Test 9: Evolution – Standard 5/Objectives 1-3 Test Study Questions

1. Give some examples of vestigial organs.

2. Homologous structures suggest _____________ ancestry in _____________ species.

3. Fossils are evidence of evolution. How have they increased our knowledge of past species and ancestors? What kind of research methods are used to increase our knowledge?

4. At what time does mutation occur?

5. The diagram above shows four animals that lived at different times. Fossil evidence indicates that each animal was an ancestor of the next on the timeline. Which statement is the best conclusion that can be made about these animals over time?

a. Changes to each animal were harmful and caused their extinction.b. Traits each animal acquired during its lifetime were passed onto the next generation.c. Cold temperatures during the Ice Age caused the animals to grow larger with each

generation.d. Genes for beneficial traits were passed on, eventually resulting in different animals

more fit for their environment.

6. Based on the pictures below, which of the following is an inference? a. The archaeopteryx lived millions of years before the bird.b. Modern birds are descendants of archaeopteryx.c. The feet of each animal have three toes.d. The organisms have similar body structures.

7. Which of the following statements is true about the information presented in the phylogenetic tree above?

a. Crocodiles appear in the fossil record before turtles.b. Turtles are a common ancestor of snakes and lizards.c. Birds and crocodiles share a common ancestor.d. Turtles and lizards are more close3ly related than snakes and lizards.

Prehistoric Archaeopteryx

Modern Bird Skeleton

8. Scientists found a fossil of an elephant in the African Savanna. It has much longer tusks and is much larger than elephant species presently inhabiting the area. This elephant’s fossil most likely reveals:

a. The diet of early elephants.b. That elephant’s travel in herds. c. The function of the trunk of the elephant.d. That physical changes occurred in elephants over time.

9. Male Homo sapiens have wisdom teeth, tail bones and nipples, but they have no need for these structures. What kinds of traits are these?

10.What evidence for evolution do the traits from the above question provide?a. Organisms always have traits that they don’t use. It doesn’t prove anything about

evolution.b. Organisms have ancestors that used those traits, but after millions of years, those traits

are no longer selected for.c. Organisms are evolving new traits all the time and these structures show evidence of

this new evolution.d. They are mutations in the DNA and the organisms aren’t supposed to have them in their

bodies.

11.Do all organisms fossilize well? ______ Do fossils get destroyed by erosion and earth movements? _______ How do scientist know how old a fossil is? ___________________

12.Why do homologous traits provide evidence for evolution?

13.According to the DNA comparisons above, which organisms will be the most closely related to #5?

14.Why would organism #5 have physical traits similar to #2 and #4?

15. How do scientists explain biodiversity found on the planet? What helps to explain how this diversity occurred?

16.Birds in a desert climate survive on soft parts of cactus. Scientists observed that during a drought, many of the birds died. The ones that survived had large, thick beaks and were able to crack open and eat hard seeds that would ordinarily not be used. What trait would you expect to see in the next generation?

a. small beaksb. long, thin beaksc. large, thick beaksd. flat, spoon-shaped beaks

17.On the Galapagos Islands, there are different traits in different species of tortoises. If you were to reintroduce these different species to one other, would they interbreed?

a. Yes because love is more important than differences. b. No because they have adapted different ways of reading offspring. c. No because the must live near each other for several years.d. No because behavioral of genetic changes have occurred.

18.Students were investigating the effect of antibiotics on bacteria. The students exposed a colony of bacteria to an antibiotic and 10% of the bacteria survived. Over time, the surviving bacteria multiplied. When the second generation of bacteria was exposed to the same antibiotic, 85% survived. Which statement best explains the results of this investigation?

a. The original surviving bacteria multiplied faster when exposed to the antibiotic.b. The second generation of bacteria adapted their genes to be resistant to the antibiotic.c. The second generation of bacteria inherited a weakness caused by the antibiotic.d. The original surviving bacteria passed a resistance to the antibiotic on to the next

generation.

19. Is the above experiment with the antibiotics and bacteria an example of natural or artificial selection?

a. Artificial Selection – humans are conducting the experiment and breed the bacteria together.

b. Artificial Selection – humans are breeding the bacteria together by changing the environment.

c. Natural Selection – while humans change the environment, the bacteria are breed on their own.

d. Natural Selection – while humans change the environment, the bacteria are not bred together, and they adapt to the environment.

