25 questions in 25 minutes on the NTA computer-based test interface, all from Evolution. +4 / -1 marking, instant score, full solutions. Free, no login.
A chapter test is the fastest honest check on whether a chapter has actually landed. This one draws 25 questions from Evolution, of which 20 are real NEET previous-year questions and 6 sit at the harder end of the bank. Sit it in one 25-minute block, the way you would in the hall.
Revising first? Read the Evolution chapter notes, then come back and take this test to check it stuck.
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Duration: 180 minutes · 180 questions · 720 marks maximum
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All NEET Zoology CBT tests · The full NEET 2027 CBT mock library
NEET CBT mock test: common questions
How many questions are in this Evolution mock test?
25 questions in 25 minutes, marked +4 for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong one, exactly like the real paper. 20 of them are NEET previous-year questions.
Is this the same interface as the real NEET CBT?
Yes. On-screen countdown, colour-coded question palette, Save & Next, Clear Response and Mark for Review, then an instant score with full solutions.
Should I take this before or after revising Evolution?
Both, and that is the point. Take it cold to find out what you actually do not know, revise from the chapter notes, then retake it to confirm the gap closed.
All 25 questions with answers and solutions
The complete paper in text form, with the correct option and a worked explanation for every question. Sit the timed test above first: the score is only worth having if you earn it. Then open this to revise, or to re-read a question you got wrong without replaying the whole paper.
Show all 25 questions with answers and solutions
Zoology
- Q1The experimental support for chemical (abiotic) origin of life was provided by:
- Oparin and Haldane
- Stanley Miller and Harold Urey
- Charles Darwin
- Louis Pasteur
Answer: (B) Stanley Miller and Harold Urey
Miller and Urey (1953) passed electric discharge through CH4, NH3, H2 and water vapour and produced amino acids, experimentally supporting the chemical theory of origin of life proposed (theoretically) by Oparin and Haldane.
- Q2One of the important consequences of geographical isolation is:
- preventing speciation
- random creation of new species
- speciation through reproductive isolation
- no change in the isolated fauna
Answer: (C) speciation through reproductive isolation
Geographical isolation interrupts gene flow; over time independent genetic divergence leads to reproductive isolation and the formation of new species (allopatric speciation). It promotes, not prevents, speciation.
- Q3Variations caused by mutation, as proposed by Hugo de Vries, are:
- small and directionless
- random and directional
- random and directionless
- small and directional
Answer: (C) random and directionless
de Vries held that mutations are sudden, large, random and directionless changes (saltation) and play the key role in evolution. This contrasts with Darwinian variations, which are small, continuous and directional. So mutational variations are random and directionless.
- Q4Assertion (A): The first forms of life could not have arisen in the presence of abundant free oxygen. Reason (R): Free oxygen is a strong oxidising agent that would destroy the organic molecules needed for chemical evolution.
- Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
- A is true but R is false
- A is false but R is true
- Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Answer: (D) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
Early life arose in a reducing (oxygen-free) atmosphere precisely because oxygen, being a strong oxidiser, would have broken down the simple organic molecules accumulating in the primitive ocean. R correctly explains A.
- Q5Darwin’s finches provide an excellent evidence in favour of evolution. This evidence comes from the field of:
- Embryology
- Anatomy
- Biogeography
- Palaeontology
Answer: (C) Biogeography
Darwin’s finches illustrate how the geographical distribution of organisms supports evolution – this is biogeographical evidence (the study of distribution of life forms on Earth).
- Q6Evolutionary convergence is the development of:
- common set of characters in closely related groups
- random mating
- dissimilar characters in closely related groups
- common set of characters in groups of different ancestry
Answer: (D) common set of characters in groups of different ancestry
Convergent evolution is the development of similar (common) adaptive characters in groups of different ancestry (unrelated lineages) facing similar environments, e.g. wings of insect, bird and bat. Similarity arising within closely related groups would be parallel/divergent change, not convergence.
- Q7An important evidence in favour of organic evolution is the occurrence of:
- homologous organs only
- homologous and analogous organs
- homologous and vestigial organs
- analogous and vestigial organs
Answer: (C) homologous and vestigial organs
Homologous organs (common origin, different function) and vestigial organs (reduced, once-functional remnants) are anatomical evidence of descent with modification. Analogous organs evidence convergence, not common ancestry, so the best answer pairing common-descent evidence is homologous and vestigial organs.
- Q8Which one does NOT favour the Lamarckian concept of inheritance of acquired characters?
- Presence of webbed toes in aquatic birds
- Absence of limbs in snakes
- Lack of pigment in cave dwellers
- Melanisation of peppered moth in industrial areas
Answer: (D) Melanisation of peppered moth in industrial areas
Cave-dweller depigmentation, snake limblessness and webbed toes were cited as use/disuse effects supporting Lamarck. Industrial melanism in Biston betularia, however, is a result of natural selection on existing variation, not inheritance of an acquired character – so it does NOT favour Lamarckism.
- Q9The homologous organs are those that show similarity in:
- origin
- appearance
- function
- size
Answer: (A) origin
Homologous organs share a common embryonic origin and basic structural plan, though they may differ in size, appearance and function. Similarity in function (with different origin) defines analogous organs.
- Q10Which one of the following is NOT a living fossil?
- Sphenodon
- Peripatus
- King crab
- Archaeopteryx
Answer: (D) Archaeopteryx
Archaeopteryx is an extinct transitional fossil (a connecting link between reptiles and birds), not a living fossil. King crab, Sphenodon and Peripatus are living forms that have survived almost unchanged – true living fossils.
- Q11Frequency of a character increases when it is:
- adaptable
- inheritable
- dominant
- recessive
Answer: (A) adaptable
A character whose possessors are better adapted (favourable variation) is selected for and so increases in frequency over generations. Being merely dominant or recessive does not by itself raise frequency; adaptive value (selection) does.
