BIOL 1902 R Natural History Self -Test 1-5 + online test 1&2 2025-
2026 new update Questions AND ANSWER Carleton University
Self-Test 1 [Lectures 1-5] Questions:
1. Mullerian mimicry is when:
a. an animal hides inside a structure that looks like something inedible, such as
a ball of spit
b. a number of animals, not related to each and all armed with some defence,
look like each other
c. an animal has its body modified to look like a non-edible item such as a thorn or
a dead leaf
d. a number of animals, some poisonous and others safe to eat, all look alike
e. none of these choices
2. When attacked, Virginia Opossums appear to "grow larger" by filling themselves with
air.
a. True
b. False
3. Female Photuris fireflies sequester their toxins from male Photinus fireflies that
they deceive by mimicking the flash patterns of female Photinus fireflies.
a. True
b. Fasle
4. If you see a caterpillar covered in yellow and red spines, you would suspect that it:
a. is about to transform into a moth or butterfly
b. is using disruptive colouration for camouflage
c. is background matching
d. has a strong chemical defence
e. is going out on a date
5. American Bitterns have streaks down their breast because the stripes:
a. make bitterns look larger (taller) than they really are
b. allow bitterns to hide in cattail marshes
c. make bitterns hide in a forest with vertical tree trunks
d. are disruptive patterns for camouflage
e. are a type of masquerade
6. Thorns are:
, a. modified leaves
b. modified epidermal structures
c. modified branches
d. structural elements that are digestibility reducers
e. very uncomfortable underwear
7. Giant Swallowtail caterpillars use masquerade as their first defence.
a. True
b. False
8. When Polyphemus and Io Moths open their wings, this happens:
a. orange horns pop out that look like a snake's tongue
b. bright colour patterns appear that might startle a predator
c. a bad odour is released that makes the predator ill
d. a hot burning spray is shot out that blinds the attacker
e. fake eyes appear that make the moths look like larger animals, which startle
the attacker
9. Which of these is NOT true concerning Batesian mimicry:
a. the lookalikes usually have a bright or bold appearance, one easily learned by
a predator
b. mimics are more common than models
c. at least one of the lookalikes has a strong defence (it is not good to eat)
d. monarch and Viceroy butterflies are an example of Batesian Mimicry
e. one of the lookalikes is harmless (is safe to eat)
10. Many songbirds such as Red-eyed Vireos have a black line through the eye and a
white stripe above it. These marks are called:
a. disruptive patterns
b. background matching
c. cryptic patterns
d. startle patterns
e. coincident background matching patterns
11. If an insect eats Balsam Fir, it never matures into the adult stage because it ingests a
lot of this chemical defence:
a. phytojuvenile hormone
b. calcium oxalate crystals
c. phytotoxins
d. tannins
e. phytoecdysone
, 12. Bright colours worn by poisonous animals are known as:
a. aposematic colouration
b. mullerian mimicry colouration
c. batesian mimicry colouration
d. cryptic colouration
e. all of the above
13. Mallards (ducks) are able to see behind their heads and in front of them at the same time.
a. True
b. False
14. Skunks are black and white because this colour pattern is aposematic for night activity.
a. True
b. False
15. Single-species flocks offers this benefit:
a. energy is saved during migration
b. because each flock member feeds in a different way, competition for food
is reduced
c. there is more opportunity for finding mates
d. there are more eyes to watch for danger
e. all of the above
16. A harmless moth looks just like a harmless beetle. This is an example of:
a. batesian Mimicry
b. mullerian Mimicry
c. aggressive Mimicry
d. background matching
e. none of the above
17. Insects that swim at the surface of ponds often exhibit this defence principle:
a. countershading
b. aposematic colouration
c. masquerade
d. disruptive colouration
e. bicolouration
18. Monarch butterfly caterpillars are not good to eat because they contain cardiac
glycosides (terpenoids). They obtain these chemicals by:
a. ingesting other insects that contain them
2026 new update Questions AND ANSWER Carleton University
Self-Test 1 [Lectures 1-5] Questions:
1. Mullerian mimicry is when:
a. an animal hides inside a structure that looks like something inedible, such as
a ball of spit
b. a number of animals, not related to each and all armed with some defence,
look like each other
c. an animal has its body modified to look like a non-edible item such as a thorn or
a dead leaf
d. a number of animals, some poisonous and others safe to eat, all look alike
e. none of these choices
2. When attacked, Virginia Opossums appear to "grow larger" by filling themselves with
air.
