Honors Biology (HBio) Evolution Practice Exam

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• What key events in the history of life are best explained by evolution?
• Which evidence includes early developmental similarities across species?
• The preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past.
• Which statement best defines gradualism in evolution?
• Two species encounter rarely because they occupy different habitats, even though not physically blocked. This is an example of which isolation?
• Under what circumstances would a population be expected to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
• Define a clade and explain what a synapomorphy is in phylogenetics.
• What is the role of mutations in evolution?
• Which type of natural selection favors individuals at the center of a distribution curve, reducing variation?
• Which of the following is not a prezygotic barrier?
• Structure left over from an ancestor, that serves no useful function in an organism.
• Which reproductive isolation mechanism occurs before zygote formation?
• Radiometric dating works by ...
• Define fitness in evolutionary terms and distinguish it from general health or vigor.
• Mating attempts occur, but morphological differences prevent successful completion. This is an example of which reproductive isolation mechanism?
• Why are vestigial structures considered evidence for evolution? Provide an example.
• Which kingdom consists of multicellular eukaryotic heterotrophs whose cells lack cell walls?
• Isolation between populations due to physical barriers.
• How did the peppered moth illustrate natural selection in response to environmental change?
• What is the process by which a population splits into two or more reproductively isolated groups?
• What pattern was observed in Darwin's finches that illustrates adaptive divergence?
• The study of embryos to determine evolution- the more similar the embryo, the more closely they have a common ancestor.
• Which kingdom consists of unicellular prokaryotes whose cell walls are made up of peptidoglycan?
• Two species interbreed, and the resulting hybrids fail to complete development; this describes
• What are the modern evolutionary synthesis concepts connecting genetics with natural selection?
• The evolutionary history and branching relationships among species are collectively called
• Convergent evolution is defined as ...
• Which kingdom consists of unicellular prokaryotes whose cell walls do not contain peptidoglycan?
• Which concept describes a pattern in which the first generation of hybrids is viable and fertile, but their offspring are feeble or sterile?
• Which cellular feature supports the bacterial origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts?
• Ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment.
• Which statement correctly defines a clade and a synapomorphy?
• What is the difference between directional, stabilizing, and disruptive selection with examples?
• Domain of all organisms whose cells have nuclei?
• Each species competes for food, living space, and the other necessities of life.
• Which statement describes the neutral theory of molecular evolution?
• What is an example of adaptive radiation?
• What is the founder effect and how does it alter genetic variation?
• Which term describes a physical feature that no longer serves a function?
• Adaptive radiation is defined as ...
• Which feature can be used to infer evolutionary relationships?
• What term refers to the genus and species designation written in italics?
• Which statement best describes a shared ancestral trait and its usefulness in resolving relationships within a group?
• Which mechanism can contribute to reproductive isolation without geographic separation?
• If a population has p = 0.7 and q = 0.3 for a gene, which genotype frequencies are expected under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
• Which kingdom includes simple, mostly single-celled eukaryotes not classified as plants, animals, or fungi?
• Why do embryological similarities provide evidence for evolution?
• Which concept describes a scenario where the heterozygote has higher fitness, helping preserve variation?
• Which term best defines a well-supported, testable explanation of phenomena in the natural world?
• Allopatric speciation occurs when ...
• The term for the evolutionary history and relationships among a group of related species is
• Similar structures that related species have inherited from a common ancestor.
• Distinguishing allopatric from sympatric speciation.
• Which statement correctly describes the Endosymbiotic Theory regarding organelles?
• What is the smallest unit of classification that represents interbreeding groups?
• Which mechanism tends to homogenize genetic variation among populations?
• Which statement describes an analogous trait?
• Which domain lacks peptidoglycan in its cell walls?
• What is a limitation of the fossil record in studying evolution?
• Which of the following is evidence supporting the Endosymbiotic Theory?
• What is gene flow and how does it affect genetic variation between populations?
• In molecular data versus morphology, which statement is most accurate?
• Punctuated equilibrium describes ...
• Which statement best describes genetic drift in small populations?
• Final distribution of stabilizing selection: what is the outcome?
• What term denotes the reduced fertility of hybrid individuals themselves, not the next generation?
• Which type of structures indicates shared ancestry between species?
• In cladistics, which term is used for a derived trait shared by a group that defines a clade?
• Which statement best describes macroevolution?
• What is a molecular clock and what does it estimate?
• What is a ring species and what makes it challenging for the species concept?
• Which term describes the similarity of traits in unrelated species due to similar environmental pressures?
• Which kingdom is composed of eukaryotes that are multicellular, photosynthetic autotrophs with a cell wall containing cellulose?
• A group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.
• The process by which organisms change over time.
