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WorksheetsEvolution
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 10mins
The graphs illustrate change in a lizard population over time. Which process most likely led to the change in the lizard population?
natural selection for a trait that is beneficial to lizards
natural selection acting against a trait that is beneficial to lizards
artificial selection for a trait that is beneficial to lizards
artificial selection against a trait that is beneficial to lizards
Lamarck and Darwin both agreed that organisms change over time and the process is linked to:
Genetics
Environmental conditions
Use and disuse of a feature
Natural selection
Tail length in mice varies within a population. Scientists observed change in the distribution of tail lengths in a mouse population over time. At the genetic level, what has most likely happened to the allele for the shortest tail lengths?
The allele changed from being dominant to being recessive.
The allele changed from being autosomal to being sex-linked.
The allele for shorter tail length was less beneficial for the mice.
The allele began to code for long tail lengths instead of the shorter ones.
In North America, the eastern spotted skunk mates in late winter, and the western spotted skunk mates in late summer. Even though their geographic ranges overlap, the species do not mate with each other. What most likely prevents these two species from interbreeding?
gametic isolation
behavioral isolation
geographic isolation
temporal isolation
A mutation occurs in the genes that code for coat color in deer. Which change will most likely result from this mutation?
a change in the selection pressures acting on coat color
a change in the coat-color genes of deer predator species
an increase in coat-color diversity in the population
a decrease in the number of genes for coat color in the population
The skeletons of mammalian forelimbs represent variations of a structure. An analysis of DNA from these organisms would indicate that _____________________.
they have identical DNA
their nucleotide sequences show many similarities
they all have gill slits
they all have the same number of chromosomes
Type of isolating mechanism: Species of birds have elaborate courtship dances, and females select the best dancers as mates.
behavioral isolation
geographical isolation
temporal isolation
Type of isolating mechanism: Varieties of oak tree produce pollen during different seasons, so they can’t pollinate one another.
behavioral isolation
geographical isolation
temporal isolation
Type of isolating mechanism: Herds of caribou misinterpret each other’s mating behavior, so they fight instead of mate
behavioral isolation
geographical isolation
temporal isolation
Type of isolating mechanism: Populations of the same species of seal live on islands too far apart to swim between them for mating.
behavioral isolation
geographical isolation
temporal isolation
Charles Darwin was best known in the 19th century for _______________________.
creating the idea of natural selection
creating the idea of artificial selection
the inheritance of acquired characteristics
the law of use and disuse
Charles Darwin’s ideas concerning the causes of evolution were probably formulated ______________________________.
while he was still a student at Cambridge University
before he began his voyage of exploration around the world on the HMS Beagle
during his voyage on the HMS Beagle, especially after he reached the Galapagos Islands
during the late 1880’s
Which aspect of Lamarck’s theory is incorrect?
acquired traits are inherited by offspring
new species evolved from previous species
DNA is the mechanism for inheritance
evolution works at the population level
The alleles of the individuals best suited to a particular environment tend to ___________________.
increase in a population over time
decrease in a population over time
stay the same over time
fluctuate according to the weather
Which two structures are homologous?
wings of a butterfly and wings of a bird
leg of a beetle and leg of a cat
fin of a dolphin and fin of a fish
front leg of a dog and arm of a human
Which structure(s) are vestigial in humans? Check all that apply.
tail bone
wisdom teeth
tonsils
appendix
What is a structure that is reduced in size and function; it may have been used in an ancestor?
homologous structure
analogous structure
vestigial structure
acquired structure
What is a structure that has the same function but different structure and is not used to show a relationship between 2 organisms?
homologous structure
analogous structure
vestigial structure
acquired structure
Any trait that aids the chances of survival and reproduction of an organism.
adaption
mimicry
camouflage
mutation
What are the random effects that can occur when a small population settles in an area away from the rest of the population and interbreeds; this produces unique genetic variations.
punctuated equilibrium
founder effect
habitat isolation
isolating mechanism
