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Secondary 4 Pure Biology Evolution Diversity Quiz
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Questions
Secondary 4 Pure Biology Quiz - Evolution Diversity
Name: ________________________
Class: ________________________
Date: ________________________
Score: ______ / 50
Duration: 45 minutes
Total Marks: 50
Instructions:
- This quiz contains 20 questions on the topic of Evolution and Diversity.
- Answer ALL questions in the spaces provided.
- The marks for each question are indicated in brackets.
- Read each question carefully before answering.
- Where explanations are required, use appropriate biological terminology.
Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (10 marks)
Choose the most appropriate answer for each question. Circle the letter of your choice.
1. Which of the following provides the strongest evidence that all living organisms share a common ancestor?
A. All organisms use ATP as their energy currency.
B. All organisms are made of cells.
C. All organisms use the same genetic code to translate mRNA into proteins.
D. All organisms undergo respiration.
[1 mark]
2. The wings of a bat and the wings of a butterfly are considered analogous structures because they:
A. Share a common embryonic origin.
B. Have similar internal bone structures.
C. Perform the same function but evolved independently.
D. Are inherited from a recent common ancestor.
[1 mark]
3. In natural selection, the term "fitness" refers to an organism's ability to:
A. Survive the longest in its environment.
B. Be the strongest individual in the population.
C. Compete successfully for food resources.
D. Survive and produce viable, fertile offspring.
[1 mark]
4. Which of the following statements about antibiotic resistance in bacteria is correct?
A. Antibiotics cause mutations that make bacteria resistant.
B. Resistant bacteria already exist in the population before antibiotic exposure.
C. All bacteria in a population become resistant when exposed to antibiotics.
D. Antibiotic resistance cannot be passed to future generations.
[1 mark]
5. The pentadactyl limb structure found in mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians is an example of:
A. Convergent evolution.
B. Analogous structures.
C. Divergent evolution.
D. Vestigial structures.
[1 mark]
6. Which of the following is an example of a vestigial structure in humans?
A. The opposable thumb.
B. The appendix.
C. The large intestine.
D. The diaphragm.
[1 mark]
7. Two populations of the same species become geographically isolated by a mountain range. Over thousands of years, they evolve into different species. This is an example of:
A. Sympatric speciation.
B. Allopatric speciation.
C. Convergent evolution.
D. Artificial selection.
[1 mark]
8. The fossil record provides evidence for evolution. Which of the following is a limitation of the fossil record?
A. Fossils show that organisms have changed over time.
B. Fossils can be dated using radioactive isotopes.
C. Fossilisation is a rare event, so the record is incomplete.
D. Fossils show transitional forms between groups.
[1 mark]
9. Which scientist, along with Charles Darwin, independently proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection?
A. Gregor Mendel.
B. Jean-Baptiste Lamarck.
C. Alfred Russel Wallace.
D. James Watson.
[1 mark]
10. The evolution of pesticide resistance in insect populations occurs because:
A. Individual insects develop immunity after pesticide exposure.
B. Pesticides cause mutations that confer resistance.
C. Insects with pre-existing resistance genes survive and reproduce.
D. All insects eventually adapt to the pesticide.
[1 mark]
Section B: Structured Questions (24 marks)
Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
11. The diagram below shows the forelimbs of four different vertebrates: a human, a cat, a whale, and a bat.
![Diagram: Forelimbs of four vertebrates showing similar bone arrangement - humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, phalanges]
(a) Identify the type of structures shown in the diagram and explain what they indicate about the evolutionary relationship among these organisms. [2 marks]
(b) Explain how these structures provide evidence for divergent evolution. [2 marks]
12. The peppered moth (Biston betularia) exists in two forms: a light-coloured form and a dark (melanic) form. Before the Industrial Revolution in England, the light form was more common. During the Industrial Revolution, tree trunks became darkened by soot, and the dark form became more common.
(a) Explain why the dark form of the peppered moth became more common during the Industrial Revolution. Use the principles of natural selection in your answer. [4 marks]
(b) State one source of genetic variation that produces the two different colour forms in the moth population. [1 mark]
13. The graph below shows the development of antibiotic resistance in a population of bacteria over time. The arrows indicate when a course of antibiotics was administered.
