PART A: MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS QUESTION 1. [HSC 2007 Q13] The effectiveness of a new insecticide was tested on a large population of mosquitoes over a number of breeding cycles. At first, the population of mosquitoes was reduced dramatically by the use of the insecticide. After a number of breeding cycles the population then began to increase until the insecticide appeared to have little effect. How would the Darwin/Wallace theory of evolution by natural selection explain these observations? (a) Some of the original population were isolated from the insecticide as a control group. (b) Some of the original population had already reproduced before the insecticide was used. (c) Some of the original population were resistant to the insecticide and passed this on to their offspring. (d) Some of the original population adapted to the insecticide and survived to produce offspring. QUESTION 2. Survival of the fittest is another name for natural selection, proposed by Charles Darwin. The word fittest is described by which of the following statements? (a) The fittest organism can find and eat the most food. (b) The fittest organism can survive all challenges to their dominance. (c) The fittest organism can produce the largest number of surviving offspring. (d) The fittest organism can survive harsh environmental conditions. QUESTION 3. [CSSA 2004 Q6] Glycolysis is a metabolic pathway found in all types of cells. Which of the following is the best explanation of this observation? (a) Glycolysis is very complex so it must have evolved very recently. (b) Because it is an important pathway it has evolved many times. (c) It evolved very early in the history of life on earth. (d) It is found in all cells so it evolved in the first eukaryotes. Copyright MATRIX EDUCATION 2014 Page 10 of 108 Our Students Come First!
QUESTION 4. Biological thinking was changed after which of the following events? (a) Charles Darwin invented the idea of evolution. (b) Charles Darwin proposed a mechanism of evolution. (c) Charles Darwin discovered fossil finches. (d) Charles Darwin discovered variation within species. QUESTION 5. [FSHS 2010 Q20] Which of the following is least likely to contribute to evolution by natural selection? (a) Mutation (b) Large number of offspring (c) Offspring that are identical to their parents (d) Offspring that differ from the parents QUESTION 6. [NEAP 2008 Q6] Which of the following is an example of divergent evolution? (a) The similar streamline shapes of sharks and kangaroos (b) The fact that kangaroos and Tasmanian devils are both marsupials (c) The predatory niche filled by the thylacine in Australia and the wolf in the Northern hemisphere (d) The large flaps of skin between front and hind legs possessed by Australian honey gliders and North American flying squirrels which are used for gliding between trees QUESTION 7. [CSSA 2007 Q7] What is the name of the process that occurs when different species living in similar isolated environments evolve similar adaptations? (a) Adaptive radiation (b) Convergent evolution (c) Divergent evolution (d) Punctuated equilibrium Copyright MATRIX EDUCATION 2014 Page 11 of 108 Our Students Come First!
QUESTION 8. [FSHS 2010 Q11] Many species of bird have webbed feet. These are obviously useful for paddling through water. For many years biologists grouped all birds with webbed feet together and considered them more closely related to each other than to other birds. In recent years however, techniques such as DNA hybridization and DNA sequencing have shown that many of the groups of birds with webbed feet are actually more closely related to groups of birds without webbed feet than they are to each other The occurrence of webbed feet in birds is an example of? (a) Adaptive radiation (b) Evidence of common ancestry (c) Divergent evolution (d) Convergent evolution Copyright MATRIX EDUCATION 2014 Page 12 of 108 Our Students Come First!
PART B: SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS QUESTION 9. [HSC 2008 Q21] Both the Australian marsupial bilby and the North American placental jack rabbit are found in hot, dry environments. How would the Darwin/Wallace theory of evolution account for the similarity in ear size? 3 State that the similarity of the ear size is due to convergent evolution (1). Explain why the thin ears would have been a favourable trait that survived in the two environments (2). State that the similarity of ear size is due to convergent evolution. OR Explain why the thin ears would have been a favourable trait that survived in the two environments. 3 1-2 Copyright MATRIX EDUCATION 2014 Page 13 of 108 Our Students Come First!
QUESTION 10. During the course of your study of Biology you had to process information from secondary sources to discuss the effect of social and political influences on the development of evolutionary theory. a) Briefly outline how you would assess the reliability of secondary information that you have used. 2 Check for date of publication. 2 Outlines the consultation of a number of credible sources. One of the above points. 1 b) Analyse the effect of social and political influences on the development of the theory of evolution. 4 Accounts how the Church hindered the development of evolutionary theory (2). Gives an analysis on the impact of Darwin s idea on sociological thought (2). 4 Copyright MATRIX EDUCATION 2014 Page 14 of 108 Our Students Come First!
QUESTION 11. This question refers to the following diagram. It shows a possible evolutionary tree for Darwin s finches found on the Galapagos Islands. Explain how Darwin/Wallace s theory of evolution by natural selection and isolation could account for the evolution of these finches from a common ancestor. 4 States that the radiation of Darwin s finches is an example of divergent evolution (1). Gives a step by step summary of how divergent evolution may have taken place (2). Includes in the answer the terms of adaptive radiation and speciation (1). 4 Copyright MATRIX EDUCATION 2014 Page 15 of 108 Our Students Come First!
QUESTION 12. [NEAP 2009 Q25] This year is the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin s birth. It also marks 150 years since Darwin published the Origin of Species. a) A modern example of natural selection is the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. How would Charles Darwin have explained antibiotic resistance in bacteria? 3 Describes natural selection in terms of variation, favorable characteristics and reproduction. 3 Describes natural selection in two of the terms above. 2 Describes natural selection in only one of the terms above. 1 b) How did you model natural selection in the classroom? 2 A description of a logical method with quantities stated. 2 A description of a method without quantities stated. 1 Copyright MATRIX EDUCATION 2014 Page 16 of 108 Our Students Come First!
QUESTION 13. a) Define the term adaptive radiation (divergent evolution). 1 Correct definition 1 b) The Australian marsupial and sugar glider and the American flying squirrel have many features in common although they are not closely related. Biologists say that the two species are examples of convergent evolution. Apply your knowledge of natural selection to explain how the two species came to have similar features. 3 Explains convergent evolution (1). States that the similarities are due to them living in similar environmental conditions (1). Explain how the similar environments have led to similar criterion by which natural selection takes place (1). 3 Copyright MATRIX EDUCATION 2014 Page 17 of 108 Our Students Come First!
c) Explain how the isolation of populations can lead to the development of new species. 3 State that isolation leads to divergent evolution (1). Explains how isolation establishes different selective pressures by which the isolated populations independently evolve (1). Explains that over time as a result of the isolation, speciation may take place (1). 3 Copyright MATRIX EDUCATION 2014 Page 18 of 108 Our Students Come First!
QUESTION 14. Using examples, explain the difference between convergent and divergent evolution. 4 Clearly defines convergent evolution and gives an appropriate example (2). Clearly defines divergent evolution and gives an appropriate example (2). 4 Copyright MATRIX EDUCATION 2014 Page 19 of 108 Our Students Come First!