NCERT BOOK CLASS 12TH BIOLOGY MCQ
Chapter 6 : Evolution
Important MCQs with Answers
1. What is the study of evolution related to?
(a) Origin of life
(b) Changes in organisms over time
(c) Classification of organisms
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
2. What is Darwin’s theory called?
(a) Natural Selection
(b) Theory of Acquired Characters
(c) Mutation Theory
(d) Gene Flow
Answer: (a) Natural Selection
3. According to Lamarck, what caused giraffes’ long necks?
(a) Natural Selection
(b) Use and Disuse Theory
(c) Mutation
(d) Genetic Drift
Answer: (b) Use and Disuse Theory
4. An example of homologous organs is:
(a) Human hand and bat’s wing
(b) Bird’s wing and insect’s wing
(c) Horse’s leg and dog’s leg
(d) Both (a) and (c)
Answer: (d) Both (a) and (c)
5. Analogous organs indicate:
(a) Similar origin
(b) Similar function
(c) Similar genes
(d) Similar evolution
Answer: (b) Similar function
6. Fossils provide information about:
(a) Ancient life
(b) Evolutionary process
(c) Extinct organisms
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
7. Archaeopteryx is a fossil of:
(a) Missing link between birds and reptiles
(b) Missing link between fish and amphibians
(c) Missing link between insects and birds
(d) None
Answer: (a) Missing link between birds and reptiles
8. In human evolution, Homo sapiens appeared in which era?
(a) Jurassic
(b) Tertiary
(c) Quaternary
(d) Cambrian
Answer: (c) Quaternary
9. The Hardy-Weinberg principle explains:
(a) Gene frequency equilibrium
(b) Mutation rate
(c) Natural selection
(d) Gene flow
Answer: (a) Gene frequency equilibrium
10. Genetic drift plays a significant role in:
(a) Large populations
(b) Small populations
(c) Stable populations
(d) Migratory populations
Answer: (b) Small populations
11. Darwin’s study of finches revealed:
(a) Geographical variation
(b) Natural selection
(c) Adaptive radiation
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Answer: (d) Both (b) and (c)
12. The Miller-Urey experiment aimed to understand:
(a) DNA
(b) RNA
(c) Primitive life
(d) Protein
Answer: (c) Primitive life
13. Which gases were used in the Miller-Urey experiment?
(a) Methane (CH₄), Ammonia (NH₃), Hydrogen (H₂), Water vapor (H₂O)
(b) Oxygen (O₂), Nitrogen (N₂), Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
(c) Helium (He), Neon (Ne)
(d) Chlorine (Cl₂), Sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
Answer: (a) Methane, Ammonia, Hydrogen, Water vapor
14. What was Pangaea?
(a) An ancient ocean
(b) A supercontinent
(c) A fossil
(d) A volcano
Answer: (b) A supercontinent
15. How do mutations contribute to evolution?
(a) Introduce new genetic variations
(b) Provide basis for natural selection
(c) Alter gene frequencies
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
16. Dinosaurs went extinct in which period?
(a) Permian
(b) Cretaceous
(c) Tertiary
(d) Cambrian
Answer: (b) Cretaceous
17. In human evolution, “Lucy” is a fossil of:
(a) Homo habilis
(b) Australopithecus
(c) Neanderthal
(d) Homo erectus
Answer: (b) Australopithecus
18. The smallest timescale of biological evolution is:
(a) Microevolution
(b) Macroevolution
(c) Speciation
(d) Genetic drift
Answer: (a) Microevolution
19. Convergent evolution is exemplified by:
(a) Bat and bird wings
(b) Whale and fish body shapes
(c) Human and monkey eyes
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Answer: (d) Both (a) and (b)
