Question 1

Mass extinctions, with 25─95% of species going extinct, have occurred how many times in the history of the earth?
A)1 or 2
B)3-5
C)6-8
D)9-12
E)20-23

Accepted Answer

Mass extinctions, with 25─95% of species going extinct, have occurred 6-8 times in the history of the earth.

Question 2

Mutations are not caused by which of the following?
A)ultraviolet light
B)a physical accident to a parent
C)radioactivity
D)certain chemicals
E)X rays

Accepted Answer

Mutations are not caused by physical accidents to a parent, as mutations occur in the DNA of cells and are passed down through cellular division. Physical accidents may cause injuries or birth defects, but they do not directly cause mutations in the genetic code.

Question 3

Scientists have used genetic engineering to do all of the following, except
A)develop modified crop plants
B)develop human clones
C)develop new drugs
D)develop pest resistant plants and animals
E)develop oil eating bacteria

Accepted Answer

While genetic engineering has been used to develop modified crop plants, new drugs, pest resistance, and even oil-eating bacteria, the development of human clones is both ethically and legally controversial and therefore has not been pursued as a viable option.

Question 4

The number of different species an ecosystem contains is its
A)speciation
B)species evenness
C)species niche
D)species richness
E)habitat

Accepted Answer

Species richness refers to the number of different species present in an ecosystem. It is a measure of biodiversity and provides an indication of the health and complexity of an ecosystem.

Question 5

Some individuals in a population have genetic traits that are favored by environmental conditions because the trait enhance their ability to survive and produce offspring, a process called
A)natural selection
B)adaptability
C)genetic drift
D)mutation
E)scientific theory

Accepted Answer

The process described is natural selection, where certain traits become more common in a population due to their benefits for survival and reproduction. Adaptability could also be a possible answer, but it is not as specific to the given scenario as natural selection. Genetic drift and mutation are also evolutionary processes but do not necessarily involve environmental factors or benefits for survival and reproduction. Scientific theory is not a valid answer as it does not refer to a specific biological process.

Question 6

The variety of processes, including matter cycling and energy flow within ecosystems, which result from species interacting with one another in food webs is called
A)functional diversity
B)genetic diversity
C)intellectual diversity
D)ecosystem diversity
E)species diversity

Accepted Answer

The processes that result from species interacting with each other in food webs, including matter cycling and energy flow, are part of the functional diversity within ecosystems. Genetic diversity refers to the variety of genes within a population, intellectual diversity refers to diversity of ideas and perspectives, ecosystem diversity refers to the variety of ecosystems in a region, and species diversity refers to the number of different species in an ecosystem.

Question 7

How many sharks are killed each year by humans?
A)501
B)150,000
C)1.3-2.7 million
D)22-47 million
E)79-97 million

Accepted Answer

Studies estimate that humans kill between 79-97 million sharks each year, primarily for their fins which are used in shark fin soup. This number is particularly alarming as many shark species are already threatened or endangered.

Question 8

Which of the following is not an adaptation that has made humans so successful?
A)strong opposable thumbs
B)physical strength
C)upright walking
D)complex brain
E)All of these have made us successful.

Accepted Answer

While physical strength is important, it is not the primary adaptation that has made humans successful. Our success is largely attributed to our complex brain, which allows us to learn, communicate, reason, and manipulate our environment. Our ability to walk upright (C) and use our hands with opposable thumbs (A) have also played a significant role in our success as a species. Therefore, option E is also partially correct.

Question 9

Biological evolution by natural selection is when genes ____, individuals ____, and populations ____.
A)evolve; mutate; are selected
B)are selected; mutate; evolve
C)mutate; evolve; are selected
D)evolve; are selected; mutate
E)mutate; are selected; evolve

Accepted Answer

In biological evolution by natural selection, genes mutate, individuals are selected based on those mutations (and other traits), and as a result, populations evolve over time. Mutation is the initial step that provides genetic variation, selection acts on individuals, and evolution is observed at the population level.

Question 10

Biodiversity is believed to be the result of the interaction between
A)geographic isolation and reproductive isolation
B)speciation and extinction
C)mass extinction and background extinction
D)speciation and genetic engineering
E)reproductive isolation and extinction

Accepted Answer

Biodiversity is the result of the interplay between speciation and extinction. Speciation leads to the creation of new species, and extinction eliminates species that are no longer viable. This process results in a variety of life forms, and their interactions over time lead to the biodiversity that characterizes the planet.

Question 11

From a scientific point of view, which of the following is true?
A)Evolution leads to survival of the strongest.
B)Evolution leads to survival of the most valuable.
C)Organisms develop traits because they need them.
D)Fitness is a matter of reproductive success.
E)Evolution follows a plan of nature.

Accepted Answer

Fitness in the scientific context refers to an organism's ability to successfully reproduce and pass on its genes to the next generation. This is a central concept in the theory of evolution by natural selection, which posits that individuals with advantageous traits for survival and reproduction are more likely to pass these traits on to their offspring, leading to their increased prevalence in a population over time. Therefore, it is accurate to say that fitness is a matter of reproductive success. None of the other choices accurately reflect the scientific understanding of evolutionary mechanisms.