20.Which most accurately describes “survival of the fittest” in relation to natural selection?a. the mutation rateb. the ability to survive to reproducec. the amount of food an organism eatsd. the ability to withstand extreme temperatures

21.There is a large colony of squirrels living in an area. A river runs through the valley in this area. After many thousands of years, the river gets wider and deeper, but the environments remain the same. However, the squirrels are unable to interact with squirrels that live on the other side of the river. After 10,000 years, the squirrels on the north side of the river have distinctly different traits from squirrels on the south side of the river. Scientists have determined that there are enough physical and genetic differences for them to be sexually incompatible. What is this process called and why did it happen?

a. Natural Selection – the environments were drastically different and so the squirrels evolved separately, adapting to extremely different situations.

b. Natural Selection – the squirrels were able to change their traits because of evolution and survive to reproduce and pass on those traits.

c. Speciation – the squirrels on both sides adapted to their environments and, even though they were similar environments, they had different genes in each population that were selected for.

d. Speciation – the squirrels were able to adapt to their extremely different environments and created new species.

22.A newborn whitetail deer fawn is born with white spots on its fur. The mother deer may leave the fawn unattended in the forest while she forages. As the fawn matures into an adult and can forage for its own food, these spots fade. How do the white spots most likely help the fawn to survive?

a. They help the mother deer recognize her young.b. They signal other members of the deer population.c. They are warning colors that can frighten predators.d. They provide camouflage in the forest.

23.This picture shows two different ferns that lived millions of years apart. The early fern is extinct, but is drawn based on fossil evidence. Scientific data reveals that the early fern is an ancestor of the modern fern. Which statement best explains why the fern changed over time?

a. Humans cut ferns to be decorations, causing each generation to be smaller in size.b. As the sun aged, its energy output decreased and limited the size ferns could grow.c. As flowering plants emerged, less energy was left for ferns so the growth of ferns was

stunted.d. The changed environment caused unfit plants to die and better-adapted plants were

smaller in size.24. What does it mean to have homologous structures?

a. They do the same thingb. They have the same common ancestorc. They evolved slowlyd. They all grow at different rates

25.What is it that most drives changes within a population?a. natural selection and genetic variationb. natural selection and speciationc. speciation and genetic variationd. genetic variation and diversity

26. Which of these is the best example of selective breeding?a. A cold winter reduces the elk population to just a few very strong individualsb. A male elk rounds up a herd of female elkc. Breeders use the same male with desirable qualities to breed many femalesd. A dog owner raises several litters of puppies with mixed breeding

27.Which of these correctly shows the scientific name for the tree in Mrs. C’s backyard?a. liquidambar styracifluab. Liquidambar styracifluac. liquidambar styracifluad. Liquidambar styraciflua

28.What is the common name for each of the leaves in the dichotomous key?A. __________________________________B. __________________________________C. __________________________________D. __________________________________E. __________________________________F. __________________________________G. __________________________________H. __________________________________

29.What traits does the Holly leaf have? ________________________________________

30.What kind of bird is X?

31.What kind of bird is Z?

32. In an area where trees are growing taller, the giraffe population must adapt if it is to survive. Giraffes today have long necks. According to the fossil record giraffe ancestors necks were shorter. Which statement explains how Charles Darwin would have explained the giraffes’ changes?

a. The genetic material for neck length would mutate in the parent in response to the environment, and be passed on to the offspring.

b. The trait for longer legs would have to be a response to the change in the environment and be passed onto the offspring.

c. The genetic material for smaller, shorter hind legs must exist within the giraffe population so that the offspring can inherit the trait. However those that aren’t fit will still pass on their traits.

d. The trait for longer necks must exist within the population and be inherited by the offspring. Those that are the most fit and have longer necks will survive to reproduce, while those who do not have long necks will die off.

33. In his famous voyage on the Beagle, Darwin noticed several species of finch on the Galapagos Island that were not found on the mainland. He found that while these finches shared many characteristics, they still had enough differences between them to be considered different species. What was his conclusion?

a. The populations of Galapagos finches had adapted to conditions on the island to form new species.

b. The species on the mainland that had originally come to the island were now extinct.c. Islands provided much better living conditions for finches so many different types came

to them and occupied the islands.d. The Galapagos Islands had sheltered the finches from the harsh conditions found on

the mainland.