![Graph: Percentage of antibiotic-resistant bacteria over time, showing increases after each antibiotic course]
(a) Describe the trend shown in the graph. [2 marks]
(b) Explain why the percentage of resistant bacteria increases after each course of antibiotics. [3 marks]
14. The table below shows the percentage similarity of DNA sequences between humans and four other primate species.
| Species | Percentage DNA Similarity with Humans |
|---|---|
| Chimpanzee | 98.8% |
| Gorilla | 98.4% |
| Orangutan | 96.9% |
| Gibbon | 94.7% |
(a) State the relationship between DNA similarity and evolutionary relatedness. [1 mark]
(b) Based on the data, identify which species is most closely related to humans and which is most distantly related. [1 mark]
(c) Explain how molecular evidence, such as DNA sequencing, supports the theory of evolution. [2 marks]
15. The Galápagos finches studied by Charles Darwin show a variety of beak shapes adapted to different food sources.
(a) Explain how natural selection could lead to the evolution of different beak shapes in finches on different islands. [4 marks]
(b) State why the Galápagos finches are considered an example of adaptive radiation. [2 marks]
Section C: Data-Based and Extended Response Questions (16 marks)
Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
16. The diagram below shows the evolutionary relationships among several vertebrate groups based on fossil and molecular evidence.
![Diagram: Phylogenetic tree showing relationships among fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals]
(a) Identify the most recent common ancestor of birds and mammals on the phylogenetic tree. [1 mark]
(b) Explain why birds are more closely related to reptiles than to mammals, despite both birds and mammals being warm-blooded. [2 marks]
(c) State one piece of evidence, other than fossils and DNA, that scientists use to construct phylogenetic trees. [1 mark]
17. The development of resistance to the insecticide DDT in mosquito populations has been well documented since the 1950s.
(a) Explain how the widespread use of DDT led to the evolution of DDT-resistant mosquito populations. [4 marks]
(b) Suggest why it is difficult to completely eliminate DDT-resistant mosquitoes once resistance has evolved in a population. [2 marks]
18. The theory of evolution by natural selection is supported by multiple lines of evidence.
(a) State two different types of evidence that support the theory of evolution. [2 marks]
(b) For one of the types of evidence you stated in (a), explain how it provides support for evolution. [2 marks]
19. The diagram below shows the process of speciation in a population of fish that became separated into two lakes.
![Diagram: Two lakes formed from one, each with different environmental conditions, leading to two distinct fish species]
(a) Name the type of speciation shown in the diagram. [1 mark]
(b) Explain how the two populations could become separate species over time, even if the physical barrier is later removed. [3 marks]
20. "Survival of the fittest" is a phrase often used to describe natural selection. However, this phrase can be misleading.
(a) Explain what "fitness" means in the context of natural selection. [1 mark]
(b) Explain why "survival of the fittest" may be a misleading description of natural selection. [2 marks]
END OF QUIZ
Check your answers carefully before submitting.
Answers
Secondary 4 Pure Biology Quiz - Evolution Diversity
Answer Key and Marking Scheme
Total Marks: 50
Section A: Multiple Choice Questions (10 marks)
| Question | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | The universality of the genetic code (all organisms use the same codons to specify amino acids) is the strongest molecular evidence for a common ancestor. While A, B, and D are shared features, they do not provide as direct evidence of common ancestry as the genetic code. |
| 2 | C | Analogous structures perform the same function but evolved independently in different lineages (convergent evolution). Bat wings (mammalian forelimb) and butterfly wings (insect outgrowth) have different origins. |
| 3 | D | In evolutionary terms, fitness is measured by reproductive success—the ability to survive and produce viable, fertile offspring that can themselves reproduce. |
| 4 | B | Antibiotic resistance arises from pre-existing genetic variation. Resistant bacteria already exist in the population due to random mutations. Antibiotics select for these resistant individuals by killing susceptible ones. |
| 5 | C | The pentadactyl limb is a homologous structure that has diverged from a common ancestral limb structure to serve different functions in different groups (divergent evolution). |
| 6 | B | The appendix is a vestigial structure—a remnant of an organ that was functional in ancestors but has reduced or no function in humans today. |
| 7 | B | Allopatric speciation occurs when populations are geographically separated (by a mountain range, river, etc.) and evolve independently until they can no longer interbreed. |
| 8 | C | Fossilisation requires specific conditions and is rare. Many organisms never fossilise, and many fossils remain undiscovered, making the fossil record incomplete. |
| 9 | C | Alfred Russel Wallace independently developed a theory of evolution by natural selection. His work prompted Darwin to publish On the Origin of Species in 1859. |
| 10 | C | Pesticide resistance evolves through natural selection. Insects with pre-existing resistance genes (from random mutations) survive pesticide application and pass these genes to offspring. |
Marking: 1 mark per correct answer. Total = 10 marks.