a. True
b. False
3. Female Photuris fireflies sequester their toxins from male Photinus fireflies that
they deceive by mimicking the flash patterns of female Photinus fireflies.
a. True
b. Fasle
4. If you see a caterpillar covered in yellow and red spines, you would suspect that it:
a. is about to transform into a moth or butterfly
b. is using disruptive colouration for camouflage
c. is background matching
d. has a strong chemical defence
e. is going out on a date
5. American Bitterns have streaks down their breast because the stripes:
a. make bitterns look larger (taller) than they really are
b. allow bitterns to hide in cattail marshes
c. make bitterns hide in a forest with vertical tree trunks
d. are disruptive patterns for camouflage
e. are a type of masquerade
6. Thorns are:
, a. modified leaves
b. modified epidermal structures
c. modified branches
d. structural elements that are digestibility reducers
e. very uncomfortable underwear
7. Giant Swallowtail caterpillars use masquerade as their first defence.
a. True
b. False
8. When Polyphemus and Io Moths open their wings, this happens:
a. orange horns pop out that look like a snake's tongue
b. bright colour patterns appear that might startle a predator
c. a bad odour is released that makes the predator ill
d. a hot burning spray is shot out that blinds the attacker
e. fake eyes appear that make the moths look like larger animals, which startle
the attacker
9. Which of these is NOT true concerning Batesian mimicry:
a. the lookalikes usually have a bright or bold appearance, one easily learned by
a predator
b. mimics are more common than models
c. at least one of the lookalikes has a strong defence (it is not good to eat)
d. monarch and Viceroy butterflies are an example of Batesian Mimicry
e. one of the lookalikes is harmless (is safe to eat)
10. Many songbirds such as Red-eyed Vireos have a black line through the eye and a
white stripe above it. These marks are called:
a. disruptive patterns
b. background matching
c. cryptic patterns
d. startle patterns
e. coincident background matching patterns
11. If an insect eats Balsam Fir, it never matures into the adult stage because it ingests a
lot of this chemical defence:
a. phytojuvenile hormone
b. calcium oxalate crystals
c. phytotoxins
d. tannins
e. phytoecdysone
, 12. Bright colours worn by poisonous animals are known as:
a. aposematic colouration
b. mullerian mimicry colouration
c. batesian mimicry colouration
d. cryptic colouration
e. all of the above
13. Mallards (ducks) are able to see behind their heads and in front of them at the same time.
a. True
b. False
14. Skunks are black and white because this colour pattern is aposematic for night activity.
a. True
b. False
15. Single-species flocks offers this benefit:
a. energy is saved during migration
b. because each flock member feeds in a different way, competition for food
is reduced
c. there is more opportunity for finding mates
d. there are more eyes to watch for danger
e. all of the above
16. A harmless moth looks just like a harmless beetle. This is an example of:
a. batesian Mimicry
b. mullerian Mimicry
c. aggressive Mimicry
d. background matching
e. none of the above
17. Insects that swim at the surface of ponds often exhibit this defence principle:
a. countershading
b. aposematic colouration
c. masquerade
d. disruptive colouration
e. bicolouration
18. Monarch butterfly caterpillars are not good to eat because they contain cardiac
glycosides (terpenoids). They obtain these chemicals by:
a. ingesting other insects that contain them
