Question 1

Which of the following things is an example of gene flow?

Accepted Answer

A)  an insecticide,like DDT,that improves reproductive success for only those individuals that have the genes for resistance 
B)  the selective removal of visually distinctive individuals via predation 
C)  the post-bottleneck expansion of a population after the restriction has been removed 
D)  pollen grains that can transport a gamete hundreds of miles to an isolated population 
A)  an insecticide,like DDT,that improves reproductive success for only those individuals that have the genes for resistance 
B)  the selective removal of visually distinctive individuals via predation 
C)  the post-bottleneck expansion of a population after the restriction has been removed 
D)  pollen grains that can transport a gamete hundreds of miles to an isolated population

Question 2

Some finches on the Galápagos Islands feed on insects,an unusual food for finches to eat.Which of the following statements about these finches is most likely to be true?

Accepted Answer

A)  They could not survive if they were moved from their island. 
B)  They observed and learned this feeding style from local birds. 
C)  They switched their diet to insects because insects are nutritionally superior. 
D)  They gradually adapted to this feeding style because they had no competition from typical insect-eating birds. 
A)  They could not survive if they were moved from their island. 
B)  They observed and learned this feeding style from local birds. 
C)  They switched their diet to insects because insects are nutritionally superior. 
D)  They gradually adapted to this feeding style because they had no competition from typical insect-eating birds.

Question 3

Pangaea is

Accepted Answer

A)  the component of plate tectonics that was formerly called continental drift. 
B)  the combined fossil record of ancient species. 
C)  an ancient supercontinent formed from the major landmasses that exist today as separate continents. 
D)  the result of natural selection. 
A)  the component of plate tectonics that was formerly called continental drift. 
B)  the combined fossil record of ancient species. 
C)  an ancient supercontinent formed from the major landmasses that exist today as separate continents. 
D)  the result of natural selection.

Question 4

Many organisms are darker on their dorsal surface and lighter on their ventral surface.They are difficult to see from both above and below because of this ________,which is called countershading.

Accepted Answer

A)  adaptation 
B)  pattern of resistance 
C)  selection pressure 
D)  fixation 
A)  adaptation 
B)  pattern of resistance 
C)  selection pressure 
D)  fixation

Question 5

Humans have a reduced tailbone and the muscles to move a tail.This evidence indicates that we descended from an ancestor that had a tail.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Four mechanisms can change the composition of a population's gene pool,but only ________ does so by creating new alleles.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 7

In the phrase survival of the fittest,the term fittest refers to the individual with the greatest physical strength.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The protein sequences and DNA sequences of organisms that share a recent common ancestor are likely to be ________ similar than those of organisms that do not share a recent common ancestor.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The protein sequences and DNA sequences of...

Question 9

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck proposed that changes in the characteristics of a population are a result of traits acquired during an organism's lifetime being inherited by that organism's offspring.What is wrong with this proposal?

Accepted Answer

A)  Only changes in the DNA sequence of an organism can be inherited.Traits that are acquired throughout life generally do not alter DNA. 
B)  The environment chooses which traits are necessary for survival,rather than the individual. 
C)  Changes in a species occur at the individual level rather than the population level. 
D)  The inheritance of acquired traits would not lead to speciation,because it would cause all the individuals in a population to become more similar. 
A)  Only changes in the DNA sequence of an organism can be inherited.Traits that are acquired throughout life generally do not alter DNA. 
B)  The environment chooses which traits are necessary for survival,rather than the individual. 
C)  Changes in a species occur at the individual level rather than the population level. 
D)  The inheritance of acquired traits would not lead to speciation,because it would cause all the individuals in a population to become more similar.

Question 10

Genetic variation is based on

Accepted Answer

A)  the inheritance of alleles that are accumulated during an individual's lifetime. 
B)  differences in DNA sequences between the individuals in a population. 
C)  the accumulation of mutations in somatic cells (as opposed to gametes). 
D)  the formation of new combinations of alleles during asexual reproduction. 
A)  the inheritance of alleles that are accumulated during an individual's lifetime. 
B)  differences in DNA sequences between the individuals in a population. 
C)  the accumulation of mutations in somatic cells (as opposed to gametes). 
D)  the formation of new combinations of alleles during asexual reproduction.

Question 11

Biological evolution can be defined as

Accepted Answer

A)  the process of direct observation. 
B)  adaptations to common descent. 
C)  the unchanging nature of life on Earth. 
D)  the change in allele frequencies in a population's gene pool over time. 
A)  the process of direct observation. 
B)  adaptations to common descent. 
C)  the unchanging nature of life on Earth. 
D)  the change in allele frequencies in a population's gene pool over time.

Question 12

The evolution of the horse from an animal with five toes to an animal with one toe demonstrates one of the common evolutionary themes-that organisms become less complex over time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Genetic variation within a population is the result of the expression of the different ________ of a gene.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Genetic variation within a population is the...

Question 14

Flounder (a type of fish)generally match the color of the sandy bottoms of the bodies of water they inhabit.Their color functions like camouflage,making them difficult for predators to detect.This is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  speciation. 
B)  adaptation. 
C)  continental drift. 
D)  guided mutation. 
A)  speciation. 
B)  adaptation. 
C)  continental drift. 
D)  guided mutation.

Question 15

Cliff swallows with long wings have an adaptive advantage over those with short wings when the selection pressure is related to agility during flight.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which of the following statements is an example of a behavioral adaptation?

