Question 1 (1 point)

Question

Which pair of living organisms are likely to have evolved from the same ancestor?

a
fish and fungi
b
fish and birds
c
birds and amoebae
d
fungi and amoebae
Question 2 (1 point)
Which pattern is evidence that reptiles and amphibians share the same ancestor?

a
They have backbones.
b
They have eyes.
c
They have similar skin.
d
They have legs.
Question 3 (1 point)
Pythons have small leg bones buried in their tail muscles. What can scientists conclude from this observation?

a
Future generations of pythons will have legs.
b
The leg bones help pythons move.
c
Pythons descended from an animal with legs.
d
The leg bones will not be passed down to future generations.
Question 4 (1 point)
Fossils and genes are used to determine

a
how many mutations occurred in a species over time.
b
how species will change over time.
c
differences between organisms
d
how species interact with each other.
Question 5 (1 point)
There are 13 species of Darwin’s finches on the Galapagos Islands. They have many similar features but differ in beak size and shape. Which explanation accounts for these characteristics?

a
Finch species have similar diets.
b
All finch species evolved from a common ancestor.
c
Finch species interbreed.
d
Each finch species evolved from a different ancestor.
Question 6 (1 point)
In studying humans, whales, and horses, which of the following set of similarities would be evidence for the most recent common ancestor?

a
they all have hair.
b
they all have internal skeletons.
c
they are all mammals.
d
they all have similar bones in their limbs.
Question 7 (1 point)
Why do organisms evolve?

a
Organisms naturally select traits that help them survive and reproduce.
b
Changes in the environment cause organisms to change.
c
Organisms with traits that help them survive and reproduce in their environment pass on those traits.
d
Organisms make changes to help them survive and reproduce in their environment.
Question 8 (1 point)
A common ancestor is an organism that is the

a
direct ancestor of two or more different organisms.
b
direct ancestor of one organism.
c
indirect ancestor of two or more different organisms.
d
indirect ancestor of one organism.
Question 9 (1 point)
Some horse ancestors had limb characteristics that were similar to what we see in the modern horse. Which of the following best describes the evolution of horse limbs over time?

a
Over time, the horse limb gained footbones.
b
Over time, the horse limb got longer.
c
Over time, the horse limb became shorter.
d
Over time, the horse limb grew wider.
Question 10 (1 point)
Embryos of different animals show patterns of similarities. What is this evidence for?

a
that these animals all have very similar DNA
b
that these animals all have the same physical structures
c
that these animals evolved from a common ancestor
d
that these animals have linear relationships
Question 11 (1 point)
You and your friend inspect a group of fossils from different organisms with various features. Your friend is convinced that all of the fossils are unrelated, but you find evidence that these organisms share an ancestor. What is an example of evidence that you could use to best support this argument?

a
heights
b
patterns in limb structures
c
tooth features
d
number of bones
Question 12 (1 point)
What do scientists think about the common ancestor of whales and hippos?

a
The animal lived in water.
b
The animal had two limbs.
c
The animal is still alive today.
d
The animal lived millions of years ago.
Question 13 (1 point)
Which group includes only bipedal animals?

a
primates
b
hominins
c
lesser apes
d
hominids
Question 14 (1 point)
Which body part is a vestigial structure?

a
horse hoof
b
whale hind limb
c
human arm
d
bat wing
Question 15 (1 point)
Fossils are used to study

a
organisms that live today.
b
how ancient animals behaved.
c
organisms that once lived.
d
phylogenetic trees.
Question 16 (1 point)
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?

a
What killed the animals?
b
How are the animals related to modern animals?
c
Which animal was better equipped to survive?
d
Which animal is older?
Question 17 (1 point)
Humans, mice, and giraffes have seven vertebrae in their necks. What can scientists conclude from this observation?

a
All vertebrates have seven vertebrae in their necks
b
Each animal independently evolved this trait.
c
These animals descended from a common ancestor.
d
Humans, mice, and giraffes have the same number of bones.
Question 18 (1 point)
What is the relationship between humans and chimpanzees?

a
Humans and chimpanzees evolved from a common ancestor.
b
Humans and chimpanzees evolved from primates
c
Humans evolved from chimpanzees.
d
Chimpanzees evolved from humans.
Question 19 (1 point)
Which evidence supports the theory that fish and mammals evolved from the same ancestor?

a
Their embryos share features in the early stages of development.
b
They both produce egg and sperm cells that must join in fertilization.
c
Their embryos share features in the late stages of development.
d
They both emerge from fertilized eggs
Question 20 (1 point)
Which list shows the groups in order from most inclusive to least inclusive?

a
hominids, hominins, primates
b
hominins, hominids, primate
c
primates, hominins, hominids
d
primates, hominids, hominins

Answer 1

1. d (fungi and amoebae)
2. d (They have legs.)
3. c (Pythons descended from an animal with legs.)
4. c (differences between organisms)
5. b (All finch species evolved from a common ancestor.)
6. c (they are all mammals.)
7. c (Organisms with traits that help them survive and reproduce in their environment pass on those traits.)
8. a (direct ancestor of two or more different organisms.)
9. b (Over time, the horse limb got longer.)
10. c (that these animals evolved from a common ancestor)
11. b (patterns in limb structures)
12. d (The animal lived millions of years ago.)
13. b (hominins)
14. b (whale hind limb)
15. c (organisms that once lived.)
16. b (How are the animals related to modern animals?)
17. c (These animals descended from a common ancestor.)
18. a (Humans and chimpanzees evolved from a common ancestor.)
19. a (Their embryos share features in the early stages of development.)
20. d (primates, hominids, hominins)