Theories Of Evolution Test

Theories Of Evolution

This is online test 02 for CBSE class 12 Biology Evolution (Theories of evolution).. There are 10 questions in this test with each question having around four answer choices.

Questions & Answers

1
According to Neo-Darwinism, natural selection operates through
  • A
    Differential reproduction
    Correct
  • B
    Fighting between organisms
  • C
    Variations
  • D
    Killing weaker organism
2
Vermiform appendix in man, nictitating membrane and wisdom teeth are ______.
  • A
    homologous organs
  • B
    none of the above
  • C
    vestigial organs
    Correct
  • D
    analogous organs
3
Selective breeding of organisms (Animal husbandry and plant breeding programs) for specific desirable characteristics are examples of
  • A
    Artificial selection
    Correct
  • B
    Reverse evolution
  • C
    Natural selection
  • D
    Mutation
4
How does an evolutionary biologist explain why a species of birds has evolved a larger beak size?
  • A
    The ancestors of this bird species encountered a tree with larger than average sized seeds. They discovered that by stretching their beaks, the beaks would get longer, and this increase was passed on to their offspring. Over time, the bird beaks became larger.
  • B
    Some members of the ancestral population had larger beaks than others. If larger beak size was advantageous, they would be more likely to survive and reproduce. As such, large beaked birds increased in frequency relative to small beaked birds
    Correct
  • C
    The ancestors of this bird species encountered a tree with larger than average sized seeds. They needed to develop larger beaks in order to eat the larger seeds, and over time, they adapted to meet this need
  • D
    Large beak size occurred as a result of mutation in each member of the population.
5
Select the correct statement from the following:
  • A
    All mammals except whales and camels have seven cervical vertebrae
  • B
    Fitness is the end result of the ability to adapt and gets selected by nature
    Correct
  • C
    Mutations are random and directional
  • D
    Darwinian variations are small and directionless
6
The variation and natural selection operates on its own due to random mutations. What does this imply about natural selection?
  • A
    Natural selection is also a random process.
  • B
    Natural selection is nevertheless a directed process- the likelihood one variant will be favored in a given environment over another is predictable, even if the origin is not
    Correct
  • C
    There is no possibility God could be involved in this process
  • D
    All of the above.
7
Why, according to our reading, did Darwin take so long to publish the Origin of Species?
  • A
    It took twenty years for Darwin to develop a theory
  • B
    Darwin wanted to share his theory as quickly as possible once he returned from his voyage on the Beagle
  • C
    Darwin was concerned about the reaction of others to the implications of his theory.
    Correct
  • D
    Darwin suffered from a number of illnesses
8
Which of the following examples of variation is not important from an evolutionary standpoint?
  • A
    Differences due to diet, health, age or accident that have no affect on an individual's ability to survive and reproduce
    Correct
  • B
    Inherited differences between individual organisms comprising the population.
  • C
    Genetic differences between individual organisms comprising the population.
  • D
    Both a and b
9
A biologist is trying to infer how five closely related species of snakes are related to oneanother. She notices that some of the snakes have forked tongues and others do not. Which of the following would help her distinguish the ancestral state?
  • A
    She looks at a representative mammal species to see if it has a forked tongue.
  • B
    She flips a coin
  • C
    She looks among snake fossils for evidence that being forked is a characteristic of the ancestor of this group, but determines no such fossils exist
  • D
    She locates a specimen of a more distantly related snake to see if it has a forked tongue
    Correct
10
If the theory of natural selection is the survival of the fittest, and the fittest are identified as those who survive, why isn't it regarded as a tautology (a statement that is true only because of the meaning of the terms)?
  • A
    It is regarded as a tautology - the question is based on a false assumption.
  • B
    There may be some statements in science that are useful even if they are not falsifiable or refutable in principle
  • C
    The effect of traits on the fitness of an organism can be assessed independently of whether the organism indeed survives. There may be some statements in science that are useful even if they are not falsifiable or refutable in principle
    Correct
  • D
    The effect of traits on the fitness of an organism can be assessed independently of whether the organism indeed survives