Question 1

Natural selection operates to produce changes in

Accepted Answer

A) individuals. 
B) populations. 
C) kingdoms. 
D) phyla. 
E) animals only. 
A) individuals. 
B) populations. 
C) kingdoms. 
D) phyla. 
E) animals only.

Question 2

In the nineteenth century, prevailing beliefs came into conflict with findings from all of these EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A) biogeography. 
B) comparative morphology. 
C) the fossil record. 
D) plate tectonics. 
E) global exploration. 
A) biogeography. 
B) comparative morphology. 
C) the fossil record. 
D) plate tectonics. 
E) global exploration.

Question 3

Fossils found in the lowest geological strata are generally the most

Accepted Answer

A) advanced. 
B) complex. 
C) primitive. 
D) widespread. 
E) specialized. 
A) advanced. 
B) complex. 
C) primitive. 
D) widespread. 
E) specialized.

Question 4

Which of the following organisms would you expect to find preserved as a fossil?

Accepted Answer

A) a jellyfish 
B) a shelled arthropod such as a trilobite 
C) an earthworm 
D) a nematode 
E) a protistan such as an amoeba 
A) a jellyfish 
B) a shelled arthropod such as a trilobite 
C) an earthworm 
D) a nematode 
E) a protistan such as an amoeba

Question 5

The fossil record is incomplete because

Accepted Answer

A) very few organisms were preserved as fossils. 
B) organisms tend to decay before becoming a fossil. 
C) animals with hard parts are preserved more easily. 
D) geologic processes may destroy fossils. 
E) all of these are true. 
A) very few organisms were preserved as fossils. 
B) organisms tend to decay before becoming a fossil. 
C) animals with hard parts are preserved more easily. 
D) geologic processes may destroy fossils. 
E) all of these are true.

Question 6

Lamarck believed

Accepted Answer

A) that a substance called fluida moved through the nerves to areas of the body in need of change. 
B) in the inheritance of acquired characteristics. 
C) that giraffes' necks elongated in response to stretching. 
D) that environmental pressures bring about changes in organisms. 
E) all of these were true. 
A) that a substance called fluida moved through the nerves to areas of the body in need of change. 
B) in the inheritance of acquired characteristics. 
C) that giraffes' necks elongated in response to stretching. 
D) that environmental pressures bring about changes in organisms. 
E) all of these were true.

Question 7

Charles Darwin

Accepted Answer

A) studied to be a physician. 
B) studied to become a clergyman. 
C) pursued his interests in natural history. 
D) did all of these. 
E) did none of these. 
A) studied to be a physician. 
B) studied to become a clergyman. 
C) pursued his interests in natural history. 
D) did all of these. 
E) did none of these.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is NOT true about asteroids?

Accepted Answer

A) They have had little influence on the history of life. 
B) They do not emit light and are difficult to see. 
C) Their impacts have produced craters visible in satellite images. 
D) One asteroid impacted our planet just prior to the mass extinctions at the K-T boundary. 
E) An asteroid impact releases an enormous quantity of energy. 
A) They have had little influence on the history of life. 
B) They do not emit light and are difficult to see. 
C) Their impacts have produced craters visible in satellite images. 
D) One asteroid impacted our planet just prior to the mass extinctions at the K-T boundary. 
E) An asteroid impact releases an enormous quantity of energy.

Question 9

The most important evidence that Darwin used to develop his theory of natural selection came from

Accepted Answer

A) the Argentine pampas. 
B) his boyhood neighborhood in England. 
C) the Galápagos Islands. 
D) Australia and New Zealand. 
E) South America. 
A) the Argentine pampas. 
B) his boyhood neighborhood in England. 
C) the Galápagos Islands. 
D) Australia and New Zealand. 
E) South America.

