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Natural Selection and Evolution

Total questions: 61

Worksheet time: 35mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
Bird's beaks evolve mainly due to the type of ___________________ available.
a)
food
b)
water
c)
shrubs
d)
mates
2.
If an organism can't adapt fast enough, this might happen.
a)
hibernate
b)
stay the same
c)
live longer
d)
become extinct
3.
Darwin said that within a species there will be _________________________
a)
nothing different
b)
variation/differences
4.
What can happen to a species over time if some of the organisms have an advantage?
a)
The population will decrease
b)
The population will become extinct
c)
The population will slowly increase
5.

A grizzly bear survives because he is well-adapted to his environment. When he reproduces he passes on those traits to his offspring. this process is called

a)

Natural Selection

b)

Selective Breeding

c)

Random mutations

d)

Variations in a species

6.
Behavioral changes of individuals of a species that allow for better survival. (Acquired traits)
a)
Variation
b)
Adaptation
c)
Behavior
d)
Environment
7.
When every organism of a species has died.
a)
Evolution
b)
Natural Selection
c)
Extinction
d)
Artificial Selection
8.
Mutations are a change in what?
a)
DNA
b)
tRNA
c)
genotype
d)
phenotype
9.
Breed an organism for a desired trait is the definition of
a)
selective breeding
b)
natural selection
c)
natural breeding
d)
biological evolution
10.
Evolution works by 
a)
individuals changing to suit their environment
b)
Individuals learned new traits and pass them on
c)
sudden change in the environment cause a species change 
d)
small changes pass down through many generations
11.

What is natural selection?

a)

When reproduction occurs and mutations happen.

b)

When a offspring has the traits from its parents.

c)

When an organism is able to camoflauge in its environment.

d)

the process whereby organisms that are better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more offspring.

12.

In a cold environment what would be some adaptive traits? Sellect all that apply.

a)

thick blubber

b)

thick fur

c)

thin fur

d)

strong muscles

13.

What is a trait?

a)

a color

b)

the quality or characteristic of an organism

c)

the DNA of an organism

d)

when mutatuons cause extra limbs.

14.

Which of these are possible traits of a rattle snake?

Select all that apply

a)

venom

b)

rattle

c)

hair

d)

legs

e)

scales

15.

What is an adaptive trait?

a)

A genetic trait that helps an organism to maximize its survival and reproduction ability

b)

A trait that makes an animal strong

c)

a trait that makes an animal weak

d)

a poisonus plant

16.

What is a non-adaptive trait?

a)

a trait that does not help an organism surive and reproduce.

b)

a trait that causes animals to be come more fit

c)

a trait that allows animals to camoflauge

d)

it causes a mutation

17.

Can mutations be passed down to offspring?

a)

Yes

b)

No

18.

Why do offspring share traits from both parents?

a)

offspring choose the traits they want

b)

offspring get 75 percent of the traits from their father

c)

offspring get 50 percent of each parents DNA

19.

Where are genes located?

a)

on the cell

b)

in the mitochondria

c)

on chromosomes

d)

on an organism

20.

What is a gene?

a)

sections of DNA

b)

sections of UNA

c)

a trait

d)

an adaptive trait

21.

Do genes code for traits?

a)

yes

b)

no

22.

Gigantopithecus were very large primates that lived 500,000 years ago. Since none of these mammals are still today, they are said to be....

a)

Extinct

b)

Threatened

c)

Endangered

d)

Declining

23.

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

24.

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

25.

What most likely caused the finches on the Galapagos Islands to have beaks that were different from the finches on the mainland?

a)

There were different types of predators on the island.

b)

There were different types of food available on the island.

c)

The finches had no water to drink.

d)

The finches on the mainland could not fly high enough.

26.

What is the study of organisms at the early stages of development?

a)

DNA studies

b)

Comparative Embryology

c)

Extinction

d)

Fossil Record

27.

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

a)

Adaptation

b)

Evolution

c)

Extinction

d)

Environmental influences

28.

Beak shape, camouflage, and webbed feet are all examples of which type of adaptation?

a)

Behavioral Adaptation

b)

Physical Adaptation

29.

Select ALL that show evidence of evolution.

a)

DNA

b)

mutations

c)

fossils

d)

skeletal structures

30.
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
31.
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)
Hardey-Weinberg equilibrium within a population
32.
Extinction can occur because of which of the following?
a)
All can be causes of extinction.
b)
Increased competition with other species
c)
New predators within the environment
d)
Loss of habitat and/or catastrophes
33.
Magda is a tall, 11 year old drummer. She has a scar on her right cheek. She is good at swimming. Which of her traits did Magda most likely inherit?
a)
height
b)
the scar
c)
ability to swim
d)
ability to play drums
34.
According to the diagram, which organism is older?
a)
ammonite
b)
coral
c)
gastropod
d)
trilobite
35.
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
36.
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
37.
Why are advantageous traits more likely to be passed onto offspring?
a)
Because they 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.
38.
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
39.
What is the process of which humans breed organisms for certain traits?
a)
artificial selection
b)
descent without modification
c)
inheritance of acquired characteristics
d)
natural selection
40.
Vertebrate embryos pass through similar stages of development is evidence for
a)
use and disuse
b)
homologous structures
c)
common ancestry
d)
acquired characteristics
41.
All the individuals of a species that live in a particular area are called a 
a)
group
b)
population
c)
variation
d)
fossil
42.

