Multiple Choice Review – Evolution
1. There are approximately 8.7 million species living on Earth. What
constitutes a single species?
a. Organisms that live in the same area and that compete with each
other.
b. Organisms that have the same adaptations and that compete with
each other.
c. Organisms that can produce viable offspring, whether or not they live
in the same environment.
d. Organisms that have exactly the same alleles, and produce either
viable or sterile offspring.
2. Traits which benefit an organism in its environment are referred to as
adaptations. Which of the following is accurate regarding adaptations?
a. They are entirely the result of genetics.
b. They are the result of genetics and environment.
c. They can all change within a single organism’s lifetime.
d. They occur only when a new species arises.
3. The theory of acquired characteristics can be attributed to
a. Charles Darwin
b. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
c. Gregor Mendel
d. Both Gregor Mendel and Charles Darwin
4. Which of the following is accurate regarding the impact of the environment
upon the inheritance of traits?
a. Environmental factors can regulate the expression of traits.
b. Environmental factors can change the inheritance of traits.
c. Environmental factors cannot affect the expression of traits.
d. The only factor that impacts traits or their expression are genes.
5. During Darwin’s travels and investigations while aboard the H.M.S. Beagle, he
noted that there were distinct variations in the beaks of finches. What was
his hypothesis regarding these differences?
a. The differences were due to changes in behaviors of the finches.
b. The differences were because they arrived as separate species.
c. The differences were the result of acquired characteristics, based on
each finch species food source.
d. The differences were due to changes over time, based on each finch
species food source.
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6. The images below represent the wing of a butterfly and the wing of a bird.
How does these structures relate to one another?
a.
b.
c.
d.
They are analogous to one another.
They are homologous to one another.
They are vestigial to one another.
The are identical to one another
7. Some organisms have structures or organs that seem to serve no useful
purpose. For example, humans have a tailbone at the end of the spine that is
of no apparent use. However, the tailbone of a possum, and some monkeys, is
more fully structured and has a definite purpose. What conclusion is
supported by this?
a. Possums and monkeys are more closely related to each other than to
humans.
b. Possums, monkeys and humans have a common ancestor.
c. Monkeys and humans do not share a common ancestor.
d. These analogous structures do not support any evolutionary
relationship.
8. The image below represents one area of study within evolution. What is this
area of study?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Vestigial structures
Comparative anatomy
Comparative embryology
Comparative mutations
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9. What is the connection between apoptosis and evolution?
a. Apoptosis is programmed cell death, which allows for reabsorption of
structures not found in a fully developed organism, as well as the
development of some traits and structures, revealed during
evolutionary studies.
b. Apoptosis is programmed cell death, which results in the addition of
structures that can sometimes be confusing during evolutionary
studies.
c. Apoptosis is programmed cell death, which results in the death of an
organism that is not viable within the environmental surroundings,
leading to the loss of species.
d. Apoptosis is programmed cell death, which allows for mutations to be
carried forward that may well results in a new species, discovered
through evolutionary studies.
10. What characteristic of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) allows it to play a strong role
in evolutionary studies?
a. The genetic code for ribosomal RNA contains numerous introns,
therefore we can utilize alternative RNA splicing to track and study
evolutionary relationships.
b. rRNA mutates frequently, therefore we can utilize these changes to
track and study evolutionary relationships.
c. rRNA is found throughout the cell, therefore we can utilize its
concentration within the cell to track and study evolutionary
relationships.
d. rRNA mutates very rarely, therefore we can utilize its consistency to
track and study evolutionary relationships.
11. What is meant by “molecular homology”?
a. Studying relationships between organisms at the molecular level.
b. Studying similarities between organisms in utero.
c. Studying similarities in the functions of related structures between
species.
d. Comparing and contrasting the functions of different enzymes within
a species.
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There are two graphs shown below that represent some ways in which natural
selection affects populations. Respond to the next three questions based upon
these graphs.
