Biology - Evolution, Natural Selection, History of Life
Which statement is true regarding evolution? A) It describes changes over many generations. B) It is the same as natural selection. C) It only involves artificial selection. D) It occurs within a single generation.
A) It describes changes over many generations.
What modern cells do scientists believe to be close relatives of the Earth's first cells? A) archea B) amino acids C) eukaryotes D) proteins
A) archea
A morphological adaptation in which one species resembles another is called ____. A) mimicry B) camouflage C) vestigial adaptation D) fitness
A) mimicry
What theory accounts for why populations can be modified over time? A) natural selection B) artificial selection C) ancestral modification D) fossil theory
A) natural selection
A ____ is a scientist who studies fossils. A) paleontologist B) ecologist C) botanist D) zoologist
A) paleontologist
T/F Darwin named the process by which evolution proceeds artificial selection
F (natural selection, not artificial)
According to Darwin' s theory of natural selection, individuals who survive are the ones best adapted for their enviroment.Their survival is due to the? A. Possession of inherited adaptations that maximize fitness B. Competing with other species C. Adaptation to their habitat D. Darwin 's theory of natural selection
A. Possession of inherited adaptations that maximize fitness
What is the longest part of Earth's history. Trace fossils appeared. A. Precambrian Time B. Paleozoic Era C. Mesozoic Era D. Cenozoic Era
A. Precambrian Time
Based on the law of superposition, in an undisturbed rock bed, where should the youngest rock layers be found? A. The top B. The bottom C. In the middle D. Half way between the top and the middle
A. The top
Dinosaurs and birds are said to have evolved during The Mesozoic Era. A. True B. False
A. True
What enables primates to have a high level of manual dexterity? A. an opposable first digit B. binocular color vision C.developed hind limbs D. highly moveable arms
A. an opposable first digit (thumb)
Were the first cells on Earth prokaryotes or eukaryotes? A. prokaryotes B. eukaryotes
A. prokaryotes
The first homo sapiens were: a. Cro - Magnon people b. homo erectus c. Australopithecus d. Neanderthals
Cro - Magnon people
Which statement is not true of fossils? A) Some bacteria can form fossils. B) Most extinct organisms have been preserved. C) A small percent of extinct organisms are preserved. D) Plants can form fossils.
B) Most extinct organisms have been preserved.
The ____ era began with Cambrian explosion and ended with a mass extinction. A) Cambrian B) Paleozoic C) Mesozoic D) Cenozoic
B) Paleozoic
Darwin referred to the process of promoting certain traits by breeding members with those traits as ____. A) natural selection B) artificial selection C) evolution D) ancestral breeding
B) artificial selection
What theory suggests the important relationship between ancestral eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells? A) spontaneous generation B) early cellular theory C) prokaryotic theory D) endosymbiont theory
B) early cellular theory
Which of these is an example of analogous structures? A) hawk wings and fish fins B) hawk and insect wings C) horse legs and insect wings D) horse legs and elephant trunks
B) hawk and insect wings
What has occurred when fertilization produces a hybrid offspring that cannot develop or reproduce? A) prezygotic isolation B) postzygotic isolation C) non-reproductive isolation. D) speciation
B) postzygotic isolation
Which was the first genus of hominins that were truly bipedal? A. Altiatlasius B. Australopithecus C. Homo D. Proconsul
B. Australopithecus
The finches of the Galapagos islands come in different size and have different beak shapes. What is the most likely reason for the specialization of these finches? A. Had very large beaks B. Beaks formed to eat different foods C. Ancestors had different shapes of beaks D. Had small beaks
B. Beaks formed to eat different foods
What genus of hominins is believed to have evolved from the australopithecines when the African environment cooled about 2.5 mya? A.Andrepithecus B. Homo C. Kenyanthropus D. Parathropus
B. Homo
According to the fossil record, the first multicellular organisms included A. Prokaryotes B. Jellyfish C. Bacteria D. Insects
B. Jellyfish
Periods during Earth's history when huge numbers of species suddenly disappeared are called A. Variations B. Mass extinctions C. Period conclusions D. Isolations
B. Mass extinctions
Scientists determine the absolute age of a fossil by A. Studying where it is found B. Measuring its radioactivity C. Measuring its size and shape D. Identifying the kind of rock in which it is found
B. Measuring its radioactivity
In this era, you would have found dinosaurs, small mammals, flowering plants, and birds: A. Quaternary B. Mesozoic C. Cenozoic D. Paleozoic
B. Mesozoic
The movie "Jurassic Park" got its title from which era? A. Paleozoic Era B. Mesozoic Era C. Cenozoic Era
B. Mesozoic Era
During the Industrial Revolution in Britain, many new factories were built which released dark clouds of smoke into the air. Dark grey moths survived attacks by birds more often than their light grey neighbors. Over time, light grey moths disappeared from the area. This change in population is an example of: A. Selective breeding B. Natural selection C. Genetic engineering D. Cloning
B. Natural selection
Which evolved first on the early Earth DNA or RNA? A. DNA B. RNA
B. RNA
Which type of fossil dating is more accurate? A. Relative Dating B. Radiometric Dating C. Cylander Dating
B. Radiometric Dating
