Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

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

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. This would be an example of what type of evidence for common descent?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Which of the following is a somewhat confusing structure found in humans that is best explained by our evolutionary heritage?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 5

Which of the following descriptions would be considered a theory in the same scientific sense that evolution is considered a theory?

Accepted Answer

A)  a theory about why an apple falls to the ground when dropped 
B)  a theory about why your neighbor has the nicest car in the neighborhood 
C)  a theory about which of your classmates is the source of your cold 
D)  a theory about why blue is your favorite color

Question 6

The mechanism that results in evolution is ________ (two words).

Accepted Answer

The answer of The mechanism that results in evolution is...

Question 7

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.

Question 8

What aspect of the geology of the Galápagos was important in producing the diversity of organisms seen by Darwin?

Accepted Answer

A)  the islands are in the Pacific 
B)  the islands are in a chain 
C)  the islands are very dry 
D)  there are no mammals on the islands

Question 9

Bat wings are homologous to the front legs of cats. What does the term "homologous" mean in this context?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both structures are used for the same purpose. 
B)  The common ancestor of bats and cats had limbs that functioned as wings. 
C)  The common ancestor of bats and cats had a limb with a bone structure similar to that found in cat legs and bat wings. 
D)  Bat wings are vestigial legs.

Question 10

What was Lamarck's idea about how organisms changed?

Accepted Answer

A)  He proposed that body parts increased or decreased 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 11

What do the fossil records tell us about hominins?

Accepted Answer

A)  Hominins were a series of species, with one set of branches that eventually led to modern humans. 
B)  Hominins were related to chimpanzees but not to humans. 
C)  Hominins were a diverse group of human ancestors not related to other primates. 
D)  Hominins were a diverse group of primate species of which modern humans are the only surviving group.

Question 12

You discover a primate fossil while on an expedition in Africa. Which part of the skeleton would you be most interested in examining in order to classify this primate as a human or a nonhuman primate?

Accepted Answer

A)  the hand bones 
B)  the base of the skull 
C)  the ribs 
D)  the backbone (vertebrae)

Question 13

In studying a species of fish, a structure is discovered that has no apparent function. If this is a vestigial structure, what would you find in at least 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.

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of 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.

Question 15

Evidence from radiometric dating of nonfossil rocks allows rejection of the

Accepted Answer

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

Question 16

Why is the separate types hypothesis considered so unlikely by most biologists?

Accepted Answer

A)  If different types of life evolved independently, it would be obvious in the fossil record. 
B)  There are multiple similarities in all life at the cellular level that strongly suggest a common origin for all living things. 
C)  The separate types model hypothesizes many changes in living things over time, while the fossil record suggests that few of these changes have occurred. 
D)  The similarity in appearance in many living things suggests that there must have been only one common ancestor.

Question 17

Why were Darwin's ideas so widely accepted by scientists of his day?

Accepted Answer

A)  He published his book soon after he returned to England and all his recollections were fresh in his mind. 
B)  Darwin's ideas fit well with what most people already believed about evolution. 
C)  Darwin presented extensive evidence from many areas of biology to support his ideas. 
D)  Darwin was from a rich and powerful family.

Question 18

What is the molecular clock?

Accepted Answer

A)  The rate at which mutations accumulate in DNA within a species. 
B)  The rate at which new species diverge from ancestral species. 
C)  The rate at which structures no longer needed become small and insignificant. 
D)  The rate at which new discoveries are made about gene homology.

Question 19

What was the original purpose of the voyage of the HMS Beagle?

Accepted Answer

A)  to add to the general knowledge of the animals and plants on Earth 
B)  to gather physical evidence in support of the theory of evolution 
C)  to chart the coast and harbors of South America 
D)  to do experiments to test Lamarck's view of inheritance of acquired characteristics

Question 20

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.

Exam 10: Where Did We Come From? The Evidence for Evolution