Very Short Answer Questions
(1 Mark)
Q1. State the process to determine the age of a fossil.
Ans. Carbon dating is the process that determines the age of a fossil.
Q2. Explain natural selection.
Ans. The process in which out of the entire population the survival and reproductive rate of
people possessing specific characteristics are larger than that of the other people is known
as Natural selection. The organisms that easily adapt to varying environmental conditions
are selected by the environment.
Q3. What does the “Founder’s effect” mean?
Ans: A phenomenon that influences the genetic diversity of a population is the “Founder’s
effect”. A group of human beings splits from a huge population to create a new group. This
is considered to be the founder’s effect. The new group largely varies from its original
population.
Q4. Which period is referred to as the “Age of Reptiles”?
Ans: The Jurassic period is referred to as the “Age of Reptiles”.
Q5. How can the age of rock be discovered by using the absolute dating method?
Ans. The age of the rock or fossil can be discovered by measuring the amount of radioactive
decay in certain elements present in the rock through the process of absolute dating.
Q6. Which period is referred to as the “Age of amphibians”?
Ans: “Age of amphibians” belongs to the Carboniferous period.
Q7. If the abiotic origin of life is in progress on a planet other than earth, what conditions
should be fulfilled there?
Ans: Few climatic conditions like volcanic storms, extremely high temperatures, reducing
atmosphere consisting of CH4, NH3, H2, and water vapours are the conditions that need to
be fulfilled there if the abiotic origin of life is in progress on a planet other than the Earth.
Q8. State the characteristics of fossils.
Ans. The characteristics of fossils are noted as follows:
Fossils act as links between distinct species.
They help in discovering the time period in which they existed.
They display modes of preservation of various ancient species.
They provide aid in discovering the evolutionary characteristics or traits of living beings and
their ancestors.
Short Answer Questions
(2 Marks)
Q1. What is the study of fossils also known as? State any three points on how the fossils
depict past life.
Ans: Palaeontology is known for the study of fossils. It has been considered that fossils
depict to us our past life as
A cross-section of the Earth’s crust presents the placement of sediments one on top of
another.
During the formation of a specific sediment, each sediment consisting of distinct life forms
almost perished.
Missing links or connecting links consisted of characters of distinct groups.
Q2. What is natural selection? Who other than Charles Darwin suggested it as the
mechanism of evolution?
Ans: There are certain organisms that go through several genetic changes due to significant
alterations in their surroundings and adapt to the changes, there they are selected by
nature and others are eliminated. Alfred Wallace also suggested a similar mechanism of
evolution and it was known as “survival of fittest”.
Q3. What is adaptive radiation? State a suitable example.
Ans. Adaptive radiation takes place due to changes in the environment. The process in
which a living organism expands from a single ancestor into numerous new forms is called
adaptive radiation. For example, the finches of the Galapagos island are witnessed with
several distinct beaks based on the food consumed by them. This single species adapted
to the environmental and nutritional conditions as well as evolved respective beak types
over a long period.
Q4. Why do aerobic living organisms find nascent oxygen toxic?
Ans. Nascent oxygen is highly reactive and can form chemical reactions when it comes in
contact with all types of biomolecules existent in living organisms like proteins, DNA, and
enzymes. It can lead to variation in DNA and degeneration of proteins and enzymes in
reactions, therefore, harmful to aerobic life forms.
Q5. Write a note on genetic drift.
Ans. A mechanism of evolution wherein the allele frequencies transform over generations
as a matter of chance is known as Genetic drift. It usually has the maximum effect on a
small population. Genetic drift is noticed either when there is a bottleneck effect or a
founder effect. Genetic drift does not consider whether the allele is beneficial or toxic to
the individual carrying it. There is a probability that a beneficial allele is lost and a harmful
allele is carried over.
Q6. Life originated from the earth’s inorganic atmosphere in the past, but this no longer
happens today. State two suitable reasons.
