Practice 100 Evolution MCQs with answers covering Darwinism, natural selection, fossils, adaptations, speciation, and evolutionary evidence. Ideal for biology students and competitive exams.
Evolution explains how living organisms change over generations through variation, adaptation, and natural selection. Understanding evolutionary concepts such as Darwin’s theory, fossil evidence, homologous and analogous organs, and speciation is essential for biology students and competitive exam aspirants. This article presents 100 carefully designed Evolution MCQs with answers, covering key topics like natural selection, mutation, genetic drift, adaptive radiation, and evolutionary evidence. These evolution multiple choice questions are ideal for concept building, quick revision, and exam-focused preparation in a clear and student-friendly format.
Here are 100 MCQs on Evolution with four options and correct answers, written clearly in English and suitable for students and competitive exams.
1. Evolution is the study of:
A. Origin of life
B. Changes in organisms over time
C. Structure of cells
D. Classification of plants
Answer: B
2. Who proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection?
A. Lamarck
B. Darwin
C. Mendel
D. Wallace
Answer: B
3. Charles Darwin published his theory in:
A. Origin of Species
B. Descent of Man
C. Natural History
D. Evolution of Life
Answer: A
4. Which term describes survival of the fittest?
A. Adaptation
B. Natural selection
C. Mutation
D. Speciation
Answer: B
5. Evolution occurs at the level of:
A. Individual
B. Population
C. Tissue
D. Cell
Answer: B
6. Which scientist proposed the theory of inheritance of acquired characters?
A. Darwin
B. Mendel
C. Lamarck
D. Wallace
Answer: C
7. Which example supports Lamarck’s theory?
A. Pepper moth
B. Giraffe’s long neck
C. Darwin’s finches
D. Fossil records
Answer: B
8. Which variation is heritable?
A. Acquired traits
B. Environmental changes
C. Genetic variation
D. Injuries
Answer: C
9. Which factor does NOT cause evolution?
A. Mutation
B. Natural selection
C. Gene flow
D. Mitosis
Answer: D
10. Which process introduces new genetic variations?
A. Mutation
B. Selection
C. Adaptation
D. Isolation
Answer: A
11. Fossils provide evidence of:
A. Ecology
B. Evolution
C. Genetics
D. Embryology
Answer: B
12. Homologous organs indicate:
A. Similar function
B. Common ancestry
C. Different origin
D. No relationship
Answer: B
13. Analogous organs indicate:
A. Same origin
B. Common ancestry
C. Same function, different origin
D. No evolution
Answer: C
14. Wings of birds and insects are:
A. Homologous
B. Vestigial
C. Analogous
D. Rudimentary
Answer: C
15. Which organ is vestigial in humans?
A. Heart
B. Lungs
C. Appendix
D. Kidney
Answer: C
16. Vestigial organs are:
A. Fully functional
B. Modified organs
C. Reduced and functionless
D. Newly formed
Answer: C
17. Which structure supports evolutionary relationship?
A. DNA similarity
B. Bone structure
C. Fossils
D. All of these
Answer: D
18. Which type of evolution produces similar traits in unrelated species?
A. Divergent evolution
B. Convergent evolution
C. Parallel evolution
D. Adaptive radiation
Answer: B
19. Darwin’s finches are an example of:
A. Convergent evolution
B. Parallel evolution
C. Adaptive radiation
D. Mutation
Answer: C
20. Adaptive radiation occurs due to:
A. Competition
B. Isolation
C. Environmental changes
D. All of these
Answer: D
21. Which process leads to formation of new species?
A. Mutation
B. Speciation
C. Adaptation
D. Selection
Answer: B
22. Geographic isolation leads to:
A. Extinction
B. Variation
C. Speciation
D. Migration
Answer: C
23. Which isolation prevents mating?
A. Geographic
B. Reproductive
C. Behavioral
D. All of these
Answer: D
24. Evolution of humans from ape-like ancestors is called:
A. Anthropogenesis
B. Speciation
C. Adaptation
D. Mutation
Answer: A
25. Which organism is considered the earliest life form?
A. Fungi
B. Bacteria
C. Plants
D. Animals
Answer: B
26. Which era is known as the Age of Reptiles?
A. Paleozoic
B. Mesozoic
C. Cenozoic
D. Precambrian
Answer: B
27. Which era is known as the Age of Mammals?
A. Paleozoic
