Chapter 01: An Overview of Evolutionary Biology
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution resulted in a ________ because it changed the way we
understand how all living things came to be and how they function.
a. paradigm shift c. physical theory
b. null hypothesis d. static discovery
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 1.0
OBJ: 1.0.a. Explain the paradigm shift that occurred in biology when Darwin laid out his theory
of evolution. MSC: Remembering
2. Darwin realized that the often exquisite fit of species to their environment is primarily the result
of
a. paradigm shifts. c. supernatural events.
b. natural selection. d. empirical research.
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: 1.0
OBJ: 1.0.a. Explain the paradigm shift that occurred in biology when Darwin laid out his theory
of evolution. MSC: Remembering
3. In describing the importance of Darwin’s theory of evolution, Theodosius Dobzhansky argued
that
a. nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.
b. this theory of evolution changes the way we think of Earth in the universe.
c. evolution can now be used to control our destiny.
d. we no longer need to invoke the supernatural for any cause.
, ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 1.0
OBJ: 1.0.a. Explain the paradigm shift that occurred in biology when Darwin laid out his theory
of evolution. MSC: Remembering
4. Darwin’s theory of evolution provided explanations for all of the following EXCEPT
a. the diversity of life on the planet.
b. why the vast majority of species are extinct.
c. why Earth is not the center of the universe.
d. the similarities and differences among species.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 1.0
OBJ: 1.0.a. Explain the paradigm shift that occurred in biology when Darwin laid out his theory
of evolution. MSC: Understanding
5. What is evolutionary biology?
a. a description of the fossil record
b. the field of science that deals with matter and its motion through space and time
c. the study of interactions among organisms and their environment
d. the study of the origin, maintenance, and diversity of life
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 1.1
OBJ: 1.1.a. Describe what evolutionary biology is. MSC: Remembering
6. To understand the evolution of a species, we need to know about its ancestors and what changes
have occurred along the way. Darwin called this process
a. natural selection. c. genetics.
b. descent with modification. d. changes in fitness.
, ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1
OBJ: 1.1.a. Describe what evolutionary biology is. MSC: Remembering
7. Which of the following best summarizes the process of evolution by natural selection?
a. Most mutations have harmful effects and therefore increase in frequency over time.
b. Mutations that do not affect the fitness of individuals are selected to decrease in frequency
over time.
c. Natural selection results in mutations that disrupt finely tuned processes.
d. Mutations that improve the fitness of individuals will tend to increase in frequency over
time.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1
OBJ: 1.1.a. Describe what evolutionary biology is. MSC: Understanding
8. Which process is demonstrated in the figure shown?
a. artificial selection c. genetics
b. natural selection d. paradigm shift
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1
, OBJ: 1.1.b. Compare artificial selection with natural selection in regard to the domestication of
crops and livestock. MSC: Understanding
9. In what way are natural selection and artificial selection similar?
a. Both result in increased frequency of beneficial traits.
b. Both rely on human intervention to prevent deleterious mutations from increasing in
frequency.
c. Both have been occurring for the past 3.5 billion years.
d. Neither are able to produce dramatic changes in traits.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1
OBJ: 1.1.b. Compare artificial selection with natural selection in regard to the domestication of
crops and livestock. MSC: Analyzing
10. In what way is artificial selection different from natural selection?
a. Artificial selection cannot result in changes in traits.
b. Artificial selection relies on humans choosing which traits are beneficial.
c. Artificial selection is only applied to plants.
d. Artificial selection results in organisms that cannot survive and reproduce.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1
OBJ: 1.1.b. Compare artificial selection with natural selection in regard to the domestication of
crops and livestock. MSC: Analyzing
11. Which of the following is an example of artificial selection?
a. selection for pests resistant to pesticides
b. selection for weeds that can grow in the presence of herbicides applied by farmers
c. selection for cows that produce more milk
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution resulted in a ________ because it changed the way we
understand how all living things came to be and how they function.
a. paradigm shift c. physical theory
b. null hypothesis d. static discovery
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 1.0
OBJ: 1.0.a. Explain the paradigm shift that occurred in biology when Darwin laid out his theory
of evolution. MSC: Remembering
2. Darwin realized that the often exquisite fit of species to their environment is primarily the result
of
a. paradigm shifts. c. supernatural events.
b. natural selection. d. empirical research.
