Question 1

There were biologists before Darwin who proposed mechanisms for evolution. True or False?

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

A man spends his lifetime perfecting his painting skills. He has his daughter paint as well. He expects his grandson to be a world-famous painter. Whose theory is this man using?

Accepted Answer

A) Buffon 
B) Darwin 
C) Cuvier 
D) Lamarck 
E) Lyell 
A) Buffon 
B) Darwin 
C) Cuvier 
D) Lamarck 
E) Lyell D

Question 3

The controlled breeding of domestic plants and animals by humans in order to produce certain physical traits in those organisms is called:

Accepted Answer

A) natural selection. 
B) agricultural selection. 
C) physical selection. 
D) artificial selection. 
A) natural selection. 
B) agricultural selection. 
C) physical selection. 
D) artificial selection. D

Question 4

Which of the four postulates of Darwin's theory of evolution was not well established when On the Origin of Species was first published but is overwhelmingly supported today?

Accepted Answer

A) Some differences among individuals in a population are due to genetics and are heritable. 
B) Individuals in a population differ physically from one another in many ways. 
C) Some individuals in a population survive and reproduce better than other individuals. 
D) Individuals with advantageous traits survive longest and have the most offspring. 
A) Some differences among individuals in a population are due to genetics and are heritable. 
B) Individuals in a population differ physically from one another in many ways. 
C) Some individuals in a population survive and reproduce better than other individuals. 
D) Individuals with advantageous traits survive longest and have the most offspring.

Question 5

What English economist wrote that the human population "increases in a geometrical ratio" and would soon exceed Earth's capacity to support it?

Accepted Answer

A) Wallace 
B) Mendel 
C) Hutton 
D) Lyell 
E) Malthus 
A) Wallace 
B) Mendel 
C) Hutton 
D) Lyell 
E) Malthus

Question 6

Which geologist described the age of the Earth as "eternal"?

Accepted Answer

A) Lyell 
B) Lamarck 
C) Buffon 
D) Malthus 
E) Aristotle 
A) Lyell 
B) Lamarck 
C) Buffon 
D) Malthus 
E) Aristotle

Question 7

Modern geologists estimate that the age of Earth is about:

Accepted Answer

A) 4,500 years. 
B) 450,000 years. 
C) 4)5 million years. 
D) 4)5 billion years. 
E) 4)5 trillion years. 
A) 4,500 years. 
B) 450,000 years. 
C) 4)5 million years. 
D) 4)5 billion years. 
E) 4)5 trillion years.

Question 8

Who suggested that giraffes developed their long necks over time by stretching?

Accepted Answer

A) Darwin 
B) Lamarck 
C) Wallace 
D) Cuvier 
E) Plato 
A) Darwin 
B) Lamarck 
C) Wallace 
D) Cuvier 
E) Plato

Question 9

Some animal species found in caves have tiny, nonfunctional eyes. These are BEST described as:

Accepted Answer

A) analogous structures. 
B) homologous structures. 
C) vestigial structures. 
D) mutations. 
A) analogous structures. 
B) homologous structures. 
C) vestigial structures. 
D) mutations.

Question 10

Which of the following is an excellent example of artificial selection?

Accepted Answer

A) the many different breeds of domestic cats 
B) cheetahs that can outrun their prey 
C) the ability to gain muscle mass by using steroids 
D) green tree frogs that blend perfectly into their leafy surroundings 
E) all of the above 
A) the many different breeds of domestic cats 
B) cheetahs that can outrun their prey 
C) the ability to gain muscle mass by using steroids 
D) green tree frogs that blend perfectly into their leafy surroundings 
E) all of the above

Question 11

Whose philosophy was based on the "ideal form"?

Accepted Answer

A) Darwin 
B) Lamarck 
C) Darwin and Wallace 
D) Cuvier 
E) Plato 
A) Darwin 
B) Lamarck 
C) Darwin and Wallace 
D) Cuvier 
E) Plato

Question 12

The concept that Earth's present landscape is due to gradual geologic processes was proposed by:

Accepted Answer

A) Lyell. 
B) Lamarck. 
C) Buffon. 
D) Malthus. 
E) Aristotle. 
A) Lyell. 
B) Lamarck. 
C) Buffon. 
D) Malthus. 
E) Aristotle.

Question 13

Which of the following would you expect to occur in a captive population of guppies collected from Trinidad, if you allowed them to breed for many generations in an aquarium without any predators?

Accepted Answer

A) Female guppies will become more brightly colored. 
B) Female guppies will prefer to mate with the dull-colored males. 
C) The number of dull-colored male guppies will eventually equal the number of brightly colored males. 
D) Male guppies that are brightly colored will have better reproductive success than dull males. 
A) Female guppies will become more brightly colored. 
B) Female guppies will prefer to mate with the dull-colored males. 
C) The number of dull-colored male guppies will eventually equal the number of brightly colored males. 
D) Male guppies that are brightly colored will have better reproductive success than dull males.

Question 14

The theory of natural selection states that:

Accepted Answer

A) all individuals live to reproduce in each generation. 
B) only the largest and strongest individuals survive. 
C) random assortment of genes results in better physical characteristics in the following generations. 
D) the most well-adapted individuals in their environments survive and reproduce, contributing the most genes to the next generation. 
E) individuals that mutate in response to changes in their environment will contribute the most genes to the next generation. 
A) all individuals live to reproduce in each generation. 
B) only the largest and strongest individuals survive. 
C) random assortment of genes results in better physical characteristics in the following generations. 
D) the most well-adapted individuals in their environments survive and reproduce, contributing the most genes to the next generation. 
E) individuals that mutate in response to changes in their environment will contribute the most genes to the next generation.

