Deck 5: Evolution and Biodiversity

Question 1

Which is the best explanation for why the fossil record is incomplete? 

A) Only some biological life forms have left fossils. 
B) Only aquatic organisms have left fossils. 
C) Only animals have left fossils. 
D) Only terrestrial organisms have left fossils.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which term refers to the long-term,large-scale evolutionary changes that occur among groups of species? 

A) convergent evolution 
B) macroevolution 
C) coevolution 
D) genetic drift

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which term refers to the small genetic changes experienced by a population within a species? 

A) microevolution 
B) coevolution 
C) macroevolution 
D) convergent evolution

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In a population of fruit flies,pink eye colour is the most common,although white eyes and red eyes are also present.Over the course of time and many generations,the proportion of individuals with pink eyes steadily increases.What is the most likely conclusion about the increase in pink eyes? 

A) The population is undergoing disruptive natural selection. 
B) The population is undergoing directional natural selection. 
C) The population is undergoing stabilizing natural selection. 
D) The population is undergoing diversifying natural selection.

Question 5

If the evolution of the Earth were compressed into a 24-hour time frame,at what time did homo sapiens appear? 

A) about 6 hours before midnight 
B) about 1 hour before midnight 
C) about 1 minute before midnight 
D) about 2 seconds before midnight

Question 6

What is the most likely sequence for the biological evolution of life? 

A) anaerobic prokaryotes-photosynthetic prokaryotes-aerobic prokaryotes-eukaryotes-multicellular organisms 
B) aerobic prokaryotes-eukaryotes-anaerobic prokaryotes -photosynthetic prokaryotes-multicellular organisms 
C) aerobic prokaryotes-photosynthetic prokaryotes-anaerobic prokaryotes-eukaryotes-multicellular organisms 
D) photosynthetic prokaryotes-anaerobic prokaryotes-aerobic prokaryotes-eukaryotes-multicellular organisms

Question 7

Which gas played a critical role in forming the Earth's primitive atmosphere? 

A) oxygen (O₂) 
B) methane (CH₄) 
C) carbon dioxide (CO₂) 
D) water vapour (H₂O)

Question 8

What energy source's harmful effects did the development of the ozone layer protect early organic life from? 

A) x-rays 
B) ultraviolet radiation 
C) radioactivity 
D) lightning

Question 9

Which statement best characterizes the term mutation? 

A) A mutation always occurs in patterns. 
B) A mutation is always harmful. 
C) A mutation is a source of new genetic material. 
D) A mutation is a very common event.

Question 10

What is the term for the change in the sensitivity of moths' hearing in response to a change in the frequencies used in echolocation by bats to find moths at night? 

A) macroevolution 
B) coevolution 
C) genetic drift 
D) convergent evolution

Question 11

Most of the individuals in a bat population possess moderate length wings,although some have long wings and some have short wings.Over the course of time,the frequency of moderate wing lengths has increased.What is the most likely cause for most of the bat population having moderate wing lengths? 

A) stabilizing natural selection 
B) directional natural selection 
C) continuous natural selection 
D) diversifying natural selection

Question 12

Which statement best describes how the Earth's distance from the sun influences our planet? 

A) It ensures that Earth's climate will be too cold for evolution to continue. 
B) It ensures that Earth's climate will be too hot for evolution to continue. 
C) It ensures that Earth will overheat of its own accord long before this could happen due to human-caused global warming. 
D) It has created a climate just right for the evolution of life, which depends on water.

Question 13

What is the definition of gene pool? 

A) the genetic composition of an organism 
B) the genetic composition of a population 
C) the genetic composition of an ecosystem 
D) the genetic composition of a community

Question 14

What benefit does the size of the Earth serve? 

A) Its size keeps it in orbit at a constant distance from the sun. 
B) Its size provides enough gravitational mass to keep the light gaseous molecules in its atmosphere from flying off into space. 
C) Its size keeps the iron-nickel core solid. 
D) Its size prevents transfer of geothermal energy to the surface of the planet.

Question 15

What provides strong evidence for the evolution of life? 

A) analysis of the Bible 
B) analysis of solar and lunar cycles 
C) analysis of past atmospheric conditions 
D) analysis of radioactive elements in ancient rocks and fossils

Question 16

Which term refers to a change in the genetic composition of a population over successive generations? 

A) evolution 
B) natural selection 
C) emigration 
D) mutation

Question 17

What can cause mutations in an organism's DNA? 

A) x-rays 
B) ozone 
C) carbon dioxide (CO₂) 
D) methane (CH₄)

Question 18

What best describes biologists' current hypothesis about the production of the Earth's atmospheric oxygen? 

A) Photosynthesis by terrestrial plants produces atmospheric oxygen. 
B) The breakdown of iron ore deposits produces atmospheric oxygen. 
C) Photosynthesis by photosynthesizing bacteria produces atmospheric oxygen. 
D) Chemosynthesis by aquatic plants produces atmospheric oxygen.

