Category 3

B.7A

The image shows part of the human bone in different genera of primates.

Which statement is best supported by the observable structures of the different humerus bones?

• The primates lived in similar environments.

• The primates shared a common ancestor.

• The primates interbreed with similar organisms in a population.

• The primates had diets that consisted of similar types of foods.

B.7A

Cetaceans are whales and their relatives. The diagram shows some fossils of cetaceans.

Which statement provides the best evidence that Ambulocetus natans is an ancestor of Basilosaurus isis?

• Homologous structures occur in each fossil.

• Similar nitrogenous bases are found in the DNA of each fossil.

• The fossils were found in different locations.

• The youngest fossil is larger than the older fossils.

B.7E

In Madagascar scientists have discovered a moth, Xanthopan morganii praedicta, that has a 30.5 cm proboscis and feeds from and pollinates Darwin’s orchid, Angraecum sesquipedale. The orchid has a nectar-producing tube that is 27.9 cm long.

How is the moth’s proboscis size an adaptation for its environment?

• The moth can avoid larger animals.

• The moth can pollinate other flowers.

• The moth has little competition for food.

• The moth has time to feed during the day.

B.7E

Nudibranchs are marine gastropods that lack shells. Many of these gastropods retain the foul-tasting poisons of their prey and secrete them when threatened. The bright coloration of the nudibranchs warns predators to avoid them.

Based on this information, how has adaptation allowed marine gastropods to be successful without a shell?

• They find enough food as they move through the marine environment.

• They blend in with their environment to hide from their predators.

• They are not attacked by most predators and are able to reproduce successfully.

• They have bright colors that attract a mate.

B.8B

Using a light microscope, a student identified the following characteristics of four organisms found in a sample of pond water. Based on the observations of the student, which organisms most likely belong to the taxonomic group for bacteria?

• organisms 1 and 2

• organisms 3 and 4

• organisms 1 and 4

• organisms 2 and 3

B.8B

A cladogram is shown below. All the animals to the right of the hagfish would have the common characteristics of -

• fur

• claws or nails

• lungs

• jaws

B.7B

The cladogram shows the evolution of land plants as indicated by fossil records. Which discovery would challenge the validity of this cladogram?

• a large aquatic vascular plants about 200 millions years old

• a species of algae that has existed for less than one million years

• a moss species that has existed for less than 380 million years

• a fossil of a fern more than 425 million years old

B.7B

This diagram of the fossil record represents changes in mollusks over millions of years. How can the pattern of change in the fossil record best be explained?

• the mollusks were well adapted to their stable environment. a large, sudden change occurred in their environment. after the change the mollusks with the bigger shells were better adapted for the new environment

• the mollusks were well adapted to their stable environment. the mollusks hybridized with a smaller species of mollusk. a new species of mollusk with a bigger shell resulted

• the mollusks were not well adapted to their environment. the length of the mollusks shells changed gradually over time. the mollusks in the original population that had small shells died over a period of many years

• the mollusks were well adapted to their environment. humans introduced a new species of mollusk that was not adapted to this environment. the introduced mollusk out competed the native mollusk species

B.7C

The diagram shows light- and dark-colored beetles that live on a tree. Which result is most likely to occur to the beetle population due to predation over time?

• The number of light-colored beetles in the population will increase.

• There will be more dark-colored beetles than light-colored beetles.

• The number of light-colored beetles will decrease.

• The dark-colored beetles will move to a different type of tree.

B.7C

The green frog (Lithobates clamitans clamitans) is found in many parts of the United States. The table above contains some information about this frog. Why does the ability to lay 1,000 to 5,000 eggs increase the fitness of the species L. clamitans clamitans?

• It increases opportunities for offspring to compete for limited resources.

• It increases the probability that some offspring will survive long enough to reproduce.

• It increases the probability that moving water will promote gene flow from one population to another.

• It increases the chance of the recombination of alleles, leading to genetic drift in the population.