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Biology
9th -
12thgrade
Evolution by Natural Selection adapted from worksheet
48 questions
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- 1. Multiple Choice
Describe how the population of mice is different in figure 3 compared to figure 1.
less white mice are present
more white mice are present
more sand colored mice are present
less sand colored mice are present
- 2. Multiple Choice
Explain what happened to cause less white mice in figure 3.
The white mice could not find food.
The white white mice were not best adapted to the sand colored environment and were easy prey.
The white mice all went home early.
The sand colored mice ate the white mice.
- 3. Multiple Choice
In discussing evolution, fitness is defined as the ability to survive and reproduce. For the mice in the figure, which characteristic increased fitness?
Bigger cheeks
Longer tails
Sand colored fur
Shorter legs
- 4. Multiple Choice
The term fitness can have two different meanings, depending on what subject you are discussing. What does the term fitness mean when biologists are discussing evolution?
process that results in the adaptation of an organism to its environment by means of selectively reproducing changes in its genotype, or genetic constitution
clues that have been left behind by various forms of living things
a state of health and well-being and, more specifically, the ability to perform aspects of sports, occupations and daily activities.
means the ability to survive to reproductive age, find a mate, and produce offspring
- 5. Multiple Choice
The term fitness can have two different meanings, depending on what subject you are discussing. What does the term physical fitness mean?
process that results in the adaptation of an organism to its environment by means of selectively reproducing changes in its genotype, or genetic constitution
clues that have been left behind by various forms of living things
a state of health and well-being and, more specifically, the ability to perform aspects of sports, occupations and daily activities.
means the ability to survive to reproductive age, find a mate, and produce offspring
- 6. Multiple Choice
A characteristic which is influenced by genes and passed from parents to offspring is called a heritable trait. For example, fur color is a heritable trait for mice. An adaptation is a heritable trait that increases fitness. Which fur color is an adaption for these mice? What evidence supports your conclusion?
White / number of offspring and age at death
Gray / number of offspring and age at death
Black / number of offspring and running speed
Gray / number of offspring and running speed
- 7. Multiple Choice
Explain why the percent of mice with gray fur increased from Generation 1 adults to Generation 2 babies.
Because the adaptation increases fitness, individuals with this trait generally produce more offspring.
a state of health and well-being and, more specifically, the ability to perform aspects of sports, occupations and daily activities.
Because the trait is heritable, offspring generally have the same trait as their parents. Therefore, over time, the adaptation tends to become more common in the population. This process is called natural selection.
clues that have been left behind by various forms of living things
- 8. Multiple Choice
For the mice on the gray sand, what do you think would happen after many generation?
About half of the mice would have gray fur.
Almost all of the mice would have gray fur.
There would be equal numbers of mice with white fur, gray fur and black fur.
The gray mice would go to extinction.
- 9. Multiple Choice
After many generations almost all the mice would have gray fur because
they taste rancid.
they have a higher fitness.
they are the more docile.
they are a blend of black and white mice.
- 10. Multiple Choice
Think of a population of mice living on white sand. Suppose the population began with a pair of white mice, a pair of gray mice and a pair of black mice. After many generations, almost all of the mice in this population would have ________ fur.
white
gray
black
white and black spotted
- 11. Multiple Choice
When mice live on white sand, which color fur is an adaptation?
white
gray
black
all of the above
- 12. Multiple Choice
When mice live on gray sand, which color fur is an adaptation?
white
gray
black
all of the above
- 13. Multiple Choice
This cartoon is an example of
herbivory
natural selection
biodiversity
how fossils are made
- 14. Multiple Choice
process that results in the adaptation of an organism to its environment by means of selectively reproducing changes in its genotype, or genetic constitution
fitness
adaptation
natural selection
mutation
- 15. Multiple Choice
a property of phenotypic features of organisms relative to selection demands of the environment
fitness
natural selecion
adaptation
mutation
- 16. Multiple Choice
These moths are all the same species. The differences between their wings is an example of ________________
Natural Selection
Genetic Variation
Homeostasis
Extinction
- 17. Multiple ChoiceWhich best describes the role of mutations in natural selection?Mutations help an organism to better survive in their environmentAn organism may acquire a helpful mutation by interacting with the environmentA mutation may result in an adaptive trait that makes an organism more likely to survive and reproduceOrganisms with certain traits are more likely to win competitions for mutations
- 18. Multiple ChoiceMutations are important because they bring aboutdeath of the organism in which they developgenetic variation needed for a population to evolvebenefits for the individual, not for the populationHardey-Weinberg equilibrium within a population
- 19. Multiple Choice
Having a very high birth weight or a very low birth weight increases the mortality rate of human babies. What type of selection may occur over time?
directional selection
disruptive selection
stabilizing selection
artificial selection
- 20. Multiple Choice
The small seeded plants in an area were killed by a fungus. Finches with a small beak cannot crack open the large seeds from the plants that were left. What type of selection is likely to occur?
directional selection
stabilizing selection
disruptive selection
artificial selection
- 21. Multiple Choice
A fire has wiped out the vegetation that produces medium sized seeds. As a result, the finches left can feed on seed that are available in two sizes: small and large. What type of selection is likely to take place in this population?
directional selection
disruptive selection
stabilizing selection
artificial selection
- 22. Multiple Choice
In Canada, the people have overfished the salmon in a particular river. They catch the larger salmon and throw the smaller salmon back into the river. Over time, what type of selection is likely to take place?
