Evidence for Evolution - Practice Quiz

The wing of the bat and the forelimb of the dog are said to be homologous structures. This indicates that...

• they have the same function

• bats evolved from a lineage of dogs

• they are structures which are similar due to common ancestry

• the limb bones of each are anatomically identical

• they have a different ancestry but a common function

Which statement best describes the evidence for evolution pictured in the figure.

• All embryos are identical until the last stage

  of development.

• There are no similarities among developing

  embryos.

• Only organisms that live in the same geographic

  location show embryological similarities.

• Many animals with backbones develop in the

  same order and in similar patterns.

• There are two answers that are correct

A bird wing and a butterfly wing both have the same function but different structures. These structures are called…

• molecular evidence

• homologous.

• vestigial.

• analogous.

• samezies

Marine mammals have many structural characteristics in common with fishes. The explanation that evolutionary theory would give for this similarity is...

• fish and mammals are closely related.

• fish evolved structures similar to those already existing in mammals.

• marine mammals evolved directly from the fishes.

• marine mammals never developed use of limbs.

• marine mammals adapted to an environment similar to that of the fishes.

Structures like the pelvis bone in whales that no longer have a function are called…

• molecular evidence.

• homologous.

• vestigial.

• analogous.

• samezies.

Intermediate fossil forms are important evidence of evolution because they show

• How organisms interacted with other organisms.

• how animals behaved in their environments.

• how the embryos of organisms develop.

• molecular homologies.

• how organisms change over time.

The picture shows layers of rock in a particular area.

What can be said about fossils found in layer “C”?

• They are older than fossils in layer B.

• They are younger than fossils in layer E.

• They are from the Jurassic Period.

• All of the above are correct.

• There are two correct answers

DNA and RNA provide evidence of evolution because...

• all life has DNA and/or RNA.

• not organisms have DNA/RNA

• all animals have identical DNA.

• some organisms store DNA in their nucleus and others do not.

• There are two correct answers

The different species of tortoises on the Galapagos Islands show variation in neck length and shape of the shell based on the vegetation on the island. This is an example of…

• molecular evidence.

• biogeography.

• comparative anatomy.

• age of the Earth and fossils.

• embryology.

The strongest evidence for change over a long period of time comes from…

• DNA.

• fossils.

• embryo studies.

• direct observation of living species.

• protein sequences.