Graph 1
Graph 2
12. There are snails that show variation in the color of their shells. Over time,
those snails with very light shells and those with very dark shells become
more numerous. Which of the graphs above reflect this type of selection
process and what is this called?
a. Graph 1; directional selection
b. Graph 1; disruptive selection
c. Graph 2; directional selection
d. Graph 2; stabilizing selection
13. There are rabbits that show variations in size, from very small to large, when
full grown. Over time, however, the population changes so that the variation
in size becomes very minimal. Which graph reflects this change and what is
this called?
a. Graph 1; directional selection
b. Graph 1; disruptive selection
c. Graph 2; directional selection
d. Graph 2; stabilizing selection
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14. Which of the two graphs shown above, would most likely (given the proper
circumstances) give rise to two different species over time, and why?
a. Graph 1, because once organisms differ greatly in one trait they are a
new species.
b. Graph 2, because those with variations will have to become a new
species
c. Graph 1, because there are two distinct separate groups with this trait
d. Graph 2 because once a population has one variation of a trait,
mutations will cause a new species.
15. Below is a graph showing when mating activity occurs for both wood frogs
and leopard frogs. This is an example of which type of reproductive isolation,
that may lead to speciation?
http://ibbioplans.wikispaces.com/Species+and+Speciation+(D2)?newwindow=true
a.
b.
c.
d.
temporal
geographic
mechanical
behavioral
16. Bowerbirds (shown below) construct
elaborate bowers and decorate them with
different colors in order to woo females. The Satin
bowerbird (left) builds a channel between upright
sticks, and decorates with bright blue objects,
while the MacGregor’s Bowerbird (right) builds a
tall tower of sticks and decorates with bits of
charcoal. This is an example of which type of reproductive isolation, that
may lead to speciation?
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evo_44
a.
b.
c.
d.
temporal
geographic
mechanical
behavioral
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17. Suppose a river forms through a squirrel’s habitat separating the population.
Because they cannot cross the river, they are reproductively isolated. This is
an example of which isolating mechanism?
a. temporal
b. geographic
c. mechanical
d. behavioral
18. The study of population genetics refers to the examination of which of the
following?
a. The occurrence of dominant and recessive genes in a variety of
species.
b. The occurrence of mutations within one species throughout the
world.
c. The frequency of alleles and how they change within a population
over time.
d. The frequency of mutations when different species attempt to
reproduce.
19. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium measures microevolution. What is
microevolution?
a. How evolution is occurring on a small scale.
b. How co-evolution between species is occurring.
c. Which type of reproductive isolation is occurring.
d. How many mutations are occurring on a small scale.
In a population of 16 pigs, 4 express the recessive phenotype of a black coat. The
remaining 12 pigs are pink.
20. Using the population described above and the Hardy-Weinberg equation,
what is the frequency of the recessive allele?
a. 0.75
b. 0.125
c. 0.25
d. 0.50
21. Using the population described above and the Hardy-Weinberg equation,
what is the frequency of the dominant allele?
a. 0.75
b. 0.125
c. 0.25
d. 0.50
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22. Using the population described above and the Hardy-Weinberg equation,
what percentage of the population is heterozygous for coat color?
a. 75%
b. 12.5%
c. 25%
d. 50%
23. What does the “q2” in the Hardy Weinberg equilibrium represent?
a. The frequency of the recessive allele within the population
b. The frequency of the dominant allele within the population
c. The frequency of the heterozygous condition within the population
d. The frequency of the homozygous condition within the population
24. What does it mean if p and q change from generation to generation when we
utilize the Hardy Weinberg equilibrium equation?
a. Evolution is occurring
b. Evolution is not occurring
c. Population is in Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium
d. Population is going extinct
25. Using the Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium equation, if p2 is 81% what are the
percentage values of q2 and 2pq?
a. q2 = 1% and 2pq = 18%
b. q2 = 9% and 2pq = 10%
c. q2 = 10% and 2pq = 90%
d. q2 = 0.1% and 2pq = 0.18%
26. Approximately what percentage of a population is heterozygous if 16% of the
population is homozygous recessive?
a. 32%
b. 4%
c. 16%
d. 48%
27. If the conditions under which Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium cannot be
experienced in nature, then why is this equilibrium equation used in biology?
a. The Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium has been disproved because of this
fact.
b. The Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium equation cannot be used outside of
the lab because of this inability to meet the conditions in nature.
c. It is the comparison of values over time, using the Hardy Weinberg
equilibrium equation, that allows us to study such microevolution
d. It is the comparison of values from the Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium
equation and other associated equations that show us
macroevolution.