Which dating method determines the age of rocks by comparing them to rocks in other layers? A. Absolute dating B. Relative dating C. Geological dating D. Sedimentary dating
B. Relative dating
The first land-dwelling organisms were A. Insects B. Simple plants and fungi C. Amphibians and reptiles D. Trees
B. Simple plants and fungi
According to Darwin's theory of natural selection, the individuals that tend to survive are those that have? A. More offspring B. Variations best suited for that environment C. Smaller beaks D. Long necks
B. Variations best suited for that enviroment
Which is not classified as a Great Ape? A. gorilla B. gibbon C. chimpanzee D.orangutan
B. gibbon
The wing of a bat, the flipper of a whale, and the forelimb of a horse appear very different,t yet detailed studies reveal the presences of the same basic bone pattern. These structures are examples of A. analogous structures B. homologous structures C. vestigial structures D. balanced polymorphism E.convergent evolution
B. homologous structures
Scientists classify primates into subgroups based on what characteristics? A. tails, bone structure, and brain size B. noses, eyes, and teeth C. range, size, and active period D. teeth, nails, and range
B. noses, eyes, and teeth
Starting in 1954, commercial fishers in the northwest Pacific were paid by weight, rather than by the individual fish, for pink salmon. The fishers increased the use of a type of net that selectively catches larger fish. Which of the following effects did this change in fishing technique most likely have on the salmon population over the next 20 years? a. The average body size of the salmon population decreased significantly. b. The average body size of the salmon population increased significantly. c. The average body size of the males in the salmon population increased, and the females stayed the same. d. None of the above.
a. The average body size of the salmon population decreased significantly.
Which of the following phrase best describes how Thomas Malthus influenced Charles Darwin's idea of natural selection? a. The number of resources available can limit the survival of a species. b. The survival of a species depends on the traits they acquire in their lifetime. c. The survival of a species is determined by how many offspring they leave behind. d. The Earth is constantly changing; seashell fossils were found at the top of the Andes Mountains.
a. The number of resources available can limit the survival of a species.
Which best describes the general rate of evolution? a. We do not know how long it takes for new species to form b. It takes no more than 4,000 years for a new species to form c. It takes at least 6.5 million years for a new species to form d.It takes no more than 40 million years for a new species to form
a. We do not know how long it takes for new species to form
Any variation that can help an organism survive in its environment is called a(n): a. adaptation b. characteristic c. competition d. vestigial structure
a. adaptation
At the heart of the theory of evolution by natural selection lies the concept of __________. a. adaptation b. biogeography c. gradualism d. speciation
a. adaptation
This occurs when a species evolves into an array of species to fit a number of diverse habitats: a. adaptive radiation b. convergent radiation c. comingled radiation
a. adaptive radiation
Which features are similar in use and evolve in similar environments, but do not evolve from a common ancestor? a. analogous structures b. embryological structures c. homologous structures d. vestigial structures
a. analogous structures
A population in which the frequency of alleles remains the same over generations is: a. at genetic equilibrium b. will go extinct c. is inbred
a. at genetic equilibrium
Which is a distinguishing characteristic of hominins? a. bipedalism b. ability to use tools c. unspecialized teeth d. complex communication
a. bipedalism
This type of natural selection favors one of the extreme variations of a trait and can lead to rapid evolution of a population. a. directional selection b. stabilizing selection c. disruptive selection
a. directional selection
A small population of deer is introduced to an island. All the males have 11-13 points on their antlers. After several generations, 40% of the males have antlers with 9-11 points. 40% have angers with 15-17 points and 20% have antlers with 12-14 points. This is a result of a. disruptional selection b. stabilizing selection c. directional selection
a. disruptional selection
The occurrence of large or small beak sizes among seed crackers in the absence of medium-sized beaks is an example of a. disruptive selection b. stabilizing selection c. directional selection
a. disruptive selection
A group of mice becomes separated by the formation of a river. Over time, the northern mice became smaller and whiter, while the southern mice became larger and browner. This is an example of: a. divergence b. homology c. gigantification d. industrial melanism
a. divergence
The development of the evolutionary theory has led to the understanding that the raw material for evolution is _________. a. genes b. traits c. adaptation d. competition
a. genes
Mammal appendages with similar bone structures can be used for flying, swimming, running and grasping. These are examples of _____________ structures a. homologous b. analogous c. vestigial
a. homologous
Which of the following events ended the Paleozoic era? a. mass extinction b. earthquake c. meteorite d. land plants
a. mass extinction
Darwin's theory of evolution is based on the idea(s) of a. natural variation and natural selection. b. use and disuse. c. a tendency toward perfect, unchanging species. d. the transmission of acquired characteristics
a. natural variation and natural selection.
