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(Stnd 12) Study Guide-Natural Selection WS



 

 1. 

The Canyon Spotted Whiptail and the Sonoran Spotted Whiptail are lizard species that live in the same desert. Canyon Spotted Whiptails reproduce sexually, but the Sonoran Spotted Whiptails reproduce asexually.
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Which lizard species is more likely to survive a drastic sudden change in climate?
a.
Canyon Spotted Whiptail are more likely to survive because species with male and female members produce more offspring.
b.
Canyon Spotted Whiptail are more likely to survive because sexual reproduction results in greater genetic diversity.
c.
Sonoran Spotted Whiptail are more likely to survive because their genetic similarities will keep the species stable
 

 2. 

Phenotype variations appear due to the results of sexual reproduction and/or due to mutations.
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If a mutation introduces a new skin color in a lizard population, which factor might determine whether the frequency of this new phenotype will increase?
a.
whether the mutation makes some lizards more fit for their environment than other lizards
b.
whether the mutation was caused by nature (natural selection) or by human intervention (artificial selection)
c.
whether the mutation resulted from harmful chemical introduced into the ecosystem as pollution
 

 3. 

A termite population was sprayed with insecticide. After being sprayed, the number of surviving termites were counted and recorded.  This process was repeated for six generations. The results are shown the table below.
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Which statement best explains why later generations had higher percentages of termites that survived?
a.
Later termite generations were the offspring of those with resistance to the insecticide.
b.
Earlier termite generations had smaller population numbers than later generations.
c.
Earlier termite generations had larger numbers of old and weak individuals.
 

 4. 

Students were studying a moth population in a local forest. Most of the trees in this forest had black colored bark but some trees had gray or white colored bark. The students graphed the color distribution of moths in this forest as shown in the graph below.
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Two years later a fungal disease devastated the forest and wiped out nearly all of the black colored trees.
Which of the following graphs displays the probable distribution of moth wing color within the new few years?
a.
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b.
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c.
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 5. 

Fossil evidence and genetic analysis led biologists to conclude that in the distant past dolphins.  were terrestrial organisms.
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How does natural selection lead to changes in the shape, appearance, and/or size of individuals in species population?
a.
Overproduction provides food for stronger members of the species.
b.
Stronger offspring kill weaker members of the species.
c.
Beneficial variations accumulate among surviving members of the species.
 

 6. 

Three species of birds live on a remote island in the Pacific Ocean.
Bird A
Bird B
Bird C
Heavy beak for eating
big seeds
Sharp beak for
eating insects
Sharp but wide beak for insects and/or small seeds
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      If the climate changed so that all the seed-bearing plants on the island died off, which bird or birds would probably be the least affected?
a.
Bird C
b.
Bird A
c.
Bird B
 

 7. 

Male peafowl, called peacocks, have long, colorful tail feathers. Among peacocks there are phenotype variations regarding the size, brightness, and pattern of their tail feathers.
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Biologists observed the mating success of two groups of peacocks (smaller tails feathers vs larger tail feathers) during one mating season. The graph above displays the scientists’ data concerning mating success for these two phenotype groups.
How did the bigger more colorful tail feathers evolve in peacocks even though they reduce the mobility of males?
a.
Larger, more colorful tails attract females increasing the frequency of mating.
b.
This is survival of the fittest. Those with smaller tail feathers survived more often.
c.
Peacocks with the larger tails can fly farther and faster which is a survival advantage.
 

 8. 

Natural selection can result in structural changes to the appearance, size, and/or shape of individuals in a species population. (See horse diagram below)
Diagram of Structural Changes in Horses
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How does this process occur?
a.
Environmental changes kill weaker members of the species until extinction occurs.
b.
Overproduction provides food for stronger members causing mutations to occur.
c.
Individuals with better adapted phenotypes survive and reproduce.
 

 9. 

John was not feeling well, and he therefore was seen by his doctor. It was determined that John had a bacterial infection in his lungs (pneumonia). John was prescribed amoxicillin, an antibiotic, to fight the infection. He was supposed to take one pill three times a day for three days. However, after the second day, John felt much better and he stopped taking the antibiotic pills (see table below).
Bacterial Population in John’s Lungs
Day 01
Day 02
Day 03
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By the fifth day he was feeling unwell again and was having a difficult time breathing.
Which diagram below most likely represents the bacterial population in his lungs on day five?
a.
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b.
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c.
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Multiple Response
Identify one or more choices that best complete the statement or answer the question.
 

 10. 

The graph below shows the number of birds with a given beak length in one ecosystem. Data was collected before and after an extended drought.
The clear columns are from before the drought, and the dark columns are from after the drought. For example, before the drought, about 30 birds with a beak depth of 8.3 mm were counted.
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Multi-Select Question
Which two statements below are best supported by the data in the graph? (Select Two Choices)
 a.
Longer beaks are advantageous in drought conditions.
 b.
Only birds with beak depths greater than 9.3 mm will survive a drought.
 c.
The drought caused the bird population to increase.
 d.
A drought can cause some beak length phenotypes to disappear.
 



 
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