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

Question 1

Which scientist also proposed a mechanism for evolution similar to natural selection?

A) Charles Lyell
B) Jean-Baptiste Lamarck
C) Alfred Russel Wallace
D) Robert FitzRoy

Answer 1

C

Question 2

How do scientists use the term theory?

A) as a hypothesis that has not yet been tested
B) as a hypothesis that seems logical but cannot be tested because it's impractical to do so
C) as a set of findings that are supported by repeated testing
D) as ideas which are so obviously true that testing is not required

Answer 2

C

Question 3

What macroevolutionary concept is considered controversial by some people?

A) the appearance of new traits in existing populations
B) the common descent of all organisms from one ancestral cell
C) the concept of species being subdivided into separate populations
D) the concept that genes can vary spontaneously

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which example shows nonevolutionary change in a population?

A) an increase in mosquitoes that are resistant to insecticide
B) plants in a dry climate that have faster-growing roots than plants found there 20 years ago
C) after decreases in airborne soot, a change in the most common color of moths
D) an increase in the number of people diagnosed with colon cancer

Question 5

What order of events would show how natural selection occurred in a population of lice that could originally be controlled by the chemical permethrin?

A) A louse population evolves resistance to permethrin; permethrin is used to kill lice; lice become more common in schoolchildren.
B) Some lice are resistant to permethrin; permethrin is used to kill lice; lice resistant to permethrin become the most common type.
C) Permethrin resistance is common in lice; permethrin is used to kill lice; most lice become sensitive to permethrin.
D) Permethrin is used to kill lice; individual lice change in order to survive exposure to permethrin; most lice become resistant to permethrin.

Question 6

True or false: The common ancestor of all life must have had genes for all traits now present in animals today.

Question 7

Which observation was most influential to Charles Darwin?

A) the wide variety of living things in South America
B) the difference between organisms of South America and organisms of Europe
C) the similarity between organisms of South America and organisms of Europe
D) the slight differences between organisms on nearby islands

Question 8

When a biologist is looking for a suitable organism in which she can study the process of evolution in a laboratory setting, what would be an important consideration?

A) The organism should be large.
B) The organism should have a short generation time.
C) The organism should produce relatively few offspring.
D) The organism should have a complete fossil record of its ancestry.

Question 9

Why can evolution in mosquitoes be more easily observed than evolution in a population of squirrels?

A) Mosquitoes have a shorter generation time.
B) Mosquitoes have a higher mutation rate.
C) Mosquitoes feed only on blood.
D) Mosquitoes lay eggs rather than bear live young.

Question 10

Which example describes microevolution?

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 11

True or false: Evolution is a very controversial idea among scientists.

Question 12

What was Lamarck's idea about how organisms changed?

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 13

What is the main mechanism that results in evolution?

Question 14

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

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.

Question 15

In the figure, what do the branching points of the tree represent?

A) a modern species
B) the origin of a new species from an ancestral form
C) an extinct species
D) a common ancestor of a group of modern species

Question 16

Which example describes biological evolution?

A) You are vaccinated against polio and are protected against the disease.
B) A tree branch is broken off and another grows in its place.
C) Over time, a caterpillar species becomes as green as the leaves it eats.
D) The average woman's dress size has increased over the last 50 years.

Question 17

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

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 18

What makes one louse able to survive treatment with permethrin and another louse unable to survive?

A) A genetic variation in the louse population allows some lice to be resistant to permethrin.
B) A louse exposed to low levels of permethrin will eventually become resistant.
C) The parents of a louse exposed to permethrin will result in offspring becoming resistant.
D) A louse exposed to other anti-lice treatments will become resistant to all anti-lice treatments.

Question 19

How did the geologist Charles Lyell influence Darwin?

A) He provided evidence that Earth was really only about 10,000 years old.
B) He suggested that slow, gradual changes shaped the features of Earth.
C) He proposed a theory about how small islands were formed.
D) He charted the currents found off the Pacific coast of South America.

