Biology · Science General

Evolution and Biological Adaptation

1,288 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

Why do organisms look similar?

  1. Because of their similar body designs

  2. Because of the similar functioning of their cells

  3. Because of their similar cell organelles

  4. Because of the totipotency of their cells
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Organisms look similar because their body designs are similar.

Multiple choice

Which of the following characterstics is not suitable to define growth?

  1. A permanent increase in size

  2. Cell enlargement

  3. Cell division

  4. Independence on environment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The degree of plant growth is dependent on the environment. Plant development is dependent on the environmental conditions where it is growing. Because light is the energy source for plant growth, plants have evolved highly sensitive mechanisms for perceiving light and using that information for regulating development changes to help maximise light utilisation for photosynthesis.

Multiple choice

Changes in the environment can cause

  1. evolution all of a sudden

  2. species to remain the same

  3. population to change over time

  4. no observable changes in organisms
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Changes in the environment can cause population to change over time.

Multiple choice

Identify the types of natural selection marked as A, B and C in the diagram.

  1. A - stabilising selection, B - directional selection and C - disruptive selection

  2. A - stabilising selection, B - disruptive selection and C - directional selection

  3. A - directional selection, B - stabilising selection and C - disruptive selection

  4. A - directional selection, B - disruptive selection and C - stabilising selection

  5. A - disruptive selection, B - directional selection and C - stabilising selection
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In the diagram, A is directional selection, B is a disruptive selection and C is a stabilising selection. Therefore, the given option is correct.

Multiple choice writing a paragraph writing english

Much of our knowledge of dinosaurs comes from excavated bones, which, in --- other clues such as fossilized tracks and eggs, help us to ---- the evolution of these creatures. 

  1. Convergence with .. supplant

  2. Divergence from .. decode

  3. Dependence on .. belie

  4. Opposition to .. amplify

  5. Conjunction with .. trace
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Option E is correct option because in English we know that conjunction means the figure of speech which joins two sentence and in this sentence two sentences are joining;

First the subjective part that is knowledge from excavated bones the word which joins the following part that is clues such as fossilized tracks and eggs.
And due to the search of eggs and fossilized tracks only one can trace  the reality of the dinosaurs.
Hence Option E is correct.

Multiple choice biology organization of life

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given .
The maintenance of internal conditions of an organism within a certain boundary range is called

  1. evolution

  2. metabolism

  3. adaptation

  4. homeostasis
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

A. Evolution is a change in the inheritable characteristics of species over successive generations.

B. Metabolism is the sum total of all the chemical activities occurring in the body to sustain life.
C. Adaptation is the changes acquired by the body to sustain adverse conditions.
D. Homeostasis refers to the maintenance of a constant internal environment of the body. It is essential to maintain the living state of organisms as they can tolerate the change in internal conditions like temperature, pH etc. within a range. 
So the correct answer is 'Homeostasis'.

Multiple choice zoology grades of body organisation characteristics of annelida and arthropoda characteristics of platyhelminthes and aschelminthes basis of classification in animals basis of the classification of animals criteria for animal classification

The presence of gill slits, in the embryos of all vertebrates support the theory of?

  1. Metamorphosis

  2. Biogenesis

  3. Organic evolution

  4. Recapitulation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Metamorphosis is a biological processes by which an animal physically develops after birth or hatching, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the animal's body structure through cell growth and differentiation. Metamorphosis is iodothyronine-induced and an ancestral feature of all chordates. For e.g. presence of gill slit in the embryos explains the origin of respiratory systems in all vertebrates.
So the correct answer is 'Metamorphosis'.
Multiple choice biology adaptation terrestrial adaptations in plants adaptation in terrestrial plants terrestrial adaptation desert ecosystem terrestrial adaptation in animals

The process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment is known 

  1. Adaptation

  2. Migration

  3. Digestion

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment is known as adaptation.

Multiple choice biology adaptation terrestrial adaptations in plants adaptation in terrestrial plants terrestrial adaptation desert ecosystem terrestrial adaptation in animals

Small changes that take place in the body of a single organism over short periods, to overcome small problems due to changes in the surroundings, are called

  1. Acclimatisation

  2. Adaptation

  3. Germination

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Small changes that take place in the body of a single organism over short periods, to overcome small problems due to changes in the surroundings, are called Acclimatisation.

Multiple choice evs snakes a snake charmer's story snakes and snake charmers uses of animals

Which of the following is the ancestor of snake?

  1. Chameleon

  2. Lizard

  3. Crocodile

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Many evolutionary biologists believe that snakes evolved from lizard like ancestors. This has been established by comparing skulls of different lizards and snakes that have existed on earth and comparing body shapes. Also, few fossils of snakes having 4 legs like legs have been found indicating further common ancestry.
So, the correct option is 'Lizard'.
Multiple choice biology human influences on the environment human intervention in ecosystems humans in the environment involvement of humans in the conservation of environment

Choose the correct answers from the alternatives given.
Most of biological diversity has probably arisen by:

  1. anagenesis

  2. cladogenesis

  3. sympatric speciation

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

Anagenesis and cladogenesis are the two main ways speciation occurs. One involved the slow transition of one species to another. Cladogenesis involved the separation of a species into two or more groups, with each group then becoming its own separate species.

Phyletic gradualism is a model of evolution which theorizes that most speciation is slow, uniform and gradual. When evolution occurs in this mode, it is usually by the steady transformation of a whole species into a new one.
Sympatric speciation is a geographic mode of speciation due to geographical isolation new species is form.
So correct answer is B, cladogenesis.