An adaptation is an inherited characteristic that can be a. physical or behavioral. b. physical or geographical. c. acquired during the organism's lifetime. d. the result of artificial selection.
a. physical or behavioral.
Which geological change during the Mesozoic era had the greatest effect in shaping the course of evolution? a. plate tectonics b. extensive glaciation c. increased volcanic activity d. meteorite impact
a. plate tectonics
Which group of primates is considered to be the most primitive? a. prosimians b. New World monkeys c. Old World monkeys d. anthropoids
a. prosimians
Darwin's theory of evolution suggests that a. species change over time. b. extinct species are not related to living species. c. different species can interbreed. d. animals that look alike are the most closely related.
a. species change over time.
The Laetoli footprints are famous because they show evidence of : a. upright walking b. humans and dinosaurs together c. divergent evolution
a. upright walking
Through careful observation, Charles Darwin came to understand that: a) populations of plants and animals in nature most often consist of individuals that are clones of each other b) those individuals whose variation gives them an advantage in staying alive long enough to reproduce are more likely to pass their traits on to the next generation c) populations of a species that become isolated from others by adapting to different environmental niches quickly become extinct d) all of the above
b) those individuals whose variation gives them an advantage in staying alive long enough to reproduce are more likely to pass their traits on to the next generation
What did Darwin infer from his observations of arficial selection? a. Animal breeders could create new species. b. A similar process could work in nature. c. Reproductive success could be increased. d. Variation in a species could be produced.
b. A similar process could work in nature.
What do most scientists think caused the mass extinction of dinosaurs and other organisms at the end of the Cretaceous Period? a. Volcanic eruptions covered large areas with lava. b. An object from space struck Earth. c. An ice age covered most of Earth with ice. d. The dinosaurs ate too many other organisms and then starved.
b. An object from space struck Earth.
From what type of data was this possible divergence of hominoids constructed? a. the fossil record b. DNA comparisons c. anthropoid analysis d. morphological features
b. DNA comparisons
Humans, including Neanderthals, Cro-Magnon, and you are members of the species __________. a. Homo rubustus b. Homo sapiens c. Homo erectus d. Homo habilis
b. Homo sapiens
Individuals that are better able to cope with the challenges of their environment tend to a. Decrease in population over time. b. Leave more offspring than those less suited to the environment. c. Leave fewer offspring than those less suited to the environment. d. Both (a) and (c)
b. Leave more offspring than those less suited to the environment.
What is useful in dating very old rocks (over 50,000 years) A. Carbon 14 b. Potassium 40 c. Carbon 40 d. Potassium 14
b. Potassium 40
The hypothesis that evolution of a species occurs in periods of rapid change separated by periods of little or no change is called a. Divergence. b. Punctuated equilibrium c. Gradualism. d. Isolation.
b. Punctuated equilibrium
Which description is evidence that a speciation has taken place? a. A physical barrier has caused two groups from a population to adapt to different environments. b. Some members can no longer produce fertile offspring with members of the original population. c. A small group has developed mating behaviors that are different than those of the rest of the population. d. Some members from a population have developed population to adapt to different environments.
b. Some members can no longer produce fertile offspring with members of the original population.
The formation of new species is a process known as ____________________, which is typically the product of divergence. a. Gradualism. c. Reproductive Isolation b. Speciation d. Subspecies
b. Speciation
Which explains why the tortoises on the different islands of the Galápagos had slightly different variations in their shells? a. The different tortoises were different species. b. The environment on each island was different. c. Each type of tortoise could survive only on its own island. d. They arrived on the islands from different continents.
b. The environment on each island was different.
Why are cheetahs so genetically similar that they appear inbred? a.Individuals in the population had mated randomly. b. Their population had declined to a very low number. c. A large sample of the population settled in a separate location. d. A mutation appeared and became common in subsequent generations.
b. Their population had declined to a very low number.
Structures with no function that are remnants of an organism's evolutionary past are a. Not visible organisms. c. Young in origin. b. Vestigial. d. Useful to the organism.
b. Vestigial.
The number and location of bones of many fossil vertebrates are similar to those in living vertebrates. Most biologists would probably explain this fact on the basis of: a. the needs of the organisms. b. a common ancestor. c. the struggle for existence. d. the inheritance of acquired traits
b. a common ancestor.
An adaptation of the New World monkeys that helps them keep their balance is __________. a. an extra finger b. a prehensile tail c. an opposable thumb d. stereovision
b. a prehensile tail (a prehensile tail allows an animal to grasp or hold things with their tail like trees)
Darwin viewed the fossil record as a. evidence that Earth was thousands of years old. b. a record of evolution. c. interesting but unrelated to the evolution of modern species. d. evidence that traits are acquired through use or disuse.
b. a record of evolution.
