Biology · Science General

Evolution and Biological Adaptation

1,354 Questions

Evolution and biological adaptation focus on natural selection, speciation events, and how organisms adjust to environmental changes over time. These foundational biology concepts appear frequently in general science sections of civil services and school board examinations. Use these questions to study evolutionary theories, ancestral traits, and the fossil record.

Natural selection mechanismsSpeciation event examplesBiological adaptation traitsPanspermia hypothesis conceptsFossil record analysisMate selection theories

Evolution and Biological Adaptation Questions

Multiple choice

Ontogeny repeats phylogeny is also known as

  1. Recapitulation theory

  2. Biogenetic theory

  3. Biogenetic law

  4. Both 1 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The theory that 'ontogeny repeats phylogeny' is known as the Recapitulation Theory or the Biogenetic Law, proposed by Ernst Haeckel.

Multiple choice

Which one represents a connecting link as an evidence from comparative anatomy in favour of organic evolution?

  1. Whale between fishes and mammals.

  2. Duck-billed platypus between reptiles and mammals.

  3. Java ape man between modern man and Peking man.

  4. Archaeopteryx between birds and mammals.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The duck-billed platypus is a monotreme mammal that lays eggs like a reptile but produces milk like a mammal, serving as a connecting link between these two groups.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not correct match?

  1. Taung child − Australopithecus

  2. Use and disuse − Lamarck

  3. Survival of the fittest − Darwin

  4. Father of concept of evolution − Empedocles
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The phrase 'survival of the fittest' was actually coined by Herbert Spencer, though it was later adopted by Darwin to describe natural selection.

Multiple choice

Match the lists:

 
List - I List - II
Theories of evolution/origin of life Scientists
a. Catastrophism 1. Cuvier
b. Inheritance of acquired characters 2. Lamarck
c. Preformation 3. Bonnet
d. Pangenesis 4. Darwin

  1. a - 1, b - 2, c - 3, d - 4

  2. a - 4, b - 3, c - 2, d - 1

  3. a - 1, b - 3, c - 2, d - 4

  4. a - 4, b - 2, c - 3, d - 1
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 The correct option is

a. Catastrophism       1. Cuvier b. Inheritance of acquired characters         2. Lamarck c. Preformation      3. Bonnet d. Pangenesis        4. Darwin

Multiple choice

Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny is the brief definition of :

  1. Darwinism

  2. Mutation theory

  3. Biogenetic law

  4. Abiogenesis
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Haeckel (1986) proposed, “the theory of recapitulation” or “Biogenetic law” which states that an individual organism in its development (Ontogeny) tends to repeat the stages passed through by its ancestors (phylogeny) i.e., “Ontogeny repeats phylogeny”. 

Multiple choice

Initiating force of evolution is

  1. variation

  2. natural selection

  3. adaptation

  4. competition
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Variations are the initiation force of evolution. Variations are difference among individuals of a group or species. That can be ascribed to age, sex or position in the life cycle. 

Multiple choice

A species is defined as the group of actually or potentially inter-breeding matural population producing fertile offspring and reproductively isolated from other groups.The above statement was given by :

  1. Carolus Linnaeus

  2. Mayr

  3. J.B. Lamarck

  4. Charles Darwin
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

According to the Mayr, a species is “the group of actually or potentially interbreeding natural population producing fertile offspring and reproductively isolated from other groups.” 

Multiple choice

Principle behind winnowing is

  1. Difference in densities of components

  2. Difference in colours of components

  3. Difference in appearance of components

  4. Difference in shapes of components

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

fact

Multiple choice

Which of these fits gap 23?

Directions: Complete this passage by selecting the most suitable option for the corresponding gap.

Islands are bodies or pieces of land that are completely ______(21)_____ by water, and are cut off from larger bodies of land that are attached to a continent and are called mainland. Islands have been homes to different cultures throughout our history. Separated from mainland, and relatively isolated, some islands of the oceans still carry the older cultures and _____(22)____ of humans. Islands also preserve animals and plants, in rather _______(23)______ conditions. In fact, it was through his visit to the Galapagos Islands, and through observing the animals there, that Charles Darwin came to _____(24)_____ the theory of evolution of man.

  1. hardy

  2. different

  3. unchanged

  4. movable
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Since they want to maintain everything as it is, therefore, they preserve the animals and plants in unchanged conditions.

Multiple choice

Which of these fits gap 21?

Directions: Complete this passage by selecting the most suitable option for the corresponding gap.

Islands are bodies or pieces of land that are completely ______(21)_____ by water, and are cut off from larger bodies of land that are attached to a continent and are called mainland. Islands have been homes to different cultures throughout our history. Separated from mainland, and relatively isolated, some islands of the oceans still carry the older cultures and _____(22)____ of humans. Islands also preserve animals and plants, in rather _______(23)______ conditions. In fact, it was through his visit to the Galapagos Islands, and through observing the animals there, that Charles Darwin came to _____(24)_____ the theory of evolution of man.

  1. submerged

  2. created

  3. surrounded

  4. hidden
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Islands are from all sides surrounded by water, therefore, (3) is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Which of these fits gap 22?

Directions: Complete this passage by selecting the most suitable option for the corresponding gap.

Islands are bodies or pieces of land that are completely ______(21)_____ by water, and are cut off from larger bodies of land that are attached to a continent and are called mainland. Islands have been homes to different cultures throughout our history. Separated from mainland, and relatively isolated, some islands of the oceans still carry the older cultures and _____(22)____ of humans. Islands also preserve animals and plants, in rather _______(23)______ conditions. In fact, it was through his visit to the Galapagos Islands, and through observing the animals there, that Charles Darwin came to _____(24)_____ the theory of evolution of man.

  1. traditions

  2. remains

  3. lifestyle

  4. practitioners
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The most suitable word that would go with culture is traditions.

Multiple choice

Which of these fits gap 24?

Directions: Complete this passage by selecting the most suitable option for the corresponding gap.

Islands are bodies or pieces of land that are completely ______(21)_____ by water, and are cut off from larger bodies of land that are attached to a continent and are called mainland. Islands have been homes to different cultures throughout our history. Separated from mainland, and relatively isolated, some islands of the oceans still carry the older cultures and _____(22)____ of humans. Islands also preserve animals and plants, in rather _______(23)______ conditions. In fact, it was through his visit to the Galapagos Islands, and through observing the animals there, that Charles Darwin came to _____(24)_____ the theory of evolution of man.

  1. diagnose

  2. propose

  3. discard

  4. highlight
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Charles Darwin came to propose or offer the theory of evolution of man.

Multiple choice

Principle behind winnowing is

  1. Difference in densities of components

  2. Difference in colours of components

  3. Difference in appearance of components

  4. Difference in shapes of components
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

according to density difference winnowing is done.

Multiple choice

Species is

  1. Not related to evolution

  2. Specific class of evolution

  3. Specific unit of evolution

  4. Fertile unit in the evolutionary history of a race
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Organisms in a species can interbreed.