Question 1

Morphological differences between European beavers and South American ____ contributed to Darwin's thoughts on species diversification.

Accepted Answer

Nutrias are the closest relative to North American and European beavers found in South America, and their morphological differences contributed to Darwin's thoughts on species diversification.

Question 2

If we apply Darwin's theories to many characteristics that affect survival and reproduction, natural selection would cause the populations to become more different over time, a process called ____. ​

Accepted Answer

Darwin's theory of natural selection states that traits that increase an organism's likelihood of survival and reproduction will become more common in a population over time through the process of natural selection. This is because individuals with those traits are more likely to pass on their genes to the next generation, resulting in a change in allele frequencies in the population. Over time, this can lead to the development of new species as populations become more different from each other through a process called evolutionary divergence.

Question 3

Darwin's inference that individuals within a population compete for limited resources was based on which observation(s)?

Accepted Answer

Darwin's inference that individuals within a population compete for limited resources was based on the observation that most organisms produce more than one or two offspring, populations do not increase in size indefinitely, and food and other resources are limited for most populations.

Question 4

Before Darwin, ____. ​

Accepted Answer

Before Charles Darwin, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck had indeed written about biological evolution, proposing a theory where organisms change over time due to their habits and the use and disuse of organs, though his mechanism (inheritance of acquired characteristics) was incorrect.

Question 5

Which statement does NOT distinguish Darwin's theory of natural selection from earlier descriptions of biological diversity and adaptive traits? ​

Accepted Answer

All of the other statements describe key aspects of Darwin's theory of natural selection that distinguish it from earlier explanations of biological diversity and adaptive traits. Choice C describes a belief that is not particular to Darwin's theory, but rather one that is often associated with religious or spiritual explanations of the origins of life.

Question 6

How did Thomas Malthus influence Darwin's thinking? ​

Accepted Answer

Thomas Malthus's ideas about population growth and limited resources helped Darwin to realize that organisms produce more offspring than can survive, leading to competition for resources and eventual selection of those with advantageous traits. This idea formed the basis for Darwin's theory of natural selection.

Question 7

Which idea(s)were established well before Darwin's time?

Accepted Answer

The concepts that offspring often resemble their parents and that selective breeding can enhance traits in domesticated plants and animals were well understood before Darwin. The idea of genes as units of inheritance (B) was not established until after Darwin's time, with the work of Gregor Mendel.

Question 8

At the time of the voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle , experienced sailors could easily identify a tortoise's island of origin by the ____, supporting Darwin's observation that animals on different islands varied slightly in form.

Accepted Answer

The shape of a tortoise's shell is determined by genetics and is unique to each species and even different populations within a species. Therefore, experienced sailors could easily identify a tortoise's island of origin by the shape of its shell, supporting Darwin's observation that animals on different islands varied slightly in form.

Question 9

An example of evolutionary divergence is best characterized by Darwin's observation of ____.

Accepted Answer

Darwin observed the differences in bill shape and food habits of finches on the Galapagos Islands, which led him to propose his theory of natural selection and evolutionary divergence.

Question 10

Darwin calculated that if reproduction was not limited, a single pair of elephants would leave roughly ____ descendants after 750 years.

Accepted Answer

Darwin calculated that if reproduction was not limited, a single pair of elephants could produce 19 million descendants after 750 years.

Question 11

While aboard the H.M.S. Beagle, Darwin was given a book, called Principles of Geology , which primed him to apply ____ to the living world. ​

Accepted Answer

Principles of Geology introduced Darwin to the concept of uniformitarianism, which proposed that geological processes occur gradually over long periods of time. Darwin applied this principle to the living world, developing the concept of gradualism as a mechanism for evolution. Therefore, the best choice is E, gradualism and uniformitarianism.

Question 12

Darwin hypothesized that advantageous hereditary traits in nature would become more common in populations due to the process of ____.

Accepted Answer

Darwin proposed that natural selection, through the survival and reproduction of individuals with advantageous hereditary traits, would lead to the increase in frequency of those traits in populations over time. Choice A (inheriting acquired traits) and B (use and disuse) are not consistent with Darwin's theory of natural selection, and choices C (selective breeding) and D (artificial selection) refer to human manipulation of traits rather than natural forces.

Question 13

Due to their similarities to fossilized glyptodonts, Darwin hypothesized that armadillos were ____ glyptodonts. ​

Accepted Answer

Darwin hypothesized that armadillos were living descendants of glyptodonts due to their similarities, suggesting an evolutionary relationship.

Question 14

Who was known as "Darwin's bulldog" because he was such a staunch advocate of Darwin's evolutionary theory? ​

Accepted Answer

Thomas Huxley was known as "Darwin's bulldog" because of his fierce defense and promotion of Darwin's theory of evolution.

Question 15

Genetically based characteristics that make organisms more likely to survive and reproduce are referred to as ____. ​

Accepted Answer

Adaptive traits are genetically based characteristics that increase an organism's chances of survival and reproduction. These traits are favored by natural selection as they allow an organism to better adapt to its environment and increase its fitness. Acquired characteristics, on the other hand, are traits that an organism develops during its lifetime as a result of its experiences or environment and are not genetically based. Favored characteristics and selective traits are not specific scientific terms. Divergent characteristics refer to traits that have evolved differently in different populations, but may not necessarily be adaptive.

Question 16

Darwin's voyage took place between ____.

Accepted Answer

Darwin's voyage took place between 1831 and 1836.

Question 17

Based on his experiences while aboard the H.M.S. Beagle , Darwin realized that ____ provided the only plausible explanation for his observations.

Accepted Answer

Darwin's observations of the variations in species and the unique species found on different islands led him to conclude that descent with modification, or evolution, was the most plausible explanation for these phenomena.