- Q12According to Oparin and Haldane, the primitive atmosphere of Earth was:
- Reducing, lacking free O2
- Neutral with abundant CO2 only
- Identical to the present atmosphere
- Oxidising, rich in free O2
Answer: (A) Reducing, lacking free O2
The Oparin-Haldane hypothesis assumes a reducing atmosphere containing CH4, NH3, H2 and water vapour with no free molecular oxygen; free O2 would have oxidised and destroyed the early organic molecules.
- Q13Which one of the following primates is the closest relative of humans?
- Rhesus monkey
- Gorilla
- Orangutan
- Gibbon
Answer: (B) Gorilla
Among the listed living primates, the gorilla (a great ape, family Hominidae) is the closest relative of humans; chimpanzees and gorillas are our nearest living relatives. Gibbon, orangutan and rhesus monkey are more distantly related.
- Q14After about how many years of the formation of Earth did life appear on this planet?
- 50 million years
- 50 billion years
- 500 million years
- 500 billion years
Answer: (C) 500 million years
Earth formed about 4.5 billion years ago; life is believed to have appeared in the oceans roughly 500 million years after Earth’s formation (about 3.8-4 billion years ago). Hence the gap is about 500 million years. Billion-year figures are far too large for the post-formation lag.
- Q15Evolution is:
- development of race
- progressive development of a race
- history and development of race along with variations
- history of race
Answer: (C) history and development of race along with variations
Evolution is best defined as the history and development of a race together with the variations that accumulate over time – gradual heritable change in populations. The other options omit the essential element of variation.
- Q16Which one of the following is regarded as the direct ancestor of modern man?
- Ramapithecus
- Cro-Magnon man
- Homo habilis
- Homo erectus
Answer: (B) Cro-Magnon man
Cro-Magnon man (Homo sapiens fossilis), which appeared ~34,000 years ago, is regarded as the direct ancestor of modern man (Homo sapiens sapiens). The earlier forms (Homo erectus, habilis, Ramapithecus) precede Cro-Magnon in the lineage.
- Q17Which gas was absent in the atmosphere at the time of origin of life?
- CH4
- NH3
- H2
- O2
Answer: (D) O2
The primitive atmosphere was reducing – rich in CH4, NH3 and H2 – but free molecular oxygen (O2) was absent, because reactive hydrogen had already bound the available oxygen into water. Hence O2 was missing.
- Q18The phenomenon of evolution of different species in a given geographical area starting from a point and spreading to other habitats is called:
- adaptive radiation
- natural selection
- co-evolution
- saltation
Answer: (A) adaptive radiation
Adaptive radiation is the diversification of an ancestral group, starting from one point in a geographical area and radiating into many habitats/niches (e.g. Darwin’s finches). This matches the description exactly.
- Q19The placental wolf and the Tasmanian (marsupial) wolf resemble each other closely though evolving on different continents. This is an example of:
- Genetic drift
- Divergent evolution
- Convergent evolution
- Adaptive radiation only
Answer: (C) Convergent evolution
Two unrelated lineages (placental and marsupial) independently evolved similar body forms under similar environmental pressures – this is convergent evolution. When two adaptive radiations produce similar forms in isolated regions, the result appears convergent.
- Q20The chronological order of human evolution from early to recent is:
- Homo habilis → Ramapithecus → Australopithecus → Homo erectus
- Ramapithecus → Australopithecus → Homo habilis → Homo erectus
- Australopithecus → Ramapithecus → Homo habilis → Homo erectus
- Australopithecus → Homo habilis → Ramapithecus → Homo erectus
Answer: (B) Ramapithecus → Australopithecus → Homo habilis → Homo erectus
Ramapithecus (~14-15 mya) preceded Australopithecus (~3-4 mya), followed by the tool-maker Homo habilis and then Homo erectus. So the early-to-recent order is Ramapithecus → Australopithecus → Homo habilis → Homo erectus.
- Q21Convergent evolution is illustrated by:
- dogfish and whale
- rat and dog
- bacterium and protozoan
- starfish and cuttle fish
Answer: (A) dogfish and whale
Dogfish (a fish) and whale (a mammal) are distantly related but have independently acquired similar streamlined aquatic body forms – convergent evolution. The other pairs do not show such independently acquired similar adaptations.
- Q22According to Darwin, organic evolution is due to:
- reduced feeding efficiency in one species due to the presence of interfering species
- intraspecific competition
- interspecific competition
- competition within closely related species
Answer: (C) interspecific competition
Darwin attributed evolution to interspecific competition – the struggle for existence between members of different species for limited resources. Competition among members of the same species (intraspecific) alone does not drive his selection model in the same way.
- Q23Darwin’s finches are an excellent example of:
- adaptive radiation
- connecting links
- seasonal migration
- brood parasitism
Answer: (A) adaptive radiation
On the Galapagos Islands one ancestral finch diversified into many species with different beak shapes suited to different diets – a textbook case of adaptive radiation (evolution of many forms in different directions from a common ancestor).
- Q24Study of fossils is:
- palaeontology
- saurology
- organic evolution
- herpetology
Answer: (A) palaeontology
Palaeontology is the study of fossils (remains or impressions of ancient organisms) and their distribution in rocks of various ages. Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians.
- Q25Which of the following is regarded as an early form of modern Homo sapiens?
- Ramapithecus
- Australopithecus
- Dryopithecus
- Cro-Magnon man
Answer: (D) Cro-Magnon man
Cro-Magnon man is an early form of modern Homo sapiens. Dryopithecus and Ramapithecus were ape-like ancestors, while Australopithecus was an early erect-walking hominid that predates modern humans.