Evolution Review

The pictures below show fossils of the pakicetus and aetiocetus, ancestors of the modern gray whale. What do the placement of the nostrils show? (click on the image to make it bigger)

• evidence that they evolved over time from an earlier species adapting physical characteristics to what was best suited for their environment

• evidence that the species lived in different areas of Earth at the same time which required different physical characteristics to suit their environments

• evidence that they did not change over time and the physical characteristics of the species remained the same

• evidence that the species migrated to environments that were best suited for their physical characteristics

Which of the following best supports the scientific theory of evolution?

• fossil evidence

• climate change

• plate tectonics

• rock types

What term refers to body parts that perform a similar function but differ in structure?

• analogous structures

• homologous structures

• pharyngeal pouches

• vestigial pelvis

Which refers the process by which populations of organisms with variations that help them survive in their environments live longer, compete better, and reproduce more than those that do not have the variations?

• adaptation

• mimicry

• natural selection

• selective breeding

Which is an inherited trait that increases an organism’s chance of surviving and reproducing in its environment?

• adaptation

• camouflage

• natural selection

• variation

Which finch shown below would most likely have an advantage for survival in an environment where seeds with a hard shell are the main source of food?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

The picture below shows the forelimbs of three different organisms: a bat, a bird, and a horse. All of these animals originally are descended from a common ancestor.

What is most likely responsible for the changes that occurred to form distinctly different organisms over millions of years?

• The organisms' environments changed, and natural selection diversified each species.

• The damage from basic injuries cause mutations to occur that passed onto offspring.

• The organisms created new traits and species through selective breeding.

• The introduction of humans allowed for artificial selection to take place.

The longnose butterfly fish has a dark spot near its tail that looks like an eye. Its "eyespot" makes predators think they are attacking the head rather than the tail. Why does the longnose butterfly fish have an evolutionary advantage over other fish?

• It is more effective at finding mates than other fish.

• It is more effective at catching shrimp and worms than other fish.

• It is likely to produce more offspring that survive to maturity.

• It uses less energy to swim than other fish.

Within a population, variation increases the likelihood that some individuals will be able to survive if the environment changes. Which of the following causes variations within a population?

• Changes in extinction rates

• Changes in the genetic material

• Changes in the breeding rate

• Changes in the environment

Which of the following is a correct statement about the relationship between natural selection and evolution?

• Natural selection results from evolution.

• Natural selection includes evolution as a part of it.

• Natural selection and evolution are the same thing.

• Natural selection is one mechanism of evolution.