Lesson T4.2.4

T4.2.4 Adaptation, extinction and biodiversity Quiz: KS3 Biology, Unit 4

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T4.2.4, Adaptation, extinction and biodiversity: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Biology (National Curriculum), Unit 4: Genetics and evolution, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What term describes when all individuals of a species die out?

    • Adaptation
    • Migration
    • Evolution
    • Extinction

  2. Why might an environment change lead to species extinction?

    • Higher birth rates
    • More mutations
    • Poor adaptation
    • Increased food

  3. Which human activity most commonly causes rapid species extinction?

    • Selective breeding
    • Habitat destruction
    • Crop rotation
    • Organic farming

  4. What term describes the variety of living organisms in an area?

    • Biomass
    • Biodiversity
    • Biosphere
    • Population

  5. Why is high biodiversity important for humans?

    • Lowers oxygen
    • Increases pollution
    • Provides resources
    • Reduces rainfall

  6. What is the primary purpose of a gene bank?

    • Producing synthetic genes
    • Treating genetic diseases
    • Conserving genetic material
    • Cloning extinct species

  7. What main benefit do gene banks provide for agriculture?

    • Accelerating plant growth
    • Increasing soil fertility
    • Preserving genetic variety
    • Eliminating pest insects

  8. Why is high genetic diversity important for food crops?

    • Brightening crop colour
    • Enhancing sweet flavour
    • Resisting disease
    • Shortening harvest time

  9. Which human activity most directly reduces global biodiversity?

    • Establishing reserves
    • Recycling plastics
    • Planting hedgerows
    • Deforestation

  10. Why are populations with low genetic variation at greater risk?

    • Rapid population growth
    • Poor environmental adaptation
    • Higher energy demands
    • Excessive metabolic rates

  11. Why can the loss of a single species severely disrupt an entire food web?

    • Species are interdependent
    • Ecosystems are identical
    • Populations never change
    • All species are predators

  12. What term describes a species at risk of extinction?

    • Domesticated
    • Endangered
    • Abundant
    • Colonised

  13. How do destructive human activities typically influence the rate of species extinction?

    • Has no effect
    • Slows it down
    • Stops it entirely
    • Speeds it up

  14. What do fossils provide direct evidence of?

    • Artificial selection
    • Current ecosystems
    • Extinct organisms
    • Future evolution

  15. Why does high biodiversity usually make an ecosystem more stable?

    • Reduced competition
    • Increased resilience
    • Lower resource use
    • Simpler food webs

  16. What is a direct consequence of reduced genetic variety?

    • Faster reproduction
    • Enhanced immunity
    • Increased body size
    • Vulnerability to change

  17. Why do conservationists prioritise protecting entire habitats rather than single species?

    • Stops climate change
    • Cheaper to manage
    • Protects interdependent species
    • Increases genetic drift

  18. Which process produces the vast biodiversity seen on Earth today?

    • Natural selection
    • Selective breeding
    • Cell division
    • Genetic engineering

  19. What advantage do ecosystems with high biodiversity have against environmental changes?

    • Fixed populations
    • Greater resilience
    • Fewer food sources
    • Lower stability

  20. What does local extinction mean when describing a specific animal population?

    • Extinct worldwide
    • Gone from one area
    • Migrating seasonally
    • Hibernating in winter

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