Question 1

If two groups are genetically isolated from each other, then by definition:

Accepted Answer

A)  the two groups look different. 
B)  one group cannot exchange genes with the other group. 
C)  one group lives longer than the other. 
D)  one group is more fit than the other group. 
E)  gene flow occurs between the two groups. 
A)  the two groups look different. 
B)  one group cannot exchange genes with the other group. 
C)  one group lives longer than the other. 
D)  one group is more fit than the other group. 
E)  gene flow occurs between the two groups.

Question 2

Which of the following statements about sympatric speciation is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is more common than allopatric speciation. 
B)  It involves a doubling of chromosome number. 
C)  It involves the formation of polyploids. 
D)  It can arise as a result of nondisjunction. 
E)  It involves speciation without geographic separation. 
A)  It is more common than allopatric speciation. 
B)  It involves a doubling of chromosome number. 
C)  It involves the formation of polyploids. 
D)  It can arise as a result of nondisjunction. 
E)  It involves speciation without geographic separation.

Question 3

The origin of taxonomic groups above the level of the species is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  coevolution. 
B)  punctuated equilibrium. 
C)  gradualism. 
D)  microevolution. 
E)  macroevolution. 
A)  coevolution. 
B)  punctuated equilibrium. 
C)  gradualism. 
D)  microevolution. 
E)  macroevolution.

Question 4

The tendency of individuals to vary over time in response to different environmental conditions is called:

Accepted Answer

A)  adaptation. 
B)  developmental plasticity. 
C)  heterozygote advantage. 
D)  genotypic plasticity. 
E)  hybrid vigor. 
A)  adaptation. 
B)  developmental plasticity. 
C)  heterozygote advantage. 
D)  genotypic plasticity. 
E)  hybrid vigor.

Question 5

Allopatric speciation is different from sympatric speciation in that allopatric speciation involves:

Accepted Answer

A)  polyploidy. 
B)  geographic isolation. 
C)  hybridization. 
D)  nondisjunction during meiosis. 
E)  nondisjunction during mitosis. 
A)  polyploidy. 
B)  geographic isolation. 
C)  hybridization. 
D)  nondisjunction during meiosis. 
E)  nondisjunction during mitosis.

Question 6

In sympatric speciation, new species are formed by being separated geographically.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

In a population, ______ results from the immigration or emigration of individuals.

Accepted Answer

A)  mutation 
B)  genetic drift 
C)  gene flow 
D)  natural selection 
E)  nonrandom mating 
A)  mutation 
B)  genetic drift 
C)  gene flow 
D)  natural selection 
E)  nonrandom mating

Question 8

When biologists speak of the "fitness" of an organism they are referring to:

Accepted Answer

A)  its strength. 
B)  its beauty. 
C)  its resistance to disease. 
D)  the size of its gene pool. 
E)  the number of its surviving offspring. 
A)  its strength. 
B)  its beauty. 
C)  its resistance to disease. 
D)  the size of its gene pool. 
E)  the number of its surviving offspring.

Question 9

The origin of taxonomic groups above the species level requires mechanisms that are different from those responsible for the origin of species.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Which of the following statements concerning the Hardy-Weinberg Law is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  It explains why dominant alleles do not drive out recessives. 
B)  It explains why dominant and recessive alleles can remain in a population. 
C)  It provides a standard for detecting evolutionary change. 
D)  It provides a standard against which we can measure changes in allele frequencies. 
E)  It involves conditions that are usually met in natural populations. 
A)  It explains why dominant alleles do not drive out recessives. 
B)  It explains why dominant and recessive alleles can remain in a population. 
C)  It provides a standard for detecting evolutionary change. 
D)  It provides a standard against which we can measure changes in allele frequencies. 
E)  It involves conditions that are usually met in natural populations.

Question 11

An example of ______ is when a single plant seed is carried by the wind to a remote island where it initiates a new population.

Accepted Answer

A)  nonrandom mating 
B)  natural selection 
C)  fitness 
D)  the founder effect 
E)  the bottleneck effect 
A)  nonrandom mating 
B)  natural selection 
C)  fitness 
D)  the founder effect 
E)  the bottleneck effect

Question 12

The gradualism model of evolution states that a species appears abruptly in the fossil record.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which of the following statements about allopatric speciation is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  Flowering plants tend to speciate over small distances. 
B)  Snails tend to speciate over small distances. 
C)  Birds tend to speciate over large distances. 
D)  Organisms with restricted dispersal should form new species over large areas. 
E)  Organisms with large dispersal ability should form species over large distances. 
A)  Flowering plants tend to speciate over small distances. 
B)  Snails tend to speciate over small distances. 
C)  Birds tend to speciate over large distances. 
D)  Organisms with restricted dispersal should form new species over large areas. 
E)  Organisms with large dispersal ability should form species over large distances.

Question 14

As an example of rapid evolutionary change, one variety of Agrostis grows much faster on tailings and dumps around abandoned lead mines than does another variety. What is the explanation for this?