Section B: Structured Questions (24 marks)
Question 11 (4 marks)
(a) [2 marks]
- These are homologous structures [1 mark].
- They indicate that these organisms share a common ancestor / are evolutionarily related, as the same basic bone arrangement has been modified for different functions [1 mark].
(b) [2 marks]
- Divergent evolution occurs when populations of a common ancestor evolve different traits to adapt to different environments/ways of life [1 mark].
- The pentadactyl limb has been modified from the ancestral structure into different forms (human hand for manipulation, cat paw for walking, whale flipper for swimming, bat wing for flying), demonstrating divergence from a common ancestral form [1 mark].
Question 12 (5 marks)
(a) [4 marks]
- Variation: There was genetic variation in the moth population, with both light and dark forms present [1 mark].
- Selection pressure: The darkening of tree trunks by soot meant light-coloured moths were more visible to predators (birds), while dark moths were better camouflaged [1 mark].
- Differential survival: Dark moths were more likely to survive and reproduce, while light moths were more likely to be eaten [1 mark].
- Inheritance: The dark moths passed their alleles for dark colouration to their offspring. Over generations, the frequency of the dark allele increased in the population [1 mark].
(b) [1 mark]
- Mutation (a random change in the DNA/gene controlling wing colour) [1 mark].
Question 13 (5 marks)
(a) [2 marks]
- The percentage of antibiotic-resistant bacteria increases after each course of antibiotics [1 mark].
- Between antibiotic courses, the percentage may remain stable or decrease slightly, but the overall trend is an increase in resistance over time [1 mark].
(b) [3 marks]
- Before antibiotic treatment, a small proportion of bacteria already possess resistance genes due to random mutations [1 mark].
- When antibiotics are administered, susceptible bacteria are killed, but resistant bacteria survive (the antibiotic acts as a selection pressure) [1 mark].
- The surviving resistant bacteria reproduce, passing their resistance genes to their offspring. With each course of antibiotics, the proportion of resistant bacteria increases [1 mark].
Question 14 (4 marks)
(a) [1 mark]
- The higher the percentage of DNA similarity, the more closely related the species are / the more recently they shared a common ancestor [1 mark].
(b) [1 mark]
- Most closely related: Chimpanzee (98.8% similarity) [0.5 marks].
- Most distantly related: Gibbon (94.7% similarity) [0.5 marks].
(c) [2 marks]
- DNA sequencing allows comparison of genetic material between different species [1 mark].
- Species that share a more recent common ancestor have more similar DNA sequences because there has been less time for mutations to accumulate. This pattern of molecular similarity supports the evolutionary relationships predicted by the theory of evolution [1 mark].
Question 15 (6 marks)
(a) [4 marks]
- Variation: There was genetic variation in beak shape and size within the ancestral finch population [1 mark].
- Different selection pressures: Different islands had different available food sources (e.g., large seeds, small seeds, insects, cactus flowers). Each food source favoured a different beak shape [1 mark].
- Differential survival and reproduction: Finches with beak shapes suited to the available food on their island were more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their alleles for that beak shape [1 mark].
- Accumulation of changes: Over many generations, the populations on different islands accumulated different adaptations, leading to the evolution of distinct beak shapes and eventually different species [1 mark].
(b) [2 marks]
- Adaptive radiation is the rapid evolution of many diverse species from a single ancestral species [1 mark].
