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 time.

Question 2

Which observation led Darwin to propose that natural selection could result in new species on the Galapagos Islands?

Accepted Answer

One ancestral finch species diversified into multiple species with different beak shapes adapted to specific environments.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a requirement for natural selection to occur?

Accepted Answer

All individuals must survive and reproduce equally

Question 4

Lamarck's hypothesis of evolution included which of the following ideas?

Accepted Answer

Species evolve through the inheritance of acquired characteristics.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

The wings of a bat and the arms of a human, both derived from a common ancestor.

Question 6

Which process is described by the following equation: $p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1$ ?

Accepted Answer

Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, representing allele and genotype frequencies in a population.

Question 7

A population of beetles experiences a sudden hurricane, drastically reducing its size. The surviving beetles have a different allele frequency than the original population. This scenario is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Bottleneck effect

Question 8

Which of the following statements about genetic drift is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Genetic drift causes allele frequencies to fluctuate unpredictably from one generation to the next.

Question 9

Comparative embryology provides evidence for evolution by showing that:

Accepted Answer

Anatomical homologies are often visible only during embryonic development.

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of convergent evolution?

Accepted Answer

The evolution of wings in bats and insects, which serve similar functions but evolved independently.

Question 11

Which of the following best explains why prokaryotes tend to have higher genetic variation than multicellular eukaryotes?

Accepted Answer

Prokaryotes have higher mutation rates due to rapid reproduction.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a source of genetic variation in a population?

Accepted Answer

Uniform reproduction rates among all individuals

Question 13

Which of the following is true about endemic species?

Accepted Answer

They are only found in one specific geographic location.

Question 14

Which taxonomic rank is the most specific in the Linnaean hierarchy?

Accepted Answer

Species

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the founder effect?

Accepted Answer

A small group becomes isolated from a larger population, leading to different allele frequencies in the new population.

Question 16

Which of the following is a vestigial structure?

Accepted Answer

The human appendix, which is inherited from ancestors but has no apparent essential function.

Question 17

Which of the following is a direct observation of evolution occurring today?

Accepted Answer

The evolution of drug-resistant bacteria in response to antibiotics.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about animal evolution is correct?

Accepted Answer

Sponges and cnidarians diverged from all other animals early in animal evolution.

Question 19

Which adaptation was crucial for the success of insects on land?

Accepted Answer

The evolution of wings as extensions of the cuticle, allowing flight without losing legs.

Question 20

Which of the following is a defining feature of mammals?

Accepted Answer

Mammary glands that produce milk for offspring.

Evolution and Animal Diversity: Structured Study Notes for General Biology

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards