Question 1

Logically, which of these should cast the most doubt on the relationships depicted by an evolutionary tree?

Accepted Answer

A)  Some of the organisms depicted by the tree lived in different habitats. 
B)  The skeletal remains of the organisms depicted by the tree were incomplete (in other words, some bones were missing). 
C)  Transitional fossils had not been found. 
D)  Relationships between DNA sequences among the species did not match relationships between skeletal patterns. 
A)  Some of the organisms depicted by the tree lived in different habitats. 
B)  The skeletal remains of the organisms depicted by the tree were incomplete (in other words, some bones were missing). 
C)  Transitional fossils had not been found. 
D)  Relationships between DNA sequences among the species did not match relationships between skeletal patterns. D

Question 2

Structures as different as human arms, bat wings, and dolphin flippers contain many of the same bones, which develop from similar embryonic tissues. These structural similarities are an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  homology 
B)  convergent evolution 
C)  the evolution of common structure as a result of common function 
D)  the evolution of similar appearance as a result of common function 
A)  homology 
B)  convergent evolution 
C)  the evolution of common structure as a result of common function 
D)  the evolution of similar appearance as a result of common function A

Question 3

For which one of the following observations were both Lamarck's hypothesis and Darwin's hypothesis in complete agreement?

Accepted Answer

A)  Use and disuse of organs determines their size in progeny. 
B)  Gradual evolutionary change explains why organisms are well-suited to their environments. 
C)  Acquired characteristics are inherited. 
D)  More complex species are descended from less complex species. 
A)  Use and disuse of organs determines their size in progeny. 
B)  Gradual evolutionary change explains why organisms are well-suited to their environments. 
C)  Acquired characteristics are inherited. 
D)  More complex species are descended from less complex species. B

Question 4

Cotton-topped tamarins are small primates with tufts of long white hair on their heads. While studying these creatures, you notice that males with longer hair get more opportunities to mate and father more offspring. To test the hypothesis that having longer hair is adaptive in these males, you should ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  test whether other traits in these males are also adaptive 
B)  look for evidence of hair in ancestors of tamarins 
C)  determine if hair length is heritable 
D)  test whether males with shaved heads are still able to mate 
A)  test whether other traits in these males are also adaptive 
B)  look for evidence of hair in ancestors of tamarins 
C)  determine if hair length is heritable 
D)  test whether males with shaved heads are still able to mate

Question 5

If Darwin had been aware of genes and their typical mode of transmission to subsequent generations, with which statement would he most likely have been in agreement?

Accepted Answer

A)  If natural selection can change gene frequency in a population over generations, given enough time and genetic diversity, then natural selection can cause sufficient genetic change to produce new species from old ones. 
B)  If an organism's somatic cell genes change during its lifetime, making it more fit, then it will be able to pass these genes on to its offspring. 
C)  If an organism acquires new genes by engulfing, or being infected by, another organism, then a new genetic species will result. 
D)  A single mutation in a single gene in a single gamete, if inherited by future generations, will produce a new species. 
A)  If natural selection can change gene frequency in a population over generations, given enough time and genetic diversity, then natural selection can cause sufficient genetic change to produce new species from old ones. 
B)  If an organism's somatic cell genes change during its lifetime, making it more fit, then it will be able to pass these genes on to its offspring. 
C)  If an organism acquires new genes by engulfing, or being infected by, another organism, then a new genetic species will result. 
D)  A single mutation in a single gene in a single gamete, if inherited by future generations, will produce a new species.

Question 6

The horizontal axis of the cladogram depicted below is a timeline that extends from 100,000 years ago to the present; the vertical axis represents nothing in particular. The labelled branch points on the tree (V-Z) represent various common ancestors. Let's say that only since 50,000 years ago has there been enough variation between the lineages depicted here to separate them into distinct species, and only the tips of the lineages on this tree represent distinct species.  
-How many distinct species, both living and extinct, are depicted in this tree?

Accepted Answer

A)  five 
B)  six 
C)  nine 
D)  eleven 
A)  five 
B)  six 
C)  nine 
D)  eleven

Question 7

Which of Darwin's ideas had the strongest connection to his reading of Malthus's essay on human population growth?

