Test Bank For
Animal Diversity Release 2025 Cleveland Hickman
Chapters 1-20
Chapter 01
Science of Zoology and Evolution of Animal Diversity
True / False Questions
1. Darwin's evolutionary theory differs from Lamarck's in being a variational rather than
transformational theory.
TRUE
2. The main premise underlying Darwinian evolution is that the living world is neither
constant nor perpetually cycling, but is always changing.
TRUE
3. Fighting prowess as characterized by unbridled aggression and violence in a competitive
world is regarded as the only means of leading to fitness and reproductive advantage.
FALSE
4. The most direct evidence for Darwin's theory of perpetual change is the fossil record.
TRUE
5. The fossil record is biased because preservation is selective.
TRUE
6. The Precambrian era of geological time represents 85% of all geological time and contains
most of the known fossils of large animals.
FALSE
,7. The evolutionary history of horses from the Eocene to the present shows the progressive
evolutionary change of a single species by natural selection.
FALSE
8. Haeckel's theory that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny suggests that early development
features were more widely shared among different animal groups than later features.
TRUE
9. According to the Hardy-Weinberg Law, the frequency of each allele remains constant
generation after generation in a freely interbreeding, sexually reproducing, large population
that experiences natural selection.
FALSE
10. The most common mode of speciation in animals is sympatric speciation.
FALSE
11. Geographic barriers and reproductive barriers are basically the same thing because
geographic barriers will separate two populations, prevent gene exchange, and are a
precondition for speciation.
FALSE
12. Phenotypic gradualism is generally accepted as fact although phyletic gradualism is still
highly controversial.
FALSE
13. Macroevolutionary studies address large-scale changes in the frequencies of different
allelic forms of genes in natural populations.
FALSE
14. In many human populations, genetically recessive traits may be very common.
TRUE
15. Recurring mutation is the ultimate source of variation in natural populations, but it is
usually not sufficient by itself to promote significant evolutionary change.
TRUE
,16. Genetic drift occurs to some degree in all populations of finite size.
TRUE
17. The law of stratigraphy states that the oldest fossils will be found at the bottom of a layer
of rock.
TRUE
18. Inbreeding tends to decrease the probability that rare recessive traits will be seen in the
following population.
FALSE
19. The possible use of appendages as sails in aquatic insects that may have incidentally
evolved into wings supports an evolutionary position.
TRUE
Multiple Choice Questions
20. The theory of evolution by natural selection was proposed by
A. Darwin and Lyell.
B. Darwin and Wallace.
C. Darwin and Malthus.
D. Darwin and Lamarck.
, 21. In the formula, p + q = 1
A. p represents the frequency of one of the alleles in the population.
B. p represents the probability of an allele mutating.
C. q represents the selection pressure acting against an allele.
D. none of the above
22. Darwin's finches represent a good example of
A. punctuated equilibrium.
B. sympatric speciation.
C. adaptive radiation.
D. phyletic gradualism.
23. Which of the following best describes the relationship between organismal ontogeny and
phylogeny?
A. Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny.
B. Ontogeny rarely contains phylogenetic information.
C. Ontogeny usually recapitulates phylogeny in reverse order.
D. Ontogeny may recapitulate phylogeny for some characteristics, but rarely does this occur
for the organism as a whole.
24. Which of the following is not true of the punctuated equilibrium theory?
A. It was inspired in part by patterns observed in the fossil record of animals.
B. It proposes that most evolutionary change is concentrated in relatively brief episodes of
branching speciation.
C. It requires macromutational changes.
D. It suggests that most species experience relatively little phenotypic change throughout their
evolutionary duration.
25. Which of the following is not one of the observations that led Darwin to propose the
theory of natural selection?
A. Organisms have great potential fertility.
B. Natural populations normally remain constant in size except for minor fluctuations.
C. Natural resources are limited.
D. The hereditary process features inheritance of discrete and non-blending particular factors.
26. Which of the following is not an inference of Darwin's theory of natural selection?
A. There exists a struggle for existence among members of a population.
B. There is differential survival and reproduction among varying organisms in a population.
C. Characteristics that are harmful to survival are often advantageous for reproduction.
D. Over many generations, differential survival and reproduction of varying organisms
generates new species.