Fossil formed when an insect becomes trapped in sticky sap is called: a. mummification b. amber c. freezing
b. amber
Which was Charles Darwin's only qualification for his position as naturalist on the Beagle? a. a degree in theology b. an interest in science c. a knowledge of biology d. an understanding of geology
b. an interest in science
The dog breeds we have today were developed through: a. natural selection b. artificial selection (selective breeding) c. sexual selection d. acquired selection
b. artificial selection (selective breeding)
Lucy settled a debate between scientists by showing that __________ developed before __________. a. stereovision ; large brains b. bipedalism ; large brains c. bipedalism ; opposable thumbs d. large brains ; bipedalism
b. bipedalism ; large brains
In evolutionary term, an organism's relative fitness is measured by its: a. size and muscularity b. contribution to the gene pool of the next generation c. life span
b. contribution to the gene pool of the next generation
What were species in the genus Homo the first to do? a. carry objects b. control fire c. live in savannas d. walk upright
b. control fire
When distantly related organisms evolve similar traits it is called: a. adaptive radiation b. convergent radiation c. comingled radiation
b. convergent radiation
In a population of woolybeasts, individuals with long snouts tend to survive better on an island that has burrowing termites. Over time, the woolybeast population consists of individuals with extremely long snouts. This is an example of: a. stabilizing selection b. directional selection c. disruptional selection d. allopatric speciation
b. directional selection
Mummification is a way fossils are formed and usually occurs in: a. wet areas where bacteria can form b. dry areas where bacteria has a hard time forming c. frozen areas
b. dry areas where bacteria has a hard time forming
Darwin and Lamarck agreed that changes in species are linked to a. genetics b. environmental conditions c. use or disuse of physical features d. acquired characteristics
b. environmental conditions
Darwin called the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment a. diversity. b. fitness. c. adaptation. d. evolution.
b. fitness.
The evidence of organisms that have lived in the past are called __________. a. metamorphic rocks b. fossils c. vestigial organs d. paleontology
b. fossils
The strongest evidence for change over a long period of time comes from: a. DNA b. fossils c. embryo studies d. direct observation of living species
b. fossils
In Amish populations, the incidence of a certain type of dwarfism is much higher than those of other populations. What principle explains this? a. homologous feature b. genetic drift c. disruptive selection d. stabilizing selection
b. genetic drift
This occurs whenever a physical barrier divides a population, which results in individuals no longer beings able to mate a. reproductive isolation b. geographic isolation c. biogenisis
b. geographic isolation
The "out of Africa" hypothesis suggests that: a. humans evolved out of separate locations in Africa b. humans started at one location, somewhere in Africa c. humans moved to Africa when the climate changed d. humans never existed in Africa until modern times
b. humans started at one location, somewhere in Africa
Darwin's concept of evolution was NOT influenced by a. the work of Lyell. b. knowledge of the structure of DNA. c. his collection of specimens. d. his trip on the H.M.S. Beagle.
b. knowledge of the structure of DNA.
During the Cenozoic era, which group of organisms underwent the most dramatic radiation? a. true birds b. mammals c. ray-finned fish d. flowering plants
b. mammals
Determine which morphological adaptation the monarch butterfly exhibits. a. camouflage b. mimicry c. embryological adaptation d.vestigial structure
b. mimicry
Individuals that have physical or behavioral traits that better suit the environment, which allows for survival and more successful reproduction is a major component in the theory of a. punctuated equilibrium b. natural selection c. the law of use and disuse d. none of the above
b. natural selection
Which of these conditions can act on phenotypes to provide adaptive advantages to a population? a. mutations b. natural selection c. nonrandom mating d. small population size
b. natural selection
Darwin began to formulate his concept of evolution by natural selection after a. experimentation with animals. b. observations of many species and their geographical locations. c. reading the writings of Wallace. d. agreeing with Lamarck about the driving force behind evolution.
b. observations of many species and their geographical locations
In a certain population, disruptive selection is occurring. In this population, which is most likely to survive? a. organisms with average traits b. organisms with extreme traits c. organisms that sexually select d. organisms that are small
b. organisms with extreme traits
Inheritable mutations, which may allow a population to evolve are produced are: a. by natural selection b. random, or by chance c. none of the above, mutations cannot allow a population to evolve
b. random, or by chance
A small population of deer is introduced to an island. All the males have 11-13 points on their antlers. After several generations, all males have 12 point antlers. This is due to a. disruptional selection b. stabilizing selection c. directional selection
b. stabilizing selection
This type of natural selection favors average individuals and reduces variation in a population: a. directional selection b. stabilizing selection c. disruptive selection
b. stabilizing selection
Which of the following forces is least likely to cause a new species to arise in a population? a. disruptive selection b. stabilizing selection c. directional selection
b. stabilizing selection
Lamarck's theory of evolution includes the concept that new organs in a species appear as a result of a. continual increases in population size. b. the actions of organisms as they use or fail to use body structures. c. an unchanging local environment. d. the natural variations already present within the population of organisms.
b. the actions of organisms as they use or fail to use body structures.
