Deck 16: Charles Darwin, Evolutionary Thought, and the Evidence for Evolution

Question 1

Both sea squirts and lampreys have a perforated pharynx, a notochord at some stage of development, and a ventral heart. These similarities are best explained by which of the following hypotheses?

A) divergent evolution
B) the same type of cleavage pattern in the fertilized egg
C) likeness of dietary habit
D) common ancestry

Answer 1

common ancestry

Question 2

Refer to the figure above and then answer the question that follows.

-Assume that it is possible to remove continuous cores of rock from the earth 6 inches in diameter and 3,000 feet long. What would the theory of evolution by natural selection predict about the fossils in such cores as they are examined from bottom to top?

A) The number of fossils decreases, but the number of species increases.
B) Species change gradually.
C) Fossil species remain constant.
D) There are gaps in the core where no fossils are found.

Answer 2

Species change gradually.

Question 3

If the weather in Richmond, Virginia, changed to a very cold climate (snow on the ground 8 months of each year) over the next few years, what change might occur?

A) Evolution would definitely occur, resulting in white squirrels.
B) Genetic drift will occur at a faster rate during the cold part of the year.
C) The cold weather would cause a mutation in squirrels that causes their fur to be white.
D) If a mutation had previously occurred that caused white fur, such white squirrels would have a better chance to survive and reproduce.

Answer 3

If a mutation had previously occurred that caused white fur, such white squirrels would have a better chance to survive and reproduce.

Question 4

Which example is favored in terms of natural selection?

A) a man who lives 120 years and has no children
B) a woman who lives 35 years and has four children
C) a woman who lives 25 years and has six children
D) a woman who lives 105 years and has two children

Question 5

Which of the following statements would Lamarck agree with?

A) Giraffes got their long necks by stretching.
B) Snakes should have a pelvic girdle.
C) Daily stretching will make you, but not your offspring, flexible.
D) Removing the tail from several generations of cats will have no effect on their offspring.

Question 6

The theory of natural selection states that:

A) individuals that live the longest are best adapted and selected for survival in the next generation.
B) individuals that mutate in response to their environment will survive at the expense of those individuals who are genetically stable.
C) only the largest and strongest survive.
D) the best-adapted individuals survive and reproduce, contributing the most genes to the next generation.

Question 7

Birds with extravagant plumage may be able to pass their genes to the next generation better than drab birds because:

A) drab birds are more likely to attract mates.
B) they have less protective coloration.
C) they are stronger than drab birds.
D) they are more likely to attract a mate.

Question 8

In each of the following, choose the better of the two choices.

-Tanned skin resulting from exposure to the sun:

A) a characteristic that cannot affect future natural selection
B) a characteristic that can affect future natural selection

Question 9

In each of the following, choose the better of the two choices.

-Copper-colored skin of a Native American:

A) a characteristic that cannot affect future natural selection
B) a characteristic that can affect future natural selection

Question 10

In each of the following, choose the better of the two choices.

-Brown eye color resulting from pigment in the front part of the iris:

A) a characteristic that can affect future natural selection
B) a characteristic that cannot affect future natural selection

Question 11

In each of the following, choose the better of the two choices.

-Brown eye color resulting from wearing contact lenses:

A) a characteristic that can affect future natural selection
B) a characteristic that cannot affect future natural selection

Question 12

In each of the following, choose the better of the two choices.

-Loss of a little finger in an industrial accident:

A) a characteristic that cannot affect future natural selection
B) a characteristic that can affect future natural selection

Question 13

Where are the Galapagos Islands?

A) Pacific Ocean near the equator
B) off the southern end of South America
C) southeast Asia
D) Indian Ocean

Question 14

Which of these types of Galapagos species most influenced Darwin to develop the theory of species change by natural selection?

A) small birds
B) reptiles
C) crabs and crayfish
D) cactus plants

Question 15

The major weakness of Darwin's theory during his lifetime was:

A) the fact that populations do not promote competition, but rather sharing.
B) the lack of a mechanism to explain how traits were passed to offspring intact when most believed inheritance worked through blending.
C) the fact that at certain points in embryonic development, diverse species all have structures known as pharyngeal gill slits.
D) lack of variation in natural populations.

