Differences between members of a population will most likely be passed on to future generations if they are:

Due to genetic changes and result in favorable variations

Due to genetic changes and result in unfavorable variations

Due to genetic changes and result in favorable variations

Not due to genetic changes and result in unfavorable variations

Not due to genetic changes and result in favorable variation

An example of a pair of analogous structures is:

The wing of an insect and the wing of a bat

The forelimb of a human and the forelimb of a cat

The wing of a bird and the forearm of a human

Biological evolution is best described as:

A process of change in a population through time

A process by which organisms become extinct

The reproductive isolation of members of certain species

The replacement of one community by another

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?

Penicillin killed the susceptible bacteria, while naturally resistant varieties survived and reproduced

Penicillin stimulated the bacteria to become resistant, and this resistance was passed to the offspring

Penicillin used today is not as strong as the penicillin used when it was first introduced

Penicillin strengthened the immune systems of resistant bacteria

Penicillin killed the susceptible bacteria, while naturally resistant varieties survived and reproduced

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:

Horseshoe crabs may have evolved from trilobites

Horseshoe crabs will soon become extinct

Horseshoe crabs and trilobites are completely unrelated

Horseshoe crabs may have evolved from trilobites

Trilobites may have evolved from horseshoe crabs

No inferences can be made from this information

Evolution Practice Quiz (Easy Version)

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Quizzes Created: 2 | Total Attempts: 2,698

Questions: 10 | Attempts: 1,425 | Updated: Mar 22, 2023

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Evolution Practice Quiz (Easy Version) - Quiz

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.

Questions and Answers

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 Lamarck

Explanation
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.

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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 variations

Explanation
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.

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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 bat

Explanation
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.

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1
0
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 ancestry

Explanation
Similar developmental patterns suggest common ancestry - ancient body plans from past ancestors continue to serve as required 'foundations' in the developing modern organisms.

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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 time

Explanation
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.

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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 reproduced

Explanation
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).

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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 trilobites

Explanation
Recall that evolutionarily older animals are placed (typically) in areas of the rock strata (layers) that are below the newer (more recent) fossils.

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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. Coevolution

Explanation
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)

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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. Mechanic

Explanation
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.

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1
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 evolution

Explanation
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).

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Evolution Practice Quiz (Easy Version)

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.

Differences between members of a population will most likely be passed on to future generations if they are:

An example of a pair of analogous structures is:

In the early stages of development, embryos of dogs, pigs, and humans resemble one another. This observation suggests that these animals have:

Biological evolution is best described as:

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?

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:

The relationship between a plant and its pollinator is an example of which of the following patterns of evolution:

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?

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: