Question 1

Which of the following best characterizes evolutionary divergence by Darwin's observation?

Accepted Answer

A)  the great similarity of form of species 
B)  the great variety of form of species 
C)  differences in appearance of nutria and beaver 
D)  differences in bill shape and food habits of finches 
A)  the great similarity of form of species 
B)  the great variety of form of species 
C)  differences in appearance of nutria and beaver 
D)  differences in bill shape and food habits of finches D

Question 2

What was the importance of George-Louis Leclerc's findings?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most animals have not changed since their creation, and they still look the same and function in the same way as in their past. 
B)  Most animals have not changed since their creation, but some have evolved vestigial structures as new components. 
C)  Some animals must have changed since their creation, and their vestigial structures must have functioned in ancestral organisms. 
D)  Some animals must have not changed since their creation, and all their structures must have functioned in ancestral organisms too. 
A)  Most animals have not changed since their creation, and they still look the same and function in the same way as in their past. 
B)  Most animals have not changed since their creation, but some have evolved vestigial structures as new components. 
C)  Some animals must have changed since their creation, and their vestigial structures must have functioned in ancestral organisms. 
D)  Some animals must have not changed since their creation, and all their structures must have functioned in ancestral organisms too. C

Question 3

Which of these statements represents what Darwin thought of artificial selection?

Accepted Answer

A)  He reasoned that if characteristics that better enable organisms to adapt to specific environmental pressures exist, then artificial selection will tend to increase those in succeeding generations. 
B)  He reasoned that if a person could select different characteristics when breeding organisms, then nature could do so as well. 
C)  Humans were selecting the characteristics they wanted in the offspring by choosing parents with those traits. 
D)  Humans were selecting the characteristics they wanted in the offspring by eliminating individuals that did not show these characteristics. 
A)  He reasoned that if characteristics that better enable organisms to adapt to specific environmental pressures exist, then artificial selection will tend to increase those in succeeding generations. 
B)  He reasoned that if a person could select different characteristics when breeding organisms, then nature could do so as well. 
C)  Humans were selecting the characteristics they wanted in the offspring by choosing parents with those traits. 
D)  Humans were selecting the characteristics they wanted in the offspring by eliminating individuals that did not show these characteristics. C

Question 4

Which of the following happened before Darwin?

Accepted Answer

A)  No one had yet conceived of biological evolution. 
B)  Lamarck wrote about biological evolution, but had the mechanism wrong. 
C)  Lamarck had the idea of natural selection, but was ignored. 
D)  Malthus demonstrated the progression of fossils in rocks. 
A)  No one had yet conceived of biological evolution. 
B)  Lamarck wrote about biological evolution, but had the mechanism wrong. 
C)  Lamarck had the idea of natural selection, but was ignored. 
D)  Malthus demonstrated the progression of fossils in rocks.

Question 5

Which of the following best compares microevolution with macroevolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Microevolution describes the small-scale evolutionary changes that populations undergo. Macroevolution describes larger-scale genetic changes observed in species. 
B)  Microevolution describes the large-scale genetic changes that populations undergo. Macroevolution describes small-scale evolutionary changes observed in species. 
C)  Microevolution describes the small-scale genetic changes that populations undergo. Macroevolution describes larger-scale evolutionary changes observed in species. 
D)  Microevolution describes the small-scale genetic changes that species undergo. Macroevolution describes larger-scale evolutionary changes observed in populations. 
A)  Microevolution describes the small-scale evolutionary changes that populations undergo. Macroevolution describes larger-scale genetic changes observed in species. 
B)  Microevolution describes the large-scale genetic changes that populations undergo. Macroevolution describes small-scale evolutionary changes observed in species. 
C)  Microevolution describes the small-scale genetic changes that populations undergo. Macroevolution describes larger-scale evolutionary changes observed in species. 
D)  Microevolution describes the small-scale genetic changes that species undergo. Macroevolution describes larger-scale evolutionary changes observed in populations.

Question 6

Match the descriptions listed below with their correct discipline.
-A practitioner of this discipline might observe that species on oceanic islands often closely resemble species on the nearest mainland.

Accepted Answer

A) population genetics 
B) microevolution 
C) historical biogeography 
D) comparative morphology 
E) macroevolution
F)the fossil records
G)molecular techniques 
A) population genetics 
B) microevolution 
C) historical biogeography 
D) comparative morphology 
E) macroevolution
F)the fossil records
G)molecular techniques

Question 7

What was a basic truth of inheritance that had been known well before Darwin's time?

Accepted Answer

A)  Offspring frequently resemble their parents, offspring inherit genes from their parents, and selective breeding improves domesticated plants and animals. 
B)  Offspring frequently resemble their parents and selective breeding improves domesticated plants and animals. 
C)  Offspring inherit genes from their parents. 
D)  Offspring frequently resemble their parents. 
A)  Offspring frequently resemble their parents, offspring inherit genes from their parents, and selective breeding improves domesticated plants and animals. 
B)  Offspring frequently resemble their parents and selective breeding improves domesticated plants and animals. 
C)  Offspring inherit genes from their parents. 
D)  Offspring frequently resemble their parents.