Animal Diversity Release 2025 Cleveland Hickman
Chapters 1-20
Chapter 01
Science of Zoology and Evolution of Animal Diversity
True / False Questions
1. Darwin's evolutionary theory differs from Lamarck's in being a variational rather than
transformational theory.
TRUE
2. The main premise underlying Darwinian evolution is that the living world is neither
constant nor perpetually cycling, but is always changing.
TRUE
3. Fighting prowess as characterized by unbridled aggression and violence in a competitive
world is regarded as the only means of leading to fitness and reproductive advantage.
FALSE
4. The most direct evidence for Darwin's theory of perpetual change is the fossil record.
TRUE
5. The fossil record is biased because preservation is selective.
TRUE
6. The Precambrian era of geological time represents 85% of all geological time and contains
most of the known fossils of large animals.
FALSE
,7. The evolutionary history of horses from the Eocene to the present shows the progressive
evolutionary change of a single species by natural selection.
FALSE
8. Haeckel's theory that ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny suggests that early development
features were more widely shared among different animal groups than later features.
TRUE
9. According to the Hardy-Weinberg Law, the frequency of each allele remains constant
generation after generation in a freely interbreeding, sexually reproducing, large population
that experiences natural selection.
FALSE
10. The most common mode of speciation in animals is sympatric speciation.
FALSE
11. Geographic barriers and reproductive barriers are basically the same thing because
geographic barriers will separate two populations, prevent gene exchange, and are a
precondition for speciation.
FALSE
12. Phenotypic gradualism is generally accepted as fact although phyletic gradualism is still
highly controversial.
FALSE
13. Macroevolutionary studies address large-scale changes in the frequencies of different
allelic forms of genes in natural populations.
FALSE
14. In many human populations, genetically recessive traits may be very common.
TRUE
15. Recurring mutation is the ultimate source of variation in natural populations, but it is
usually not sufficient by itself to promote significant evolutionary change.
TRUE
,16. Genetic drift occurs to some degree in all populations of finite size.
TRUE
17. The law of stratigraphy states that the oldest fossils will be found at the bottom of a layer
of rock.
TRUE
18. Inbreeding tends to decrease the probability that rare recessive traits will be seen in the
following population.
FALSE
19. The possible use of appendages as sails in aquatic insects that may have incidentally
evolved into wings supports an evolutionary position.
TRUE
Multiple Choice Questions
20. The theory of evolution by natural selection was proposed by
A. Darwin and Lyell.
B. Darwin and Wallace.
C. Darwin and Malthus.
D. Darwin and Lamarck.
, 21. In the formula, p + q = 1
A. p represents the frequency of one of the alleles in the population.
B. p represents the probability of an allele mutating.
C. q represents the selection pressure acting against an allele.
D. none of the above
22. Darwin's finches represent a good example of
A. punctuated equilibrium.
B. sympatric speciation.
C. adaptive radiation.
D. phyletic gradualism.
23. Which of the following best describes the relationship between organismal ontogeny and
phylogeny?
A. Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny.
B. Ontogeny rarely contains phylogenetic information.
C. Ontogeny usually recapitulates phylogeny in reverse order.
D. Ontogeny may recapitulate phylogeny for some characteristics, but rarely does this occur
for the organism as a whole.
24. Which of the following is not true of the punctuated equilibrium theory?
A. It was inspired in part by patterns observed in the fossil record of animals.
B. It proposes that most evolutionary change is concentrated in relatively brief episodes of
branching speciation.
C. It requires macromutational changes.
D. It suggests that most species experience relatively little phenotypic change throughout their
evolutionary duration.
25. Which of the following is not one of the observations that led Darwin to propose the
theory of natural selection?
A. Organisms have great potential fertility.
B. Natural populations normally remain constant in size except for minor fluctuations.
C. Natural resources are limited.
D. The hereditary process features inheritance of discrete and non-blending particular factors.
26. Which of the following is not an inference of Darwin's theory of natural selection?
A. There exists a struggle for existence among members of a population.
B. There is differential survival and reproduction among varying organisms in a population.
C. Characteristics that are harmful to survival are often advantageous for reproduction.
D. Over many generations, differential survival and reproduction of varying organisms
generates new species.