Ans: Life cannot be originated from the earth’s inorganic atmosphere due to the following
reasons:
(i) Temperature in the current-day atmosphere is comparatively lesser than that of the
primitive atmosphere.
(ii) Due to the presence of oxygen, the current-day atmosphere is oxidising and not
diminishing in nature.
Q7. Explain the evolution of birds from reptiles and give one piece of evidence.
Ans: The most prominent evidence that proves that birds have developed from reptiles is
the missing link between birds and reptiles. “Birds evolved from reptiles” is displayed by
the species named Archaeopteryx. These are organisms that display both the
characteristics of birds and of reptiles.
Q8. Write down the differences between De Vries mutations and Darwinian Variations.
Ans: The difference between De Vries mutations and Darwinian variations are:
De Vries mutations Darwinian Variations
Mutations are heritable alterations in the characteristics of a population that originate
instantaneously and cause speciation. Darwinian variations are steady and happen due
to variations over many generations.
Mutations are random and directionless. Variations are small and directional.
Long Answer Questions
(3 Marks)
Q1. State the facts that assist Darwin’s Theory of Natural selection.
Ans: The following facts support Darwin’s Theory of Natural selection
Overproduction: – All organisms do not survive even though they multiply at a high rate.
Struggle for survival: – As there are limitations of space and food, all the newborn
organisms result in an overproduction that will not survive and fight with one another to
evolve. This leads to struggle among the individuals of the same species as well as distinct
species for existence.
iii. Variations: Two individuals of a similar species are not exactly alike even if they come
out from the same parental stock.
Survival of fittest: The individuals with potential variation will live during the struggle for
survival while those with inefficient variation would die.
Q2. What does Biogeography mean? Explain how Darwin’s finches give biogeographical
evidence in favour of evolution.
Ans: Biogeography is the branch of geography that handles the study of the pattern of
spreading of plants and animals.
Example: In the Galapagos islands, during Charles Darwin’s voyage, he discovered that the
animals of these islands are similar to those in South American islands. Similarly, the birds
of Galapagos Island also referred to as Darwin’s finches are not identical to the birds of
South America, further, he stated that finches were from ancestral stock that had relocated
from the mainland to the island and went through several changes due to distinct
environmental conditions.
Q3. Chemical insecticides remain useful only for a limited time. Explain the process of
evolution with an example.
Ans: Several pests and insects that cause damage to the crops in the agricultural fields can
be eliminated by the use of chemical pesticides. It is possible to completely get rid of these
pests as chemical insecticides affect some of the pest’s metabolic characteristics,
resulting in the pest’s death. Over time, pests can build resistance to these insecticides
which are a result of mutations and they will end up being useless. Therefore, there is no
point in using these insecticides.
Q4. State the types of evolution.
Ans. The various types of evolution are as follows:
Convergent evolution– The process in which evolution takes place independently, under
identical selection pressures is known as convergent evolution. A few examples of
convergent evolution are birds, flying insects, and other flying species that have all
developed the ability to fly but are independent of each other.
Coevolution – The process in which evolution takes place in tandem when two or more
species exert selection pressures on each other is known as coevolution evolution. A few
examples of coevolution evolution are predators and prey, host and parasites, flowering
plants and pollinating insects, and mutualistic or symbiotic interactions.
Adaptive radiation– The process in which evolution takes place when a species breaks
down into numerous new forms when an alteration in the environment makes new
resources accessible or forms new environmental threats is known as Adaptive radiation.
One example of adaptive radiation is finches on the Galapagos Islands, they have evolved
distinctly shaped beaks.
Q5. Mention some examples that display evolution by anthropogenic action.
Ans: The selection of resistant variation on a minor time scale is caused due to extreme
usage of herbicides, pesticides, etc. This applies to antibiotic or drug-resistant microbes
as well.
