Question 1

A trait that confers ________ in one environment might make an organism less able to survive and reproduce in another environment.

Accepted Answer

A)  selection 
B)  fitness 
C)  adaptation 
D)  alleles 
A)  selection 
B)  fitness 
C)  adaptation 
D)  alleles

Question 2

A biologist has been studying two populations of trout in Montana for the last 25 years, when the two populations were established from one common population. In the southern population, the fish now have a slightly different mouth shape. But the northern population hasn't changed from the original type. The new shape works well in catching the type of prey common in the habitat of the southern population. Which explanation best explains the gene differences in the two populations?

Accepted Answer

A)  The mutation only appeared in the southern population after it was exposed to the new prey. 
B)  The gene that produces the variation is probably still present in a small percentage of the northern population, but since there's no advantage to having it, individuals with the variation aren't selected. 
C)  The gene that produces the variation used to be present in a few individuals, but since it wasn't advantageous, individuals with that variation died out. 
D)  The gene that produces the variation used to be common in both populations, but since it wasn't advantageous in the northern population, the variation died out. 
A)  The mutation only appeared in the southern population after it was exposed to the new prey. 
B)  The gene that produces the variation is probably still present in a small percentage of the northern population, but since there's no advantage to having it, individuals with the variation aren't selected. 
C)  The gene that produces the variation used to be present in a few individuals, but since it wasn't advantageous, individuals with that variation died out. 
D)  The gene that produces the variation used to be common in both populations, but since it wasn't advantageous in the northern population, the variation died out.

Question 3

During a time when resources are abundant, one would not expect much evolutionary change.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

The goal of natural selection is to make extreme traits more common.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

A population of birch trees is present on the side of a mountain and is preyed upon by beetles that burrow into bark. Which of the following trees would be the most fit?

Accepted Answer

A)  a tree that grows to be the tallest 
B)  a tree that has thicker bark 
C)  a tree with more active photosynthetic enzymes 
D)  a tree that has thick, strong roots 
A)  a tree that grows to be the tallest 
B)  a tree that has thicker bark 
C)  a tree with more active photosynthetic enzymes 
D)  a tree that has thick, strong roots

Question 6

Which of the following variations could be subject to natural selection?

Accepted Answer

A)  A dog with short legs due to malnutrition is able to crawl into holes better than his littermates. 
B)  A tree is not infested by a ground-dwelling beetle when the homeowner cuts the lower branches. 
C)  A hyena is born with a spotted fur pattern that allows it to hide in the grass better than its littermates. 
D)  A pigeon learns that when its keeper comes near it will get fed. 
A)  A dog with short legs due to malnutrition is able to crawl into holes better than his littermates. 
B)  A tree is not infested by a ground-dwelling beetle when the homeowner cuts the lower branches. 
C)  A hyena is born with a spotted fur pattern that allows it to hide in the grass better than its littermates. 
D)  A pigeon learns that when its keeper comes near it will get fed.

Question 7

The evolution of a long neck in giraffes is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  stabilizing selection. 
B)  directional selection. 
C)  diversifying selection. 
D)  disruptive selection 
A)  stabilizing selection. 
B)  directional selection. 
C)  diversifying selection. 
D)  disruptive selection

Question 8

A population of caterpillars feeds on the leaves of trees in a forest and is in turn food for birds that eat them off the tree leaves. Given this information, which adaptation would be most likely to evolve?

Accepted Answer

A)  Caterpillars would evolve to a larger size. 
B)  Caterpillars would evolve to eat the bark as well as the leaves. 
C)  Birds would evolve to eat more types of insects. 
D)  Caterpillars would evolve to a color that matched the leaves they eat. 
A)  Caterpillars would evolve to a larger size. 
B)  Caterpillars would evolve to eat the bark as well as the leaves. 
C)  Birds would evolve to eat more types of insects. 
D)  Caterpillars would evolve to a color that matched the leaves they eat.

Question 9

A city was intensively sprayed with DDT to control houseflies. The number of houseflies was immediately greatly reduced. Each year thereafter, the city was sprayed again, but the flies gradually increased in numbers until 10 years later, when they were almost as abundant as they were when the control program began. Which of the following most likely explains this?

Accepted Answer

A)  Flies from other areas moved in and replaced the ones killed by DDT. 
B)  The few flies that were affected by DDT but survived developed antibodies to DDT, which they passed on to their descendants. 
C)  The DDT caused new mutations to occur in the surviving flies, resulting in resistance to DDT. 
D)  The DDT killed most flies. The few that were already naturally resistant survived and passed this resistance on to their offspring. 
A)  Flies from other areas moved in and replaced the ones killed by DDT. 
B)  The few flies that were affected by DDT but survived developed antibodies to DDT, which they passed on to their descendants. 
C)  The DDT caused new mutations to occur in the surviving flies, resulting in resistance to DDT. 
D)  The DDT killed most flies. The few that were already naturally resistant survived and passed this resistance on to their offspring.

Question 10

After a rapid change in climate, one population of bird quickly adapts to the change, but others in the area do not. What could you conclude about the quickly adapting population?

Accepted Answer

A)  They had a greater need to evolve than the other population. 
B)  They already had some alleles in their genome that were adaptive in the new environment. 
C)  They reproduced more slowly than the non-adapting population. 
D)  They had a higher rate of mutation than the other population. 
A)  They had a greater need to evolve than the other population. 
B)  They already had some alleles in their genome that were adaptive in the new environment. 
C)  They reproduced more slowly than the non-adapting population. 
D)  They had a higher rate of mutation than the other population.