What is a fossil? a. any dead organism b. the preserved remains or traces of an organism c. perfect copy of a rock d. an unusual type of rock
b. the preserved remains or traces of an organism
A structure that seems to serve no purpose in an organism is called: a. homologous b. vestigial c. dichotomous d. fossilized
b. vestigial
In humans, the pelvis and the femur, or thighbone, are involved in walking. In whales, the pelvis and femur are: a. examples of fossils. b. vestigial structures. c. acquired traits. d. examples of natural variation.
b. vestigial structures.
Charles Darwin was best known in the 19th century for: a) creating the idea of evolution b) creating the idea of uniformitarianism c) making the idea of evolution acceptable for scientists and the educated general public d) all of the above
c) making the idea of evolution acceptable for scientists and the educated general public
About how old is the earth: a. 20 million years old b. 5 billions years old c. 4.6 billion years old
c. 4.6 billion years old
Why does the ratio of gray to red owls remain the same after the population has doubled? a. They each have different predators. b. They compete with one another for resources. c. Both are equally adapted to survive in their environment. d.New individuals have emigrated into the population
c. Both are equally adapted to survive in their environment.
A group of humans who were virtually identical to modern people were the __________. a. cavemen b. australopithecine c. Cro-Magnon d. Neanderthals
c. Cro-Magnon
Which is an example of the theory of spontaneous generation? a.Tadpoles become frogs. b.A starfish can grow from a severed arm. c. Damp hay and corn create mice d.From a tiny acorn, an oak can grow.
c. Damp hay and corn create mice
Members of different subspecies a. Are considered to be entirely different species. b. Can no longer interbreed successfully. c. Differ genetically because of adaptations for different living conditions. d. Will never diverge to become different species
c. Differ genetically because of adaptations for different living conditions.
The hypothesis that evolution of a species occurs gradually over time as a slow and constant process is known as a. Speciation c. Gradualism. b. Punctuated Equilibrium d. Microevolution.
c. Gradualism.
Humanlike bipedal primates are __________. a. Old World monkeys b. Prosimians c. Hominids d. New World monkeys
c. Hominids
A more humanlike hominid species, with a larger brain, that appeared about 1.6 million years ago is known as __________. a. Homo robustus b. Homo habilis c. Homo erectus d. Homo sapiens
c. Homo erectus
10. Structures that share a common ancestry or are similar because they are modified versions of structures from a common ancestor that contain the same basic bone structure are a. Not related. c. Homologous. b. Not homologous. d. Young in origin.
c. Homologous.
Which of the following statements gives the most likely explanation for the presence of two very similar species of squirrels living on opposite sides of the Grand Canyon? a. One squirrel traveled across the canyon and started a new population on the other side. b. One squirrel traveled across the canyon and interbred with a different population on the other side. c. Members of one single squirrel species were geographically separated by the formation of the canyon. d. Members of two different squirrel species migrated from two different places to opposite sides of the canyon.
c. Members of one single squirrel species were geographically separated by the formation of the canyon.
The earliest ancestors of mammals first appeared during the a. Paleozoic era. b. Precambrian Time. c. Mesozoic era. d. Cambrian explosion.
c. Mesozoic era.
European rabbits were introduced to Australia in 1859. The rabbits reproduced rapidly in their new habitat, displaced other animals, and overgrazed vegetation. In an attempt to reduce the rabbit population, a virus was introduced in 1951. This virus is usually deadly to European rabbits. When the virus was first introduced, the rabbits died in large numbers, but the death rate decreased over time. Which of the following best explains the decrease in the rabbit death rate? a. Young rabbits learned to avoid being infected with the virus. b. The lifespan of the virus was too short to affect rabbits over a long period of time. c. Natural selection favored rabbits that were resistant to the virus. d. None of the above.
c. Natural selection favored rabbits that were resistant to the virus.