This fossil turtle and this living hawk both have a structure in their neck called the atlas bone. What best explains why both species have an atlas bone?

a)

Those two different species inherited their atlas bone structure from separate ancestor populations.

b)

Those two different species inherited this structure from a common (the same) ancestor population.

c)

We cannot make observations, or explain the body structures, or discover their ancestors because the fossils are too old.

d)

All species have their own specific body structures, so it is a coincidence that they both happen to have the atlas bone structure.

43.

The process by which one population evolves into two or more different species. Choose the BEST answer.

a)

Natural selection

b)

Speciation

c)

Evolution

d)

Segregation

44.

Choose the BEST answer. A graph that uses bars to show how characteristics or values are distributed within a group is:

a)

A pie chart

b)

A line graph

c)

A histogram

d)

A scatterplot

45.

Living things, or biotic factors, such as plants, animals, and bacteria are all examples of

a)

abiotic factors

b)

rocks

c)

cycles

d)

organisms

46.

In the picture above, the bones that are the SAME color in the human arm bones and in the cat front leg bones indicate that they are

a)

unrelated structures.

b)

shared or homologous structures.

c)

the artist's favorite color.

d)

Nothing. The coloring is random.

47.

an organism's arm, leg, or wing

a)

evolution

b)

limb

c)

paleontologist

d)

shared structure

48.

The body structures for a population of chimpanzees were stable for a long time. Then, their body structures changed, making the chimpanzees stronger. Why did this happen?

a)

Organisms naturally become stronger over time.

b)

It is impossible to say without more information.

c)

The chimpanzee population wanted to be stronger.

d)

Their environment must have changed.

49.

What is camouflage?

a)

an event or process that leads to a result or change

b)

a way of hiding by looking the same as the background

c)

a trait that makes it more likely that an individual will survive in a specific environment

d)

a result or change that happens because of an event or process

50.

What are prey?

a)

a group of the same type of organism living in the same area

b)

an animal that is hunted or killed by another animal for food

c)

a way of hiding by looking the same as the background

d)

living things, such as plants, animals, and bacteria

51.

What is an adaptive trait?

a)

a trait that makes it less likely that an individual will survive in a specific environment

b)

an instruction for making a protein molecule

c)

a trait that makes it more likely that an individual will survive in a specific environment

d)

the number of individuals with each trait in a population

52.

What is variation?

a)

a specific characteristic of an individual organism

b)

a group of the same type of organism living in the same area

c)

to receive genes from a parent

d)

any difference in traits between individual organisms

53.

What is a trait?

a)

a specific characteristic of an individual organism

b)

living things, such as plants, animals, and bacteria

c)

an organism produced as a result of reproduction

d)

an instruction for making a protein molecule

54.

What is a protein molecule?

a)

an organism produced as a result of reproduction

b)

to receive genes from a parent

c)

an instruction for making a protein molecule

d)

a type of large molecule that performs important functions inside organisms

55.

What is the definition of distribution?

a)

the number of individuals with each trait in a population

b)

a group of individuals born and living at about the same time

c)

a graph that uses bars to show how characteristics or values are distributed within a group

d)

any difference in traits between individual organisms

56.

What is the definition of environment?

a)

the number of individuals with each trait in a population

b)

a group of the same type of organism living in the same area

c)

everything (living and nonliving) that surrounds an organism

d)

an animal that is hunted or killed by another animal for food

57.

What is a population?

a)

living things, such as plants, animals, and bacteria

b)

an organism produced as a result of reproduction

c)

any difference in traits between individual organisms

d)

a group of the same type of organism living in the same area

58.

What is a generation?

a)

everything (living and nonliving) that surrounds an organism

b)

living things, such as plants, animals, and bacteria

c)

a group of the same type of organism living in the same area

d)

a group of individuals born and living at about the same time

59.

What is an offspring?

a)

a rock band

b)

an animal that is hunted or killed by another animal for food

c)

an organism produced as a result of reproduction

d)

a group of individuals born and living at about the same time

60.

What is the definition of non-adaptive trait?

a)

a trait that makes it less likely that an individual will survive in a specific environment

b)

a trait that makes it more likely that an individual will survive in a specific environment

c)

a specific characteristic of an individual organism

d)

an instruction for making a protein molecule

61.

What does inherit mean?

a)

a specific characteristic of an individual organism

b)

an instruction for making a protein molecule

c)

living things, such as plants, animals, and bacteria

d)

to receive genes from a parent