A few examples of pesticides are Methomyl, and Aldrin, while examples of herbicides are
Dinosep and AcetochlorAns. Carbon dating is the process that determines the age of a
fossil.
Q2. Explain natural selection.
Ans. The process in which out of the entire population the survival and reproductive rate of
people possessing specific characteristics are larger than that of the other people is known
as Natural selection. The organisms that easily adapt to varying environmental conditions
are selected by the environment.
Q3. What does the “Founder’s effect” mean?
Ans: A phenomenon that influences the genetic diversity of a population is the “Founder’s
effect”. A group of human beings splits from a huge population to create a new group. This
is considered to be the founder’s effect. The new group largely varies from its original
population.
Q4. Which period is referred to as the “Age of Reptiles”?
Ans: The Jurassic period is referred to as the “Age of Reptiles”.
Q5. How can the age of rock be discovered by using the absolute dating method?
Ans. The age of the rock or fossil can be discovered by measuring the amount of radioactive
decay in certain elements present in the rock through the process of absolute dating.
Q6. Which period is referred to as the “Age of amphibians”?
Ans: “Age of amphibians” belongs to the Carboniferous period.
Q7. If the abiotic origin of life is in progress on a planet other than earth, what conditions
should be fulfilled there?
Ans: Few climatic conditions like volcanic storms, extremely high temperatures, reducing
atmosphere consisting of CH4, NH3, H2, and water vapours are the conditions that need to
be fulfilled there if the abiotic origin of life is in progress on a planet other than the Earth.
Q8. State the characteristics of fossils.
Ans. The characteristics of fossils are noted as follows:
Fossils act as links between distinct species.
They help in discovering the time period in which they existed.
They display modes of preservation of various ancient species.
They provide aid in discovering the evolutionary characteristics or traits of living beings and
their ancestors.
Short Answer Questions
(2 Marks)
Q1. What is the study of fossils also known as? State any three points on how the fossils
depict past life.
Ans: Palaeontology is known for the study of fossils. It has been considered that fossils
depict to us our past life as
A cross-section of the Earth’s crust presents the placement of sediments one on top of
another.
During the formation of a specific sediment, each sediment consisting of distinct life forms
almost perished.
Missing links or connecting links consisted of characters of distinct groups.
Q2. What is natural selection? Who other than Charles Darwin suggested it as the
mechanism of evolution?
Ans: There are certain organisms that go through several genetic changes due to significant
alterations in their surroundings and adapt to the changes, there they are selected by
nature and others are eliminated. Alfred Wallace also suggested a similar mechanism of
evolution and it was known as “survival of fittest”.
Q3. What is adaptive radiation? State a suitable example.
Ans. Adaptive radiation takes place due to changes in the environment. The process in
which a living organism expands from a single ancestor into numerous new forms is called
adaptive radiation. For example, the finches of the Galapagos island are witnessed with
several distinct beaks based on the food consumed by them. This single species adapted
to the environmental and nutritional conditions as well as evolved respective beak types
over a long period.
Q4. Why do aerobic living organisms find nascent oxygen toxic?
Ans. Nascent oxygen is highly reactive and can form chemical reactions when it comes in
contact with all types of biomolecules existent in living organisms like proteins, DNA, and
enzymes. It can lead to variation in DNA and degeneration of proteins and enzymes in
reactions, therefore, harmful to aerobic life forms.
Q5. Write a note on genetic drift.
Ans. A mechanism of evolution wherein the allele frequencies transform over generations
as a matter of chance is known as Genetic drift. It usually has the maximum effect on a
small population. Genetic drift is noticed either when there is a bottleneck effect or a
founder effect. Genetic drift does not consider whether the allele is beneficial or toxic to
the individual carrying it. There is a probability that a beneficial allele is lost and a harmful
allele is carried over.
Q6. Life originated from the earth’s inorganic atmosphere in the past, but this no longer
happens today. State two suitable reasons.
