Adaptations and Natural Selection Quiz

Which of the following is a physiological adaptation?

• Webbed feet in ducks

• Migration of swallows

• Production of venom in snakes

• Color-changing skin in chameleons

Why are animals in cold regions often large with compact bodies and small extremities?

• To move faster

• To reduce heat loss

• To avoid predators

• To gather food efficiently

A plant species in a desert develops deeper roots over generations. What is this an example of?

• Artificial selection

• Natural selection

• Genetic mutation without benefit

• Short-term behavior change

Which scenario best represents intraspecific competition?

• A snake and a mongoose fighting

• A group of deer competing for the same female during mating season

• Two bird species competing for insects

• A fox hunting a rabbit

A scientist observes that some insects survive pesticide use due to a genetic trait. What conclusion is best supported?

• The pesticide was ineffective from the start.

• All insects are immune to pesticides.

• The surviving insects will pass on resistance genes.

• Insects evolve by conscious choice.

Which adaptation allows aquatic mammals like whales to stay submerged longer?

• Hollow bones

• Gills

• Oxygen-storing muscles and lungs

• Multiple stomachs

Why do animals like frogs and salamanders enter aestivation?

• To escape predators

• To avoid excessive heat and dryness

• To conserve food during winter

• To reproduce faster

What is the most likely reason brightly colored butterflies are not eaten by birds?

• Their wings are too tough

• They move too fast

• Their coloration warns predators of toxicity

• Birds are colorblind

In a forest, owls and hawks hunt the same prey but at different times. What does this demonstrate?

• Predation

• Mutualism

• Resource partitioning to reduce competition

• Symbiosis

Which situation best demonstrates natural selection in action?

• A scientist breeds chickens for larger eggs.

• Fish raised in an aquarium live longer than wild fish.

• After several droughts, plants with longer roots become more common in an area.

• Trees are planted in a new urban park.