Question 1

Which of the following best explains why cheetahs are at risk of extinction due to their lack of genetic diversity?

Accepted Answer

Genetic diversity allows populations to adapt to changing environments, and low diversity reduces adaptability.

Question 2

In the campaign to eradicate malaria, why did the use of DDT lead to the evolution of DDT-resistant mosquito populations?

Accepted Answer

DDT killed most mosquitoes, but survivors with resistance genes reproduced, increasing resistance in the population.

Question 3

Which branch of biology is responsible for identifying, naming, and classifying species?

Accepted Answer

Taxonomy

Question 4

According to the Linnaean system, which pair of animals is more closely related?

Accepted Answer

Ursus americanus and Ursus maritimus

Question 5

Which hierarchical classification level is broader than 'Order' but narrower than 'Domain'?

Accepted Answer

Phylum

Question 6

What was the main idea proposed by Charles Darwin in 'On the Origin of Species'?

Accepted Answer

Species evolve over time through natural selection.

Question 7

Which of the following statements about fossils is correct?

Accepted Answer

Fossils provide evidence of extinct species and document differences between past and present organisms.

Question 8

Why are older fossils generally found in deeper rock layers than younger fossils?

Accepted Answer

Rock layers accumulate over time, so older layers are buried beneath newer ones.

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of a homologous structure?

Accepted Answer

The forelimbs of humans, cats, whales, and bats

Question 10

What is the significance of vestigial structures in evolutionary biology?

Accepted Answer

They are remnants of features that served important functions in ancestors.

Question 11

Which process is responsible for the generation of new alleles in a population?

Accepted Answer

Mutation

Question 12

Which equation represents the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for genotype frequencies?

Accepted Answer

$$p^2 + 2pq$$ + $$q^2 = 1$

Question 13

A population of wildflowers has two alleles for flower color: R (red, dominant) and r (white, recessive). If the frequency of R is 0.8, what is the frequency of r?

Accepted Answer

$$q = 0.2$$

Question 14

Which of the following mechanisms of evolution is most likely to promote adaptation?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection

Question 15

What is the bottleneck effect?

Accepted Answer

A drastic reduction in population size that decreases genetic variability.

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of gene flow?

Accepted Answer

Migration of individuals between populations, resulting in genetic exchange.

Question 17

Which type of natural selection favors intermediate phenotypes in a population?

Accepted Answer

Stabilizing selection

Question 18

What is the best measure of evolutionary fitness?

Accepted Answer

The number of offspring an individual contributes to the next generation.

Question 19

Why does antibiotic resistance in bacteria increase in hospitals?

Accepted Answer

Extensive use of antibiotics selects for resistant bacteria.

Question 20

Which of the following statements about natural selection is correct?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection acts on heritable traits and is not goal-directed.

Chapter 13: How Populations Evolve

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