Chapter 14 and 15 quiz

Fossils found in strata reveal that ________. A) Older strata carry fossils that differ greatly from many modern organisms B) geologic changes occur quickly on Earth C) unused body parts decrease in size D) organisms have an innate drive to become increasingly more complex E) all species are altered according to the principles of directional selection

A) Older strata carry fossils that differ greatly from many modern organisms

A group of field mice crosses a highway and joins a new population of field mice on the other side, producing offspring with this population. This is an example of A) gene flow. B) genetic drift. C) Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. D) assortative mating. E) hybridization.

A) gene flow.

Prior to the work of Lyell and Darwin, the prevailing belief was that Earth is ________. A) thousands of years old, and populations are unchanging B) thousands of years old, and populations gradually change C) millions of years old, and populations rapidly change D) millions of years old, and populations are unchanging E) billions of years old, and populations are rapidly changing

A) thousands of years old, and populations are unchanging

In regard to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, if p = 0.6, what is q? A) 0.6 B) 0.4 C) 0.36 D) 0.15 E) 0

B) 0.4

Which of the following is a similarity between Lamarck's proposal for evolution and Darwin's proposal? A) Both scenarios begin with a population of giraffes that contains variation. B) Both scenarios expose the giraffes to an environmental pressure (or challenge). C) Both scenarios involve only an individual, not a population. D) Both scenarios involve differential reproductive success. E) Both scenarios involve giraffes of equal fitness.

B) Both scenarios expose the giraffes to an environmental pressure (or challenge).

Structures as different as human arms, bat wings, and dolphin flippers contain many of the same bones, which develop from similar embryonic tissues. These structural similarities are an example of ________. A) vestigiality B) homology C) convergent evolution D) the evolution of common structure as a result of common function E) the evolution of similar appearance as a result of common function

B) homology

What characteristic is common of both a genetic bottleneck and a founder effect? A) Both encounter a population crash. B) Both involve a portion of a population becoming isolated. C) Both involve a decrease in a population's genetic diversity. D) Both affect the entire population. E) Both are a type of natural selection.

C) Both involve a decrease in a population's genetic diversity.

Which one of the following statements best defines artificial selection? A) Process that occurs when individuals inherit traits that enable them to survive and reproduce B) Process where humans decide which plants and/or animals will not breed across the planet C) Process of human directed breeding aimed to produce selective traits in selected organisms D) Process that favors beneficial mutations E) The process by which automated machines determine a proper plan of action

C) Process of human directed breeding aimed to produce selective traits in selected organisms

If the average leg size of a reptile continually got smaller through generations, this would be an example of A) disruptive selection. B) stabilizing selection. C) directional selection. D) genetic drift. E) bottleneck effect.

C) directional selection.

Darwin and Wallace's theory of evolution by natural selection was revolutionary because it ________. A) Was the first theory to refute the ideas of uniformitarianism B) proved that individuals acclimated to their environment over time C) dismissed the idea that species are constant and emphasized the importance of variation and change in populations D) was the first time a biologist had proposed that species changed through time E) was the first time a biologist established the connection between DNA and inheritance

C) dismissed the idea that species are constant and emphasized the importance of variation and change in populations

British land snails primarily occur in two extreme phenotypes. This is an example of A) directional selection. B) stabilizing selection. C) disruptive selection. D) genetic drift. E) mutation.

C) disruptive selection.

All of the genes and all of their associated alleles within a population represent the population's A) genotype. B) gene flow. C) gene pool. D) genome. E Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

C) gene pool.

Which of the following is most likely an example of a founder effect event? A) A random small group of a bird population migrates to an island and then returns to breed. B) A random large group of a bird population migrates to an island and then returns to breed. C) A selected small group of a bird population migrates to an island and then returns to breed. D) A random small group of a bird population migrates to an island and does not return to breed. E) A random large group of a bird population migrates to an island and does not return to breed.

D) A random small group of a bird population migrates to an island and does not return to breed.

Which one of the following statements is true? A) Organisms always evolve the characteristics they need to survive. B) Some individuals within the population must die for natural selection to occur. C) Darwin used molecular biology as evidence of evolution. D) Natural selection can only work on variation that already exists. E) Convergent evolution produces homologous structures.

D) Natural selection can only work on variation that already exists.

Which is not an important characteristic of the Galapagos Islands in the context of Darwin's theory of evolution? A) The islands were too far from mainland South America for most terrestrial plants and animals to colonize. B) The organisms on the islands were different from those observed in South America. C) The organisms on the islands were similar to those observed in South America. D) The multiple islands all shared identical environments.

D) The multiple islands all shared identical environments.

Many crustaceans (for example, lobsters, shrimp, and crayfish) use their tails to swim, but crabs have reduced tails that curl under their shells and are not used in swimming. This is an example of ________. A) convergent evolution B) a homologous structure C) natural selection D) a vestigial trait E) artificial selection

D) a vestigial trait

Natural selection results in A) increased genetic variation. B) a decreased population size. C) an increase in population size. D) offspring that is better adapted to their current environment. E) offspring that is better adapted to a future environment.

D) offspring that is better adapted to their current environment.

Microevolution is the term that applies to which of the following? A) any evolution at any scale B) large-scale changes over a long period of [evolutionary] time C) small-scale changes over a long period of [evolutionary] time D) small-scale changes over a short period of [evolutionary] time E) changes of any scale within microorganisms

D) small-scale changes over a short period of [evolutionary] time

Which of the following does not generate genetic variation within a population A) genetic recombination B) independent assortment of alleles C) sexual reproduction D) mutation E) adaptation

E) adaptation

What are adaptations? A) geologic changes over time B) rocks containing fossils C) inherited characteristics of organisms that enhance their survival D) descent with modification from a common ancestor E) instances in which an organism metabolically adjusts to new environmental conditions

E) instances in which an organism metabolically adjusts to new environmental conditions