34.Which of these accurately show Darwin’s observations?a. There are many organisms that are no longer living. They died out.b. There are many organisms that are no longer living that have many similarities to living

organisms. There are also living organisms that share many similarities.c. There are many organisms that are no longer living that have many similarities to living

organisms. However, the living organisms do not share many similarities.d. Organisms share common ancestors, and that is the reason for so many similarities

between organisms.35. In 2006, while looking for the evolutionary connection between fish and land creatures,

scientists discovered fossilized skeletons of an animal that had scales, fins, gills and lungs, ribs, and limb bones that could support the animal’s weight. Which of the following statements best explains why these fossils are an important piece of evolutionary evidence?

a. They include skeletons of both males and femalesb. They are complete skeletons of a carnivorous animal.c. They show a transitional form between fish and land-dwelling vertebrates.d. They allow scientists to estimate the animal’s lifespan.

36.Would a dolphin be considered more closely related to a whale or an eel?a. An eel – they both eat small fish.b. A whale – they both live in the oceanc. An eel – they both inhabit the same ocean biome.d. A whale – their body structures are very similar.

37.Which of these accurately show Darwin’s inferences?a. There are many organisms that are no longer living. They died out.b. There are many organisms that are no longer living that have many similarities to living

organisms. There are also living organisms that share many similarities.c. There are many organisms that are no longer living that have many similarities to living

organisms. However, the living organisms do not share many similarities.d. Organisms share common ancestors, and that is the reason for so many similarities

between organisms.

38.List the environmental factors that affect natural selection.

39. In a changing environment, which species will have the best chance for survival – the one with the most or the least genetic variation?

Two groups of frogs live in ponds separated by a mountain range. The chart below lists characteristics of the frogs.

Characteristic Frog Population 1 Frog Population 2Favorite Food flying insects crawling insectsMating Season November SeptemberAverage Weight 120 g 200 gActive Time of Day 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.Color dark green, white on

undersidelight green, yellow spots on back

40.What assumption can be made about the difference in color between the frogs?a. The color of the frogs is a random occurrence.b. Frogs can change color whenever they wish.c. The color of each population helps it survive in its environment.d. Dark green is the dominant color and will take over eventually.

41.Which group of frogs would you expect to be harder for a predator to see at night?a. Frog 1, they are darker in colorb. Frog 1, they are active at nightc. Frog 2, they have yellow spotsd. Frog 2, they are active at night

42.Which characteristic is most likely to reduce the chance these frogs will interbreed?a. favorite foodb. colorc. average weightd. mating season

43.The scientific name for the European white water lily is Nymphaea alba. To which genus does this plant belong?

a. Water lily b. Nymphaeac. Alaba lilyd. Alba

44. If all rabbits were genetically identical and remained so, would natural selection occur, causing rabbits to evolve?

a. Yes. Some rabbits would have traits that increase their chance of surviving and reproducing.

b. Yes. Natural selection does not require genetic variation to cause a species to change over time.

c. No. If all rabbits were identical, no traits would be preferred by nature over others.d. No. If all rabbits were identical, there would be too much genetic variation for evolution

to occur.

45.Which of the following would provide geographic isolation for a squirrel population?a. growth of trees due to excessive rainb. lack of food due to a harsh summerc. a canyon deepening and wideningd. different mating habits in squirrel populations

46.Which of the following is an example of selective breeding?a. A male elk rounds up a herd of female elk.b. A sheep producer uses the same buck with desirable qualities to breed many ewes.c. A cold winter reduces the population of mule deer in Cache County.d. Your neighbor does not spay her dog and allows any male who can jump the backyard

fence to breed her.

47.How has corn changed from a small ear with a few kernels into the large-eared multiple-kernel form it has today?

48.What is the main difference between natural selection and selective breeding?

49.What are atavistic structures or traits?

50.What are homologous structures or traits?

51.What are vestigial structures or traits?

52.What is embryology?

53.How does DNA testing prove evolution?

54.What is speciation?

