Question 1

A group within an experimental design that is subjected to all the conditions except the experimental variable is called the ______________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A group within an experimental design that...

Question 2

From Missouri to central Ohio to Pennsylvania,many people believe that they have water moccasins ("cottonmouth snakes")in their farm ponds.Many have "seen them" although they are not so foolish as to try to capture one alive.Meanwhile,the wildlife officers and the range maps in the herpetology books say that cottonmouths do not breed this far north.What is the most scientific attitude to assume on this issue?
A)Observations by both the public and the fish and game officers are subjective so this is not possible to resolve objectively
B)A field trip to the pond locations to capture and confirm the identity of the snakes would settle the matter
C)Scientific books with range maps are based on field research and,therefore,determine the truth in this case
D)Because living organisms are active,scientific theories in biology always change and the older books are therefore wrong

Accepted Answer

A field trip to capture and confirm the identity of the snakes would provide direct evidence, allowing for an objective resolution to the issue.

Question 3

The statement that the large anatomical differences that separate the major groups of animals originated through the accumulation of many small incremental changes over long periods of time illustrates Darwin's theory of
A)perpetual change.
B)multiplication of species.
C)gradualism.
D)All of the choices are correct.

Accepted Answer

The statement about incremental changes over long periods of time refers to the concept of gradualism, which is a key component of Darwin's theory of evolution through natural selection. The other options are either too general (perpetual change) or too specific (multiplication of species) to describe the statement accurately.

Question 4

The principle of natural selection is founded in which of the following statements?
A)Organisms vary and some variations provide an advantage for survival
B)All organisms tend to overproduce their kind
C)There is a struggle for existence among varying organisms in a population
D)All of these choices together represent the principle of natural selection

Accepted Answer

The principle of natural selection is composed of all three statements, as they work together to result in the survival and reproduction of organisms with advantageous traits. Organisms vary in their traits, some of which provide them with an advantage for survival. However, as all organisms tend to overproduce, there is competition for resources, resulting in a struggle for existence among varying organisms in a population. Over time, those individuals with advantageous traits will survive and pass on those traits to their offspring, resulting in a change in the population's characteristics.

Question 5

Which of the following questions addresses an ultimate cause in biology that could be studied using the comparative method?
A)How does an animal maintain a constant body temperature in different environmental conditions?
B)What are the evolutionary factors that caused some species of birds to acquire complex patterns of seasonal migration between North and South America?
C)What are the environmental factors that signal the birds of a particular species to begin their seasonal migration?
D)What are the receptors for geomagnetism in Monarch butterflies?

Accepted Answer

This question seeks to understand the evolutionary forces that have led to the development of a complex behavior (seasonal migration) in certain bird species, which can be studied using the comparative method. Ultimate causes are those that pertain to the evolutionary history and selective pressures responsible for a particular trait or behavior. The other options are proximate causes that pertain to the underlying physiological, anatomical, or environmental mechanisms that enable a particular trait or behavior in an organism.

Question 6

Physiological sciences ask questions about the ____________ causes underlying a biological system whereas the evolutionary sciences ask questions about the ultimate causes that have produced the system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Physiological sciences ask questions about the ____________...

Question 7

A broad concept in science that is strongly supported by many forms of evidence,is accepted by an overwhelming number of scientists,and has not yet been found to be incorrect is a __________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A broad concept in science that is...

Question 8

What was the major obstacle that Darwin's theory of natural selection faced when first proposed in 1859?
A)It lacked a valid theory of heredity
B)It was unable to explain adaptation
C)It could not explain the origins of new anatomical structures
D)It required unreasonably long periods of time to operate

Accepted Answer

When Darwin first proposed his theory of natural selection, there was no scientific understanding of how traits are inherited from parents to offspring. The discovery of genetics and DNA in the 20th century provided a basis for understanding heredity and helped to solidify Darwin's theory.

Question 9

Explain Darwinian evolution as an emergent property of the population level of biological organization.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain Darwinian evolution as an emergent property...

Question 10

The theory of evolution,along with all other theories in science
A)has been proven in a mathematical sense.
B)is mere speculation.
C)is testable,tentative,and potentially falsifiable.
D)is so powerful that no conceivable evidence could possibly refute it.

Accepted Answer

The theory of evolution, like all other scientific theories, is testable, tentative, and potentially falsifiable. It is based on extensive empirical evidence and can be modified or even disproven if new evidence emerges. Therefore, option C is the most accurate choice. Option A is incorrect because science doesn't "prove" theories in a mathematical sense. Option B is incorrect because the theory of evolution is not "mere speculation," as it is supported by a vast body of empirical evidence. Option D is incorrect because no scientific theory is so powerful that it couldn't be mitigated by evidence.

Question 11

Religious groups formerly proclaiming their views under the banner "creation-science" have renamed their arguments "_______ _______ _______" in an attempt to gain credibility.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Religious groups formerly proclaiming their views under...

Question 12

Which of these is a variation of form,function,or behavior that promotes the likelihood of a species' continued existence?
A)Evolution
B)Metabolism
C)Adaptation
D)Homeostasis

Accepted Answer

Adaptation refers to a variation of form, function, or behavior that allows a species to better survive and reproduce in its environment. This increased fitness promotes the likelihood of a species' continued existence. Evolution is the process by which populations of organisms change over time, which can result in adaptation. Metabolism and homeostasis refer to the chemical reactions and internal regulatory processes within an organism, respectively, and are not necessarily related to a species' continued existence.

Question 13

The theory that all forms of life descended from a common ancestor through a branching of lineages constitutes Darwin's theory of
A)perpetual change.
B)common descent.
C)multiplication of species.
D)natural selection.

Accepted Answer

The theory that all forms of life descended from a common ancestor through a branching of lineages is specifically known as Darwin's theory of common descent. This theory proposes that every organism on Earth shares a common ancestor, and over time, due to natural selection and other evolutionary factors, these organisms have diverged into the various species we see today.

Question 14

The appearance of new characteristics at a given level of biological organization is known as emergence,and these characteristics are known as _______ ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The appearance of new characteristics at a...

Quiz 1: Life: Biological Principles and the Science of Zoology

A group within an experimental design that is subjected to all the conditions except the experimental variable is called the ______________.

The statement that the large anatomical differences that separate the major groups of animals originated through the accumulation of many small incremental changes over long periods of time illustrates Darwin's theory of

The principle of natural selection is founded in which of the following statements?

Which of the following questions addresses an ultimate cause in biology that could be studied using the comparative method?

Physiological sciences ask questions about the ____________ causes underlying a biological system whereas the evolutionary sciences ask questions about the ultimate causes that have produced the system.

A broad concept in science that is strongly supported by many forms of evidence,is accepted by an overwhelming number of scientists,and has not yet been found to be incorrect is a __________________.

What was the major obstacle that Darwin's theory of natural selection faced when first proposed in 1859?

Explain Darwinian evolution as an emergent property of the population level of biological organization.

The theory of evolution,along with all other theories in science

Religious groups formerly proclaiming their views under the banner "creation-science" have renamed their arguments "___ _ _____" in an attempt to gain credibility.

Which of these is a variation of form,function,or behavior that promotes the likelihood of a species' continued existence?

The theory that all forms of life descended from a common ancestor through a branching of lineages constitutes Darwin's theory of

The appearance of new characteristics at a given level of biological organization is known as emergence,and these characteristics are known as _ __.