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Evolution — NEET MCQs with answers
Chapter 6 traces the origin of the universe (almost 13.8 billion years old, explained by the Big Bang theory), the formation of Earth (about 4.5 billion years back), and the synthesis of organic molecules from inorganic constituents leading to the first life forms, then follows evolutionary theory from Lamarck and Darwin to population genetics. It explains the mechanisms of evolution - natural selection, mutation, gene flow, genetic drift and the Hardy-Weinberg principle - and ends with a brief account of the evolution of life forms and the origin and evolution of man.
Topics in this chapter
- 6.1 Origin of Life
- 6.2 Evolution of Life Forms — A Theory
- 6.3 What Are the Evidences for Evolution?
- 6.4 What Is Adaptive Radiation?
- 6.5 Biological Evolution
- 6.6 Mechanism of Evolution
- 6.7 Hardy–Weinberg Principle
- 6.8 A Brief Account of Evolution
- 6.9 Origin and Evolution of Man
Free practice questions
Which of the following best describes what remains constant in a population that is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
- A. The geological age of the population
- B. The total number of species
- C. The gene pool and allele frequencies
- D. The mutation rate only
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Answer: C — In Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium the gene pool (total genes and alleles) and the allele frequencies remain constant.
NCERT Class 12 Biology · Ch 6 · 6.7 Hardy-Weinberg Principle
The release of O2 by some early cells is described as being similar to which process?
- A. The light reaction in photosynthesis where water is split
- B. Aerobic respiration
- C. Fermentation
- D. The dark reaction (Calvin cycle) of photosynthesis
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Answer: A — NCERT states the reaction could have been similar to the light reaction in photosynthesis, where water is split with the help of solar energy captured by light-harvesting pigments.
NCERT Class 12 Biology · Ch 6 · 6.8 A Brief Account of Evolution
In the NCERT bacterial example, a colony of bacteria (A) growing on a medium has built-in variation. When the medium composition is changed, what happens?
- A. The entire colony A dies out immediately
- B. Only the part of the population (B) that can survive the new conditions is brought out and outgrows the others
- C. Bacteria acquire new characters by stretching to reach the feed
- D. No change occurs because allele frequencies are constant
Show answer
Answer: B — NCERT states a change in the medium composition 'would bring out only that part of the population (say B) that can survive under the new conditions. In due course of time this variant population outgrows the others and appears as new species.' Fitness of B is better than A under the new conditions.
NCERT Class 12 Biology · Ch 6 · 6.5 Biological Evolution
The natural conditions under which some individuals survive better, as mentioned by NCERT, include:
- A. Only acquired habits
- B. Climate, food and physical factors
- C. Only body size
- D. Only reproductive organs
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Answer: B — NCERT lists natural conditions as climate, food, physical factors, etc., which determine which characteristics enable some individuals to survive better.
NCERT Class 12 Biology · Ch 6 · 6.2 Evolution of Life Forms — A Theory
In adaptive radiation, the phrase 'starting from a point' in the NCERT definition refers to:
- A. A geographic centre with the mildest climate
- B. The point of highest species diversity
- C. The site of the first fossil discovery
- D. A single ancestral starting stock in the geographical area
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Answer: D — NCERT defines adaptive radiation as evolution of different species in a given geographical area starting from a point (a single ancestor/starting stock) and radiating to other habitats.
NCERT Class 12 Biology · Ch 6 · 6.4 What Is Adaptive Radiation?
What did Miller observe forming in his flask after the electric discharge?
- A. DNA molecules
- B. Free oxygen
- C. Amino acids
- D. Complete cells
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Answer: C — NCERT states Miller observed the formation of amino acids in his flask.
NCERT Class 12 Biology · Ch 6 · 6.1 Origin of Life
According to NCERT, the age of fossils is calculated using the method of:
- A. Carbon fixation
- B. Genetic recombination
- C. Radioactive-dating
- D. Embryological staging
Show answer
Answer: C — NCERT prompts: 'Do you recollect the method of radioactive-dating' — fossil ages are calculated by radioactive-dating.
NCERT Class 12 Biology · Ch 6 · 6.3 What Are the Evidences for Evolution?
Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
- A. Mendel — Mutation theory
- B. de Vries — Saltation
- C. de Vries — Gradual evolution
- D. Darwin — Saltation
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Answer: B — de Vries is correctly matched with saltation (single-step large mutation). Darwin is associated with gradual evolution, not saltation.
NCERT Class 12 Biology · Ch 6 · 6.6 Mechanism of Evolution
About how tall were the man-like primates that walked in eastern Africa about 3-4 mya, according to NCERT?
- A. Not taller than 4 feet
- B. About 8 feet
- C. About 6 feet
- D. Exactly 5 feet
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Answer: A — NCERT notes that these man-like primates were probably not taller than 4 feet but walked upright.
NCERT Class 12 Biology · Ch 6 · 6.9 Origin and Evolution of Man
Natural selection is best defined as a process in which:
- A. heritable variations enabling better survival reproduce and leave more progeny
- B. allele frequencies never change
- C. acquired characters are passed directly to offspring
- D. all variations are inherited equally regardless of survival
Show answer
Answer: A — Natural selection is a process in which heritable variations enabling better survival are enabled to reproduce and leave a greater number of progeny.
NCERT Class 12 Biology · Ch 6 · 6.7 Hardy-Weinberg Principle
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