The best definition of evolutionary fitness is:
a. Physical health
b. The ability to attract members of the opposite sex
c. The ability to adapt to the environment
d. Survival and reproduction relative to other members of the population
e. Overall strength

Natural selection is sometimes described as 'survival of the fittest.' Which of the following best measures an organism's fitness?

a. How many fertile offspring it produces

b. How strong it is when pitted against others of its species

c. Its ability to withstand environmental extremes

d. How much food it is able to make or obtain

How can evolutionary fitness be measured? Select True or False for each statement.

T/F Document how long individuals survive.

T/F Count the number of healthy, fertile offspring produced.

T/F Determine which individuals are strongest.

T/F Determine which phenotype is the most common.

What are the primary functions of carbohydrates in cells?

a. Cell identity, energy storage, raw material source for synthesis, and structure

b. Catalysis, energy storage, metabolism, and structure

c. Catalysis, digestion, energy storage, and information storage

d. Energy storage, information storage, polymerization, and raw material source for synthesis

Which of the differences listed here could be found among molecules of the same monosaccharide? Select True or False for each statement.

T/F There is a difference in the orientation of a hydroxyl group in the ring form.

T/F There is a difference in the number of carbons.

T/F There is a difference in the position of the carbonyl group in the linear form.

T/F There is a difference in the overall shape of the molecule—one is a ring and the other is linear.

The theory of common descent states that all modern organisms

a. Can change in response to environmental change

b. Descended from a single common ancestor

c. Descended from one of many ancestors that originally arose on Earth

d. Have not evolved

e. Can be arranged in a hierarchy from 'least evolved' to 'most evolved'

DNA sequences in many human genes are very similar to the sequences of corresponding genes in chimpanzees. The most likely explanation for this result is that

a. Humans and chimpanzees share a relatively recent common ancestor.

b. Humans evolved from chimpanzees.

c. Chimpanzees evolved from humans.

d. Convergent evolution led to the DNA similarities.

According to data presented in this chapter, which of the following are correct? Select True or False for each statement. T/F When individuals change in response to challenges from the environment, their altered traits are passed on to offspring. T/F Species are created independently of each other and do not change over time. T/F Populations—not individuals—change when natural selection occurs. T/F The traits of populations become more perfect over time.