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28. Genetic drift is most likely under which conditions?
a. very large populations
b. when a small group of individuals populate a new area
c. when populations are stable with little migration
d. in population with low mutation rates
29. The bottleneck effect occurs when a very large proportion of a population is
killed off suddenly. The population faces the risk of becoming extinct. Why is
this?
a. With only a few individuals remaining, there is great genetic variation.
b. With a large population remaining, there is great genetic variation.
c. With only a few individuals remaining, there is little genetic variation.
d. With a large population remaining, there is little genetic variation
30. When a population of animals, such as many of those kept in zoos today,
experiences genetic drift, what may be the only source remaining for genetic
variation?
a. In-breeding
b. artificial selection
c. random mutations
d. forced mutations
31. Darwin’s finches originally occupied the South American mainland. When a
group of these finches populated the Galapagos Islands, competition for food
occurred between individuals in the population. Over time, the subgroups of
these finches adapted to different food sources, resulting in a variety of
finches with differing beak sizes and shapes. Which type of evolution is
described within this example?
a. Stabilizing selection
b. Convergent evolution
c. Punctuated equilibrium
d. Adaptive radiation
32. Quite often we see organisms that have similar characteristics, not because
they have arisen from a common ancestor, but because they have adapted to
similar environments. Which type of evolution is this?
a. Divergent evolution
b. Convergent evolution
c. Punctuated equilibrium
d. Genetic drift
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33. When an environment changes such that the extreme phenotypes, and
therefore, genotypes, of a population are selected for, evolution occurs and
new species may be formed. Which type of evolution is this?
a. Divergent evolution
b. Convergent evolution
c. Co-evolution
d. Adaptive radiation
34. Which of the following does not lead to a decrease in genetic variability?
a. bottleneck
b. founder effect
c. small populations
d. large populations
35. When a species, either plant or animal, must rely upon random mutations to
generate enough genetic variation to survive, what is the main drawback?
a. The rate of random mutations is typically high.
b. The rate of random mutations of typically low.
c. The rate of random mutations is higher in larger populations.
d. The rate of random mutations is lower in larger populations.
36. What is a likely result if an endangered species, that has experienced genetic
drift, is subject to a sudden and dramatic degradation of its habitat?
a. It may respond with increased mutations.
b. It may reproduce with a similar species.
c. It may become extinct.
d. It may experience sudden explosive growth.
37. Vestigial structures can be described as:
a. Structures that had a purpose in an ancestral organism, but not in the
evolved organism.
b. Structures that never had a purpose in this or ancestral organisms.
c. Structures that have atrophied in an individual because they have not
been used much in their lifetime.
d. Structures that have grown larger in an organism due to overuse.
38. Biogeography is the
a. Local geography where an organism lives
b. Geographical distribution of a species
c. Geographical distribution of a community
d. Local geography features in a given biome
39. Which of the following is an example of mechanical isolation between two
closely related species?
a. Females responding to the song of the male of only one species.
b. The same species of organism being separated by geography
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c. Incompatibility in structure of the male and female sex organs
d. Two species can mate but offspring is sterile
40. Evolution leads to
a. Greater diversity in life on earth
b. Limited diversity in life on earth
c. More extinctions of organisms
d. A larger total number of organisms on earth.
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Answer Key
Question #
Correct response
Question #
Correct response
1
C
21
D
2
B
22
D
3
B
23
D
4
A
24
A
5
D
25
A
6
A
26
D
7
B
27
C
8
C
28
B
9
A
29
C
10
D
30
C
11
A
31
D
12
B
32
B
13
D
33
A
14
C
34
D
15
A
35
B
16
D
36
C
17
B
37
A
18
C
38
B
19
A
39
C
20
D
40
A
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