Evolution Practice Quiz (Easy Version)
Try this quiz to check and see if you're comfortable with many of the ideas we've discussed throughout this unit on evolution and animals.
- 1.
This natural philosopher proposed that evolution resulted from the inheritance of acquired characteristics - for example, giraffe offspring acquired longer necks because their parents stretching to reach higher leaves.
- A.
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
- B.
Charles Lyell
- C.
Alfred Wallace
- D.
Thomas Malthus
- E.
None of the above
Correct Answer
A. Jean-Baptiste LamarckExplanation
Lamarck proposed a theory of evolution made possible by inheritance of acquired characteristics. This has long been assumed to be wholly incorrect, yet recent genetic evidence suggests that it may actually occur at the cellular level in some instances.Rate this question:
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- 2.
Differences between members of a population will most likely be passed on to future generations if they are:
- A.
Due to genetic changes and result in unfavorable variations
- B.
Due to genetic changes and result in favorable variations
- C.
Not due to genetic changes and result in unfavorable variations
- D.
Not due to genetic changes and result in favorable variation
- E.
None of the above
Correct Answer
B. Due to genetic changes and result in favorable variationsExplanation
Inherited characteristics that differ between parent and offspring are the result of genetic mutations or during meiosis. If these characteristics are favorable, these adaptations will help the organism survive within its population.Rate this question:
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- 3.
An example of a pair of analogous structures is:
- A.
The wing of an insect and the wing of a bat
- B.
The forelimb of a human and the forelimb of a cat
- C.
An appendix and wisdom teeth
- D.
The wing of a bird and the forearm of a human
- E.
None of the above
Correct Answer
A. The wing of an insect and the wing of a batExplanation
Analagous structures share similar physical function without sharing common ancestry. In this instance, both bat and insect wing share a common function - flight - yet their development and ancestry are highly unrelated.Rate this question:
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- 4.
In the early stages of development, embryos of dogs, pigs, and humans resemble one another. This observation suggests that these animals have:
- A.
Identical DNA
- B.
Similar habitat requirements
- C.
The same blood components
- D.
A common ancestry
- E.
Unique ancestral origins
Correct Answer
D. A common ancestryExplanation
Similar developmental patterns suggest common ancestry - ancient body plans from past ancestors continue to serve as required 'foundations' in the developing modern organisms.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Biological evolution is best described as:
- A.
A process of change in a population through time
- B.
A process by which organisms become extinct
- C.
The reproductive isolation of members of certain species
- D.
The replacement of one community by another
- E.
Survival of the fittest
Correct Answer
A. A process of change in a population through timeExplanation
Darwinian evolution occurs as a result of the production of variation providing a diversity of phenotypic difference among individuals in a population. Those individuals with favored adaptations pass on their genes to the next generation.Rate this question:
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- 6.
When penicillin was first introduced, it was very effective in destroying the bacteria that cause gonorrhea. Today, certain varieties of this bacterium are resistant to penicillin. Which statement best describes the appearance of these resistant varieties?
- A.
Penicillin stimulated the bacteria to become resistant, and this resistance was passed to the offspring
- B.
Penicillin used today is not as strong as the penicillin used when it was first introduced
- C.
Penicillin strengthened the immune systems of resistant bacteria
- D.
Penicillin killed the susceptible bacteria, while naturally resistant varieties survived and reproduced
- E.
All of the above
Correct Answer
D. Penicillin killed the susceptible bacteria, while naturally resistant varieties survived and reproducedExplanation
This is also known as directional selection - a single region of a distribution of phenotype is favored, and the normal distribution of phenotypic variation is shifted in a single direction (in this case, the population shifts to those organisms with the genetic predisposition to penicillin resistance).Rate this question:
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- 7.
In a certain area of undisturbed layers of rock, fossils of horseshoe crabs are found in the upper layer, and a lower layer contains fossils of trilobites. Trilobites are extinct aquatic anthropoids resembling modern horseshoe crabs. This information suggests:
- A.
Horseshoe crabs will soon become extinct
- B.
Horseshoe crabs and trilobites are completely unrelated
- C.
Horseshoe crabs may have evolved from trilobites
- D.
Trilobites may have evolved from horseshoe crabs
- E.
No inferences can be made from this information
Correct Answer
C. Horseshoe crabs may have evolved from trilobitesExplanation
Recall that evolutionarily older animals are placed (typically) in areas of the rock strata (layers) that are below the newer (more recent) fossils.Rate this question:
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- 8.
The relationship between a plant and its pollinator is an example of which of the following patterns of evolution:
- A.
Divergent evolution
- B.
Coevolution
- C.
Convergent evolution
- D.
Adaptive radiation
- E.
Disruptive selection
Correct Answer
B. CoevolutionExplanation
Coevolution is a continuous process - earlier plant and pollinators likely did not have as extreme a phenotype as the currently do, and future plant/pollinators may continue to evolve in such a predictable direction (however, other selective factors may work against such a proposition)Rate this question:
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- 9.
Saint Bernards and Chihuahuas (two breeds of domestic dogs) cannot mate normally due to great differences in size. Thus, they are reproductively isolated to some extent. Which type of isolating mechanism is operating here?
- A.
Ecological
- B.
Post zygotic
- C.
Temporal
- D.
Mechanic
- E.
Genetic Drift
Correct Answer
D. MechanicExplanation
In this example, the reproductive organs of the two dog varieties are simply too different in size to allow for copulation to take place. Nevertheless, invitro fertilization may still allow an impregnated female Bernard to give birth to such a mix.Rate this question:
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- 10.
Dolphins and sharks share very similar body forms, but in terms of common ancestry, are separated by more than 400 million years of evolution. The pattern of evolution demonstrated by the shark and dolphin is called:
- A.
Divergent evolution
- B.
Convergent evolution
- C.
Coevolution
- D.
Artificial selection
- E.
Adaptive radiation
Correct Answer
B. Convergent evolutionExplanation
Recall that converging means coming to the same point from two different routes - in this case, both the shark (a fish) and a dolphin (a mammal) arrive at the same overall body form to efficiently propel themselves through the water. They share a similar environment, which imposes specific physical conditions that a single body plan appears to be most suitable (and therefore, both animals share this plan because of common selective forces).Rate this question:
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Current Version
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Mar 22, 2023Quiz Edited by
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Apr 08, 2010Quiz Created by
Newtonsouthbiolo
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