Question 1

Which of the following best describes Darwin's concept of 'descent with modification'?

Accepted Answer

Species accumulate differences from their ancestors as they adapt to different environments over generations.

Question 2

Which of the following is an example of artificial selection?

Accepted Answer

The breeding of wild mustard to produce cabbage, broccoli, and kale.

Question 3

According to Darwin's observations, which inference can be made about populations?

Accepted Answer

Individuals with traits better suited to the environment tend to leave more offspring.

Question 4

Which of the following statements about natural selection is correct?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection acts on existing heritable variation in a population.

Question 5

A population of bacteria is exposed to an antibiotic. After several generations, most bacteria are resistant. Which process best explains this outcome?

Accepted Answer

Resistant bacteria survived and reproduced, increasing the frequency of resistance genes.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

The forelimbs of a human, cat, whale, and bat.

Question 7

Which evidence supports the idea that all vertebrate embryos share a common ancestry?

Accepted Answer

All vertebrate embryos have a post-anal tail and pharyngeal arches during development.

Question 8

Which of the following best illustrates convergent evolution?

Accepted Answer

The similar body shapes of dolphins (mammals) and sharks (fish).

Question 9

Why are older fossils generally found in deeper layers of sedimentary rock?

Accepted Answer

Sedimentary rock forms in layers over time, with older layers at the bottom.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a key feature of natural selection?

Accepted Answer

Individuals evolve during their lifetime to adapt to the environment.

Question 11

A scientist finds similar fossils in both South America and Australia. Which concept best explains this observation?

Accepted Answer

Biogeography and the historical connection of continents (continental drift).

Question 12

Which of the following equations best represents the process of natural selection acting on a population?

Accepted Answer

$P_{n+1} = P_n + s \cdot (A - \overline{A})$

Question 13

Which of the following is a vestigial structure in humans?

Accepted Answer

The appendix

Question 14

Which scientist proposed that species evolve through the inheritance of acquired characteristics, and what is a modern exception to this idea?

Accepted Answer

Jean-Baptiste de Lamarck; epigenetic inheritance

Question 15

Which of the following best explains why MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) became common after the introduction of methicillin?

Accepted Answer

MRSA bacteria already existed and were selected for by the presence of methicillin.

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of direct observation of evolutionary change?

Accepted Answer

The evolution of beak size in soapberry bugs in response to fruit size.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about populations and evolution is correct?

Accepted Answer

Populations evolve over generations as favorable traits become more common.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the relationship between adaptation and natural selection?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection increases the frequency of adaptations that are favorable in a given environment.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT evidence for evolution?

Accepted Answer

The fixity of species as proposed by Aristotle.

Question 20

Which of the following best explains why the sugar glider (Australia) and the flying squirrel (North America) look similar?

Accepted Answer

They independently evolved similar adaptations to similar environments (convergent evolution).

Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life

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