Question 1

Vestigial organs have important functions in many organisms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

A species of cave beetle that lives in total darkness is blind but has remnants of what looks like eyes. These "eyes" are

Accepted Answer

A)  vestigial. 
B)  homologous. 
C)  analogous. 
D)  convergent. 
A)  vestigial. 
B)  homologous. 
C)  analogous. 
D)  convergent.

Question 3

A(n) _______ is a characteristic of an organism that improves the performance of that organism in its environment, thus improving its reproductive success.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n) _______ is a characteristic of an...

Question 4

The fact that small, nonfunctioning hind legs are found in the skeletons of many snakes suggests that snakes

Accepted Answer

A)  are in the process of evolving legs. 
B)  evolved from organisms with legs. 
C)  are really populations of lizards with severe mutation in limb development. 
D)  evolved from eels (snake-like fish). 
A)  are in the process of evolving legs. 
B)  evolved from organisms with legs. 
C)  are really populations of lizards with severe mutation in limb development. 
D)  evolved from eels (snake-like fish).

Question 5

The proteins and DNA of organisms that share a recent common ancestor are _______ [more or less?] similar than the proteins and DNA of organisms that do not share a recent common ancestor.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The proteins and DNA of organisms that...

Question 6

Evolutionary changes occur when _______ acts upon populations containing individuals with genetic differences.

Accepted Answer

A)  continental drift 
B)  natural selection 
C)  weather 
D)  mutation 
A)  continental drift 
B)  natural selection 
C)  weather 
D)  mutation

Question 7

The origin of numerous species of Galápagos finches from one original species is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  gene cascades. 
B)  mass extinctions. 
C)  adaptation and speciation. 
D)  genetic drift and emigration. 
A)  gene cascades. 
B)  mass extinctions. 
C)  adaptation and speciation. 
D)  genetic drift and emigration.

Question 8

Darwin's ideas on natural selection were accepted immediately, thus showing that correct ideas are recognized and accepted as soon as they are presented.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Which of the following is not evidence of evolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  The percentage of squirrels with black fur in a population increases from 1 to 25 percent over the course of 50 years. 
B)  A fossil is found of a small dinosaur with bird-like feathers on its body. 
C)  Bacteria undergo mutation at a faster rate than humans do. 
D)  Humans have created more than 400 varieties of dogs by using selective breeding processes. 
A)  The percentage of squirrels with black fur in a population increases from 1 to 25 percent over the course of 50 years. 
B)  A fossil is found of a small dinosaur with bird-like feathers on its body. 
C)  Bacteria undergo mutation at a faster rate than humans do. 
D)  Humans have created more than 400 varieties of dogs by using selective breeding processes.

Question 10

In the phrase "survival of the fittest," the term "fittest" refers to the individual with the greatest physical strength.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

Evolutionary changes on a small scale are called ______________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Evolutionary changes on a small scale are...

Question 12

An example of evolution that has been readily observed is

Accepted Answer

A)  a chameleon changing colors as it moves from a leaf of one color to a leaf of another color. 
B)  increased resistance of bacteria to an antibiotic that is used to kill them. 
C)  chimpanzees learning sign language. 
D)  humans teaching dogs to obey certain commands. 
A)  a chameleon changing colors as it moves from a leaf of one color to a leaf of another color. 
B)  increased resistance of bacteria to an antibiotic that is used to kill them. 
C)  chimpanzees learning sign language. 
D)  humans teaching dogs to obey certain commands.

Question 13

Scientists disagree on whether evolution occurs.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Two different species may have similar features because of

Accepted Answer

A)  genetic drift. 
B)  the fossil record. 
C)  artificial selection. 
D)  descent from a common ancestor. 
A)  genetic drift. 
B)  the fossil record. 
C)  artificial selection. 
D)  descent from a common ancestor.

Question 15

Scientists who believe in evolution are never religious.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Flounder (a type of fish) generally match the color of the sandy bottoms they inhabit. Their color allows them to hide from other organisms that might eat them. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  speciation. 
B)  adaptation. 
C)  continental drift. 
D)  guided mutation. 
A)  speciation. 
B)  adaptation. 
C)  continental drift. 
D)  guided mutation.

Question 17

Observations of changes over many generations in agricultural crops, such as wild mustard, provide evidence for evolution.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Peppered moths are generally light in color and blend into the trunks of the trees they live on. Populations of peppered moths found in areas where soot has blackened the tree trunks are dark in color. This example demonstrates

Accepted Answer

A)  artificial selection. 
B)  natural selection. 
C)  genetic drift. 
D)  vestigial coloration. 
A)  artificial selection. 
B)  natural selection. 
C)  genetic drift. 
D)  vestigial coloration.