Question 19

What most likely brought about the formation of oxygen in the Earth's primitive atmosphere? 

A) ozone producing prokaryotes 
B) anaerobic prokaryotes 
C) chemosynthetic bacteria 
D) photosynthetic bacteria

Question 20

What explains the origin of organic molecules on Earth? 

A) formation of inorganic molecules around hydrothermal vents in the ocean floor 
B) formation of multicellular eukaryotes from inorganic molecules in the seas 
C) formation of the first protocells from inorganic molecules on land 
D) formation of organic molecules from inorganic molecules and an energy source

Question 21

Which statement best defines mass depletion? 

A) The normal extinction rate of various species as a result of changes in local environmental conditions. 
B) A widespread, often global period during which extinction rates are higher than normal. 
C) A catastrophic, widespread, often global event in which major groups of species are wiped out over a very short period of time. 
D) The current extinction rate when the background extinction rate is subtracted from the mass extinction rate.

Question 22

What is a common misconception about evolution? 

A) speciation requires many generations to occur 
B) only the strongest survive 
C) it requires gene mutations 
D) only the genetically fittest survive

Question 23

What has occurred when natural selection results in a shift toward one end of a normal range of traits? 

A) directional natural selection 
B) diversifying natural selection 
C) stabilizing natural selection 
D) discontinuous natural selection

Question 24

What is geographic isolation least likely to give rise to? 

A) convergent evolution 
B) speciation 
C) divergent evolution 
D) reproductive isolation

Question 25

Which of the following does NOT refer to coevolution? 

A) Coevolution occurs between plants and herbivores. 
B) Coevolution occurs when interacting species exert selective pressures on each other. 
C) Coevolution leads to competitive relationships. 
D) Coevolution may play a role in the evolution of camouflage.

Question 26

What has occurred when natural selection results in a shift toward the average of a range of genetic expressions for a particular trait? 

A) stabilizing natural selection 
B) directional natural selection 
C) discontinuous natural selection 
D) diversifying natural selection

Question 27

What is least likely to affect the patterns of speciation and extinction? 

A) human activity 
B) continental drift 
C) changes in the weather 
D) climatic changes

Question 28

What might be a cause of geographic isolation? 

A) competition for food 
B) genetic mutations 
C) behavioural differences 
D) changes in sea level

Question 29

What is used to separate a species' realized niche from its fundamental niche? 

A) competition for breeding locations among individuals within a species 
B) competition for food with another species 
C) competition for mates amongst individuals within a species 
D) competition for food amongst individuals within a species

Question 30

What is NOT included in an ecological niche? 

A) types of resource requirements 
B) range of tolerance to different physical and chemical conditions 
C) nutrient relationships with other species 
D) location where a species lives

Question 31

What best defines an organism's habitat? 

A) It is the interactions and relationships that it has with other species. 
B) It is the location where a species lives. 
C) It is the range of tolerance to different physical and chemical conditions. 
D) It is the type of resources requirement.

Question 32

What has occurred when natural selection shifts allelic frequencies toward the extremes of a range of genetic expressions for a particular trait? 

A) directional natural selection 
B) discontinuous natural selection 
C) diversifying natural selection 
D) stabilizing natural selection

Question 33

What process refers to the change in the gene pool in one species that may occur over the course of time as a result of a change in the gene pool of another species? 

A) coevolution 
B) macroevolution 
C) convergent evolution 
D) diversifying natural selection

Question 34

Which term is analogous to an organism's niche? 

A) food source 
B) address 
C) way of life 
D) garbage dump

Question 35

In a population of whales,there is considerable variation in the height of the dorsal fin.Over the course of time,many whales develop very long dorsal fins and many develop very short dorsal fins,but a few whales exhibit an intermediate height in their dorsal fin.What is the most likely conclusion about the variation in size of dorsal fins? 

A) The population is undergoing directional natural selection. 
B) The population is undergoing disruptive natural selection. 
C) The population is undergoing discontinuous natural selection. 
D) The population is undergoing diversifying natural selection.

Question 36

What might be an example of coevolution? 

A) plants and herbivores 
B) plants and water 
C) plants and wind 
D) plants and soil nutrients

Question 37

Which process refers to the fact that species belonging to different taxonomic groups might develop a resemblance resulting from adaptation to similar environments? 

A) microevolution 
B) macroevolution 
C) convergent evolution 
D) coevolution

Question 38

Which of the following best describes biodiversity? 

A) speciation plus extinction 
B) speciation minus coevolution 
C) speciation minus extinction 
D) speciation plus coevolution

Question 39

Which statement best describes speciation? 

A) The loss of a species as the result of background extinction. 
B) The loss of a species as the result of a mass extinction event. 
C) The formation of a new species through convergent evolution. 
D) The formation of a new species by the process of natural selection.

