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 biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

Which of the following statements about natural selection are correct?
(i) Tends to increase the characters that enhance survival and reproduction
(ii) Individuals with better adaptive ability leave more progeny
(iii) Was considered as mechanism of evolution by Darwin.

  1. (i), (ii) and (iii)

  2. (i) and (ii) only

  3. (iii) only

  4. (i) and (iii) only
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
According to Darwin those organisms who are better fit in their environment produce more number of off springs than others or we can say their reproductive rate is higher than the others. These , therefore , will survive more and hence are selected by nature. And this is the method of evolution according to him.
So, the correct option is '(I), (ii), (iii)'
Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

Which of the following are the two key concepts of Darwinian theory of evolution?

  1. Genetic drift and mutation

  2. Adaptive radiation and homology

  3. Mutation and natural selection

  4. Branching descent and natural selection
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
According to Darwin's theory of evolution, nature selects the fittest. Fitness is based on characteristics which are inherited. Therefore, there must be a genetic basis for getting selected and to evolve. Some organisms are better adapted to survive in an otherwise hostile environment. Adaptative ability is inherited. It has a genetic basis. Fitness is the end result of the ability to adapt and get selected by nature. Therefore, branching descent (inheritance) and natural selection are the two key concepts of Darwin's theory of evolution.

So, the correct answer is 'Branching descent and natural selection'.

Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

By the statement 'survival of the fittest', Darwin meant that

  1. The strongest of all species survives

  2. The most intelligent of the species survives

  3. The cleverest of the species survives

  4. The species most adaptable to changes survives
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
The organisms which are provided with favorable variations would survive, because they are the fittest to face their surroundings, while the unfit are eliminated. Originally it was an idea of Herbert Spencer $(1820 - 1903)$ who used the phrase 'the survival of the fittest' first time. While Darwin named it as natural selection.
So, the correct answer is 'The species most adaptable to changes survives'.
Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

Which of the following are necessary for evolution by natural selection to take place?
(i) Offspring resemble their parents more than other individuals in the population.
(ii) Differences among individuals exist and lead to different numbers of successful offspring being produced.
(iii) Individuals adjust their development depending on the environment
(iv) Every individual possess enormous fertility.

  1. (i) and (ii)

  2. (ii) and (iv)

  3. (i), (iii) and (iv)

  4. (iii) only
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The theory of natural selection was proposed by Charles Darwin. It states that Natural selection is the process where organisms with favourable traits are more likely to reproduce. In doing so, they pass on these traits to the next generation. Over time this process allows organisms to adapt to their environment. Features which are necessary for evolution by natural selection to take place are 

a) Differences among individuals exist and lead to different numbers of successful offspring being produced.

b) Every individual possesses enormous fertility.
So, the correct answer is '(ii) and (iv)'

Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

The diversity in the type of beaks of finches adapted to different feeding habits on the Galapagos Islands, as observed by Darwin, provides evidence for

  1. Intraspecific competition

  2. Interspecific competition

  3. Origin of species by natural selection

  4. Origin of species by mutation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Darwin during his famous voyage, observed that finches from various Islands of Galapagos had beaks of different sizes and shapes. He observed that this was due to adaptation to different available food types. He concluded that the ancestral finches on reaching different islands occupied all empty ecological niches in absence of competition and evolved into different species. This provides evidences for origin of species by natural selection.

So, the correct answer is 'Origin of species by natural selection'.

Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

Given: 1= Natural selection; 2= Variations and their inheritance; 3= Survival of the fittest; 4= Struggle for existence.
According to Darwinism, which of the following represents the correct sequence of events in the origin of new species?

  1. $3, 4, 1, 2$
  2. $2, 3, 1, 4$
  3. $1, 2, 3, 4$
  4. $4, 2, 3, 1$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

  1.  There is a struggle for existence, because of the disparity between the number of individuals produced by reproduction and the number that can survive.
  2. Individuals within a species show variation; no two individuals are exactly alike. Those with advantageous characters have a greater probability of survival, and therefore of reproducing, in the struggle for existence.
  3. Individuals produce offspring that tend to resemble their parents (the principle of inheritance). Provided that the advantageous characters that promote survival are inherited by offspring.
  4. The offspring that evolve according to the condition are fittest for survival.
  5. Those are selected by nature and weaker ones got eliminated.
So the correct option is '4,2,3,1'

Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

Darwin wrote "Origin of Species" in

  1. 1530

  2. 1795

  3. 1859

  4. 1895
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

  • Darwinism is an evolutionary theory proposed by Charles Robert Darwin, an English Naturalist. He believed that evolution is a gradual, rather than a sudden biological event. His theory was based on several facts, observations and inferences. They are 
1) overproduction
2) constancy in population
3) struggle for existence
4) natural selection.
  • The prodigality of production or overproduction: Every organism tends to increase its population in large proportions. For example, Paramecium divides by binary fission at the rate of three to four times a day. At this rate, the volume of all the paramecia equals to 10,000 times that of the earth at the end of the 9000th generation in the absence of any check.
  • Constancy in population: However, such an abnormal increase is not noticed in the population of any species in nature as the offspring die in large number before reaching the reproductive age. It is true that the food and the other sources do not increase in the same proportion as that of the population.
  • Struggle for existence: As the food sources are limited, severe competition exists among the members of a population. Darwin called it a struggle for existence.
  • Natural selection: The organisms with less reproductive success are not represented in future generations, however, fit they may be in the struggle for existence. This is called the Natural selection. Herbert Spencer called this phenomenon Survival of the fittest.
  • He wrote Origin of Species including these points in 1859.
So, the correct option is '1859'.

Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

Charles Darwin concluded that 

  1. Existing living forms share similarities to varying degree not only among themselves but also with the life forms that existed millions of years ago.

  2. These has been gradual evolution in the life forms on earth.

  3. Those organism, who are better fit in an environment leave more progeny that others. These therefore, will survive more and hence are selected by nature

  4. All the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Darwin theory of natural selection can be concluded as :

1. The number of organisms are produced more than that can survive because of limited resources.
2. Organisms struggle for the necessities of life; there is competition for resources.
3. Individuals within a population vary in their traits; some of these traits are heritable.
4. Some variants are better adapted to survive and reproduce under local conditions than others.
5. Better-adapted individuals are more likely to survive and reproduce, thereby passing on copies of their genes to the next generation.
6. Species whose individuals are best adapted survive while others become extinct.
So, the correct option is 'All of the above'.

Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

Darwin's theory of natural selection to explain organic evolution was based on?

  1. Inheritance of acquired character

  2. Appearance of sudden large inheritable variation

  3. Modification of organs through use and disuse

  4. Prodigality of reproduction, struggle for existence and survival of the fittest
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Darwin's theory of natural selection explains organic evolution as follows : 

1. The number of organisms are produced more than that can survive because of limited resources.

2. Organisms struggle for the necessities of life; there is competition for resources.
3. Individuals within a population vary in their traits; some of these traits are heritable.
4. Some variants are better adapted to survive and reproduce under local conditions than others.
5. Better-adapted individuals are more likely to survive and reproduce, thereby passing on copies of their genes to the next generation.
6. Species whose individuals are best adapted survive while others become extinct.


So, the correct option is 'Prodigality of reproduction, struggle for existence and survival of fittest'.

Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

Darwin

  1. Believed that organisms could pass on acquired changes to offspring

  2. Worked out the mechanism of evolution by natural selection

  3. Was the first person to realize that organisms can evolve

  4. Was eager to publish his theory so that he could get all the credit
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Charles Darwin was born in 1809. In 1831, he accepted an unpaid post of naturalist on a survey ship in which he spent five years in sea charting the East Coast of South America. During his five-week stay on Galapagos island, he noticed characteristic distribution of species of finches. After collecting a lot of information, Darwin began to realise that under the conditions of intense competition between members of a population, any variation that favours survival in a particular environment, would increase the ability of the individual to reproduce and leave fertile offspring. The variations which are less favourable would decrease the chances of survival of the individual. With this data, Darwin formulated a theory of evolution by 'natural selection' in 1839.
So, the correct answer is 'Worked out the mechanism of evolution by natural selection'.
Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

The theory of evolution proposed by Charles Darwin is known as ________.

  1. Theory of natural selection

  2. Synthetic theory of evolution

  3. Lamarckism inheritance

  4. All of the above

  5. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
The theory of evaluation proposed by Charles Darwin is known as theory of natural selection. It considers natural selection as one of the basic mechanisms of evolution, which is the gradual change in the trait of an organism by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring and the individuals that are poorly adapted to their environment are less likely to survive and reproduce, may become extinct.
So, the correct option is 'Theory of natural selection'.
Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

According to Darwin, adaptive ability is :-

  1. Acquired

  2. Mutation

  3. Inherited

  4. Branching descent
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
Some individuals are better adapted to survive in new environment as the adaptive ability is transmitted to next generation as it has a genetic basis and is selected by nature. Branching descent and natural selection are the two basic points in Darwinian Theory of evolution.
So the correct answer is 'Branching descent'.
Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

Which of the following is not related to the Darwin's theory of Evolution

  1. All living organisms of a group are not identical.

  2. Variations may be passed from parent to off-spring

  3. Evolution is a slow and continuous process.

  4. Population do not grow in geometrical progression
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In 1859, Charles Darwin in his book 'Origin of species' stated the 'theory of evolution'. in this theory he has stated that no two individuals are the same but they have variations which help them in survival. This is called a natural selection. According to his theory, evolution is a slow and continuous process as it creates variation among individuals, these variations may or may not be passed among the offsprings. He had not explained the population growth and the phylogeny of an individual.

So, the correct option is 'Population do not grow in geometrical progression'. 

Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

The main features of Darwin's theory of evolution are 

  1. Struggle for existence

  2. Natural selection

  3. Survival of the fittest

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Darwin proposed the theory of natural selection to explain the process of evolution. According to Darwin’s theory of natural selection, all organisms have the potential to reproduce limitlessly irrespective of the fact that each species maintain a constant density over time. However, the struggle for existence, i.e. the competition among individuals for available resources to survive and reproduce, put a check on species density and maintains it at a constant level. Survival of fittest is unequal ability of individuals to survive and reproduce based on suitability of their inherited characters to prevailing environmental conditions. It imparts the reproductive advantage to certain organisms which account for major part of the gene pool of the species. Thus, natural selection favors the individual with survival and/or reproductive advantage over others under existing environmental condition. Thus, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice biology evolution of life darwinism or theories of natural selection darwin's theory of evolution theories of evolution

What did Charles Darwin publish in 1859?

  1. Origin of Species by natural selection

  2. Species Plantarum

  3. Philosophie Zoologique

  4. De Naturien Familien
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Darwin proposed the theory of natural selection to explain the process of evolution which was published in the book entitled The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, 1859. Linnaeus is considered as the father of taxonomy and was first to use the binomial nomenclature for organisms in his book “Species Plantarum, 1753” in which he gave a generic name to each species. Philosophie Zoologique was published by Lamarck in 1809 in which he proposed his theory of evolution, Lamarckism.Thus, the correct answer is option A.