This person created an experiment showing that maggots developed in the open jars containing raw mean but did not develop in the sealed jars containing raw meat. His experiment challenged the theory of spontaneous generation: a. Darwin b. Aristotle c. Redi d. Pasteur
c. Redi
An inherited trait that has become common in a population is an example of a. natural selection b. gradualism c. adaptation d. population
c. adaptation
What was Darwin's term for selective breeding? a. evolution b. speciation c. artificial selection d. natural selection
c. artificial selection
Early hominids that lived in Africa and had a combination of apelike and humanlike qualities were _________. a. Neanderthals b. Cro-Magnon c. australopithecine d. members of the genus Homo
c. australopithecine
Evidence of vertebrate life first appears in the fossil record at the __________ of the __________ era. a. beginning ; Precambrian b. end ; Mesozoic c. beginning ; Paleozoic d. beginning ; Cenozoic
c. beginning ; Paleozoic
Compared to a chimpanzee pelvis, a human pelvis is: a. longer b. heavier c. bowlshaped d. smaller
c. bowlshaped
A small population of deer is introduced to an island. All the males have 11-13 points on their antlers. After several generations. . . . . Most males have antlers with 20 points. This is the result of: a. disruptional selection b. stabilizing selection c. directional selection
c. directional selection
This type of natural selection favors both extreme variations of a trait, resulting in no intermediate forms of the trait and leading to the evolution of 2 new species. a. directional selection b. stabilizing selection c. disruptive selection
c. disruptive selection
Larmarke is to "Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics" as Darwin is to _____ a. divergence of related species b. homologous structures c. evolution by natural selection d. speciation by common descent
c. evolution by natural selection
Which is an example of a derived trait? a. a tail b. bones c. feathers d. teeth
c. feathers
Identify the term that is used to describe anatomically similar structures inherited from a common ancestor. a. ancestral traits b. analogous structures c. homologous structures d. vestigial structures
c. homologous structures
Natural selection causes the frequency of favorable alleles to a. decrease in a population b. remain constant in a population c. increase in a population d. vary widely in a population
c. increase in a population
Which of the following is NOT a component of the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection? a. competition for food and space b. variation among species c. inheritance of acquired characteristics d. survival and reproduction
c. inheritance of acquired characteristics
Natural selection on a trait can only occur if the trait is . . . . a. mutated b. acquired c. inherited
c. inherited
Predators learn to avoid monarch butterflies because they contain a poison that is distasteful and can cause the predator to get sick. The viceroy butterfly finds protection by closely resembling the monarch. What is this adaptation in the viceroy called? a.camouflage b. fitness c. mimicry d.resemblance
c. mimicry
What gas do scientists think was absent from Earth's early atmosphere? a.sulfur b. nitrogen c. oxygen d. water vapor
c. oxygen
When lions prey on a herd of antelope, some antelope are killed and some escape. Which part of Darwin's concept of natural selection might be used to describe this situation? a. acquired characteristics b. reproductive isolation c. survival of the fittest d. descent with modification
c. survival of the fittest
What we define as culture apparently developed within __________. a. Old World monkeys b. the earliest hominids c. the genus Homo d. the earliest anthropoids
c. the genus Homo
Boa Constrictors have tiny pelvic girdles and legs bones with their bodies. Since these structures are nonfunctional, they are called . . . a. homologous b. analogous c. vestigial
c. vestigial
In which type of rock do paleontologists search for fossils? a. igneous b. metamorphic c.sedimentary d volcanic
c.sedimentary
Radioactive dating enables geologists to determine a. the age of the atoms in a rock. b. the half-life of a fossil organism. c. the relative ages of rocks. d. the absolute ages of rocks.
d. the absolute ages of rocks.
In science, theories are: a.an educated guess b. a known fact c. absolute and unchangeable d.the best explanation for a set of data or observations
d.the best explanation for a set of data or observations
A scientist has observed animals in a particular habitat for some time. She notices that the slowest gazelles tend to fall victim to predators more frequently than faster ones. Over time, she notes that the gazelle herd on average runs faster. This is an example of a. Stabilizing selection b. Balanced polymorphism c. Disruptive selection d. Heterozygote advantage e. Directional selection
e. Directional selection
Which of these does not support the theory of gradualism? A) Evolution proceeds in small steps. B) Evolution is a dynamic process. C) Fossil records contain abrupt transitions. D) Evolution may take millions of years.
C) Fossil records contain abrupt transitions.
In the geological time scale, which of the following eras is miss-matched with the organisms? A) Precambrian—prokaryotic evolve B) Mesozoic--appearance of the ancestors of birds C) Paleozoic--appearance of mammals D) Cenozoic--appearance of humans
C) Paleozoic--appearance of mammals
Many scientists consider ____ to be the first cellular coding system. A) meiosis B) photosynthesis C) RNA D) complex proteins
C) RNA
Population decline causes an extreme genetic drift called a ____. A) nonrandom mating B) founder effect C) bottleneck D) stabilizing effect
C) bottleneck
What are two main components of natural selection? A) vestigial structures and camouflage B) artificial selection and selective breeding C) variation and inheritance D) mimicry and artificial selection
C) variation and inheritance
What epoch did humans come about in? A. Phanerozoic B. Holocene C. Cenozoic D. Mesozoic
C. Cenozoic
The earliest living things lived A. On land B. In freshwater lakes C. In the ocean D. In the air
C. In the ocean
Ostriches and penguins are examples of flightless birds. These species are closely related to robins, hawks, and other birds that use their wings for flight. What is most likely the reason ostriches and penguins do not have the gift of flight? A. They both are too dumb to fly B. They both can fly but choose not to C. Ostriches and penguins occupy niches in their ecosystems that don't require flight D. None of the above
C. Ostriches and penguins occupy niches in their ecosystems that don't require flight
The bones of a human arm are homologous structures in all of the following EXCEPT a: A. whale flipper B. bat wing C. butterfly wing D. bird wing E. frog forelimb
C. butterfly wing
Which is not a characteristic of primates? A. manual dexterity B. keen eyesight C. high reproduction rate d. large brain
C. high reproduction rate
Which is not a vestigial structure? A. snake pelvis B. Kiwi wings C. porpoise flipper D. human appendix
C. porpoise flipper
Organisms with similar anatomy share similar DNA sequences. True False
True
T/F Charles Darwin served as naturalist on the HMS Beagle
True
T/F While in the Galapagos islands, Darwin noticed slight differeneces in the animals from one island to the next
True
TRue or False: An individual cannot evolve a new phenotype within it's lifetime
True
The Archaeopteryx seems to have evolved from reptiles and is a direct ancestor of modern birds. True False
True
True of False. Hominids include humans and apes.
