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Unit 3: Evolution and Diversity

Study guide for CLEP CLEP Biology — Unit 3: Evolution and Diversity. Practice questions, key concepts, and exam tips.

68

Practice Questions

8

Flashcards

8

Key Topics

Key Concepts to Study

natural selection
speciation
phylogenetics
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium
genetic drift
adaptive radiation
homology vs analogy
convergent vs divergent evolution

Sample Practice Questions

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Q1MEDIUM

A population of birds has a diverse gene pool, with some individuals having a genetic variation that allows them to survive in areas with limited food resources. If environmental conditions change and food becomes scarce, which of the following is most likely to occur?

A) The genetic variation will become less common in the population over time.
B) The population size will remain the same, but the genetic variation will not be affected.
C) The genetic variation will have no effect on the population's survival.
D) The population will become extinct due to the genetic variation
E) The genetic variation will become more common in the population over time.
Show Answer

Answer: E — Natural selection will favor individuals with the genetic variation, allowing them to survive and reproduce, thus increasing the frequency of the variation in the population.

Q2MEDIUM

A population of birds has a diverse gene pool, with some individuals having a genetic variation that allows them to survive in areas with limited food resources. Which of the following is the most likely outcome for this population over time?

A) The population will become less diverse as the unfavorable genetic variation becomes fixed
B) The population will remain unchanged, with no effect on the diversity of the gene pool.
C) The population will decrease in size due to the limited food resources.
D) The population will become more diverse as new genetic variations emerge.
E) The population will become less diverse as the favorable genetic variation becomes fixed.
Show Answer

Answer: E — Natural selection will favor individuals with the genetic variation, leading to an increase in their representation in the population over time.

Q3MEDIUM

A population of bacteria is exposed to an antibiotic, resulting in the death of most bacteria. However, a few bacteria survive due to a genetic mutation that confers resistance to the antibiotic. What is the primary mechanism by which this resistance is passed on to the next generation of bacteria?

A) Gene expression
B) Genetic drift
C) Natural selection
D) Mutation alone, without any selective pressure
E) Horizontal gene transfer
Show Answer

Answer: C — The correct answer is natural selection because the bacteria that survived had a genetic mutation that conferred resistance, and this trait was selected for in the presence of the antibiotic.

Q4MEDIUM

What is the primary mechanism driving the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacterial populations?

A) Gene flow
B) Genetic drift
C) Natural selection
D) Artificial selection
E) Mutation
Show Answer

Answer: C — Antibiotic resistance evolves primarily through natural selection, where bacteria with traits conferring resistance are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits to their offspring. While mutation, genetic drift, and gene flow can contribute to the evolution of resistance, natural selection is the key driver.

Q5MEDIUM

Darwin's finches are an example of which evolutionary process, where a single species colonizes an island and then diverges into multiple species?

A) Gene flow
B) Adaptive radiation
C) Natural selection
D) Convergent evolution
E) Genetic drift
Show Answer

Answer: B — Letter B is correct. Adaptive radiation is the process by which a single species colonizes a new area and then diversifies into multiple species, often in response to the availability of new resources or ecological niches. Darwin's finches are a classic example of this process, where a single species of finch colonized the Galapagos Islands and then radiated into multiple species with distinct beak shapes and sizes.

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Study Tips for Unit 3: Evolution and Diversity

  • Focus on understanding concepts, not memorizing facts — CLEP tests application
  • Practice with timed questions to build exam-day speed
  • Review explanations for wrong answers — they reveal common misconceptions
  • Use flashcards for key terms, practice questions for deeper understanding

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