AP®BiologyCollege BoardExam QuestionsUnit 7: Natural SelectionEvolution

Evolution (College Board AP® Biology)

Exam Questions

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Evolution

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Evolution

1
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The Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) is a critically endangered big cat native to southeastern Russia and northeastern China. With fewer than 100 individuals remaining in the wild, conservationists are concerned about the species' long-term survival.

Which of the following best describes the potential impact of the Amur leopard's small population size on its ability to adapt to environmental changes?

  • The small population size increases genetic diversity, making the species more resilient to environmental pressures.

  • The limited number of individuals has no effect on the species' genetic diversity or adaptability.

  • The small population size likely results in low genetic diversity, making the species vulnerable to environmental changes.

  • The Amur leopard's specialized adaptations compensate for any loss of genetic diversity due to small population size.

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Paleontologists discovered a series of fossils in sedimentary rock layers, representing a lineage of marine invertebrates. The fossils show gradual changes in shell shape over millions of years, with occasional rapid shifts in morphology coinciding with periods of significant environmental change. Which of the following evolutionary models best fits this fossil record?

  • Punctuated equilibrium

  • Gradualism

  • Divergent evolution

  • Allopatric speciation

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Modern whales have small pelvic bones, even though they do not walk on land. Which of the following best explains why whales have vestigial pelvic bones?

  • Whales have evolved from ancestors that walked on land, and the pelvic bones are remnants of their terrestrial past.

  • Whales evolved from fish, which also have pelvic bones.

  • The pelvic bones help whales swim faster, making them an advantageous trait.

  • The pelvic bones are necessary for whale reproduction.

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