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Evolution by natural selection

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Practice questions

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1.Who popularised the term 'natural selection'?
Easy
- ACharles Darwin
- BAlfred Russel Wallace
- CAristotle
- DGregor Mendel
2.Natural selection is a process that results in changes in the ________ traits of a population over generations.
Easy
- Aacquired
- Bheritable
- Clearned
- Dbehavioural
3.Natural selection is an intentional process like artificial selection.
Easy
True or false?
4.Which of the following is NOT one of the three kinds of process that Darwin identified as leading to natural selection?
Medium
- AInheritance
- BVariation
- CStruggle for existence
- DSexual selection
5.What is the name of the process where traits are favoured because they are preferred by mating partners?
Medium
- ANatural selection
- BSexual selection
- CFecundity selection
- DArtificial selection
6.Macroevolution occurs when new traits become favoured due to changes in a specific niche.
Medium
True or false?
7.Match each term with its description.
Medium
- Natural selection
- Artificial selection
- Sexual selection
- Fecundity selection
- Differential survival and reproduction due to environmental pressures
- Intentional breeding by humans
- Preference for traits that attract mates
- Preference for traits that minimise reproductive cost
8.Which of the following are required for natural selection to occur? (Select all that apply)
Hard
- AVariation in traits
- BInheritance of traits
- CStruggle for existence
- DRandom mating
- EConstant environment

