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The Theory of Evolution

Total questions: 19

Worksheet time: 12mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The hypothesis that evolution occurs at a rapid pace, separated by periods of no change,

a)

was supported by Darwin

b)

is known as punctuated equilibrium

c)

is supported by many transitional forms in the fossil record

d)

was proposed by Lyell

2.

The number of individuals that possess favorable characteristics will increase in a population

(a)  

3.

The evolution of beak sizes in Galapagos finches is a response to...

a)

how finches use their beaks

b)

what type of seed is availble

c)

whether the populations interbreed

d)

the nutritional content of the seeds

4.

According to Darwin, evolution occurs...

a)

in response to use or disuse of a characteristic

b)

by punctuated equilibrium

c)

by natural selection

d)

in an individuals timeline

5.

Natural selection causes...

a)

changes in the environment

b)

plants and animals to produce more offspring than can survive

c)

changes in the frequency of certain alleles in a population

d)

all of the above

6.

The traits of individuals best adapted to survive become more common in each generation because...

a)

offspring without those traits do not survive

b)

the alleles responsible for those traits increase through natural selection

c)

those individuals do not breed

d)

natural selection does not effect well adapted individuals

7.

The process of species changing slowly and consistently

(a)  

8.

In the study of the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, scientists have learned that...

a)

the bacteria have become more sensitive to antibiotics due to evolution

b)

patients are allergic to antibiotic treatment

c)

the bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics due to natural selection

d)

patients frequently die from antibiotic treatment

9.

Natural selection is the process by which...

a)

the age of Earth is calculated

b)

organisms with traits well suited to the environment survive

c)

acquired traits are passed from one generation to the next

d)

all of the above

10.

Similar bone structures between species is known as...

a)

vestigial structures

b)

divergent structures

c)

homologous structures

d)

embryonic structures

11.

Human populations do not grow uncheck because of war, disease, and famine

(a)  

12.

The theory of evolution predicts that...

a)

closely related species will show similarities in nucleotide sequences

b)

if species have changed over time, then their genes should have changed

c)

closely related species will show similarities in amino acid sequences

d)

all of the above

13.

Organisms that produce more offspring than their environment can support and that they compete with one another to survive are...

a)

elements of natural selection

b)

not elements of evolution

c)

the only mechanisms of evolution

d)

the beginning of speciation

14.

Structures that are present in an organism, but reduced in size and have little to no function are called...

a)

pharyngeal pouches

b)

vestigial structures

c)

convergent structures

d)

embryological homologies

15.

Species change in spurts, with vast amounts of time in between

(a)  

16.

Strong evidence for evolution comes from...

a)

forensic biology

b)

phylogenetic trees

c)

works of philosophy

d)

the fossil record

17.

Darwin theorized that natural selection is...

a)

the mechanism of evolution

b)

how modern species have come to exist

c)

the explanation for beak variation in finches

d)

all of the above

18.

Species change over time, or descent with modification

(a)  

19.

Similarities in structures suggest that organisms...

a)

have a common ancestor

b)

all grow at different rates

c)

evolved slowly

d)

lived for a long time