Ch 15 - Darwin's Theory of Evolution

Name:

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

Darwin noticed that many organisms seemed well suited to

a.	being preserved as fossils.
b.	providing humans with food.
c.	surviving in the environment they inhabited.
d.	swimming from South America to the Galapagos Islands.

On the Galápagos Islands, Charles Darwin observed

a.	completely unrelated species on each of the islands.
b.	species exactly like those found in South America.
c.	somewhat similar species, with traits that suited their particular environments.
d.	species completely unrelated to those found in South America.

Darwin began to formulate his concept of evolution by natural selection after

a.	experimentation with animals.
b.	observations of many species and their geographical location.
c.	reading the writings of Wallace.
d.	agreeing with Lamarck about the driving force behind evolution.

In the 1800s, Charles Lyell emphasized that

a.	the human population will outgrow the available food supply.
b.	all populations evolve through natural selection.
c.	Earth is a few thousand years old.
d.	past geological events must be explained in terms of processes observable today.

One scientist who attempted to explain how rock layers form and change over time was

a.	Thomas Malthus.	c.	Charles Darwin.
b.	James Hutton.	d.	Jean-Baptiste Lamarck.

James Hutton’s and Charles Lyell’s work was important to Darwin because these scientists

a.	explained volcanoes and earthquakes.
b.	explained all geologic events on Earth.
c.	suggested that Earth was old enough for evolution to have occurred.
d.	refuted the work of Lamarck, which was based on misunderstandings.

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck proposed that organisms

a.	have an innate tendency toward complexity and perfection.
b.	have an innate tendency to become simpler as time passes.
c.	inherit all of the adaptations they display.
d.	belong to species that never change.

Lamarck’s theory of evolution includes the concept that new organs in a species appear as a result of

a.	continual increases in population size.
b.	the actions of organisms as they use or fail to use body structures.
c.	an unchanging local environment.
d.	the natural variations already present within the population of organisms.

In an experiment, suppose that the wings of fruit flies were clipped short for fifty generations. The fifty-first generation emerged with normal-length wings. This observation would tend to disprove the idea that evolution is based on

a.	inheritance of natural variations.
b.	inheritance of acquired characteristics.
c.	natural selection.
d.	survival of the fittest.

10.

The economist Thomas Malthus suggested that

a.	in the human population, people die faster than babies are born.
b.	there would soon be insufficient food for the growing human population.
c.	in the 1700s, England needed more housing.
d.	the majority of a species’ offspring die.

11.

Darwin realized that the economist Malthus’s theory of population control

a.	applied only to humans.
b.	could be generalized to any population of organisms.
c.	could be generalized only when populations lived in crowded conditions.
d.	explained why the number of deaths exceeded that of births.

12.

In 1859, Charles Darwin published his revolutionary scientific ideas in a work titled

a.	Principles of Geology.
b.	Essay on the Principle of Population.
c.	Evolution in Malaysia.
d.	On the Origin of Species.

13.

Darwin was prompted to publish his theory of evolution by

a.	an essay by Wallace on evolution.
b.	the publication of Lamarck’s theory of evolution.
c.	the vice governor of the Galápagos Islands.
d.	the work of Hutton and Lyell.

14.

When Charles Darwin returned from the voyage of the Beagle, he

a.	immediately published his ideas about evolution.
b.	realized his ideas about evolution were wrong.
c.	wrote about his ideas but waited many years to publish them.
d.	copied the evolutionary theory of Wallace.

15.

Charles Darwin’s observation that finches of different species on the Galápagos Islands have many similar physical characteristics supports the hypothesis that these finches

a.	have the ability to interbreed.
b.	acquired traits through use and disuse.
c.	all eat the same type of food.
d.	descended from a common ancestor.

16.

When farmers select animals or plants to use for breeding, they look for

a.	species that are perfect and unchanging.
b.	homologous structures.
c.	characteristics acquired during the lifetime of the organism.
d.	natural variations that are present in a species.

17.