More questions

9.Arrange the following steps of natural selection in the correct order from first to last.
Medium
- Variation exists in a population
- Individuals with advantageous traits survive and reproduce more
- Traits become more common in the population
- Environmental pressure acts on the population
10.Match each type of selection with its description.
Medium
- Natural selection
- Artificial selection
- Sexual selection
- Fecundity selection
- Differential survival due to environmental pressures
- Human breeders favouring desirable traits
- Traits preferred by mating partners
- Traits that minimise cost to female reproductive health
11.Arrange the following events in the order they occurred in the history of evolutionary theory, from earliest to latest.
Hard
- Aristotle discusses accidental useful forms
- Darwin and Wallace present joint paper on natural selection
- Empedocles proposes random survival of creatures
- Modern synthesis unites Darwinian evolution with genetics
- Publication of On the Origin of Species
12.Which of the following best describes macroevolution?
Medium
- AChanges in allele frequencies due to random genetic drift
- BEvolution of new traits favoured by changes in a specific niche
- CEvolution of new traits favoured by changes in the broader environment, often leading to new species
- DThe process by which organisms adapt to their local environment
13.Arrange the following steps in the process of natural selection in the correct order, starting with the first step.
Medium
- Traits that enhance survival become more common in the population
- Individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce
- Variation exists within a population
- Environmental pressures cause a struggle for existence
14.In a population of birds, beak size varies. During a drought, only large-beaked birds can crack the hard seeds available. Which type of selection is likely to occur?
Medium
- AStabilising selection
- BDirectional selection
- CDisruptive selection
- DSexual selection
15.In an experiment, bacteria are grown in a petri dish with an antibiotic. After 24 hours, a few colonies survive. Which statement best explains this observation?
Hard
- AThe bacteria mutated in response to the antibiotic to become resistant.
- BSome bacteria already had a genetic variation that made them resistant.
- CThe antibiotic caused the bacteria to develop resistance through use.
- DThe antibiotic killed all bacteria, and the colonies are contaminants.
16.Natural selection is an intentional process whereby organisms choose to adapt to their environment.
Easy
True or false?
17.The graph shows the distribution of a trait in a population before (solid line) and after (dashed line) a selection event. What type of selection is illustrated?
Medium
- AStabilising selection
- BDirectional selection
- CDisruptive selection
- DSexual selection
18.In an experiment, a student places antibiotic discs on a lawn of bacteria. After incubation, a clear zone (zone of inhibition) appears around some discs. Which statement best explains why a few bacterial colonies survive within the zone?
Medium
- AThe antibiotic is not effective against those bacteria because they have developed resistance through mutation.
- BThe antibiotic diffuses unevenly, so some bacteria are not exposed.
- CThose bacteria are in a dormant state and unaffected by the antibiotic.
- DThe antibiotic kills only gram-positive bacteria, so gram-negative ones survive.
19.Which of the following are necessary conditions for natural selection to occur? (Select all that apply)
Medium
- AVariation in heritable traits within the population
- BDifferential survival and reproduction based on those traits
- CRandom mating among individuals
- DA constant environment
- EOverproduction of offspring leading to a struggle for existence
20.Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace jointly presented the concept of natural selection in 1858.
Easy
True or false?
21.Match each scientist or concept with their contribution to the theory of evolution by natural selection.
Medium
- Charles Darwin
- Alfred Russel Wallace
- Empedocles
- Aristotle
- Co-presented the concept of natural selection in 1858
- Ancient philosopher who suggested that only useful forms survive
- Proposed that nature produces a variety of creatures randomly
- Argued for natural teleology and that form is achieved for a purpose
22.A population of fish lives in a lake that experiences a prolonged drought, causing the water level to drop and the lake to become more saline. Some fish have a genetic mutation that allows them to tolerate higher salinity. Which outcome best illustrates macroevolution resulting from this change?
Hard
- AThe frequency of the salinity-tolerance allele increases in the population over several generations.
- BThe fish population eventually splits into two species, one adapted to the saline lake and one to a connected freshwater stream.
- CIndividual fish learn to excrete excess salt through their gills.
- DThe average body size of the fish decreases due to limited food.
23.Natural selection requires a valid theory of heredity to operate; it was not understood until after Darwin's time.
Medium
True or false?
24.In an experiment, a student investigates the effect of a pesticide on a population of aphids. She counts the number of aphids before and after applying the pesticide. She repeats the experiment with the same pesticide concentration for 10 generations. Which graph would best show whether the aphid population is evolving resistance?
Medium
- AA bar chart comparing the number of aphids before and after the first application.
- BA line graph showing the percentage of aphids surviving each generation after pesticide application.
- CA scatter plot of aphid size versus pesticide concentration.
- DA pie chart of aphid colour morphs in the final generation.
25.Match each term with its correct description in the context of natural selection.
Medium
- Variation
- Inheritance
- Struggle for existence
- Traits differ among individuals
- Traits are passed from parents to offspring
- Competition and cooperation for survival and reproduction
26.Natural selection was first proposed by Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace in 1858.
Easy
True or false?
27.Which of the following are types of selection identified by Darwin? (Select all that apply)
Medium
- ANatural selection
- BSexual selection
- CArtificial selection
- DFecundity selection
- EGroup selection
28.A population of 500 beetles has 200 green (dominant) and 300 brown (recessive). After a drought, 80% of green beetles survive but only 40% of brown beetles survive. What is the frequency of the dominant allele after selection? (Assume Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium before selection, and that survivors breed randomly.)
Hard
- A0.40
- B0.50
- C0.57
- D0.63
29.In a population of bacteria, a mutation confers resistance to an antibiotic. After the antibiotic is applied, most bacteria die but a few survive and reproduce. What is the most likely reason the resistant bacteria survived?
Medium
- AThey intentionally mutated in response to the antibiotic.
- BThey were already resistant due to random variation before the antibiotic was applied.
- CThe antibiotic caused them to become resistant.
- DThey learned to avoid the antibiotic.
30.A population of birds has a range of beak sizes. During a drought, only large seeds are available. Which type of selection is most likely to occur?
Medium
- AStabilising selection
- BDisruptive selection
- CDirectional selection
- DSexual selection
31.Match each term with its correct description.
Medium
- Natural selection
- Artificial selection
- Sexual selection
- Fecundity selection
- Traits favoured because they are preferred by mating partners
- Traits favoured because they confer lowest cost to reproductive health
- Differential survival and reproduction due to heritable traits
- Intentional breeding by humans
