Question 1

Which of the following best describes the concept of 'descent with modification' as proposed by Darwin?

Accepted Answer

Species change over time, with offspring inheriting modified traits from their ancestors.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT considered a line of evidence supporting the theory of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Inheritance of acquired characteristics

Question 3

A population of finches on the Galapagos Islands experienced a drought in 1978, resulting in fewer small seeds. Which evolutionary mechanism best explains the observed increase in average beak depth among surviving finches?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

The wings of a bat and the flippers of a whale

Question 5

Which formula represents the calculation of allele frequency for a dominant allele $A$ in a population, given $p$ is the frequency of $A$ and $q$ is the frequency of the recessive allele $a$?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 6

Which scientist first proposed the idea that animals could change or become extinct in response to interactions with their environment, but incorrectly suggested that acquired traits could be inherited?

Accepted Answer

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck

Question 7

Which of the following best illustrates convergent evolution?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

Which of the following is a vestigial structure in humans?

Accepted Answer

Appendix

Question 9

Artificial selection differs from natural selection in that:

Accepted Answer

Artificial selection is driven by human choice, while natural selection is driven by environmental pressures.

Question 10

Which of the following best describes biogeography as evidence for evolution?

Accepted Answer

The spatial distribution of species and their evolutionary relationships across geographic regions

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Unlimited resources

Question 12

A transitional fossil is best described as:

Accepted Answer

A fossil that shows intermediate characteristics between ancestral and descendant species

Question 13

Which process increases genetic variation in a population by combining genes from two parents?

Accepted Answer

Sexual reproduction

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of molecular homology?

Accepted Answer

Similar DNA sequences in humans and chimpanzees

Question 15

Which of the following mechanisms can introduce new genetic material into a population from a different species?

Accepted Answer

Horizontal gene transfer

Question 16

Which of the following best explains why whales have hind limb bones?

Accepted Answer

Whales inherited hind limb bones from terrestrial ancestors.

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of adaptive radiation?

Accepted Answer

The evolution of multiple finch species from a common ancestor on the Galapagos Islands

Question 18

Which of the following statements about microevolution is correct?

Accepted Answer

Microevolution refers to changes in a single gene in a population over time.

Question 19

Which of the following is a direct observation supporting the theory of evolution?

Accepted Answer

The increase in antibiotic resistance among bacteria over time

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the relationship between mutation and genetic variation?

Accepted Answer

Mutation increases genetic variation by introducing new alleles into the population.

Evolution—Descent with Modification (BSC 2011: Biological Diversity)

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