Brain Pop #3: Natural Selection
Which of these is an opinion about Darwin?
"On the Origin of Species" is a poorly-written book
Which of the following is a true statement about deforestation?
Animals lose their habitats when too many trees are cut down
If the world population keeps growing at its current rate, how many people might be alive in 10 years?
Between 7 and 8 billion
In what major way did Darwin's ideas diverge from Lamarck's?
Lamarck thought changes to an individual animal during its lifetime would be passed on to offspring
According to most scientists, what is the ultimate cause of most mass extinctions?
Major changes in the environment
What was the mission that led Darwin's boat to sea?
Mapping the South American coastlin
What is least likely to be an example of a variation within a species?
Number of limbs
Which of the following terms best describes the current rate of world population growth?
Rapid
Which of the following words best describes the process of evolution?
Responsive
Dogs are an example of:
Selective breeding
What term would best describe Charles Darwin's decision to sail aboard the HMS Beagle?
Serendipitous
What can humans do to make sure that fish species don't go extinct?
Stop the practice of over fishing
The Galapagos Islands are where Charles Darwin:
Studied unusual animals
Which variation would be most likely to benefit any organism, regardless of environment?
The ability to produce energy more efficiently.
The beaks of finches found on various Galapagos Islands differed based on:
The available food supply
In the phrase "survival of the fittest," the term "fittest" refers to:
The best-adapted organisms
The bald eagle almost went extinct when humans began using a pesticide called DDT. What can you conclude from the fact that bald eagle numbers have since rebounded?
The pesticide was banned
Which of the following describes a population?
The total number of people living in the state of Texas
What can you infer from the fact that Darwin studied theology (religion) before dedicating the rest of his life to science?
Theology didn't captivate his mind the same way science did
What might happen if the earth exceeds its carrying capacity?
There might not be enough food and water for everyone.
Why are solar and wind power considered alternative energy sources?
They are an alternative to non-renewable energy sources like fossil fuels
Which of the following is a true statement about the members of a species?
They must be able to breed with one another
Which of the following would be a good step to take to reduce the waste you produce?
Try to reduce your consumption of electricity and fuel
What is an inherited trait?
A characteristic determined by an organism's genes
Which of the following is an example of an environmental pressure?
A lake that's gradually running out of water
Before 1800, the infant mortality rate was much higher than it is now. What does that mean?
A lot more babies died during childhood before 1800
How can population growth lead to more pollution?
All people produce waste, so more people equals more waste
What is a common ancestor?
An animal from which two or more different species evolved.
What is a scientific theory?
An explanation that's backed up by evidence
Which is the most likely evolutionary response of birds to a food supply of insects living in deep, narrow tunnels?
Birds' beaks get progressively longer and thinner with each generation.
Why would advances in medicine lead to population growth?
Curing deadly diseases allows people to live longer
What can you conclude from the fact that more than a billion species have gone extinct during Earth's history?
Extinction is a natural part of life on Earth
Why do many scientists believe that the growing level of extinctions is a problem?
Extinctions affect entire ecosystems
When nature "selects" a variation, that means that the trait:
Gets passed along from generation to generation
On Darwin's tree of life, organisms at the base of a branch:
Give rise to species farther down the branch.
What was Charles Darwin's main contribution to science?
He developed the modern theory of evolution
Which of the following statements is true?
Humans and chimpanzees both evolved from a common ancestor
How has the expanding human population led to an increasing rate of extinction?
Humans re-shape their environment, putting pressure on other species
How can the extinction of a plant species have such a drastic effect on a food chain?
If the extinct species was the main food source for another animal, that animal will have to find a new way to survive
When is a trait most likely to be passed on to the next generation?
When it becomes an advantage to the organism's survival