Practice Quiz for Overview of
Human Biological Adaptability

No. of Questions= 14

INSTRUCTIONS: To answer a question, click the button in front of your choice. A response will appear in the window below the question to let you know if you are correct. Be sure to read the feedback. It is designed to help you learn the material. You can also learn by reading the feedback for incorrect answers.

1.  Humans respond to environmental stresses:
a)  biologically
b)  culturally
c)  both biologically and culturally
 
2.  Sickle-cell trait was selected for by nature in west and central Africa because:
a) it provides some immunity to anemia
b) it provides some immunity to malaria
c) neither of the above
3.  Those individuals who inherit a trait that provides a biological advantage in responding to a particular environmental stress:
a) are less likely to survive
b) are less likely to pass on their genes to the next generation
c) neither of the above
4.  Which of the following statements is true about adaptations and adjustments?
     
a) Adjustments and adaptations are both equally likely to occur in response to mild short-term environmental stresses.
b) Adaptations may be biologically inherited.
c) Adjustment refers to cultural response to an environmental stress.
5.  Compared to most other animal species, humans:
a) live in more environmental zones around the world
b) live in fewer environmental zones around the world
c) are not as flexible in their adaptation to environmental extremes
6.  The old Chinese practice of permanently changing the foot shape of daughters by tightly wrapping them with cloth in early childhood is an example of:
     
a) developmental adjustment
b) long-term acclimatization
c) seasonal acclimatization
d) all of the above
7.  Developing a suntan in response to ultraviolet radiation from the sun during the summer months is an example of:
     
a) developmental adjustment
b) long-term acclimatization
c) seasonal acclimatization
d) none of the above
8.  A woman who has become taller than her parents as a result of good nutrition during her growing years is an example of:
a) developmental adjustment
b) long-term acclimatization
c) seasonal acclimatization
d) all of the above
9.  Using a fire to warm your body on a very cold day is an example of:
a) developmental adjustment
b) long-term acclimatization
c) seasonal acclimatization
d) none of the above
10.  Which of the following statements is true concerning different populations of humans?
a) They are all about equal in their ability to handle environmental stresses such as high altitude.
b) They are not equal in their ability to handle these stresses.
c) They all are normally exposed to about the same sort of environmental stresses.
d) B and C
11.  The ability of the environment to somewhat mold our bodies as we grow is due to our:
a) physiological plasticity
b) limited adaptability
c) cultural technology
12.  Genetic change in response to an environmental stress is more likely to occur if the stress is:
a) severe and constant over many generations
b) mild and constant over many generations
c) severe and short-term
13.  Which of the following statements is true?
a) Genetic adaptation and the various types of adjustments to environmental stresses are always distinct phenomena.
b) Adaptability to specific environmental stresses rarely varies from person to person.
c) Our cultural technology has allowed us to adapt to new environments without having to first evolve biological adaptations.
14.  A diet that has an adequate amount of carbohydrate calories but extremely little protein will likely cause ____________ in a child.
a) marasmus
b) kwashiorkor
c) rickets
 


  

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Copyright © 1998-2012 by Dennis O'Neil. All rights reserved.