When a farmer breeds only his or her best livestock, the process involved is

a.	natural selection.	c.	artificial variation.
b.	artificial selection.	d.	survival of the fittest.

18.

Which statement about the members of a population that live long enough to reproduce is consistent with the theory of natural selection?

a.	They transmit characteristics acquired by use and disuse to their offspring.
b.	They tend to produce fewer offspring than others in the population.
c.	They are the ones that are best adapted to survive in their environment.
d.	They will perpetuate unfavorable changes in the species.

19.

Charles Darwin called the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its specific environment

a.	diversity.	c.	adaptation.
b.	fitness.	d.	evolution.

20.

According to Darwin’s theory of natural selection, the individuals that tend to survive are those that have

a.	characteristics their parents acquired by use and disuse.
b.	characteristics that plant and animal breeders value.
c.	the greatest number of offspring.
d.	variations best suited to the environment.

21.

An adaptation is an inherited characteristic that can be

a.	physical or behavioral.
b.	physical or geographical.
c.	acquired during the organism’s lifetime.
d.	the result of artificial selection.

22.

Modern sea star larvae resemble some primitive vertebrate larvae. This similarity may suggest that primitive vertebrates

a.	share a common ancestor with sea stars.
b.	evolved from sea stars.
c.	evolved before sea stars.
d.	belong to the same species as sea stars.

23.

People of Charles Darwin’s time understood that fossils

a.	were preserved remains of ancient organisms.
b.	were available for every organism that ever lived.
c.	were unrelated to living species.
d.	were evidence for the evolution of life on Earth.

24.

The number and location of bones of many fossil vertebrates are similar to those in living vertebrates. Most biologists would probably explain this fact on the basis of

a.	the needs of the organisms.	c.	the struggle for existence.
b.	a common ancestor.	d.	the inheritance of acquired traits.

25.

Charles Darwin viewed the fossil record as

a.	evidence that Earth was thousands of years old.
b.	a detailed record of evolution.
c.	interesting but unrelated to the evolution of modern species.
d.	evidence that traits are acquired through use or disuse.

26.

Darwin’s theory of evolution suggests that

a.	species change over time.
b.	extinct species are not related to living species.
c.	different species can interbreed.
d.	animals that look alike are the most closely related.

27.

The same kinds of cells that grow in similar patterns in different but related organisms produce

a.	homologous structures such as wings and arms.
b.	the same kind of embryos.
c.	natural variations in a population.
d.	descent with modification.

28.

Which statement is in agreement with Darwin’s theory of evolution?

a.	More offspring are produced than can possibly survive.
b.	The organisms that are the fittest are always largest and strongest.
c.	The number of offspring is not related to fitness.
d.	Acquired characteristics that are inherited are the cause of evolution.

29.

Which concept is NOT included in the modern theory of evolution?

a.	descent with modification
b.	natural selection
c.	transmission of acquired characteristics
d.	competition among the members of a population

30.

Which phrase best defines evolution by natural selection?

a.	an adaptation of a species to its environment
b.	a sudden replacement of one population by another
c.	changes in a species as it becomes more perfect
d.	a process of change in species over time

Modified True/False
Indicate whether the statement is true or false. If false, change the identified word or phrase to make the statement true.

31.

According to Lamarck, the sea floor can be pushed up to form mountains by forces within Earth. _________________________

32.

In Charles Darwin’s time, many people thought that Earth and its living things were formed about a few thousand years ago. _________________________

33.

Evidence that the surface of a mountain was once under the sea includes the presence of marine fossils on the mountain. _________________________

34.

Lyell hypothesized that human populations are kept in check by war, disease, and famine. _________________________

35.

In 1858, Alfred Russel Wallace sent Charles Darwin an essay proposing an explanation for evolution that was very similar to Darwin’s. _________________________

36.

Artificial selection as practiced by farmers is also called selective breeding. _________________________

37.

In natural selection, human breeders, rather than the environment, select the variations of traits to be passed to offspring. ______________________________

38.

According to the concept of natural variation, living and extinct species evolved from the same ancestors. ______________________________

39.

According to Charles Darwin, individuals best suited to their environment survive and reproduce most successfully. _________________________

40.

According to Charles Darwin, members of a species must share limited resources. _________________________

Completion
Complete each statement.

41.

James Hutton and Charles Lyell held similar views about Earth’s age. Both thought that Earth was ____________________ of years old.

42.

The geologist ____________________ proposed that past changes in Earth must be explained in terms of events and processes observable today.

43.

According to __________’s theory of the inheritance of acquired traits, the long legs of certain shore birds could be acquired by frequent wading in water and then passed on to offspring.

44.

Although his idea was incorrect, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck was one of the first people to propose a scientific explanation for ____________________.

45.

When a population’s birthrate exceeds its death rate, the size of the population ____________________.

46.

Charles Darwin applied Thomas Malthus’s thoughts about human population growth to all ____________________.

47.

Charles Darwin observed that instead of being perfect and unchanging, individuals in a species show ____________________.

48.

According to Darwin’s theory of evolution, ____________________ change over time.

49.

Darwin proposed that natural selection took place as individuals best suited to the ____________________ survived and reproduced.

50.

Charles Darwin realized that the measure of success for an organism was not only a long period of survival but also ____________________.

Short Answer

51.

State a general observation that Charles Darwin made about organisms and their environments.

52.

What did Charles Darwin learn about the land tortoises of the various Galápagos Islands?

53.

What did observations of the tortoises of the Galápagos lead Charles Darwin to hypothesize about these animals’ ancestry?

54.

What was Jean-Baptiste Lamarck’s overall belief about the way organisms changed over time?

55.

Were Darwin’s hypotheses about natural selection and evolution similar to the ideas of most other scientists of his time? Explain.

56.

How did the farmers observed by Charles Darwin improve their livestock?

57.

In artificial selection, what factor substitutes for naturally occurring selection pressures?

Figure 15–1

58.

How could vestigial structures like the whale pelvis and femur shown in Figure 15–1 contribute to the theory of evolution?

59.

What did Charles Darwin conclude about the existence of a common ancestor for all life?

60.

Summarize Charles Darwin’s contribution to science.

Other

USING SCIENCE SKILLS

Figure 15–3

61.

Interpreting Graphics What differences are apparent in the bodies of the three tortoise species shown in Figure 15–3?

62.

Applying Concepts Can you tell from Figure 15–3 how closely the three tortoise species resemble the ancestral species? Why or why not?

63.

Forming Hypotheses Considering the body structure of the tortoises shown in Figure 15–3, which tortoises—a population from Pinta Island or a population from Isabela Island—might survive more successfully on Hood Island? Why?

Comparison of Two Vertebrates
Characteristics	Shark	Dolphin
Habitat	Ocean	Ocean
Type of Vertebrate	Fish	Mammal
Composition of Skeleton	Cartilage	Bone
Type of Teeth	Large numbers of sharp teeth	Large numbers of sharp teeth
Respiration	Breathes in water	Breathes in air

Figure 15–4

64.

Comparing and Contrasting Sharks and dolphins, which belong to different vertebrate groups, are not closely related. How can Darwin’s ideas about evolution help explain such a similar appearance?

65.

Predicting Suppose a dolphin population becomes trapped in a harbor that is growing smaller and more shallow because of climate changes. Is it likely that the dolphins would evolve into a land-dwelling species in a few thousand years? Explain your answer.

Essay

66.

Explain how the finches and tortoises that Charles Darwin observed on the Galápagos Islands influenced his thinking.

67.

Why is it possible that Alfred Wallace independently developed the same ideas about evolution that Darwin did?

68.

How did the practices of English farmers influence Darwin’s concept of natural selection?

69.

What might happen if a well-adapted population experienced sudden major changes in its environment?

70.

What sources of evidence did Charles Darwin consider when he presented his concept of evolution by natural selection?