Natural Selection- Accelerated Science

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Quizzes Created: 1 | Total Attempts: 164
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  • 1/10 Questions

    If a rock layer is labeled A, B, and C with A being on the top and C being on the bottom; which fossil would be the youngest?

    • The one found in A
    • The one found in B
    • The one found in C
    • All would be the same age
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About This Quiz

Explore the principles of natural selection and evolution with questions on fossil ages, evolution requirements, and species diversity due to continental drift.

Natural Selection- Accelerated Science - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    What determines an organism's fitness?

    • How physically strong it is

    • How much it changes to fit its environment within its life

    • How well it can survive within its environment

    • Where it fits in on the food chain

    Correct Answer
    A. How well it can survive within its environment
    Explanation
    An organisms fitness is its ability to survive within its environment. Organisms with higher fitness survive, while those with lower fitness die out- hence, "survival of the fittest". An animals fitness is based on inherited traits- organisms don't try to be more perfect; rather, the fitter ones survive and pass those traits on to their descendants.

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  • 3. 

    Which of these is NOT one of the three requirements for evolution to occur?

    • More organisms are born than can survive

    • All organisms are exactly the same as other organisms of their species

    • There is variation of inherited traits amongst organisms

    • Some organisms have a higher level of fitness than others in their environment

    Correct Answer
    A. All organisms are exactly the same as other organisms of their species
    Explanation
    There needs to be variation for evolution to occur, because otherwise a species would never evolve to its surroundings and could potentially die out. If all members of the species were the same, environmental factors that eliminate the less fit members would eliminate everyone equally.

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  • 4. 

    What does geographic isolation of the same species result in?

    • Each group evolves according to its environment, resulting in two slightly different organisms, who often refuse to mate, and therefore are different species

    • Neither group changes at all

    • The two groups will refuse to be isolated and immediately attempt to return to the others

    • Each one will desire to become the best it can be, and because they understand best to be different, end up being completely different and not entirely perfect species.

    Correct Answer
    A. Each group evolves according to its environment, resulting in two slightly different organisms, who often refuse to mate, and therefore are different species
    Explanation
    Evolution is based on survival, not desire for perfection. However, in different environments, different factors determine fitness of an organism, and thus different organisms survive to reproduce in different environments.So two groups from the same species in different environments would evolve differently

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  • 5. 

    Which is NOT an example of natural selection?

    • Butterflies that have designs on their wings that look like large eyes to scare off predators.

    • Plants with flowers that have a sweet fragrance will attract a greater number of pollinators.

    • Plants with thorns are more likely to be eaten by herbivores than other members of the same species that lack thorns

    • Fruit fly larvae with an enzyme to break down alcohol are better able to feed on fermenting fruit than those that lack the enzyme

    Correct Answer
    A. Plants with thorns are more likely to be eaten by herbivores than other members of the same species that lack thorns
    Explanation
    Plants with thorns being more likely to be eaten by herbivores than other members of the same species that lack thorns is not an example of natural selection because natural selection favors traits that increase an organism's chances of survival and reproduction. In this case, the presence of thorns actually decreases the plant's chances of survival by making it more susceptible to being eaten. Natural selection would instead favor plants without thorns that are better able to avoid being consumed by herbivores.

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  • 6. 

    The main idea of evolution states that

    • The characteristics of organisms within a population change over time

    • The characteristics of organisms can change during thier lifetime

    • Only the best and strongest organisms survive

    • Organisms can survive in any environment on Earth

    Correct Answer
    A. The characteristics of organisms within a population change over time
    Explanation
    only A describes the defintion of evolution

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  • 7. 

    Which event listed below does not lead to fossil formation?

    • Floods

    • Forest fires

    • Earthquakes

    • Mudslides

    Correct Answer
    A. Forest fires
    Explanation
    For a fossil to be formed, sediment has to trap the animal. No sediment will be disturbed in a fire.

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  • 8. 

    A continent is divided into 2 smaller land masses that drift apart from one another.  Which of the following would most likely result?

    • Diversity of species on land decreases

    • Diversity of species on land increases

    • Diversity of species is water increases

    • Diversity is not impacted

    Correct Answer
    A. Diversity of species on land increases
    Explanation
    when land masses split, diversity increases

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  • 9. 

    In the Trinidad guppies (Poecilia reticulata), natural selection may act differently in different locations of the waterfalls. Upstream of such waterfalls, guppies typically face only mild predation pressure from one small species of fish. Downstream of the waterfalls, however, populations of guppies are often under severe predation pressure from voracious predators such as the pike cichlid. What life history strategy would be favored by natural selection in the downstream waterfalls?

    • Natural selection should now favor females that produce smaller offspring, since they wouldn't be eaten by predators

    • Natural selection doesn't act differently on guppy populations in the high-predation and low-predation sites

    • Natural selection favors females that can produce offspring that are relatively large and grow fast

    • Natural selection favors females that produce as many offspring as possible, rather than producing larger and fewer offspring.

    Correct Answer
    A. Natural selection favors females that produce as many offspring as possible, rather than producing larger and fewer offspring.
    Explanation
    In downstream waterfalls where guppies face severe predation pressure from voracious predators, natural selection would favor females that produce as many offspring as possible, rather than producing larger and fewer offspring. This is because the high predation risk would make it more advantageous for females to produce a larger number of offspring, increasing the chances of some surviving and passing on their genes. This strategy would help to compensate for the high mortality rate caused by the predators and ensure the continuation of the guppy population.

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  • 10. 

    The fossil record

    • Only represents a small fraction of life that has existed on Earth

    • Represents a complete record of all organisms that have lived on Earth

    • Is a hoax developed by scientists

    • Represents a moderate amount of the history of life on Earth

    Correct Answer
    A. Only represents a small fraction of life that has existed on Earth
    Explanation
    Only about 1% of all organisms that have lived on Earth, can be found in the fossil record.

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  • Nov 01, 2024
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  • May 06, 2015
    Quiz Created by
    Smondloch
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