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Natural Selection and Adaptation Practice Tests

These Grade 8 Science practice tests cover inherited variation, mutations, natural selection, fitness, environmental pressures, adaptations, artificial selection, common ancestry, population change, and evidence from DNA, fossils, anatomy, and geography.

Skills covered

  • Connecting inherited variation to survival and reproductive success
  • Explaining how environmental pressures change trait frequencies in populations
  • Distinguishing individual responses from population-level evolution
  • Using fossils, DNA, anatomy, and biogeography as evolutionary evidence
  • Interpreting graphs, models, investigations, and adaptation examples

How to use these practice tests

Identify the population, inherited trait, environmental condition, and reproductive outcome in each question. Then decide whether the evidence supports natural selection, adaptation, common ancestry, or another population process.

For more Grade 8 Science practice, return to the Grade 8 Science category.

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Grade 8 Natural Selection and Adaptation Practice Tests

Practice Grade 8 Science questions about inherited variation, natural selection, adaptations, common ancestry, population change, and evolutionary evidence.

Choose the best answer. Identify inherited variation, environmental pressures, population changes, and the evidence that supports each conclusion.

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

A graph shows that the percentage of dark moths rises after tree bark becomes darker. What is a reasonable explanation?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Dark moths may be harder for predators to see and may leave more offspring..

  1. Identify the population and trait: Determine which inherited variation, environmental condition, or reproductive pattern is being described.
  2. Connect the evidence to selection: If dark moths are better camouflaged, lower predation can increase their relative frequency over generations.
  3. Check the population result: The correct choice is Dark moths may be harder for predators to see and may leave more offspring..

If dark moths are better camouflaged, lower predation can increase their relative frequency over generations.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

What should a student measure to test whether a trait affects survival?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Survival or reproductive success of individuals with different inherited versions of the trait.

  1. Identify the population and trait: Determine which inherited variation, environmental condition, or reproductive pattern is being described.
  2. Connect the evidence to selection: Comparing survival or reproduction connects the trait to fitness and provides evidence for selection.
  3. Check the population result: The correct choice is Survival or reproductive success of individuals with different inherited versions of the trait.

Comparing survival or reproduction connects the trait to fitness and provides evidence for selection.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

Why should a natural selection investigation use a large enough sample?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is A larger sample can make the observed pattern more representative and reduce the effect of chance..

  1. Identify the population and trait: Determine which inherited variation, environmental condition, or reproductive pattern is being described.
  2. Connect the evidence to selection: Chance can strongly affect small groups, so larger samples often provide more reliable estimates of trait frequencies.
  3. Check the population result: The correct choice is A larger sample can make the observed pattern more representative and reduce the effect of chance..

Chance can strongly affect small groups, so larger samples often provide more reliable estimates of trait frequencies.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

What does an allele-frequency graph show?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is How the relative amounts of different allele versions change in a population over time.

  1. Identify the population and trait: Determine which inherited variation, environmental condition, or reproductive pattern is being described.
  2. Connect the evidence to selection: Tracking allele frequencies helps scientists measure genetic change across generations.
  3. Check the population result: The correct choice is How the relative amounts of different allele versions change in a population over time.

Tracking allele frequencies helps scientists measure genetic change across generations.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

A population has 80% light-colored beetles and 20% dark-colored beetles. After several generations on dark soil, 70% are dark. What does this suggest?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is The dark-color allele may have increased because it provided an advantage in that environment..

  1. Identify the population and trait: Determine which inherited variation, environmental condition, or reproductive pattern is being described.
  2. Connect the evidence to selection: A shift in inherited trait frequency can indicate selection when the trait affects survival or reproduction.
  3. Check the population result: The correct choice is The dark-color allele may have increased because it provided an advantage in that environment..

A shift in inherited trait frequency can indicate selection when the trait affects survival or reproduction.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

What is a fair comparison when testing two inherited traits in the same environment?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Keep important conditions similar and compare survival or reproduction for the traits..

  1. Identify the population and trait: Determine which inherited variation, environmental condition, or reproductive pattern is being described.
  2. Connect the evidence to selection: Controlled conditions help isolate the relationship between the inherited trait and reproductive success.
  3. Check the population result: The correct choice is Keep important conditions similar and compare survival or reproduction for the traits..

Controlled conditions help isolate the relationship between the inherited trait and reproductive success.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

Why can a trait frequency change even when the trait provides no advantage?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is Random events can change allele frequencies, especially in small populations..

  1. Identify the population and trait: Determine which inherited variation, environmental condition, or reproductive pattern is being described.
  2. Connect the evidence to selection: Chance events such as genetic drift can alter allele frequencies without a trait advantage.
  3. Check the population result: The correct choice is Random events can change allele frequencies, especially in small populations..

Chance events such as genetic drift can alter allele frequencies without a trait advantage.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

What would strengthen a claim that a new trait is inherited?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is The trait appears in offspring more often when their parents have the trait, across repeated observations..

  1. Identify the population and trait: Determine which inherited variation, environmental condition, or reproductive pattern is being described.
  2. Connect the evidence to selection: Repeated parent-offspring patterns provide evidence that the trait can be passed genetically.
  3. Check the population result: The correct choice is The trait appears in offspring more often when their parents have the trait, across repeated observations..

Repeated parent-offspring patterns provide evidence that the trait can be passed genetically.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

Why should a model of natural selection include multiple generations?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Selection changes population trait frequencies over time rather than changing all individuals at once..

  1. Identify the population and trait: Determine which inherited variation, environmental condition, or reproductive pattern is being described.
  2. Connect the evidence to selection: The population-level pattern of evolution becomes visible as inherited differences affect several generations.
  3. Check the population result: The correct choice is Selection changes population trait frequencies over time rather than changing all individuals at once..

The population-level pattern of evolution becomes visible as inherited differences affect several generations.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

Which statement best evaluates a scientific model of adaptation?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is A useful model explains observed data, makes testable predictions, and can be revised with new evidence..

  1. Identify the population and trait: Determine which inherited variation, environmental condition, or reproductive pattern is being described.
  2. Connect the evidence to selection: Scientific models are judged by evidence, explanatory power, predictions, and openness to revision.
  3. Check the population result: The correct choice is A useful model explains observed data, makes testable predictions, and can be revised with new evidence..

Scientific models are judged by evidence, explanatory power, predictions, and openness to revision.

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