Question 8

Match each person with their correct concept.
-George-Louis de Buffon

Accepted Answer

A) vestigial structures 
B) evolution by natural selection 
C) inheritance of acquired characteristics 
D) uniformitarianism 
A) vestigial structures 
B) evolution by natural selection 
C) inheritance of acquired characteristics 
D) uniformitarianism

Question 9

Which of the following have extended the achievements of the modern synthesis of evolution, and what is the result?

Accepted Answer

A)  Molecular techniques have extended the achievements of the modern synthesis, allowing precise analysis of the genetic basis of evolutionary change. 
B)  Molecular techniques have extended the achievements of the modern synthesis, allowing precise analysis of the genetic basis of evolutionary change and the genetic relatedness of living and extinct organisms. 
C)  Molecular techniques have extended the achievements of the modern synthesis, allowing the genetic relatedness of living and extinct organisms. 
D)  Genetic techniques have extended the achievements of the modern synthesis, allowing precise analysis of the genetic relatedness of living and extinct organisms. 
A)  Molecular techniques have extended the achievements of the modern synthesis, allowing precise analysis of the genetic basis of evolutionary change. 
B)  Molecular techniques have extended the achievements of the modern synthesis, allowing precise analysis of the genetic basis of evolutionary change and the genetic relatedness of living and extinct organisms. 
C)  Molecular techniques have extended the achievements of the modern synthesis, allowing the genetic relatedness of living and extinct organisms. 
D)  Genetic techniques have extended the achievements of the modern synthesis, allowing precise analysis of the genetic relatedness of living and extinct organisms.

Question 10

Which of these observations did NOT influence Darwin's later thoughts about evolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  North American and South American species were more similar to each other than European and African species. 
B)  Species on islands differed from species on the mainland closest to the island. 
C)  A great variety of species exist across the globe. 
D)  Species on different islands were very different. 
A)  North American and South American species were more similar to each other than European and African species. 
B)  Species on islands differed from species on the mainland closest to the island. 
C)  A great variety of species exist across the globe. 
D)  Species on different islands were very different.

Question 11

While collecting a diverse group of finches, Darwin noticed great variability in the shapes of their bills. However, he incorrectly assumed which of the following.

Accepted Answer

A)  that birds on the same island belonged to the same species 
B)  that birds on the same island did not belong to the same species 
C)  that birds on different islands did not belong to the same species 
D)  that birds on different islands belonged to the same species 
A)  that birds on the same island belonged to the same species 
B)  that birds on the same island did not belong to the same species 
C)  that birds on different islands did not belong to the same species 
D)  that birds on different islands belonged to the same species

Question 12

Evolution by natural selection, as conceived by Darwin, is NOT based on Mendel's experiments with peas.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Match the descriptions listed below with their correct discipline.
-This documents continuity in morphological characteristics.

Accepted Answer

A) population genetics 
B) microevolution 
C) historical biogeography 
D) comparative morphology 
E) macroevolution
F)the fossil records
G)molecular techniques 
A) population genetics 
B) microevolution 
C) historical biogeography 
D) comparative morphology 
E) macroevolution
F)the fossil records
G)molecular techniques

Question 14

Which of these disciplines have been profoundly influenced by the findings of evolutionary biology?

Accepted Answer

A)  genetics, molecular biology, developmental biology, systematics, and paleontology 
B)  molecular biology, forensic science, systematics, paleontology, and mathematics 
C)  forensic science, ecology, botany, astronomy, and physics 
D)  developmental biology, ecology, forensic science, astronomy, and paleontology 
A)  genetics, molecular biology, developmental biology, systematics, and paleontology 
B)  molecular biology, forensic science, systematics, paleontology, and mathematics 
C)  forensic science, ecology, botany, astronomy, and physics 
D)  developmental biology, ecology, forensic science, astronomy, and paleontology

Question 15

As a young child, you preferred to collect shells and insects, dig through the mud around a pond, and watch birds rather than play video games. What did you have in common with Charles Darwin?

Accepted Answer

A)  an interest in geology 
B)  an interest in history 
C)  an interest in natural history 
D)  an interest in biogeography 
A)  an interest in geology 
B)  an interest in history 
C)  an interest in natural history 
D)  an interest in biogeography

Question 16

Which two scientists evidenced evolution via natural selection as an idea whose time had come?

Accepted Answer

A)  Darwin and Wallace 
B)  Darwin and Lamarck 
C)  Darwin and Malthus 
D)  Lamarck and Wallace 
A)  Darwin and Wallace 
B)  Darwin and Lamarck 
C)  Darwin and Malthus 
D)  Lamarck and Wallace

Question 17

What was the major stumbling block for the acceptance of natural selection as a mechanism for evolution when proposed by Darwin?

