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Question 12 Marks
Select two pairs from the following which exhibit divergent evolution. Give reasons for your answer.
  1. Forelimbs of cheetah and mammals.
  2. Flippers of dolphins and penguins.
  3. Wings of butterflies and birds.
  4. Forelimbs of whales and mammals.
Answer
  1. Forelimbs of cheetah and mammals: This is divergent evolution and these structures are homologous.
  2. Flippers of dolphins and penguins: The example of convergent evolution they are not similar in structure but they perform a similar function.
  3. Wings of butterflies and birds: The are look same in structure, they are not atomically similar is structure though they perform similar function they called analogues.
  4. Forelimbs of whales and mammals: This is divergent evolution and these structures are homologous.
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Question 22 Marks
Select the analogous structures from the combinations given below:
  1. Forelimbs of whales and bats
  2. Eyes of octopus and mammals
  3. Tuber of sweet potato and potato
  4. Thorns of Bougainvillea and tendrils of Cucurbita
  1. ​​​​​​​State the kind of evolution they represent.
Answer
  1. Analogous organs or structures are those that are similar in function but different in origin.
From the given options, following are the analogous structures:
  • Eyes of octopus and mammals perform the same basic visual function but they differ in the origin of their retina.
  • Tubers of sweet potato and potato perform the same function of food storage but they are modifications of root and stem, respectively.
  1. The kind of evolution represented by analogous organs or structures is convergent evolution as they have different origins but evolve similar traits with evolution to perform the same function.
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Question 32 Marks
  1. Select the homologous structures from the combinations given below:
  1. Forelimbs of whales and bats.
  2. Tuber of potato and sweet potato.
  3. Eyes of octopus and mammals.
  4. Thorns of Bougainvillea and tendrils of Cucurbita.
  1. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​State the kind of evolution they represent.
Answer
  1.  
  1. Forelimbs of whales and bats.
  1. Thoms of Bougainvillea and tendrils of Cucurbita.
  1. Divergent Evolution.
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Question 42 Marks
List the two main propositions of Oparin and Haldane.
Answer
Oparin Haldane theory was given a chemical evolution.
Oparin and Haldane stated life originated from pre-existing non-living organic molecules e.g. RNA, protein etc. the conditions on earth favouring chemical evolution storms, reducing atmosphere containing $CH_{4,}NH_3$ etc.
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Question 52 Marks
How do Darwin’s finches illustrate adaptive radiation?
Answer
Original stock of seed-eating finches migrated to different habitats (of Galapagos Islands), adapted to different feeding methods, by altered beak structure, evolved into different types of finches.
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Question 62 Marks
Rearrange the human activities mentioned below as per the order in which they developed after the modern Homo sapiens came into existence during ice age:
  1. Human settlement.
  2. Prehistoric cave art.
  3. Agriculture.
Answer
  1. Pre-historic cave art.
  2. Agriculture/Human Settlement.
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Question 72 Marks
Identify the following pairs as Homologous or Analogous organs:
  1. Sweet potato and potato
  2. Eye of octopus and eye of mammals
  3. Thorns of Bougainvillea and tendrils of Cucurbits.
  4. Fore limbs of Bat and Whale.
Answer
(i) & (ii) Analogous.
(iii) & (iv) Homologous.
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Question 82 Marks
What is divergent evolution? Explain talking an example of plants.
Answer
The same structure developed along different directions due to adaptations to different needs. This is divergent evolution and these structures are homologous.Eg. Thron of Bougainvillea and Tendrils of Cucurbita represent homology.
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Question 92 Marks
Wings of birds and wings of butterflies contribute to locomotion. Explain the type of evolution such organs are a result of.
Answer
Wings of birds and wings of butterflies are example of analogous organs and they exhibit convergent evolution. Organisms developing different structures but have the same function is called convergent evolution.
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Question 102 Marks
How would the gene flow or genetic drift affect the population in which either of them happen to take place?
Answer
Gene Flow occurs due to emigration or immigration resulting in the change in the frequency of alleles of a gene within the gene pool of a population. A population with active gene flow will not obey the Hardy-Weinberg principle.
Genetic Drift is a sudden change in the frequency of genes and their alleles within a gene pool of a population over a very short duration of time. A population experiencing such a phenomenon will also not obey Hardy-Weinberg principle. Genetic drift can occur due to natural or artificial selection a like.
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Question 112 Marks
Wings of birds and wings of butterflies contribute to locomotion. Explain the type of evolution such organs are a result of.
Answer
Wings of birds and wings of butterflies are example of analogous organs and they exhibit convergent evolution. Organisms developing different structures but have the same function is called convergent evolution.