- The Galápagos finches diversified from a common ancestor into multiple species, each with beak shapes adapted to different ecological niches/food sources on different islands [1 mark].
Section C: Data-Based and Extended Response Questions (16 marks)
Question 16 (4 marks)
(a) [1 mark]
- The common ancestor at the node/reptile-like ancestor where the reptile and mammal lineages diverged [1 mark]. (Accept: the amniote common ancestor / the reptilian ancestor)
(b) [2 marks]
- Birds share a more recent common ancestor with reptiles than with mammals, as shown by their closer position on the phylogenetic tree [1 mark].
- Despite both being warm-blooded, birds and mammals evolved endothermy (warm-bloodedness) independently (convergent evolution). Birds inherited many other characteristics (e.g., scales on legs, egg-laying, skeletal features) from their reptilian ancestors [1 mark].
(c) [1 mark]
- Comparative anatomy / homologous structures / comparative embryology / vestigial structures / biogeography [1 mark]. (Accept any one valid type of evidence)
Question 17 (6 marks)
(a) [4 marks]
- Variation: Within the mosquito population, there was genetic variation. Some mosquitoes possessed alleles that conferred resistance to DDT due to random mutations [1 mark].
- Selection pressure: When DDT was applied, it acted as a strong selection pressure, killing susceptible mosquitoes [1 mark].
- Differential survival: Mosquitoes with resistance alleles survived the DDT application, while susceptible mosquitoes died [1 mark].
- Reproduction and inheritance: The surviving resistant mosquitoes reproduced, passing their resistance alleles to their offspring. Over many generations, the frequency of resistance alleles in the population increased, resulting in a DDT-resistant population [1 mark].
(b) [2 marks]
- The resistance alleles are already widespread in the population, so most mosquitoes carry them [1 mark].
- Resistant mosquitoes continue to reproduce, and any new susceptible individuals that arise (or migrate in) will be killed by DDT, maintaining the high frequency of resistance alleles. The resistance trait is heritable and will persist in the population [1 mark].
Question 18 (4 marks)
(a) [2 marks]
- Any two from: fossil record, comparative anatomy (homologous structures), comparative embryology, molecular evidence (DNA/protein sequences), vestigial structures, biogeography (distribution of species) [1 mark each, maximum 2 marks].
(b) [2 marks]
- Award marks for a clear explanation of how the chosen evidence supports evolution. Example for fossil record:
- Fossils show that organisms have changed over time, with simpler organisms found in older rocks and more complex organisms in younger rocks [1 mark].
- Transitional fossils (e.g., Archaeopteryx) show intermediate characteristics between ancestral and descendant groups, demonstrating evolutionary links [1 mark].
- Example for comparative anatomy:
- Homologous structures (e.g., pentadactyl limb) have the same basic structural plan but different functions, indicating descent from a common ancestor [1 mark].
- The similarities in bone arrangement cannot be explained by function alone and suggest shared ancestry [1 mark].
- (Accept any valid evidence with appropriate explanation. Award marks based on quality of explanation.)
Question 19 (4 marks)
(a) [1 mark]
- Allopatric speciation [1 mark].
(b) [3 marks]
- The two populations experience different environmental conditions/selection pressures in their respective lakes, leading to different adaptations [1 mark].
- Over time, genetic differences accumulate through natural selection and genetic drift. Mutations occurring in one population are not shared with the other [1 mark].
- Eventually, the populations become so genetically different that they can no longer interbreed to produce viable, fertile offspring (reproductive isolation). Even if the physical barrier is removed, gene flow cannot occur because they are now separate species [1 mark].
Question 20 (3 marks)
(a) [1 mark]
- Fitness refers to an organism's ability to survive and reproduce, passing its alleles to the next generation / reproductive success [1 mark].
(b) [2 marks]
- "Survival of the fittest" overemphasises survival alone, whereas evolutionary fitness depends on reproductive success—an organism that survives but does not reproduce has zero fitness [1 mark].
- The phrase also implies that evolution favours the "strongest" or most physically fit individuals, when in reality, fitness depends on how well an organism is adapted to its specific environment. Traits that enhance survival and reproduction in one environment may be disadvantageous in another [1 mark].
END OF ANSWER KEY