bio topic 5 Flashcards
Which is an example of evolution by selective breeding?
A. Selection of prey animals that can run faster than their predators
B. The variation in the size of different breeds of dogs
C. The tendency, during breeding, for birds to produce more offspring than will survive
D. Some female spiders only breeding with males which make the right signals
B
Pterosaurs were flying reptiles that appeared 220 million years ago and became extinct
65 million years ago.
What type of selection could account for the increase in wingspan in pterosaurs?
A. Directional
B. Stabilizing
C. Artificial
D. Disruptive
A
Some strains of the pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcusaureus have developed mechanisms
that protect them against foreign DNA. What effect does this have on the evolution of antibiotic
resistance in these strains of S. aureus?
A. Slower evolution, as bacteria with the antibiotic resistance gene will not reproduce
B. Slower evolution, as the antibiotic resistance gene from other species will not be accepted
C. Faster evolution, as mutations within a population are less likely to occur
D. Faster evolution, as antibiotic resistance genes can only be passed to individuals of the
same species
B
Which process contributes to the formation of limestone?
Fossilization of hard parts from marine animals in sea beds
What could be used as evidence for evolution?
I. Selective breeding of domesticated animals
II. The fossil record
III. Homologous structures
A. I and II only
B. I and III only
C. II and III only
D. I, II and III
D
A locust is an arthropod. For invertebrate groups, which recognition feature is found only in arthropods?
A. Bilateral symmetry
B. Jointed appendages
C. Wings
D. Segmented body
B
Which are examples of homologous structures?
A. The wings of bats and butterflies
B. The fins of fish and whales
C. The hindlimbs of frogs and grasshoppers
D. The forelimbs of primates and penguins
D
What are evolutionary origins and functions of homologous structures?
Common origin, same or different functions
What is accepted by scientists as evidence for evolution?
I. Similarities in bone structure between the wings of a bat and the fins of a porpoise
II. Changes in dog breeds caused by artificial selection
III. Extinction of dinosaurs
B
Merriam’s kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami) is a small mammal found in desert biomes in the
southwestern USA and Mexico. What would help these kangaroo rats to conserve water in order
to survive high temperatures in desert biomes?
A. Increased sweating
B. A long loop of Henle
C. Decreased secretion of ADH
D. Decreased reabsorption from the collecting duct
B
Which of the adaptations of flowers would be most successful for the survival of a species?
A. Spiny seeds for better wind dispersal
B. Different flowering times for better seed dispersal
C. Sticky pollen for better water dispersal
D. Specific odours for better insect pollination
D
Prickly pear cactus plants are well adapted to desert conditions. The stems are the flattened structures visible in the image and the leaves are reduced to spines. The white spots in the image are groups of spines.
Which characteristic describes the advantage of one of their adaptations?
A. Leaves are reduced to spines to lose less carbon dioxide.
B. Spines increase surface area for more photosynthesis.
C. Stems are flattened to allow more water to be stored between periods of rain.
D. Waxy cuticle on the stems is very thin to allow rapid absorption of rain.
A
By the end of the 19th century in England, the dark form of the moth Biston betularia formed up to 98%
of the total population in industrial areas. From 1970, the percentage of dark forms decreased significantly. What is an explanation for the decrease?
A. An increase in environmental pollution killed the dark forms more than the light forms.
B. Reduction of pollution resulted in greater camouflage for light forms of the moth.
C. Dark forms could no longer find mates.
D. Light forms had superior feeding mechanisms.
B
What is stabilizing selection?
A selection that favors intermediate traits, reducing variation
What is directional selection?
It is a type of selection that favors one extreme trait, leading to a shift in population charasteristitcs
What is disruptive selection?
Favors both extremes, leading to a possible split in population
What would restrict evolution by natural selection, if a species only reproduced by cloning?
The offspring would show a lack of variation
What promotes natural selection?
I. Overpopulation
II. Competition
III. Variation
A. I and II only
B. I and III only
C. II and III only
D. I, II and III
D
What is the mechanism of natural selection?
A. Any individuals in a population can be selected entirely by chance.
B. After a change in the environment a species will evolve adaptations to the new conditions.
C. If an adaptation to the environment is useful, an individual will develop it and pass it on to its offspring.
D. Variations amongst individuals of a population are selected by a changing environment.
D
A bacterial population with no resistance to an antibiotic may develop into a bacterial population with some resistance to an antibiotic. Which event could lead to this?
An antibiotic resistance plasmid is received from a bacterium in another population.
Which is the hierarchy of taxa in order of increasing numbers of species?
A. genus, family, order, class
B. class, order, genus, family
C. genus, family, class, order
D. class, order, family, genus
A
