Question 1

The English demographer whose work on population growth greatly influenced Darwin's thinking was:

Accepted Answer

A)  Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck.
B)  Georges Cuvier.
C)  Thomas Malthus.
D)  Charles Lyell. C

Question 2

Gene flow differs from genetic drift because:

Accepted Answer

A)  it is the random change in the frequency of alleles.
B)  it is the random change in a gene or chromosome.
C)  it is the guiding force of evolution.
D)  it is the spread of new genetic material from one gene pool to another. D

Question 3

In your textbook,the smaller frequency of sickle-cell anemia among present day American blacks as compared to West African blacks is attributed to:

Accepted Answer

A)  genetic drift.
B)  gene flow.
C)  new mutations.
D)  none of the above B

Question 4

The evolutionary synthesis:

Accepted Answer

A)  occurred in 1900 immediately after Mendel's work was rediscovered.
B)  emphasized the important role of mutation and macromutation in evolutionary change.
C)  emphasized theoretical differences between diverse scientific fields.
D)  accepted Darwin's theory of evolution and Mendel's theory of heredity as explaining most evolutionary change.

Question 5

Different versions,or subunits,of the same gene are:

Accepted Answer

A)  chromosomes.
B)  gemmules.
C)  alleles.
D)  blenders.

Question 6

Linnaeus's taxonomic system is referred to as a "hierarchy" because:

Accepted Answer

A)  each species has a "higher level" genus and "lower level" species.
B)  species are placed in a ranked list called "The Great Chain of Being."
C)  humans are considered the most evolved species.
D)  none of the above

Question 7

Before 1700,most Western scientists thought the earth was about 4.6 billion years old.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Darwin observed that adaptations:

Accepted Answer

A)  resulted from supernatural forces.
B)  did not vary among Galápagos finches living in different habitats.
C)  were physical traits that enhanced survival and reproduction.
D)  were peripheral to evolutionary change.

Question 9

Mendel's discrete units responsible for the characteristics in his pea plants are now known as chromosomes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The English scientist who independently codiscovered the theory of natural selection was:

Accepted Answer

A)  Charles Lyell.
B)  Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck.
C)  Alfred Russell Wallace.
D)  Carolus Linnaeus.

Question 11

Which of the following is FALSE regarding populations of living organisms?

Accepted Answer

A)  Parents often produce many offspring.
B)  Population size is limited by the food supply.
C)  Individuals in populations actively compete for scarce resources.
D)  Individuals in populations show little or no variation.

Question 12

All of the following are formal taxonomic categories EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  kingdom.
B)  population.
C)  order.
D)  family.

Question 13

How is the concept of catastrophism different from the concept of uniformitarianism?

Accepted Answer

A)  Catastrophism is the idea that the shape of the earth's surface gradually shifts over time.
B)  Catastrophism is only the result of human-induced changes.
C)  Unlike uniformitarianism,catastrophism is the result of a single event.
D)  none of the above

Question 14

The geneticist who studied the workings of fruit flies' chromosomes was:

Accepted Answer

A)  Charles Darwin.
B)  Gregor Mendel.
C)  Thomas Hunt Morgan.
D)  Thomas Huxley.

Question 15

The only possible source of new genetic material is:

Accepted Answer

A)  natural selection.
B)  mutation.
C)  gene flow.
D)  gene drift.

Question 16

What is the significance for evolutionary theory of Darwin's analysis of the Galápagos finches? Provide at least one example in your answer.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the significance for evolutionary theory...

Question 17

Darwin was a crew member on ____________,a ship whose voyage informed his later theory of natural selection.

Accepted Answer

A)  the HMS Labrador
B)  the HMS Beagle
C)  the HMS Papillon
D)  the HMS Elizabeth

Question 18

How do modern-day lemurs of Madagascar demonstrate the concept of adaptive radiation?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are closely related species that have branched from one species.
B)  They are no different than ancient species of lemurs.
C)  They have radiated from ancient species of monkeys.
D)  They show great cultural flexibility.

Question 19

Why was Darwin's 1859 published theory of natural selection not widely accepted by his peers? What later scientific advance was critical to the subsequent broad acceptance of natural selection as a major force in evolutionary change?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why was Darwin's 1859 published theory of...

Question 20

By the mid-twentieth century,the causes of evolution were seen as all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  natural selection.
B)  macromutation.
C)  gene flow.
D)  genetic drift.

Exam 2: Evolution: Constructing a Fundamental Scientific Theory