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Question 122 Marks
Wings of birds and wings of butterflies contribute to locomotion. Explain the type of evolution such organs are a result of.
Answer
Wings of birds and wings of butterflies are example of analogous organs and they exhibit convergent evolution. Organisms developing different structures but have the same function is called convergent evolution.
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Question 132 Marks
How would the gene flow or genetic drift affect the population in which either of them happen to take place?
Answer
Gene Flow occurs due to emigration or immigration resulting in the change in the frequency of alleles of a gene within the gene pool of a population. A population with active gene flow will not obey the Hardy-Weinberg principle.
Genetic Drift is a sudden change in the frequency of genes and their alleles within a gene pool of a population over a very short duration of time. A population experiencing such a phenomenon will also not obey Hardy-Weinberg principle. Genetic drift can occur due to natural or artificial selection a like.
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Question 142 Marks
What do you understand by differential reproduction and reproductive isolation? In what context are these term used?
Answer
  • Differential reproduction: The phenomenon in which all organisms who reach reproductive stage reproduce with varying degree of success, some reproduce more offsprings and some reproduce only few and other reproduce none depending upon their degree of fitness.
  • Reproductive isolation: The biological phenomenon in which the individual belonging to same species reproduce among themselves, to maintain the species integrity. Both these terms are used in reference to natural selection.
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Question 152 Marks
Define biogeography. How do Darwin’s finches provide the biogeographical evidence in favour of evolution?
Answer
The study of distribution of various organisms in different parts of the earth is called biogeography. All the varieties of Darwin’s finches have evolved on the same island itself from a common seed-eating ancestor due to adaptive radiation.
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Question 162 Marks
In a population which has achieved Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, which two process will not occur.
Answer
In such a population natural selection and random mating does not occur. This is because both these process promotes evolution which disrupts the Hardy Weinberg equilibrium.
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Question 172 Marks
Fill in the blank (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) with name of the mammals of Australia.
S. No Placental mammal Marsupial mammal
(i) Anteater (i)
(ii) (ii) Spotted cuscus
(iii) Bob cat (iii)
(iv) (iv) Tasmanian wolf
Answer
S. No Placental mammal Marsupial mammal
(i) Anteater Numbat
(ii) Lemur Spotted cuscus
(iii) Bob cat Tasmanian tiger cat
(iv) Wolf Tasmanian wolf
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Question 182 Marks
Mention the evolutionary significance of the following organisms:
  1. Shrews.
  2. Lobefins.
  3. Homo habilis.
  4. Homo erectus.
Answer
  1. The first mammals were like shrews.
  2. Lobefins are the ancestors of modern day frogs and salamanders.
  3. Homo habilis were the first human-like hominid with a brain capacity of about 650-800cc.
  4. Homo erectus lived about 1.5 mya; their fossils were discovered in Java.
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Question 192 Marks
How can you say the lobefin fish were the ancestors of amphibian?
Answer
Lobefins fish have stout and strong fins, so they can move on land and swim in water to maintain a dual lives like amphibians.
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Question 202 Marks
Name the gases Miller used in his experiment on origin of life.
Answer
Methane, ammonia, hydrogen and water vapour.
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Question 212 Marks
What does the comparison between the eyes of Octopus and those of mammals say about their ancestry and evolution?
Answer
Eyes of Octopus and those of mammals or the wings of butterfly and those of birds are analogous structures, which have resulted from convergent evolution.
  • They have not evolved from common ancestors.
  • It is the similar habitat that has resulted in similar adaptive features in different groups of organisms towards the same function.
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Question 222 Marks
How will you explain artificial selection in terms of evolution?
Answer
Artificial selection refers to the selection of superior traits of plants and animals by man which it wants to perpetuate. It involves selective breeding of organisms and takes a shorter span of time. The different plant and animal breeding programmes are best known examples of artificial selection.
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Question 232 Marks
Evolution is not a direct process, but a stochastic process, based on chance event(s) in nature. Justify.
Answer
  • Evolution is not a direct process in terms of determinism.
  • As the environment changes, due to meteorological, biological and other physical activities, the organisms which are better adapted to the changed environment are selected by nature in a much lesser time scale.
  • It is also true for natural selection and evolution of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria in a time scale of months.
  • So, evolution is a stochastic process based on chance events in nature and chance mutation in the organism.
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Question 242 Marks
What is speciation? List any two events leading to speciation.
Answer
The process involving formation of new species from the existing species is called speciation.
