Question 1

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 2

Darwin's primary mission on the HMS Beagle was to

Accepted Answer

A)  develop the theory of evolution. 
B)  observe natural selection in action. 
C)  gather data on geologic processes from around the world. 
D)  describe as many different new species as possible. 
E)  expand the Navy's knowledge of natural resources around the world. 
A)  develop the theory of evolution. 
B)  observe natural selection in action. 
C)  gather data on geologic processes from around the world. 
D)  describe as many different new species as possible. 
E)  expand the Navy's knowledge of natural resources around the world.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

A)  homologous structures. 
B)  analogous structures. 
C)  identical structures. 
D)  vestigial structures. 
E)  not comparable in any way. The forelimbs of all vertebrates are homologous since they are inherited from a common ancestor, regardless of the superficial appearance of the structures. 
A)  homologous structures. 
B)  analogous structures. 
C)  identical structures. 
D)  vestigial structures. 
E)  not comparable in any way. The forelimbs of all vertebrates are homologous since they are inherited from a common ancestor, regardless of the superficial appearance of the structures.

Question 5

Many species of finches, tortoises, cacti, and iguanas are found on the Galápagos Islands and 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. Island clusters such as the Galápagos offer opportunities for multiple species to evolve since they are isolated, small, have different environments, and food is often either scarce or different from that available on the mainland. 
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. Island clusters such as the Galápagos offer opportunities for multiple species to evolve since they are isolated, small, have different environments, and food is often either scarce or different from that available on the mainland.

Question 6

The sugar glider in Australia and the flying squirrel in North America are both small mammals with large expanses of loose skin between their forelimbs and hindlimbs, allowing them to glide from tree to tree within their respective forest habitats. These two species are not evolutionarily related but are very similar in their overall appearance. Darwin's explanation for their similarity is that

Accepted Answer

A)  both are descendants from a recent common ancestor. 
B)  each have adapted in very similar ways to similar habitats. 
C)  the similarity of the two unrelated species is simply coincidence. 
D)  the two species were created to have similarities. 
E)  the two species must be related to possess such like qualities. Unrelated species living in widely separated, yet similar habitats have each independently evolved comparable adaptations for survival and therefore have similar appearances. This is called convergent evolution since two species have converged on a similar adaptive form to solve similar environmental pressures. 
A)  both are descendants from a recent common ancestor. 
B)  each have adapted in very similar ways to similar habitats. 
C)  the similarity of the two unrelated species is simply coincidence. 
D)  the two species were created to have similarities. 
E)  the two species must be related to possess such like qualities. Unrelated species living in widely separated, yet similar habitats have each independently evolved comparable adaptations for survival and therefore have similar appearances. This is called convergent evolution since two species have converged on a similar adaptive form to solve similar environmental pressures.

Question 7

Bacteria that cause ear infections have increased their resistance to antibiotics over time. Which of the following is the selective agent?

Accepted Answer

A)  bacteria 
B)  increased resistance 
C)  antibiotics 
D)  the human ear 
E)  the ear infection Antibiotics are considered the selective agent because they kill nonresistant bacteria while resistant bacteria survive. 
A)  bacteria 
B)  increased resistance 
C)  antibiotics 
D)  the human ear 
E)  the ear infection Antibiotics are considered the selective agent because they kill nonresistant bacteria while resistant bacteria survive.

Question 8

Analogous structures are always evidence of common ancestry.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

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 10

Interpreting this figure, which of the following is a similarity between Lamarck's proposal for evolution and Darwin's proposal?

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 11

Lyell's theory of uniformitarianism stated that

Accepted Answer

A)  new and different processes are continually shaping the Earth in new and different ways. 
B)  the processes that shape the Earth today are the same process that have always shaped the Earth. 
C)  the processes that shape the Earth occur at a constant rate. 
D)  the processes that shape the Earth slow down over time. 
E)  the processes that shape the Earth occur uniformly around the globe. Lyell's theory of uniformitarianism stated that the processes that shape the Earth occur at a uniform rate. 
A)  new and different processes are continually shaping the Earth in new and different ways. 
B)  the processes that shape the Earth today are the same process that have always shaped the Earth. 
C)  the processes that shape the Earth occur at a constant rate. 
D)  the processes that shape the Earth slow down over time. 
E)  the processes that shape the Earth occur uniformly around the globe. Lyell's theory of uniformitarianism stated that the processes that shape the Earth occur at a uniform rate.