• Which form of natural selection favors the extremes at both ends of a distribution curve?
• How is fitness different from general health or vigor?
• Convergent evolution occurs when similar traits evolve independently in different lineages due to similar environments. How can you recognize it in traits?
• How does antibiotic resistance evolve?
• Describe a real-world example of coevolution between a plant and its pollinator.
• Which statement about molecular homology is true?
• Which of the following is an example of directional selection?
• What is the endosymbiotic theory and what evidence supports it?
• Why is genetic drift more pronounced in small populations?
• How can gene duplication drive evolutionary novelty?
• Sympatric speciation can occur through which mechanism?
• Inherited characteristic that increases an organism's fitness (chance of survival).
• Which term is used to describe the broadest category that groups together all life?
• What is a mutation?
• What do molecular data such as DNA and protein sequences provide for phylogenetics?
• Which domain contains unicellular prokaryotes with cell walls containing peptidoglycans?
• Who developed the two-part scientific name system for living organisms?
• How does gene flow influence genetic differentiation between populations?
• Explain the difference between prezygotic and postzygotic isolating mechanisms with a real-world scenario.
• Which term best describes an inherited characteristic that increases an organism's fitness?
• Which statement best distinguishes a monophyletic group from a polyphyletic group?
• Which term describes the reduced viability of hybrids due to genetic incompatibilities?
• Disruptive selection can promote sympatric speciation by ...
• Which line of evidence supports the endosymbiotic origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts?
• What role do HOX genes play in evolution and development?
• Principle that each living species has descended, with changes, from other species over time.
• Which is an example of stabilizing selection and how does it affect variation?
• Explain sympatric speciation and provide an example of a non-geographic barrier that can drive it.
• Which term refers to the concept that a species has descended with changes from prior forms over time?
• Which kingdom consists of multicellular, photosynthetic organisms with cellulose in their cell walls?
• Hybrid breakdown is a postzygotic isolating mechanism characterized by ...
• Who developed the modern system of giving organisms a two-part scientific name?
• Which describes a paraphyletic group?
• In the context of postzygotic isolation, which term describes reduced fertility of hybrid individuals?
• Which domain consists of unicellular prokaryotes whose cell walls lack peptidoglycan?
• Explain allopatric speciation with a geographic barrier and give a classic example.
• Molecular homology supports common ancestry because ...
• Which barrier occurs after fertilization and reduces viability or fertility of offspring?
• Which of the following is an example of a prezygotic isolating mechanism?
• Which term expresses that species have descended from common ancestors with changes over time?
• Which kingdom is composed of eukaryotes not plants, animals, or fungi?
• Which of the following is a postzygotic isolating mechanism?
• Which term describes a trait that evolved within a lineage and is shared by descendants, helping define a clade?
• What defines a clade?
• Distinguish between convergent evolution and divergent evolution using examples.
• What is a shared ancestral trait and how does it affect phylogeny?
• In Hardy-Weinberg contexts under selection, how are allele frequencies updated after fitness differences among genotypes?
• Which type of sexual selection involves individuals of one sex being choosy in selecting mates from the other sex?
• In a phylogenetic tree, what does a node represent, and what can branch length indicate in some trees?
• What is reproductive isolation and how does it relate to the formation of new species?
• How is genetic variation produced in populations, and why is it critical for evolution?
• If natural selection favors one extreme variant, causing a shift in the population's average phenotype over time, this is called?
• What is the term for the preserved remains or traces of organisms from the past?
• Remains of once living organisms show change over time.
• Which statement best contrasts microevolution and macroevolution?
• Explain how genetic variation is maintained in populations despite selection.
• Which concept describes a pattern where hybrids are viable and fertile, but their offspring are weak or sterile?
• In Hardy-Weinberg contexts, what do p^2, 2pq, and q^2 represent?
• Tempo of gradualism.
• Which two-part name is used to identify species?
• When similar environmental pressures produce organisms with similar traits in separate regions of the world, yet the organisms are NOT closely related.
• Which kingdom is composed of eukaryotes that have a cell wall containing chitin and are heterotrophs?
• Which statement about sexual selection best describes its role in evolution?
• Which term describes inherited similarities due to a common ancestor?
• Which mechanism best describes habitat isolation preventing gene flow between two populations living in different environments?
• Which of the following is an example of a prezygotic isolation mechanism?
• What is polyploidy and how can it lead to instant speciation in plants?
• What is the most narrow taxonomic category?
• What is the implication of the neutral theory for molecular evolution?
• In phylogenetics, what best describes a derived trait and its role in identifying clades?
• What are the main sources of genetic variation in populations?
• Which type of selection involves competition among individuals of one sex for access to mates?
• What diagram shows evolutionary relationships of organisms with a common ancestor?
