeds from largest apples to plant next year. This results in larger apples from year to year.

9.

Which of the following is an example of the founder effect?

a)

Bald Eagles are hunted until near extinction, population recovers.

b)

Small group of iguanas floats to an island, starts a new population.

c)

Red fox pups are more likely to survive in a snowy environment if they are born white.

d)

Farmer chooses seeds from largest apples to plant next year. This results in larger apples from year to year.

10.
If two organisms have similar traits of DNA they are probably
a)
share a common ancestor
b)
share a common environment
c)
share a common population
d)
speciation
11.
If species A and B have very similar genes and proteins, what is probably TRUE?
a)
species A and B share a relatively recent common ancestor
b)
species A evolved independently of species B for a long period
c)
species A is younger than species B
d)
species A is older than species B
12.

Which of following is NOT a critical part of the theory of evolution?

a)

overproduction

b)

consistent environment

c)

genetic variation

d)

struggle to survive

13.
Which of the following provides molecular evidence in support of the idea of evolution?
a)
Developing pig embryo looking like a developing human embryo
b)
Human proteins having amino acids like monkey proteins
c)
Fossil skull of a 12 Million-yr-old mammal resembles horse
d)
Bones in a human arm are similar to bones in a frog's leg
14.

Scientists believe that the species Homo sapiens originated in Africa and migrated out of Africa to compete with existing hominid species in other territories. Which field of study would provide us with evidence that Homo sapiens came to what is now the Americas using a land bridge between Russia and Alaska that became covered with water when the Ice Age thawed?

a)

Biogeography

b)

Comparative Anatomy

c)

Embryology

d)

Molecular Biology

15.

The picture is showing an example of...

a)

Natural Selection

b)

Genetic drift

c)

Mutations

d)

Homologous structures

16.

This random change in allele frequency has caused the small population to change. This is an example of

a)

artificial selection

b)

reproductive isolation

c)

genetic drift

d)

mutations

17.

The animals in the picture do not live in the same population. They are found in different parts of the world, but are all still part of the camel family. What can be said about these animals?

a)

They belong to the same species

b)

It is difficult for them to find food to eat

c)

They have a very similar skeletal structure

d)

They descended from a common ancestor

18.

What is a genetic characteristic of favorable adaptations?

a)

These adaptations cannot be passed on to the next generation.

b)

These adaptations are acquired by increased use of an organ.

c)

These adaptations reduce the organism's chances of survival.

d)

These adaptations improve the organism's chance of survival.

19.

Over a long period of time the organisms on an island can no longer interbreed with the organisms on a neighboring island. What is this inability to interbreed known as?

a)

Hybridization

b)

reproductive isolation

c)

artificial selection

d)

survival of the fittest

20.

Birds that sing and have different songs than one another create a barrier that prevents one bird from attracting the wrong mate. What type of barrier is this?

a)

Temporal

b)

Geographic

c)

Behavioral

d)