Question 12

Which of the following is not an example of artificial selection?

Accepted Answer

A)  different breeds of dogs: poodle, basset hound, Chihuahua, Great Dane, etc. 
B)  different varieties of roses: yellow, pink, red, thornless, climbing, etc. 
C)  different types of tomatoes: roma, beefsteak, grape, cherry, etc. 
D)  different styles of potatoes: fried, mashed, baked, etc. 
E)  different breeds of cats: Siamese, Persian, Himalayan, American shorthair, etc. Artificial selection is the process of humans choosing which individuals reproduce based on traits they wish to see increased in future generations. All of the options are examples of artificial selection except 
D) . All these styles of potatoes are simply different ways of preparing the same vegetable. 
A)  different breeds of dogs: poodle, basset hound, Chihuahua, Great Dane, etc. 
B)  different varieties of roses: yellow, pink, red, thornless, climbing, etc. 
C)  different types of tomatoes: roma, beefsteak, grape, cherry, etc. 
D)  different styles of potatoes: fried, mashed, baked, etc. 
E)  different breeds of cats: Siamese, Persian, Himalayan, American shorthair, etc. Artificial selection is the process of humans choosing which individuals reproduce based on traits they wish to see increased in future generations. All of the options are examples of artificial selection except 
D) . All these styles of potatoes are simply different ways of preparing the same vegetable.

Question 13

Environmental catastrophes are a requirement of natural selection.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

The molecule cytochrome c supports the theory of evolution as biochemical evidence. Which of the following is not part of that evidence?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cytochrome c has evolved multiple times among many species. 
B)  Cytochrome c has the same function in all organisms. 
C)  The genetic code for cytochrome c differs among species. 
D)  Cytochrome c is found in a variety of organisms from yeast to humans. 
E)  Cytochrome c plays a role critical to survival. Cytochrome c sequence comparisons show evolution in that this molecule has a common function important for cellular metabolism and it is present in many species but is variable among them. This pattern illustrates that cytochrome c evolved once in an ancestor and was passed to all of its descendents with modification through time unique to each species. 
A)  Cytochrome c has evolved multiple times among many species. 
B)  Cytochrome c has the same function in all organisms. 
C)  The genetic code for cytochrome c differs among species. 
D)  Cytochrome c is found in a variety of organisms from yeast to humans. 
E)  Cytochrome c plays a role critical to survival. Cytochrome c sequence comparisons show evolution in that this molecule has a common function important for cellular metabolism and it is present in many species but is variable among them. This pattern illustrates that cytochrome c evolved once in an ancestor and was passed to all of its descendents with modification through time unique to each species.

Question 15

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. Natural selection can only operate on existing variation. 
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. Natural selection can only operate on existing variation.

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 outcompeted the placental mammals in Australia. 
E)  Australian mammals have a different common ancestor than mammals elsewhere in the world. When the continents separated from one another through continental drift, marsupials on Australia did not have the placental competitors that were present in the Americas. The mix of plants and animals determine the course of evolution. 
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 outcompeted the placental mammals in Australia. 
E)  Australian mammals have a different common ancestor than mammals elsewhere in the world. When the continents separated from one another through continental drift, marsupials on Australia did not have the placental competitors that were present in the Americas. The mix of plants and animals determine the course of evolution.

Question 17

Darwin and Wallace both concluded that species evolve through the process of natural selection. What similar experiences and information helped them both reach the same conclusion?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both supported the ideas of Cuvier. 
B)  Both were familiar with the writings of Lyell. 
C)  Both traveled the world and collected specimens for museums in England. 
D)  Both were naturalists. 
E)  Both collected specimens from islands in the Malayan Archipelago. Darwin was an untrained naturalist, while Wallace was an English-trained biologist. Both were well read in the works of Lyell and Malthus, traveled the world collecting specimens for museums, and spent a large amount of time on islands. 
A)  Both supported the ideas of Cuvier. 
B)  Both were familiar with the writings of Lyell. 
C)  Both traveled the world and collected specimens for museums in England. 
D)  Both were naturalists. 
E)  Both collected specimens from islands in the Malayan Archipelago. Darwin was an untrained naturalist, while Wallace was an English-trained biologist. Both were well read in the works of Lyell and Malthus, traveled the world collecting specimens for museums, and spent a large amount of time on islands.