Question 40

Although there appears to be considerable variability in lengths of necks in a population of giraffes,the fossil record shows a definite shift to longer necks over the course of time.What is the most likely conclusion about the shift to longer necks? 

A) The population is undergoing stabilizing natural selection. 
B) The population is undergoing directional natural selection. 
C) The population is undergoing discontinuous natural selection. 
D) The population is undergoing diversifying natural selection.

Question 41

The results of background extinctions are due to changing local environmental conditions.

Question 42

Natural selection relies on three truths,one of which is based on genetic mutations.

Question 43

What best describes artificial selection? 

A) Selection of desirable genetic traits in a population as a result of human manipulations. 
B) Selection of desirable genetic traits in a population as a result of random genetic mutations. 
C) Selection of desirable genetic traits in a population as a result of chance natural events. 
D) Selection of desirable genetic traits in a population as a result of changes in another species.

Question 44

Houseflies would probably adapt to an environmental change much quicker than a human would.

Question 45

Mass depletion and mass extinctions are different terms that describe the same type of events.

Question 46

What percentage do biologists estimate is the portion of all species that ever lived which are now extinct? 

A) 39% 
B) 59% 
C) 79% 
D) 99%

Question 47

Selective breeding is a method of artificial selection.

Question 48

Genetic engineering involves making a modified gene,making a transgenic cell,and then growing a genetically altered organism.

Question 49

What is believed to be the result of biodiversity? 

A) divergent and convergent evolution 
B) speciation and extinction 
C) extinction and coevolution 
D) speciation and coevolution

Question 50

In speciation,two species interbreed to form one new species.

Question 51

Geographic isolation and reproductive isolation are the two processes that affect the numbers and types of species on Earth.

Question 52

Which statement best describes a transgenic organism? 

A) An organism that is the result of traditional crossbreeding of two species. 
B) An organism that has both male and female characteristics. 
C) An organism that contains genes from a totally genetically unrelated species. 
D) An organism that is the result of artificial selection of two closely genetically related species.

Question 53

When local environmental conditions change,species may become extinct through background extinction.

Question 54

Extinction is the permanent loss of genetic diversity.

Question 55

Survival of the fittest means survival of the strongest.

Question 56

What is the current estimate given for the annual human-caused extinction rate? 

A) 1000 to 10 000 species per million species 
B) 100 to 1000 species per million species 
C) 10 to 100 species per million species 
D) 1 to 10 species per million species

Question 57

Natural selection acts,by means of environmental conditions,on populations to increase their survival rate.

Question 58

An individual's acquired ability to jump could be the beginning of microevolution.

Question 59

Mutations must occur for biological evolution to happen.

Question 60

What percentage do geneticists estimate is the average success rate of current genetic engineering experiments? 

A) 10.0% 
B) 1.0% 
C) 0.1% 
D) 0.01%

Question 61

In a certain environment,there is selection for the mean coloration of snail shells.What type of natural selection is this? In what type of environment is this most common?

Question 62

A(n)____________________ in any cell can result in new genetic traits that can produce a better chance of survival.

Question 63

Scientists have identified periods of ______________________________ in which the extinction rates are higher than normal but not high enough to classify the period as having experienced a mass extinction.

Question 64

A(n)____________________ includes an organism's range of tolerance for physical and chemical conditions.

Question 65

Convergent evolution occurs when two distantly related groups of organisms develop similarities because they are adapting to similar environments.

Question 66

Generalist species tend to have a broad niche while specialist species have a ____________________ niche.

Question 67

Biopharming is the use of genetically engineered animals to act as biofactories for producing drugs.

Question 68

___________________________________ facilitates one species developing into two through mutation or natural selection.

Question 69

The process of natural selection leading to an entirely new species being formed is called ____________________.

Question 70

Geographic isolation can lead to ____________________ isolation.

Question 71

Genetically modified bacteria used to clean up oil spills are a result of _________________________.

Question 72

An ice age is an example of an event that can cause a(n)______________________________.

Question 73

The Arctic fox and the grey fox are an example of what type of isolation?

Question 74

A species of tropical fish feeds only on a specific algae and tolerates only small shifts in temperature and salinity.Is this species a generalist or a specialist? Would this species be more prone to extinction than a species of fish that is omnivorous and can tolerate wide ranges of temperature and salinity?

Question 75

Dolly,the most famous,and perhaps the most controversial,sheep was produced as a result of ____________________.

Question 76

The term ____________________ would be used to describe changes in which speciation occurred.

Question 77

That the bodies of both sharks and whales have evolved into a fusiform shape is an example of ___________________________________.

Question 78

That the hunting behaviour of bats has influenced the avoidance behaviours of their prey,moths,is an example of ____________________.

Question 79

If a species of frogs becomes threatened because they can live only in a narrow range of temperatures,they would be classified as a(n)______________________________.

Question 80

Humans have thrived as a species because of a complex brain and strong ____________________ thumbs.