20. Conditions for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium include:
(a) No mutations
(b) Random mating
(c) Large population
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
21. What is gene flow?
(a) Transfer of genes between populations
(b) Mutation in genes
(c) Destruction of genes
(d) Gene duplication
Answer: (a) Transfer of genes between populations
22. Characteristics of Homo erectus included:
(a) Use of fire
(b) Upright walking
(c) Tool-making
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
23. Natural selection results in:
(a) Accumulation of favorable traits
(b) Increased fitness
(c) Population changes
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
24. Coevolution is seen in:
(a) Flowers and pollinators
(b) Predator and prey
(c) Parasite and host
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
25. The “Primordial Soup” theory for life’s origin was proposed by:
(a) Darwin
(b) Oparin and Haldane
(c) Lamarck
(d) Miller and Urey
Answer: (b) Oparin and Haldane
26. Major causes of extinction include:
(a) Natural disasters
(b) Climate change
(c) Human activities
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
27. Best example of adaptive radiation:
(a) Darwin’s finches
(b) Hawaiian spiders
(c) Australian marsupials
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
28. What is a gene pool?
(a) All genes in a population
(b) All genes in an individual
(c) Only mutated genes
(d) None
Answer: (a) All genes in a population
29. Types of natural selection do NOT include:
(a) Directional selection
(b) Stabilizing selection
(c) Disruptive selection
(d) Mechanical selection
Answer: (d) Mechanical selection
30. Earliest to evolve in evolutionary timeline:
(a) Bacteria
(b) Eukaryotes
(c) Multicellular organisms
(d) Dinosaurs
Answer: (a) Bacteria
31. Examples of vestigial organs:
(a) Human appendix
(b) Whale’s hind bones
(c) Snake’s leg remnants
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
32. Speciation is primarily caused by:
(a) Geographical isolation
(b) Reproductive isolation
(c) Genetic changes
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
33. Hominids refer to:
(a) Humans and their ancestors
(b) Only Neanderthals
(c) All primates
(d) None
Answer: (a) Humans and their ancestors
34. Homo habilis was characterized by:
(a) Tool-making
(b) Small brain
(c) Arboreal living
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Answer: (d) Both (a) and (b)
