by alex
Step into the fascinating world of natural selection, where the survival of the fittest shapes the diversity of life on Earth. This quiz will take you through the intricacies of evolutionary mechanisms, from genetic variations to environmental pressures. Sharpen your knowledge and see how well you understand the forces that drive evolution.
Natural Selection Quiz Questions Overview
1. Who is credited with the theory of natural selection?
Charles Darwin
Gregor Mendel
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Alfred Russel Wallace
2. What is the main mechanism by which natural selection operates?
Genetic drift
Mutation
Gene flow
Differential survival and reproduction
3. Which of the following is NOT a type of natural selection?
Directional selection
Stabilizing selection
Disruptive selection
Random selection
4. What term describes the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment?
Fitness
Adaptation
Mutation
Speciation
5. Which of the following is an example of an adaptation?
A bird’s beak shape suited for its food source
Random genetic mutations
A sudden change in climate
Gene flow between populations
6. What is genetic drift?
The movement of genes between populations
Random changes in allele frequencies in a population
The effect of natural selection on a population
The development of new species
7. Which scientist independently conceived the theory of natural selection at the same time as Charles Darwin?
Gregor Mendel
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
Alfred Russel Wallace
Thomas Malthus
8. What is the term for the formation of a new species?
Adaptation
Speciation
Natural selection
Genetic drift
9. Which of the following best describes ‘survival of the fittest’?
The strongest individuals survive
The individuals best adapted to their environment survive and reproduce
The largest individuals survive
The individuals with the most offspring survive
10. What is an example of directional selection?
A population of birds where only the medium-sized beaks are favored
A population of moths where darker moths become more common due to industrial pollution
A population of rabbits where both very fast and very slow rabbits are favored
A population of fish where there is no change in the distribution of traits
