Evidence of Evolution

Multiple Choice

Which IS NOT used as evidence for evolution?

• Fossils

• Natural Selection

• Early Development/Embryos

• Body Structure/Anatomy

• DNA/Proteins

Multiple Choice

Structures with the same parts have different functions; suggests that organisms share a common ancestry

• vestigial structures

• homologous structures

• adaptive radiation

• fossil

Multiple Choice

Study of embryos of various organisms to show a common ancestor because of similarities in development

• natural selection

• embryology

• speciation

• evolution

Multiple Choice

What does Darwin's theory of evolution suggest?

• species change over time

• extinct species are not related to living species

• different species can interbreed

• animals that look alike are most closely related

Multiple Choice

Some organisms that share a common ancestor have features that have different functions, but similar structures.  These are known as

• vestigial structures

• analogous structures

• homologous structures

• fossil structures

Multiple Choice

If modern organisms have a lot of homologous structures, what inference might paleontologists make about those organisms?

• They are reptiles

• One organism evolved from the other.

• The organisms have a common ancestor

Multiple Choice

What characteristic did Darwin observe about the finches on the Galapagos Islands?

• Their feathers 

• Genotypes 

• Their beaks

• Their body sizes

Multiple Choice

The diagram illustrates an embryonic stage of two organisms.

Which of the following can be determined by observing the embryos shown in the diagram

• The organisms share a common ancestry.

• The organisms belong to the same genus.

• The organisms are native to the same geographic areas.

• The organisms will grow into anatomically similar adults.

Multiple Choice

How do fossils provide evidence that evolution has happened on Earth?

• Fossils show how the sizes of certain animals has changed drastically over millions of years

• Fossils show that some species have gone extinct

• Fossils show how life forms present today are different than those from the past

• Different sedimentary rock layers provide evidence for how the environment has changed over time

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the best scientific evidence that mammals evolved from reptiles?

• A. Similarities in the diets of extinct reptiles and modern mammals

• B. Similarities in the average lifespans of modern reptiles and modern mammals

• C. Fossils of ancient reptiles and mammals that appear together in the same layers of rock

• D. Fossils that show gradual changes in skull shape from reptile-like organisms to mammal-like organisms

Multiple Choice

Two organisms that are closely related would have

• very similar DNA sequence

• exactly the same DNA sequences

• no proteins in common

• completely different DNA sequence

Multiple Choice

Sperm whales have vestigial hip bones, and a small percentage of sperm whales also have vestigial hind limbs. Which of the following statements best explains the presence of these vestigial structures in sperm whales?

• A. Sperm whales evolved from ancestors that walked on land.

• B. Sperm whales are in the process of evolving into land mammals.

• C. These structures are acquired by each individual sperm whale during its lifetime.

• D. These structures resulted from sperm whales having a long period of embryonic development.

Multiple Choice

Penguins are powerful swimmers. Scientists have concluded that penguins evolved adaptations for powerful swimming early in their evolutionary history.Which of the following pieces of evidence did scientists most likely use to make this conclusion?

• A. DNA sequences of different penguin species

• B. Maps of the global distribution of penguin species

• C. Fossils showing the shape of ancient penguins’ wings and feathers

• D. X-rays of the bone structure in modern penguins’ wings

Multiple Choice

How do fossils provide evidence that evolution has happened on Earth?

• Fossils show how the sizes of certain animals has changed drastically over millions of years

• Fossils show that some species have gone extinct

• Fossils show how life forms present today are different than those from the past

• Different sedimentary rock layers provide evidence for how the environment has changed over time

Multiple Choice

Recently, scientists have been able to use ___________to find common proteins and amino acids to determine how closely related species are.

• DNA

• Vestigial structures

• Fossils

• Homologous structures

Multiple Choice

What is this an example of?

• Homologous structure

• Analogous structure

• Vestigial organs

• Functional adaption

Multiple Choice

Some lizards have an adaptation that allows their tails to break off with minimal damage to bones, nerves, blood vessels, and muscles. This type of lizard can then regrow the missing portion of the tail.Which of the following statements best explains why this adaptation is selected for in lizard populations?

• A. Lizards with this adaptation are better at climbing trees.

• B. Lizards with this adaptation are more likely to escape from predators.

• C. Lizards with this adaptation can use their tails as lures to attract more food.

• D. Lizards with this adaptation can camouflage themselves more easily in vegetation.

Multiple Choice

What would happen if the Giraffes never evolve?

• they would survive

• They would thrive

• They would become extinct

• They will find another source of food

Multiple Choice

Which is not evidence for evolution?

• many animals have homologous structures due to common ancestry

• Many animals have vestigial structures from an ancestor

• We can observe changes in life forms by observing the fossil record

• All of these are evidence for evolution