B. Mesozoic
C. Cenozoic
D. Jurassic
Answer: C
28. Which era saw the origin of life?
A. Paleozoic
B. Precambrian
C. Mesozoic
D. Cenozoic
Answer: B
29. Which evidence comes from embryonic development?
A. Fossil evidence
B. Comparative anatomy
C. Embryology
D. Paleontology
Answer: C
30. Similar embryos of vertebrates suggest:
A. Common ancestry
B. Mutation
C. Adaptation
D. Isolation
Answer: A
31. Which scientist proposed the theory of mutation?
A. Lamarck
B. Darwin
C. De Vries
D. Wallace
Answer: C
32. Mutations are:
A. Always harmful
B. Always beneficial
C. Sudden genetic changes
D. Environmental changes
Answer: C
33. Which mutation is beneficial?
A. Lethal
B. Harmful
C. Adaptive
D. Neutral
Answer: C
34. Which mechanism maintains favorable variations?
A. Mutation
B. Natural selection
C. Migration
D. Drift
Answer: B
35. Which factor leads to random changes in gene frequency?
A. Natural selection
B. Mutation
C. Genetic drift
D. Adaptation
Answer: C
36. Genetic drift is significant in:
A. Large populations
B. Small populations
C. All populations
D. Stable populations
Answer: B
37. Which phenomenon is called survival of the fittest?
A. Mutation
B. Adaptation
C. Natural selection
D. Speciation
Answer: C
38. Which organism shows connecting links?
A. Archaeopteryx
B. Frog
C. Snake
D. Bat
Answer: A
39. Archaeopteryx connects:
A. Reptiles and mammals
B. Birds and reptiles
C. Fish and amphibians
D. Mammals and birds
Answer: B
40. Which fossil connects reptiles and mammals?
A. Archaeopteryx
B. Seymouria
C. Therapsids
D. Tiktaalik
Answer: C
41. Which adaptation helps organisms survive?
A. Structural
B. Behavioral
C. Physiological
D. All of these
Answer: D
42. Camouflage is an example of:
A. Mutation
B. Adaptation
C. Speciation
D. Isolation
Answer: B
43. Mimicry helps organisms to:
A. Reproduce
B. Protect themselves
C. Migrate
D. Mutate
Answer: B
44. Industrial melanism was observed in:
A. Butterflies
B. Moths
C. Frogs
D. Birds
Answer: B
45. Industrial melanism supports:
A. Mutation theory
B. Lamarckism
C. Natural selection
D. Genetic drift
Answer: C
46. Which factor increases genetic variation?
A. Inbreeding
B. Migration
C. Self-pollination
D. Cloning
Answer: B
47. Migration of individuals is called:
A. Gene flow
B. Genetic drift
C. Speciation
D. Isolation
Answer: A
48. Which process reduces variation?
A. Mutation
B. Gene flow
C. Natural selection
D. Inbreeding
Answer: D
49. Which type of selection favors extreme traits?
A. Stabilizing
B. Directional
C. Disruptive
D. Random
Answer: C
50. Which selection favors average individuals?
A. Directional
B. Stabilizing
C. Disruptive
D. Natural
Answer: B
51. Directional selection shifts population toward:
A. Average
B. One extreme
C. Both extremes
D. No change
Answer: B
52. Evolution results in:
A. Individual change
B. Population change
C. Cell division
D. Growth
Answer: B
53. Which scientist co-discovered natural selection?
A. Lamarck
B. Wallace
C. Mendel
D. De Vries
Answer: B
54. Which structure is reduced due to evolution?
A. Wings of birds
B. Human appendix
C. Fish gills
D. Mammalian lungs
Answer: B
55. Which adaptation helps desert plants?
A. Broad leaves
B. Thick cuticle
C. Thin roots
D. Soft stem
Answer: B
56. Which evolutionary evidence is molecular?
A. Fossils
B. Anatomy
C. DNA sequence
D. Embryos
Answer: C
57. Closely related species have:
A. Similar DNA
B. Different genes
C. No similarity
D. Random traits
Answer: A
58. Which term describes extinction of species?
A. Evolution
B. Speciation
C. Adaptation
D. Extinction
Answer: D
59. Mass extinction occurred during:
A. Jurassic period
B. Permian period
C. Cenozoic era
D. Triassic period
Answer: B
60. Which factor causes extinction?
A. Climate change
B. Competition
C. Human activity
D. All of these
Answer: D
61. Which organism shows connecting link between fish and amphibians?
A. Frog
B. Seymouria
C. Tiktaalik
D. Lungfish
Answer: C
62. Evolution explains:
A. Diversity of life
B. Cell structure
C. Photosynthesis
D. Respiration
Answer: A
63. Which type of evolution occurs when species diverge from a common ancestor?
A. Convergent
B. Divergent
C. Parallel
D. Retrogressive
Answer: B
