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Content Benchmark L.12.D.5
Students know biological evolution explains the diversity of life. E/S
1st Item Specification: Explain that organisms change over time as a result of biological
evolution.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
1. Natural selection can best be defined as the
A. survival of the biggest and strongest organisms in a population.
B. elimination of the smallest organisms by the biggest organisms.
C. survival and reproduction of the organisms that occupy the largest area.
D. survival and reproduction of the organisms that are genetically best adapted.
2. Natural selection acts on
A. all genes in population.
B. phenotypes that are expressed.
C. recessive alleles.
D. all somatic mutations.
3. Gene flow describes the
A. movement of genes from one generation to the next.
B. exchange of genes during recombination.
C. movement of genes from one population to another.
D. sexual recombination of genes in a population.
4. The major unifying concept in biology that provides an explanation for the vast diversity
of life on our planet is the
A. theory of evolution.
B. cell theory.
C. classification theorem.
D. gene-chromosome theorem.
5. Which idea below best explains how organisms adapt and change over time?
A. The theory of use and disuse.
B. The change in gene pool due to mutation.
C. The theory of natural selection.
D. The desire for organisms to change and adapt.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
6. In an African population 9% of individuals are homozygous recessive for sickle-cell
anemia. What percentage of the population would be expected to be heterozygous for this
trait?
A.
B.
C.
D.
30%
42%
49%
70%
7. In watermelons striped green is dominant to solid green. In a garden of 100 plants 25 are
solid green. What percentage would be expected to be heterozygous striped?
A. 0%
B. 25%
C. 50%
D. 75%
2nd Item Specification: Recognize that all populations have some genetic variations.
Depth of Knowledge Level 1
8. Genetic variations are the raw material for evolution. These variations cannot be acted
upon by natural selection unless they
A. are expressed in the phenotype of the organism.
B. produce only unfavorable characteristics.
C. produce only favorable characteristics.
D. are expressed in non-sex cells.
9. Which statement below is TRUE about natural selection?
A. It produces changes in a species’ environment.
B. It can lead to changes in variations among a species.
C. It will lead to the overpopulation of a species.
D. It generally leads to less competition in nature.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
10. Use the passage and the illustration below to answer the next question. The illustration
below shows the variation in beak depth of three finch species found among these
different islands in the Galapagos Archipelago.
(From http://ecology.botany.ufl.edu/ecologyf02/graphics/F22-26.gif)
How would a biologist explain the variation in the beak sized of these three species of
finches?
A. The beak sizes slowly changed over numerous generations with some growing
larger and some growing smaller.
B. The various habitats of the islands induced desirable genetic changes producing
the variation seen today.
C. They developed differences in beak size because of their need to be able to match
the size of their beaks with the different types of food on these islands.
D. Variation in beak sizes occurred by chance and when a match between beak size
and available food occurred, those birds produce more offspring.
11. The picture below illustrates the location and types of tortoises that Charles Darwin
observed on the Galapagos Islands. The tortoises have necks of different lengths and
shells that differ in overall shape and in the size of the opening for the neck.
(Adapted from ExamView)
The vegetation on Hood Island is sparse and sometimes hard to reach. Which of the
following options BEST EXPLAINS how vegetation may have affected the
evolution of the Hood Island tortoise?
A. The tortoises stretched their necks to reach the vegetation and each generation
the tortoises’ offspring grew longer necks.
B. The tortoises with long necks and a shell that provided greater neck movement
obtained food more easily, survived longer, and produced more offspring than
other tortoises.
C. The tortoises learned to climb to reach the vegetation and this trait was
inherited by each successive generation.
D. The tortoises inherited flexible shells that enabled them to reach the higher
vegetation and over time, the shape of their shell changed to allow more
movement.
Content Benchmark L.12.D.5
Students know biological evolution explains the diversity of life. E/S
Answers to Sample Test Questions
1. D, DOK Level 1
2. B, DOK Level 1
3. C, DOK Level 1
4. A, DOK Level 1
5. C, DOK Level 1
6. B, DOK Level 2
7. C, DOK Level 2
8. A, DOK Level 1
9. B, DOK Level 1
10. D, DOK Level 2
11. B, DOK Level 2