Artificial

21.
Which of the following is a factor in natural selection?
a)
Individuals of species compete with one another to survive.
b)
All species are genetically diverse.
c)
Individuals better able to adapt to changes leave more offspring.
d)
All are correct 
22.
The fossil record provides evidence that 
a)
Fossils cannot be dated.
b)
All species were formed during Earth’s formation and have changed little since then.
c)
The fossilized species have no connection to today’s species.
d)
Older species gave rise to more-recent species.
23.
Individuals that are better able to cope with the challenges of their environment tend to  
a)
Decrease in population over time.
b)
Leave more offspring than those less suited to the environment.
c)
Leave fewer offspring than those less suited to the environment.
24.
Starting in 1954, commercial fishers in the northwest Pacific were paid by weight, rather than by the individual fish, for pink salmon. The fishers increased the use of a type of net that selectively catches larger fish.  Which of the following effects did this change in fishing technique most likely have on the salmon population over the next 20 years?
a)
The average body size of the salmon population decreased significantly.
b)
The average body size of the salmon population increased significantly.
c)
The average body size of the males in the salmon population increased, and the females stayed the same.
25.
European rabbits were introduced to Australia in 1859. The rabbits reproduced rapidly in their new habitat, displaced other animals, and overgrazed vegetation. In an attempt to reduce the rabbit population, a virus was introduced in 1951. This virus is usually deadly to European rabbits. When the virus was first introduced, the rabbits died in large numbers, but the death rate decreased over time. Which of the following best explains the decrease in the rabbit death rate? 
a)
Young rabbits learned to avoid being infected with the virus.
b)
The lifespan of the virus was too short to affect rabbits over a long period of time.
c)
Natural selection favored rabbits that were resistant to the virus. 
d)
No correct choices.
26.
Which of the following statements gives the most likely explanation for the presence of two very similar species of squirrels living on opposite sides of the Grand Canyon?
a)
One squirrel traveled across the canyon and started a new population on the other side.
b)
One squirrel traveled across the canyon and interbred with a different population on the other side.
c)
Members of one single squirrel species were geographically separated by the formation of the canyon.
d)
Members of two different squirrel species migrated from two different places to opposite sides of the canyon. 
27.
The Asian shore crab invaded parts of the eastern coast of the United States about 15 years ago. The Asian shore crab preys on blue mussels. In the time since the Asian shore crab arrived, the average shell thickness of the blue mussel population has increased. Which of the following is the most likely reason that this increase in shell thickness has occurred? 
a)
Blue mussels with thick shells attract more crabs that mussels without thick shells.
b)
Blue mussels with thick shells grow in larger colonies than mussels without thick shells.
c)
Blue mussels with thick shells catch more food per day than mussels without thick shells.
d)
Blue mussels with thick shells survive and reproduce more successfully than mussels without thick shells.
28.
Some willow trees alter the chemical composition of their leaves when attacked by caterpillars. Compared to normal leaves, the chemically altered leaves are less nutritious and more difficult for caterpillars to digest.
 Which of the following is a likely effect of this ability to alter leaf composition?
a)
Willow trees with this ability will attract more caterpillars than other willow trees.
b)
Willow trees with this ability have a survival advantage over other willow trees. 
c)
More butterflies will lay their eggs on willow trees with this ability than other willow trees. 
d)
None are correct
29.
Structures that share a common ancestry or are similar because they are modified versions of structures from a common ancestor that contain the same basic bone structure are
a)
Not related.
b)
Not homologous. 
c)
Homologous.
d)
Young in origin.
30.
The process in which organisms with traits well suited to an environment are more likely to survive and to produce offspring is
a)
Natural Selection
b)
Origin of Species
c)
Genetic Principles
d)
Trait Mechanism
31.
Structures with no function that are remnants of an organism’s evolutionary past are
a)
Not visible organisms.
b)
Vestigial
c)
Young in origin
d)
Useful to the organism
32.
Comparing human hemoglobin of chimpanzees, horses, kangaroos, and chickens, reveal that humans have the fewest amino acid differences with 
a)
Kangaroos
b)
Horses
c)
chickens
d)
chimpanzees
33.
The hypothesis that evolution of a species occurs in periods of rapid change separated by periods of little or no change is called
a)
divergence
b)
gradualism
c)
punctuated equilibrium
d)
isolation
34.
The formation of new species is a process known as ____________________, which is typically the product of divergence. 
a)
gradualism
b)
speciation
c)
reproductive isolation
d)
subspecies
35.
The hypothesis that evolution of a species occurs gradually over time as a slow and constant process is known as
a)
speciation
b)
punctuated equilibrium
c)
gradualism
d)
microevolution
36.
Which of the following phrase best describes how Thomas Malthus influenced Charles Darwin’s idea of natural selection?
a)
The number of resources available can limit the survival of a species. 
b)
The survival of a species depends on the traits they acquire in their lifetime.
c)
The survival of a species is determined by how many offspring they leave behind.
d)
The Earth is constantly changing; seashell fossils were found at the top of the Andes Mountains. 
37.
Which of the following statements best reflects the evolutionary importance of the figures pictured?
a)
New genetic instructions have been disregarded in the evolution of vertebrates.
b)
Early in development, vertebrate embryos show no evidence of common ancestry.
c)
All adult vertebrates retain pharyngeal pouches (gills).
d)
The evolutionary history of organisms is seen in the way embryos develop.
38.
What is the term for a feature that allows an organism to survive better in its environment?
a)
variation
b)
adaptation
c)
homologous structure
d)
vestigial structure
39.
All the individuals of a species that live in a particular area are called a
a)
variation
b)
population
c)
fossil
d)
group

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