Question 1

Who wrote On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection?

Accepted Answer

A)  Malthus 
B)  Wallace 
C)  Darwin 
D)  Mendel 
E)  Lamarck 
A)  Malthus 
B)  Wallace 
C)  Darwin 
D)  Mendel 
E)  Lamarck C

Question 2

The idea that physical changes I make to myself will be passed on to my children was proposed by

Accepted Answer

A)  Cuvier. 
B)  Lyell. 
C)  Darwin. 
D)  Plato. 
E)  Lamarck. 
A)  Cuvier. 
B)  Lyell. 
C)  Darwin. 
D)  Plato. 
E)  Lamarck. E

Question 3

Mammalian appendages with similar bone structures can be used for flying, swimming, running, or grasping. These are examples of structures.

Accepted Answer

homologous

Question 4

Darwin realized that most species produce many more offspring than is necessary to maintain a constant population. The "excess" individuals in a population

Accepted Answer

A)  die before they can reproduce. 
B)  mutate and are able to adapt to new environments. 
C)  evolve to become new species. 
D)  migrate to another location. 
A)  die before they can reproduce. 
B)  mutate and are able to adapt to new environments. 
C)  evolve to become new species. 
D)  migrate to another location.

Question 5

Humans still have body hair even though it is greatly reduced and serves little function. The hair is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  mutation. 
B)  adaptation. 
C)  vestigial structure. 
D)  homologous structure. 
E)  analogous structure. 
A)  mutation. 
B)  adaptation. 
C)  vestigial structure. 
D)  homologous structure. 
E)  analogous structure.

Question 6

Which of the following would you predict would evolve in guppies that are taken from streams in Trinidad with predators and put into streams lacking predators?

Accepted Answer

A)  Male guppies will become more colorful. 
B)  Male guppies will not change in coloration. 
C)  Guppies would evolve to have females avoid more colorful males. 
D)  Male guppies will become less colorful. 
E)  Guppies would evolve to have females prefer less colorful males. 
A)  Male guppies will become more colorful. 
B)  Male guppies will not change in coloration. 
C)  Guppies would evolve to have females avoid more colorful males. 
D)  Male guppies will become less colorful. 
E)  Guppies would evolve to have females prefer less colorful males.

Question 7

A postulate is

Accepted Answer

A)  a set of four statements that confirm that evolution will occur. 
B)  a statement accepted as true for the purposes of logical argument. 
C)  a hypothesis. 
D)  an idea that has been proven through scientific investigation. 
E)  an educated guess. 
A)  a set of four statements that confirm that evolution will occur. 
B)  a statement accepted as true for the purposes of logical argument. 
C)  a hypothesis. 
D)  an idea that has been proven through scientific investigation. 
E)  an educated guess.

Question 8

Of all the possible amino acids, all living organisms make use of only the same 20 amino acids. This supports the idea that

Accepted Answer

A)  only a limited number of DNA mutations are possible. 
B)  bacteria, animals, and plants developed independently. 
C)  natural selection drives evolution. 
D)  all living things are derived from a single common ancestor. 
E)  only 20 amino acids exist on Earth. 
A)  only a limited number of DNA mutations are possible. 
B)  bacteria, animals, and plants developed independently. 
C)  natural selection drives evolution. 
D)  all living things are derived from a single common ancestor. 
E)  only 20 amino acids exist on Earth.

Question 9

The amino acid sequences of human and bonobo hemoglobin are almost identical, yet they differ considerably from the sequence of the hemoglobin of wolves. This fact indicates that

Accepted Answer

A)  bonobos are more closely related to humans than to wolves. 
B)  wolves and bonobos are closely related. 
C)  humans are more closely related to wolves than to bonobos. 
A)  bonobos are more closely related to humans than to wolves. 
B)  wolves and bonobos are closely related. 
C)  humans are more closely related to wolves than to bonobos.

Question 10

If the weather in Virginia changed so dramatically that there was snow on the ground most of the year, what would occur in the local squirrel population?

Accepted Answer

A)  Evolution would produce white squirrels because white squirrels survive and reproduce better than squirrels of any other color. 
B)  The change in the weather would cause a mutation that makes their fur white, resulting in white squirrels that survive and reproduce better than gray squirrels. 
C)  Natural selection could not change the population of squirrels in response to such climatic changes. 
D)  Natural selection would cause a new gene to appear in the population, resulting in squirrels growing white fur when there is snow on the ground and growing gray fur at other times. 
E)  If a mutation occurred that caused white fur to develop, such white squirrels would likely survive and reproduce better than gray squirrels. 
A)  Evolution would produce white squirrels because white squirrels survive and reproduce better than squirrels of any other color. 
B)  The change in the weather would cause a mutation that makes their fur white, resulting in white squirrels that survive and reproduce better than gray squirrels. 
C)  Natural selection could not change the population of squirrels in response to such climatic changes. 
D)  Natural selection would cause a new gene to appear in the population, resulting in squirrels growing white fur when there is snow on the ground and growing gray fur at other times. 
E)  If a mutation occurred that caused white fur to develop, such white squirrels would likely survive and reproduce better than gray squirrels.

