Unit 8 Targets 2 And 3: Evolution Quiz

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  • 1/15 Questions

    What does evolution mean in biology?

    • Change in species over time
    • Change in individuals over time
    • Change in theories over time
    • Change in ecosystems over time
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About This Quiz

This quiz, titled 'Unit 8 Targets 2 and 3: Evolution', assesses understanding of evolutionary biology through questions on allele frequency changes, fossil records, and theories of evolution. It's designed to evaluate knowledge of species evolution and Darwin's theories, relevant for students studying biology.

Unit 8 Targets 2 And 3: Evolution Quiz - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    The Galápagos finches are adapted to their environment because they have

    • Not changed.

    • Migrated.

    • Evolved.

    • Hibernated.

    Correct Answer
    A. Evolved.
    Explanation
    The Galápagos finches are adapted to their environment because they have evolved. This means that over time, the finches have undergone changes in their traits and characteristics that make them better suited to survive and reproduce in their specific environment. Evolution is a gradual process that occurs through natural selection, where individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and pass on their genes to future generations. The Galápagos finches provide a classic example of evolution, as their beak shapes have diversified to allow them to exploit different food sources on the islands.

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  • 3. 

    Darwin's theory of evolution suggest that

    • Species change over time.

    • Extinct species are not related to living species.

    • Different species can interbreed.

    • Animals that look alike are the most closely related.

    Correct Answer
    A. Species change over time.
    Explanation
    Darwin's theory of evolution suggests that species change over time. This means that populations of organisms undergo genetic changes and adaptations that occur gradually over generations, leading to the formation of new species. This theory is supported by various evidence, such as fossil records, comparative anatomy, and genetic studies. It explains how different species have evolved and diversified from common ancestors, highlighting the dynamic nature of life on Earth.

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  • 4. 

    Evolution can be defined as the genetic change in

    • species.

    • Environmental variation.

    • Chromosomal drift.

    • Natural selection.

    Correct Answer
    A. species.
    Explanation
    Evolution is the process of genetic change in species over time. It involves the accumulation of small genetic variations within a population, leading to the development of new traits and the potential formation of new species. This genetic change is driven by various mechanisms, including natural selection, environmental variation, and chromosomal drift. However, the most encompassing and accurate definition of evolution is the genetic change in species, as it encompasses all the aforementioned mechanisms and their effects on the overall population.

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  • 5. 

    When a farmer breeds only his or her best livestock, the process involved is

    • Natural selection.

    • Artificial selection.

    • Artificial variation.

    • Survival of the fittest.

    Correct Answer
    A. Artificial selection.
    Explanation
    When a farmer breeds only his or her best livestock, it is referred to as artificial selection. This process involves selecting and breeding animals with desirable traits in order to improve the quality of the offspring. By intentionally choosing which animals to breed, farmers can control the genetic makeup of their livestock and enhance specific characteristics such as size, strength, or productivity. This differs from natural selection, which occurs in nature without human intervention, and survival of the fittest, which refers to the natural process by which individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce. Artificial variation is not a recognized term in the context of breeding livestock.

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  • 6. 

    Which of the following is a theory?

    • An educated guess

    • A very specific prediction

    • Observation made during the Voyage of the Beagle

    • A broad explanation that has been scientifically tested and supported

    Correct Answer
    A. A broad explanation that has been scientifically tested and supported
    Explanation
    A theory is a broad explanation that has been scientifically tested and supported. Unlike an educated guess or a very specific prediction, a theory is based on extensive evidence and research. The observation made during the Voyage of the Beagle may contribute to the development of a theory, but it is not a theory itself.

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  • 7. 

    Charles Darwin called the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environement

    • Diversity.

    • Fitness.

    • Adaptation.

    • Evolution.

    Correct Answer
    A. Fitness.
    Explanation
    Fitness refers to an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment. Charles Darwin used the term "fitness" to describe how well-suited an organism is to its environment in terms of its physical characteristics, behaviors, and adaptations. Organisms with higher fitness are more likely to pass on their traits to future generations, leading to evolutionary changes over time. This term encompasses the concept of adaptation, as organisms with advantageous traits are better able to adapt to their environment and therefore have higher fitness.

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  • 8. 

    Horse skeleton fossils indicate that the size of horses increased over time. Which statement best explains this fossil record? 

    • Smaller horses bred with larger horses, creating hybrids.

    • Smaller horses were infected by a fatal virus early in their history.

    • Larger horses consumed the food supply of the smaller horses.

    • Larger horses produced a slightly greater number of surviving offspring.

    Correct Answer
    A. Larger horses produced a slightly greater number of surviving offspring.
    Explanation
    The correct answer is that larger horses produced a slightly greater number of surviving offspring. This explanation suggests that natural selection favored larger horses because they were able to produce more offspring that survived to reproduce. Over time, this led to an increase in the average size of horses as the genes for larger size became more common in the population.

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  • 9. 

    A species is defined as organisms that have the ability to  __________.

    • Reproduce

    • Look the same

    • Produce sterile offspring

    • Produce fertile offspring

    Correct Answer
    A. Produce fertile offspring
    Explanation
    A species is defined as organisms that have the ability to produce fertile offspring. This means that members of the same species are able to reproduce and produce offspring that are capable of reproducing themselves. The ability to produce fertile offspring is a key characteristic of a species and distinguishes it from other organisms.

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  • 10. 

    Darwin thought that the plants and animals of the Galápagos Islands were similar to those of the nearby coast of South America because 

    • Their ancestors had migrated from South America to the Galápagos Islands.

