Question 1

According to the theory of common descent, how should each species on Earth today compare?

Accepted Answer

A)  They should look very similar to all other species. 
B)  They should not have ancestors in common with members of other species. 
C)  They should have a single ancestor in common. 
D)  They should have DNA that is mostly unique from other species. 
A)  They should look very similar to all other species. 
B)  They should not have ancestors in common with members of other species. 
C)  They should have a single ancestor in common. 
D)  They should have DNA that is mostly unique from other species. C

Question 2

In land mammals, the pelvic girdle is the point where the leg bones attach to the rest of the skeleton. Whales also have a small pelvic girdle. What type of evidence for common descent would include the whale's pelvic girdle?

Accepted Answer

A)  a homologous gene 
B)  a homologous structure 
C)  fossil evidence 
D)  a vestigial structure 
A)  a homologous gene 
B)  a homologous structure 
C)  fossil evidence 
D)  a vestigial structure D

Question 3

In studying a species of fish, a structure is discovered that has no apparent function. If this is a vestigial structure, what should be found in some relatives of this fish?

Accepted Answer

A)  The structure should be absent. 
B)  A similar structure should be present, but it would be larger and have a function. 
C)  The structure should look different and also have no function. 
D)  The structure should be absent from fossils of ancestors of this species. 
A)  The structure should be absent. 
B)  A similar structure should be present, but it would be larger and have a function. 
C)  The structure should look different and also have no function. 
D)  The structure should be absent from fossils of ancestors of this species. B

Question 4

Which example describes microevolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Birds evolved from dinosaurs. 
B)  Lions and tigers evolved from a common cat-like ancestor. 
C)  HIV evolved resistance to antiviral medications. 
D)  Land plants evolved from algae. 
A)  Birds evolved from dinosaurs. 
B)  Lions and tigers evolved from a common cat-like ancestor. 
C)  HIV evolved resistance to antiviral medications. 
D)  Land plants evolved from algae.

Question 5

What was Lamarck's idea about how organisms changed?

Accepted Answer

A)  He proposed that body parts changed as a result of extra use or disuse. 
B)  He proposed that variations in populations were selected by the environment. 
C)  He proposed that all organisms were unchanging over time. 
D)  He proposed that humans evolved from fish. 
A)  He proposed that body parts changed as a result of extra use or disuse. 
B)  He proposed that variations in populations were selected by the environment. 
C)  He proposed that all organisms were unchanging over time. 
D)  He proposed that humans evolved from fish.

Question 6

Using Darwin's inferences, which population would be most similar to lizards on a dry, sandy island?

Accepted Answer

A)  lizards in the rainforest on the mainland 20 miles away 
B)  lizards on a rainforest island 200 miles farther out to sea 
C)  lizards on a dry, sandy island 500 miles farther out to sea 
D)  tortoises on the same dry, sandy island 
A)  lizards in the rainforest on the mainland 20 miles away 
B)  lizards on a rainforest island 200 miles farther out to sea 
C)  lizards on a dry, sandy island 500 miles farther out to sea 
D)  tortoises on the same dry, sandy island

Question 7

Which vestigial structure found in humans is best explained by our evolutionary heritage?

Accepted Answer

A)  tailbone 
B)  lack of body hair 
C)  upright posture 
D)  opposable thumb 
A)  tailbone 
B)  lack of body hair 
C)  upright posture 
D)  opposable thumb

Question 8

You are interested in the evolution of a particular kind of beetle. What sort of analysis might be useful in your study?

Accepted Answer

A)  Look for similarities between the histone genes of other beetles and the one being studied. 
B)  Find out what kinds of birds eat the beetles, and see what else those birds eat. 
C)  Compare the beetles to other insects in the area. 
D)  Find all the places where this particular kind of beetle lives. 
A)  Look for similarities between the histone genes of other beetles and the one being studied. 
B)  Find out what kinds of birds eat the beetles, and see what else those birds eat. 
C)  Compare the beetles to other insects in the area. 
D)  Find all the places where this particular kind of beetle lives.

Question 9

The standard classification system used by biologists today groups and classifies organisms on the basis of similar physical traits. This system was first developed by Carl Linnaeus. At the time of his work, there were other methods for grouping organisms that were based on similar habitats, similar diets, or similar behaviors. Why is the Linnaen system still useful to biologists today?

Accepted Answer

A)  This system is the simplest; the others are too complicated. 
B)  This system classifies based on shared traits and infers evolutionary relationships. 
C)  This system included all organisms found on Earth. 
D)  This system relies on Latin names that make the most sense to biologists. 
A)  This system is the simplest; the others are too complicated. 
B)  This system classifies based on shared traits and infers evolutionary relationships. 
C)  This system included all organisms found on Earth. 
D)  This system relies on Latin names that make the most sense to biologists.

Question 10

Which taxonomic level would contain members that are the most similar?

Accepted Answer

A)  class 
B)  genus 
C)  kingdom 
D)  order 
A)  class 
B)  genus 
C)  kingdom 
D)  order

Question 11

True or false: A fossil whose age is determined by radiometric dating would be considered very old if only the smallest amount of radioactivity remained.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

How do fossils support the theory of common descent?

