When Fish First Walked_Read Works

What is natural selection?

• the process by which humans evolved from fish and monkeys
• the process by which species change as unsuccessful traits are passed on to the next generation
• small changes in individual organisms that are not passed on to the next generation
• the process by which species change as successful traits are passed on to the next generation

What does the author list and describe in the passage?

• examples of natural selection in various species
• how the dodo bird adapted to the invasive human population
• the different wing sizes of Galápagos finches
• how the Industrial Revolution affected London’s human population

Peppered moths became darker colored because the dark moths were better suited to the sooty environment than the light moths. What details from the passage support this statement?

• Peacocks with impressive tail feathers are able to find mates more easily.
• Deer mice are dark brown, which makes it easier for them to hide from owls and other predators in the dark soil of the woods.
• The light moths could be easily seen by predators, while the dark moths were nearly invisible on dark backgrounds.
• During the Industrial Revolution, London became polluted and the smog turned everything black.

Read the following sentences: “Another case that has to do with survival through camouflage involves the little deer mouse. Typically, deer mice are dark brown, which makes it easier for them to hide from owls and other predators in the dark soil of the woods. The deer mouse that lives in Nebraska’s light-colored Sand Hills, however, has gone from brunette to blonde so it can blend in and have a better chance at survival.” Which of the following conclusions about deer mice is supported by the text?

• Deer mice migrated from Nebraska to the woods.
• The color of deer mice changes based on the environment.
• Deer mice that are blonde will survive more easily in the woods.
• Owls do not hunt deer mice in Nebraska.

What is this passage mostly about?

• Charles Darwin
• the evolution of fish
• natural selection
• Galápagos finches

Read the following sentences: “An organism that develops a trait that helps it survive in its environment will have a better chance of reproducing and passing that trait on to the next generation. As a consequence, organisms with this helpful trait will become more prominent while other organisms of the same species die out.” As used in the passage, what does “prominent” most nearly mean?

• widely seen
• unpopular
• scarce
• large

Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below. Peahens prefer to mate with males that have brightly colored plumage; ___________, peacocks with dull feathers have become quite rare.

• however
• finally
• specifically
• as a result