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Evolution

Total questions: 44

Worksheet time: 4hrs 40mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Scientist find dinosaur fossils in the bottom of a cliff and mammals fossils in the middle layer, what can be inferred?

a)

dinosaurs ate plants

b)

dinosaurs were eaten by the mammals

c)

they lived at the same time

d)

dinosaurs lived before the mammals

2.

What would indicate that a SERIES of fossils represent evolution?

a)

the fossils were identical

b)

the fossils were found in the same layers of rock

c)

the fossils show similarities

d)

the fossils were completely different

3.

Embryology is the study of?

a)

the age of organisms

b)

the oldest stage of development of an organism

c)

the life span of an organism

d)

the earliest growth stage of development of an organism

4.

Change over time is

a)

evolution

b)

generation

c)

growth

d)

biogenesis

5.

What animal is Darwin known for studying?

a)

dinosaurs

b)

tunicates

c)

finches

d)

horses

6.

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.

7.

What characteristic did Darwin observe about the finches on the Galapagos Islands?

a)

Their feathers

b)

Genotypes

c)

Their beaks

d)

Their body sizes

8.

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

9.
Which species’ DNA is most similar to the DNA of the toothed whale? 
a)
Hippopotamus 
b)
Baleen Whale
c)
Grazing Mammals
d)
Camels
10.

When an organism completely dies out, it is called.....

a)

Adaption

b)

Extinction

c)

Fossilization

d)

Mutation

11.

The separation of a group of individuals from the rest of the population is referred to as

a)

genetic drift

b)

natural selection

c)

isolation

d)

survival of the fittest

12.
Two organisms that are closely related would have
a)
very similar DNA sequence
b)
exactly the same DNA sequences
c)
no proteins in common
d)
completely different DNA sequence
13.

The scientific theory of evolution is supported by different types of evidence. How does comparing the skeletons of two different animal species provide support for the scientific theory of evolution?

a)

It provides information about the organisms' habitats.

b)

Potential homologous structures show possible common ancestry between organisms.

c)

It provides information to determine the organisms' ages.

d)

It shows potential chromosomal similarities between organisms.

14.
 The diagram represents the relationship between beak structure and food in several species of finches found on the Galapagos Islands. The different beak structures observed in the diagram are evidence of
a)
 different species of finches adapting to different environments over many generations
b)
 finches changing their beak characteristics so that they could feed efficiently
c)
finch species with different beak structures coming to the Galapagos Islands from the mainland
d)
 finches mating with birds of other species and acquiring some of their traits
15.

Natural selection is best described as

a)

a change in an organism in response to a need of that organism

b)

a process of nearly constant improvement that leads to an organism that is nearly perfect

c)

differences in survival rates as a result of different inherited characteristics

d)

inheritance of characteristics acquired during the life of an organism

16.

Which occurrence represents an example of evolution?

a)

Exposure to radiation reduces the rate of mutation in leaf cells.

b)

A mutation in a liver cell causes a person to produce an enzyme that is less efficient.

c)

Cells in a zygote eventually change into bone cells or skin cells

d)

Some antibiotics are almost useless, because pathogens have developed a resistance to these antibiotics.

17.

When organisms are better adapted to their environment they will survive and reproduce more successfully than organisms less adapted. This process is called what?

a)

Selective breeding

b)

Natural Selection

c)

Cloning

d)

Evolution of all species

18.

Scientists have collected millions of fossils of different organisms, and have developed a timeline of life on Earth. What do we call this?

a)

Mutation

b)

Natural Selection

c)

The theory of evolution

d)

Fossil Record

19.

Sometimes bones in the front limbs of animals are very similar in structure. What do we call similar bone structures that indicate a link to a common ancestor?

a)

Adaptations

b)

Gradualism

c)

Homologous Structures

d)

Extinction

20.

A physical or behavioral trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment is called ?

a)

An adaptation

b)

A response to a stimulus

c)

A mutation

d)

Evolution

21.

