Evolution

The diagram shows variations of Galápagos

Island finches that formed over many

generations

What most likely caused the variations in these

finches?

• the temperatures on the islands

• the available food on the islands

• the available water on the islands

• the number of mates on the islands

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

A scientist travels to Alaska to do research over

the summer, and he brings along his two dogs.

One of his dogs has naturally thick fur, while his

other dog has naturally thin fur. While on a

research expedition, the researcher loses track of

his dogs and has to leave them behind. The two

dogs mate to produce offspring. Based on natural

selection, what would be the predicted features of

the dog population in the next two generations?

• mostly dogs with thin fur

• dogs with thick fur, only

• mostly dogs with thick fur

• dogs with thin fur, only

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

How does natural selection produce change?

• Some individuals in a population survive and

  produce fewer offspring than others, causing

  harmful traits to be eradicated within a

  population.

• Some individuals in a population survive and

  produce more offspring than others, causing

  advantageous traits to spread within a

  population.

• Some individuals in a population survive and

  produce the same amount of offspring as others,

  causing harmful and advantageous traits to be

  equally dispersed throughout a population.

• Some individuals in a population survive and

  become sterile, causing advantageous traits to

  be concentrated among the individuals that are

  born with them.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

A population of mice, some with light-colored fur

and some with dark-colored fur, is introduced into

a field with dark soil. A few generations later, the

majority of the mice have dark-colored fur. Which

of the following best explains this change?

• Light-colored mice can run faster.

• Dark-colored mice have fewer offspring.

• Dark-colored mice can hide easier from

  predators.

• Light-colored mice have changed color over

  generations.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Butterflies with purple wings used to be

dominant in an environment. Over a period of

time, it was observed that yellow butterflies

were becoming the dominant color.

What is the most likely reason for the change in

the butterfly population?

• Birds ate most of the sick yellow butterflies,

  allowing the purple to reproduce more.

• There were fewer yellow butterflies, so they were

  able to reproduce at a faster rate.

• The yellow butterflies were not eaten by birds

  and were able to reproduce more

• The purple butterflies stopped reproducing and

  only the yellow butterflies reproduced.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Which of the following factors leading to the extinction of a species can be most easily

prevented

• rapid change in climate

• too much hunting by humans

• disappearance of their food source

• invasion of their habitat by predators

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-4

In regard to theory of evolution, which statement is correct about genetic variability?

• Increased genetic variability can be chosen by individuals in a species, giving them the

  ability to change their appearance to prevent extinction.

• The lack of genetic variability prevents a species from adapting to environmental

  changes, making the species more prone to extinction.

• The lack of genetic variability ensures that all organisms in a species have the exact

  same appearance, increasing their ability to find mates.

• Increased genetic variability limits the number of offspring that a species can produce,

  causing extinction.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Natural selection produces change by allowing beneficial genes to recombine in

• an individual organism.

• all organisms within a population.

• only the first generation of offspring.

• successive generations of offspring.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

A characteristic that benefits an organism will be

• kept in the generation to which it is most helpful.

• changed to make sure the species remains

  stable

• passed to the next generation and not passed

  any farther.

• passed from generation to generation so it can

  help the species.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Which of the following is NOT a fossil that

provides information on the changing species on

Earth?

• the remains of an insect inside amber

• the tissue of a frozen extinct mammoth

• impressions made from leaves on petrified wood

• metamorphic rock fragments in a desert

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2