Question 11

In 1980, only 1% to 5% of all Staphylococcus aureus isolates were MRSA strains. Now 60% to 70% of S. aureus isolates are MRSA strains. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  stabilizing selection of humans. 
B)  directional selection of humans. 
C)  directional selection of bacteria. 
D)  diversifying selection of bacteria. 
A)  stabilizing selection of humans. 
B)  directional selection of humans. 
C)  directional selection of bacteria. 
D)  diversifying selection of bacteria.

Question 12

When a population undergoes strong selection, what is most likely to happen to it?

Accepted Answer

A)  The most common type of organism is replaced with a different type. 
B)  Variation increases in the population. 
C)  New mutations will form more frequently. 
D)  The number of individuals in the population will rapidly increase. 
A)  The most common type of organism is replaced with a different type. 
B)  Variation increases in the population. 
C)  New mutations will form more frequently. 
D)  The number of individuals in the population will rapidly increase.

A trait that confers ________ in one environment might make an organism less able to survive and reproduce in another environment.

During a time when resources are abundant, one would not expect much evolutionary change.

The goal of natural selection is to make extreme traits more common.

A population of birch trees is present on the side of a mountain and is preyed upon by beetles that burrow into bark. Which of the following trees would be the most fit?

Which of the following variations could be subject to natural selection?

The evolution of a long neck in giraffes is an example of

A population of caterpillars feeds on the leaves of trees in a forest and is in turn food for birds that eat them off the tree leaves. Given this information, which adaptation would be most likely to evolve?

After a rapid change in climate, one population of bird quickly adapts to the change, but others in the area do not. What could you conclude about the quickly adapting population?

In 1980, only 1% to 5% of all Staphylococcus aureus isolates were MRSA strains. Now 60% to 70% of S. aureus isolates are MRSA strains. This is an example of

When a population undergoes strong selection, what is most likely to happen to it?

Can Science Cure the Common Cold? Introduction to the Scientific Method

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Fat: How Much is Right for You? Enzymes, Metabolism, and Cellular Respiration

Life in the Greenhouse: Photosynthesis and Global Warming

Cancer: DNA Synthesis, Mitosis, and Meiosis

Are You Only as Smart as Your Genes? Mendelian and Quantitative Genetics

DNA Detective: Complex Patterns of Inheritance and DNA Fingerprinting

Genetically Modified Organisms: Gene Expression, Mutation, and Cloning

Where Did We Come From? The Evidence for Evolution

Who Am I? Species and Races

Prospecting for Biological Gold: Biodiversity and Classification

Is the Human Population Too Large? Population Ecology

Conserving Biodiversity: Community and Ecosystem Ecology

Where Do You Live? Climate and Biomes

Organ Donation: Tissues Organs and Organ Systems

Clearing the Air: Respiratory Cardiovascular and Excretory Systems

Vaccinations: Protection and Prevention or Peril? Immune System

Sex Differences and Athleticism: Endocrine Skeletal and Muscular Systems

Is There Something in the Water? Reproductive and Developmental Biology

Attention Deficit Disorder: Brain Structure and Function

Feeding the World: Plant Structure and Growth

Growing a Green Thumb: Plant Physiology

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Exam 11: An Evolving Enemy: Natural Selection

A trait that confers ________ in one environment might make an organism less able to survive and reproduce in another environment.

During a time when resources are abundant, one would not expect much evolutionary change.

The goal of natural selection is to make extreme traits more common.

A population of birch trees is present on the side of a mountain and is preyed upon by beetles that burrow into bark. Which of the following trees would be the most fit?

Which of the following variations could be subject to natural selection?

The evolution of a long neck in giraffes is an example of

A population of caterpillars feeds on the leaves of trees in a forest and is in turn food for birds that eat them off the tree leaves. Given this information, which adaptation would be most likely to evolve?

After a rapid change in climate, one population of bird quickly adapts to the change, but others in the area do not. What could you conclude about the quickly adapting population?

In 1980, only 1% to 5% of all Staphylococcus aureus isolates were MRSA strains. Now 60% to 70% of S. aureus isolates are MRSA strains. This is an example of

When a population undergoes strong selection, what is most likely to happen to it?

Can Science Cure the Common Cold? Introduction to the Scientific Method

Are We Alone in the Universe? Water, Biochemistry, and Cells

Is It Possible to Supplement Your Way to Better Health?

Fat: How Much is Right for You? Enzymes, Metabolism, and Cellular Respiration

Life in the Greenhouse: Photosynthesis and Global Warming

Cancer: DNA Synthesis, Mitosis, and Meiosis

Are You Only as Smart as Your Genes? Mendelian and Quantitative Genetics

DNA Detective: Complex Patterns of Inheritance and DNA Fingerprinting

Genetically Modified Organisms: Gene Expression, Mutation, and Cloning

Where Did We Come From? The Evidence for Evolution

Who Am I? Species and Races

Prospecting for Biological Gold: Biodiversity and Classification

Is the Human Population Too Large? Population Ecology

Conserving Biodiversity: Community and Ecosystem Ecology

Where Do You Live? Climate and Biomes

Organ Donation: Tissues Organs and Organ Systems

Clearing the Air: Respiratory Cardiovascular and Excretory Systems

Vaccinations: Protection and Prevention or Peril? Immune System

Sex Differences and Athleticism: Endocrine Skeletal and Muscular Systems

Is There Something in the Water? Reproductive and Developmental Biology

Attention Deficit Disorder: Brain Structure and Function

Feeding the World: Plant Structure and Growth

Growing a Green Thumb: Plant Physiology

Filters