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Tenants of Natural Selection

Total questions: 22

Worksheet time: 25mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

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.

2.
Do organisms "decide" to evolve and change?
a)
Yes, they know they need to change to survive 
b)
No, they change because of natural selection
3.

In natural selection, the selective agent is the

a)

humans

b)

mutations

c)

breeders

d)

environment

4.

The development by scientists of a new color in a rose is the result of

a)

natural selection

b)

artificial selection

c)

descent with modification

d)

overproduction

5.

All the rabbits living in a particular area would be an example of a(n)

a)

population

b)

species

c)

fossil

d)

individual organism

6.

A bird that can easily outcompete other birds for food and that can produce many eggs has a high

a)

life expectancy

b)

mutation rate

c)

fitness

d)

adaptability

7.

Which of the following describes natural selection?

a)

It acts on genetic material directly

b)

It acts on existing physical traits

c)

It forms new traits

d)

It forms new genetic material

8.

What is the definition of natural selection?

a)

The process in which genes are chosen by humans such as farmers and ranchers

b)

The process in which organisms are chosen by environmental pressures such as climate, available food, predators and habitat.

c)

If an organism changes during their life in order to adapt to its environment, those changes are passed on to its offspring.

d)

The process in which genes are chosen by scientist and academics.

9.

The Aztecs and Maya Tribes of Mexico where some of the first humans to slowly change wild corn to the corn we know today. What process did these tribes use?

a)

Natural Selection

b)

Artificial Selection

c)

Mitosis

d)

adaptive radiation

10.
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.
11.

The trees these moths used to live on were white, but have been covered in soot from coal factories causing the trees to become black. Which moth will be more successful in this new, darker environment?

a)

Dark moth

b)

Light moth

c)

Both will be equally successful

d)

Neither will be successful

12.
Artificial selection is...
a)
the process by which humans select who lives and dies based on traits of animal or plant.
b)
the process by which natures selects who lives and dies.
c)
the process by which animals adapt to their surroundings.
d)
the process by which people take over ecosystems.
13.
Most adaptations that help an organism survive are passed on from parent to child as ___traits?
a)
adaptable
b)
physical
c)
more
d)
inherited
14.
Which is an example of a trait that is an adaptation for cold climate but not for warm climate?
a)
thick fur and fat
b)
long claws
c)
camoflauge
d)
poisonous chemicals
15.
Predict which moth would increase in population
a)
light 
b)
dark
16.
An example of a physical adaptation is...
a)
a turtle hiding inside its shell
b)
The spikes on a porcupine fish
c)
a rabbit burrowing underground
d)
a viper biting when threatened
17.
To inherit means:
a)
To receive
b)
To change
c)
To create
d)
To give
18.

All of the meerkats that live in the same place at the same time make up a ____________.

a)

Community

b)

Ecosystem

c)

Population

d)

Biosphere

19.

A population of finches that have 3 different beaks live on an island. Each beak type is adapted to one of 3 specific food sources. Two of the three food sources are eliminated during a hurricane. What will happen to the finch population?

a)

The food source will adapt to the remaining finches

b)

All 3 finches adapt to the remaining food source

c)

All 3 finches will die

d)

The finch that is adapted to the remaining food source will survive

20.

There is a species of beetle that has two variations in the population: brown beetles and green beetles. About 82% of all brown beetles survive to adulthood while only 31% of green beetles survive to adulthood. Which of the following statements is true about the fitness of these beetles?

a)

The green beetles have higher fitness

b)

The brown beetles have higher fitness

c)

The green beetles have more adaptations

d)

The brown and green beetles have the same level of fitness

21.

SELECT ALL of the principles of natural selection below.

a)

Overproduction

b)

Selection

c)

Fitness

d)

Variation

22.

Differences in members of a population that can be passed from parents to offspring is called:

a)

Variation

b)

Heritable Variation

c)

Family Variation

d)

Ancestral Variation