14 Evolution

Section B

[2012-7]
Figure 4 shows one of the examples of natural selection in action. Use it to answer questions that
follow.

2012-7.
a.
(i) Name the example of natural selection shown. (1 mark)
(ii) Describe what led to the survival of some of the bacteria while the others got killed. (2 marks)
b. What will happen to the antibiotic after sometime? (I mark)

[2011-11]
Figure 8 shows occurrence of light and dark varieties of peppered moth in an industrial area before
and after industrial revolution in England. Use it to answer the questions that follow.

14 Evolution - Questions
2011-11.
a.
(i) In the table provided, state two differences in the population of moths before and after industrial
revolution. (2 marks)

(ii) Explain how the population of dark peppered moth could have arisen before industrial revolution.
(3 marks)

[2010-14]
Figure 12 is an evolutionary tree of an organism. Use it to answer the questions that follow:

2010-14.
14 Evolution - Questions
a. Name two species that have become extinct. (2 marks)
b. At what time did species E evolve? (1 mark)
c. Explain how fossil records can be used to show that the species in the diagram have a common
ancestor. (3 marks)

[2009-9]
Table 1 shows results of an investigation on mechanism where equal numbers of red and white
ground beetles were put on red clay in a mesh cage. Insect-eating birds were then introduced in the
cage. Use it to answer questions that follow.
Table 1
Types of beetles Number of beetles Number of beetles
before experiment after experiment
Red ground beetles 500 475
White ground beetles 500 123
2009-9.
a. How many red ground beetles were eaten by the birds? (3 marks)
b. Calculate the percentage of white beetles that survived. (3 marks)
c. Explain the results of this investigation. (2 marks)

[2009-11]
Figure 9 shows two parent animals with their offspring. Use it to answer the questions that follow.

2009-11.
c. If these animals fed at night, explain how natural selection would operate on the recessive allele in
an environment where wild cats are predators. (3 marks)

2008-8.
a. What is “evolution”? (1 mark)
14 Evolution - Questions
b. Explain how each of the following helps to support the theory of evolution:
(i) comparative anatomy (2 marks)
(ii) embryology (2 marks)
c. How does meiosis cause variation among offsprings? (2 marks)

[2006-10]
Figure 7 is a diagram showing some of the varieties of cichlid fish (mbuna) found in Lake Malawi.
Use it to answer the questions that follow.

2006-10.
a.
(i) Which cichlid fish is adapted for carnivorous feeding habits? (1 mark)
(ii) Explain your answer to a.(i). (2 marks)
b. Explain briefly how the four varieties of the cichlid fish may have arisen from a common ancestor.
(3 marks)

[2004-8]
Figure 4 is a diagram showing the wing of a bat labelled and the front leg of a rabbit labelled B. Use it
to answer the questions that follow.

2004-8.
b.
(i) What type of evidence of evolution is shown in Figure 4? (1 mark)
14 Evolution - Questions
(ii) Give a reason for your answer to 8.a.(i). (2 marks)

2003-13.
In Malawi, during the 1980s, DDT was a common pesticide that was used to kill weevils. This
pesticide began to appear. In the 1990s, a new pesticide had to be introduced because the majority of
weevils could not be killed by DDT.
a. How could weevils become resistant to DDT? (1 mark)
b. Explain how natural selection would help the population of weevils to become resistant to DDT. (4
marks)

14 Evolution - Questions