Question 1

Which of the following best describes a scientific theory in biology?

Accepted Answer

A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT one of Darwin's four postulates of natural selection?

Accepted Answer

All individuals in a population survive and reproduce equally.

Question 3

A scientist is testing the effect of sunlight on plant growth. Which is the dependent variable?

Accepted Answer

Growth of the plant measured in height.

Question 4

Which equation represents the Hardy-Weinberg Principle for allele frequencies in a population?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

Which evolutionary process is most likely to increase genetic variation in a population?

Accepted Answer

Gene flow

Question 6

A population of beetles is exposed to an antibiotic. After several generations, most beetles are resistant. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Natural selection

Question 7

Which of the following is a misconception about evolution by natural selection?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection leads to organisms that are perfectly adapted.

Question 8

Which process can lead to speciation by creating reproductive isolation without geographic separation?

Accepted Answer

Sympatric speciation

Question 9

In a population, the frequency of allele $A$ is $0.7$ and allele $a$ is $0.3$. According to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, what is the expected frequency of heterozygotes ($Aa$)?

Accepted Answer

$0.42$

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of homology?

Accepted Answer

The forelimbs of whales and the forelimbs of humans.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the Founder Effect?

Accepted Answer

A small group of individuals establishes a new population, leading to reduced genetic variation.

Question 12

Which is the correct order of ranks in biological hierarchy from broadest to most specific?

Accepted Answer

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Question 13

Which of the following is a constraint on natural selection?

Accepted Answer

Historical constraints due to ancestry

Question 14

Which statement about sexual selection is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

It can result in traits that reduce survival but increase mating success.

Question 15

Which of the following is the best definition of a p-value in statistical analysis?

Accepted Answer

The probability of obtaining the observed results, or more extreme, if the null hypothesis is true.

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of a monophyletic clade?

Accepted Answer

A group containing all birds and their most recent common ancestor.

Question 17

Which process is random with respect to fitness and can lead to loss of alleles in small populations?

Accepted Answer

Genetic drift

Question 18

Which of the following best explains why antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a real-world example of evolution?

Accepted Answer

Bacteria mutate randomly, but only resistant bacteria survive and reproduce in the presence of antibiotics.

Question 19

Which of the following is a correct application of the Both-And rule in probability?

Accepted Answer

Multiplying the probabilities of two independent events.

Question 20

Which of the following is a correct interpretation of a phylogenetic tree?

Accepted Answer

Species that share a more recent common ancestor are more closely related.

General Biology Exam 1 Study Guide: Evolution, Genetics, Speciation, and Bioskills

Study Guide - Practice Questions

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