Earth Biological Histroy Review

A biologist is reviewing data on an epidemic of a disease that could lead to the extinction of a certain species.  He notices that organisms from the same family group within a habitat all tend to have the disease.  Which is the most likely question to study next?

• How is the disease spread?
• Can people die from the disease?
• What can prevent researchers from catching the disease?
• Do members of the same family group also travel to other habitats?

Scientists not only communicate results of investigations but also their methods.  Why is this important?

• Other scientists doing the investigation should be able to get similar results.
• Other scientists need to read the report.
• Investigation should be published.
• Scientists need to know if data were accurate.

The snowshoe rabbit has white fur in winter and dark fur in summer. What is the main survival advantage of this fur color change to the rabbit?

• The snowshoe rabbit has white fur in winter and dark fur in summer. What is the main survival advantage of this fur color change to the rabbit?
• The fur color is an adaptive form of camouflage to avoid predators.
• The dark fur absorbs more sunlight so the rabbit is warmer in winter.
• The white fur is more valuable to fur trappers, so the animal will be trapped and better fed in winter.

In 1831, Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos Islands. While observing the giant land tortoises that lived on these islands, Darwin noted that the shape of the tortoise shell varied depending on which island the tortoise lived. Tortoises on one island had round shells, for example, whereas tortoises on a neighboring island had more flattened, saddle-shaped shells. Which statement BEST summarizes Darwin's explanation for these differences?

• Random mutations caused the shape of the shells to fluctuate periodically.
• The shape of the tortoise shell varied because the predators on the islands were different.
• The particular shape of the shell was best suited for the island on which the tortoise was living.
• Tortoises who used their shells in special ways caused the shells to become larger, rounder, or flatter.

A particular bird species found in North America obtains most of its food energy by catching and eating insects. A mutation arises in this bird population that increases the length of its beak. Although many mutations are harmful, this particular mutation has increased the ability of the bird to catch and eat certain insects. Which of these is the MOST LIKELY outcome of this mutation?

• The insects that are eaten by this bird are likely to become extinct.
• Sharp pointed beaks will result in the birds eating other more unusual food items.
• Other bird species will be more likely to also develop pointed beaks in order to compete.
• Individual birds with the mutation will be more likely to survive and reproduce than birds without the mutation.

A population of bacteria is treated with an antibiotic. Because of variation in the population of bacteria, what is a possible outcome of the treatment?

• The population will increase rapidly.
• All of the bacteria will be resistant to the antibiotic.
• The population will be better able to obtain a food source.
• Some of the bacteria may be resistant to the antibiotic and survive.

A population of green iguanas lived on a tropical island. Originally, most of the iguanas had feet without webbing between their toes and a long round tail. A few iguanas had webbed feet and a short, flat tail. As the years passed, the island became smaller and smaller because of flooding. Even the land areas were dotted with ponds and pools. The iguanas had a hard time finding the food they normally ate. To survive, the iguanas had to swim from island to island to find food.
How would you expect the iguanas to look many years after the island flooded and food became harder to find?

• The iguanas will look the same but there will be less of them.
• There would be more iguanas with webbed feet and flat tails.
• There would be fewer iguanas with webbed feet.
• The iguanas would no longer be green.

The fossil evidence found in these sedimentary layers BEST implies that

• invertebrates evolved into vertebrates.
• animals evolved bony skeletons after shells.
• plants and animals with bones evolved together.
• and animals and marine animals evolved together.

A fossil of a fern and other large-leafed plants were found in an area of Alaska. What does this suggest about this area in Alaska?

• A forest is now covered with snow.
• A farm was once located in the area.
• The area once had a warmer climate.
• Prehistoric man ate large-leafed plants.

Sedimentary rocks found high in the Himalayan Mountains have been found with fossils of clams and other marine life. What does this indicate about the origin of the Himalayan Mountains?

• There was once a large ocean at top of the mountains.
• Animals that now live on the mountains once lived under water.
• The Earth's crust that formed these mountains was once covered with an ocean.
• Continental drift resulted two tectonic moving closer to each other over time.