BIOD 121 FINAL EXAM LATEST 2025/2026 ACTUAL EXAM ALL 120 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES (VERIFIED ANSWERS) ALREADY GRADED A+

1. Prior to the publication of Charles Darwin's book, On the Origin of Species, what was
the prevailing public consensus regarding species evolution?
a. That species evolved by means of natural selection
b. That species evolved through physical changes that led to success
c. That species were modified over time, but did not change into new species
d. That species were permanent and unchanging - ANSWER>>d. That species were
permanent and unchanging
2. What contribution did Charles Lyell make?
a. He provided the first evidence that the Earth is much older than was previously
thought
b. He found some bird specimens on the Galapagos Islands
c. He suggested that life evolves through physical changes within the life span of an
organism
d. He found some fossils of extinct species - ANSWER>>a. He provided the first
evidence that the Earth is much older than was previously thought
3. What prompted Darwin to publish his book decades after he began writing it?
a. A colleague (Alfred Wallace) was about to publish a similar manuscript
b. After years of searching, he finally found a publisher willing to accept it
c. He had completed the last of his experiments
d. He had returned from his voyage around the world - ANSWER>>a. A colleague
(Alfred Wallace) was about to publish a similar manuscript
4. Which two observations led Darwin to conclude that there is competition for survival?
a. Fossils and mutations
b. Gene and allele differences in organisms
c. Natural selection and descent with modification
d. Overproduction and limited resources - ANSWER>>d. Overproduction and limited
resources
5. Individuals with variations that make them best suited to their environment will, on
average, be more likely to _______.
a. Survive and reproduce
b. Evolve
c. Be larger
d. Change over time - ANSWER>>a. Survive and reproduce