directional selection
disruptive selection
stabilizing selection
artificial selection
- 23. Multiple Choice
In a forest in Germany, there is a rat who has three fur coat colors: a light creamy color, a medium tan color, and a dark brown color. In this particular forest, the floor is a medium brown and the intermediate tan color mouse is better camouflaged.
directional selection
disruptive selection
stabilizing selection
artificial selection
- 24. Multiple Choice
A population of rabbits has three fur colors: white, gray, and black. After volcanic activity, the terrain changed and now the rabbits now live on white rocks and black rocks. What type of selection is likely to occur?
directional selection
disruptive selection
stabilizing selection
artificial selection
- 25. Multiple Choice
In interglacial periods in Europe, black bears body sizes got smaller. In the glacial periods in Europe, black bears body sizes got larger. What is this type of selection?
directional selection
disruptive selection
stabilizing selection
artificial selection
- 26. Multiple Choice
The process of biological change by which descendants come to differ from their ancestors is ...
Naturla Selection
Darwing's Ideas
Evolution
Evidence of evolution
- 27. Multiple Choice
Select all the geological change
Catastrophism
Gradualism
Uniformitarianism
Volcanism
Evolucionism
- 28. Multiple Choice
Volcanoes,floods and earthquakes are example of ...
Catastrophism
Gradualism
Uniformitarianism
Volcanism
Evolucionism
- 29. Multiple Choice
Canyon carved by river is an example of ...
Catastrophism
Gradualism
Uniformitarianism
Volcanism
Evolucionism
- 30. Multiple Choice
rock strata demonstrated geological is an example of ...
Catastrophism
Gradualism
Uniformitarianism
Volcanism
Evolucionism
- 31. Multiple Choice
is a mechanisms by which individuals that have inherited beneficial adaptation show differential reproductive success.
Evolution
Natural Resources
Naturla Selection
Evidence of evolution
- 32. Multiple Choice
Which of the following is a term for a group of similar organisms that can reproduce and produce fertile offspring?
individual
population
species
fossil
- 33. Multiple Choice
Which of the following is a fossil?
a plant that has recently died
a group of similar organisms that can reproduce
a structure or organ that no longer function
a trace of an organisms that existed in the past
- 34. Multiple Choice
The difference in the physical traits of an individuals from those of other individuals in a group is called a(n)
change
species
variation
adaptation
- 35. Multiple Choice
The development by scientists of a new color in a rose is the result of
natural selection
artificial selection
descent with modification
overproduction
- 36. Multiple Choice
All the rabbits living in a particular area would be an example of a(n)
population
species
fossil
individual organism
- 37. Multiple Choice
Which of the following is an example of a vestigial structure?
the wings of red-tailed hawks
the hand limbs of a house cat
the fins of a shark
the wings of an ostrich
- 38. Multiple Choice
Some organisms that share a common ancestor have features that have different functions, but similar structures. These are known as
vestigial structure
analogous structures
homologous structures
fossil structure
- 39. Multiple Choice
Paleontology is the study of
ecosystems
genetics
fossils
rocks and minerals
- 40. Multiple ChoiceEuropean rabbits were introduced to Australia in 1859. The rabbits reproduced rapidly in their new habitat, displaced other animals, and overgrazed vegetation. In an attempt to reduce the rabbit population, a virus was introduced in 1951. This virus is usually deadly to European rabbits. When the virus was first introduced, the rabbits died in large numbers, but the death rate decreased over time. Which of the following best explains the decrease in the rabbit death rate?Young rabbits learned to avoid being infected with the virus.The lifespan of the virus was too short to affect rabbits over a long period of time.Natural selection favored rabbits that were resistant to the virus.No correct choices.
- 41. Multiple ChoiceWhich of the following statements gives the most likely explanation for the presence of two very similar species of squirrels living on opposite sides of the Grand Canyon?One squirrel traveled across the canyon and started a new population on the other side.One squirrel traveled across the canyon and interbred with a different population on the other side.Members of one single squirrel species were geographically separated by the formation of the canyon.Members of two different squirrel species migrated from two different places to opposite sides of the canyon.
- 42. Multiple ChoiceThe Asian shore crab invaded parts of the eastern coast of the United States about 15 years ago. The Asian shore crab preys on blue mussels. In the time since the Asian shore crab arrived, the average shell thickness of the blue mussel population has increased. Which of the following is the most likely reason that this increase in shell thickness has occurred?Blue mussels with thick shells attract more crabs that mussels without thick shells.Blue mussels with thick shells grow in larger colonies than mussels without thick shells.Blue mussels with thick shells catch more food per day than mussels without thick shells.Blue mussels with thick shells survive and reproduce more successfully than mussels without thick shells.
- 43. Multiple ChoiceStructures that share a common ancestry or are similar because they are modified versions of structures from a common ancestor that contain the same basic bone structure areNot related.Not homologous.Homologous.Young in origin.
- 44. Multiple Choice
The _______________ is the pair of alleles an individual has for a given trait. Ex: FF
Genotype
Phenotype
Homozygous
Dominance
- 45. Multiple Choice
The _________________ is the physical appearance that an individual's alleles code for.
Genotype
Phenotype
Dominance
Heterozygous
- 46. Multiple Choice
A farmer’s use of the best livestock for breeding is an example of:
Artificial Selection
Natural Selection
Fitness
Common Descent
- 47. Multiple Choice
Any trait that helps an organism better survive and reproduce in its given environment is called:
Adversion
Adaptation
Variation
Fitness
- 48. Multiple Choice
Differences in members of a population that can be passed from parents to offspring is called:
Variation
Heritable Variation
Family Variation
Ancestral Variation
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