ANS: B DIF: Easy REF: 1.0
OBJ: 1.0.a. Explain the paradigm shift that occurred in biology when Darwin laid out his theory
of evolution. MSC: Remembering
3. In describing the importance of Darwin’s theory of evolution, Theodosius Dobzhansky argued
that
a. nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution.
b. this theory of evolution changes the way we think of Earth in the universe.
c. evolution can now be used to control our destiny.
d. we no longer need to invoke the supernatural for any cause.
, ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 1.0
OBJ: 1.0.a. Explain the paradigm shift that occurred in biology when Darwin laid out his theory
of evolution. MSC: Remembering
4. Darwin’s theory of evolution provided explanations for all of the following EXCEPT
a. the diversity of life on the planet.
b. why the vast majority of species are extinct.
c. why Earth is not the center of the universe.
d. the similarities and differences among species.
ANS: C DIF: Moderate REF: 1.0
OBJ: 1.0.a. Explain the paradigm shift that occurred in biology when Darwin laid out his theory
of evolution. MSC: Understanding
5. What is evolutionary biology?
a. a description of the fossil record
b. the field of science that deals with matter and its motion through space and time
c. the study of interactions among organisms and their environment
d. the study of the origin, maintenance, and diversity of life
ANS: D DIF: Easy REF: 1.1
OBJ: 1.1.a. Describe what evolutionary biology is. MSC: Remembering
6. To understand the evolution of a species, we need to know about its ancestors and what changes
have occurred along the way. Darwin called this process
a. natural selection. c. genetics.
b. descent with modification. d. changes in fitness.
, ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1
OBJ: 1.1.a. Describe what evolutionary biology is. MSC: Remembering
7. Which of the following best summarizes the process of evolution by natural selection?
a. Most mutations have harmful effects and therefore increase in frequency over time.
b. Mutations that do not affect the fitness of individuals are selected to decrease in frequency
over time.
c. Natural selection results in mutations that disrupt finely tuned processes.
d. Mutations that improve the fitness of individuals will tend to increase in frequency over
time.
ANS: D DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1
OBJ: 1.1.a. Describe what evolutionary biology is. MSC: Understanding
8. Which process is demonstrated in the figure shown?
a. artificial selection c. genetics
b. natural selection d. paradigm shift
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1
, OBJ: 1.1.b. Compare artificial selection with natural selection in regard to the domestication of
crops and livestock. MSC: Understanding
9. In what way are natural selection and artificial selection similar?
a. Both result in increased frequency of beneficial traits.
b. Both rely on human intervention to prevent deleterious mutations from increasing in
frequency.
c. Both have been occurring for the past 3.5 billion years.
d. Neither are able to produce dramatic changes in traits.
ANS: A DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1
OBJ: 1.1.b. Compare artificial selection with natural selection in regard to the domestication of
crops and livestock. MSC: Analyzing
10. In what way is artificial selection different from natural selection?
a. Artificial selection cannot result in changes in traits.
b. Artificial selection relies on humans choosing which traits are beneficial.
c. Artificial selection is only applied to plants.
d. Artificial selection results in organisms that cannot survive and reproduce.
ANS: B DIF: Moderate REF: 1.1
OBJ: 1.1.b. Compare artificial selection with natural selection in regard to the domestication of
crops and livestock. MSC: Analyzing
11. Which of the following is an example of artificial selection?
a. selection for pests resistant to pesticides
b. selection for weeds that can grow in the presence of herbicides applied by farmers
c. selection for cows that produce more milk
