Chapter 15 Test Questions

Question 1

A well supported explanation of phenomena that have occurred in the natural world is a

Answer 1

Theory

Question 2

T or F? Charles Darwin contributed more to our understanding of evolution that anyone e,she

Answer 2

T

Question 3

T or f? Darwin was looking for a scientific explanation for the diversity of life on earth

Answer 3

T

Question 4

Each observation that Darwin made

Answer 4

An enormous number of species inhabit earth

Some species that lived in the past no longer live on earth

Question 5

The preserved remains of ancient organisms are called

Answer 5

Fossils

Question 6

As Darwin studied fossils, what new questions arose?

Answer 6

Wondered why so many species had disappeared and how they were related to living species

Question 7

How did Darwin explain differences in she’ll shape or tortoises from Hood Island and Isabela Island

Answer 7

Curved shells, domed shaped cells

Question 8

Darwin observed that small brown birds on the Galápagos Islands differed in the shape of their _____

Answer 8

Beaks

Question 9

What did Darwin thinks about on his journey home to England

Answer 9

He thought about how the characteristics of plants and animals varied among the different islands

Question 10

After he returned to England, what hypothesis did Darwin develop to explain his findings

Answer 10

The hypothesis he came up with separate species evolved from a common ancestor

Question 11

Two scientists who helped Darwin and others recognize how old earth is were ______ and ______

Answer 11

James Hutton and Charles Lyell

Question 12

Sentence that is true about Lyell’s work

Answer 12

His work explained how awesome geological features could be built up or torn down over long periods of time
His publications healed Darwin appreciate the significance of the geological phenomena that he had observed
H stressed that scientists must explain past events in terms of processes that they can actually observe

Question 13

In what two ways did an understanding of geology influence Darwin

Answer 13

He asked him self if the earth could change overtime might life change as well. He realized that it would have taken many, many years for life to change in the way he suggested.

Question 14

T or f? Lamarck was among the first scientists to recognize that living things have changed over time

Answer 14

True

Question 15

T or f? Lamarck proposed that all organisms have an innate tendency toward complexity and perfection

Answer 15

T

Question 16

How did Lamarck pave the way for the work of later biologists

Answer 16

One of the first to devolve a scientific theory of evolution and he realized that organisms are adapted to their environment

Question 17

True about Thomas Malthus

Answer 17

He was an important influence on Darwin

He believed that war, famine, Adam disease limit the growth of populations

Question 18

T or f? When Darwin returned from England he rushed to publish his thoughts about evolution

Answer 18

F

Question 19

The naturalist whose essay gave Darwin an incentive to publish his own work was _______

Answer 19

Alfred Russell Wallace

Question 20

True about Darwins book, on the origin of species

Answer 20

It contained evidence for evolution

It described natural selection

Question 21

Differences among individuals of a species are referred to as

Answer 21

Natural variation

Question 22

T or f? Genetic variation is found only in wild organisms in nature

Answer 22

F

Question 23

True about artificial selection

Answer 23

It is also called selective breeding
It occurs when humans select natural variations they find useful
It produces organisms that look very different form their ancestors

Question 24

What was Darwin’s greatest contribution

Answer 24

A scientific hypothesis on how evolution occurs

Question 25

What does the phrase struggle for existence mean

Answer 25

Members of each species compete regularly to obtain food, living space, and other nessectuies of live

Question 26

Any inherited characteristic that increases an organisms chance of survival

Answer 26

Adaption

Question 27

Survual of the fittest

Answer 27

Natural selection

Question 28

The ability of an individual to survive and reproduce in its specific environment

Answer 28

Fitness

Question 29

T or f? Adaptations can be physical characteristics but not more complex features such as behavior

Answer 29

T

Question 30

Explain what Darwin meant by the phrase survival of the fittest

Answer 30

Individuals that fit in with their environment with low levels of fitness either die or leave few off springs

Question 31

The principle that living space descend, with changes, from other species over time is referred to as

Answer 31

Decent with modification

Question 32

The principe that all species were derived from common ancestors is known as

Answer 32

Common descent

Question 33

Structures that have different mature firms but develop from the same embryonic tissues are called

Answer 33

Homologous structures

Question 34

Organs that are so reduced in size that they are just vestiges, or traces, of homologous organs in other species are called

Answer 34

Vestigial organs

Question 35

What is the status of Darwins hypothesizes today

Answer 35

It continues to be upheld by research in all areas of biology

Question 36

Evidence of evolution

Answer 36

The fossil record
Geographical distribution of living species
Homologous structures of living organisms
Similarities in early development or embryology

Question 37

The process which modern organisms have descended for, ancient organisms is called

Answer 37

Evolution