Question

Fossils and genes are used to determine(1 point)
Responses

how species interact with each other.
how species interact with each other.

differences between organisms.
differences between organisms.

how many mutations occurred in a species over time.
how many mutations occurred in a species over time.

how species will change over time.

Answer 1

A common ancestor is an organism that is the(1 point)
Responses

indirect ancestor of two or more different organisms.
indirect ancestor of two or more different organisms.

indirect ancestor of one organism.
indirect ancestor of one organism.

direct ancestor of two or more different organisms.
direct ancestor of two or more different organisms.

direct ancestor of one organism.

Answer 2

A scientist discovers a fossil of a new organism and places it in the fossil record. The fossil shows the organism had similar structures to organism X, which appears later in the fossil record. Which conclusion about the organisms is most reasonable?(1 point)
Responses

The fossils came from the same organism.
The fossils came from the same organism.

The fossils are from an organism that is a descendant of organism X.
The fossils are from an organism that is a descendant of organism X.

The fossils are from an organism that is an ancestor of organism X.
The fossils are from an organism that is an ancestor of organism X.

The fossils are from organisms that lived in the same location.

Answer 3

Which group includes only bipedal animals?(1 point)
Responses

lesser apes
lesser apes

hominins
hominins

primates
primates

hominids

Answer 4

What does the fossil record tell us about the evolution of the hominin skull?(1 point)
Responses

The part of the skull surrounding the brain grew larger as hominins evolved.
The part of the skull surrounding the brain grew larger as hominins evolved.

The face stuck out farther from the rest of the skull as hominins evolved.
The face stuck out farther from the rest of the skull as hominins evolved.

The part of the skull surrounding the brain grew more pointed as hominins evolved.
The part of the skull surrounding the brain grew more pointed as hominins evolved.

The face grew wider as hominins evolved.
The face grew wider as hominins evolved.

Answer 5

Compared to rodents, rabbits have an extra pair of incisors and other skeletal structures that are different. They also have some features that are similar. What can scientists conclude from this observation?(1 point)
Responses

Rabbit teeth are better than rodent teeth.
Rabbit teeth are better than rodent teeth.

Rabbits evolved from a species of rodent.
Rabbits evolved from a species of rodent.

Rodents and rabbits share a common ancestor.
Rodents and rabbits share a common ancestor.

Rodents and rabbits evolved from different mammal ancestors and lack a common ancestor.

Answer 6

Humans, mice, and giraffes have seven vertebrae in their necks. What can scientists conclude from this observation?

(1 point)
Responses

Each animal independently evolved this trait.
Each animal independently evolved this trait.

Humans, mice, and giraffes have the same number of bones.
Humans, mice, and giraffes have the same number of bones.

All vertebrates have seven vertebrae in their necks.
All vertebrates have seven vertebrae in their necks.

These animals descended from a common ancestor.

Answer 7

Archaeopteryx is considered to be a transitional form between dinosaurs and birds. Which of the following is a trait that is unique to both Archaeopteryx and modern birds? (1 point)
Responses

feathers
feathers

wings
wings

teeth
teeth

claws

Answer 8

Evolution Unit Test
9 of 149 of 14 Items

Question
Which pattern emerged in horse evolution as scientists studied early horse fossils and modern horse bones?(1 point)
Responses

The earliest horses had a single large foot bone, intermediate forms had three foot bones (two small and one large), and modern horses have four foot bones (three small and one large).
The earliest horses had a single large foot bone, intermediate forms had three foot bones (two small and one large), and modern horses have four foot bones (three small and one large).

Early and intermediate horses had four foot bones (three small and one large), and modern horses have three foot bones (two small and one large).
Early and intermediate horses had four foot bones (three small and one large), and modern horses have three foot bones (two small and one large).

Early and intermediate horses had three foot bones (two small and one large), and modern horses have four foot bones (three small and one large).
Early and intermediate horses had three foot bones (two small and one large), and modern horses have four foot bones (three small and one large).

The earliest horses had four foot bones (three small and one large), intermediate forms had three foot bones (two small and one large), and modern horses have a single large foot bone.
The earliest horses had four foot bones (three small and one large), intermediate forms had three foot bones (two small and one large), and modern horses have a single large foot bone.

Answer 9

Listed below are characteristics that serve as evidence of shared ancestry between fish and reptiles. Select the option that applies only to embryos rather than adults.(1 point)
Responses

spines and tails
spines and tails

scales as a form of skin
scales as a form of skin

gill slits that turn into gills
gill slits that turn into gills

hatch from and lay eggs

Answer 10

Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals have similar embryos.
They all start with gill slits. Fish and some amphibians grow to have gills. Some amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals develop lungs to breathe air.
They all start with tails. Fish, some amphibians, reptiles, and birds grow tails. Humans do not keep their tails.
Fish and reptiles develop scales. Amphibians, birds, and humans have skin. Birds have feathers, and humans have hair.

Which two animals exhibit the most linear relationship?(1 point)
Responses

amphibians and fish
amphibians and fish

amphibians and reptiles
amphibians and reptiles

birds and reptiles
birds and reptiles

birds and humans

Answer 11

Which evidence supports the theory that fish and mammals evolved from the same ancestor? (1 point)
Responses

They both produce egg and sperm cells that must join in fertilization.
They both produce egg and sperm cells that must join in fertilization.

