Natural Selection and Adaptations
Grade 12 science worksheet on natural selection, adaptations, and evolutionary mechanisms.
Includes
Standards
Topics
Natural Selection and Adaptations
Name:
Date:
Score:
Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Provide detailed explanations where requested.
1. Which of the following is NOT a principle of natural selection?
Variation in traits exists within a population.
Organisms produce more offspring than can survive.
Acquired characteristics are passed on to offspring.
Individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce.
2. What is an adaptation?
A change in an organism's behavior during its lifetime.
A heritable trait that increases an organism's fitness in its environment.
The process by which organisms become better suited to their environment.
Any physical characteristic of an organism.
3. Natural selection acts on existing within a population.
4. The ultimate source of new genetic variation in a population is .
5. Explain the concept of 'fitness' in the context of natural selection.
6. Natural selection always leads to more complex organisms.
True
False
7. Genetic drift has a greater effect on large populations than small populations.
True
False
8. Observe the image of Darwin's finches below. How do the variations in their beaks demonstrate the principle of natural selection and adaptation?
9. Discuss the three types of natural selection (directional, stabilizing, and disruptive) and provide a hypothetical example for each. Your answer should be at least 150 words.