Question 1

Any behaviour that aids an organism in adjusting to changing environmental conditions is said to have __________ significance
A) biological
B) ultimate
C) evolutionary
D) adaptive
E) statistical

Accepted Answer

Adaptive significance refers to the beneficial qualities of a behavior that help an organism adjust to changes in its environment, thereby increasing its chances of survival and reproduction.

Question 2

Charles Darwin's notion of __________ evolution is the primary explanation for the changes in the genetic and physical characteristics of a population or group of organisms over time
A) natural
B) cultural
C) biological
D) adaptive
E) artificial

Accepted Answer

C

Question 3

Immediate environmental events that affect behaviour are called __________ causes.
A) proximate
B) ultimate
C) evolutionary
D) situational
E) direct

Accepted Answer

Immediate environmental events that affect behaviour are called proximate causes.

Question 4

Evolutionary events and conditions that affect behaviour are called __________ causes.
A) evolutionary
B) proximate
C) ultimate
D) genetic
E) natural

Accepted Answer

Ultimate causes in evolutionary biology refer to the "why" questions concerning behavior or traits, focusing on the evolutionary events and conditions that have shaped them over time. These are contrasted with proximate causes, which address the "how" questions, such as the physiological or genetic mechanisms behind a behavior or trait.

Question 5

Human behaviour is due to
A) proximate causes only.
B) ultimate causes only.
C) both proximate and ultimate causes.
D) thoughts and emotions.
E) thoughts and memory.

Accepted Answer

Human behavior is influenced by both proximate causes (immediate biological and environmental factors) and ultimate causes (evolutionary reasons for the behavior).

Question 6

A proximate cause for the development of sexual behaviour in gerbils is __________.
A) evolutionary adaptation
B) differential testosterone exposure in the womb
C) the selective value of different mating strategies to the gerbil species
D) maternal behaviour during the immediate postnatal period
E) cultural evolution in gerbil society to allow for a variety of sexual behaviours

Accepted Answer

Proximate causes refer to immediate, underlying factors such as physiological or environmental influences. Differential testosterone exposure in the womb is a direct physiological factor affecting sexual behavior development.

Question 7

Dr. Hamedi is a __________ psychologist and is part of a new subfield within psychology that studies the ways in which the development of behavioural patterns and cognitive strategies over the history of a species is related to reproduction and survival.
A) physiological
B) genetic
C) cognitive
D) developmental
E) evolutionary

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is evolutionary psychology, which focuses on how evolutionary principles such as natural selection influence the development of the mind and behavior, particularly in ways that are adaptive for survival and reproduction.

Question 8

__________ is the sum of socially transmitted knowledge, customs and behaviour patterns common to a particular group of people
A) Society
B) Natural selection
C) Adaptation
D) Culture
E) Evolution

Accepted Answer

Culture is the correct answer because it encompasses the sum of socially transmitted knowledge, customs, and behavior patterns common to a particular group of people.

Question 9

Psychology's main contribution to understanding cultural phenomena is likely to involve explaining how
A) language evolved.
B) evolution has changed our behaviour as a species.
C) an organism's evolutionary history contributes to the development of behaviour patterns and cognitive strategies related to reproduction and survival.
D) thought and behaviour influence cultural adaptations to a changing environment.
E) cultural differences originated as a function of natural selection.

Accepted Answer

Psychology contributes to understanding cultural phenomena by explaining how thought and behavior influence cultural adaptations to a changing environment. This involves studying how individuals and groups respond to their environment and how these responses shape cultural practices and norms over time.

Question 10

Darwin's function on board the HMS Beagle was to serve as a(n)
A) ensign.
B) translator.
C) map maker.
D) naturalist.
E) psychologist.

Accepted Answer

Darwin's primary role on the HMS Beagle was as a naturalist, where he collected and studied natural specimens, including plants, animals, and fossils. This voyage was crucial in the development of his theory of evolution by natural selection.

Question 11

When sailing throughout the world aboard the HMS Beagle, Darwin spent most of his time
A) writing The Origin of Species.
B) working out the details of his theory of biological evolution.
C) conducting research on artificial selection.
D) collecting specimens.
E) preaching.

Accepted Answer

During his voyage on the HMS Beagle, Charles Darwin spent a significant amount of time collecting specimens from various locations. This collection work was crucial for his later development of the theory of evolution by natural selection.

Question 12

The procedure in which animals are deliberately mated to produce offspring with certain traits is called __________ selection.
A) natural
B) artificial
C) contrived
D) synthetic
E) unnatural

Accepted Answer

Artificial selection is the process where humans breed animals (and plants) to produce offspring with desirable traits.

Question 13

A farmer who allows only certain horses to breed with other certain horses is practicing
A) artificial selection.
B) natural selection.
C) evolutionary biology.
D) biological selection.
E) genetic cleansing.

Accepted Answer

Artificial selection is the process where humans select specific animals (or plants) to breed based on desired traits, which is what the farmer is doing by choosing certain horses to breed.