Accepted Answer

A)  The high lead content of the soil causes an increase in the mutation rate. 
B)  Lead stimulates the growth of plants. 
C)  Selection has favored the development of the lead-resistant variety. 
D)  Selection has favored the development of the lead-sensitive variety. 
E)  Lead stimulates the production of poisons that protect the plants against predators. 
A)  The high lead content of the soil causes an increase in the mutation rate. 
B)  Lead stimulates the growth of plants. 
C)  Selection has favored the development of the lead-resistant variety. 
D)  Selection has favored the development of the lead-sensitive variety. 
E)  Lead stimulates the production of poisons that protect the plants against predators.

Question 15

An example of the founder effect is a volcanic eruption destroying a large proportion of a particular plant population.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

In a population that is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of a particular recessive allele is 40 percent. What proportion of the population is homozygous for the dominant allele?

Accepted Answer

A)  60 percent 
B)  40 percent 
C)  36 percent 
D)  16 percent 
E)  6 percent 
A)  60 percent 
B)  40 percent 
C)  36 percent 
D)  16 percent 
E)  6 percent

Question 17

The morphological species concept states that species are designated based on anatomical and morphological criteria.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

In the context of population genetics, fitness refers to an individual being physically fit to survive in a particular environment.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Which of the following statements concerning ecotypes is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are members of a species occupying different habitats. 
B)  They exhibit a gradual change in phenotype correlated with gradual changes in the environment. 
C)  They usually differ physiologically. 
D)  They usually differ morphologically. 
E)  They usually differ genetically. 
A)  They are members of a species occupying different habitats. 
B)  They exhibit a gradual change in phenotype correlated with gradual changes in the environment. 
C)  They usually differ physiologically. 
D)  They usually differ morphologically. 
E)  They usually differ genetically.

Question 20

The existence of Platanus × hybrida is indicative of the fact that:

Accepted Answer

A)  fertile hybrids between species can occur. 
B)  members of different species do not ordinarily interbreed in nature. 
C)  members of different species should really be considered part of the same species. 
D)  morphologically distinct species should be considered subspecies. 
E)  the London plane tree should be considered a separate species in its own right. 
A)  fertile hybrids between species can occur. 
B)  members of different species do not ordinarily interbreed in nature. 
C)  members of different species should really be considered part of the same species. 
D)  morphologically distinct species should be considered subspecies. 
E)  the London plane tree should be considered a separate species in its own right.

Exam 11: The Process of Evolution

If two groups are genetically isolated from each other, then by definition:

Which of the following statements about sympatric speciation is FALSE?

The origin of taxonomic groups above the level of the species is called:

The tendency of individuals to vary over time in response to different environmental conditions is called:

Allopatric speciation is different from sympatric speciation in that allopatric speciation involves:

In sympatric speciation, new species are formed by being separated geographically.

In a population, ______ results from the immigration or emigration of individuals.

When biologists speak of the "fitness" of an organism they are referring to:

The origin of taxonomic groups above the species level requires mechanisms that are different from those responsible for the origin of species.

Which of the following statements concerning the Hardy-Weinberg Law is FALSE?

An example of ______ is when a single plant seed is carried by the wind to a remote island where it initiates a new population.

The gradualism model of evolution states that a species appears abruptly in the fossil record.

Which of the following statements about allopatric speciation is FALSE?

As an example of rapid evolutionary change, one variety of Agrostis grows much faster on tailings and dumps around abandoned lead mines than does another variety. What is the explanation for this?

An example of the founder effect is a volcanic eruption destroying a large proportion of a particular plant population.

In a population that is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of a particular recessive allele is 40 percent. What proportion of the population is homozygous for the dominant allele?

The morphological species concept states that species are designated based on anatomical and morphological criteria.

In the context of population genetics, fitness refers to an individual being physically fit to survive in a particular environment.

Which of the following statements concerning ecotypes is FALSE?

The existence of Platanus × hybrida is indicative of the fact that:

Botany: an Introduction

The Molecular Composition of Plant Cells

The Plant Cell and the Cell Cycle

The Movement of Substances Into and Out of Cells

The Flow of Energy

Respiration

Photosynthesis, Light, and Life

Sexual Reproduction and Heredity

The Chemistry of Heredity and Gene Expression

Recombinant Dna Technology, Plant Biotechnology, and Genomics

Systematics: the Science of Biological Diversity

Prokaryotes and Viruses

Fungi

Protists: Algae and Heterotrophic Protists

Bryophytes

Seedless Vascular Plants

Gymnosperms

Introduction to the Angiosperms

Evolution of the Angiosperms

Plants and People

Early Development of the Plant Body

Cells and Tissues of the Plant Body

The Root: Structure and Development

The Shoot: Primary Structure and Development

Secondary Growth in Stems

Regulating Growth and Development: the Plant Hormones

External Factors and Plant Growth

Plant Nutrition and Soils

The Movement of Water and Solutes in Plants

The Dynamics of Communities and Ecosystems

Global Ecology

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