30 Natural Selection Evolution Quiz Questions and Answers

Natural selection is a fundamental mechanism of evolution, a process by which living organisms change over time and adapt to their environment. It was first proposed by Charles Darwin in his seminal work, “On the Origin of Species,” published in 1859.

The process of natural selection leads to the evolution of species, where populations change and adapt to their environments over time. It is important to note that natural selection is just one mechanism of evolution, alongside other processes such as genetic drift and gene flow. Together, these mechanisms contribute to the diversity of life on Earth, as organisms continuously evolve to better survive and thrive in their specific environments.

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• Part 1: 30 natural selection and evolution quiz questions & answers
• Part 2: Download natural selection and evolutionquestions & answers for free
• Part 3: Free online quiz creator – OnlineExamMaker

Part 1: 30 natural selection and evolution quiz questions & answers

1. What is natural selection?
a) Artificial breeding of organisms
b) The process by which living organisms change and adapt to their environment
c) The study of fossils
d) The process of genetic mutation
Answer: b) The process by which living organisms change and adapt to their environment

2. Who is credited with proposing the theory of natural selection?
a) Albert Einstein
b) Charles Darwin
c) Isaac Newton
d) Gregor Mendel
Answer: b) Charles Darwin

3. Natural selection acts on:
a) Genes
b) Individuals
c) Populations
d) All of the above
Answer: b) Individuals

4. What is the source of genetic variation that natural selection acts upon?
a) Environmental changes
b) Mutation and recombination of genes
c) Artificial selection by humans
d) Migration of individuals between populations
Answer: b) Mutation and recombination of genes

5. Which of the following is a necessary condition for natural selection to occur?
a) Low genetic diversity
b) A stable environment
c) High birth rate
d) Variation in heritable traits
Answer: d) Variation in heritable traits

6. What is the result of natural selection in a population over time?
a) Decreased genetic diversity
b) An increase in harmful traits
c) Improved adaptation to the environment
d) Elimination of all individuals with unfavorable traits
Answer: c) Improved adaptation to the environment

7. Which of the following is NOT a mode of natural selection?
a) Directional selection
b) Disruptive selection
c) Stabilizing selection
d) Artificial selection
Answer: d) Artificial selection

8. What type of selection favors individuals with extreme traits at both ends of the spectrum?
a) Directional selection
b) Disruptive selection
c) Stabilizing selection
d) Sexual selection
Answer: b) Disruptive selection

9. Which type of selection favors individuals with traits that are well-suited to their environment?
a) Directional selection
b) Disruptive selection
c) Stabilizing selection
d) Artificial selection
Answer: a) Directional selection

10. What is genetic drift?
a) A random change in allele frequencies in a population
b) The movement of genes from one population to another
c) The process of natural selection acting on genes
d) The elimination of unfavorable traits from a population
Answer: a) A random change in allele frequencies in a population

11. When does genetic drift have the greatest impact on small populations?
a) When mutation rates are high
b) When the environment is stable
c) When gene flow is significant
d) When the population size is small
Answer: d) When the population size is small

12. What is gene flow?
a) The movement of genes between populations
b) The transfer of genetic information from parents to offspring
c) The random change in allele frequencies
d) The elimination of harmful mutations
Answer: a) The movement of genes between populations

13. Which of the following can increase genetic variation in a population?
a) Genetic drift
b) Gene flow
c) Stabilizing selection
d) Artificial selection
Answer: b) Gene flow

14. Which of the following statements about mutations is correct?
a) Mutations always result in harmful traits.
b) Mutations only occur in response to changes in the environment.
c) Mutations are the ultimate source of new genetic variation.
d) Mutations occur in all individuals of a population simultaneously.
Answer: c) Mutations are the ultimate source of new genetic variation.