64. Human hand and bat wing are:
A. Analogous
B. Vestigial
C. Homologous
D. Non-related
Answer: C
65. Which factor selects best adapted organisms?
A. Mutation
B. Natural selection
C. Genetic drift
D. Migration
Answer: B
66. Evolutionary fitness refers to:
A. Physical strength
B. Survival ability
C. Reproductive success
D. Growth rate
Answer: C
67. Which evidence comes from comparative anatomy?
A. Fossils
B. Embryos
C. Organ structure
D. DNA
Answer: C
68. Which theory explains gradual evolution?
A. Mutation theory
B. Natural selection
C. Lamarckism
D. Catastrophism
Answer: B
69. Which theory suggests sudden changes?
A. Darwinism
B. Lamarckism
C. Mutation theory
D. Natural selection
Answer: C
70. Which scientist proposed gradualism?
A. Darwin
B. Mendel
C. De Vries
D. Lamarck
Answer: A
71. Which structure is an example of retrogressive evolution?
A. Wings of birds
B. Eyes of cave animals
C. Fish fins
D. Mammalian lungs
Answer: B
72. Which evolution leads to complexity?
A. Progressive
B. Retrogressive
C. Convergent
D. Parallel
Answer: A
73. Which type of evolution reduces complexity?
A. Progressive
B. Retrogressive
C. Divergent
D. Adaptive
Answer: B
74. Which factor leads to adaptation?
A. Mutation
B. Natural selection
C. Migration
D. Isolation
Answer: B
75. Which organism best shows evolutionary success?
A. Dinosaurs
B. Bacteria
C. Mammals
D. Birds
Answer: B
76. Evolutionary changes are:
A. Sudden always
B. Gradual or sudden
C. Never genetic
D. Only environmental
Answer: B
77. Which process removes harmful traits?
A. Mutation
B. Natural selection
C. Migration
D. Drift
Answer: B
78. Which is NOT an evidence of evolution?
A. Fossils
B. Homologous organs
C. Analogous organs
D. Photosynthesis
Answer: D
79. Which adaptation helps aquatic animals?
A. Thick fur
B. Streamlined body
C. Wings
D. Camouflage
Answer: B
80. Which term describes formation of new species?
A. Evolution
B. Mutation
C. Speciation
D. Adaptation
Answer: C
81. Evolution is driven by:
A. Variation
B. Selection
C. Time
D. All of these
Answer: D
82. Which organism is most primitive?
A. Fish
B. Amphibian
C. Reptile
D. Bacteria
Answer: D
83. Which structure supports common ancestry?
A. Analogous organs
B. Homologous organs
C. Vestigial organs
D. Mutations
Answer: B
84. Which adaptation helps polar animals?
A. Thin fur
B. Thick fur
C. Broad leaves
D. Camouflage
Answer: B
85. Evolution explains relationship between:
A. Species
B. Populations
C. Organisms
D. All of these
Answer: D
86. Which evolutionary force is random?
A. Selection
B. Mutation
C. Genetic drift
D. Adaptation
Answer: C
87. Which factor maintains species integrity?
A. Mutation
B. Isolation
C. Migration
D. Drift
Answer: B
88. Which organism shows rapid evolution?
A. Mammals
B. Birds
C. Bacteria
D. Reptiles
Answer: C
89. Which process explains resistance in bacteria?
A. Mutation and selection
B. Adaptation only
C. Migration
D. Isolation
Answer: A
90. Evolution leads to:
A. Diversity
B. Adaptation
C. Speciation
D. All of these
Answer: D
91. Which type of evolution occurs independently in similar environments?
A. Divergent
B. Convergent
C. Progressive
D. Retrogressive
Answer: B
92. Which fossil connects amphibians and reptiles?
A. Archaeopteryx
B. Seymouria
C. Tiktaalik
D. Therapsid
Answer: B
93. Which factor reduces population size suddenly?
A. Mutation
B. Bottleneck effect
C. Migration
D. Adaptation
Answer: B
94. Founder effect is related to:
A. Natural selection
B. Genetic drift
C. Mutation
D. Adaptation
Answer: B
95. Which term describes gradual change?
A. Catastrophe
B. Evolution
C. Mutation
D. Extinction
Answer: B
96. Which adaptation helps birds fly?
A. Hollow bones
B. Thick skin
C. Heavy muscles
D. Solid bones
Answer: A
97. Which factor produces new alleles?
A. Selection
B. Mutation
C. Migration
D. Drift
Answer: B
98. Which era saw dominance of dinosaurs?
A. Paleozoic
B. Precambrian
C. Mesozoic
D. Cenozoic
Answer: C
99. Which concept explains common origin?
A. Creationism
B. Evolution
C. Fixity of species
D. Special creation
Answer: B
100. Evolution is best described as:
A. Static process
B. Continuous process
C. Sudden change only
D. Random growth
Answer: B