Question 16

Who is the author of The Principles of Geology, which Darwin read?

A) Cuvier
B) Lyell
C) Lamarck
D) Wallace

Question 17

If a population consisted only of individuals cloned from a single organism, then:

A) Lamarck would be right about species change for that population.
B) natural selection would not occur in that population.
C) Alfred Russell Wallace's ideas would apply well to that population.
D) the population would adapt well to environmental change.

Question 18

For natural selection to occur, there must be some competition for resources, survival, or reproduction. Why is this so?

A) The struggle of competition makes individuals stronger.
B) Populations evolve to preserve the species and don't change unless they must.
C) Without competition, there is no pressure to mutate.
D) If all individuals pass on their genes equally, the proportion of the various alleles will remain the same.

Question 19

Because of the amount of surface area per unit volume, a large body size loses heat less rapidly than a smaller size of the same shape. Based on your knowledge of natural selection, what trend in deer size might you predict?

A) The average body size of the deer population increases as you go toward the poles.
B) The average body size of the deer population has no relationship to geographical location.
C) The average body size of the deer population increases as you go east.
D) The average body size of the deer population increases as you go toward the equator.

Question 20

Charles Darwin incorporated Mendel's genetic theories of inheritance into his own theory.

A) This is partially true. Darwin believed in Mendel's law of independent assortment, but not in his law of segregation.
B) This is true. Darwin and Mendel collaborated on many projects, though each is known for different biological theories.
C) This is unknown. Darwin may have read of Mendel's theory and not mentioned it in his writing.
D) This is true. Darwin knew how genetic information was passed from one generation to the next, and this was the foundation of his theory.

Question 21

Refer to the figure above and then answer the question that follows.

-Homologous structures, such as a bat wing and whale flipper, are/have

A) structures that did not develop in response to natural selection.
B) formed from genes on the same pair of chromosomes.
C) the result of pairs of chromosomes that are identical in bats and whales.
D) the same underlying structure as a result of inheritance from a common ancestor.

Question 22

The theory of evolution would predict that human DNA is most similar to that of:

A) vertebrates.
B) reptiles.
C) mammals.
D) primates.

Question 23

The half-life of a radioactive isotope is 10,000 years. This isotope and its breakdown product do not normally occur together when molten rock cools and becomes solid. If you have a volcanic rock sample containing 0.25 grams of the radioactive isotope and 0.75 grams of its breakdown product, when did this rock likely solidify?

A) 2,500 years ago
B) 50,000 years ago
C) 10,000 years ago
D) 20,000 years ago

Question 24

Though the term literally means "dug up, which of the following are defined as any evidence of past life?

A) fossils
B) bones
C) catastrophism
D) data obtained from library research

Question 25

Which of the following is consistent with a modern understanding of evolution?

A) As a rule, populations tend to decrease in size.
B) There is variation among individuals in a population.
C) The age of the Earth is unknown.
D) Most characteristics are passed on through blending inheritance.

Question 26

In each of the following, the statement is true. Choose the appropriate answer.

-The "Piltdown man fossil hominid has been shown to be a fake.

A) The statement supports the theory of evolution.
B) The statement refutes the theory of evolution.
C) The statement neither supports nor refutes biological evolution.

Question 27

In each of the following, the statement is true. Choose the appropriate answer.

-Local veterinarians report that the internal anatomy of dogs and cats has not changed since they received their medical training.

A) The statement supports the theory of evolution.
B) The statement refutes the theory of evolution.
C) The statement neither supports nor refutes biological evolution.

Question 28

In each of the following, the statement is true. Choose the appropriate answer.

-As you look at older segments in the fossil record, increasing numbers of modern orders and classes of organisms are not represented.

A) The statement supports the theory of evolution.
B) The statement refutes the theory of evolution.
C) The statement neither supports nor refutes biological evolution.

Question 29

In each of the following, the statement is true. Choose the appropriate answer.

-Radioactive dating shows that the age of the oldest wood in living bristle cone pines exceeds 4,200 years.