Question 18

As you hike up a mountain, you realize that the plants and animals present at the base are not the same as those at the top. This observation is the basis of

Accepted Answer

A)  natural selection. 
B)  biogeography. 
C)  comparative anatomy. 
D)  geology. 
E)  paleontology. Observing that plants and animals are distributed differently among varying environments is the basis for the science of biogeography. 
A)  natural selection. 
B)  biogeography. 
C)  comparative anatomy. 
D)  geology. 
E)  paleontology. Observing that plants and animals are distributed differently among varying environments is the basis for the science of biogeography.

Question 19

Although Lamarck hypothesized that adaptations to the environment did occur, he also believed that

Accepted Answer

A)  mass extinctions did not occur. 
B)  offspring inherited characteristics that were acquired by their parents during their lifetime. 
C)  similar organisms do not share common ancestors. 
D)  humans descended from apes. 
E)  natural selection was the source of all diversity. Lamarck hypothesized that evolution occurs due to the inheritance of acquired characteristics. 
A)  mass extinctions did not occur. 
B)  offspring inherited characteristics that were acquired by their parents during their lifetime. 
C)  similar organisms do not share common ancestors. 
D)  humans descended from apes. 
E)  natural selection was the source of all diversity. Lamarck hypothesized that evolution occurs due to the inheritance of acquired characteristics.

Question 20

When hiking high in the mountains, you find fossil marine shells lying about. This provides evidence that

Accepted Answer

A)  someone brought the shells to the top of the mountain. 
B)  shelled marine animals live on the top of mountains. 
C)  very high ocean waves brought the shells to the top of the mountain. 
D)  the mountain top was once under the ocean and has been uplifted. 
E)  marine animals are not restricted to living in the ocean. Observing marine fossils on mountaintops indicate that the land used to be underwater and has subsequently been uplifted. 
A)  someone brought the shells to the top of the mountain. 
B)  shelled marine animals live on the top of mountains. 
C)  very high ocean waves brought the shells to the top of the mountain. 
D)  the mountain top was once under the ocean and has been uplifted. 
E)  marine animals are not restricted to living in the ocean. Observing marine fossils on mountaintops indicate that the land used to be underwater and has subsequently been uplifted.

Exam 14: Darwin and Evolution

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

Darwin's primary mission on the HMS Beagle was to

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

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

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

Bacteria that cause ear infections have increased their resistance to antibiotics over time. Which of the following is the selective agent?

Analogous structures are always evidence of common ancestry.

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

Interpreting this figure, which of the following is a similarity between Lamarck's proposal for evolution and Darwin's proposal?

Lyell's theory of uniformitarianism stated that

Which of the following is not an example of artificial selection?

Environmental catastrophes are a requirement of natural selection.

The molecule cytochrome c supports the theory of evolution as biochemical evidence. Which of the following is not part of that evidence?

Which one of the following statements is true?

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

Darwin and Wallace both concluded that species evolve through the process of natural selection. What similar experiences and information helped them both reach the same conclusion?

As you hike up a mountain, you realize that the plants and animals present at the base are not the same as those at the top. This observation is the basis of

Although Lamarck hypothesized that adaptations to the environment did occur, he also believed that

When hiking high in the mountains, you find fossil marine shells lying about. This provides evidence that

A View 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 and Technology

Biotechnology and Genomics

Genetic Counseling

Evolution on a Small Scale

Evolution on a Large Scale

The Microorganisms: Viruses, Bacteria, and Protists

The Plants and Fungi

The Animals

Plant Anatomy and Growth

Plant Responses and Reproduction

Being Organized and Steady

The Transport Systems

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Digestion and Human Nutrition

Defenses Against Disease

The Control Systems

Sensory Input and Motor Output

Reproduction and Embryonic Development

Ecology of Populations

Communities and Ecosystems

Human Impact on the Biosphere

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