55.Genetic diversity is often provided by which processes?a. mutation and recombinationb. classification and adaptationc. dichotomy and theoryd. population density and size

56.When might the theory of evolution change?

57.What research methods were used to study evolution in this study?a. proving that evolution worked on this islandb. counting lizards that had become extinct on an island chainc. predicting the number of lizards that would survive the experimentd. observing a populat5ion of lizards adapt to conditions on the island

58.Which of the following does this experiment illustrate about scientific method?a. Scientific investigations can be performed by anyone.b. Scientific investigations do not always work the way they are predicted.c. Scientists reject data that does not agree with the original purpose of the investigation.d. Scientists know what will happen in their experiments before they begin.

59.How does this research support Darwin’s theory of evolution?a. It proves Darwin to be wrong and the theory should be discarded.b. It shows evolution can occur more rapidly than Darwin thought.c. It completely proves the theory of evolution and no new data is needed.d. No real conclusions can be made from this study because it studied only lizards.

60. If you found five unidentified invertebrate animals in a wetlands ecosystem near your house, which of the following characteristics would be most helpful and scientifically accurate to include in a dichotomous key for these animals?

a. color of the animalsb. number and kind of legsc. size of the animalsd. specific location they were found

61.Based on this branching diagram, which finches have the closest evolutionary relationship?a. Warbler Finch and Cactus Ground Finchb. Woodpecker Finch and Warbler Finchc. Vegetarian Tree Finch and Large Ground Finchd. Medium Ground Finch and Large Insectivorous Finch

62.Which of the following finches have adapted bills specifically for feeding on fruit?a. Large Ground Finchb. Warbler Finchc. Large Insectivorous Finchd. Vegetarian Tree Finch

63.Linnaeus recognized two kingdoms of living things: plants and animals. Why do today’s classification systems now include six kingdoms?

a. Linnaeus did not study living things carefully enough.b. New organisms have evolved on Earth.c. Scientists know more about living things today than Linnaeus did.d. Scientists today have come to the final answer on the number of kingdoms.

64.What must happen for this system of classification to be accepted by the scientific community?a. a Nobel Prize, a scientific vote, and more popular understandingb. further research and scientific debate

65.The Woese classification scheme is based on genetic similarity between the RNA in the cells of the organisms. How could the study of RNA establish a relationship between organisms?

a. It would discover the origin of living things.b. It would show that RNA is more important in heredity than DNA.c. It would show how alike organisms are at the cellular level.d. It would indicate that everything scientists have done so far is not correct.

66.Define “mutation”.

67.When does recombination occur?

68.Are the megatons of sand and silt collecting in the bottoms of rivers biological evidence of mountain evolution?

69.How are fossils evidence of evolution?

70.What are some of the main organisms that Darwin observed on the Galapagos Islands?

71.List three things that are required for natural selection to take place.

72.What is the correct order of the seven categories used to classify all organisms on Earth.

73.Which of these choices are biological evidence for evolution?a. Fossils, because they show how organisms have changed over time.b. DNA, because it allows scientists to compare DNA sequences between different

organisms to show how they are related.c. Embryology, because traits of one type of animal often appear in the embryo of another

type of animal, suggesting common ancestors.d. Atavism, because the reversion to ancestral characteristics suggest common

evolutionary ancestors.e. Or is it all of the above?

74.What traits do snakes, lizards and turtles have in common?a. lungs, limbs, amniotic egg, hole in skull below eye socketb. lungs, limbs, amniotic egg, hole in skull below eye socket, fused bones form carapacec. lungs, limbs, amniotic egg, hole in skull below eye socket, extensive changes in

skeletond. lungs, limbs, amniotic egg, hole in skull below eye socket, extensive changes in

skeleton, determinate growth, shed skin

75.Which of the following introduces new traits into a population?a. natural selectionb. mutationc. recombinationd. selective breeding

76.Organisms that are the most alike in body structure, reproductive processes and feeding patterns are most likely to share what other relationship?

a. a similar evolutionary pastb. a common ability to live in the waterc. a three- or four-chambered heartd. the ability to make their own food

77.According to Darwin’s theory of natural selection, the individuals that tend to survive are those that have:

a. variations best suited to the environment.b. characteristics their parents acquired by use and disuse.c. characteristics that plant and animal breeders value.d. the greatest number of offspring.