1|Page
PSYC 387 FINAL PREP ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY EXAM,
COMPLETE TEST || QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) (LATEST UPDATE 2026) UPDATE!!
Who originally said that change is the only constant?
......ANSWER......Roman philosopher Lucretius 2,000 years ago
When was Darwins Origin of Species written? ......ANSWER......1859
Describe Darwin's theory of natural selection. ......ANSWER......There is,
he argued, tremendous variation among the members of any given
species.
Some of these variations are well suited to current conditions; others
are not. Individuals with favorable variations are more likely to survive
and reproduce, so succeeding generations are more likely to show
helpful characteristics. Thus, features that contribute to survival are
"selected" by the environment, a process Darwin called natural
selection.
Was Darwin aware of the genetic basis for evolution by natural
selection? ......ANSWER......no
,2|Page
Who was the first person to understand the role of genetics?
......ANSWER......Gregor Mendel (father of genetics) published his work
in 1866.
Although Darwin did not understand the genetic basis for evolution, he
was aware that _____ (2 things) ......ANSWER......variation within a
species was common
selective breeding of farm animals with a specific variation often
resulted in offspring with that characteristic.
What did Dawkin's pebbly beach analogy illustrate about natural
selection? ......ANSWER......pebbles arrange themselves based on the
flow of water and density and size of the rocks.
Intelligent direction isn't required. The environment "selects" desirable
characteristics and spurns undesirable ones.
What are mutations? ......ANSWER......Abrupt changes in genes.
What can cause a mutation? ......ANSWER......Can be caused by
exposure to radiation and certain chemicals and perhaps by viral
infections.
,3|Page
In what case will mutation be passed on to the next generation?
......ANSWER......when mutations occur in genes of reproductive cells
(sperm or ova)
Can mutations occur in any cell of the body? ......ANSWER......yes
Will offspring with mutated genes necessarily display the mutation?
......ANSWER......no
Are mutations always detrimental to survival? ......ANSWER......Many of
these changes are simply of no consequence, one way or the other
Occasionally can be useful to survival. (new horn mutation useful for
defense)
What is a reflex? ......ANSWER......A reflex is a relationship between a
specific event and a simple response to that event. A reflex is a
relationship between certain kinds of events.
Give an example of a reflex. ......ANSWER......Food in the mouth elicits
the salivary reflex, the flow of saliva that begins the process of
digestion.
What is reflex failure? When can it occur? ......ANSWER......Reflex failure
is when a reflex fails to function properly.
, 4|Page
This can happen as a result of:
-allergic reaction to medication
-injury or disease.
-excessive alcohol or other drugs that depress the central nervous
system.
Reflexes are highly ___________ ......ANSWER......stereotypic
that is, they are remarkably consistent in form, frequency, strength, and
time of appearance during development.
What is sensitization? Give an example. ......ANSWER......Eliciting a reflex
response can increase the intensity or probability of the response to
stimuli.
Hearing a loud noise that makes you jump can make you more sensitive
to noises that arent as loud.
What happened when Kelly Powell and Stephen Holtzman (2001) gave
rats morphine for one to four days and then tested their reaction to the
drug after a period of abstinence? ......ANSWER......The rats showed an
increased response to morphine (i.e., sensitization) for up to three
months after their last dose.
PSYC 387 FINAL PREP ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY EXAM,
COMPLETE TEST || QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) (LATEST UPDATE 2026) UPDATE!!
Who originally said that change is the only constant?
......ANSWER......Roman philosopher Lucretius 2,000 years ago
When was Darwins Origin of Species written? ......ANSWER......1859
Describe Darwin's theory of natural selection. ......ANSWER......There is,
he argued, tremendous variation among the members of any given
species.
Some of these variations are well suited to current conditions; others
are not. Individuals with favorable variations are more likely to survive
and reproduce, so succeeding generations are more likely to show
helpful characteristics. Thus, features that contribute to survival are
"selected" by the environment, a process Darwin called natural
selection.
Was Darwin aware of the genetic basis for evolution by natural
selection? ......ANSWER......no
,2|Page
Who was the first person to understand the role of genetics?
......ANSWER......Gregor Mendel (father of genetics) published his work
in 1866.
Although Darwin did not understand the genetic basis for evolution, he
was aware that _____ (2 things) ......ANSWER......variation within a
species was common
selective breeding of farm animals with a specific variation often
resulted in offspring with that characteristic.
What did Dawkin's pebbly beach analogy illustrate about natural
selection? ......ANSWER......pebbles arrange themselves based on the
flow of water and density and size of the rocks.
Intelligent direction isn't required. The environment "selects" desirable
characteristics and spurns undesirable ones.
What are mutations? ......ANSWER......Abrupt changes in genes.
What can cause a mutation? ......ANSWER......Can be caused by
exposure to radiation and certain chemicals and perhaps by viral
infections.
,3|Page
In what case will mutation be passed on to the next generation?
......ANSWER......when mutations occur in genes of reproductive cells
(sperm or ova)
Can mutations occur in any cell of the body? ......ANSWER......yes
Will offspring with mutated genes necessarily display the mutation?
......ANSWER......no
Are mutations always detrimental to survival? ......ANSWER......Many of
these changes are simply of no consequence, one way or the other
Occasionally can be useful to survival. (new horn mutation useful for
defense)
What is a reflex? ......ANSWER......A reflex is a relationship between a
specific event and a simple response to that event. A reflex is a
relationship between certain kinds of events.
Give an example of a reflex. ......ANSWER......Food in the mouth elicits
the salivary reflex, the flow of saliva that begins the process of
digestion.
What is reflex failure? When can it occur? ......ANSWER......Reflex failure
is when a reflex fails to function properly.
, 4|Page
This can happen as a result of:
-allergic reaction to medication
-injury or disease.
-excessive alcohol or other drugs that depress the central nervous
system.
Reflexes are highly ___________ ......ANSWER......stereotypic
that is, they are remarkably consistent in form, frequency, strength, and
time of appearance during development.
What is sensitization? Give an example. ......ANSWER......Eliciting a reflex
response can increase the intensity or probability of the response to
stimuli.
Hearing a loud noise that makes you jump can make you more sensitive
to noises that arent as loud.
What happened when Kelly Powell and Stephen Holtzman (2001) gave
rats morphine for one to four days and then tested their reaction to the
drug after a period of abstinence? ......ANSWER......The rats showed an
increased response to morphine (i.e., sensitization) for up to three
months after their last dose.