Ans: Life cannot be originated from the earth’s inorganic atmosphere due to the following
reasons:
(i) Temperature in the current-day atmosphere is comparatively lesser than that of the
primitive atmosphere.
(ii) Due to the presence of oxygen, the current-day atmosphere is oxidising and not
diminishing in nature.
Q7. Explain the evolution of birds from reptiles and give one piece of evidence.
Ans: The most prominent evidence that proves that birds have developed from reptiles is
the missing link between birds and reptiles. “Birds evolved from reptiles” is displayed by
the species named Archaeopteryx. These are organisms that display both the
characteristics of birds and of reptiles.
Q8. Write down the differences between De Vries mutations and Darwinian Variations.
Ans: The difference between De Vries mutations and Darwinian variations are:
De Vries mutations Darwinian Variations
Mutations are heritable alterations in the characteristics of a population that originate
instantaneously and cause speciation. Darwinian variations are steady and happen due
to variations over many generations.
Mutations are random and directionless. Variations are small and directional.
Long Answer Questions
(3 Marks)
Q1. State the facts that assist Darwin’s Theory of Natural selection.
Ans: The following facts support Darwin’s Theory of Natural selection
Overproduction: – All organisms do not survive even though they multiply at a high rate.
Struggle for survival: – As there are limitations of space and food, all the newborn
organisms result in an overproduction that will not survive and fight with one another to
evolve. This leads to struggle among the individuals of the same species as well as distinct
species for existence.
iii. Variations: Two individuals of a similar species are not exactly alike even if they come
out from the same parental stock.
Survival of fittest: The individuals with potential variation will live during the struggle for
survival while those with inefficient variation would die.
Q2. What does Biogeography mean? Explain how Darwin’s finches give biogeographical
evidence in favour of evolution.
Ans: Biogeography is the branch of geography that handles the study of the pattern of
spreading of plants and animals.
Example: In the Galapagos islands, during Charles Darwin’s voyage, he discovered that the
animals of these islands are similar to those in South American islands. Similarly, the birds
of Galapagos Island also referred to as Darwin’s finches are not identical to the birds of
South America, further, he stated that finches were from ancestral stock that had relocated
from the mainland to the island and went through several changes due to distinct
environmental conditions.
Q3. Chemical insecticides remain useful only for a limited time. Explain the process of
evolution with an example.
Ans: Several pests and insects that cause damage to the crops in the agricultural fields can
be eliminated by the use of chemical pesticides. It is possible to completely get rid of these
pests as chemical insecticides affect some of the pest’s metabolic characteristics,
resulting in the pest’s death. Over time, pests can build resistance to these insecticides
which are a result of mutations and they will end up being useless. Therefore, there is no
point in using these insecticides.
Q4. State the types of evolution.
Ans. The various types of evolution are as follows:
Convergent evolution– The process in which evolution takes place independently, under
identical selection pressures is known as convergent evolution. A few examples of
convergent evolution are birds, flying insects, and other flying species that have all
developed the ability to fly but are independent of each other.
Coevolution – The process in which evolution takes place in tandem when two or more
species exert selection pressures on each other is known as coevolution evolution. A few
examples of coevolution evolution are predators and prey, host and parasites, flowering
plants and pollinating insects, and mutualistic or symbiotic interactions.
Adaptive radiation– The process in which evolution takes place when a species breaks
down into numerous new forms when an alteration in the environment makes new
resources accessible or forms new environmental threats is known as Adaptive radiation.
One example of adaptive radiation is finches on the Galapagos Islands, they have evolved
distinctly shaped beaks.
Q5. Mention some examples that display evolution by anthropogenic action.
Ans: The selection of resistant variation on a minor time scale is caused due to extreme
usage of herbicides, pesticides, etc. This applies to antibiotic or drug-resistant microbes
as well.
A few examples of pesticides are Methomyl, and Aldrin, while examples of herbicides are
Dinosep and Acetochlor