Page 1 of 35
INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY C190 PRE-ASSESSMENT
TEST WITH SOLUTIONS
Where is the ancestor of wolves and gorillas, but not
frogs, depicted on this cladogram?
-point D
-point E
-between points E and F
-between points C and D
point E
Which item would be classified as biotic?
-light
-wind
-temperature
-fungus
fungus
Which item is an atom?
-carbon dioxide
-nitrogen
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-sucrose
-methane
nitrogen
Largemouth bass have recently been introduced into
ponds that previously did not contain any large,
predatory fish.
Which adaptation would help the existing population of
small, prey species of fish avoid predation from the
largemouth bass?
-fins with smaller surface areas
-faster average swim speed
-more noticeable body coloration
-more time actively foraging for food each day
faster average swim speed
Western spadefoot toads breed and deposit their
fertilized eggs in small, often short-lived ponds. The
tadpoles grow in the ponds for a period of time before
undergoing a metamorphosis into an adult frog. One
unusual characteristic of spadefoot tadpoles is the
ability to change body form during development.
Normally most tadpoles are herbivorous and feed on
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plant material. However, when conditions in the ponds
suggest they are beginning to dry up (e.g., an increase in
water temperature or concentration of organic waste),
a small percentage of individuals in the population
undergo a dramatic change in body form and habit and
begin to eat their competitors. This ability is considered
to be advantageous as it both reduces the number of
competitors in the pond and speeds up the rate of
development of the transformed tadpoles.
If global climate change continues (as predicted) to
increase the average temperature of habitats around
the world, how would populations of spadefoot toads
likely evolve in response to an increase in pond
temperatures?
-Spadefoot toads would likely evolve to lay fewer eggs
to try and offset the increase in the mortality rate.
-Spadefoot toads would likely evolve to increase the
period of tadpole development.
-Spadefoot toads would likely evolve to have a higher
percentage of tadpoles be herbivorous.
-Spadefoot toads would likely evolve to have a higher
percentage of toads become carnivorous.
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Spadefoot toads would likely evolve to have a higher
percentage of toads become carnivorous.
Male peacocks compete with one another to mate
female peacocks. Males with more colorful tail feathers
attract female mates at a higher rate than those
without. Therefore, male peacocks have colorful tail
feathers, whereas female peacocks do not.
What is this an example of?
-sexual selection
-artificial selection
-gene flow
-genetic drift
sexual selection
A gardener maintains a species of rose that produce
either yellow flowers (the dominant phenotype) or
white flowers (the recessive phenotype). One day, the
gardener observes that a cross between two yellow
rose bushes has led to a single rose bush with orange
flowers.
What evolutionary mechanism is involved in the change
INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY C190 PRE-ASSESSMENT
TEST WITH SOLUTIONS
Where is the ancestor of wolves and gorillas, but not
frogs, depicted on this cladogram?
-point D
-point E
-between points E and F
-between points C and D
point E
Which item would be classified as biotic?
-light
-wind
-temperature
-fungus
fungus
Which item is an atom?
-carbon dioxide
-nitrogen
, Page 2 of 35
-sucrose
-methane
nitrogen
Largemouth bass have recently been introduced into
ponds that previously did not contain any large,
predatory fish.
Which adaptation would help the existing population of
small, prey species of fish avoid predation from the
largemouth bass?
-fins with smaller surface areas
-faster average swim speed
-more noticeable body coloration
-more time actively foraging for food each day
faster average swim speed
Western spadefoot toads breed and deposit their
fertilized eggs in small, often short-lived ponds. The
tadpoles grow in the ponds for a period of time before
undergoing a metamorphosis into an adult frog. One
unusual characteristic of spadefoot tadpoles is the
ability to change body form during development.
Normally most tadpoles are herbivorous and feed on
, Page 3 of 35
plant material. However, when conditions in the ponds
suggest they are beginning to dry up (e.g., an increase in
water temperature or concentration of organic waste),
a small percentage of individuals in the population
undergo a dramatic change in body form and habit and
begin to eat their competitors. This ability is considered
to be advantageous as it both reduces the number of
competitors in the pond and speeds up the rate of
development of the transformed tadpoles.
If global climate change continues (as predicted) to
increase the average temperature of habitats around
the world, how would populations of spadefoot toads
likely evolve in response to an increase in pond
temperatures?
-Spadefoot toads would likely evolve to lay fewer eggs
to try and offset the increase in the mortality rate.
-Spadefoot toads would likely evolve to increase the
period of tadpole development.
-Spadefoot toads would likely evolve to have a higher
percentage of tadpoles be herbivorous.
-Spadefoot toads would likely evolve to have a higher
percentage of toads become carnivorous.
, Page 4 of 35
Spadefoot toads would likely evolve to have a higher
percentage of toads become carnivorous.
Male peacocks compete with one another to mate
female peacocks. Males with more colorful tail feathers
attract female mates at a higher rate than those
without. Therefore, male peacocks have colorful tail
feathers, whereas female peacocks do not.
What is this an example of?
-sexual selection
-artificial selection
-gene flow
-genetic drift
sexual selection
A gardener maintains a species of rose that produce
either yellow flowers (the dominant phenotype) or
white flowers (the recessive phenotype). One day, the
gardener observes that a cross between two yellow
rose bushes has led to a single rose bush with orange
flowers.
What evolutionary mechanism is involved in the change