Accepted Answer

A)  descent with modification 
B)  variation among individuals in a population 
C)  struggle for existence 
D)  that the ancestors of the Galápagos finches had come from the South American mainland 
A)  descent with modification 
B)  variation among individuals in a population 
C)  struggle for existence 
D)  that the ancestors of the Galápagos finches had come from the South American mainland

Question 8

The horizontal axis of the cladogram depicted below is a timeline that extends from 100,000 years ago to the present; the vertical axis represents nothing in particular. The labelled branch points on the tree (V-Z) represent various common ancestors. Let's say that only since 50,000 years ago has there been enough variation between the lineages depicted here to separate them into distinct species, and only the tips of the lineages on this tree represent distinct species.  
-Which of the five common ancestors, labelled V-Z, is the common ancestor of the greatest number of species, both living and extinct?

Accepted Answer

A)  V 
B)  W 
C)  Y 
D)  Z 
A)  V 
B)  W 
C)  Y 
D)  Z

Question 9

Prior to the work of Lyell and Darwin, the prevailing belief was that Earth is ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  a few thousand years old, and populations are unchanging 
B)  a few thousand years old, and populations gradually change 
C)  millions of years old, and populations rapidly change 
D)  millions of years old, and populations are unchanging 
A)  a few thousand years old, and populations are unchanging 
B)  a few thousand years old, and populations gradually change 
C)  millions of years old, and populations rapidly change 
D)  millions of years old, and populations are unchanging

Question 10

Which of the following evidence most strongly supports the common origin of all life on Earth? All organisms ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  require energy 
B)  use essentially the same genetic code 
C)  reproduce 
D)  show heritable variation 
A)  require energy 
B)  use essentially the same genetic code 
C)  reproduce 
D)  show heritable variation

Question 11

The greatest number of endemic species is expected in environments that are ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  easily reached and ecologically diverse 
B)  isolated and show little ecological diversity 
C)  isolated and ecologically diverse 
D)  easily reached and show little ecological diversity 
A)  easily reached and ecologically diverse 
B)  isolated and show little ecological diversity 
C)  isolated and ecologically diverse 
D)  easily reached and show little ecological diversity

Question 12

The cow Bos primigenius (which is bred for meat and milk) has a smaller brain and larger eyes than closely related wild species of ungulates. These traits most likely arose by ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  natural selection, because these traits evolved in the population over time 
B)  natural selection, because these traits were not consciously selected by humans 
C)  artificial selection, because changes in these traits co-occurred with human selection for high milk output and high muscle content 
D)  artificial selection, because these animals differ from their close relatives and common ancestor 
A)  natural selection, because these traits evolved in the population over time 
B)  natural selection, because these traits were not consciously selected by humans 
C)  artificial selection, because changes in these traits co-occurred with human selection for high milk output and high muscle content 
D)  artificial selection, because these animals differ from their close relatives and common ancestor

Question 13

Evolutionary trees such as this are properly understood by scientists to be ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  theories 
B)  hypotheses 
C)  dogmas 
D)  facts 
A)  theories 
B)  hypotheses 
C)  dogmas 
D)  facts

Question 14

The following question is based on information from Frank M. Frey, "Opposing Natural Selection from Herbivores and Pathogens May Maintain Floral-Colour Variation in Claytonia virginica (Portulacaceae)," Evolution 58(11), 2004: 2426-37.
Claytonia virginica is a woodland spring herb with flowers that vary from white, to pale pink, to bright pink. Slugs prefer to eat pink-flowering over white-flowering plants (due to chemical differences between the two), and plants experiencing severe herbivory are more likely to die. The bees that pollinate this plant also prefer pink to white flowers, so that Claytonia with pink flowers have greater relative fruit set than Claytonia with white flowers. A researcher observes that the percentage of different flower colours remains stable in the study population from year to year. Given no other information, if the researcher removes all slugs from the study population, what do you expect to happen to the distribution of flower colours in the population over time?

Accepted Answer

A)  The percentage of pink flowers should increase over time. 
B)  The percentage of white flowers should increase over time. 
C)  The distribution of flower colours should not change. 
D)  The distribution of flower colours should randomly fluctuate over time. 
A)  The percentage of pink flowers should increase over time. 
B)  The percentage of white flowers should increase over time. 
C)  The distribution of flower colours should not change. 
D)  The distribution of flower colours should randomly fluctuate over time.

Question 15

Which species is most closely related to species W?

Accepted Answer

A)  V is most closely related to species W. 
B)  X is most closely related to species W. 
C)  Y and Z are equally closely related to W. 
D)  It is not possible to say from this tree. 
A)  V is most closely related to species W. 
B)  X is most closely related to species W. 
C)  Y and Z are equally closely related to W. 
D)  It is not possible to say from this tree.

Question 16

Which one of the following statements best defines "artificial selection"?

