Biological Evolution and Classification

Rocks containing 450 million year old Ordovician fossils contain jawless fish. Younger Devonian rocks that are only 400 million years old contain fossils of jawless fish and fish with jaws. This evidence supports the idea that -

• species can suddenly appear in the fossil record.

• there are large gaps in the fossil record.

• older rocks are found above younger rocks.

• groups of species have changed sequentially.

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All of the following types of information can be learned from the fossil record EXCEPT–

• the anatomy of various species.

• the common ancestry of organisms.

• the future evolution of major groups.

• the geographical range of populations.

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The structural similarity shown in the organisms pictured here suggests that –

• similar bones are the same size in all animals.

• the organisms have common ancestors.

• some bones in the skeleton have immovable joints.

• only quadrupeds need the humerus bone.

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Which of the following would suggest that two species shared a common ancestor ?

• They have similar needs in terms of diet.

• Their fossils were discovered in the same location.

• They use the same means of locomotion.

• Their genes share many commonalities.

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All of the following can be told from the fossil record EXCEPT–

• the order in which organisms appeared.

• the number of organisms that existed.

• the environment the organisms lived in.

• the approximate age of past organisms.

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Which of the following can be concluded from the evolutionary tree provided?

• All three species became more complex over time.

• The differences are greatest between species B and C.

• There is evidence of large gaps in the fossil record.

• The common ancestor was most similar to species C.

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Two different species of organisms would demonstrate molecular homology if they –

• exhibited similarities in their amino acid sequence.

• had bones that looked similar under the microscope.

• depended on the same nutrients to survive.

• depended on the same nutrients to survive.

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Two populations of a species of flightless bird became separated by a river and the birds became two different species. How would scientists be able to discover that the two species of birds share a common ancestor? Scientists can look for similarities in -

• body coverings.

• genetic similarities.

• food choices.

• mating rituals.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Some snake embryos have small buds resembling limbs. These buds disappear at later stages of embryonic development. These observations suggest that these snakes –

• will have offspring with limbs.

• had a parent with working limbs.

• evolved from a limbed ancestor.

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A chart comparing the base sequences of homologous segments of DNA from various primates is provided. The information in the chart can be used to conclude that which pair of organisms have the most recent common ancestor?

• Chimpanzees and baboons

• Chimpanzees and lemurs

• Gorillas and chimpanzees

• Gorillas and baboons

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