Accepted Answer

A)  They are a record of some intermediate types of organisms that document the process of evolution. 
B)  They can be easily and precisely dated by comparing the rock layers where they are found. 
C)  They are found equally all over the world, so they explain all our questions about biogeography. 
D)  They contain complete DNA genomes, so they can be compared to modern organisms. 
A)  They are a record of some intermediate types of organisms that document the process of evolution. 
B)  They can be easily and precisely dated by comparing the rock layers where they are found. 
C)  They are found equally all over the world, so they explain all our questions about biogeography. 
D)  They contain complete DNA genomes, so they can be compared to modern organisms.

Question 13

What term describes distribution patterns of living things around the world?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What term describes distribution patterns of living...

Question 14

Why would intelligent design not be considered a scientific explanation for the origin of living things?

Accepted Answer

A)  It is not a testable strategy. 
B)  It is not a testable hypothesis. 
C)  It is not a testable experiment. 
D)  It is not a testable theory. 
A)  It is not a testable strategy. 
B)  It is not a testable hypothesis. 
C)  It is not a testable experiment. 
D)  It is not a testable theory.

Question 15

How did Wallace contribute to the history of ideas about evolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  He proposed the idea that Earth is very old. 
B)  He was the main opponent of Darwin's ideas immediately after they were published. 
C)  He proposed the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics. 
D)  He proposed a theory of evolution similar to Darwin's. 
A)  He proposed the idea that Earth is very old. 
B)  He was the main opponent of Darwin's ideas immediately after they were published. 
C)  He proposed the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics. 
D)  He proposed a theory of evolution similar to Darwin's.

Question 16

Which hypothesis was rejected by the evidence from radiometric dating of nonfossil rocks?

Accepted Answer

A)  static hypothesis 
B)  transformation hypothesis 
C)  separate type hypothesis 
D)  common descent hypothesis 
A)  static hypothesis 
B)  transformation hypothesis 
C)  separate type hypothesis 
D)  common descent hypothesis

Question 17

Why are fossils from older species found deeper in the earth than those from more recent species?

Accepted Answer

A)  Layers of sediments accumulate every year, covering older fossils in more layers. 
B)  Older species were more likely to burrow underground. 
C)  Modern species can swim better than older species. 
D)  Older species were more likely to be trapped in sediments and form fossils than modern species. 
A)  Layers of sediments accumulate every year, covering older fossils in more layers. 
B)  Older species were more likely to burrow underground. 
C)  Modern species can swim better than older species. 
D)  Older species were more likely to be trapped in sediments and form fossils than modern species.

Question 18

True or false: DNA evidence has strongly supported the original groupings proposed by Carl Linnaeus to show relationships between organisms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

What characteristics would determine whether structures from two kinds of organisms are homologous?

Accepted Answer

A)  The structures should have identical functions in both organisms. 
B)  The structures should be in different positions on the bodies of the two organisms. 
C)  The structures should not appear in any close relatives of the organisms. 
D)  The structures should have similar anatomy in the two organisms. 
A)  The structures should have identical functions in both organisms. 
B)  The structures should be in different positions on the bodies of the two organisms. 
C)  The structures should not appear in any close relatives of the organisms. 
D)  The structures should have similar anatomy in the two organisms.

Question 20

True or false: The fields of science that support the theory of evolution include geology, molecular biology, and genetics.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 10: Where Did We Come From the Evidence for Evolution

According to the theory of common descent, how should each species on Earth today compare?

In land mammals, the pelvic girdle is the point where the leg bones attach to the rest of the skeleton. Whales also have a small pelvic girdle. What type of evidence for common descent would include the whale's pelvic girdle?

In studying a species of fish, a structure is discovered that has no apparent function. If this is a vestigial structure, what should be found in some relatives of this fish?

Which example describes microevolution?

What was Lamarck's idea about how organisms changed?

Using Darwin's inferences, which population would be most similar to lizards on a dry, sandy island?

Which vestigial structure found in humans is best explained by our evolutionary heritage?

You are interested in the evolution of a particular kind of beetle. What sort of analysis might be useful in your study?

Which taxonomic level would contain members that are the most similar?

True or false: A fossil whose age is determined by radiometric dating would be considered very old if only the smallest amount of radioactivity remained.

How do fossils support the theory of common descent?

What term describes distribution patterns of living things around the world?

Why would intelligent design not be considered a scientific explanation for the origin of living things?

How did Wallace contribute to the history of ideas about evolution?

Which hypothesis was rejected by the evidence from radiometric dating of nonfossil rocks?

Why are fossils from older species found deeper in the earth than those from more recent species?

True or false: DNA evidence has strongly supported the original groupings proposed by Carl Linnaeus to show relationships between organisms.

What characteristics would determine whether structures from two kinds of organisms are homologous?

True or false: The fields of science that support the theory of evolution include geology, molecular biology, and genetics.

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