Question 1

Natural selection results in

Accepted Answer

A)  increased genetic variation. 
B)  a decreased population size. 
C)  an increase in population size. 
D)  offspring that are better adapted to their current environment. 
E)  offspring that are better adapted to a future environment.

Question 2

Which of the following is 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)  All of the above answers are important characteristics.

Question 3

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.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Which of the following is 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 breeds of cats: Siamese, Persian, Himalayan, American shorthair, etc. 
E)  All of the above are examples of artificial selection.

Question 6

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

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The presence of vestigial organs supports evidence of evolution because

Accepted Answer

A)  the vestigial organ is unique to one species. 
B)  the vestigial organ is similar to a functional organ in a related species, having been passed down from a common ancestor. 
C)  both the vestigial organ and the functional organ perform the same function. 
D)  the vestigial organ could not have been passed down from an ancestor. 
E)  the vestigial organs represent variation in a species.

Question 9

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.

Question 10

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.

Question 11

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 12

Wings of insects and birds are results of convergent evolution. This means that

Accepted Answer

A)  insects must have evolved from birds. 
B)  these organisms share a recent common ancestor and so have similar adaptations. 
C)  these organisms have different adaptations to different environments. 
D)  insects and birds have each independently evolved structures that serve the same function (flight) but have done so in very different ways. 
E)  the insects and birds must be related to possess such similar qualities.

Question 13

The artificial selection of different breeds of dogs is an example of speciation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Monkeys in the New World (the Americas) have prehensile tails, strong flexible tails that grip branches and operate much like another hand. Old World (Africa and Asia) monkeys do not have such a tail. The explanation for this is

Accepted Answer

A)  monkeys in the Old World did not need a prehensile tail and therefore did not evolve one. 
B)  monkeys in the New World needed a prehensile tail and therefore evolved one. 
C)  the prehensile tail evolved in New World monkeys after the Americas separated from Africa and Asia. 
D)  the Americas are much older than Africa and Asia. There has not been enough time to evolve a prehensile tail in Africa and Asia. 
E)  a catastrophe occurred in the Old World that killed all prehensile tail monkeys leaving only non-prehensile tailed monkeys to survive.

Question 15

What influence did the writings of Thomas Malthus have on Darwin's ideas of natural selection?

Accepted Answer

A)  Malthus described the reproduction of elephants. 
B)  Malthus explained how variation was maintained within populations. 
C)  Malthus illustrated that some individuals possessed favorable traits while others did not. 
D)  Malthus wrote a detailed history of artificial selection examples. 
E)  Malthus proposedthat the human population grows faster than the food supply, meaning that death and famine are inevitable.

Question 16

Which of the following information 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.

Question 17

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.

Question 18

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 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)  The islands are small compared to the South American mainland. 
D)  Each island has its own unique environment. 
E)  All of the above answers describe physical attributes of the islands important in the evolution of unique life forms.

Question 19

The fact that DNA is the molecule containing the genetic code for all life on Earth is a part of

Accepted Answer

A)  comparative anatomical evidence. 
B)  comparative embryological evidence. 
C)  biochemical evidence. 
D)  biogeographical evidence. 
E)  evidence of artificial selection.

Question 20

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)  make contact with as many indigenous populations as possible. 
E)  to act as the ship's naturalist and expand the Navy's knowledge of natural resources around the world.

Exam 14: Darwin and Evolution

Natural selection results in

Which of the following is an important characteristic of the Galápagos Islands in the context of Darwin's theory of evolution?

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

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

Which of the following is an example of artificial selection?

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

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

The presence of vestigial organs supports evidence of evolution because

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

Lyell's theory of uniformitarianism stated that

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

Wings of insects and birds are results of convergent evolution. This means that

The artificial selection of different breeds of dogs is an example of speciation.

Monkeys in the New World (the Americas) have prehensile tails, strong flexible tails that grip branches and operate much like another hand. Old World (Africa and Asia) monkeys do not have such a tail. The explanation for this is

What influence did the writings of Thomas Malthus have on Darwin's ideas of natural selection?

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

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

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 played a role in permitting such unique life forms to evolve?

The fact that DNA is the molecule containing the genetic code for all life on Earth is a part of

Darwin's primary mission on the HMS Beagle was to