Two events leading to speciation are:
  1. Interbreeding among different populations or species.
  2. Migration.
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Question 252 Marks
Mention one significant difference between ontogeny and phylogeny.
Answer
Ontogeny: Ontogeny is embryonic development, i.e. the origin and development of an organism from an embryo to an adult.
Phylogeny: Phylogeny is ancestral history, i.e. the evolutionary development and history of a species or higher taxonomic grouping of organisms.
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Question 262 Marks
Choose two pairs of homologous structures from the following and mention why they are so called?
  1. Hearts of humans and monkeys.
  2. Eyes of Octopus and mammals.
  3. Thorns of Bougainvillea and tendrils of Cucurbits.
  4. Flippers of penguins and dolphins.
Answer
  1. Hearts of humans and monkeys.
  1. Thorns of Bougainvillea and tendrils of Cucurbits.
These are homologous structures as they have similar anatomical structures, but perform different functions.
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Question 272 Marks
Comment on the statement that "evolution and natural selection are end result or consequence of some other processes but themselves are not processes".
Answer
The world we see, inanimate and animate, is only the success stories of evolution. When we describe the story of this world we describe evolution as a process. On the other hand when we describe the story of life on earth, we treat evolution as a consequence of a process called natural selection. We are still not very clear whether to regard evolution and natural selection as processes or end result of unknown processes.
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Question 282 Marks
Gene flow occurs through generations. Gene flow can occur across language barriers in humans. If we have a technique of measuring specific allele frequencies in different population of the world, can we not predict human migratory patterns in pre-history and history? Do you agree or disagree? Provide explanation to your answer.
Answer
Yes, I agree. Gene flow occurs through generations. By studying specific allele frequencies, we can predict the human migratory patterns in prehistory and history. Studies have used specific genes/ chromosomes/ mitochondrial DNA to trace the evolutionary history and migratory patterns of humans. (The project is known as the Human Genographics Project).
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Question 292 Marks
Name any four mammals that lived in South America before continental drift.
Answer
Mammals like Horse, Hippopotamus, Rabbit and Bear.
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Question 302 Marks
How do we compute the age of a living tree?
Answer
Age of a living tree can be determined by comparing the diameter of the trunk with average growth factor of that species. Average growth factor of a species can be found from records. Diameter can be calculated by measuring the girth of the trunk.
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Question 312 Marks
Define analogous organ. Give one example of an organ analogous to human hand.
Answer
The organs with different structural designs and developmental origin but performing similar functions are called analogous organs. Trunk of an elephant is analogous to human hand.
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Question 322 Marks
Life originated from the earth's inorganic atmosphere in the past, but this no longer happens today. Give two reasons.
Answer
  1. Presence of free oxygen in present day atmosphere.
  2. Existence of living organisms.
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Question 332 Marks
The scientists believe that evolution is gradual. But extinction, part of evolutionary story, are 'sudden' and 'abrupt' and also group-specific. Comment whether a natural disaster can be the cause for extinction of species.
Answer
Natural disaster like earth quake can be the cause for extinction of species. During the long period since the origin and diversification of life on earth there were five episodes of mass extinction of species.
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Question 342 Marks
What is meant by analogous organ? Taking a suitable example, explain how they support the theory of organic evolution.
Answer
The organs which have different developmental origin and structural design but perform similar functions are called analogous organs. The wings of birds and insects are analogous organs indicating that they have different ancestors but show a convergent evolution.
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Question 352 Marks
Give an example for convergent evolution and identify the features towards which they are converging.
Answer
Similar evolution in species of different lineage is called convergent evolution. Convergent evolution happens in an isolated geographical area. Flippers of dolphin and penguin are examples of convergent evolution. In both animals; flippers have different origins but serve similar purpose.
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Question 362 Marks
Give one example of analogy and homology in plants.
Answer
  • Homology: Tendrils of Cucurbita and thorns of Bougainvillea.
  • Analogy: Sweet potato (root modification) and potato (stem modification) to store food.
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Question 372 Marks
What are we referring to? When we say 'simple organisms' or 'complex organisms'.
Answer
When we say simple or complex organisms we are talking in terms of evolutionary history of an organism. A simple organism is considered to be primitive and has simple thallus organisation. The level of complexity of metabolism is also low. On the other hand a complex organism refers to a more evolved form forming higher levels of structural and functional complexities. They are believed to have arisen from simple organisms.
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Question 382 Marks
Rearrange the following in increasing order of evolution: Gnetales; Ferns; Zosterophyllum; Ginkgo.
Answer
The increasing order of evolution in plants is as on Zosterophyllum-Ferns-Ginkgo-Gnetales.
