WorksheetsEvolution and Natural Selection
Total questions: 15
Worksheet time: 8mins
Which factor can increase the chances of a species evolving by natural selection?
high reproductive rate
no related species
stable environmental conditions
small gene pool
Increased surface area on a beetle antenna increases the number of molecules that can be collected from the air. The diagram shows four antenna types. If this ability is essential for survival in a particular environment, beetles with which antennae are most likely to reproduce?
W
X
Y
Z
In a species of butterfly on a South Pacific island, females carry a bacterium that kills males before they hatch. As a result, females make up 99% of the population. During one year, male butterflies increased to make up 39% of the population. A gene was found in these males that may have inhibited the reproduction of the bacterium. Which of these factors contributed to the change in this butterfly population?
alterations in the environment
genetic variation among individuals
equal survival of males and females
lethal mutations in individuals
A group of researchers found three different varieties of Timema cristinae, a plant-eating stick insect species in California. The table shows the features of the three different varieties.
to migrate and adapt to new regions
to avoid being eaten by predators
to ensure each variety recognizes the other varieties easily
to ensure each generation looks different from the previous
The saber-tooth trait appeared independently in the animals Thylacosmilus and Smilodon. [diagram_placeholder] Which statement best explains why this trait evolved in both types of organisms?
The two groups of organisms bred with each other.
Both groups expressed recessive ancestor genes for the trait.
Each group inhabited a niche in which selection pressures favored the trait.
Both groups underwent the same sequence and timing of genetic mutations.
The population sizes of different species of Darwin’s finches have varied since records of their numbers have been kept. The drawings show several different species of the finches and their beaks. Darwin’s finches live in the same habitat and are subject to the same environmental pressures. Yet, as one population size increases, another decreases, and then the reverse may occur. Which stimulus is most likely to cause these changes in population size?
a decrease in nesting materials
changes in the predator population
a loss of habitat due to human encroachment
changes in the size and hardness of available seed food
Genetic data suggest many frog species that live in Madagascar and India share a common ancestor that lived on the India-Madagascar landmass. Which statement best describes the divergence of frog species found in India and Madagascar?
Breeding preferences of the frogs prevented interbreeding between frogs, resulting in new species.
Geographic separation led to divergence in the gene pool, resulting in a new species in each location.
The frog species occupied different habitats within the same geographic areas, resulting in new species.
Different mating seasons led to the divergence of the gene pool, resulting in a new species at each location.
The table lists the presence or absence of characteristics in several organisms. Based on the data in the table, which phylogenetic tree is correct?
Tree A
Tree B
Analyze the amino acid data in the table. Species that share the most amino acids in the cytochrome-C protein are more closely related. Which two species in the table are the most closely related?
species 2 and 3
species 2 and 5
species 3 and 4
species 4 and 5
The phylogenetic tree shows the evolution of land plants. What can be concluded about the evolution of land plants?
Angiosperms are more closely related to seedless vascular plants than gymnosperms.
Gymnosperms and angiosperms are least evolved among land plants.
Seedless vascular plants evolved before gymnosperms and angiosperms.
Nonvascular plants and seedless vascular plants evolved at the same time.
What is an organism's niche?
What are the two key ingredients to natural selection?
Variation and reproduction
What is geographical isolation?
Which of the following choices is an example of genetic drift?
Define Fitness in Evolutionary Biology.
Ability of an organism to survive, adapt, and reproduce in its environment
