Extra 40 MCQs with answers from the Heredity and Evolution chapter:8 of Class 10 CBSE Science:

 

Who is known as the "Father of Genetics"?
a) Darwin
b) Mendel
c) Lamarck
d) Watson
Answer: b) Mendel

 

The passing of traits from parents to offspring is called:
a) Evolution
b) Variation
c) Heredity
d) Speciation
Answer: c) Heredity

 

Which of the following carries genetic information?
a) Proteins
b) DNA
c) Lipids
d) Carbohydrates
Answer: b) DNA

 

The alternative forms of a gene are called:
a) Chromosomes
b) Alleles
c) Traits
d) Gametes
Answer: b) Alleles

 

A cross between two heterozygous tall (Tt) pea plants will produce tall and dwarf plants in what ratio?
a) 3:1
b) 1:3
c) 2:2
d) 1:1
Answer: a) 3:1

 

Which of the following is a dominant trait in pea plants?
a) Green seed
b) Wrinkled seed
c) White flower
d) Tallness
Answer: d) Tallness

 

The genotype of a homozygous recessive organism is:
a) TT
b) Tt
c) tt
d) TT or tt
Answer: c) tt

 

The pair of contrasting traits studied by Mendel in pea plants is called:
a) Alleles
b) Genotypes
c) Phenotypes
d) Factors
Answer: a) Alleles

 

Which of the following is not inherited but acquired?
a) Height
b) Skin colour
c) Language
d) Eye colour
Answer: c) Language

 

Mendel's Law of Segregation states that:
a) Two alleles of a gene pair separate during gamete formation
b) Dominant traits are always expressed
c) The environment affects heredity
d) Evolution is based on natural selection
Answer: a) Two alleles of a gene pair separate during gamete formation

 

Evolution is the:
a) Sudden change in an organism
b) Gradual change in organisms over generations
c) Disappearance of traits
d) None of the above
Answer: b) Gradual change in organisms over generations

 

Who proposed the theory of natural selection?
a) Mendel
b) Darwin
c) Lamarck
d) Watson and Crick
Answer: b) Darwin

 

The forelimb of a bird and a human arm are examples of:
a) Homologous organs
b) Analogous organs
c) Vestigial organs
d) Mutated organs
Answer: a) Homologous organs

 

Which of the following is an example of an analogous organ?
a) Human hand and bat wing
b) Wings of butterfly and bird
c) Flippers of whale and fish
d) Forelimbs of dog and lizard
Answer: b) Wings of butterfly and bird

 

Which of the following is a vestigial organ in humans?
a) Kidney
b) Lungs
c) Appendix
d) Heart
Answer: c) Appendix

 

The fossil record provides evidence for:
a) Heredity
b) Evolution
c) Genetics
d) Photosynthesis
Answer: b) Evolution

 

According to Darwin, evolution occurs due to:
a) Genetic mutations
b) Acquired traits
c) Natural selection
d) Artificial breeding
Answer: c) Natural selection

 

The similarity in early embryonic stages of different species suggests:
a) Common ancestry
b) Artificial selection
c) Independent origin
d) No relation
Answer: a) Common ancestry

 

The presence of gill slits in human embryos suggests:
a) Relationship with aquatic organisms
b) Evolution of lungs
c) Advanced genetic modification
d) None of the above
Answer: a) Relationship with aquatic organisms

 

The first living organisms on Earth were:
a) Multicellular
b) Prokaryotes
c) Mammals
d) Amphibians
Answer: b) Prokaryotes

 

What is speciation?
a) Formation of new species
b) Extinction of species
c) Genetic mutation
d) Cloning
Answer: a) Formation of new species

 

Which of the following leads to variation?
a) Mutation
b) Sexual reproduction
c) Crossing over
d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above

 

Genetic drift occurs due to:
a) Random changes in allele frequency
b) Natural selection
c) Artificial selection
d) Mutation
Answer: a) Random changes in allele frequency

 

A population with higher genetic variation has:
a) Less chance of survival
b) More chance of survival
c) No effect on survival
d) No variation
Answer: b) More chance of survival

 

The process where humans selectively breed organisms for desired traits is called:
a) Artificial selection
b) Natural selection
c) Speciation
d) Genetic drift
Answer: a) Artificial selection

 

Which species is most closely related to humans?
a) Gorillas
b) Chimpanzees
c) Orangutans
d) Monkeys
Answer: b) Chimpanzees

 

Which of the following does not affect evolution?
a) Natural selection
b) Genetic drift
c) Climate change
d) Gravity
Answer: d) Gravity

 

Which scientist worked on mutation as a driving force for evolution?
a) Darwin
b) Lamarck
c) Hugo de Vries
d) Mendel
Answer: c) Hugo de Vries

 

The first human-like species to walk upright was:
a) Homo habilis
b) Homo erectus
c) Neanderthals
d) Australopithecus
Answer: b) Homo erectus

 

The first modern humans appeared around:
a) 2 million years ago
b) 10 million years ago
c) 200,000 years ago
d) 500,000 years ago
Answer: c) 200,000 years ago

 

31. Which genetic material is responsible for heredity?

a) RNA
b) DNA
c) Protein
d) Enzymes
Answer: b) DNA

 

32. The number of chromosomes in a human gamete is:

a) 23
b) 46
c) 44
d) 22
Answer: a) 23

 

33. The study of fossils is called:

a) Biology
b) Geology
c) Palaeontology
d) Anthropology
Answer: c) Palaeontology

 

34. Darwin’s famous book on evolution is:

a) The Evolution of Species
b) The Genetic Code
c) The Origin of Species
d) The Survival of the Fittest
Answer: c) The Origin of Species

 

35. The concept of "Survival of the Fittest" was given by:

a) Mendel
b) Darwin
c) Lamarck
d) Hugo de Vries
Answer: b) Darwin

 

36. The change in DNA sequence is called:

a) Variation
b) Mutation
c) Heredity
d) Selection
Answer: b) Mutation

 

37. The unit of heredity is:

a) Chromosome
b) DNA
c) Gene
d) Nucleus
Answer: c) Gene

 

38. Which organ in whales and snakes is vestigial?

a) Hind limbs
b) Lungs
c) Gills
d) Tail
Answer: a) Hind limbs

 

39. What percentage of DNA is common between humans and chimpanzees?

a) 50-60%
b) 70-80%
c) 98-99%
d) 100%
Answer: c) 98-99%

 

40. The fossil Archaeopteryx is a link between:

a) Amphibians and reptiles
b) Reptiles and birds
c) Mammals and reptiles
d) Birds and mammals
Answer: b) Reptiles and birds