- Which of the following terms refers to a feature that serves no current purpose but was useful to an ancestor?
A) Adaptive trait
B) Vestigial structure
C) Homologous structure
D) Analogous structure
Answer: B) Vestigial structure
Explanation: Vestigial structures are remnants of features that served a function in the organism’s ancestors but no longer have a significant function in the current organism. Examples include the human appendix and whale pelvises.
- What is the primary cause of the current mass extinction event?
A) Natural climate changes
B) Human activities
C) Asteroid impacts
D) Volcanic eruptions
Answer: B) Human activities
Explanation: The current mass extinction event is primarily driven by human activities, including habitat destruction, pollution, overexploitation of species, and climate change, leading to significant biodiversity loss.
- What does the term “adaptive advantage” refer to?
A) Traits that have no impact on survival
B) Traits that decrease reproductive success
C) Traits that increase an organism’s fitness in its environment
D) Traits that are only advantageous in specific environments
Answer: C) Traits that increase an organism’s fitness in its environment
Explanation: An adaptive advantage is a characteristic that improves an organism’s chances of survival and reproduction in a given environment, enhancing its overall fitness.
- Which of the following best illustrates the concept of genetic drift?
A) A population of butterflies develops different wing patterns based on habitat.
B) A small group of animals migrates to a new island and forms a new population with different allele frequencies.
C) A species of plant evolves to produce larger flowers due to pollinator preference.
D) An organism adapts to its environment through natural selection.
Answer: B) A small group of animals migrates to a new island and forms a new population with different allele frequencies.
Explanation: Genetic drift refers to random changes in allele frequencies in a population, often occurring in small populations, such as when a small group colonizes a new area.
- Which of the following is NOT an example of a prezygotic reproductive barrier?
A) Temporal isolation
B) Mechanical isolation
C) Hybrid inviability
D) Behavioral isolation
Answer: C) Hybrid inviability
Explanation: Hybrid inviability is a postzygotic reproductive barrier, occurring after fertilization when hybrid offspring do not develop properly or are unable to reproduce. Prezygotic barriers prevent fertilization from occurring in the first place.
- Which scientist is most closely associated with the theory of evolution by natural selection?
A) Gregor Mendel
B) Charles Darwin
C) Louis Pasteur
D) Alfred Russel Wallace
Answer: B) Charles Darwin
Explanation: Charles Darwin is renowned for formulating the theory of evolution by natural selection, based on his observations and studies of species variation and adaptation during his voyage on the HMS Beagle.
- What is the primary factor that drives changes in allele frequencies in a population?
A) Gene flow
B) Genetic drift
C) Natural selection
D) All of the above
Answer: D) All of the above
Explanation: Changes in allele frequencies can result from several factors, including gene flow (movement of alleles), genetic drift (random changes), and natural selection (differential survival and reproduction based on advantageous traits).
- Which of the following is a consequence of inbreeding in a population?
A) Increased genetic diversity
B) Higher likelihood of expressing recessive genetic disorders
C) Enhanced adaptability to environmental changes
D) Decreased population size
Answer: B) Higher likelihood of expressing recessive genetic disorders
Explanation: Inbreeding increases the chance that recessive alleles will be expressed, leading to a higher frequency of genetic disorders and reduced overall fitness in the population.
- Which of the following is an example of temporal isolation?
A) Two species of frogs that mate at different times of the year
B) Two species of flowers that attract different pollinators
C) Two species of birds that have different mating calls
D) Two species of turtles that cannot physically mate
Answer: A) Two species of frogs that mate at different times of the year
Explanation: Temporal isolation occurs when two species breed at different times (seasons, months, or times of day), preventing them from interbreeding and leading to reproductive isolation.
- Which evolutionary mechanism is most likely to result in the rapid adaptation of a species to a new environment?
A) Gene flow
B) Natural selection
C) Genetic drift
D) Mutations
Answer: B) Natural selection
Explanation: Natural selection is the mechanism that facilitates rapid adaptation by favoring individuals with advantageous traits that enhance survival and reproductive success in a new or changing environment.
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