15. What does the term “fitness” refer to in the context of natural selection?
a) The physical strength of an individual
b) The ability of an individual to survive and reproduce in its environment
c) The number of offspring an individual produces
d) The size of an individual’s territory
Answer: b) The ability of an individual to survive and reproduce in its environment

Part 2: Download natural selection and evolution questions & answers for free

16. Which of the following is an example of coevolution?
a) A predator evolving stronger jaws to catch prey
b) A plant evolving thorns to protect itself from herbivores
c) A bird developing brighter plumage to attract mates
d) Two species of flowers evolving similar colors to attract pollinators
Answer: d) Two species of flowers evolving similar colors to attract pollinators

17. What is the process of artificial selection?
a) Natural selection acting on humans
b) Humans intentionally breeding organisms for specific traits
c) Genetic drift occurring in a controlled environment
d) The movement of genes between human populations
Answer: b) Humans intentionally breeding organisms for specific traits

18. Which of the following is an example of convergent evolution?
a) Dolphins and sharks both having streamlined bodies for swimming
b) Birds and bats both having wings for flight
c) Dogs and cats both being domesticated as pets
d) Fish and frogs both having gills to breathe underwater
Answer: a) Dolphins and sharks both having streamlined bodies for swimming

19. What is the term used to describe the remnants of structures that were functional in an ancestor but are now reduced in size or function in a descendant?
a) Vestigial structures
b) Adaptive structures
c) Inherited structures
d) Analogous structures
Answer: a) Vestigial structures

20. The similarities in the bone structure of the forelimbs of vertebrates (such as bats, whales, and humans) are an example of:
a) Analogous structures
b) Homologous structures
c) Vestigial structures
d) Artificial structures
Answer: b) Homologous structures

21. What is the process of speciation?
a) The extinction of a species
b) The formation of a new species from an existing one
c) The migration of a species to a new environment
d) The natural selection of a particular trait
Answer: b) The formation of a new species from an existing one

22. What is reproductive isolation?
a) The inability of a species to reproduce with other species
b) The physical separation of individuals in a population
c) The migration of individuals between populations
d) The mating behavior of a species
Answer: a) The inability of a species to reproduce with other species

23. Which of the following is an example of a prezygotic barrier to reproduction?
a) Two bird species having different mating dances
b) Two flowers being pollinated by the same insect
c) Two fish species producing sterile hybrid offspring
d) Two mammals mating at different times of the year
Answer: a) Two bird species having different mating dances

24. What is allopatric speciation?
a) The formation of new species in the same geographic area
b) The formation of new species due to the migration of individuals
c) The formation of new species from a single population
d) The extinction of species due to environmental changes
Answer: b) The formation of new species due to the migration of individuals

25. What is the process of adaptive radiation?
a) The formation of new species from a common ancestor
b) The evolution of a species to better adapt to its environment
c) The movement of individuals between populations
d) The diversification of a single species into multiple ecological niches
Answer: d) The diversification of a single species into multiple ecological niches

26. What is punctuated equilibrium?
a) A theory proposing that evolution occurs gradually and continuously
b) A theory proposing that evolution occurs in rapid bursts followed by periods of stasis
c) A theory proposing that species remain unchanged over time
d) A theory proposing that evolution is driven by mutations alone
Answer: b) A theory proposing that evolution occurs in rapid bursts followed by periods of stasis

27. Which of the following is an example of an ecological niche?
a) The range of temperature in which a species can survive
b) The role of a species as a predator in its ecosystem
c) The number of offspring a species can produce in a year
d) The geographical location of a species’ habitat
Answer: b) The role of a species as a predator in its ecosystem

28. What is the name of the process by which species that live in the same habitat and use the same resources develop different traits to reduce competition?
a) Coevolution
b) Convergent evolution
c) Divergent evolution
d) Adaptive radiation
Answer: c) Divergent evolution

29. Which of the following is an example of sexual selection?
a) Male peacocks displaying colorful feathers to attract females
b) Male and female birds working together to build a nest
c) A female praying mantis eating a male after mating
d) A male lion fighting off rival males to protect his territory
Answer: a) Male peacocks displaying colorful feathers to attract females

30. How does natural selection differ from artificial selection?
a) Natural selection is controlled by humans, while artificial selection occurs naturally in nature.
b) Natural selection is the result of random processes, while artificial selection is deliberate and guided by humans.
c) Natural selection only affects non-living things, while artificial selection affects living organisms.
d) Natural selection leads to the extinction of species, while artificial selection promotes the survival of species.
Answer: b) Natural selection is the result of random processes, while artificial selection is deliberate and guided by humans.

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