Question 1

Which of the following best describes the relationship between microevolution, macroevolution, and speciation?

Accepted Answer

Speciation is the process that bridges microevolution (small genetic changes within a population) and macroevolution (broad patterns of evolutionary change above the species level).

Question 2

According to the biological species concept, which of the following best defines a species?

Accepted Answer

A population whose members can interbreed and produce viable, fertile offspring, but do not produce viable offspring with members of other groups.

Question 3

Which evolutionary mechanism is most likely to lead to the formation of new species when gene flow is reduced or absent between populations?

Accepted Answer

Speciation

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of a prezygotic barrier?

Accepted Answer

Mating occurs at different times of the year for two populations.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT a type of prezygotic barrier?

Accepted Answer

Hybrid breakdown

Question 6

Which of the following is a limitation of the biological species concept?

Accepted Answer

It cannot be applied to asexual organisms.

Question 7

A botanist discovers a new plant species that arose from the doubling of its chromosome number within a single species. What is this process called, and during which stage of meiosis does it most likely occur?

Accepted Answer

Autopolyploidy; meiosis I

Question 8

Which of the following best describes a hybrid zone?

Accepted Answer

A geographic area where members of different species meet and mate, producing some offspring of mixed ancestry.

Question 9

Which of the following is most likely to occur if environmental conditions change in a hybrid zone?

Accepted Answer

The frequency of hybrids may increase or decrease depending on the selective pressures.

Question 10

Which of the following is a possible outcome for a hybrid zone over time?

Accepted Answer

Reinforcement, fusion, or stability

Question 11

Which model of speciation is supported by fossil records showing long periods of little change interrupted by brief periods of rapid change?

Accepted Answer

Punctuated equilibrium model

Question 12

Which of the following best describes allopatric speciation?

Accepted Answer

Speciation that occurs due to a geographic barrier separating populations

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a step that must occur after geographic isolation for speciation to be completed?

Accepted Answer

Continued gene flow between populations

Question 14

Which of the following is most likely to lead to sympatric speciation in animals?

Accepted Answer

Polyploidy, habitat differentiation, or sexual selection

Question 15

Which of the following statements about polyploidy is correct?

Accepted Answer

Polyploidy is a major mechanism of speciation in plants.

Question 16

Which of the following is true about allopolyploid organisms?

Accepted Answer

They are fertile with each other but generally cannot mate successfully with either parent species.

Question 17

Which of the following is a postzygotic barrier?

Accepted Answer

Hybrid sterility

Question 18

A population of frogs is separated by a newly formed mountain range. Over time, the two populations accumulate genetic differences and can no longer interbreed even if brought together. What process has occurred?

Accepted Answer

Allopatric speciation

Question 19

Which of the following is a limitation of the morphological species concept?

Accepted Answer

It relies on subjective criteria and may group organisms that are not closely related.

Question 20

Which of the following equations best represents the frequency of alleles in the middle of a hybrid zone, assuming two alleles $$A$$ and $$a$$ with frequencies $$p$$ and $$q$$?

Accepted Answer

$$p + q = 1$$

AP Biology – The Origin of Species: MY VERSION

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