A) The statement supports the theory of evolution.
B) The statement refutes the theory of evolution.
C) The statement neither supports nor refutes biological evolution.

Question 30

In each of the following, the statement is true. Choose the appropriate answer.

-In their early embryology, humans, starfish, and segmented worms all go through a solid ball of cell stage and then a hollow ball of cells stage.

A) The statement supports the theory of evolution.
B) The statement refutes the theory of evolution.
C) The statement neither supports nor refutes biological evolution.

Question 31

Read the statement below and then answer the questions that follow. Choose your answer based on the observation in the question. It is hypothesized that reptiles were the immediate evolutionary ancestors of birds.

-The turtle has a leathery shell, and the chicken egg has a calcareous shell.

A) The observation supports the hypothesis.
B) The observation refutes the hypothesis.
C) The observation has no bearing on the hypothesis.

Question 32

Read the statement below and then answer the questions that follow. Choose your answer based on the observation in the question. It is hypothesized that reptiles were the immediate evolutionary ancestors of birds.

-The larynx of birds is well developed and usable for vocalization, whereas the larynx of reptiles is simple and not used as a vocal organ.

A) The observation supports the hypothesis.
B) The observation refutes the hypothesis.
C) The observation has no bearing on the hypothesis.

Question 33

Read the statement below and then answer the questions that follow. Choose your answer based on the observation in the question. It is hypothesized that reptiles were the immediate evolutionary ancestors of birds.

-Both birds and reptiles have a backbone.

A) The observation supports the hypothesis.
B) The observation refutes the hypothesis.
C) The observation has no bearing on the hypothesis.

Question 34

Read the statement below and then answer the questions that follow. Choose your answer based on the observation in the question. It is hypothesized that reptiles were the immediate evolutionary ancestors of birds.

-The typical amino acid sequence of hemoglobin in reptiles and birds is not the same.

A) The observation supports the hypothesis.
B) The observation refutes the hypothesis.
C) The observation has no bearing on the hypothesis.

Question 35

Read the statement below and then answer the questions that follow. Choose your answer based on the observation in the question. It is hypothesized that reptiles were the immediate evolutionary ancestors of birds.

-Birds have scales on their legs that develop embryologically in the same way as reptile scales.

A) The observation supports the hypothesis.
B) The observation refutes the hypothesis.
C) The observation has no bearing on the hypothesis.

Question 36

Read the statement below and then answer the questions that follow. Choose your answer based on the observation in the question. It is hypothesized that reptiles were the immediate evolutionary ancestors of birds.

-The Jurassic fossil Archaeopteryx has birdlike feathers and wings, but it also has reptilian characteristics, such as teeth.

A) The observation supports the hypothesis.
B) The observation refutes the hypothesis.
C) The observation has no bearing on the hypothesis.

Question 37

Scientists may compare similar genes in different species and determine what percentage of base pairs is identical. From this, it is estimated how long ago the two species shared a common ancestor. The validity of this conclusion depends on an important assumption. This assumption is that:

A) mutations occur at a fairly constant rate in all evolutionary lines.
B) genetic drift does not occur.
C) the gene codes for a functional protein.
D) both species belong to the same kingdom.

Question 38

If the driving force behind natural selection is to pass on our genes, why do some people choose to adopt children?

A) Traits learned by adopted children will become encoded in their genes and passed on.
B) Society rewards people for being "unselfish."
C) It doesn't matter whose children you raise as long as the species survives.
D) In the past, a positive behavioral response to parenting led to the passing on of more of that allele.

Question 39

Even though Darwin was able to develop the theory of evolution through natural selection, he was hampered in his work by the fact that he had never see actual fossils of extinct animals.

Question 40

The modern synthesis is a compilation of all of the evidence for evolution through natural selection from several completely different sources.

Question 41

If we found two different species of ground squirrels on opposite sides of the Grand Canyon that still shared several characteristics, we would conclude that they evolved from a common ancestor.

Question 42

Descent with modification is caused by ________.

Question 43

Evolution assumes that all living things evolved from a common ancestor. What characteristics would that ancient common ancestor have with a human?