Question 1

Which of the following best describes 'behavior' in animals as defined in Chapter 51?

Accepted Answer

An action carried out by muscles under control of the nervous system in response to a stimulus.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a major category of animal behavior?

Accepted Answer

Photosynthetic behavior

Question 3

A male stickleback fish attacks any object with a red underside. This is an example of which behavioral concept?

Accepted Answer

Fixed action pattern triggered by a sign stimulus

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of chemical communication in animals?

Accepted Answer

A wolf marking its territory with urine

Question 5

According to Tinbergen's Four Questions, which question addresses the evolutionary history of a behavior?

Accepted Answer

Evolution (phylogeny)

Question 6

Which of the following best describes 'imprinting'?

Accepted Answer

A long-lasting behavioral response to a particular individual or object formed during a sensitive period

Question 7

Which type of learning involves associating one’s own behavior with a reward or punishment?

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning

Question 8

A wasp uses landmarks to find its nest. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Spatial learning

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of a circadian rhythm?

Accepted Answer

A bird singing at dawn every day

Question 10

Which statement about pheromones is correct?

Accepted Answer

They are chemical signals released into the environment to communicate with members of the same species.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the 'ultimate cause' of a behavior?

Accepted Answer

The evolutionary reason why the behavior increases fitness

Question 12

Which of the following is an example of innate behavior?

Accepted Answer

A spider spinning a web without prior experience

Question 13

Which means of communication is least important in nocturnal animals?

Accepted Answer

Visual communication

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of a fixed action pattern?

Accepted Answer

A goose rolling an egg back to its nest in a stereotyped way

Question 15

Which of the following is a proximate cause of a behavior?

Accepted Answer

The detection of organic chemicals by sensory organs

Animal Behavior (Ch. 51): Mechanisms, Learning, and Evolutionary Basis

Study Guide - Practice Questions