    • Other scientists in South America had written about similar species.

    • The island organisms had the same nucleotide sequences in their DNA as the mainland organisms.

    • He found fossils, proving that the animals and plants had common ancestors.

    Correct Answer
    A. Their ancestors had migrated from South America to the Galápagos Islands.
    Explanation
    Darwin believed that the plants and animals of the Galápagos Islands were similar to those of the nearby coast of South America because their ancestors had migrated from South America to the Galápagos Islands. This suggests that there was a connection between the species found on the islands and those on the mainland, indicating that they shared a common ancestry. This idea aligns with Darwin's theory of evolution, which suggests that species change over time through a process of natural selection and adaptation. By proposing migration as the reason for the similarities, Darwin was able to provide an explanation for the distribution of species across different geographic regions.

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  • 11. 

    Natural selection is the process by which 

    • Change occurs in the genetic characteristics of individuals that live together in an environment from one generation to another

    • Organisms with traits well-suited to their environment reproduce at a greater rate than less well-adapted organisms in the same environment.

    • Use and disuse of a characteristic leads to evolutionary change.

    • Baseball players pass on the trait for strong arm muscles to children.

    Correct Answer
    A. Organisms with traits well-suited to their environment reproduce at a greater rate than less well-adapted organisms in the same environment.
    Explanation
    Natural selection is the process through which organisms with traits that are well-suited to their environment have a higher likelihood of reproducing compared to those with less well-adapted traits. This leads to a gradual change in the genetic characteristics of the population over generations, as the traits that are advantageous for survival and reproduction become more prevalent. The statement about baseball players passing on the trait for strong arm muscles to children is not related to natural selection, as it refers to the inheritance of a specific characteristic rather than the overall process of adaptation and evolution.

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  • 12. 

    Which phrase best defines evolution by natural selection?

    • As adaptation of a species to its environment

    • A sudden replacement of one population by another

    • Changes in a species as it becomes more perfect

    • A process of change in species over time

    Correct Answer
    A. A process of change in species over time
    Explanation
    The phrase "a process of change in species over time" best defines evolution by natural selection. This explanation encompasses the gradual changes that occur in a species over generations, leading to the development of new traits and the adaptation to the environment. It acknowledges that evolution is a continuous process that takes place over an extended period, rather than a sudden replacement or a quest for perfection.

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  • 13. 

    A biologist hypothesizes that biological evolution is occuring in a certain population of freshwater fish she is studying. To support this hypothesis, the biologist would need to document a change in which of the following?

    • Size of individual fish over their lifetime

    • Size of the population of fish over the course of her study.

    • Frequency of alleles in the population over the course of her study

    • Frequency of predation on members of the population over the course of her study

    Correct Answer
    A. Frequency of alleles in the population over the course of her study
    Explanation
    To support the hypothesis that biological evolution is occurring in the population of freshwater fish, the biologist would need to document a change in the frequency of alleles in the population over the course of her study. This is because changes in allele frequencies indicate genetic variations within a population, which is one of the driving forces of evolution. By studying the frequency of alleles, the biologist can determine if there are any shifts or changes in the genetic makeup of the population, providing evidence for the occurrence of biological evolution.

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  • 14. 
    Dr. Romero is raising 3 types of damselfishes in separate aquariums: 2 from the Atlantic Ocean and 1 from the Pacific Ocean. This table summarizes the information she gathered through observations and breeding experiments.Based on the most commonly accepted definition of a species, how many different species of damselfishes is Dr. Romero raising, and which fish are they?  - ProProfs

    Dr. Romero is raising 3 types of damselfishes in separate aquariums: 2 from the Atlantic Ocean and 1 from the Pacific Ocean. This table summarizes the information she gathered through observations and breeding experiments.Based on the most commonly accepted definition of a species, how many different species of damselfishes is Dr. Romero raising, and which fish are they? 

    • 1 species: Fish A, B, and C are all members of the same species.

    • 2 species: Fish A and B are the same species; Fish C is a separate species.

    • 2 species: Fish A and C are the same species; Fish B is a separate species.

    • 3 species: Fish A, B, and C are all members of separate species.

    Correct Answer
    A. 2 species: Fish A and C are the same species; Fish B is a separate species.
    Explanation
    Based on the most commonly accepted definition of a species, Dr. Romero is raising 2 different species of damselfishes. Fish A and C are considered the same species, while Fish B is a separate species. This conclusion is drawn from the information provided in the table, which suggests that Fish A and C share similar characteristics and are capable of breeding with each other, while Fish B is distinct and does not interbreed with the other two.

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  • 15. 

    According to the biological species concept, when comparing 2 populations (Population 1 and Population 2), which of the following most likely indicates that Population 1 and Population 2 are the same species? 

    • Individuals from Population 1 are the same color as individuals from Population 2.

    • Individuals from Population 1 consume the same species of prey as individuals from Population 2.

    • Population 1 actually interbreeds with or has the potential to interbreed with Population 2.

    • Population 1 inhabits the same general area as Population 2

    Correct Answer
    A. Population 1 inhabits the same general area as Population 2
    Explanation
    The correct answer indicates that Population 1 and Population 2 are the same species because they inhabit the same general area. This suggests that they have the opportunity to interact and potentially interbreed with each other. According to the biological species concept, individuals from different populations can be considered the same species if they have the ability to interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Therefore, the fact that Population 1 and Population 2 share the same general area supports the idea that they are the same species.

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  • Mar 17, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Nov 13, 2014
    Quiz Created by
    Jdowdyrobinson
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