True
True of False: Genetic drift can greatly affect small populations that descend from a small number of organisms.
True
True or False. Fossilization could occur when animals would come to drink the water and et stuck in the tar beds.
True
True or False. New World monkeys have prehensile tales.
True
True or False: 99% of Earth's species are extinct today.
True
True or False: The finches that Darwin studied had a common ancestor
True
What a person does during their life can have no effect on their genetic makeup other than random genetic changes from exposure to chemicals and radiation. True or False?
True
The Hardy-Weinberg equation is used to study a. Genotypic frequency in a population b.The number of alleles associated with a gene c.The karyotype of an organism d. Phenotypic ratios in a dihybrid cross e.Genotypic frequency in a genetic cross
a. Genotypic frequency in a population
When great distance or a physical barrier prevents to populations from interbreeding, they are experiencing what kind of reproductive isolation? (A) Gametic (B) Geographic (C) Temporal (D) Behavioral
(B) Geographic
The first person who proposed that small organic molecules could have arisen by chemical evolution was A) Stanley Miller. B) Graham Cairns-Smith. C) Thomas Cech. D) Aleksander Oparin. E) Sidney Fox.
D) Aleksander Oparin.
Which of the following time periods contains the others? A) Cretaceous B) Triassic C) Jurassic D) Mesozoic
D) Mesozoic
Recently evolved traits that do not appear in ancestral fossils are called ____. A) homologous traits B) ancestral traits C) primitive traits D) derived traits
D) derived traits
Which of these is an example of a non-adaptive evolved characteristic? A) sharp teeth of carnivores B) camouflage color of insects C) long legs of wolves D) helplessness of human babies
D) helplessness of human babies
What occurs when average traits benefit a population rather than extreme traits? A) unnatural selection B) directional selection C) disruptive selection D) stabilizing selection
D) stabilizing selection
List the 4 time periods (eras) beginning with the most recent one. A. Precambrian Time, Mesozoic, Cenozoic, Paleozoic B. Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Precambrian, Cenozoic C. Precambrian Time, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic D. Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic, Precambrian Time
D. Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic, Precambrian Time
Which of the following phrases best describes the result of natural selection? A. Long neck giraffes gettin food frm a tall tree B. White tail deer living in a snowy area C. Species living in different locations D. Changes in the inherited characteristics of a population over time
D. Changes in the inherited characteristics of a population over time
What is the relationship between the terms natural selection and evolution? A. They mean the same thing. B. Evolution works against natural selection. C. Evolution explains how natural selection works. D. Natural selection explains how evolution works.
D. Natural selection explains how evolution works.
Which is not a principle of Darwin's theory about the origin of species? A. Individuals show variations. B. Variations can be inherited. C. Organisms have more offspring than available resources will support. D. Offspring always inherit the best traits.
D. Offspring always inherit the best traits.
It was during this era that the largest mass exctinction in all of Earth's history happened: A. Archaean B. Cenozoic C. Mesozoic D. Paleozoic
D. Paleozoic
Geologists use the geologic column and the law of superposition to help them do: A. Radioactive decay B. Radiometric dating C. Absolute dating D. Relative dating
D. Relative dating
Why do most primates have a decreased sense of smell? A. They are able to stand upright. B. They live in tropical regions. C. They are more active during the day. D.They have an increased sense of vision.
D.They have an increased sense of vision.
What advantage does bipedalism have over quadrupedalism? A.ability to run faster B. less energy requirements C. less strain on the hips and back D. ability to travel over long distances
D.ability to travel over long distances
Early cyanobacteria produced ____ which eventually formed the ozone layer. A) hydrogen B) proteins C) carbon dioxide D). oxygen
D.oxygen
Which famous scientist proposed the incorrect idea of inheritance of acquired characteristics a. Larmarck b. Darwin c. Pasteur
a. Larmarck He thought that simple forms of life inevitably develop into more complex forms. He proposed that individuals could acquire traits during their lifetimes as a result of experience or behavior then could pass on those traits to offspring. His idea was called "inheritance of acquired characteristics". Scientists rejected this idea.
True of False: Gradualism is the idea that species originate through a rapid change from adaptations
False
True or FAlse: Usually fossils are the soft parts of organisms, such as: internal organs, tissues
False
True or False Petrification is a relatively fast process
False
True or False. Life on Earth first appeared during the Cambrian Period.
False (Precambrian)
T/F Darwin discovered that the Galapagos mockingbirds were differenet species
False (finches)
True or False. Early hominids that lived in Africa and possessed both apelike and humanlike charactersitics are called primates
False - they were called australopithecine
Which statement is in agreement with Darwin's theory of evolution? a. More offspring are produced than can possibly survive. b. The organisms that are the fittest are always the largest and strongest. c. The number of offspring is not related to fitness. d. Acquired characteristics that are inherited are the cause of evolution.
a. More offspring are produced than can possibly survive.