Question 14

Darwin was struck with the idea of evolution by natural selection while he was
A) aboard the HMS Beagle.
B) in his study examining his specimens.
C) reading a book by Malthus called Population.
D) studying beak differences in South American finches.
E) arguing with his academic colleagues.

Accepted Answer

Darwin was struck with the idea of evolution by natural selection while he was reading a book by Malthus called Population.

Question 15

The consequence of the fact that some animals produce more offspring than other animals of the same species is
A) evolution.
B) adaptive significance.
C) reproductive success.
D) natural selection.
E) environmental evolution.

Accepted Answer

Natural selection is the process by which certain traits become more common in a population because they increase an individual's chances of survival and reproduction. When some animals produce more offspring than others, those with traits that lead to higher reproductive success tend to pass on their genes more frequently, driving the process of natural selection.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT an insight from Darwin's theory of evolution?
A) All species descend from a single common ancestor.
B) Evolution is based on natural selection.
C) Evolution is a continuous and gradual process.
D) Animal and plant communities remain static once established.
E) Evolution is a branching process.

Accepted Answer

Darwin's theory of evolution, as outlined in "On the Origin of Species," posits that species evolve over time through natural selection and that this process is gradual and branching, leading to the diversity of life from common ancestors. It does not suggest that animal and plant communities remain static once established; rather, it implies that they are constantly changing.

Question 17

Natural selection is based on two premises: the environment's capacity to sustain a species is limited, producing competition and
A) the environment has a stable influence on a species' survival.
B) individuals within a species show variability in their characteristics
C) changes in cultural evolution.
D) the creation of new species through genetic mutation.
E) there is variability in the characteristics of breeding parents within a species.

Accepted Answer

Natural selection relies on the variability in characteristics among individuals within a species, which affects their survival and reproduction.

Question 18

Suppose that because of a sudden change in the environment, finches with long thin beaks become better at securing food than finches with other types of beaks. Assuming that the characteristics of beaks have a genetic component, we would expect that
A) future environments for these finches will remain about the same.
B) natural selection will favour the long, thin beaked genotype.
C) finches with other beak genotypes will become extinct.
D) the number of finches with long, thin beaks will stay about the same.
E) finches with shorter beaks will find new environments to feed in.

Accepted Answer

Natural selection will favor the long, thin beaked genotype because these finches are better adapted to secure food in the changed environment, leading to a higher survival and reproduction rate for these individuals.

Question 19

If wolf A bears more viable offspring than does wolf B, then we can safely say that wolf A __________ than is wolf B.
A) is more reproductively successful
B) has greater reproductive instincts
C) has a stronger sexual drive
D) is a better parent
E) is more intelligent

Accepted Answer

Wolf A being more reproductively successful is directly indicated by bearing more viable offspring, which is a measure of reproductive success. The other options are not necessarily implied by the information given.

Question 20

The relative ability of an individual to produce viable offspring is termed
A) evolution.
B) natural selection.
C) differential reproduction.
D) reproductive success.
E) reproductive capability.

Accepted Answer

Reproductive success refers to the relative ability of an individual to produce viable offspring, which is a key component in the process of natural selection and evolution.

Quiz 3: Evolution, Heredity, and Behaviour

Any behaviour that aids an organism in adjusting to changing environmental conditions is said to have __________ significance

Charles Darwin's notion of __________ evolution is the primary explanation for the changes in the genetic and physical characteristics of a population or group of organisms over time

Immediate environmental events that affect behaviour are called __________ causes.

Evolutionary events and conditions that affect behaviour are called __________ causes.

Human behaviour is due to

A proximate cause for the development of sexual behaviour in gerbils is __________.

Dr. Hamedi is a __________ psychologist and is part of a new subfield within psychology that studies the ways in which the development of behavioural patterns and cognitive strategies over the history of a species is related to reproduction and survival.

__________ is the sum of socially transmitted knowledge, customs and behaviour patterns common to a particular group of people

Psychology's main contribution to understanding cultural phenomena is likely to involve explaining how

Darwin's function on board the HMS Beagle was to serve as a(n)

When sailing throughout the world aboard the HMS Beagle, Darwin spent most of his time

The procedure in which animals are deliberately mated to produce offspring with certain traits is called __________ selection.

A farmer who allows only certain horses to breed with other certain horses is practicing

Darwin was struck with the idea of evolution by natural selection while he was

The consequence of the fact that some animals produce more offspring than other animals of the same species is

Which of the following is NOT an insight from Darwin's theory of evolution?

Natural selection is based on two premises: the environment's capacity to sustain a species is limited, producing competition and

Suppose that because of a sudden change in the environment, finches with long thin beaks become better at securing food than finches with other types of beaks. Assuming that the characteristics of beaks have a genetic component, we would expect that

If wolf A bears more viable offspring than does wolf B, then we can safely say that wolf A __________ than is wolf B.

The relative ability of an individual to produce viable offspring is termed