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
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more localised than ev
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slower than evolutionary change
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rapid than evolutionary change
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more dangerous than evolutionary change
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Transformative change is characterized by its speed and intensity compared to the gradual, incremental nature of evolutionary change.
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Only move in one direction
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Start at any point
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Affect all levels
C
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Explanation
Evolutionary change is a broad process that can impact various levels of social organization, from individual behaviors to societal structures.
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Westernistation
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Modernisation
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Technology
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Time
D
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Explanation
Evolutionary change refers to the gradual development of society. Time is a dimension in which change occurs rather than a causal agent of change itself.
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evolution retains some initial parts of a whole
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the same change can occur in multiple places
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it takes time for change to take place
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describes incremental changes that accumulate for a while
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reflects the goals of specific individuals and groups
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alters a society on a small scale
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alters society on a large scale
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Evolutionary change is characterized by slow, incremental shifts that build up over time. It is distinct from revolutionary change, which is rapid and large-scale.
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Darwinism
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Functionalism
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Revolutionary change
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Evolutionary change
D
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Explanation
In the context of the nature of continuity and change, evolutionary change is a standard sub-topic alongside revolutionary and other forms of change.
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expressed doubt over new evolutionary theories.
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argued for the animal origins of human beings.
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paled humans in the center of a rational universe.
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proposed the first theory of genetic mutations.
B
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Explanation
In The Descent of Man, Darwin extended his theory of natural selection to humans, arguing that humans share common ancestors with other animals.
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emphasized "survival of the fit."
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His ideas were accepted by religious fundamentalists.
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described man's evolution from animal origins.
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envisioned utopian evolution.
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection is summarized by the concept of survival of the fittest, where individuals better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
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divergent evolution
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convergent evolution
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Homologous structures arise from a common ancestor through divergent evolution (adaptive radiation). Conversely, analogous structures arise in unrelated species through convergent evolution, where different species evolve similar traits to solve similar environmental problems.
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organisms evolve with similar structure w/different function
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non-related organisms evolve to have the same adaptation
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Divergent evolution occurs when related species evolve different traits to adapt to different environments. This results in homologous structures, which share a common ancestry but may serve different functions.
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organisms evolve with similar structure w/different function
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non-related organisms evolve to have the same adaptation
B
Correct answer
Explanation
Convergent evolution occurs when unrelated organisms independently evolve similar traits as a result of having to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches. This often results in analogous structures.
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genetic drift- founder's effect
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mutation pressure
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genetic drift- bottleneck effect
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random mating
C
Correct answer
Explanation
The bottleneck effect is a type of genetic drift that occurs when a population's size is drastically reduced by a random event, such as a natural disaster. This results in a loss of genetic variation in the surviving population.
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survival of the fittest
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survival of the strongest
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use and disuse
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genetic equilibrium
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Natural selection is often summarized as the survival of the fittest, meaning those best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
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homeostasis
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response
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stimuli
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cognitive behavior
C
Correct answer
Explanation
A stimulus is any change in the environment that triggers a response from an organism. Examples include light, sound, temperature, or chemical changes.
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One living thing in a group of the same living things
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animal that is fully grown
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Living things that come from a living thing
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Stage when an insect changes form
C
Correct answer
Explanation
Offspring refers to the young or descendants produced by living organisms. It is the result of the reproductive process.