Question 10

One part of Darwin's theory is that individuals with certain traits have an increased competitive edge.The source of these traits is

Accepted Answer

A) adaptation to stress. 
B) development over a lifetime. 
C) inheritance. 
D) mutation after birth. 
E) all of these. 
A) adaptation to stress. 
B) development over a lifetime. 
C) inheritance. 
D) mutation after birth. 
E) all of these.

Question 11

Scientists began to question the perfection of the Chain of Being because of

Accepted Answer

A) the discovery of new organisms in new parts of the world. 
B) the presence of body parts with no apparent function in some organisms. 
C) the existence of fossil forms. 
D) similarities in the structures found in different forms of life. 
E) all of these. 
A) the discovery of new organisms in new parts of the world. 
B) the presence of body parts with no apparent function in some organisms. 
C) the existence of fossil forms. 
D) similarities in the structures found in different forms of life. 
E) all of these.

Question 12

People embracing the idea of the great Chain of Being did NOT believe in which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A) Spiritual beings were a part of the Chain. 
B) All life forms were created at one time. 
C) Organisms could appear, disappear, or move up and down the Chain. 
D) Each species was "fixed" at creation. 
E) Once every link was discovered, the meaning of life would be known. 
A) Spiritual beings were a part of the Chain. 
B) All life forms were created at one time. 
C) Organisms could appear, disappear, or move up and down the Chain. 
D) Each species was "fixed" at creation. 
E) Once every link was discovered, the meaning of life would be known.

Question 13

Which of the following has no part in today's concept of natural selection?

Accepted Answer

A) inheritance of acquired characteristics 
B) competition for limited resources 
C) inherited variation 
D) overproduction of offspring 
E) survival of the best adapted 
A) inheritance of acquired characteristics 
B) competition for limited resources 
C) inherited variation 
D) overproduction of offspring 
E) survival of the best adapted

Question 14

The operation of natural selection depends upon the fact that

Accepted Answer

A) the strong always survive, whereas the weak always die. 
B) some individuals have a better chance to produce more offspring. 
C) mutations are always harmful. 
D) acquired characteristics are inherited. 
E) reproduction of all members of a species is virtually the same. 
A) the strong always survive, whereas the weak always die. 
B) some individuals have a better chance to produce more offspring. 
C) mutations are always harmful. 
D) acquired characteristics are inherited. 
E) reproduction of all members of a species is virtually the same.

Question 15

Barringer Crater in Arizona was formed when a 300,000-ton asteroid slammed into Earth 50,000 years ago.Which of the following is true about this event?

Accepted Answer

A) It hit so early that it had little influence on the history of life. 
B) This one produced about 150 times the energy of the bomb that hit Hiroshima. 
C) Its impact produced a minor crater. 
D) Scientists recently disproved that an asteroid impacted our planet just prior to the mass extinctions at the K-T boundary. 
E) An asteroid impact releases only minor amounts of energy. 
A) It hit so early that it had little influence on the history of life. 
B) This one produced about 150 times the energy of the bomb that hit Hiroshima. 
C) Its impact produced a minor crater. 
D) Scientists recently disproved that an asteroid impacted our planet just prior to the mass extinctions at the K-T boundary. 
E) An asteroid impact releases only minor amounts of energy.

Question 16

Darwin's finches are found on the __________ Islands.

Accepted Answer

A) Galápagos 
B) Canary 
C) Philippine 
D) Hawaiian 
E) Aleutian 
A) Galápagos 
B) Canary 
C) Philippine 
D) Hawaiian 
E) Aleutian

Question 17

Which of the following was NOT one of Darwin's observations?

Accepted Answer

A) Most individuals have an equal chance to survive and reproduce. 
B) Changes in populations are gradual and take place over long periods of time. 
C) Members of the same species may exhibit considerable variation. 
D) Some characteristics are heritable and passed on to offspring. 
E) Some characteristics afford their possessor a better chance of survival. 
A) Most individuals have an equal chance to survive and reproduce. 
B) Changes in populations are gradual and take place over long periods of time. 
C) Members of the same species may exhibit considerable variation. 
D) Some characteristics are heritable and passed on to offspring. 
E) Some characteristics afford their possessor a better chance of survival.

