Question 1

The forelimbs of manatees,penguins,seals,and sea turtles are all flipper-shaped.This is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)   convergent evolution to a structure permitting movement in water.
B)   natural selection to a structure permitting movement in water.
C)   adaptations to eating fish.
D)   inheriting a common trait from a recent common ancestor.
E)   selective breeding for the flipperlike forelimbs by humans.F) A) and E)
G) A) and D)

Question 2

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.F) B) and D)
G) All of the above

Question 3

Many people refer to Alfred Russel Wallace as the "Father of Biogeography." Which of the following contributions led Wallace to achieve this title?

Accepted Answer

A)   Wallace described the idea of evolution at the same time as Darwin.
B)   Wallace had traveled around the world and collected specimens.
C)   Wallace coined the term "survival of the fittest."
D)   Wallace described a sharp line dividing Australian species from Asian species.
E)   Wallace prompted Darwin to publish the book On the Origin of Species.F) C) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 4

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.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 5

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 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.F) C) and D)
G) B) and E)

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Lyell's Principles of Geology was the first text to give evidence that the Earth

Accepted Answer

A)   was created a few thousand years ago.
B)   did not change over time.
C)   was actually much younger than previously believed.
D)   was undergoing slow and continuous cycles of erosion and uplift.
E)   was undergoing different process today compared to what occurred in the past.F) A) and D)
G) D) and E)

Question 8

Given the comparative study of embryology,it is concluded that genes controlling embryonic development are essentially the same.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Broccoli,kohlrabi,Brussels sprouts,Chinese cabbage,and cauliflower were all derived from the single wild species.This diversity is a result of

Accepted Answer

A)   adaptation.
B)   natural selection.
C)   biogeography.
D)   artificial selection.
E)   speciation.F) C) and D)
G) None of the above

Question 10

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 infectionF) B) and D)
G) A) and E)

Question 11

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.F) All of the above
G) D) and E)

Question 12

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.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 13

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.F) All of the above
G) A) and B)

Question 14

Through observing the variation in snails,which individuals would you predict would most easily hide from predators if this population existed in variable (mixed patches of light and dark areas) environment?

Accepted Answer

A)   The dark colored snails would most easily hide from predators.
B)   The light colored snails would most easily hide from predators.
C)   The multicolored (variable)  snails would most easily hide from predators.
D)   All snails would equally hide well from predators anywhere in the environment.
E)   All snails would equally be obvious to predators anywhere in the environment.F) D) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 15

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.F) A) and E)
G) C) and E)

Question 16

h  Refer to the figure shown here.Which of the following would not have been a selective agent or pressure that could lead to the reduction in hindlimbs through time?

Accepted Answer

A)   The animal's body size was too heavy to support the weight on land and hindlimbs were no longer useful.
B)   More emphasis was placed on flexing the backbone than on paddling with hindlimbs for swimming.
C)   Appendages cause resistance, or drag, when moving through water.
D)   Before moving into the ocean, smaller legs were advantageous to escaping predators on land.
E)   With the increased size of the tail and its use in swimming, the hindlimbs were not as necessary.F) A) and D)
G) C) and D)

Question 17

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 to Darwin.
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 showed how the human population grows faster than the food supply and that death and famine were inevitable.F) All of the above
G) C) and E)

Question 18

Tortoises in the Galapagos possessed neck lengths unique to each island.Neck lengths appear to be an adaptation to which selective agent?

Accepted Answer

A)   ease in finding pools of drinking water
B)   type of vegetation available to eat
C)   reproductive barriers used to produce offspring
D)   defense against predators
E)   male competition for femalesF) B) and E)
G) A) and B)

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

A)   these organisms are unrelated but have similar adaptations.
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.F) B) and D)
G) A) and D)

Question 20

Fitness refers to

Accepted Answer

A)   the variation in traits within the population.
B)   reproductive success.
C)   mutations that benefit an organism's survival.
D)   the physical health of an individual.
E)   the physical health of a population.F) D) and E)
G) B) and D)

Exam 14: Darwin and Evolution

Broccoli,kohlrabi,Brussels sprouts,Chinese cabbage,and cauliflower were all derived from the single wild species.This diversity is a result of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Tortoises in the Galapagos possessed neck lengths unique to each island.Neck lengths appear to be an adaptation to which selective agent?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Given the comparative study of embryology,it is concluded that genes controlling embryonic development are essentially the same.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Lyell's Principles of Geology was the first text to give evidence that the Earth

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

h Refer to the figure shown here.Which of the following would not have been a selective agent or pressure that could lead to the reduction in hindlimbs through time?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Many people refer to Alfred Russel Wallace as the "Father of Biogeography." Which of the following contributions led Wallace to achieve this title?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Darwin's primary mission on the HMS Beagle was to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The presence of vestigial organs supports evidence of evolution because

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Through observing the variation in snails,which individuals would you predict would most easily hide from predators if this population existed in variable (mixed patches of light and dark areas) environment?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Lyell's theory of uniformitarianism stated that

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The forelimbs of manatees,penguins,seals,and sea turtles are all flipper-shaped.This is an example of

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Fitness refers to

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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