Evolution Study Guide

What does the phrase struggle for existence mean?

• The competition between living things to survive

• A type of physical exercise

• A historical event

• A scientific theory unrelated to survival

Answer explanation

Competition for limited resources (food, space, light)

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Why is camouflage considered an adaptation?

• It allows organisms to blend into their environment to avoid predators.

• It is a way for organisms to attract mates.

• It helps organisms to move faster.

• It allows organisms to photosynthesize.

Answer explanation

1. It helps an organism survive in its environment. Animals use camouflage to avoid detection by other organisms.

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How does an animal’s level of fitness relate to its chances of survival and reproduction?

• Directly, as fitness increases, so do the chances of survival and reproduction

• Inversely, as fitness increases, the chances of survival and reproduction decrease

• No relation exists between fitness and chances of survival and reproduction

• Only related to reproduction, not survival

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Natural selection acts on acquired traits.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Natural selection does not act on acquired traits but rather on inherited traits, so the statement is false.

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Any inherited characteristic that increases an organism’s chance of survival is considered an adaptation.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The statement is true because adaptations are traits that help organisms survive in their environment.

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Natural selection is the ability of an individual to survive and reproduce in its specific environment.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Natural selection is indeed the ability of an individual to survive and reproduce in its specific environment, making the statement true.

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In which year was the number of light-colored frogs greater than the number of dark-colored frogs?

Answer explanation

1. Year 1

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How did the numbers of light- and dark-colored frogs change over time?

Answer explanation

The number of light-colored frogs decreased over time and the number of dark-colored frogs increased over time.

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Which adaptation is best suited to life in the pond in Year 3? Circle the answer.

• light coloring

• dark coloring

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Adaptation is an inherited characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment. Over time, adaptations become more and more common in the population. For example, suppose that the water in a pond gets darker over four years. The diagrams and table below show what might happen to a frog population living in the pond.

How do the dark-colored frogs show "survival of the fittest"?

Answer explanation

1. As the pond water grows darker, the dark-colored frogs are less likely to be seen and eaten by predators. They are more fit than the light-colored frogs, making them more likely to survive and reproduce.

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