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Question 392 Marks
Name the ship in which Charles Darwin made his voyage. What was his conclusion about the life forms he observed?
Answer
  1. There are limited natural resources.
  2. Populations are stable in size except for seasonal fluctuations.
  3. Varying characteristics in members of a population, i.e. no two members of a population are identical even though they look superficially similar.
  4. Variations are generally inherited.
  5. Population size has two facts, i.e. theoretically it grows exponentially if everybody reproduced maximally but in reality, population size is limited, due to the competition among the individual for resources. Those, which are better adapted could survive and will reproduce at the cost of others, i.e. who are less adapted in the environment.
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Question 402 Marks
Write about the ancestry and evolution of bat, horse and human on the basis of a comparative study of their forelimbs. What are these limbs categorized as?
OR
What is divergent evolution? Explain taking an example of plants.

OR
Divergent evolution leads to homologous structures. Explain with the help of an example.
Answer
  • The forelimbs of whales, bats and cheetah (or bat, horse and humans) are the result of divergent evolution.
  • Divergent evolution is the evolutionary process, where the same structure develops along different directions in different groups of organisms as adaptations to different needs.
  • The structures evolved are homologous organs; homology indicates common ancestry.
  • Thorns of Bougainvillea and tendrils of Cucurbits are also homologous structures.
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Question 412 Marks
When we say 'survival of the fittest', does it mean that:
  1. Those which are fit only survive.
  2. Those that survive are called fit? Comment.
Answer
  1. The characteristics which enable some population or individuals to survive better in natural conditions (foods, climate, physical factors) would outbreed others (survival of the finest).
  2. Thus, those organisms, which are better fit or adapt well will survive and get selected by nature, which furthers their evolution. This is called natural selection.
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Question 422 Marks
When and where did Australopithecus live? Mention their characteristics.
Answer
Australopithecus lived in the East African grassland:
  1. They were probably not taller than four feet.
  2. They walked upright.
  3. They hunted with stone weapons, but essentially ate fruits.
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Question 432 Marks
Write the names of two dinosaurs that lived early in the history of earth and two others that lived little later.
Answer
  • Brachiosaurus and Stegosaurus lived early in the history.
  • Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops lived later.
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Question 442 Marks
How does 'fitness' of a population help in evolution?
Answer
Fitness, according to Darwin, refers ultimately and only to reproductive fitness. Those who are better fit in an environment would outbreed others, who are less fit in that environment; they leave more progeny (with more fit individuals) than others. They will survive better and are selected by nature (natural selection) to reproduce and increase their population size.
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Question 452 Marks
Discuss, is evolution a process or the end result of a process.
Answer
  • The biodiversity we see today is the story of evolution, i.e. evolution is considered as a process, that has resulted in various life forms.
  • If we talk about the life on earth, evolution is considered as a consequence of the process, called natural selection.
  • It is difficult to decide, whether evolution and natural selection are processes or end results of some unknown processes.
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Question 462 Marks
How does palaeontological evidence support evolution of organisms on Earth?
Answer
Paleontology is the study of fossils. It indicates:
  1. The geological time period in which the organisms existed.
  2. That life forms varied over time and certain life forms are restricted to certain geological time spans.
  3. That new forms of life have appeared at different times in the history of earth.
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Question 472 Marks
Can we call human evolution as adaptive radiation?
Answer
No, human evolution cannot be called adaptive radiation because adaptive radiation is an evolutionary process that produces new species from a single, rapidly diversifying lineage, which is not the case with human evolution.
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Question 482 Marks
Prior to industrialisation, there were far more white winged moths on trees than melanised moths in England. However, after industrialisation, the distribution pattern of these two kinds of moths reversed what does the above observation indicate? Explain giving reasons.
Answer
It indicates that predators will spot a moth against a contrasting background.
  1. After industrialisation, the tree trunks became dark due to deposition of soot and smoke; under such a condition, the white winged moths stood out conspicuously and easily detected by the predators and hence they reduced in number
  2. The dark-winged moths could merge with the black colour and they escaped the predators and hence increased in number.
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Question 492 Marks
Mention any three evolutionary features of mammals.
Answer
Three evolutionary features of mammals:
  • Mammals are endothermic vertebrates.
  • Have hair and fur on the body.
  • Have mammary glands.
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Question 502 Marks
Who proposed the biogenetic law? Who disapproved it? Why?
Answer
  • Ernst Haeckel proposed embryological support for organic evolution.
  • It was disapproved by Ernst Von Baer.
  • He noted that embryos never pass through the adult stage of other animals.
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