Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

Natural selection is an explanation for how evolution happens.

Question 2

A population of beetles lives in a forest where birds are their main predators. Some beetles are green, and some are brown. After a fire, the forest floor is covered in dark ash. Over several generations, the population becomes mostly brown. Which process best explains this change?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection favored brown beetles because they were better camouflaged.

Question 3

Which of the following statements is most consistent with the concept of common descent?

Accepted Answer

Many similarities between species exist because they were inherited from the same ancestor.

Question 4

Dog breeds are defined by denoting breed standards, a list of agreed-upon traits that individuals of that breed should possess (such as size, coat, coloring, temperament, etc.). Dog shows rank dogs based on their adherence to these breed standards. Based on this information, which statement about dog breeds below is correct?

Accepted Answer

Breed standards use an idealized form to which dogs are compared; this reflects typological thinking.

Question 5

Why is population thinking important in biology?

Accepted Answer

Population thinking requires scientists to consider the full variation that is present in nature.

Question 6

Which of the following best describes the difference between ladder thinking and tree thinking in evolutionary biology?

Accepted Answer

Ladder thinking focuses on the hierarchy of species, while tree thinking focuses on evolutionary relationships.

Question 7

True or False: In tree thinking, species are organized from low complexity to high complexity.

Accepted Answer

False; in tree thinking, species are organized based on evolutionary relationships.

Question 8

Based on the simplified phylogenetic tree below, which node represents the most recent common ancestor between pears and cucumbers?

Accepted Answer

Node B.

Question 9

Which scientist was one of the first proponents of uniformitarianism and suggested the Earth was much older than a few thousand years?

Accepted Answer

James Hutton.

Question 10

Lamarck developed his ideas almost 100 years before Mendel’s principles of genetics would be widely understood. With our current understanding of genetics, which of Lamarck’s ideas do we most clearly understand to be INCORRECT?

Accepted Answer

Characters acquired in an organism’s lifetime can be inherited by offspring.

Question 11

Herbicides, chemicals administered by farmers to kill weeds, have been hugely beneficial in increasing the efficiency of modern agriculture. Many of the herbicides used today, however, are less effective than when they were originally introduced because weed populations have evolved resistance. Knowing this, which of the following statements is likely true?

Accepted Answer

Species that developed herbicide resistance must have had pre-existing heritable variation as to how likely they were to survive in the presence of an herbicide.

Question 12

Which statement identifies the main difference between natural selection and artificial selection?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection is controlled by the environment, while artificial selection is controlled by humans.

Question 13

A similar arrangement of internal organs is observed in birds, rodents, and frogs. This is likely an example of:

Accepted Answer

Homology.

Question 14

Which of the following statements describes a vestigial structure?

Accepted Answer

Cave salamanders live in complete darkness but still develop eyes with limited functionality.

Question 15

Sedimentary rock creates distinct layers that paleontologists can use to help interpret their findings. Which of the following statements is true about fossils and sedimentary rock?

Accepted Answer

The fossils found in layer B will be older than the fossils in layer A.

Question 16

Which of the following statements applies evolutionary thinking correctly and does not propagate a common misconception?

Accepted Answer

To best establish an organism’s fitness, you must know how likely it is to reproduce successfully.

Question 17

Bt Delta endotoxin is a protein produced by bacteria that kills caterpillars. Scientists have engineered crops that produce this toxin in their leaves, meaning they do not need to spray their fields because the insecticide is being produced by the plant at all times. Over time, however, many species of insects are now showing resistance to these Bt-producing plants. Why do you think this is?

Accepted Answer

Individuals that have some resistance to Bt Delta endotoxin are more likely to reproduce. As this continues over many generations, resistance will become more common.

Question 18

A proposed strategy for combatting the spread of antibiotic resistance is to allow doctors to prescribe only a certain subset of antibiotic drugs and regularly rotate which antibiotics are allowed to be prescribed over several years. Why could this approach limit the spread of antibiotic resistance?

Accepted Answer

During times when a specific antibiotic is NOT being used, those bacteria with resistance will not have higher fitness and are more likely to be removed from the population.

Evolution and Natural Selection: Foundations, Evidence, and Misconceptions

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards