Online Test — Evolution
17 Questions • 15 min • Chapter MCQ
15:00
Question 1 of 17
Evolution is the gradual change in organisms over:
A few days
Very long periods of time
One generation
A single year
Explanation: Evolution occurs slowly over very long periods.
Question 2 of 17
The idea that life arose from non-living chemicals is called:
Chemical evolution
Special creation
Natural selection
Mutation
Explanation: Chemical evolution: life from non-living chemicals on early Earth.
Question 3 of 17
The Miller–Urey experiment produced:
Complete cells
Simple organic molecules like amino acids
Fossils
DNA fingerprints
Explanation: It formed simple organic molecules from early-Earth gases.
Question 4 of 17
Preserved remains of ancient organisms in rocks are:
Fossils
Genes
Codons
Hormones
Explanation: Fossils are preserved remains showing past life.
Question 5 of 17
Organs with the same structure but different functions are:
Analogous
Homologous
Vestigial
Identical
Explanation: Homologous organs share structure but differ in function.
Question 6 of 17
The wings of a bird and an insect (different structure, same function) are:
Homologous
Analogous
Fossils
Vestigial
Explanation: Same function, different structure = analogous organs.
Question 7 of 17
The theory of natural selection was proposed by:
Lamarck
Charles Darwin
Mendel
Pasteur
Explanation: Darwin proposed natural selection.
Question 8 of 17
Darwin's book on evolution is:
On the Origin of Species
The Selfish Gene
Principia
Silent Spring
Explanation: Darwin wrote 'On the Origin of Species' (1859).
Question 9 of 17
'Survival of the fittest' means individuals that survive and reproduce are those with:
No variation
Favourable variations
The largest size only
The most offspring only
Explanation: Those with favourable variations survive and reproduce.
Question 10 of 17
Lamarck's theory of inheritance of acquired characters is now:
Accepted fully
Rejected
Proven
Untested
Explanation: Acquired characters are not inherited, so the theory is rejected.
Question 11 of 17
The main source of new variation for evolution is:
Mutation
Digestion
Excretion
Respiration
Explanation: Mutations (and recombination) create variation.
Question 12 of 17
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria arise because resistant individuals:
Survive and multiply
All die
Stop reproducing
Lose their DNA
Explanation: Resistant bacteria survive selection and multiply.
Question 13 of 17
Humans and modern apes:
Share a common ancestor
Are unrelated
Are the same species
Never evolved
Explanation: They evolved from a shared common ancestor.
Question 14 of 17
The early human called the 'handy man' (a tool maker) is:
Homo habilis
Homo sapiens
Australopithecus
Dryopithecus
Explanation: Homo habilis made and used simple stone tools.
Question 15 of 17
Modern humans belong to the species:
Homo erectus
Homo sapiens
Homo habilis
Ramapithecus
Explanation: Modern humans are Homo sapiens.
Question 16 of 17
Evolution, in the modern synthetic theory, is best defined as a change in:
Allele (gene) frequencies in a population
Soil colour
Day length
Body temperature
Explanation: Evolution is described as a change in allele frequencies over generations.
Question 17 of 17
Movement of alleles between populations as individuals migrate is:
Gene flow
Mutation
Fossilisation
Translation
Explanation: Gene flow is the transfer of alleles between populations by migration.