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WorksheetsUnit 4 Evolution
Total questions: 16
Worksheet time: 12mins
The rock pocket mouse is found mainly in rocky areas of the deserts of the southwestern United States. Most of these mice have light brown fur that allows them to blend in with the desert rocks where they live. However, there is an area of New Mexico with black rock left over from old volcanic eruptions. Scientists discovered that many of the rock pocket mice living on the black volcanic rock have dark fur.
What is the best explanation for this phenomenon?
The dark colored mice survived and passed on their genes to their offspring so that, over time, the population became mostly dark colored.
The light colored mice began expressing the dark fur gene in order to camouflage themselves from predators.
The dark colored mice were stronger than the light colored mice and were, therefore, able to fight off predators.
The light colored mice all experienced the same mutation, which caused them to start producing more melanin and turned their fur a darker color.
Evolution is the change in characteristics passed down from parent to offspring over time. How are mutations involved in the process of the evolution of a species?
Some mutations are contagious and lethal, which can lead to the extinction of a species.
If the mutation is beneficial, it will become more prevalent in the population’s genes over time.
Any mutation that occurs will affect the population’s gene pool that is already established.
Most mutations that occur will spread quickly throughout a population, creating new species
A population of trees has various heights. Shorter trees have leaves and flowers that are within reach for herbivores to eat.
The adaptation that allows the trees to grow taller would be an example of natural selection if it helps them ―
increase the number of mutations in their DNA
increase the lifespan of each individual tree
increase the chances of surviving to produce offspring
increase the odds of producing genes for short trees
During Darwin’s travels to the Galapagos Islands, he discovered several different species of finches, each with a distinctive beak type.
What is the best explanation for the different types of beaks in the finches?
Each species of finch was brought to the islands by explorers over the course of several decades.
The finches are capable of adjusting their beak type depending on what predators are hunting them.
The type of beak on each individual finch depends on what mutations that finch receives during reproduction.
Natural selection caused each species of finch to have the type of beak best suited for survival in its environment.
Monarch butterflies are a type of Milkweed butterfly that belongs to the family Nymphalidae. Many butterflies, including Monarchs, eat plants that have bitter or poisonous juices, which make them taste bad to their predators. The organisms advertise their bad taste with their bright colored wings, something known as "warning coloration".
Based on this information, how has adaptation allowed monarch butterflies to be successful?
They can fly fast enough to avoid predators and can spend more time sleeping.
They have an easier time attracting good mates and can make more offspring.
They are not attacked by predators and can reproduce successfully.
They can camouflage into their environment and can live longer.
8 What do bacteria and humans have in common?
Both use a nucleus to store genetic material
Both use nucleic acids as the genetic code
Both use mitochondria to generate energy
Both use organs to perform specific functions
Why is MRSA (staph bacteria) resistant to various antibiotics?
Antibiotics have become weakened due to rampant spread of staph infections in health care facilities.
Skin and other immune mechanisms are less effective in defending the body against invasion of staph bacteria.
Modern antibiotics are less effective because the chemicals used to make antibiotics have become hard to find.
Staph bacteria have developed the ability to fight off the effects of commonly prescribed antibiotics designed to kill them.
For a mutation to be evolutionarily significant, it must —
change the type of protein being produced
have a neutral effect on an organism
provide a survival advantage to the species
cause the loss of a gene
Which of the following best explains why a finite supply of environmental resources is important to differential reproductive success?
Limited resources create selection pressures for survival on the population
Variations within a population allow for differential reproductive success.
Some members of a population survive competition but never reproduce.
Natural selection does not occur when the environment limits the supply of resources.
Maldives is a nation formed from 26 islands more than 2000 km off the coast of India. The islands of Maldives formed from the organic material of dead coral that has been pushed up to the surface due to geologic changes. While land species are rare, there are mammals, lizards, and birds that live on the islands of Maldives. These animals are similar to organisms found across southern Asia.
What best explains the existence of these animals in Maldives?
The animals evolved from the coral species that formed the island.
The animals formed from fish that crawled onto the islands and slowly evolved into tetrapods
The ancestry of the animals can be traced back to the nearby continent.
The animals have a common ancestor from Maldives and have adapted since to fill niches.
The fact that bacteria can produce human insulin after undergoing recombinant DNA technology is evidence that both bacteria and humans —
have identical genomes
have eukaryotic cells
share a genetic code
can develop diabetes
Which statement below explains why some microorganisms have the ability to repair a malfunctioning gene by using the human version of the gene?
Both organisms are classified in the same kingdom
The genome of both organisms is identical.
The genetic code of all living organisms is universal.
Microorganisms are typically lower level prokaryotes while humans are higher level eukaryotes.
Which of the following is an example of a heritable characteristic possessed by an animal that will improve its reproductive potential and survivability in its environment?
Position of geese flying in V formation
Color and shape camouflage of preying mantis
Use of tools by chimpanzees learned through experience
Male dominance in a pack of wolves
The occurrence of the same amino acid sequence in digestive proteins in two morphologically unrelated species provides evidence that these two species —
occupy the same niche
have analogous structures
descended from a common ancestor
have evolved convergently
5 The ability of an organism to compete successfully for environmental resources, survive predation, resist disease, and live to adulthood affects the organism’s —
reproductive success
genetic variability
genetic potential
genetic code
What conclusion can be drawn from the following statements regarding adaptation of organisms?
1. Variation exists among individuals in a population.
2. Genes are passed from one generation to the next.
3. Speciation occurs when variation occurs over time in geographic isolation.
Organisms adapt to changes in the environment on an individual basis.
Adaptation leads to change in a species.
Variation is caused by a single factor.
Species only adapt when they make the decision to adapt.
