Natural Selection and Adaptations Quiz

Worksheets Natural Selection and Adaptations Quiz 1. In a population of desert plants, the timing of their blooming varies greatly. Some bloom early in the morning, others at mid-day, and others after dark. What environmental pressure might be an advantage for those plants that bloom after dark? a) There is an increase in the population of nocturnal pollinators b) There is a decrease in the strength of solar radiation c) There is an increase in herbivores that forage at d) There is a decrease in water for root absorption night. 2. Xylem is a plant tissue made up of elongated cells stacked end to end the length of the plant’s stem. Which function is xylem specifically adapted to perform in plants? 3. a) Capture sunlight for photosynthesis b) Help prevent water loss c) Transport water from roots to leaves d) Exchange gases with the atmosphere Leopard seals are animals adapted to survive in the freezing conditions of Antarctica. Individual leopard seals vary in their different traits. Which of the following variations would give a leopard seal the greatest chance of surviving in its harsh environment? 4. a) More spots on its coat b) More elongated head c) Thicker layer of blubber d) Wider, flatter teeth Mountain lions are large cats and the top predator in their habitat. A population of mountain lions may vary in several characteristics. If prey becomes more scarce, which variation would provide an advantage to the individuals that possessed it? a) Abundant whiskers b) A spotted coat c) Short fur d) Long legs 5. A farmer wants to increase the amount of food produced by corn crops. If the farmer selectively breeds the plants, for which trait should the farmer select? 6. a) Taller stems b) Resistance to pesticides c) Deeper roots d) More cobs on plant Peppered moths often hide on white-colored birch trees because they are similarly colored. Which of the following environmental changes would lead to the enhanced survival of darker moths? a) Warm weather causes the birch trees to grow their leaves back early. c) Disease kills off more than half of the birch tree population 7. b) Heavy rainfall causes birch trees to grow taller than normal d) Birch trees become covered in black ash from nearby factories. Which of the following describes what is meant by Natural Selection? a) No organisms will survive. b) An organism will survive no matter what its adaptations may be c) An organism with adaptations that do not allow 8. d) An organism with adaptations that allow it to it to reproduce as effectively as others will obtain resources and reproduce more survive. effectively than others will survive. Which best describes an adaptation? a) A trait that helps an organism to survive in its environment. c) The place where an organism lives. b) A trait that does not help the organism to survive in its environment. d) A trait that the organism can change when he wants. 9. What does the term variation mean? a) The same ways traits are expressed in a b) The same traits in a population. population. c) The place where an animal lives. d) The different ways that traits are expressed in a population. 10. What does the term species mean? a) All the different organisms in a population b) Organisms of the same kind that can reproduce with one another. c) Organisms of different kinds that can reproduce d) A community of organisms. with one another. 11. Which of the following variations would help members of a rabbit population survive if the climate turned very hot? 12. a) Ability to eat more b) Ability to jump higher c) Thinner fur d) Ability to run faster Variations are differences between individuals in a population. a) True 13. b) False Before the industrial revolution the birds were eating more black moths. After the industrial revolution the birds started eating more white moths. Why a) The white moths stood out on the dark trees so b) The birds thought the white moths tasted the birds could see them easier. better. c) There were not any black moths to eat 14. 15. 16. This scientist developed the theory of evolution as he studied the finches. a) Isaac Newton b) Albert Einstein c) Marie Curie d) Charles Darwin Behavioral changes of individuals of a species that allow for better survival. (Acquired traits) a) Environment b) Adaptation c) Behavior d) Variation What are the most studied animals in the galapagos? a) Finches b) Turtles c) Tortoises d) Lizards 17. Mutations are a change in what? a) protein b) tRNA c) rRNA d) DNA 18. Why is the mouse population changing over time? a) The hawks eat more dark mice than light mice b) The light mice can reproduce more because they can see the dark mice more successfully than the dark mice easily c) The hawks eat more light mice than dark mice because they can see the light mice more d) The hawks eat more dark mice than light mice because the dark mice taste better easily 19. What process is being shown in this image? 20. a) Natural Selection b) Selective Breeding c) Homeostasis d) Variation Which organisms are most likely to survive? a) the best adapted b) the strongest c) the most domesticated (tamed) d) the fastest