When looking at two birds of the same species, you notice that one has darker feathers than the other one. You also notice that one has a beak that is just a little longer. These slight differences within members of the same species are called.....

a)

Fossils

b)

Extinction

c)

Meiosis

d)

Variations

22.

What do we call a change in a species over time?

a)

Adaptation

b)

Evolution

c)

Extinction

d)

Environmental influences

23.
Which of the following is a term for a group of similar organisms that can reproduce fertile offspring?
a)
individual
b)
population
c)
species
d)
fossil
24.

Mutations are important because they bring about

a)

death of the organism in which they develop

b)

genetic variation needed for a population to evolve

c)

benefits for the individual, not for the population

d)

Harvey-Weinberg equilibrium within a population

25.
A remnant or trace of an organism from the past is called a _______.
a)
Ancestor
b)
Skeleton
c)
Fossil
d)
Imprints
26.
According to the diagram, which organism is older?
a)
ammonite
b)
coral
c)
gastropod
d)
trilobite
27.
Which of the following is an example of a vestigial structure?
a)
the wings of a red-tailed hawk
b)
the hind limbs of a house cat
c)
the fins of sharks
d)
the tailbone of a human
28.
The diagram shows fossils in different rock layers. Which of these statements about the age of these fossils is most likely correct?
a)
Fossil A and C are the same age
b)
Fossil B is older than fossil C
c)
Fossils A is older than fossil B
d)
Fossil D is older than fossil C
29.

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

30.
What would happen if the Giraffes never evolve?
a)
they would survive
b)
They would thrive
c)
They would become extinct
d)
They will find another source of food
31.

Why are advantageous traits more likely to be passed onto offspring?

a)

Because the organisms with those traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.

b)

Because they come from dominant alleles.

c)

Because they come from recessive alleles.

d)

Because the trait is an acquired phenotype.

32.
Farmers breed cows to produce high amounts of milk. This is an example of...
a)
Natural Selection 
b)
Variations in a species 
c)
Selective Breeding 
d)
inbreeding
33.

Who was the Scientist most famous for his study of natural selection and evolution?

a)

Theodor Schwann

b)

Robert Hooke

c)

Charles Darwin

d)

Rudolf Virchow

34.

Which of the following is not a step of natural selection?

a)

overproduction

b)

cooperation

c)

variation

d)

selection

35.

Select ALL that show evidence of evolution.

a)

DNA

b)

mutations

c)

fossils

d)

skeletal structures

36.

The struggle for survival against other members of the same species is

a)

competition

b)

natural selection

c)

gene flow

d)

genetic drift

37.

A well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations is called a(an):

a)

hypothesis

b)

experiment

c)

cause and effect

d)

scientific theory

38.
The surroundings and conditions in which an organism lives and operates.
a)
Evolution
b)
Population
c)
Environment
d)
Biological diversity
39.
Why is the mouse population changing over time?
a)
The light mice can reproduce more successfully than the dark mice
b)
The hawks eat more dark mice than light mice because the dark mice taste better
c)
The hawks eat more light mice than dark mice because they can see the light mice more easily
d)
The hawks eat more dark mice than light mice because they can see the dark mice more easily
40.

The process by which two populations of the same species become so different that they can no longer interbreed.

a)

natural selection

b)

artificial selection

c)

speciation

d)

fossilization

41.

A change that occurs in the DNA sequence is called a(n) ______________________.

a)

extinction

b)

speciation

c)

mutation

d)

competition

42.
The trees these moths used to live on were white, but have been covered in soot from coal factories. Which moth will be more successful in this environment?
a)
Dark moth
b)
Light moth
c)
Both will be equally successful
d)
Neither will be successful
43.

Which best describes mutations?

a)

Always helpful

b)

Always harmful

c)

Can be helpful, harmful or neutral

d)

Always neutral

44.

Which of these best represents a time period in which most organisms could evolve?

a)

5 days

b)

100 years

c)

10,000 years

d)

2 decades