Chapters 1-3 Review

Question 1

Name the four best evidences against evolution, cited by scientists who oppose the theory.

Answer 1

gaps in the fossil record, problems with the big bang theory, the amazing complexity of even the simplest organisms, the inability of scientists to explain the origin of life using natural laws

Question 2

Since the middle of the 20th century, there have been a growing number of scientists who reject the theory of evolution based on the discovery of ___ and ___, of which Darwin was unaware.

Answer 2

processes and structures

Question 3

What theory eventually replaced the theory of spontaneous generation and is the basis for the modern theory of how life began naturally?

Answer 3

The theory of evolution

Question 4

Before Darwin’s theory of evolution, what theory did scientists believe explained the origin of life?

Answer 4

the theory of spontaneous generation

Question 5

What famous artist painted a scene of a deity creating man on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?

Answer 5

Michelangelo

Question 6

Can changes in the cells of the body that occur during life be passed on to the next generation?

Answer 6

no

Question 7

The theory of spontaneous generation was believed by scientist for how long?

Answer 7

Over 2,100 years.

Question 8

Define the theory of acquired characteristics.

Answer 8

The disproved idea that changes acquired in the body during life, such as enlarged muscles or a suntan, can be passed on to the next generation.

Question 9

List in order, the eight types of animals or organisms that theoretically evolved from one another, from the theoretical primordial form to a human being, according to the modern theory of evolution.

Answer 9

single-celled organism or bacterium-like organism
multicellular invertebrate
fish (or vertebrate)
amphibian
reptile
mammal
primate (ape)
Man

Question 10

___ prevents flies from laying their eggs on meat

Answer 10

cheesecloth

Question 11

What was the name of the 17th-century scientist who “proved” that mice spontaneously generate from wheat and dirty underwear?

Answer 11

Dr. Jan Baptista von Helmont

Question 12

What are the two opposing views on the origin of life

Answer 12

An all-powerful God created the universe and all forms of life
The universe began billions of years ago as a result of the big bang. Later, life in the form of a bacterium-like organism arose spontaneously from a mixture of chemicals. Subsequently, this single-celled organism slowly began to evolve into all modern life-forms.

Question 13

Since Darwin first published his theory of evolution, how many fossils have been collected by the museums?

Answer 13

Nearly one billion

Question 14

According to the theory of evolution, how long did it take to accomplish the evolution from a single-cell organism to a human (general answer)?

Answer 14

Millions (or billions) of years

Question 15

How is spontaneous generation an example of an idea that leads to bad science?

Answer 15

It was an idea widely accepted for two thousand years, yet it was nevery truly proven.

Question 16

Who disproved the spontaneous generation of bacteria?

Answer 16

Louis Pasteur

Question 17

Use the example of a horse and a giraffe to explain the theory of acquired characteristics that some scientists felt would mean we could see a horse with a very long neck. What was the flaw in their reasoning?

Answer 17

Scientists based their idea on horses stretching their necks to eat food, and this meant their offspring would be horses with longer necks. But using muscles to stretch its neck will not alter the horse’s DNA, which is where these types of physical traits are passed to future generations.

Question 18

In what year did Darwin publish his first book on evolution?

Answer 18

1859

Question 19

Pond scum that forms in a bottle of boiled pond water is actually a collection of ___.

Answer 19

bacteria

Question 20

What theory proposes that all forms of life ultimately evolved from a single-celled organism or bacterium-like organism?

Answer 20

The modern theory of evolution