32.Arrange the following events in the order they occur in the process of natural selection, starting with the first.
Hard
- Variation exists in a population
- Differential survival and reproduction
- Heritable traits become more common
- Environmental change or pressure
33.In an experiment, a student places antibiotic discs on a lawn of bacteria. After incubation, a clear zone (zone of inhibition) appears around some discs. Which statement best explains the presence of bacterial colonies inside the clear zone?
Hard
- AThe bacteria inside the zone are resistant to the antibiotic.
- BThe antibiotic diffused evenly, but some bacteria were protected by others.
- CThe bacteria inside the zone mutated after exposure to the antibiotic.
- DThe antibiotic was not effective against that strain.
34.In an experiment to investigate natural selection, a student places antibiotic discs on a lawn of bacteria. After incubation, clear zones (zones of inhibition) appear around some discs. Which of the following best explains the presence of a few bacterial colonies within a clear zone?
Medium
- AThe antibiotic diffused unevenly, leaving some areas with no antibiotic.
- BThose colonies are resistant mutants that survived the antibiotic.
- CThe antibiotic killed all bacteria, but some colonies grew from airborne contamination.
- DThe bacterial lawn was too thick for the antibiotic to penetrate.
35.In an experiment, a student investigates the effect of a pesticide on a population of aphids. She counts the number of aphids before and after applying the pesticide. The results show that the aphid population initially decreases but then recovers to a similar size. Which of the following best explains this observation?
Hard
- AThe pesticide became less effective over time due to chemical breakdown.
- BSome aphids had a mutation that made them resistant, and they reproduced.
- CThe aphids learned to avoid the pesticide.
- DThe pesticide killed only adult aphids, and nymphs survived.
36.Which of the following is NOT a process that contributes to natural selection according to Darwin?
Easy
- AInheritance
- BVariation
- CStruggle for existence
- DGenetic drift
37.Match each term related to natural selection with its correct description.
Medium
- Variation
- Inheritance
- Struggle for existence
- Sexual selection
- Differences in traits among individuals
- Transmission of heritable material from parent to offspring
- Competition and cooperation for survival and reproduction
- Traits preferred by mating partners
38.Arrange the following steps in the process of natural selection in the correct order, starting with the first.
Medium
- Variation exists within a population
- Individuals with advantageous traits survive and reproduce more
- Traits are inherited by offspring
- The environment changes or presents a challenge
- The frequency of advantageous traits increases over generations
39.In an experiment, a student places antibiotic discs on a lawn of bacteria. After incubation, a clear zone (zone of inhibition) appears around some discs. Which statement best explains why bacteria might survive within the clear zone?
Hard
- AThe bacteria in the clear zone are resistant to the antibiotic due to a prior mutation.
- BThe antibiotic diffuses evenly, killing all bacteria, but some are protected by the disc.
- CThe clear zone indicates where bacteria have consumed the antibiotic as a nutrient.
- DBacteria in the clear zone have not been exposed to the antibiotic.
40.In a population of bacteria, a mutation arises that allows some individuals to produce an enzyme that breaks down a new antibiotic. After the antibiotic is introduced, most bacteria die, but the resistant ones survive and reproduce. Over several generations, the proportion of resistant bacteria increases. Which of the following best describes the role of the antibiotic in this scenario?
Medium
- AIt causes the mutation that confers resistance.
- BIt acts as a selective pressure, favouring resistant individuals.
- CIt creates new traits by altering the bacteria's DNA.
- DIt is an example of artificial selection by humans.
41.Complete the sentence.
Easy
Natural selection is the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in their ____.
42.In a population of beetles, 80% have a gene for green colour and 20% have a gene for brown colour. After a drought, the green beetles become more visible to predators and their survival rate drops to 30%, while brown beetles survive at 70%. If the population initially had 1000 beetles, how many brown beetles survive?
Hard
43.What is the term for the transmission of heritable material from parent to offspring?
Easy
44.What term is used to describe the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in their heritable traits?
Medium
45.In a population of 500 beetles, 200 have a green colour (dominant) and 300 are brown (recessive). If after a drought, 80% of green beetles survive but only 40% of brown beetles survive, how many green beetles survive?
Hard
46.Complete the sentence: Darwin contrasted natural selection with __________ selection, which is intentional.
Easy
Darwin contrasted natural selection with ____ selection, which is intentional.
47.A population of 1000 moths has 40% white (dominant) and 60% black (recessive). After a change in environment, 90% of white moths survive but only 30% of black moths survive. How many moths survive in total?
Hard
48.What term describes the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in their heritable traits?
Easy
49.What is the term for the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in their heritable traits?
Easy
50.In a population of 500 beetles, 200 have a green colour (dominant) and 300 are brown (recessive). If after a drought, 80% of green beetles survive but only 40% of brown beetles survive, what is the number of green beetles that survive?
Medium
51.A population of 1000 moths has 40% white (dominant) and 60% black (recessive). After a change in environment, 90% of white moths survive but only 30% of black moths survive. What is the total number of moths that survive?
Medium
52.Complete the sentence: Natural selection is a process that results in changes in the ________ traits of a population over generations.
Easy
Natural selection is a process that results in changes in the ____ traits of a population over generations.
53.Explain how Aristotle's view of accidental useful forms relates to the concept of natural selection, and why Aristotle rejected this idea.
Hard
54.Explain how the concept of natural selection differs from artificial selection, using an example.
Hard
55.In a population of beetles, 80% have a gene for green colour and 20% have a gene for brown colour. After a drought, the green beetles become more visible to predators and their survival rate drops to 30%, while brown beetles survive at 70%. If the population initially had 1000 beetles, how many brown beetles survive?
Hard
- A168
- B140
- C154
- D126
56.In a population of 500 beetles, 200 have a green colour (dominant) and 300 are brown (recessive). If after a drought, 80% of green beetles survive but only 40% of brown beetles survive, how many green beetles survive?
Hard
- A144
- B160
- C192
- D176
57.A population of 1000 moths has 40% white (dominant) and 60% black (recessive). After a change in environment, 90% of white moths survive but only 30% of black moths survive. How many moths survive in total?
Hard
- A540
- B594
- C486
- D648
58.In a population of 500 beetles, 200 have a green colour (dominant) and 300 are brown (recessive). If after a drought, 80% of green beetles survive but only 40% of brown beetles survive, what is the number of green beetles that survive?
Medium
- A144
- B192
- C176
- D160
59.A population of 1000 moths has 40% white (dominant) and 60% black (recessive). After a change in environment, 90% of white moths survive but only 30% of black moths survive. What is the total number of moths that survive?
Medium
- A486
- B648
- C594
- D540

