Topic Test Answers

Which of the following is the best explanation for why finches on one of the islands in the Galapagos have large beaks while finches on another island have small beaks?a.Over time, the finches on the island adapted as a result of competition for resources.b.Finches migrated until they found finches with similar beak sizes.c.Finches spontaneously changed their beak size in order to better access food supplies.d.Finches with large beaks are always better adapted to their environment. Finches with small beaks only survive on islands where there were never finches with larger beaks.

Which of the following is not true about Darwin’s book On the Origin of Species?a.He worked on the manuscript for three years.b.It was successful.c.It explained his theory of evolution.d.It was based on his findings in South Africa.

Which of the following is not an example of an abiotic factor?a.plantsb.airc.temperatured.soil

A recent study has shown an increase in the number of predators in an ecosystem. Which of the following is a possible cause for the growth? a. A decrease in the population of prey it feeds on. b. An increase in the population of prey it feeds on c. A decrease in the biodiversity of the ecosystem d. An increase in the number of predators that feed on it Please select the best answer from the choices provided

Which of the following human activities most likely resulted in the growth of the North American deer population?a.hunting bisonb.clearing land for farmingc.hunting wolvesd.city building

Less than 0.1% of the energy in a food chain generally makes it from the sun to quaternary consumers.

The ecosystem is the lowest level of the biosphere hierarchy to include _______.a.the animal species presentb.weather patterns and soil conditionsc.interactions between different speciesd.the plant species present

A portion of grass in a prairie ecosystem was destroyed by wildfire. What will most likely happen to the population of bison that feed on the grass?a.The number of bison will increase.b.The number of bison will decrease.c.The bison in the ecosystem will be completely wiped out.d.The number of bison will remain unchanged.

Similarities between seemingly unrelated organisms can be explained by Darwin’s theory that organisms come from common ancestors.

For the following organisms, choose the correct order of increasing trophic level.a.fungi, deer, wolf and grassb.fungi, grass, wolf and deerc.grass, deer, wolf and fungid.grass, fungi, wolf and deer

In general the warmest biomes in the world are found _______.a.at the polesb.in the southern hemispherec.near the equatord.on the western coasts of continents

Which of the following is the biggest threat to the Monarch butterflies’ annual migration? a. illegal logging c. airplanes b. cold winters d. new predators Please select the best answer from the choices provided

Scientists use specific levels of organization in order to analyze the biosphere. The Everglades are a large area of subtropical wetlands found in Florida. A variety of plants and animals can be found in the Everglades, including Florida panthers, cypress trees, herons, and alligators. Photo by National Park Service Which level of organization is not seen in the Everglades?

Too much logging in the Oyamel fir forests could lead to the eastern monarch butterfly going extinct because _______. a. the entire population of the species spends winter in Oyamel c. the winters are too cold in Oyamel b. the butterflies breed in the Oyamel fir trees d. the butterflies feed on the Oyamel fir trees Please select the best answer from the choices provided

The biggest threats to Christmas Island crabs during their annual migration are _______.a.dogsc.automobilesb.catsd.fences

It is advantageous for a predator to prey exclusively on a single prey species.

Organisms produce their own energy or provide energy for other organisms in a food chain. Many different organisms can be found in the Amazon rainforest in South America. Organisms in this biome include a variety of trees, plants, insects, fish, birds, reptiles, and mammals. The jaguar and anaconda are among the largest predators found in the Amazon. Photo by Trisha M. Shears Photo by US Fish and Wildlife Service Which trophic level do anacondas and jaguars fill in the Amazon rainforest?

What types of organisms will be affected by a decreased supply of water in an ecosystem?a.Producers, consumers, and decomposers will be affected.b.Producers and consumers will be affected.c.Consumers and decomposers will be affected.d.No organisms will be affected.

Which of the following is not a part of Darwin’s theory of evolution?a.Changes in organisms occur immediately.b.Organisms change over time.c.Species evolution occurs through natural selection.d.Organisms developed from common ancestors.

Organisms that have a physical trait that makes it easier for them to access food supplies are unlikely to pass on that trait to their offspring.