The process in which organisms with traits well suited to an environment are more likely to survive and to produce offspring is a. Natural selection. c. Genetic principles. b. Origin of species. d. Trait mechanism.
a. Natural selection.
Which of the following groups is theorized to have evolved first? a. New World monkeys b. Old World monkeys c. Homo erectus d. humans
a. New World monkeys
Which era am I describing. The era of ancient life. It is divided into 3 periods, Early, Middle, and late. The age of the invertebrates (jelly fish and sponges) was in this era.
Precambrian
At one time people believed that mold growing on a piece of cheese was created by the cheese. This is the idea of __________. a.biogenesis b. transgenesis c. primordial generation d. spontaneous generation
d. spontaneous generation
The example of the peppered moths living near English industrial cities demonstrates that: a) a change in an environment can result in the evolution of species living there b) evolution occurs so slowly that it is not possible to determine that it has happened in less than a million years c) the environment near these cities has always favored dark colored moths
a) a change in an environment can result in the evolution of species living there
The accumulation of differences between species or populations is called a. Divergence. c. Speciation. b. Punctuated equilibrium. d. Observational species.
a. Divergence.
The voyage of the Beagle took Darwin to a. South America b. Australia c. The Galapagos Islands d. All of the above
d. All of the above
Why are almost all fossils found in sedimentary rock? a. Sediments can cover and notdamage a dead organism b.Sediments protect dead organisms from being destroyed by other animals c. Sediments may slow down or stop the decaying process d. All of the above
d. All of the above
Which of the following is a factor in natural selection? a. Individuals of species compete with one another to survive. b. All species are genetically diverse. c. Individuals better able to adapt to changes leave more offspring. d. All of the above.
d. All of the above.
The Asian shore crab invaded parts of the eastern coast of the United States about 15 years ago. The Asian shore crab preys on blue mussels. In the time since the Asian shore crab arrived, the average shell thickness of the blue mussel population has increased. Which of the following is the most likely reason that this increase in shell thickness has occurred? a. Blue mussels with thick shells attract more crabs that mussels without thick shells. b. Blue mussels with thick shells grow in larger colonies than mussels without thick shells. c. Blue mussels with thick shells catch more food per day than mussels without thick shells. d. Blue mussels with thick shells survive and reproduce more successfully than mussels without thick shells.
d. Blue mussels with thick shells survive and reproduce more successfully than mussels without thick shells.
The mass extinction event that is theorized to have killed many species, including the dinosaurs, occurred at the end of which period? a. Permian b. Ordovician c. Jurassic d. Cretaceous
d. Cretaceous
A group of humans who lived from 100 000 to about 35 000 years ago are the __________. a. australopithecine b. cavemen c. Cro-Magnon d. Neanderthals
d. Neanderthals
The fossil record provides evidence that a. Fossils cannot be dated. b. All species were formed during Earth's formation and have changed little since then. c. The fossilized species have no connection to today's species. d. Older species gave rise to more-recent species.
d. Older species gave rise to more-recent species.
In 1859, Darwin published his revolutionary scientific ideas in a work entitled a. Principles of Geology. b. Essay on the Principle of Population. c. Evolution in Malaysia. d. On the Origin of Species.
d. On the Origin of Species.
Which of the following periods make up the Mesozoic era? a. Paleozoic, Cenozoic, Precambrian b. Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian c. Quaternary, Tertiary, Triassic d. Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous
d. Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous
A subgroup of primates that include monkeys and apes is the _________. a. quadrupeds b. australopithecine c. members of the genus Homo d. anthropoids
d. anthropoids
Comparing human hemoglobin of chimpanzees, horses, kangaroos, and chickens, reveal that humans have the fewest amino acid differences with a. Kangaroos c. chickens b. Horses d. chimpanzees
d. chimpanzees
The finches on the Galapagos island were similar in form except for variations of their beaks. Darwin observed that these variations were useful for: a. attracting a mate b. defending territory c. building nests d. gathering food
d. gathering food
Alexander Oparin proposed that life originated __________. a. on mudflats b. on seashores c. in early freshwater ponds d. in the early oceans
d. in the early oceans
An adaptation that allows primates to grasp and cling to the branches of trees is the ___________. a. rotating forelimb b. ability to see in 3-D c. fingernail d. opposable thumb
d. opposable thumb
Fossilization caused by the replacement of organic material by minerals: a. amber b. freezing c. mummification d. petrification
d. petrification
The subgroup of primates that are small, tree-dwelling animals that look least like primates is the _________. a. New World monkeys b. anthropoids c. Old World monkeys d. prosimians
d. prosimians
Which dating method determines the age of rocks by comparing them to rocks in other layers? a.absolute dating b. geological dating c. relative dating d. sedimentary dating
d. sedimentary dating
