Principles of Natural Selection

(STAAR) The diagram shows many finch species that originated from a single ancestral finch species in the Galapagos Islands. Which of the following statements best explains why many different finch species originated from the single ancestral species?

• Populations adapted to environmental pressures.

• Recessive traits in populations were eliminated over time.

• Individuals acquired unique characteristics during their lifetimes.

• Random mutation caused some individuals to have harmful traits.

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Why are advantageous traits more likely to be passed onto offspring?

• Because they are more likely to survive and reproduce.
• Because they come from dominant alleles.
• Because they come from recessive alleles.
• Because the trait is an acquired phenotype.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-4

What word describes a trait that helps an organism survive in its environment?

• natural selection

• mutation

• camouflage

• adaptation

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NGSS.MS-LS4-4

(STAAR) The giant octopus lays 20,000 to 100,000 fertilized eggs. After hatching, most octopuses become prey to larger marine organisms, and less than 5% will reach adulthood to reproduce. One benefit of the giant octopus laying many eggs is to —

• increase the average body size for surviving individuals to avoid predation

• decrease competition between different octopus species to maintain resources in the population

• increase the chance that more individuals will survive to maintain the population

• decrease the likelihood of offspring being consumed by predators

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(STAAR) White-tailed deer are seasonal breeders. Female white-tailed deer begin their reproductive cycle in the fall. Rising testosterone levels in male white-tailed deer cause them to start their breeding season around the same time. Offspring are born the following spring and summer. What is the most likely explanation for white-tailed deer having a seasonal breeding cycle instead of a monthly breeding cycle like many domesticated animals?

• Male and female deer come into contact with each other only in the fall.

• Large predators are not found in deer habitats during the spring and summer months.

• Giving birth only in the spring and summer ensures that offspring are born when food is most available.

• Deer give birth in the spring and summer in order to avoid being pregnant during the hot summer months.

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Match the following principles of natural selection

• Offspring has traits similar to those of the parents

• Inherit

• More offspring are produced than survive

• Selection

• Population will change over time through inherited variability and selection

• Variation

• There is genetic variation within populations which can be inherited

• Evolution

• Some variations/traits are favorable for survival

• Over-production

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Organisms with differences/variations that are helpful will ______________________

• live longer
• become extinct
• show no change

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NGSS.MS-LS4-4

If an organism can't adapt fast enough, this might happen.

• hibernate
• stay the same
• live longer
• become extinct

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The change over time in populations of related species.

• biological evolution
• transition
• variation
• adaptation

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(STAAR) The green frog (Lithobates clamitans clamitans) is found in many parts of the United States. The table contains some information about this frog. Why does the ability to lay 1,000 to 5,000 eggs increase the fitness of the species L. clamitans clamitans?

• It increases opportunities for offspring to compete for limited resources.

• It increases the probability that some offspring will survive long enough to reproduce.

• It increases the probability that moving water will promote gene flow from one population to another.

• It increases the chance of the recombination of alleles, leading to genetic drift in the population.

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NGSS.MS-LS1-4