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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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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 can happen when a population becomes very small after a disaster?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Random changes in allele frequencies can have a large effect..

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: A small population is more affected by chance, so some alleles may be lost or become common by genetic drift.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

A small population is more affected by chance, so some alleles may be lost or become common by genetic drift.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

What is a population bottleneck?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is A sharp reduction in population size that leaves a smaller, less representative group.

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: A bottleneck can reduce genetic diversity because the surviving individuals carry only part of the original variation.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

A bottleneck can reduce genetic diversity because the surviving individuals carry only part of the original variation.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

What is the founder effect?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is A new population is started by a small number of individuals whose alleles may not represent the original population..

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: The founders carry a limited sample of alleles, so chance can make the new population genetically different.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

The founders carry a limited sample of alleles, so chance can make the new population genetically different.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

What is genetic drift?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is A random change in allele frequencies, especially noticeable in small populations.

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: Genetic drift is a chance process and can change allele frequencies without making a trait more useful.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

Genetic drift is a chance process and can change allele frequencies without making a trait more useful.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

What is gene flow?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is The movement of alleles between populations when organisms migrate and reproduce..

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: Migration followed by reproduction can introduce alleles to a population or remove them from another.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

Migration followed by reproduction can introduce alleles to a population or remove them from another.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

How is artificial selection different from natural selection?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Humans choose which organisms reproduce in artificial selection..

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: Artificial selection is directed by human choices, while natural selection results from environmental conditions and reproductive success.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

Artificial selection is directed by human choices, while natural selection results from environmental conditions and reproductive success.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

What is sexual selection?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is Selection for traits that increase an individual's chance of attracting mates or competing for mates.

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: Mate choice and competition can favor inherited traits even when those traits do not directly improve survival.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

Mate choice and competition can favor inherited traits even when those traits do not directly improve survival.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

What is coevolution?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is When interacting species influence each other's evolutionary changes over time.

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: Predators and prey, or plants and pollinators, can create reciprocal 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 and prey, or plants and pollinators, can create reciprocal selection pressures.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

How can mimicry help an organism?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Resembling another organism or object can reduce predation or increase protection..

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: Mimicry can provide an advantage when predators avoid a model organism or fail to detect the mimic.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

Mimicry can provide an advantage when predators avoid a model organism or fail to detect the mimic.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

Why is biodiversity important when environments change?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is A diverse population is more likely to contain traits that help some members survive new conditions..

  1. Identify the variation: Determine which inherited difference, environmental condition, or population pattern the question describes.
  2. Connect the variation to selection: Variation and biodiversity increase the chance that some individuals can persist when selection pressures change.
  3. Check the population outcome: Natural selection changes how common inherited traits are across generations when those traits affect survival or reproduction.

Variation and biodiversity increase the chance that some individuals can persist when selection pressures change.

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