Question 12

The diversity that enables life on earth to adapt and survive environmental changes is called
A)functional diversity
B)genetic diversity
C)intellectual diversity
D)ecosystem diversity
E)species diversity

Accepted Answer

Genetic diversity refers to the variety of genes within a species, which allows populations to adapt to changing environments and survive environmental changes.

Question 13

Sharks are an important part of biodiversity for all of the following reasons, except
A)they remove dead and dying fish
B)they could teach us how to not get cancer
C)they are an important food source for whales
D)they remove dead and dying aquatic mammals
E)their immune systems could teach us how to heal without becoming infected

Accepted Answer

While sharks are important in removing dead and dying fish, aquatic mammals, and have immune systems that could teach us how to heal without becoming infected, they are not an important food source for whales. In fact, whales feed on a variety of marine animals, including krill, plankton, and smaller fish.

Question 14

The movement of the continents influences evolution in which of the following ways?
A)increases the level of carbon dioxide
B)changes the earth's climate
C)changes the spin of the earth
D)decreases soil nutrient richness
E)changes magnetic fields and disrupts migration patterns

Accepted Answer

The movement of continents, through the process of plate tectonics, can significantly alter the Earth's climate by changing ocean currents and atmospheric patterns, which in turn influences evolution by creating new environments and isolation mechanisms for species.

Question 15

Biodiversity includes all of the following components except
A)functional diversity
B)genetic diversity
C)intellectual diversity
D)ecological diversity
E)species diversity

Accepted Answer

Biodiversity includes functional diversity (the variety of ecosystem processes such as energy flow and nutrient cycling), genetic diversity (the variation of genes within and among species), ecological diversity (the variety of habitats and ecosystems), and species diversity (the number and variety of species present). Intellectual diversity is not a component of biodiversity.

Question 16

Geographic isolation may result from which of the following?
A)volcanic eruptions
B)migrations of subgroups
C)mountain ranges
D)roads
E)all of these

Accepted Answer

Geographic isolation can occur due to a variety of factors such as volcanic eruptions, mountain ranges, and the migration of subgroups. Additionally, human-made structures like roads can have the same effect on the population of organisms. Therefore, all of these options can result in geographic isolation.

Question 17

How many humans are injured or killed each year by sharks?
A)5-15
B)20-35
C)40-55
D)60-75
E)135-150

Accepted Answer

The answer of How many humans are injured or killed...

Question 18

For natural selection to occur, an adaptive trait
A)must be to a physical trait
B)must be to a physiological trait
C)must be to a psychological trait
D)must be to a heritable trait
E)must not be to a heritable trait

Accepted Answer

Natural selection acts on heritable traits, meaning traits that are passed down genetically from one generation to the next. Traits that are not heritable cannot be subject to natural selection.

Question 19

Which of the following is not true of the conditions on earth that make life possible?
A)gravitational mass keeps atmospheric gasses from flying off
B)spin of the earth keeps the sun from overheating any one part of the planet
C)balance of consumer and producer organisms keeps oxygen levels at correct level
D)for last 2 billion years unreliable ozone levels have caused mutations
E)distance from the sun keeps temperature in a narrow range

Accepted Answer

The statement about unreliable ozone levels causing mutations is not true. Ozone is a protective layer in the Earth's atmosphere that protects organisms from harmful radiation from the sun. Mutations are caused by a variety of factors, including genetic errors during reproduction and exposure to radiation or chemicals.

Question 20

A change in the genetic characteristics of a population from one generation to another is called
A)emigration
B)mutation
C)natural selection
D)evolution
E)genetic drift

Accepted Answer

Evolution refers to the change in genetic characteristics of a population over time, due to factors such as natural selection, genetic drift, and mutations. Emigration refers to the movement of individuals out of a population, while mutation refers to a sudden, random change in DNA. Natural selection is a mechanism of evolution, in which individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and pass on their genes. Genetic drift is another mechanism of evolution, in which random events can cause certain alleles to become more or less common in a population over time.

Quiz 4: Biodiversity and Evolution

Mass extinctions, with 25─95% of species going extinct, have occurred how many times in the history of the earth?

Mutations are not caused by which of the following?

Scientists have used genetic engineering to do all of the following, except

The number of different species an ecosystem contains is its

Some individuals in a population have genetic traits that are favored by environmental conditions because the trait enhance their ability to survive and produce offspring, a process called

The variety of processes, including matter cycling and energy flow within ecosystems, which result from species interacting with one another in food webs is called

How many sharks are killed each year by humans?

Which of the following is not an adaptation that has made humans so successful?

Biological evolution by natural selection is when genes , individuals , and populations .

Biodiversity is believed to be the result of the interaction between

From a scientific point of view, which of the following is true?

The diversity that enables life on earth to adapt and survive environmental changes is called

Sharks are an important part of biodiversity for all of the following reasons, except

The movement of the continents influences evolution in which of the following ways?

Biodiversity includes all of the following components except

Geographic isolation may result from which of the following?

How many humans are injured or killed each year by sharks?

For natural selection to occur, an adaptive trait

Which of the following is not true of the conditions on earth that make life possible?

A change in the genetic characteristics of a population from one generation to another is called