Question 1

Which of the following best distinguishes a scientific theory from a hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A scientific theory is a well-supported explanation that many tests agree with, while a hypothesis is a testable guess you can investigate.

Question 2

Which scientist independently developed the concept of natural selection at the same time as Darwin?

Accepted Answer

Alfred Russel Wallace

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of science?

Accepted Answer

Based on personal beliefs

Question 4

Which of the following best describes sexual dimorphism?

Accepted Answer

It is when males and females of the same species look different, usually due to traits that help attract mates and increase reproductive success.

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of convergent evolution?

Accepted Answer

Wings of bats and birds, both used for flight but not from a recent common ancestor.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a Hardy-Weinberg condition?

Accepted Answer

Small population size

Question 7

A population of beetles is separated by a river, and over time, they evolve into two different species. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Allopatric speciation

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of a postzygotic reproductive barrier?

Accepted Answer

A horse and a donkey mate, but their offspring (a mule) is sterile.

Question 9

Which mechanism of evolutionary change is described by random changes in allele frequencies, especially in small populations?

Accepted Answer

Genetic drift

Question 10

Which of the following best describes the role of Thomas Malthus in influencing Darwin’s theory?

Accepted Answer

He suggested that populations grow faster than resources, leading to competition.

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of stabilizing selection?

Accepted Answer

Human babies with average birth weights have higher survival than those with very low or very high weights.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a mechanism of evolutionary change?

Accepted Answer

Inheritance of acquired traits

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of prezygotic reproductive isolation?

Accepted Answer

Two frog species breed at different times of the year.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT evidence for evolution?

Accepted Answer

Random mating

Question 15

Which of the following best describes gene flow?

Accepted Answer

Movement of alleles between populations

Question 16

If a population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, which of the following must be true?

Accepted Answer

There is no natural selection, mutation, migration, genetic drift, or non-random mating.

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of disruptive selection?

Accepted Answer

Birds with either very long or very short beaks are favored over those with medium beaks.

Question 18

Which of the following is a postzygotic barrier to reproduction?

Accepted Answer

Hybrid offspring are sterile.

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of homologous structures?

Accepted Answer

The forelimbs of humans, cats, whales, and bats, all built from the same bones but used for different functions.

Question 20

Which of the following would most likely cause a population to evolve in a way that increases reproductive isolation?

Accepted Answer

A physical barrier such as a mountain range separating two populations.

General Biology: Study Guide on Evolution, Speciation, and Mechanisms of Change - Exam 1

Study Guide - Practice Questions