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Evolution Practice Tests

These Grade 9 Biology practice tests explore how populations change over generations. Questions cover natural selection, adaptation, evolutionary evidence, population genetics, genetic drift, gene flow, speciation, and the effects of human activities.

Skills covered

  • Explaining variation, heritability, fitness, adaptation, and natural selection
  • Using fossils, anatomy, embryology, DNA, and biogeography as evidence for common ancestry
  • Distinguishing directional, stabilizing, disruptive, sexual, and artificial selection
  • Comparing genetic drift, bottlenecks, founder effects, gene flow, and recombination
  • Understanding reproductive isolation, speciation, conservation, antibiotic resistance, and human selection

How to use these practice tests

For each scenario, identify the heritable variation, environmental pressure, and difference in reproductive success. Remember that evolution is measured in populations across generations. Review the explanations to strengthen evolutionary reasoning and evidence analysis.

For more Grade 9 Science practice, return to the Grade 9 Science category.

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Grade 9 Evolution Practice Tests

Practice Grade 9 Science questions about natural selection, adaptation, evidence for evolution, population genetics, speciation, and human effects on evolution.

Choose the best answer. Distinguish changes in individuals from population-level evolution, identify the selection pressure, and use evidence to explain evolutionary relationships.

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

Why can producing more offspring than an environment can support lead to natural selection?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Individuals compete for limited resources, so some leave more offspring than others..

  1. Identify the evolution concept: Determine whether the question concerns evidence, natural selection, population change, adaptation, or speciation.
  2. Apply the evolutionary principle: Overproduction creates competition for resources, making differences in survival and reproduction more important.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is Individuals compete for limited resources, so some leave more offspring than others..

Overproduction creates competition for resources, making differences in survival and reproduction more important.

2. QuestionMultiple choice

What is the relationship between variation and natural selection?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Selection can favor some heritable variations over others..

  1. Identify the evolution concept: Determine whether the question concerns evidence, natural selection, population change, adaptation, or speciation.
  2. Apply the evolutionary principle: Natural selection acts on existing heritable variation, changing which traits become more common over generations.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is Selection can favor some heritable variations over others..

Natural selection acts on existing heritable variation, changing which traits become more common over generations.

3. QuestionMultiple choice

A population of insects contains a few individuals resistant to a pesticide. After spraying, most survivors are resistant. What best explains this result?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is The pesticide selected for insects that already had heritable resistance..

  1. Identify the evolution concept: Determine whether the question concerns evidence, natural selection, population change, adaptation, or speciation.
  2. Apply the evolutionary principle: The pesticide acts as a selective pressure; resistant insects survive and reproduce at higher rates.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is The pesticide selected for insects that already had heritable resistance..

The pesticide acts as a selective pressure; resistant insects survive and reproduce at higher rates.

4. QuestionMultiple choice

What is directional selection?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is Selection that favors one extreme phenotype and shifts the population toward it..

  1. Identify the evolution concept: Determine whether the question concerns evidence, natural selection, population change, adaptation, or speciation.
  2. Apply the evolutionary principle: Directional selection increases the frequency of one extreme phenotype relative to other forms.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is Selection that favors one extreme phenotype and shifts the population toward it..

Directional selection increases the frequency of one extreme phenotype relative to other forms.

5. QuestionMultiple choice

What is stabilizing selection?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Selection that favors intermediate phenotypes and reduces extremes..

  1. Identify the evolution concept: Determine whether the question concerns evidence, natural selection, population change, adaptation, or speciation.
  2. Apply the evolutionary principle: Stabilizing selection favors the average or intermediate form when extremes have lower fitness.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is Selection that favors intermediate phenotypes and reduces extremes..

Stabilizing selection favors the average or intermediate form when extremes have lower fitness.

6. QuestionMultiple choice

What is disruptive selection?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is Selection that favors both extreme phenotypes over the intermediate phenotype..

  1. Identify the evolution concept: Determine whether the question concerns evidence, natural selection, population change, adaptation, or speciation.
  2. Apply the evolutionary principle: Disruptive selection can split a population toward two extremes when intermediate forms are less successful.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is Selection that favors both extreme phenotypes over the intermediate phenotype..

Disruptive selection can split a population toward two extremes when intermediate forms are less successful.

7. QuestionMultiple choice

What is sexual selection?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: C

The correct answer is Selection based on traits that increase success in attracting mates or competing for mates..

  1. Identify the evolution concept: Determine whether the question concerns evidence, natural selection, population change, adaptation, or speciation.
  2. Apply the evolutionary principle: Sexual selection favors characteristics that improve mating success, even if they have other costs.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is Selection based on traits that increase success in attracting mates or competing for mates..

Sexual selection favors characteristics that improve mating success, even if they have other costs.

8. QuestionMultiple choice

What is artificial selection?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: D

The correct answer is Human-directed breeding for desired inherited traits..

  1. Identify the evolution concept: Determine whether the question concerns evidence, natural selection, population change, adaptation, or speciation.
  2. Apply the evolutionary principle: Artificial selection occurs when people choose which organisms reproduce to increase selected traits.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is Human-directed breeding for desired inherited traits..

Artificial selection occurs when people choose which organisms reproduce to increase selected traits.

9. QuestionMultiple choice

Why does antibiotic resistance become more common in a bacterial population after antibiotic use?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: A

The correct answer is Resistant bacteria survive treatment and reproduce, while susceptible bacteria are reduced..

  1. Identify the evolution concept: Determine whether the question concerns evidence, natural selection, population change, adaptation, or speciation.
  2. Apply the evolutionary principle: Existing or newly arising heritable resistance can be favored when antibiotics kill susceptible bacteria.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is Resistant bacteria survive treatment and reproduce, while susceptible bacteria are reduced..

Existing or newly arising heritable resistance can be favored when antibiotics kill susceptible bacteria.

10. QuestionMultiple choice

Why can camouflage increase an organism's fitness?

Please select an answer first.

Correct answer: B

The correct answer is It can reduce detection by predators and increase the chance of surviving to reproduce..

  1. Identify the evolution concept: Determine whether the question concerns evidence, natural selection, population change, adaptation, or speciation.
  2. Apply the evolutionary principle: Camouflage can reduce predation in a particular environment, improving survival and reproductive opportunity.
  3. Check the answer: The correct answer is It can reduce detection by predators and increase the chance of surviving to reproduce..

Camouflage can reduce predation in a particular environment, improving survival and reproductive opportunity.

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