Senior Secondary (HKDSE) · Biology

Biodiversity and evolution: Practice Questions

5 multiple-choice questions marked as you go, and 5 written questions with worked solutions. All on Biodiversity and evolution.

10 questions25 marksFree, no account

Question 1

1 mark

According to the rules of binomial nomenclature, which of the following is the correct representation for the scientific name of the African elephant?

Question 2

1 mark

Which of the following sequences correctly outlines the general mechanism of speciation within a population?

Question 3

1 mark

A researcher is comparing three organisms: Organism X (a bacterium), Organism Y (an archaeon), and Organism Z (a unicellular fungus). Which of the following biochemical features are exclusively shared by Organisms Y and Z, supporting the phylogenetic view that they are more closely related to each other than to Organism X?

Question 4

1 mark

Which of the following provides the best explanation for why the fossil record is often considered incomplete evidence for evolution?

Question 5

1 mark

A population of beetles is geographically isolated into two separate islands for a long period. Eventually, the two populations are unable to interbreed successfully even if they come into contact again. Which of the following is NOT a necessary condition for this process of speciation to occur?

Question 6

2 marks

In the binomial nomenclature system, which taxonomic group does the first word of an organism's scientific name, such as Panthera in Panthera leo, represent?

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Question 7

4 marks

Explain how a specific selection pressure in a changing environment leads to the differential survival and reproduction of individuals within a population.

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Question 8

6 marks

Discuss why molecular evidence, such as DNA sequence comparison, is a more robust tool than comparative anatomy for biologists when classifying organisms that have developed similar physical traits through convergent evolution.

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Question 9

3 marks

Living organisms on Earth display an immense variety of forms and adaptations. To better understand and study this vast array of life, biologists employ classification systems.

(a) Explain the primary reason why scientists classify organisms. (1 mark)
(b) Briefly describe how the binomial nomenclature system names an organism, providing a suitable example. (2 marks)

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Question 10

5 marks

The diagram illustrates a population of mainland birds where a subset of individuals is dispersed to a remote island by a storm. Over many generations, the island population evolves into a distinct new species.

(a) Identify the type of isolation represented by the physical distance between the mainland and the island. (1 mark)
(b) Explain how natural selection acts on the island population to favor individuals with traits better suited to the island habitat. (2 marks)
(c) Discuss why genetic variation is essential for the island population to adapt and eventually undergo speciation. (2 marks)

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