Question 20

Which description would be considered a scientific theory like the theory of evolution?

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 21

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

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 22

Darwin observed that tortoises of the nearby islands, although slightly different, belonged to the same species. How might he have known they were the same species?

A) He probably compared DNA sequence data from the different tortoises.
B) He probably compared the metabolism of the different tortoises and observed similar enzymes.
C) He may have heard that tortoises of different islands could mate with each other.
D) He may have moved one group of tortoises to a new island to observe accumulated changes.

Question 23

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

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 understood 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 24

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

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 25

What is the role of fossils in supporting the theory of common descent?

A) Fossils of dinosaurs show that other types of life existed, but there is no evidence of relationships between them.
B) There have been many fossils of intermediate types discovered that provide strong support for the theory of common descent.
C) There are plenty of fossils to show that animals have evolved, but there are not enough fossils of human ancestors to suggest that humans are related to other animals.
D) Fossil evidence has been found to support the relationship between humans and other primates but only in Europe.

Question 26

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?

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

Question 27

Which event would most likely result in the creation of large numbers of fossils?

A) a drought
B) an earthquake
C) a fire
D) a volcano

Question 28

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

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 29

True or false: Special creation could be considered a scientific hypothesis, but no one has ever tested it using scientific means.

Question 30

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?

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 31

You discover a primate fossil while on an expedition in Africa. Which part of the skeleton should be examined to classify this fossil as a human or a nonhuman primate?

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

Question 32

Using Darwin's inferences, which population would be most similar to lizards on a 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 33

Humans who have mutations in the presenilin genes are at a higher risk for developing early-onset Alzheimer's disease. The human presenilin proteins that are made from these genes are responsible for altering other proteins by cleaving (cutting) them at specific positions. Presenilin proteins that are highly similar to the human ones have been identified in C. elegans, a microscopic nematode worm. These nematodes do not get Alzheimer's disease, as they do not have a brain. What would you expect the function of nematode presenilins to be?

A) They are responsible for the development of the central nervous system.
B) They are responsible for altering other proteins by cleaving them.
C) They are responsible for transporting proteins to a new location within cells.
D) They are responsible for the synthesis of new proteins.

Question 34

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

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

Question 35

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

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 36

How do fossils support the theory of common descent?

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 37

What is the molecular clock?

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 38

Which statement best describes the now-discredited theories of Lamarck?

A) All life was created in the form we see today.
B) Modern life forms are the descendants of past individuals who were the most fit.
C) Organisms acquire traits during their lifetime and pass those traits on to their offspring.
D) Earth is extremely old and has undergone many changes.

Question 39

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

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 40

You discover a butterfly that has some similarity to members of the species Faunis canens, but it also has a few important differences. What taxonomic level would best describe your new discovery?

A) order
B) family
C) species
D) genus

Question 41

Which observations of species distribution across Earth support the theory of common descent?

A) All continents contain nearly identical organisms.
B) Each part of Earth contains life forms perfectly designed for that region.
C) One can see similarities in organisms that are found in close proximity, but each population has adaptations that suit the organisms to their particular habitat.
D) There are very few similarities among life forms on different tropical islands.

Question 42

What type of trait includes the tailbone found in humans and other primates without tails?

Question 43

What type of evidence for the theory of common descent would include the nonfunctional wings of an ostrich?

A) vestigial structures
B) homologous structures
C) shared developmental pathways
D) DNA similarity

Question 44

Why is common descent considered a scientific theory?

A) There is overwhelming evidence to support it from many areas of biology.
B) Scientists are reasonably sure it's true, but there's little evidence to support it.
C) It's an idea from more than 100 years ago and thus is not a modern idea.
D) It's the only idea about life on Earth that can be tested by observation of the material universe.

Question 45

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

Question 46

You're examining fossils from a variety of hominin species. Which fossils would show the greatest amount of radioactive material in relation to daughter products?