Their embryos share features in the late stages of development.
Their embryos share features in the late stages of development.

Their embryos share features in the early stages of development.
Their embryos share features in the early stages of development.

They both emerge from fertilized eggs.

Answer 12

Which pattern is evidence that reptiles and amphibians share the same ancestor? (1 point)
Responses

They have backbones.
They have backbones.

They have eyes.
They have eyes.

They have similar skin.
They have similar skin.

They have legs.

Answer 13

In three to five sentences, explain how the fossil record provides evidence for the idea of natural selection.(4 points)

Answer 14

You are a scientist observing rodents on the Galapagos Islands. You notice that the introduction of new bird of prey has limited the number of rodents.

What term best describes the factor that is limiting the number of rodents the environment can support?

(1 point)
Responses

variation
variation

food supply
food supply

fitness
fitness

selective pressure

Answer 15

In an aquatic bird population, some birds have long legs. Other birds have short legs. The food supply is minimal. The birds with long legs are able to wade farther into the water where they can find fish. Over time, the birds with long legs become more common.

What scientific term best describes this scenario?

(1 point)
Responses

selective pressures
selective pressures

mutation
mutation

natural selection
natural selection

fitness

Answer 16

What relationship exists between changes in the environment and variations?(1 point)
Responses

Changes in the environment can only cause new variations to appear.
Changes in the environment can only cause new variations to appear.

Changes in the environment cannot influence the fitness of an organism.
Changes in the environment cannot influence the fitness of an organism.

Changes in the environment can act only on existing variations in a population.
Changes in the environment can act only on existing variations in a population.

Changes in the environment cannot change which traits are advantageous.
Changes in the environment cannot change which traits are advantageous.

Answer 17

Over time, the variation that gives an advantage(1 point)
Responses

becomes less common in the population.
becomes less common in the population.

becomes more common in the population.
becomes more common in the population.

can limit the number of individual organisms.
can limit the number of individual organisms.

can limit the number of selective pressures.

Answer 18

Natural selection causes changes in(1 point)
Responses

phenotypes.
phenotypes.

populations.
populations.

genotypes.
genotypes.

individuals.

Answer 19

Which statement is accurate about natural selection?(1 point)
Responses

Natural selection does not change the alleles an organism has.
Natural selection does not change the alleles an organism has.

Natural selection cannot occur through mutations.
Natural selection cannot occur through mutations.

Natural selection does not impact reproduction rates.
Natural selection does not impact reproduction rates.

Natural selection cannot inactivate genes.
Natural selection cannot inactivate genes.

Answer 20

Which mutation scenario will always lead to natural selection?(1 point)
Responses

a mutation causes a gene to become inactivated
a mutation causes a gene to become inactivated

a mutation causes a specific variation within the population
a mutation causes a specific variation within the population

a mutation causes a specific advantage within the population
a mutation causes a specific advantage within the population

a mutation causes an inactivated gene to be reactivated

Answer 21

Explain Natural Selection Quick Check
4 of 54 of 5 Items
Question
Consider the following scenario:

There are variations in the fur color of mice. Some mice have white fur. Some have dark fur. Foxes more easily catch mice with white fur.

What will likely be a consequence of this scenario?

(1 point)
Responses

Brown fur will become predominant.
Brown fur will become predominant.

Mice with white fur will be more likely to survive and reproduce.
Mice with white fur will be more likely to survive and reproduce.

White fur will become predominant.
White fur will become predominant.

Mice with brown fur will be less likely to pass on their genetic information.
Mice with brown fur will be less likely to pass on their genetic information.

Answer 22

What evolves during natural selection?(1 point)
Responses

the phenotypes of individual organisms
the phenotypes of individual organisms

entire species
entire species

the proportion of different traits in a population
the proportion of different traits in a population

inactivated genes
inactivated genes

Answer 23

differences between organisms.

Answer 24

direct ancestor of two or more different organisms.

Answer 25

The fossils are from an organism that is an ancestor of organism X.

Answer 26

hominins

Answer 27

The part of the skull surrounding the brain grew larger as hominins evolved.

Answer 28

Rodents and rabbits share a common ancestor.

Answer 29

These animals descended from a common ancestor.

Answer 30

feathers

Answer 31

The earliest horses had a single large foot bone, intermediate forms had three foot bones (two small and one large), and modern horses have four foot bones (three small and one large).

Answer 32

gill slits that turn into gills

Answer 33

amphibians and reptiles

Answer 34

Their embryos share features in the early stages of development.

Answer 35

They have legs.

Answer 36

The fossil record provides evidence for the idea of natural selection because it helps us understand how organisms have changed over time, and the various species that have existed throughout Earth's history. By analyzing the patterns in the fossil record, scientists are able to identify the traits and features that have become more or less common over time, and the conditions that led to these changes. These observations provide vital insights into how natural selection works and the impact it has had in shaping the diversity of life we see today.

Answer 37

selective pressure

Answer 38

natural selection

Answer 39

Changes in the environment can act only on existing variations in a population.

Answer 40

becomes more common in the population.

Answer 41

phenotypes.

Answer 42

Natural selection does not inactivate genes.

Answer 43

a mutation causes a specific advantage within the population

Answer 44

Mice with dark fur will be more likely to survive and reproduce.

Answer 45

the proportion of different traits in a population