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Natural Selection Practice Tests

These Grade 7 Science practice tests build understanding of variation, adaptation, natural selection, evolution, population change, and evidence from fossils, anatomy, DNA, and ecological observations.

Skills covered

  • Explaining how inherited variation and environmental pressures affect survival and reproduction
  • Distinguishing adaptations, acquired traits, natural selection, artificial selection, and genetic drift
  • Using evidence from fossils, homologous structures, DNA, and geographic isolation
  • Connecting selection pressures to population changes across generations
  • Applying natural selection concepts to resistance, camouflage, climate, and biodiversity examples

How to use these practice tests

For each question, identify the population variation first. Then decide whether the trait is inherited, how the environment affects success, and what population-level change is expected over generations.

For more Grade 7 Science practice, return to the Grade 7 Science category.

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1. Test

Grade 7 Natural Selection Practice Tests

Practice Grade 7 Science natural selection questions about variation, adaptation, selection pressures, evolution, and population change.

Choose the best answer for each question. Review the explanation after submitting your answers.

10 Questions
0/10 Questions0 %
Correct 0
Incorrect 0
Unanswered 10
1. QuestionMultiple choice

What is variation in a population?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Differences in traits among individuals of the same species.

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: Variation means that individuals in a population differ in traits such as color, size, behavior, or resistance.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

Variation means that individuals in a population differ in traits such as color, size, behavior, or resistance.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

Which process can create new genetic variation?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Mutation.

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: A mutation is a change in DNA and can introduce a new allele into a population.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

A mutation is a change in DNA and can introduce a new allele into a population.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

What is an adaptation?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is An inherited trait that improves survival or reproduction in a particular environment.

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: An adaptation is an inherited feature that can help organisms survive and reproduce under specific conditions.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

An adaptation is an inherited feature that can help organisms survive and reproduce under specific conditions.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

What does natural selection act on directly?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is Observable differences among individual organisms.

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: Selection acts on observable differences, while the resulting change in allele frequencies occurs across generations.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

Selection acts on observable differences, while the resulting change in allele frequencies occurs across generations.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

Which statement best describes evolution by natural selection?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is A population changes over generations because some inherited traits lead to more successful reproduction..

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: Natural selection changes populations when heritable differences affect survival or reproductive success.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

Natural selection changes populations when heritable differences affect survival or reproductive success.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

Why can a helpful inherited trait become more common over time?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Individuals with the trait may leave more offspring that inherit it..

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: If a heritable trait improves reproductive success, its allele can become more common in later generations.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

If a heritable trait improves reproductive success, its allele can become more common in later generations.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

What is a selection pressure?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is An environmental factor that affects which individuals survive or reproduce.

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: Predators, disease, temperature, competition, and limited resources can act as selection pressures.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

Predators, disease, temperature, competition, and limited resources can act as selection pressures.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

How can camouflage help an insect avoid predators?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is Its appearance can make it harder for predators to detect..

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: Camouflage can increase survival by reducing the chance that a predator notices the insect.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

Camouflage can increase survival by reducing the chance that a predator notices the insect.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

Which difference is most useful to natural selection?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is A heritable difference that affects survival or reproduction.

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: Natural selection can change a population when a trait is inherited and influences reproductive success.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

Natural selection can change a population when a trait is inherited and influences reproductive success.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

In natural selection, what does biological fitness mean?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is How successfully an organism survives and produces offspring in its environment.

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: Fitness refers to reproductive success in a particular environment, not simply strength, size, or speed.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

Fitness refers to reproductive success in a particular environment, not simply strength, size, or speed.

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