Question 1

Table 18-1

Based on data in the accompanying table, which primate has the most recent common ancestor with humans?

Accepted Answer

A)  tarsier 
B)  gibbon 
C)  orangutan 
D)  chimpanzee 
E)  rhesus monkey

Question 2

The accumulation of genetic changes in vertebrates that modified the basic body plan laid out in fish development illustrates evolutionary development from a common ancestor. 
__________________

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Analysis of mitochondrial DNA from different species of stickleback fish in three lakes disproves the hypothesis of a common ancestor for all three species. 
__________________

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Provide a brief explanation of the relationship between amino acid sequences in proteins and nucleotide sequences in DNA and what they can reveal about evolutionary relationships.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Provide a brief explanation of the relationship...

Question 5

Table 18-1

Based on data in the accompanying table, which of the primates listed below is the most distantly related to humans?

Accepted Answer

A)  gorilla 
B)  gibbon 
C)  orangutan 
D)  chimpanzee 
E)  rhesus monkey

Question 6

Which of the following would be least likely to form a fossil?

Accepted Answer

A)  a marine organism 
B)  an organism living in a lake 
C)  an animal with an exoskeleton 
D)  an animal with an endoskeleton 
E)  an organism in the tropical rain forest

Question 7

Figure 18-11  Based on the accompanying figure, which two present day continents should have the most closely related plant and animal species?

Accepted Answer

A)  Eurasia and India 
B)  Australia and India 
C)  Africa and Australia 
D)  North and South America 
E)  Africa and South America

Question 8

Which best explains how Australia has distinctive organisms, such as marsupials, that cannot be found anywhere else on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Australia has an unusual climate that has triggered natural selection. 
B)  There are fewer species of organisms in Australia than most continents. 
C)  Australia experienced a significantly slower rate of evolutionary change. 
D)  The predators of marsupials eliminated the populations in other locations. 
E)  Australia was separated and isolated from other land masses for a long period of time.

Question 9

Compare and contrast the following terms: homology and homoplasy. Provide two examples of each.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the following terms: homology...

Question 10

Which important finding from the fossil record supports the theory of evolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Life has evolved over time. 
B)  All life evolved in the ocean. 
C)  Most species are actually extinct. 
D)  There is an inaccuracy in the fossil record. 
E)  Ancient species greatly differed from those alive today.

Question 11

Figure 18-3  The results in the accompanying figure support the conclusion that:

Accepted Answer

A)  natural selection does not occur in guppies. 
B)  natural selection can occur in guppies within a few generations. 
C)  predation is not a selective force in determining the average size of guppies. 
D)  male body weight increased proportionately more than female body weight. 
E)  in the experimental setting, the guppies produced fewer, larger offspring.

Question 12

The differential distribution of wing length in Drosophila , with larger wings in northern areas and smaller wings in southern climates, provides evidence that:

Accepted Answer

A)  wing length is not a heritable trait. 
B)  the fossil record is usually inaccurate. 
C)  the molecular clock cannot be applied to fruit fly traits. 
D)  chance is the most important agent in evolutionary change. 
E)  natural selection is the most important agent in evolutionary change.

Question 13

The discovery of fossils of whale intermediates suggest that whales evolved from:

Accepted Answer

A)  sharks. 
B)  aquatic reptiles. 
C)  marine invertebrates. 
D)  a larger marine mammal. 
E)  four-legged, land dwelling mammals.

Question 14

When DNA sequences are compared, the closet living relative of humans is found to be the gorilla . 
__________________

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Which is an example of convergent evolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  The hind limb bones found in pythons 
B)  The third molars in the human mouth 
C)  The adaptation of the leaf into a cactus spine 
D)  The development of thorns to protect the plant 
E)  The elongated snouts of aardvarks, anteaters, and pangolins

Question 16

Whose findings of evolution by natural selection were presented with those of Darwin?

Accepted Answer

A)  Alfred Wallace 
B)  Carolus Linnaeus 
C)  Charles Lyell 
D)  Gregor Mendel 
E)  Thomas Malthus

Question 17

Fossil evidence shows that giraffes living 1000 years ago had much shorter necks than the giraffes seen today. Which statement best explains this observation?

Accepted Answer

A)  The two groups of giraffes are not related. 
B)  The two groups of giraffes arose as a result of convergent evolution. 
C)  The difference in neck length is evidence for homoplastic inheritance. 
D)  The two groups of giraffes were located in different geographical locations. 
E)  The giraffes acquired longer necks through the continuing process of natural selection.

Question 18

During the 1920s to 1940s, biologists combined Mendelian genetics with Darwin's theory to form a unified explanation of evolution that is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

A)  neo-evolution. 
B)  genetic evolution. 
C)  classical Darwinism. 
D)  evolutionary genetics. 
E)  the modern synthesis.

Question 19

Which process provides the genetic variability that natural selection acts on during evolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  fitness 
B)  mitosis 
C)  mutation 
D)  adaptation 
E)  artificial selection

Question 20

Compare and contrast the homology that occurs in the forelimbs of mammals.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast the homology that occurs...

Exam 18: Introduction to Darwinian Evolution

Table 18-1 Based on data in the accompanying table, which primate has the most recent common ancestor with humans?

The accumulation of genetic changes in vertebrates that modified the basic body plan laid out in fish development illustrates evolutionary development from a common ancestor. __________________

Analysis of mitochondrial DNA from different species of stickleback fish in three lakes disproves the hypothesis of a common ancestor for all three species. __________________

Provide a brief explanation of the relationship between amino acid sequences in proteins and nucleotide sequences in DNA and what they can reveal about evolutionary relationships.

Table 18-1 Based on data in the accompanying table, which of the primates listed below is the most distantly related to humans?

Which of the following would be least likely to form a fossil?

Figure 18-11 Based on the accompanying figure, which two present day continents should have the most closely related plant and animal species?

Which best explains how Australia has distinctive organisms, such as marsupials, that cannot be found anywhere else on Earth?

Compare and contrast the following terms: homology and homoplasy. Provide two examples of each.

Which important finding from the fossil record supports the theory of evolution?

Figure 18-3 The results in the accompanying figure support the conclusion that:

The differential distribution of wing length in Drosophila , with larger wings in northern areas and smaller wings in southern climates, provides evidence that:

The discovery of fossils of whale intermediates suggest that whales evolved from:

When DNA sequences are compared, the closet living relative of humans is found to be the gorilla . __________________

Which is an example of convergent evolution?

Whose findings of evolution by natural selection were presented with those of Darwin?

Fossil evidence shows that giraffes living 1000 years ago had much shorter necks than the giraffes seen today. Which statement best explains this observation?

During the 1920s to 1940s, biologists combined Mendelian genetics with Darwin's theory to form a unified explanation of evolution that is referred to as:

Which process provides the genetic variability that natural selection acts on during evolution?

Compare and contrast the homology that occurs in the forelimbs of mammals.