Question

A) A scientist discovers a fossil of an animal and places it in the fossil record. The organism’s bones are similar to the bones of animal T,
which appears earlier in the fossil record. Which conclusion is most reasonable? (1 point)
The fossils are from an ancestor of animal T.
The fossils are from animals that lived at the same time.
The fossils are from a descendant of animal T.
The fossils came from the same organism.
A) Why do organisms evolve? (1 point)
Organisms with traits that help them survive and reproduce in their environment pass on those traits.
Organisms make changes to help them survive and reproduce in their environment.
Organisms naturally select traits that help them survive and reproduce.
Changes in the environment cause organisms to change.

Question 3
A)
Scientists examine fossils from three different animals. They determine that all three animals share similar structures and record their
observations as follows:
Animal A and animal B have somewhat similar structures.
Animal A and animal C have very similar structures.
Animal B and animal C have very similar structures.
The scientists use the similarities to determine the order in which the fossils should appear in the fossil record. Based on the scientists’
observations, which order is the most reasonable?
(1 point)
B, A, C
A, B, C
A, C, B
C, B, A

Question 4
Question 5
A) Scientists discover fossilized bones from two different animals. The scientists consult the fossil record to learn more about the fossils.
Which question will the fossil record best answer? (1 point)
Which animal is older?
What killed the animals?
How are the animals related to modern animals?
Which animal was better equipped to survive?
A) How do fossils of the animal Archaeopteryx provide evidence that birds evolved from one group of dinosaurs? (1 point)
Fossils of Archeopteryx have traits that show they were better able to survive than dinosaurs but less able to survive than birds.
Fossils of Archeopteryx were discovered near fossils of both dinosaurs and birds.
Fossils of Archaeopteryx are older than fossils of birds but younger than fossils of dinosaurs.
Fossils of Archaeopteryx have traits of both dinosaurs and birds.

Answer 1

1) The fossils are from a descendant of animal T.
- The new fossil appears later in the record than T, so it’s most likely a descendant.

2) Organisms with traits that help them survive and reproduce in their environment pass on those traits.
- This describes natural selection, the main mechanism of evolution.

3) A, C, B.
- C should be between A and B because A–C and B–C are very similar while A–B are only somewhat similar.

4) Which animal is older?
- The fossil record is best at showing relative ages/sequence of organisms.

5) Fossils of Archaeopteryx have traits of both dinosaurs and birds.
- Archaeopteryx shows a mix of dinosaur and bird features, supporting the evolutionary link.