Question 15

Anolis lizards with long legs adapted for climbing have been transplanted from an area with many large trees to islands with many small plants and no trees. These lizards have:

Accepted Answer

A) undergone no evolutionary change. 
B) evolved shorter legs adapted for the smaller plants. 
C) evolved even longer legs. 
D) evolved to be able to run away from predators more quickly. 
E) evolved to be able to maneuver less efficiently. 
A) undergone no evolutionary change. 
B) evolved shorter legs adapted for the smaller plants. 
C) evolved even longer legs. 
D) evolved to be able to run away from predators more quickly. 
E) evolved to be able to maneuver less efficiently.

Question 16

Sea squirts and lampreys, which are both aquatic animals, have a perforated pharynx, a ventral heart, and a notochord at some stage of development. These similarities are BEST explained by:

Accepted Answer

A) artificial selection. 
B) inheritance of acquired characteristics. 
C) a common ancestry. 
D) uniformitarianism. 
E) the "Ladder of Nature." 
A) artificial selection. 
B) inheritance of acquired characteristics. 
C) a common ancestry. 
D) uniformitarianism. 
E) the "Ladder of Nature."

Question 17

In most geological formations, younger rocks are layered over older rocks. True or False?

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Variations in a population are produced by ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Variations in a population are produced by...

Question 19

The many different breeds of domestic dog were produced by:

Accepted Answer

A) natural selection. 
B) artificial selection. 
C) physical selection. 
D) artificial mutation. 
A) natural selection. 
B) artificial selection. 
C) physical selection. 
D) artificial mutation.

Question 20

Which organism is least likely to survive to reproduce?

Accepted Answer

A) a flower that produces a scent that attracts bees 
B) a shrub that produces a toxin in its flower buds that repels deer 
C) a plant that has a sweet flavor before it flowers 
D) a dark-furred rodent that comes out only at night 
E) a seahorse that mimics the weeds in which it lives 
A) a flower that produces a scent that attracts bees 
B) a shrub that produces a toxin in its flower buds that repels deer 
C) a plant that has a sweet flavor before it flowers 
D) a dark-furred rodent that comes out only at night 
E) a seahorse that mimics the weeds in which it lives

Exam 14: Principles of Evolution

There were biologists before Darwin who proposed mechanisms for evolution. True or False?

A man spends his lifetime perfecting his painting skills. He has his daughter paint as well. He expects his grandson to be a world-famous painter. Whose theory is this man using?

The controlled breeding of domestic plants and animals by humans in order to produce certain physical traits in those organisms is called:

Which of the four postulates of Darwin's theory of evolution was not well established when On the Origin of Species was first published but is overwhelmingly supported today?

What English economist wrote that the human population "increases in a geometrical ratio" and would soon exceed Earth's capacity to support it?

Which geologist described the age of the Earth as "eternal"?

Modern geologists estimate that the age of Earth is about:

Who suggested that giraffes developed their long necks over time by stretching?

Some animal species found in caves have tiny, nonfunctional eyes. These are BEST described as:

Which of the following is an excellent example of artificial selection?

Whose philosophy was based on the "ideal form"?

The concept that Earth's present landscape is due to gradual geologic processes was proposed by:

Which of the following would you expect to occur in a captive population of guppies collected from Trinidad, if you allowed them to breed for many generations in an aquarium without any predators?

The theory of natural selection states that:

Anolis lizards with long legs adapted for climbing have been transplanted from an area with many large trees to islands with many small plants and no trees. These lizards have:

Sea squirts and lampreys, which are both aquatic animals, have a perforated pharynx, a ventral heart, and a notochord at some stage of development. These similarities are BEST explained by:

In most geological formations, younger rocks are layered over older rocks. True or False?

Variations in a population are produced by ________.

The many different breeds of domestic dog were produced by:

Which organism is least likely to survive to reproduce?

An Introduction to Life on Earth

Atoms, Molecules, and Life

Biological Molecules

Cell Structure and Function

Cell Membrane Structure and Function

Energy Flow in the Life of a Cell

Capturing Solar Energy: Photosynthesis

Harvesting Energy: Glycolysis and Cellular Respiration

The Continuity of Life: Cellular Reproduction

Patterns of Inheritance

Dna: the Molecule of Heredity

Gene Expression and Regulation

Biotechnology

How Populations Evolve

The Origin of Species

The History of Life

Systematics: Seeking Order Amidst Diversity

The Diversity of Prokaryotes and Viruses

The Diversity of Protists

The Diversity of Plants

The Diversity of Fungi

Animal Diversity I: Invertebrates

Animal Diversity Ii: Vertebrates

Animal Behavior

Population Growth and Regulation

Community Interactions

How Do Ecosystems Work

Earths Diverse Ecosystems

Conserving Earths Biodiversity

Homeostasis and the Organization of the Animal Body

Circulation

Respiration

Nutrition and Digestion

The Urinary System

Defenses Against Disease

Chemical Control of the Animal Body: the Endocrine System

The Nervous System

The Senses

Action and Support: the Muscles and Skeleton

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Plant Anatomy and Nutrient Transport

Plant Reproduction and Development

Plant Responses to the Environment

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