Question 18

The distribution of different organisms over the surface of the earth

Accepted Answer

A) offers evidence for evolution. 
B) provides evidence for a single center of evolution. 
C) appears to be simply a matter of chance. 
D) is not affected by biogeographical features. 
E) is primarily the result of human activities. 
A) offers evidence for evolution. 
B) provides evidence for a single center of evolution. 
C) appears to be simply a matter of chance. 
D) is not affected by biogeographical features. 
E) is primarily the result of human activities.

Question 19

Large, flightless, long-necked birds

Accepted Answer

A) are native to three continents. 
B) inhabit flat, open grasslands. 
C) closely resemble each other in morphology and behavior. 
D) occur at about the same distance from the equator. 
E) fit all of these descriptions. 
A) are native to three continents. 
B) inhabit flat, open grasslands. 
C) closely resemble each other in morphology and behavior. 
D) occur at about the same distance from the equator. 
E) fit all of these descriptions.

Question 20

According to Lamarck, the characteristics of organisms change because of

Accepted Answer

A) chance. 
B) an innate drive for perfection. 
C) extinction of competitors. 
D) special acts of creation. 
E) genetic mutation. 
A) chance. 
B) an innate drive for perfection. 
C) extinction of competitors. 
D) special acts of creation. 
E) genetic mutation.

Exam 17: The Macroevolutionary Puzzle

Natural selection operates to produce changes in

In the nineteenth century, prevailing beliefs came into conflict with findings from all of these EXCEPT

Fossils found in the lowest geological strata are generally the most

Which of the following organisms would you expect to find preserved as a fossil?

The fossil record is incomplete because

Lamarck believed

Charles Darwin

Which of the following statements is NOT true about asteroids?

The most important evidence that Darwin used to develop his theory of natural selection came from

One part of Darwin's theory is that individuals with certain traits have an increased competitive edge.The source of these traits is

Scientists began to question the perfection of the Chain of Being because of

People embracing the idea of the great Chain of Being did NOT believe in which of the following?

Which of the following has no part in today's concept of natural selection?

The operation of natural selection depends upon the fact that

Barringer Crater in Arizona was formed when a 300,000-ton asteroid slammed into Earth 50,000 years ago.Which of the following is true about this event?

Darwin's finches are found on the __________ Islands.

Which of the following was NOT one of Darwin's observations?

The distribution of different organisms over the surface of the earth

Large, flightless, long-necked birds

According to Lamarck, the characteristics of organisms change because of

Invitation to Biology

Lifes Chemical Basis

Molecules of Life

Cell Structure and Function

A Closer Look at Cell Membranes

Ground Rules of Metabolism

Where It Startsphotosynthesis

Energy-Releasing Pathways

How Cells Reproduce

Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction

Observing Patterns in Inherited Traits

Chromosomes and Human Inheritance

Dna Structure and Function

From Dna to Protein

Controls Over Genes

Recombinant Dna and Genetic Engineering

Emergence of Evolutionary Thought

Organizing Information About Species

The Origin and Evolution of Life

Viruses and Prokaryotes

Protists the Simplest Eukaryotes

Plants

Fungi

Animals: the Invertebrates

Animal Evolution the Chordates

Human Evolution: a Case Study

Plant Tissues

Plant Nutrition and Transport

Plant Reproduction

Plant Growth and Development

Animal Tissues and Organ Systems

Neural Control

Sensory Perception

Endocrine Control

Protection, Support, and Movement

Circulation

Immunity

Respiration

Digestion and Human Nutrition

Maintaining the Internal Environment

Animal Reproductive Systems

Animal Development

Animal Behavior

Population Ecology

Community Structure and Biodiversity

Ecosystems

The Biosphere

Human Impacts on the Biosphere

Filters