Question 1

What do fossils of transitional links illustrate?

Accepted Answer

A)  All life is related. 
B)  Shared characters of two distinct groups show that those groups are related. 
C)  Convergent evolution occurred in ancient past. 
D)  Natural selection happened long ago just as it does today. 
E)  All transitional links are now extinct. 
A)  All life is related. 
B)  Shared characters of two distinct groups show that those groups are related. 
C)  Convergent evolution occurred in ancient past. 
D)  Natural selection happened long ago just as it does today. 
E)  All transitional links are now extinct. B

Question 2

Following Lamarck's ideas,if a person were to lose their arm in an accident,then that person's children would

Accepted Answer

A)  inherit one arm. 
B)  inherit two arms. 
C)  inherit three arms. 
D)  inherit one arm, larger and stronger than their parent. 
E)  inherit two arms, each slightly smaller than the parent's single arm. 
A)  inherit one arm. 
B)  inherit two arms. 
C)  inherit three arms. 
D)  inherit one arm, larger and stronger than their parent. 
E)  inherit two arms, each slightly smaller than the parent's single arm. A

Question 3

Prior to Darwin,people considered variation among individuals as "imperfections" and that they served no particular purpose.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

Which one of the following statements is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Organisms always evolve the characteristics they need to survive. 
B)  Some individuals within the population must die for natural selection to occur. 
C)  Darwin used molecular biology as evidence of evolution. 
D)  Natural selection can only work on variation that already exists. 
E)  Convergent evolution produces homologous structures. 
A)  Organisms always evolve the characteristics they need to survive. 
B)  Some individuals within the population must die for natural selection to occur. 
C)  Darwin used molecular biology as evidence of evolution. 
D)  Natural selection can only work on variation that already exists. 
E)  Convergent evolution produces homologous structures.

Question 5

Which is not an important characteristic of the Galápagos Islands in the context of Darwin's theory of evolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  the islands were too far from mainland South America for most terrestrial plants and animals to colonize. 
B)  the organisms on the islands were different from those observed in South America. 
C)  the organisms on the islands were similar to those observed in South America. 
D)  the organisms on the islands varied from island to island. 
E)  the multiple islands all had an identical environment. 
A)  the islands were too far from mainland South America for most terrestrial plants and animals to colonize. 
B)  the organisms on the islands were different from those observed in South America. 
C)  the organisms on the islands were similar to those observed in South America. 
D)  the organisms on the islands varied from island to island. 
E)  the multiple islands all had an identical environment.

Question 6

h   Interpreting this figure,Which of the following is a similarity between Lamark's proposal for evolution and that of Darwin?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both scenarios begin with a population of giraffes that contains variation. 
B)  Both scenarios expose the giraffes to an environmental pressure (or challenge). 
C)  Both scenarios involve only an individual, not a population. 
D)  Both scenarios involve differential reproductive success. 
E)  Both scenarios involve giraffes of equal fitness. 
A)  Both scenarios begin with a population of giraffes that contains variation. 
B)  Both scenarios expose the giraffes to an environmental pressure (or challenge). 
C)  Both scenarios involve only an individual, not a population. 
D)  Both scenarios involve differential reproductive success. 
E)  Both scenarios involve giraffes of equal fitness.

Question 7

One species forming multiple new species is called

Accepted Answer

A)  natural selection. 
B)  speciation. 
C)  adaptation. 
D)  biogeography. 
E)  artificial selection. 
A)  natural selection. 
B)  speciation. 
C)  adaptation. 
D)  biogeography. 
E)  artificial selection.

Question 8

The species of finches,tortoises,cacti,iguanas,and many others that are found on the Galápagos Islands are found nowhere else in the world.Which physical attribute of these islands has not played a role in permitting such unique life forms to evolve?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is geographic isolation from mainland species. 
B)  Multiple islands exist. 
C)  Food is plentiful and diverse on every island. 
D)  The islands are small compared to the South American mainland. 
E)  Each island has its own unique environment. 
A)  There is geographic isolation from mainland species. 
B)  Multiple islands exist. 
C)  Food is plentiful and diverse on every island. 
D)  The islands are small compared to the South American mainland. 
E)  Each island has its own unique environment.

Question 9

What characteristics of Archaeopteryx tell us that it is a link to reptiles and birds?

Accepted Answer

A)  feathers 
B)  tail with vertebrae 
C)  teeth 
D)  teeth and a tail with vertebrae 
E)  feathers and teeth 
A)  feathers 
B)  tail with vertebrae 
C)  teeth 
D)  teeth and a tail with vertebrae 
E)  feathers and teeth

Question 10

What does it mean when it is said that humans and apes share common descent?

Accepted Answer

A)  Humans descended from apes. 
B)  Apes descended from humans. 
C)  Apes and humans descended from the same common ancestor. 
D)  Apes and humans are the same. 
E)  Apes and humans did not descend from a common ancestor. 
A)  Humans descended from apes. 
B)  Apes descended from humans. 
C)  Apes and humans descended from the same common ancestor. 
D)  Apes and humans are the same. 
E)  Apes and humans did not descend from a common ancestor.

Question 11

Critical to the theory of evolution,Darwin needed to include an idea that was not generally accepted by scientists or society at that time.That idea was

Accepted Answer

A)  that catastrophism occurred at a uniform rate. 
B)  that the inheritance of acquired characteristics was true. 
C)  that the Earth must be very old. 
D)  that uniformitarianism was false. 
E)  that diversity of life was constant through time. 
A)  that catastrophism occurred at a uniform rate. 
B)  that the inheritance of acquired characteristics was true. 
C)  that the Earth must be very old. 
D)  that uniformitarianism was false. 
E)  that diversity of life was constant through time.