Accepted Answer

A)  Polar bears have white fur and are nearly invisible in their native habitat. 
B)  Pacific salmon spend the early part of their lives in fresh water but then migrate to the ocean to grow and mature. 
C)  Caterpillars that hatch on oak trees in the summer resemble twigs,whereas caterpillars that hatch in the spring resemble oak flowers. 
D)  Deer mice forage at night and are normally inactive during the day. 
A)  Polar bears have white fur and are nearly invisible in their native habitat. 
B)  Pacific salmon spend the early part of their lives in fresh water but then migrate to the ocean to grow and mature. 
C)  Caterpillars that hatch on oak trees in the summer resemble twigs,whereas caterpillars that hatch in the spring resemble oak flowers. 
D)  Deer mice forage at night and are normally inactive during the day.

Question 17

Some highly successful biologists also have a strong religious faith.How do they reconcile their faith with the scientific evidence for evolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Most of them reject modern evolutionary theory because they believe it is biased by the ongoing conflict between religion and science. 
B)  They recognize that religion and evolution are distinct areas of inquiry that do not overlap with each other. 
C)  They note that the theory of evolution is flawed because it consistently fails to predict the patterns of mutations that are proposed to drive the process. 
D)  They recognize that evolution works only in nonsentient creatures and that human intelligence has limited the role of evolution. 
A)  Most of them reject modern evolutionary theory because they believe it is biased by the ongoing conflict between religion and science. 
B)  They recognize that religion and evolution are distinct areas of inquiry that do not overlap with each other. 
C)  They note that the theory of evolution is flawed because it consistently fails to predict the patterns of mutations that are proposed to drive the process. 
D)  They recognize that evolution works only in nonsentient creatures and that human intelligence has limited the role of evolution.

Question 18

Natural selection tends to

Accepted Answer

A)  increase the commonality of characteristics that enhance survival and reproduction. 
B)  decrease the number of individuals in any given population. 
C)  lead to an increase in genetic drift. 
D)  decrease the likelihood of adaptation. 
A)  increase the commonality of characteristics that enhance survival and reproduction. 
B)  decrease the number of individuals in any given population. 
C)  lead to an increase in genetic drift. 
D)  decrease the likelihood of adaptation.

Question 19

All the individuals that constitute any given population will be genetically identical.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

The most probable explanation for why two different species have similar features is

Accepted Answer

A)  genetic drift. 
B)  gene flow. 
C)  artificial selection. 
D)  descent from a common ancestor. 
A)  genetic drift. 
B)  gene flow. 
C)  artificial selection. 
D)  descent from a common ancestor.

Exam 14: How Evolution Works

Which of the following things is an example of gene flow?

Some finches on the Galápagos Islands feed on insects,an unusual food for finches to eat.Which of the following statements about these finches is most likely to be true?

Pangaea is

Many organisms are darker on their dorsal surface and lighter on their ventral surface.They are difficult to see from both above and below because of this ________,which is called countershading.

Humans have a reduced tailbone and the muscles to move a tail.This evidence indicates that we descended from an ancestor that had a tail.

Four mechanisms can change the composition of a population's gene pool,but only ________ does so by creating new alleles.

In the phrase survival of the fittest,the term fittest refers to the individual with the greatest physical strength.

The protein sequences and DNA sequences of organisms that share a recent common ancestor are likely to be ________ similar than those of organisms that do not share a recent common ancestor.

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck proposed that changes in the characteristics of a population are a result of traits acquired during an organism's lifetime being inherited by that organism's offspring.What is wrong with this proposal?

Genetic variation is based on

Biological evolution can be defined as

The evolution of the horse from an animal with five toes to an animal with one toe demonstrates one of the common evolutionary themes-that organisms become less complex over time.

Genetic variation within a population is the result of the expression of the different ________ of a gene.

Flounder (a type of fish)generally match the color of the sandy bottoms of the bodies of water they inhabit.Their color functions like camouflage,making them difficult for predators to detect.This is an example of

Cliff swallows with long wings have an adaptive advantage over those with short wings when the selection pressure is related to agility during flight.

Which of the following statements is an example of a behavioral adaptation?

Some highly successful biologists also have a strong religious faith.How do they reconcile their faith with the scientific evidence for evolution?

Natural selection tends to

All the individuals that constitute any given population will be genetically identical.

The most probable explanation for why two different species have similar features is

The Nature of Science and the Characteristics of Life

The Chemistry of Life

Cell Structure and Internal Compartments

Cell Membranes, Transport, and Communication

Energy, Metabolism, and Enzymes

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Cell Division

Cancer and Human Health

Patterns of Inheritance

Chromosomes and Human Genetics

DNA and Genes

From Gene to Protein

DNA Technology

The Origin of Species

The Evolution of Biodiversity

Biological Diversity, Bacteria, and Archaea

Protista, Plantae, and Fungi

Animalia

The Biosphere

Growth of Populations

Animal Behavior

Ecological Communities

Ecosystems

Global Change

Internal Organization and Homeostasis

Nutrition and Digestion

Circulation and Gas Exchange

Animal Hormones

Nervous and Sensory Systems

Skeletons,Muscles,and Movement

The Immune System

Reproduction and Development

Plant Structure, Nutrition, and Transport

Plant Growth and Reproduction

Filters