Question 18

When insect populations exposed to insecticides develop resistance to these toxic chemicals over time, it is an example of natural selection ____. ​

Accepted Answer

Natural selection can lead to changes in nonmorphological traits, such as insecticide resistance, which is a physiological adaptation rather than a change in physical form or reproductive mechanisms. It is not goal-oriented but rather a process where traits that confer a survival advantage become more common over time.

Question 19

Darwin's primary scientific achievement was identifying the ____. ​

Accepted Answer

The answer of Darwin's primary scientific achievement was identifying the...

Question 20

Why didn't Darwin's contemporaries readily accept his theory of natural selection? ​

Accepted Answer

At the time, the mechanism of heredity was not well understood and Darwin's theory did not provide a clear explanation for how traits would be passed down through generations. This lack of understanding made it difficult for Darwin's contemporaries to fully accept his theory of natural selection. Additionally, the theory challenged many long-held beliefs, including the biblical account of creation, and was met with significant opposition from religious groups.

Quiz 20: The Development of Evolutionary Thought

Morphological differences between European beavers and South American ____ contributed to Darwin's thoughts on species diversification.

If we apply Darwin's theories to many characteristics that affect survival and reproduction, natural selection would cause the populations to become more different over time, a process called ____.

Darwin's inference that individuals within a population compete for limited resources was based on which observation(s) ?

Before Darwin, ____.

Which statement does NOT distinguish Darwin's theory of natural selection from earlier descriptions of biological diversity and adaptive traits?

How did Thomas Malthus influence Darwin's thinking?

Which idea(s) were established well before Darwin's time?

At the time of the voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle , experienced sailors could easily identify a tortoise's island of origin by the ____, supporting Darwin's observation that animals on different islands varied slightly in form.

An example of evolutionary divergence is best characterized by Darwin's observation of ____.

Darwin calculated that if reproduction was not limited, a single pair of elephants would leave roughly ____ descendants after 750 years.

While aboard the H.M.S. Beagle, Darwin was given a book, called Principles of Geology , which primed him to apply ____ to the living world.

Darwin hypothesized that advantageous hereditary traits in nature would become more common in populations due to the process of ____.

Due to their similarities to fossilized glyptodonts, Darwin hypothesized that armadillos were ____ glyptodonts.

Who was known as "Darwin's bulldog" because he was such a staunch advocate of Darwin's evolutionary theory?

Genetically based characteristics that make organisms more likely to survive and reproduce are referred to as ____.

Darwin's voyage took place between ____.

Based on his experiences while aboard the H.M.S. Beagle , Darwin realized that ____ provided the only plausible explanation for his observations.

When insect populations exposed to insecticides develop resistance to these toxic chemicals over time, it is an example of natural selection ____.

Darwin's primary scientific achievement was identifying the ____.

Why didn't Darwin's contemporaries readily accept his theory of natural selection?

Quiz 20: The Development of Evolutionary Thought

Morphological differences between European beavers and South American ____ contributed to Darwin's thoughts on species diversification.

If we apply Darwin's theories to many characteristics that affect survival and reproduction, natural selection would cause the populations to become more different over time, a process called ____. ​

Darwin's inference that individuals within a population compete for limited resources was based on which observation(s) ?

Before Darwin, ____. ​

Which statement does NOT distinguish Darwin's theory of natural selection from earlier descriptions of biological diversity and adaptive traits? ​

How did Thomas Malthus influence Darwin's thinking? ​

Which idea(s) were established well before Darwin's time?

At the time of the voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle , experienced sailors could easily identify a tortoise's island of origin by the ____, supporting Darwin's observation that animals on different islands varied slightly in form.

An example of evolutionary divergence is best characterized by Darwin's observation of ____.

Darwin calculated that if reproduction was not limited, a single pair of elephants would leave roughly ____ descendants after 750 years.

While aboard the H.M.S. Beagle, Darwin was given a book, called Principles of Geology , which primed him to apply ____ to the living world. ​

Darwin hypothesized that advantageous hereditary traits in nature would become more common in populations due to the process of ____.

Due to their similarities to fossilized glyptodonts, Darwin hypothesized that armadillos were ____ glyptodonts. ​

Who was known as "Darwin's bulldog" because he was such a staunch advocate of Darwin's evolutionary theory? ​

Genetically based characteristics that make organisms more likely to survive and reproduce are referred to as ____. ​

Darwin's voyage took place between ____.

Based on his experiences while aboard the H.M.S. Beagle , Darwin realized that ____ provided the only plausible explanation for his observations.

When insect populations exposed to insecticides develop resistance to these toxic chemicals over time, it is an example of natural selection ____. ​

Darwin's primary scientific achievement was identifying the ____. ​

Why didn't Darwin's contemporaries readily accept his theory of natural selection? ​

If we apply Darwin's theories to many characteristics that affect survival and reproduction, natural selection would cause the populations to become more different over time, a process called ____.

Before Darwin, ____.

Which statement does NOT distinguish Darwin's theory of natural selection from earlier descriptions of biological diversity and adaptive traits?

How did Thomas Malthus influence Darwin's thinking?

While aboard the H.M.S. Beagle, Darwin was given a book, called Principles of Geology , which primed him to apply ____ to the living world.

Due to their similarities to fossilized glyptodonts, Darwin hypothesized that armadillos were ____ glyptodonts.

Who was known as "Darwin's bulldog" because he was such a staunch advocate of Darwin's evolutionary theory?

Genetically based characteristics that make organisms more likely to survive and reproduce are referred to as ____.

When insect populations exposed to insecticides develop resistance to these toxic chemicals over time, it is an example of natural selection ____.

Darwin's primary scientific achievement was identifying the ____.

Why didn't Darwin's contemporaries readily accept his theory of natural selection?