Flashcards

What is natural selection?

Natural selection is the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in their traits, leading to changes in heritable characteristics of a population over generations.

Who popularised the term 'natural selection'?

Charles Darwin popularised the term 'natural selection', contrasting it with artificial selection.

What three processes did Darwin identify as underlying natural selection?

Darwin identified inheritance, variation, and the struggle for existence (including competition and cooperation) as the three processes underlying natural selection.

What is the difference between natural selection and artificial selection?

Artificial selection is intentional breeding by humans for desired traits, whereas natural selection is not intentional; it occurs naturally based on survival and reproduction.

What is variation in the context of natural selection?

Variation refers to differences in traits (genotypic and phenotypic) that exist within all populations of organisms.

How does natural selection affect traits that increase survival and reproduction?

Traits that facilitate survival and reproductive success are more likely to be passed on to the next generation, becoming more common in the population if the environment remains favourable.

What is microevolution?

Microevolution occurs when new traits become more favoured due to changes in a specific niche, leading to small-scale changes within a population.

What is macroevolution?

Macroevolution occurs when new traits become more favoured due to changes in the broader environment, potentially leading to the formation of new species.

What is sexual selection?

Sexual selection is a form of natural selection where traits are passed down because they are actively preferred by mating partners.

What is fecundity selection?

Fecundity selection is the preference by female bodies for traits that confer the lowest cost to their reproductive health.

When and how was the concept of natural selection first presented?

The concept was published by Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace in a joint presentation of papers in 1858.

What is the title of Darwin's influential book on natural selection?

On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life (1859).

Did Darwin have a valid theory of heredity when he developed natural selection?

No, the concept of natural selection originally developed in the absence of a valid theory of heredity; modern genetics came later.

What is the modern synthesis?

The modern synthesis is the union of traditional Darwinian evolution with discoveries in classical genetics, developed in the mid-20th century.

What is the extended evolutionary synthesis?

The extended evolutionary synthesis is a 21st-century challenge to the gene-centred view, bringing organisms back to the heart of natural selection theory.

What is evolutionary developmental biology (evo-devo)?

Evo-devo compares the developmental processes of different organisms to infer how developmental processes evolved, using molecular genetics.

What is random genetic drift?

Random genetic drift is a process where genotypes can slowly change by chance, but natural selection remains the primary explanation for adaptive evolution.

Who were some pre-Darwinian thinkers that expressed ideas similar to natural selection?

Empedocles and the Roman poet Lucretius expressed the idea that nature produces a variety of creatures, and only those that survive and reproduce persist.

What did Aristotle think about the idea of accidental variation and survival?

Aristotle considered whether useful forms might appear accidentally and survive, but he rejected this for the origin of species, believing in natural teleology and purpose.

What is the struggle for existence?

The struggle for existence includes both competition between organisms and cooperation (mutual aid), particularly in social species.

How does natural selection relate to biodiversity?

Natural selection drives evolution, which over time leads to the diversity of life forms (biodiversity) as species adapt to different environments.

What evidence supports the theory of evolution by natural selection?

Evidence includes fossil records, comparative anatomy, molecular genetics, and observed instances of natural selection in action (e.g., antibiotic resistance).

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