
Evolution through Natural Selection Test
Quiz by Chrissy Smith
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32 questions
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- Q1Which of the following is an example of evolution through natural selection that has occurred in a relatively short amount of time?Peacocks - Females always choose the male with the brightest colored feathers. A few thousand years ago, not all males were brightly colored, and now these are rare.Birds evolved from a group of dinosaurs known as maniraptoran theropods-generally small meat-eating dinosaurs that include Velociraptor of Jurassic Park fameBacteria, such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), becoming resistant to antibiotics.Darwin's Finches - The finches on the Galapagos Islands have all developed different beaks. Originally, the finches had large beaks for cracking large nuts.30s
- Q2Charles Darwin was credited for writing the biological theory of _____________.evolution and the descent of manevolution by adaptationsevolution by natural selectioninheritance by independent assortment30s
- Q3The drawing represents the forelimbs of several vertebrates. Which statement best describes the relationship of these organisms?The structures are homologous; the organisms do not have a common ancestor.The structures are homologous; the organisms have a common ancestor.The structures are analogous; the organisms do not have a common ancestor.The structures are analogous; the organisms have a common ancestor30s
- Q4Arctic hares are adapted to live in cold environments such as the Arctic. Scientific studies indicate that human activities contribute to a rise in the average global air temperature,resulting in a decrease in Arctic snow cover. Which statement explains how the changing arctic environment will most likely affect the population of arctic hares in winter?The population will decrease because environmental factors will reduce the ability of hares to hide from predators.The population will decrease because genetic factors will reduce the ability of hares to survive in a warmer environment.The population will increase because genetic factors will increase the number of hares that survive and reproduce.The population will increase because environmental factors will increase the availability of food for hares.30s
- Q5Students are studying fossilized animals from the bottom of an ancient lake. The students make drawings of the fossilized animals. One student claims that the fossilized animals are related to living animals. Which statement best supports the student’s claim?The fossilized animals are made of rocky materials that are similar to those in the bones of living animals.The fossilized animals show signs of having once lived in habitats that are similar to the habitats of living animals.The fossilized animals have body sizes that are similar to the body sizes of living animals.The fossilized animals have body shapes and parts that are similar to the body shapes and parts of living animals.30s
- Q6A population of birds lives in an ecosystem containing plants that produce different-sized seeds. There is genetic diversity among the individual birds in the population. The table shows the different genetic combinations determining sizes of bird beaks. After a long drought (period without rain) in the ecosystem, only plants with small-sized seeds are able to produce seeds. Which statement describes the effect that the drought would most likely have on the large beaked bird population?Individuals with BB would be less likely to survive because their food source would be less available.Individuals with bb would be less likely to survive because their food source has less energy than large-size seeds.Individuals with Bb would be more likely to survive because they can consume large-sized and small-sized seeds.Individuals with BB would be more likely to survive because they can fill their beaks with many small seeds.30s
- Q7Finches are a type of bird that eat mostly nuts. Because of this, all finches have hard beaks. However, not every beak is the same. If a finch is born with an exceptionally hard beak, this can be a survival advantage. How is a harder beak an advantage?A harder beak would allow the finch to use it to burrow even deeper into trees foraging for insects.A harder beak will allow the finch to fly faster and farther than before.A harder beak will provide a reproductive advantage.A harder beak would allow the finch to crack open even the hardest shells, meaning it has a bigger food supply than most.30s
- Q8Which of the following terms means change over time?mimicrysurvival of the fittestevolutionmutation30s
- Q9Individuals 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 ofpunctuated equilibriumthe law of use and disusenatural selectionnone of the above30s
- Q10An inherited trait that has become common in a population is an example ofgradualismpopulationmacro-evolutionadaptation30s
- Q11The voyage of The Beagle took Darwin to thethe coast of Australiathe Galapagos Islandsall of the above because he sailed around the worldthe South American continent30s
- Q12All of the finches Charles Darwin observed on the Galapagos Islandshad the same shaped beakssang the same kind of songshared a common ancestorbehaved the same way30s
- Q13This image shows four different finches Charles Darwin found while on the Galapagos Islands. Which of these would be the most adapted to eating small insects found in tiny holes of trees?Finch 3Finch 4Finch 1Finch 230s
- Q14The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution is known as ____________.speciationevolutionvariationnatural selection30s
- Q15Slight differences in an inherited trait of individual members of a species is known as ______________.variationnatural selectionevolutionspeciation30s