Evolution

Which of the following correctly describes the general trend in hominid evolution?

• thickening of the skull, protruding teeth, organized hunting
• large canine teeth, small skulls, diet of coarse plant material
• larger body size, broad forehead, smaller brains
• increase in brain capacity, bipedalism, use of tools

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Scientists theorize that it took a billion years or more for oxygen in the atmosphere to reach the levels of today. Based on this idea, the first cells could be classified as which of the following?

• aerobic 
• anerobic
• eukaryotic 
• heterotrophic 

Suppose a family of black wolves migrates across a land bridge to a region supporting a large population of gray wolves. A few generations later, the population consists entirely of wolves with black and gray markings. Which of the following best describes the mechanism that caused this change in the population of the wolves in the region?

• Genetic mutations naturally occurred in the black and gray wolf populations, resulting in both groups simultaneously developing black and gray coat markings.
• The flow of black wolf genes across the land bridge added to the gray wolf population’s gene pool, increasing the frequency of the genes for black fur in the population.
• The gray wolves selected other gray wolves over black wolves as mates, causing a limit to the gray wolf gene pool that resulted in genetic drift.
• The wolves with gray coats had to compete for resources with the successful black wolves, so they adapted their coats to mimic the black wolves.

Fossils sometimes show that a single species or a small group of species has evolved into diverse forms that live in different ways. An example of this would be a group of present-day mammals all having a common ancestor.   Which term describes this phenomenon?

• adaptive radiation
• convergent evolution
• gradualism
• mutualism

Which of the following does NOT describe the observable trends in hominid 

• changes in hair and skin color
• development of tools use and language
• changes in jaw  size and cranial capacity 
• development of bipedal locomotion and increase in brain mass 

Humans and chimpanzees have almost identical DNA and many similarities in anatomy. Which statement about the evolutionary relationship between modern humans and chimpanzees is supported by these facts? 

• Humans and chimpanzees share a common ancestor. 
• Humans and chimpanzees are unrelated. 
• Humans are a more evolved version of chimpanzees
• Humans descended directly from chimpanzees. 

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Over time, the climate of an island became drier, which resulted in changes to the populations of various island finch species. Finch populations with a certain beak shape thrived, while those not having that beak shape decreased. Which of the following describes a necessary condition for these changes in the finch populations to occur? 

• fewer off springs
• overproduction of offsprings
• limited food source
• limited beak variation 

How is scientific theory of evolution supported by the comparison of the skulls and skeletons of modern humans and extinct hominids? 

• Similarity in skull shapes, hands, and hips between extinct hominids and humans supports a common ancestry. 
• By making the hip, spine, and skull comparisons, the age of the different hominid specimens can be determined. 
• Comparison of skull and skeleton provides evidence that humans and different hominid species interacted. 
• Skull and skeleton comparisons can explain why hominids were inferior and became extinct while humans evolved. 

How does comparing the skeletons of these animals provide support for the scientific theory of evolution? 

• It shows possible chromosomal similarities between organisms.
• It provides information about the organisms’ habitats.
• It shows possible common ancestry between organisms.
• It provides information to determine the organisms’ ages.

 Biologists have considered two different explanations to the rate of evolution: gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. How would the fossil record indicate that an organism had evolved via punctuated equilibrium? 

• The fossil record would show a slow, steady rate of change from a common ancestor.
• The fossil record would be incomplete, and numerous holes would exist within the ancestral record.
• The fossil record would show rapid change over an extended period of time, with occasional periods of little change.
• The fossil record would show little change over long periods of time, followed by a sudden, brief period of rapid change.