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Evidence of Change

Total questions: 15

Worksheet time: 13mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

According to natural selection, organisms who survive are the ones best adapted for their environment. Why do they survive?

a)

They have adaptations developed through use.

b)

They do not have competition with other species

c)

They have inherited adaptations that maximize fitness

d)

They grow larger than others in their population

2.

What does the theory of natural selection say about members of a population that live long enough to reproduce?

a)

They will pass down characteristics acquired by use and disuse to their offspring.

b)

They will produce few offspring than others in the population

c)

They will be best adapted to survive in their environment.

d)

They will pass down unfavorable changes to their offspring.

3.

Which of the following allows natural selection to have the GREATET effect?

a)

a stable environment and a large gene pool

b)

a changing environment and a large gene pool

c)

a stable environment and a small gene pool

d)

a changing environment and a small gene pool

4.

After an earthquake, a small number of tree frogs gets geographically separated from a much larger population of tree frogs. Which of the following is likely to occur in the small group of tree frogs?

a)

It is more likely to undergo speciation because of its small gene pool

b)

It will more likely produce a greater number of offspring

c)

It is more likely to have a greater diversity since the population has decreased

d)

It is more likely to breed with another species of frog.

5.

Quinin is often used to treat malaria, a disease caused by a parasite that is transmitted by a mosquito bite. After years of quinine treatment, the malaria causing parasite has become resistant in some areas so the quinine no longer kills it. Which of the following is the likely cause of the quinine resistance in the parasite?

a)

less potent quinine doses

b)

a genetic mutation in the parasite

c)

stronger immunity in infected humans

d)

larger mosquito population

6.

Where are most fossils found?

a)

in salt water

b)

in volcanic rock

c)

in sedimentary rock

d)

in the sap of trees

7.

Separation of a population by a barrier such as a river, mountain or a body of water results in which of the following.

a)

Temporal isolation

b)

geographic isolation

c)

behavioral isolation

d)

genetic drift

8.

Which of the following is the result of geographic isolation of a species?

a)

It prevents the interbreeding within each separated population

b)

It prevents interbreeding between the two separated populations.

c)

It causes temporal isolation of the two separated populations.

d)

It increases the differences in courtship behavior.

9.

A chicken farmer bred his chickens for the fastest growth and the most breast meat. Over several generations all of the chickens that are born have large pectoralis muscles, small legs, and small heads. Now he would like to breed his chickens for larger legs. Why might his not be possible if he breeds only his existing chickens?

a)

The trait for larger legs may have been eliminated form the gene pool.

b)

The trait for larger legs may be recessive nad not expressed in the chickens.

c)

The trait for larger legs can only be gained through a mutation.

d)

The chickens will lose their ability to breed.

10.

A species of beetle is introduce on an island. The beetles have wings, which in its original habitat are beneficial because they allow the beetles to fly away from predators. On the island the beetle don't have the same predators. When the beetles attempt to fly, large numbers of them die because they are blown into the ocean. A fraction of the beetles survive on the island. Which of the following would be a beneficial mutation to this species of beetle on this island?s

a)

a mutation to grow larger wings

b)

a mutation that prevents them from flying

c)

a mutation that changes their wing color

d)

a mutation that allows them to eat a different kind of food.

11.

Which of the following is an example of directional selection?

a)

Average sized deer offsping are more likely to survive

b)

A chicken population with members having different colors of feathers are equally likely to survive.

c)

Butterflies having either small wings or large wings have a reproductive advantage.

d)

Only the fastest rabbits are able to escape predators.

12.

The characteristics of a plant species on an isolated island have changed over time in response to environmental changes. Which idea explains these changes?

a)

evolution due to genetic drift

b)

evolution by natural selection

c)

punctuated equilibrium

d)

convergent evolution

13.

The wings of a bird and the arm of a human being are considered homologous structures. Which patter of evolution describes these structures?

a)

coevolution

b)

divergent evolution

c)

convergent evolution

d)

adaptive radiation.

14.

The North American kangaroo rat, the Australian hopping mouse and the North African jerboa have similar appearances and behaviors that are convergent adaptations. In other words, each species evolved separately,.

Which of the following would you expect to be the same for these three species?

a)

The genetic code for their DNA

b)

a closely related common ancestor

c)

their embryo development

d)

the environments in which they evolved

15.

Which of the following increases variation in a gene pool

a)

natural selection

b)

extinction

c)

mutations

d)

genetic drift