According to scientists, lizards are more closely related to parrots than to frogs.

Question

Which evolutionary tree correctly shows the relationship between lizards, parrots, and frogs?
Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:
(Choice A) A diagonal line starts at the bottom of a diagram and travels up and to the right. It is labeled frogs at the top. Two diagonal lines branch off of this main line and travel up and to the left until they reach the same level as the top of the main line. The shorter of these lines branches off near the top and is labeled lizards. A slightly longer line branches off near the bottom and is labeled parrots.
A
A diagonal line starts at the bottom of a diagram and travels up and to the right. It is labeled frogs at the top. Two diagonal lines branch off of this main line and travel up and to the left until they reach the same level as the top of the main line. The shorter of these lines branches off near the top and is labeled lizards. A slightly longer line branches off near the bottom and is labeled parrots.
(Choice B) A diagonal line starts at the bottom of a diagram and travels up and to the right. It is labeled parrots at the top. Two diagonal lines branch off of this main line and travel up and to the left until they reach the same level as the top of the main line. The shorter of these lines branches off near the top and is labeled lizards. A slightly longer line branches off near the bottom and is labeled frogs.
B
A diagonal line starts at the bottom of a diagram and travels up and to the right. It is labeled parrots at the top. Two diagonal lines branch off of this main line and travel up and to the left until they reach the same level as the top of the main line. The shorter of these lines branches off near the top and is labeled lizards. A slightly longer line branches off near the bottom and is labeled frogs.

Answer 1

To determine the correct evolutionary tree based on the information that lizards are more closely related to parrots than to frogs, we can analyze the two choices given.

1. In Choice A:

   • The diagram shows frogs at the top.
   • It indicates lizards and parrots branching off from the frogs and at the same level.
   • This implies that lizards and parrots are equally distantly related to frogs, contradicting the given information.

2. In Choice B:

   • The diagram has parrots at the top.
   • It shows lizards and frogs branching off from the same line, with lizards being closer to the parrots than to the frogs.
   • This arrangement suggests that lizards and parrots share a more recent common ancestor compared to frogs.

Since lizards are indeed more closely related to parrots than to frogs, Choice B correctly represents the evolutionary relationship. Therefore, the correct answer is:

B