Question 12

The fossil similarity of the extinct glyptodont to the living,modern armadillo is an example of comparative anatomy.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The theory of evolution,is supported by multiple sources of evidence described by many different people,and by a variety of fields of study.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Analogous structures are evidence of common ancestry.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Which of the following cannot be determined from the fossil record?

Accepted Answer

A)  Geologic uplift has occurred. 
B)  Transitional fossils exist. 
C)  Diversity has changed through time. 
D)  Evidence of prior natural disasters/catastrophes exist. 
E)  Evidence of every species that ever existed. 
A)  Geologic uplift has occurred. 
B)  Transitional fossils exist. 
C)  Diversity has changed through time. 
D)  Evidence of prior natural disasters/catastrophes exist. 
E)  Evidence of every species that ever existed.

Question 16

Why are Australian mammals all marsupial while mammals on other continents are mostly placental?

Accepted Answer

A)  The marsupial anatomy is better adapted to the environments of Australia than is the anatomy of placental mammals. 
B)  The placental anatomy is better adapted to the environments of North and South America than is the anatomy of marsupial mammals. 
C)  When the continents separated from one another, marsupials on Australia did not have the placental competitors that were present in the Americas. 
D)  Marsupials out-competed the placental mammals in Australia. 
E)  Australian mammals have a different common ancestor than mammals elsewhere in the world. 
A)  The marsupial anatomy is better adapted to the environments of Australia than is the anatomy of placental mammals. 
B)  The placental anatomy is better adapted to the environments of North and South America than is the anatomy of marsupial mammals. 
C)  When the continents separated from one another, marsupials on Australia did not have the placental competitors that were present in the Americas. 
D)  Marsupials out-competed the placental mammals in Australia. 
E)  Australian mammals have a different common ancestor than mammals elsewhere in the world.

Question 17

When comparing chick and pig embryos,the similar eyes,pharyngeal pouches,and post-anal tails are evidence of

Accepted Answer

A)  analogy. 
B)  convergent evolution. 
C)  common ancestry. 
D)  biogeography. 
E)  artificial selection. 
A)  analogy. 
B)  convergent evolution. 
C)  common ancestry. 
D)  biogeography. 
E)  artificial selection.

Question 18

Environmental catastrophes are a requirement of natural selection.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a step in the process of natural selection?

Accepted Answer

A)  members of a population possess heritable variations 
B)  the population produces more offspring than the environment can support 
C)  individuals who have favorable traits survive and reproduce more than those individuals lacking such traits 
D)  people select which individuals breed and which ones do not 
E)  over multiple generations of reproducing, a larger proportion of the population will have those favorable traits and thus adaptation has occurred 
A)  members of a population possess heritable variations 
B)  the population produces more offspring than the environment can support 
C)  individuals who have favorable traits survive and reproduce more than those individuals lacking such traits 
D)  people select which individuals breed and which ones do not 
E)  over multiple generations of reproducing, a larger proportion of the population will have those favorable traits and thus adaptation has occurred

Question 20

The wing of a penguin and the wing of an eagle are

Accepted Answer

A)  homologous structures. 
B)  analogous structure. 
C)  identical structures. 
D)  vestigial structures. 
E)  not comparable in any way. 
A)  homologous structures. 
B)  analogous structure. 
C)  identical structures. 
D)  vestigial structures. 
E)  not comparable in any way.

Exam 14: Darwin and Evolution

What do fossils of transitional links illustrate?

Following Lamarck's ideas,if a person were to lose their arm in an accident,then that person's children would

Prior to Darwin,people considered variation among individuals as "imperfections" and that they served no particular purpose.

Which one of the following statements is true?

Which is not an important characteristic of the Galápagos Islands in the context of Darwin's theory of evolution?

h Interpreting this figure,Which of the following is a similarity between Lamark's proposal for evolution and that of Darwin?

One species forming multiple new species is called

The species of finches,tortoises,cacti,iguanas,and many others that are found on the Galápagos Islands are found nowhere else in the world.Which physical attribute of these islands has not played a role in permitting such unique life forms to evolve?

What characteristics of Archaeopteryx tell us that it is a link to reptiles and birds?

What does it mean when it is said that humans and apes share common descent?

Critical to the theory of evolution,Darwin needed to include an idea that was not generally accepted by scientists or society at that time.That idea was

The fossil similarity of the extinct glyptodont to the living,modern armadillo is an example of comparative anatomy.

The theory of evolution,is supported by multiple sources of evidence described by many different people,and by a variety of fields of study.

Analogous structures are evidence of common ancestry.

Which of the following cannot be determined from the fossil record?

Why are Australian mammals all marsupial while mammals on other continents are mostly placental?

When comparing chick and pig embryos,the similar eyes,pharyngeal pouches,and post-anal tails are evidence of

Environmental catastrophes are a requirement of natural selection.

Which of the following is NOT a step in the process of natural selection?

The wing of a penguin and the wing of an eagle are

Biology: The Science of Life

The Chemical Basis of Life

The Organic Molecules of Life

Inside the Cell

The Dynamic Cell

Energy for Life

Energy for Cells

Cellular Reproduction

Meiosis and the Genetic Basis of Sexual Reproduction

Patterns of Inheritance

DNA Biology

Biotechnology and Genomics

Genetic Counseling

Evolution on a Small Scale

Evolution on a Large Scale

The Microorganisms: Viruses, bacteria, and Protists

Land Environment: Plants and Fungi

Both Water and Land: Animals

Plant Anatomy and Growth

Plant Responses and Reproduction

Being Organized and Steady

The Transport Systems

The Maintenance Systems

Human Nutrition

Defenses Against Disease

The Control Systems

Sensory Input and Motor Output

Reproduction and Embryonic Development

Ecology and Populations

Communities and Ecosystems

Human Impact on the Biosphere

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