Questions of the TOEFL iBT Reading Comprehension Practice Test 002

 

Question 1. According to the paragraph, what is natural selection?
A) The intentional survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype
B) The random mutations of the genome of an individual organism
C) The differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype
D) The heritable traits of a population over generations

Question 2. According to the paragraph, what is the environment of a genome?
A) The characteristics of the organism
B) The genetic basis of any phenotype
C) The abiotic environment
D) The molecular biology in the cell, other cells, other individuals, populations, species, and the abiotic environment

Question 3. According to the paragraph, which of the following is NOT true about natural selection?
A) It is a key mechanism of evolution
B) It acts on the phenotype
C) It is intentional
D) It is a key process in the evolution of a population

Question 4. Which of the following can be inferred from the paragraph about natural selection?
A) It results in populations that specialize for particular ecological niches
B) It is the only explanation for adaptive evolution
C) It is a cornerstone of modern biology
D) It was published by Darwin in 1859

Question 5. Why does the author mention Charles Darwin in the paragraph?
A) To contrast natural selection with artificial selection
B) To describe the concept of natural selection
C) To explain the evolution of a population
D) To elaborate on the theory of heredity

Question 6. The word "phenotype" in the passage is closest in meaning to…
A) The heritable traits of a population over generations
B) The characteristics of the organism
C) The environment of a genome
D) The random mutations of the genome of an individual organism

Question 7. The phrase "microevolution" in the passage is closest in meaning to…
A) The emergence of new species
B) The evolution of a population
C) The specialization of populations for particular ecological niches
D) The process of natural selection

Question 8. Which of the following sentences best expresses the essential information in the following sentence? "Because individuals with certain variants of the trait tend to survive and reproduce more than individuals with other less successful variants, the population evolves."
A) Some individuals have better survival and reproduction rates than others, causing population evolution.
B) The population evolves due to the survival and reproduction of individuals with specific traits.
C) Evolution occurs when traits are passed down through generations.
D) Traits that increase survival and reproduction are passed down, leading to population evolution.

Question 9. Look at the four letters – (A), (B), (C) and (D) – that indicate where the following sentence can be added to the passage. "The book explained the concept of natural selection in detail." Where would the sentence best fit?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)

Question 10. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. "Natural selection, a key mechanism of evolution, refers to the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype, as a result of the interaction between their genomes and environment."
Natural selection results from the interaction between the genome and environment of an individual organism.
Charles Darwin popularised the term "natural selection" and described it as a process that is not intentional, unlike artificial selection.
The genetic basis of any phenotype that gives it a reproductive advantage may become more common in a population over time, leading to the evolution of populations and possibly speciation.
Natural selection only occurs in plants, not animals. (Incorrect because the passage states that natural selection occurs in all populations of organisms, including both plants and animals.)
Artificial selection is the same as natural selection, but with the intention of humans. (Incorrect because the passage states that natural selection is not intentional, contrasting it with artificial selection which is intentional.)
The process of natural selection is caused by random genetic drift. (Incorrect because the passage states that natural selection remains the primary explanation for adaptive evolution, while genotypes can slowly change by random genetic drift.)

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