Evolution – Daily Practice Problem (DPP)

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🎯 NEET 2026 Daily Practice Problem (DPP)

Class 12 | Unit 2: Genetics | Topic: Evolution

Q1. According to Oparin and Haldane, the first form of life could have come from:

  1. Pre-existing living organism
  2. Pre-existing non-living organic molecules
  3. Spontaneous generation from decaying matter
  4. Panspermia from outer space
✅ View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: (2) Pre-existing non-living organic molecules
Explanation: This theory is called Chemical Evolution. They proposed that the first life arose from molecules like RNA, proteins, etc., followed by biological evolution.

Q2. Which of the following gases was absent in the primitive atmosphere of the earth?

  1. Methane
  2. Ammonia
  3. Oxygen
  4. Hydrogen
✅ View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: (3) Oxygen
Explanation: The primitive atmosphere was reducing in nature, meaning free molecular oxygen ($O_2$) was absent.

Q3. Homologous organs indicate:

  1. Convergent evolution
  2. Divergent evolution
  3. Parallel evolution
  4. Adaptive convergence
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Correct Answer: (2) Divergent evolution
Explanation: Homologous organs have the same structural origin but different functions (e.g., forelimbs of whales, bats, and humans), indicating common ancestry.

Q4. The wings of a butterfly and the wings of a bird are examples of:

  1. Homologous organs
  2. Analogous organs
  3. Vestigial organs
  4. Atavism
✅ View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: (2) Analogous organs
Explanation: They perform the same function (flying) but have different anatomical structures/origins (Convergent Evolution).

Q5. Industrial melanism in the peppered moth is an example of:

  1. Mutation
  2. Natural Selection
  3. Artificial Selection
  4. Genetic Drift
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Correct Answer: (2) Natural Selection
Explanation: Directional selection occurred where dark-winged moths were selected over white-winged moths in polluted areas due to better camouflage.

Q6. Darwin’s finches on the Galapagos Islands provide evidence for:

  1. Biogeographical evolution
  2. Adaptive radiation
  3. Convergent evolution
  4. Both 1 and 2
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Correct Answer: (4) Both 1 and 2
Explanation: Darwin’s finches show Adaptive Radiation (evolution starting from a point and radiating to other areas) which is a biogeographical evidence.

Q7. According to Hugo de Vries, the mechanism of evolution is:

  1. Gradualism
  2. Saltation
  3. Use and disuse of organs
  4. Inheritance of acquired characters
✅ View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: (2) Saltation
Explanation: Hugo de Vries proposed the Mutation Theory, stating that evolution is caused by single-step large mutations (Saltation), which are random and directionless.

Q8. The Hardy-Weinberg principle states that allele frequencies in a population remain constant unless influenced by:

  1. Random mating
  2. Large population size
  3. Evolutionary factors (Mutation, Selection, Migration)
  4. Absence of mutations
✅ View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: (3) Evolutionary factors
Explanation: Genetic equilibrium (Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium) is disturbed by Gene flow, Genetic drift, Mutation, Recombination, and Natural Selection.

Q9. Genetic drift operates in:

  1. Small isolated populations
  2. Large isolated populations
  3. Non-reproductive populations
  4. Slow reproductive populations
✅ View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: (1) Small isolated populations
Explanation: Genetic drift is the random change in allele frequencies due to chance events, which is significant only in small populations.

Q10. The first human-like being the hominid was called:

  1. Homo erectus
  2. Homo habilis
  3. Homo sapiens
  4. Australopithecus
✅ View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: (2) Homo habilis
Explanation: Homo habilis (Handyman) was the first hominid with a brain capacity of 650-800 cc. They did not eat meat.

Q11. The brain capacity of Homo erectus was about:

  1. 650 cc
  2. 900 cc
  3. 1400 cc
  4. 1350 cc
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Correct Answer: (2) 900 cc
Explanation: Homo erectus appeared around 1.5 mya and had a brain capacity of 900 cc. They probably ate meat.

Q12. Which of the following is a connecting link between reptiles and birds?

  1. Peripatus
  2. Archaeopteryx
  3. Neopilina
  4. Latimeria
✅ View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: (2) Archaeopteryx
Explanation: Archaeopteryx is a fossil bird that had avian characters (wings, feathers) and reptilian characters (teeth, tail, claws).

Q13. In the Hardy-Weinberg equation $p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1$, the term $2pq$ represents the frequency of:

  1. Homozygous dominant individuals
  2. Homozygous recessive individuals
  3. Heterozygous individuals
  4. Lethal alleles
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Correct Answer: (3) Heterozygous individuals
Explanation: $p^2$ is homozygous dominant (AA), $q^2$ is homozygous recessive (aa), and $2pq$ is heterozygous (Aa).

Q14. The ‘Founder Effect’ is associated with:

  1. Genetic Drift
  2. Natural Selection
  3. Mutation
  4. Gene Migration
✅ View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: (1) Genetic Drift
Explanation: When a small group of individuals drifts from a population and starts a new colony, the original drifted genotype becomes the founder of the new population (Founder Effect).

Q15. Sweet potato and Potato are examples of:

  1. Homologous organs
  2. Analogous organs
  3. Vestigial organs
  4. Atavistic organs
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Correct Answer: (2) Analogous organs
Explanation: Sweet potato (root modification) and Potato (stem modification) have different origins but perform the same function of food storage.

Q16. The concept of ‘Survival of the Fittest’ was originally used by:

  1. Charles Darwin
  2. Lamarck
  3. Herbert Spencer
  4. Hugo de Vries
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Correct Answer: (3) Herbert Spencer
Explanation: Herbert Spencer coined the phrase “Survival of the Fittest”, which Darwin used to describe Natural Selection.

Q17. The extinction of dinosaurs occurred around:

  1. 65 million years ago
  2. 200 million years ago
  3. 500 million years ago
  4. 350 million years ago
✅ View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: (1) 65 million years ago
Explanation: Dinosaurs disappeared around 65 mya (end of Cretaceous period). The reasons may include climatic changes or asteroid impact.

Q18. Who provided experimental proof that life comes only from pre-existing life using the swan-neck flask experiment?

  1. Louis Pasteur
  2. Spallanzani
  3. Francisco Redi
  4. Aristotle
✅ View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: (1) Louis Pasteur
Explanation: Louis Pasteur disproved the theory of spontaneous generation once and for all with his swan-neck flask experiment.

Q19. Which of the following is correct order of evolution?

  1. Invertebrates -> Fish -> Amphibians -> Reptiles
  2. Fish -> Invertebrates -> Amphibians -> Reptiles
  3. Reptiles -> Amphibians -> Fish -> Invertebrates
  4. Amphibians -> Fish -> Invertebrates -> Reptiles
✅ View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: (1) Invertebrates -> Fish -> Amphibians -> Reptiles
Explanation: Life originated in water. Invertebrates evolved first, followed by jawless fish, jawed fish, amphibians, reptiles, and then birds/mammals.

Q20. When more than one adaptive radiation appeared to have occurred in an isolated geographical area (representing different habitats), it results in:

  1. Divergent evolution
  2. Convergent evolution
  3. Parallel evolution
  4. Co-evolution
✅ View Answer & Explanation

Correct Answer: (2) Convergent evolution
Explanation: Example: Placental mammals and Australian marsupials. They show similar adaptations due to similar habitats but have different ancestors.

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