Quiz about Organisms and Adaptations Quiz

Question 1

Some organisms have genes that improve their ability to survive and reproduce. If the genes also help their offspring survive and reproduce, then which of the following will increase?

Accepted Answer

The frequency of the genes in the population

Answer

The frequency of the genes in one individual

Answer

The number of genes in one chromosome

Answer

The number of genes in the species

Question 2

Scientists estimate that there are more than 20,000 species of ants. The species range in size from 1 mm long to 38 mm long and live in most environments. The diets of ants range from flowers and seeds to fluids from their own larvae. Ants have been able to successfully inhabit so many different environments because their populations have been able to -

Accepted Answer

adapt to a variety of habitats and food sources

Answer

compete with other species for insect populations

Answer

fill niches usually occupied by mammals

Answer

occupy habitats that have no other life-forms

Question 3

The diagram shows light- and dark-colored beetles that live on a tree. Which result is most likely to occur to the beetle population due to predation over time?

Accepted Answer

The number of light-colored beetles in the population will increase.

Answer

There will be more dark-colored beetles than light-colored beetles.

Answer

The number of light-colored beetles will decrease.

Answer

The dark-colored beetles will move to a different type of tree.

Question 4

The table shows the survival rate of two types of beetles in the same environment over a period of three years. Which statement about the beetles in this environment is best supported by the data?

Accepted Answer

Green beetles are more fit for the environment than brown beetles are.

Answer

Brown beetles undergo a greater number of unfavorable mutations than green beetles do.

Answer

Green beetles have a greater gene frequency among their population than brown beetles have.

Answer

Brown beetles have a shorter life cycle than green beetles have.

Question 5

Nudibranchs are marine gastropods that lack shells. Many of these gastropods retain the foul-tasting poisons of their prey and secrete them when threatened. The bright coloration of the nudibranchs warns predators to avoid them. Based on this information, how has adaptation allowed marine gastropods to be successful without a shell?

Accepted Answer

They are not attacked by most predators and are able to reproduce successfully.

Answer

They find enough food as they move through the marine environment.

Answer

They blend in with their environment to hide from their predators.

Answer

They have bright colors that attract a mate.

Question 6

Why does the ability to lay 1,000 to 5,000 eggs increase the fitness of the species *L. clamitans clamitans*?

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

It increases opportunities for offspring to compete for limited resources.

Answer

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

Answer

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

Question 7

Why is delayed implantation an advantageous adaptation for the European roe deer?

Accepted Answer

Without delayed implantation, the fawns would be born in the winter when food is scarce and the weather is harsh.

Answer

Delayed implantation allows the mother to continue to breed with other males.

Answer

Without delayed implantation, the females would not be able to carry a pregnancy to full term.

Answer

Delayed implantation enables the female to give birth to more fawns each year.

Question 8

Adaptations that result from natural selection are expected to increase the fitness of an organism. In terms of natural selection, which of the following best describes fitness?

Accepted Answer

Being able to survive, find a mate, and produce offspring

Answer

Being able to escape from predators

Answer

Being among the strongest organisms in a population

Answer

Being able to survive long enough to reach the adult stage

Question 9

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection favors individuals that are less likely to survive and reproduce.

Answer

Natural selection causes changes in populations over time.

Answer

In a population, individuals exhibit variation in traits.

Answer

Natural selection affects populations, not individuals.

Question 10

In a population of desert plants, the timing of their blooming varies greatly. Some bloom early in the morning, others at mid-day, and others after dark. What environmental pressure might be an advantage for those plants that bloom after dark?

Accepted Answer

There is an increase in the population of nocturnal pollinators

Answer

There is a decrease in the strength of solar radiation

Answer

There is an increase in herbivores that forage at night.

Answer

There is a decrease in water for root absorption

Question 11

Leopard seals are animals adapted to survive in the freezing conditions of Antarctica. Individual leopard seals vary in their different traits. Which of the following variations would give a leopard seal the greatest chance of surviving in its harsh environment?

Accepted Answer

Thicker layer of blubber

Answer

More spots on its coat

Answer

More elongated head

Answer

Wider, flatter teeth

Question 12

Why is the mouse population changing over time?

Accepted Answer

The hawks eat more light mice than dark mice because they can see the light mice more easily

Answer

The light mice can reproduce more successfully than the dark mice

Answer

The hawks eat more dark mice than light mice because the dark mice taste better

Answer

The hawks eat more dark mice than light mice because they can see the dark mice more easily

Question 13

Which of the following statements best describes what will most likely occur to the moth populations in the image below?

Accepted Answer

The light moths will be captured by predators more easily than the dark moths, and the population of dark moths will rise.

Answer

The light moths will be captured by predators more easily than the dark moths, and the population of light moths will rise

Answer

The dark moths will be captured by predators more easily than the light moths, and the dark moths will probably go extinct.

Answer

The light moths will change their wing color to match that of the dark moths.

Question 14

During drought years on the Galapagos, small, easily eaten seeds become rare, leaving mostly large, hard-cased seeds that only birds with large beaks can eat. If a drought persists for several years, what should one expect to result from natural selection?

Accepted Answer

More small-beaked birds dying than larger-beaked birds. The offspring produced in subsequent generations have a higher percentage of birds with large beaks.

Answer

Small birds gaining larger beaks by exercising their mouth parts.

Answer

Small birds mutating their beak genes with the result that later-generation offspring have larger beaks.

Answer

Small birds anticipating the long drought and eating more to gain weight and, consequently, growing larger beaks.

Answer

Larger birds eating less so smaller birds can survive.

Question 15

The Indian leaf butterfly has traits that allow it to resemble a leaf. The bright colors of the monarch butterfly indicate that the butterfly tastes bad and can be poisonous. How does the appearance of these butterflies help them to survive?

Accepted Answer

The Indian leaf butterfly is able to avoid predators while the monarch butterfly warns predators away.

Answer

The Indian leaf butterfly frightens predators away while the monarch butterfly poisons predators before they can eat it.

Answer

Both butterflies rely on camouflage to avoid predation.

Answer

Both butterflies cooperate with one another to avoid predation.

Question 16

Adaptations that result from natural selection are expected to increase the fitness of an organism. In terms of natural selection, which of the following best describes fitness?

Accepted Answer

Being able to survive, find a mate, and produce offspring

Answer

Being able to escape from predators

Answer

Being among the strongest organisms in a population

Answer

Being able to survive long enough to reach the adult stage

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