A) Paranthropus aethiopicus
B) Homo habilis
C) Ardepithecus ramidus
D) Australopithecus garhi

Question 47

Why are fossils from older species found deeper in the earth than those from more recent 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 48

Which taxonomic groupings are in order from broadest to most narrow?

A) kingdom, species, genus
B) class, family, species
C) family, order, class
D) phylum, kingdom, genus

Question 49

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

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

Question 50

Based on DNA evidence, fossil evidence, homology, and vestigial structures, what do humans and chimpanzees share?

Question 51

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

Question 52

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.

Question 53

What taxonomic group includes both humans and apes because of their strong degrees of similarity to each other?

A) species
B) genus
C) subfamily
D) subspecies

Question 54

Which species is most likely to share the greatest percentage of DNA with humans?

A) blue jay
B) beaver
C) leopard frog
D) dragonfly

Question 55

What type of evidence for the theory of common descent would include the presence of goose bumps in humans?

A) vestigial structures
B) homologous structures
C) shared developmental pathways
D) DNA similarity

Question 56

True or false: When comparing different families of animals, you would expect gene-coding for proteins that perform basic cell functions to show much higher homology than gene-coding for proteins involved in coordinating organ systems.

Question 57

From the perspective of an evolutionary biologist, what significant information can be inferred from this figure?

A) All vertebrates have bones.
B) All vertebrates have limbs.
C) The relative arrangement of bones is similar.
D) Finger bones are usually thin.

Question 58

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

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 59

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?

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 60

Why would the DNA of cats and dogs be much more similar than the DNA of cats and hamsters?

A) Cats and dogs have lived together with humans for a longer time and have become more similar.
B) Cats and dogs have a more recent common ancestor than the common ancestor of cats and hamsters.
C) The ancestors of cats and the ancestors of dogs evolved in similar environments.
D) Cats and dogs have fewer offspring during their lifetime than hamsters, so their DNA changes less rapidly.

Question 61

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

Question 62

Which fact best supports the hypothesis of one common ancestor for all life?

A) DNA sequences from bacteria can be transferred to plants and other organisms.
B) Species in some groups have homologous anatomical structures.
C) Embryonic development is similar for all chordates.
D) Species in similar geographic locations show structural similarities.

Question 63

What embryonic structures are common in all chordates?

A) pharyngeal slits
B) arrector pili
C) gametophytes
D) vertebrae

Question 64

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

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

Question 65

What description applies to the term consilience, which is demonstrated by the evidence for the theory of common descent?

A) The supporting evidence for the theory is derived from different sources.
B) The evidence is able to convince even nonscientists who have doubts about the theory.
C) Not enough evidence has been gathered to support the theory.
D) The theory can never be challenged by new evidence.

Question 66

What does the presence of a tail in early human embryos and other chordates suggest about all chordates?

A) Chordates may eventually develop a tail when fully mature.
B) Chordate embryos have greater mutation rates than other organisms.
C) Chordates develop in a very different manner compared to other life forms.
D) Chordates were derived from a common ancestor with this developmental pathway.

Question 67

True or false: Almost as much evidence exists to support the hypothesis of transformation as the theory of common descent.

Question 68

Which statement is true about predictions made from the theory of common descent?

A) They are almost always supported when they can be tested.
B) They cannot be tested and thus we cannot know if they are correct.
C) They are supported and not supported by experimental evidence with equal frequency.
D) They are supported by experimental evidence for all organisms except humans.

Question 69

What do the fossil records tell us about hominins?

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 with modern humans as the only surviving group.

Question 70

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

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 71

Which piece of evidence would allow you to reject the hypothesis of separate types?

A) fossil evidence showing that organisms have been on Earth for billions of years
B) similarity of physical structures among species
C) universality of DNA to all life
D) fossil evidence that species have changed over time

Question 72

Of the four hypotheses that explain the origin of modern organisms, which hypothesis has the least scientific support?

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