Accepted Answer

A)  lack of a fossil record 
B)  lack of observational and experimental data 
C)  lack of a plausible theory of heredity 
D)  lack of evidence for artificial selection 
A)  lack of a fossil record 
B)  lack of observational and experimental data 
C)  lack of a plausible theory of heredity 
D)  lack of evidence for artificial selection

Question 18

If organisms have a huge capacity to reproduce, why aren't populations of all organisms enormous?

Accepted Answer

A)  The overall number of populations constrains the size of any population. 
B)  Genetics constrain the size of any population. 
C)  Limited resources constrain the size of any population. 
D)  Climate factors constrain the size of any population. 
A)  The overall number of populations constrains the size of any population. 
B)  Genetics constrain the size of any population. 
C)  Limited resources constrain the size of any population. 
D)  Climate factors constrain the size of any population.

Question 19

What was the reason Darwin was sailing aboard the HMS Beagle?

Accepted Answer

A)  He was a naturalist. 
B)  He was a geologist. 
C)  He was the captain's personal physician. 
D)  He was the captain's dining companion. 
A)  He was a naturalist. 
B)  He was a geologist. 
C)  He was the captain's personal physician. 
D)  He was the captain's dining companion.

Question 20

Match the descriptions listed below with their correct discipline.
-Ambiguous conclusions about phylogenetic relationship derived from comparative morphology can now generally be clarified by this discipline.

Accepted Answer

A) population genetics 
B) microevolution 
C) historical biogeography 
D) comparative morphology 
E) macroevolution
F)the fossil records
G)molecular techniques 
A) population genetics 
B) microevolution 
C) historical biogeography 
D) comparative morphology 
E) macroevolution
F)the fossil records
G)molecular techniques

Exam 16: Evolution: the Development of the Theory

Which of the following best characterizes evolutionary divergence by Darwin's observation?

What was the importance of George-Louis Leclerc's findings?

Which of these statements represents what Darwin thought of artificial selection?

Which of the following happened before Darwin?

Which of the following best compares microevolution with macroevolution?

Match the descriptions listed below with their correct discipline. -A practitioner of this discipline might observe that species on oceanic islands often closely resemble species on the nearest mainland.

What was a basic truth of inheritance that had been known well before Darwin's time?

Match each person with their correct concept. -George-Louis de Buffon

Which of the following have extended the achievements of the modern synthesis of evolution, and what is the result?

Which of these observations did NOT influence Darwin's later thoughts about evolution?

While collecting a diverse group of finches, Darwin noticed great variability in the shapes of their bills. However, he incorrectly assumed which of the following.

Evolution by natural selection, as conceived by Darwin, is NOT based on Mendel's experiments with peas.

Match the descriptions listed below with their correct discipline. -This documents continuity in morphological characteristics.

Which of these disciplines have been profoundly influenced by the findings of evolutionary biology?

As a young child, you preferred to collect shells and insects, dig through the mud around a pond, and watch birds rather than play video games. What did you have in common with Charles Darwin?

Which two scientists evidenced evolution via natural selection as an idea whose time had come?

What was the major stumbling block for the acceptance of natural selection as a mechanism for evolution when proposed by Darwin?

If organisms have a huge capacity to reproduce, why aren't populations of all organisms enormous?

What was the reason Darwin was sailing aboard the HMS Beagle?

Match the descriptions listed below with their correct discipline. -Ambiguous conclusions about phylogenetic relationship derived from comparative morphology can now generally be clarified by this discipline.

Light and Life

The Cell: an Overview

Energy and Enzymes

Cell Membranes and Signaling

Cellular Respiration

Photosynthesis

Cell Cycles

Genetic Recombination

The Chromosomal Basis of Mendelian Inheritance

Genetic Linkage, Sex-Linkage, and Other Non-Mendelian Inheritance Mechanisms

DNA Structure, Replication, and Repair

Gene Structure Expression, and Mutation

Regulation of Gene Expression

Dna Technologies

Genomes

Microevolution: Changes Within Populations

Speciation and Macroevolution

Systematics and Phylogenetics: Revealing the Tree of Life

Humans and Evolution

Defining Life and Its Origins

Viruses, Viroids, and Prions: Infectious Biological Particles

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Fungi

Plants

Animals

Conservation of Biodiversity

Population Ecology

Species Interactions and Community Ecology

Ecosystems

Animal Behaviour

Organization of the Plant Body

Transport in Plants

Reproduction and Development in Flowering Plants

Plant Nutrition

Plant Signals and Responses to the Environment

Introduction to Animal Organization and Physiology

Animal Nutrition

Gas Exchange: the Respiratory System

Internal Transport: the Circulatory System

Regulation of the Internal Environment: Water, Solutes, and Temperature

Control of Animal Processes: Endocrine Control

Animal Reproduction

Control of Animal Processes: Neural Control

Muscles, Skeletons, and Body Movements

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