Accepted Answer

A)  Process that occurs when individuals inherit traits that enable them to survive and reproduce. 
B)  Process where humans decide which plants and/or animals will not breed. 
C)  Process of human directed breeding aimed to produce selective traits in selected species. 
D)  Process that favours beneficial mutations. 
A)  Process that occurs when individuals inherit traits that enable them to survive and reproduce. 
B)  Process where humans decide which plants and/or animals will not breed. 
C)  Process of human directed breeding aimed to produce selective traits in selected species. 
D)  Process that favours beneficial mutations.

Question 17

After the drought of 1977, researchers hypothesised that on the Galápagos Island Daphne Major, medium ground finches with large, deep beaks survived better than those with smaller beaks because they could more easily crack and eat the tough Tribulus cistoides fruits. A tourist company sets up reliable feeding stations with a variety of bird seeds (different types and sizes) so that tourists can get a better look at the finches. Which of these events is now most likely to occur to finch beaks on this island?

Accepted Answer

A)  evolution of yet larger, deeper beaks over time, until all birds have relatively large, deep beaks 
B)  evolution of smaller, pointier beaks over time, until all birds have relatively small, pointy beaks 
C)  increased variation in beak size and shape over time 
D)  no change in beak size and shape over time 
A)  evolution of yet larger, deeper beaks over time, until all birds have relatively large, deep beaks 
B)  evolution of smaller, pointier beaks over time, until all birds have relatively small, pointy beaks 
C)  increased variation in beak size and shape over time 
D)  no change in beak size and shape over time

Question 18

Scientific theories ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  are nearly the same things as hypotheses 
B)  are supported by, and make sense of, many observations 
C)  cannot be tested because the described events occurred only once 
D)  are predictions of future events 
A)  are nearly the same things as hypotheses 
B)  are supported by, and make sense of, many observations 
C)  cannot be tested because the described events occurred only once 
D)  are predictions of future events

Question 19

The Linnaeus classification system grouped organisms by ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  linear hierarchy of the scala naturae 
B)  increasingly more general categories 
C)  increasingly more complex categories 
D)  environmental location 
A)  linear hierarchy of the scala naturae 
B)  increasingly more general categories 
C)  increasingly more complex categories 
D)  environmental location

Question 20

Which of the following statements best explains why modification or change in an organ or tissue during the lifetime of an individual is not inherited?

Accepted Answer

A)  Characteristics acquired during an organism's life are generally not passed on through genes. 
B)  Spontaneous mutations can result in the appearance of new traits. 
C)  Only favourable adaptations have survival value. 
D)  Disuse of an organ may lead to its eventual disappearance. 
A)  Characteristics acquired during an organism's life are generally not passed on through genes. 
B)  Spontaneous mutations can result in the appearance of new traits. 
C)  Only favourable adaptations have survival value. 
D)  Disuse of an organ may lead to its eventual disappearance.

Exam 22: Descent With Modification: a Darwinian View of Life

Logically, which of these should cast the most doubt on the relationships depicted by an evolutionary tree?

Structures as different as human arms, bat wings, and dolphin flippers contain many of the same bones, which develop from similar embryonic tissues. These structural similarities are an example of ________.

For which one of the following observations were both Lamarck's hypothesis and Darwin's hypothesis in complete agreement?

If Darwin had been aware of genes and their typical mode of transmission to subsequent generations, with which statement would he most likely have been in agreement?

Which of Darwin's ideas had the strongest connection to his reading of Malthus's essay on human population growth?

Prior to the work of Lyell and Darwin, the prevailing belief was that Earth is ________.

Which of the following evidence most strongly supports the common origin of all life on Earth? All organisms ________.

The greatest number of endemic species is expected in environments that are ________.

The cow Bos primigenius (which is bred for meat and milk) has a smaller brain and larger eyes than closely related wild species of ungulates. These traits most likely arose by ________.

Evolutionary trees such as this are properly understood by scientists to be ________.

Which species is most closely related to species W?

Which one of the following statements best defines "artificial selection"?

Scientific theories ________.

The Linnaeus classification system grouped organisms by ________.

Which of the following statements best explains why modification or change in an organ or tissue during the lifetime of an individual is not inherited?

Evolution, the Themes of Biology, and Scientific Inquiry

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Structure and Function

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Viruses

Dna Tools and Biotechnology

Genomes and Their Evolution

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

The History of Life on Earth

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonised Land

Plant Diversity Ii: the Evolution of Seed Plants

Fungi

An Overview of Animal Diversity

An Introduction to Invertebrates

The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

Vascular Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants

Soil and Plant Nutrition

Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Osmoregulation and Excretion

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signalling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

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