35. Which gas was NOT required for life’s origin?
(a) Oxygen
(b) Methane
(c) Ammonia
(d) Hydrogen
Answer: (a) Oxygen
36. In human evolution, who first used fire?
(a) Homo habilis
(b) Homo erectus
(c) Neanderthals
(d) Australopithecus
Answer: (b) Homo erectus
37. Parasite-host relationships demonstrate:
(a) Coevolution
(b) Natural selection
(c) Gene flow
(d) Mutation
Answer: (a) Coevolution
38. The unit of evolution is:
(a) Individual
(b) Population
(c) Gene
(d) Organ
Answer: (b) Population
39. Study of fossils is called:
(a) Paleontology
(b) Archaeology
(c) Geology
(d) Anthropology
Answer: (a) Paleontology
40. Who coined the scientific name Homo sapiens?
(a) Darwin
(b) Linnaeus
(c) Lamarck
(d) Mendel
Answer: (b) Linnaeus
41. Biodiversity is driven by:
(a) Mutations
(b) Natural selection
(c) Adaptive radiation
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
42. Amino acids obtained in Miller-Urey experiment:
(a) Glycine
(b) Alanine
(c) Both
(d) None
Answer: (c) Both
43. Which factor opposes natural selection?
(a) Mutation
(b) Gene flow
(c) Genetic drift
(d) Mechanical isolation
Answer: (d) Mechanical isolation
44. Neanderthals were found in:
(a) Africa
(b) Europe
(c) Asia
(d) America
Answer: (b) Europe
45. Evolution depends on:
(a) Genetic diversity
(b) Environmental pressure
(c) Time
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
46. Difference between homology and analogy lies in:
(a) Origin
(b) Function
(c) Both
(d) None
Answer: (c) Both
47. Natural selection was published in:
(a) Origin of Species
(b) The Voyage of the Beagle
(c) Descent of Man
(d) Both (a) and (c)
Answer: (a) Origin of Species
48. Gene flow stops when:
(a) Populations get isolated
(b) Mutations increase
(c) Natural selection occurs
(d) Genetic drift occurs
Answer: (a) Populations get isolated
49. Oldest fossil in human evolution belongs to:
(a) Homo sapiens
(b) Australopithecus
(c) Homo erectus
(d) Homo habilis
Answer: (b) Australopithecus
50. Evidence for evolution does NOT include:
(a) Fossils
(b) Embryonic similarities
(c) Biochemical similarities
(d) Religious texts
Answer: (d) Religious texts
51. The “RNA World” hypothesis suggests:
(a) RNA served as genetic material and enzymes
(b) DNA appeared first
(c) Proteins formed first
(d) Cell membranes evolved first
Answer: (a) RNA served as genetic material and enzymes
52. Best example of adaptation:
(a) Cactus thick stem in deserts
(b) Polar bear’s white fur
(c) Bat’s echolocation
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
53. Genetic drift is most noticeable in:
(a) Large populations
(b) Small populations
(c) Stable populations
(d) Migratory populations
Answer: (b) Small populations
54. Energy for polymerization in early Earth came from:
(a) Sunlight
(b) Volcanic activity
(c) Lightning
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
55. Rate of evolution depends on:
(a) Environmental pressure
(b) Reproduction rate
(c) Mutation rate
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
56. Example of symbiotic evolution:
(a) Lichen (fungus + algae)
(b) Mycorrhiza (fungus + plant roots)
(c) Gut bacteria in humans
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
57. Neanderthals were characterized by:
(a) Robust bodies
(b) Large noses
(c) Tool use
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
58. Natural selection requires:
(a) Genetic diversity
(b) Environmental pressure
(c) Differential reproductive success
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
59. Limitations of fossil record:
(a) Incomplete record
(b) No soft tissue preservation
(c) Rare fossilization
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
60. Advantages of bipedalism in human evolution:
(a) Freed hands for tool use
(b) Better long-distance vision
(c) Energy efficiency
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
61. Relationship between adaptive radiation and common descent:
(a) Diversity in different habitats
(b) Similarity in same habitats
(c) Both
(d) None
Answer: (a) Diversity in different habitats
62. Primate evolution features:
(a) Opposable thumbs
(b) 3D vision
(c) Large brains
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
63. Synapomorphy refers to:
(a) Shared derived traits
(b) Shared ancestral traits
(c) Adaptive traits
(d) Vestigial traits
Answer: (a) Shared derived traits
64. Pangaea’s breakup affected:
(a) Climate
(b) Species distribution
(c) Diversification
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
65. Differences between Homo erectus and Homo sapiens:
(a) Brain size
(b) Tool complexity
(c) Body structure
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
66. Causes of gene frequency changes:
(a) Mutations
(b) Natural selection
(c) Gene flow
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
67. Allopatric speciation is caused by:
(a) Geographical isolation
(b) Reproductive isolation
(c) Behavioral differences
(d) All of the above
Answer: (a) Geographical isolation
68. Homologous genes indicate:
(a) Common origin
(b) Similar function
(c) Similar sequences
(d) Both (a) and (c)
Answer: (d) Both (a) and (c)
69. Evidence supporting evolution:
(a) Fossils
(b) Comparative anatomy
(c) Molecular biology
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
70. Natural selection is:
(a) Random
(b) Non-random
(c) Rapid
(d) Slow
Answer: (b) Non-random
71. First to wear clothes in human evolution:
(a) Homo habilis
(b) Neanderthals
(c) Homo sapiens
(d) Homo erectus
Answer: (b) Neanderthals
72. Vestigial organs reflect:
(a) Evolutionary history
(b) Adaptation
(c) Mutation
(d) Gene flow
Answer: (a) Evolutionary history
73. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium applies to:
(a) Ideal populations
(b) Small populations
(c) Mutated populations
(d) Migratory populations
Answer: (a) Ideal populations
74. Speciation involves:
(a) Reproductive isolation
(b) Genetic divergence
(c) Both
(d) None
Answer: (c) Both
75. First species to create art in human evolution:
(a) Homo sapiens
(b) Neanderthals
(c) Homo erectus
(d) Australopithecus
Answer: (a) Homo sapiens