• Which term is defined as the broad process by which populations accumulate inherited changes over many generations?
• Which term describes the genus and species designation written in italics?
• Method of determining the age of a fossil by using radioactive half-lives.
• Which term describes the reduced viability of hybrids due to genetic incompatibilities between parent species?
• Which process best describes the emergence of new species through reproductive isolation and genetic divergence?
• What is the molecular clock and how is it used in evolutionary studies?
• Which prezygotic barrier is demonstrated when size or shape prevents mating?
• The evolutionary relationship among a species or group of related species is known as
• What type of natural selection increases fitness at both ends of a distribution, often leading to a bimodal population?
• How does antibiotic resistance illustrate natural selection in bacteria?
• Fossils provide evidence of evolution by showing ...
• Which are typical molecular sources used in inferring phylogenetic relationships?
• Polyploidy is defined as ...
• What method is used to determine the age of a fossil by comparing its placement with fossils in other rock layers?
• Which describes a polyphyletic group?
• A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.
• How does biogeography support evolution?
• Define gene flow and explain how it affects genetic differences among populations.
• What is heterozygote advantage?
• All the genes that are present in a population at any one time
• Convergent evolution is best described as which of the following?
• How do homologous structures differ from vestigial structures? Use a whale pelvis as an example.
• Disruptive selection example and outcome.
• Which scenario best illustrates allopatric speciation?
• What is the molecular clock assumption?
• Which isolation mechanism arises when morphological differences prevent successful mating between species?
• When the environment pushes an individual or population to adapt or evolve
• Which statement best distinguishes homologous traits from analogous traits?
• Darwin's finches illustrate adaptation to different niches by variation in beak shapes; what does this demonstrate?
• Formation of new species.
• Which classification system assigns a two-part scientific name to each species?
• What is coevolution?
• In Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, which equations relate allele and genotype frequencies?
• Which statement about a synapomorphy in reconstructing evolutionary relationships is most accurate?
• Which postzygotic barrier occurs when the first generation hybrids are fertile, but later generations are weak or sterile?
• Which term is used to describe the situation where the first generation of hybrids is viable, but subsequent generations fail to maintain the lineage?
• What is the Hardy-Weinberg equation and what do p and q represent?
• How do gradualism and punctuated equilibrium differ in evolutionary tempo?
• Define adaptive radiation and give an example.
• Explain how allele frequency change can constitute evolution.
• What is the most inclusive taxonomic category?
• Which feature supports endosymbiotic theory for mitochondria and chloroplasts?
• Which statement would most directly reduce genetic differences between two neighboring populations?
• Which organelles contain their own circular DNA and are cited as evidence for endosymbiotic theory?
• What is a fitness landscape and how do populations move on it?
• How does sexual selection differ from natural selection in terms of fitness effects?
• Which isolation occurs when species occupy different habitats and rarely meet?
• What is phylogenetics?
• What is coevolution and give an example?
• What is the science of classifying organisms?
• What distinguishes microevolution from macroevolution?
• Which concept explains that hybrids are viable and fertile, but their offspring are feeble or sterile?
• Isolation between populations due to differences in courtship or mating behavior.
• Which of the following best describes recombination during meiosis as a source of variation?
• Which statement best describes divergent evolution?
• What is the bottleneck effect and what consequence can it have on evolution?
• Which term describes isolation where two populations reproduce at different times?
• Which reproductive isolation mechanism occurs after zygote formation?
• Which form of natural selection favors extreme variations of a trait, shifting the population's average in one direction?
• What is a synapomorphy and why is it important in cladistics?
• Number of times that an allele occurs in a gene pool compared with the number of alleles in that pool for the same gene
• English naturalist who formulated a theory of evolution by natural selection.
• How do ecological niches contribute to speciation and adaptive radiation?
• Under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, allele and genotype frequencies remain constant across generations. Which are the five assumptions?
• What is the role of HOX genes in evolution?
• Which concept describes the breakdown of hybrid fitness across generations?
• What evidence supports the endosymbiosis origin of mitochondria and chloroplasts?
• Which kingdom's members are multicellular eukaryotic heterotrophs with chitin in their cell walls?
• Which domain contains unicellular prokaryotes with cell walls containing peptidoglycan?
• Which processes can move populations on a fitness landscape?
• Example of adaptive radiation besides Darwin's finches.
• Vestigial structures are...
• Which statement best defines a monophyletic group?
• Which of the following is an example of a postzygotic isolation mechanism?
• Which term refers to the evolutionary relationships among organisms, sometimes depicted as a tree?
• A form of natural selection that increases mating success rather than survival is called?
• Which term refers to hybrids that survive but are healthy and fully viable but produce fewer offspring than typical crosses due to fertility issues?