Questions on Lamarck’s Theory of Evolution
Multiple-Choice Questions: Lamarck’s Theory
1. Which concept is central to Lamarck's theory of evolution?
A) Natural selection
B) Genetic drift
C) Use and disuse
D) Mutation
E) Artificial selection
2. According to Lamarck, how do organisms acquire new traits?
A) Random mutation
B) Inheritance from ancestors only
C) Environmental pressures
D) Use or disuse of organs
E) Genetic recombination
3. What is the name of Lamarck’s evolutionary theory?
A) Natural selection
B) Gradualism
C) Transformism
D) Uniformitarianism
E) Catastrophism
4. Which of the following best describes Lamarck's idea of use and disuse?
A) Organisms can choose traits to pass on
B) Traits change at random
C) Frequently used organs become stronger
D) Genes control evolution
E) Mutations cause change
5. Lamarck believed that acquired traits:
A) Do not affect evolution
B) Are lost in the next generation
C) Are inherited by offspring
D) Are only behavioral
E) Are erased by natural selection
6. Which example illustrates Lamarck’s theory?
A) Birds with varied beak sizes surviving in different environments
B) Giraffes stretching their necks to reach leaves and passing long necks to offspring
C) Bacteria evolving resistance due to random mutations
D) Peppered moths changing color due to pollution
E) Horses selectively bred for speed
7. What was Lamarck’s profession?
A) Chemist
B) Zoologist
C) Physicist
D) Mathematician
E) Geologist
8. Which idea did Lamarck propose that was later discredited by modern genetics?
A) Organisms change over time
B) Species can go extinct
C) Acquired traits are inherited
D) Adaptation improves survival
E) Environmental influence affects phenotype
9. In Lamarck’s theory, changes in organisms occur:
A) Due to random mutation
B) Suddenly and catastrophically
C) Gradually and in response to needs
D) Only during embryonic development
E) Without any environmental influence
10. According to Lamarck, why would a blacksmith’s son have strong arms?
A) Inherited genes
B) Genetic drift
C) Frequent use of arms by the father
D) Mutation in muscles
E) Natural selection
11. Lamarck's theory was developed before the discovery of:
A) Atoms
B) Fossils
C) DNA and genetics
D) Dinosaurs
E) Evolution
12. What was a positive contribution of Lamarck’s theory?
A) Discovery of DNA structure
B) Introduction of extinction
C) Proposal that species are fixed
D) Recognition that organisms adapt to their environment
E) Explanation of dominant and recessive traits
13. Which of the following is not a principle of Lamarckism?
A) Inheritance of acquired traits
B) Use and disuse of organs
C) Struggle for existence
D) Internal vital force
E) Gradual transformation
14. Lamarck used the example of which animal to illustrate his ideas?
A) Lions
B) Elephants
C) Giraffes
D) Frogs
E) Whales
15. What did Lamarck believe about organisms and their environment?
A) Organisms remain unchanged
B) Organisms randomly mutate
C) Organisms adapt due to inner needs
D) Environment has no influence
E) Environment causes random destruction
16. Lamarck’s ideas were eventually replaced by the theory of:
A) Intelligent design
B) Evolution by natural selection
C) Spontaneous generation
D) Creationism
E) Structuralism
17. Which modern field disproved Lamarck’s idea of inherited acquired traits?
A) Geology
B) Physics
C) Genetics
D) Astronomy
E) Paleontology
18. Which term refers to Lamarck’s belief in a natural tendency toward complexity and perfection?
A) Artificial selection
B) Catastrophism
C) Vitalism
D) Progressive evolution
E) Adaptation
19. How did Lamarck explain the loss of unused structures?
A) Natural disasters removed them
B) They mutated into new structures
C) They disappeared over generations through disuse
D) They were surgically removed
E) They turned into vestigial organs
20. What was one criticism of Lamarck's theory?
A) It did not explain extinction
B) It ignored fossil evidence
C) It lacked scientific experimentation
D) It was not applicable to animals
E) It focused only on plants
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Answer Key:
1. C
2. D
3. C
4. C
5. C
6. B
7. B
8. C
9. C
10. C
11. C
12. D
13. C
14. C
15. C
16. B
17. C
18. D
19. C
20. C
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