Question 1

The theory of natural selection states that:

Accepted Answer

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 2

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

Accepted Answer

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 3

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:

Accepted Answer

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 4

Refer to the figure above and then answer the question that follows.
-Homologous structures, such as a bat wing and whale flipper, are/have

Accepted Answer

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 5

In each of the following, choose the better of the two choices.
-Copper-colored skin of a Native American:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

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?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

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 8

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 9

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.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 10

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.

Accepted Answer

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 11

Which example is favored in terms of natural selection?

Accepted Answer

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 12

In each of the following, choose the better of the two choices.
-Tanned skin resulting from exposure to the sun:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

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.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

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.

Accepted Answer

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. A

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

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 16

In each of the following, choose the better of the two choices.
-Brown eye color resulting from wearing contact lenses:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

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 18

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

Accepted Answer

Cellular nature, DNA code used...

Question 19

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.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

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?

Accepted Answer

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

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

The theory of natural selection states that:

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

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:

Correct Answer
verified

Refer to the figure above and then answer the question that follows. -Homologous structures, such as a bat wing and whale flipper, are/have

Correct Answer
verified

In each of the following, choose the better of the two choices. -Copper-colored skin of a Native American:

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

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.

Correct Answer
verified
True

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.

Correct Answer
verified

Which example is favored in terms of natural selection?

Correct Answer
verified

In each of the following, choose the better of the two choices. -Tanned skin resulting from exposure to the sun:

Correct Answer
verified
A

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.

Correct Answer
verified

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.

Correct Answer
verified
A

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

Correct Answer
verified

In each of the following, choose the better of the two choices. -Brown eye color resulting from wearing contact lenses:

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified

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

Correct Answer
verified
Cellular nature, DNA code used...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

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?

Correct Answer
verified

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

The theory of natural selection states that:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Refer to the figure above and then answer the question that follows. -Homologous structures, such as a bat wing and whale flipper, are/have

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In each of the following, choose the better of the two choices. -Copper-colored skin of a Native American:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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.

Correct AnswerverifiedTrue

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.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which example is favored in terms of natural selection?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In each of the following, choose the better of the two choices. -Tanned skin resulting from exposure to the sun:

Correct AnswerverifiedA

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.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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.

Correct AnswerverifiedA

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In each of the following, choose the better of the two choices. -Brown eye color resulting from wearing contact lenses:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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

Correct AnswerverifiedCellular nature, DNA code used...View AnswerShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

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?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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True

Correct Answer
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A

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A

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Correct Answer
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Cellular nature, DNA code used...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
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