Question 19

The fossil record

Accepted Answer

A)  proves that all known species of organisms appeared at the same time. 
B)  contains strong evidence that major new groups of organisms arose from previously existing organisms. 
C)  indicates that humans date back as far as the first indications of life. 
D)  has often been artificially created by evolutionary biologists. 
A)  proves that all known species of organisms appeared at the same time. 
B)  contains strong evidence that major new groups of organisms arose from previously existing organisms. 
C)  indicates that humans date back as far as the first indications of life. 
D)  has often been artificially created by evolutionary biologists.

Question 20

How could the appearance of a version of the hunger hormone, ghrelin, which also stimulates the learning and memory centers of the brain, lead to natural selection?

Accepted Answer

A)  Any individual with the "old" version of ghrelin dies so only those with the "new" version reproduce. The "old" version of the gene for ghrelin is removed from the population. 
B)  Throughout its life, an individual with the "new" version of ghrelin becomes better at finding food when hungry, and it teaches these skills to its offspring. 
C)  Individuals that are able to find more food have more resources and produce more offspring. As a result, the "new" version of ghrelin becomes more common in the population. 
D)  When faced with a period of extended drought, a large part of the human population died without regard to their genetic makeup. Many of the survivors happened to have the "new" version of ghrelin and therefore, the gene became more common in the population. 
A)  Any individual with the "old" version of ghrelin dies so only those with the "new" version reproduce. The "old" version of the gene for ghrelin is removed from the population. 
B)  Throughout its life, an individual with the "new" version of ghrelin becomes better at finding food when hungry, and it teaches these skills to its offspring. 
C)  Individuals that are able to find more food have more resources and produce more offspring. As a result, the "new" version of ghrelin becomes more common in the population. 
D)  When faced with a period of extended drought, a large part of the human population died without regard to their genetic makeup. Many of the survivors happened to have the "new" version of ghrelin and therefore, the gene became more common in the population.

Exam 16: How Evolution Works

Vestigial organs have important functions in many organisms.

A species of cave beetle that lives in total darkness is blind but has remnants of what looks like eyes. These "eyes" are

A(n) _______ is a characteristic of an organism that improves the performance of that organism in its environment, thus improving its reproductive success.

The fact that small, nonfunctioning hind legs are found in the skeletons of many snakes suggests that snakes

The proteins and DNA of organisms that share a recent common ancestor are _______ [more or less?] similar than the proteins and DNA of organisms that do not share a recent common ancestor.

Evolutionary changes occur when _______ acts upon populations containing individuals with genetic differences.

The origin of numerous species of Galápagos finches from one original species is an example of

Darwin's ideas on natural selection were accepted immediately, thus showing that correct ideas are recognized and accepted as soon as they are presented.

Which of the following is not evidence of evolution?

In the phrase "survival of the fittest," the term "fittest" refers to the individual with the greatest physical strength.

Evolutionary changes on a small scale are called ______________.

An example of evolution that has been readily observed is

Scientists disagree on whether evolution occurs.

Two different species may have similar features because of

Scientists who believe in evolution are never religious.

Flounder (a type of fish) generally match the color of the sandy bottoms they inhabit. Their color allows them to hide from other organisms that might eat them. This is an example of

Observations of changes over many generations in agricultural crops, such as wild mustard, provide evidence for evolution.

Peppered moths are generally light in color and blend into the trunks of the trees they live on. Populations of peppered moths found in areas where soot has blackened the tree trunks are dark in color. This example demonstrates

The fossil record

How could the appearance of a version of the hunger hormone, ghrelin, which also stimulates the learning and memory centers of the brain, lead to natural selection?

The Nature of Science and the Characteristics of Life

Organizing the Diversity of Life

Major Groups of Living Organisms

Chemical Building Blocks

Cell Structure and Internal Compartments

Cell Membranes, Transport, and Communication

Energy and Enzymes

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Cell Division

Patterns of Inheritance

Chromosomes and Human Genetics

DNA

From Gene to Protein

Control of Gene Expression

DNA Technology

Evolution of Populations

Adaptation and Speciation

The Evolutionary History of Life

Maintaining the Internal Environment

Animal Nutrition and Digestion

Gas Exchange

The Circulatory System

Animal Hormones

The Nervous System

Sensing the Environment

Skeletons, Muscles, and Movement

Defenses against Disease

Reproduction and Development

Animal Behavior

Plant Structure, Nutrition, and Transport

Plant Growth and Reproduction

The Biosphere

Growth of Populations

Interactions among Organisms

Communities of Organisms

Ecosystems

Global Change

Biodiversity and People

Cancer: Cell Division Out of Control

Harnessing the Human Genome

Humans and Evolution

Smoking--Beyond Lung Cancer

Feeding a Hungry Planet

Building a Sustainable Society

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