Question 11

Inheritable mutations in the genes of an individual arise due to

Accepted Answer

A)  other species in the environment. 
B)  artificial selection. 
C)  environmental change. 
D)  vigorous exercise or effort. 
E)  random chance. 
A)  other species in the environment. 
B)  artificial selection. 
C)  environmental change. 
D)  vigorous exercise or effort. 
E)  random chance.

Question 12

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

Question 13

A hospital uses a new cleaner to disinfect surfaces. Within a few years, many patients are developing infections from a bacterium that is resistant to the disinfectant. How does this happen?

Accepted Answer

All populations contain genetic variatio

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of artificial selection?

Accepted Answer

A)  The many different species of Oak trees found in the forest. 
B)  Cheetahs that can outrun their prey 
C)  The many different breeds of domestic cats 
D)  Green tree frogs that blend perfectly into their leafy surroundings 
E)  All of the above 
A)  The many different species of Oak trees found in the forest. 
B)  Cheetahs that can outrun their prey 
C)  The many different breeds of domestic cats 
D)  Green tree frogs that blend perfectly into their leafy surroundings 
E)  All of the above

Question 15

Which trait provides a survival advantage?

Accepted Answer

A)  A shrub that loses the ability to make seeds 
B)  A tree that grows shorter than the surrounding trees 
C)  A brightly colored fish that attracts predators 
D)  A horse that lacks the ability to digest either grains or grass 
E)  A flower that attracts more bees 
A)  A shrub that loses the ability to make seeds 
B)  A tree that grows shorter than the surrounding trees 
C)  A brightly colored fish that attracts predators 
D)  A horse that lacks the ability to digest either grains or grass 
E)  A flower that attracts more bees

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 17

The large, productive udders of domesticated milk goats and cows are structures that have arisen through
.

Accepted Answer

artificial

Question 18

Sea squirts and lampreys, which are closely related 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)  a common ancestry. 
C)  inheritance of acquired characteristics. 
D)  the "Ladder of Nature." 
E)  uniformitarianism. 
A)  artificial selection. 
B)  a common ancestry. 
C)  inheritance of acquired characteristics. 
D)  the "Ladder of Nature." 
E)  uniformitarianism.

Question 19

Neither Wallace nor Darwin discussed genes when describing natural selection. Why?

Accepted Answer

Neither genes nor DNA had been

Question 20

Natural selection is best described as

Accepted Answer

A)  causing the death of a significant proportion of the population. 
B)  increasing the perfection of a species. 
C)  driving the species toward an eventual endpoint in which the species possesses the best possible adaptations for that particular environment. 
D)  working on the existing variation of traits to favor those better suited to the organism's environment. 
E)  the ability to generate new traits that better suit the species. 
A)  causing the death of a significant proportion of the population. 
B)  increasing the perfection of a species. 
C)  driving the species toward an eventual endpoint in which the species possesses the best possible adaptations for that particular environment. 
D)  working on the existing variation of traits to favor those better suited to the organism's environment. 
E)  the ability to generate new traits that better suit the species.

Exam 15: Principles of Evolution

Who wrote On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection?

The idea that physical changes I make to myself will be passed on to my children was proposed by

Mammalian appendages with similar bone structures can be used for flying, swimming, running, or grasping. These are examples of structures.

Darwin realized that most species produce many more offspring than is necessary to maintain a constant population. The "excess" individuals in a population

Humans still have body hair even though it is greatly reduced and serves little function. The hair is a(n)

Which of the following would you predict would evolve in guppies that are taken from streams in Trinidad with predators and put into streams lacking predators?

A postulate is

Of all the possible amino acids, all living organisms make use of only the same 20 amino acids. This supports the idea that

The amino acid sequences of human and bonobo hemoglobin are almost identical, yet they differ considerably from the sequence of the hemoglobin of wolves. This fact indicates that

If the weather in Virginia changed so dramatically that there was snow on the ground most of the year, what would occur in the local squirrel population?

Inheritable mutations in the genes of an individual arise due to

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?

A hospital uses a new cleaner to disinfect surfaces. Within a few years, many patients are developing infections from a bacterium that is resistant to the disinfectant. How does this happen?

Which of the following is an example of artificial selection?

Which trait provides a survival advantage?

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

The large, productive udders of domesticated milk goats and cows are structures that have arisen through .

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

Neither Wallace nor Darwin discussed genes when describing natural selection. Why?

Natural selection is best described as

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

Cellular Reproduction

Meiosis: the Basis of Sexual 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 Amid 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

Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycling in Ecosystems

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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