Evolution Regents Mini Quiz

Which diagram below indicates that species D is more closely related to C than it is to either A or B?

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Some orders of land and marine animals are closely related. Molecular data recently collected from dolphins, camels, deer, and hippopotamuses have shown that hippopotamuses are the closest living relatives of dolphins.

Which cladogram models this evolutionary relationship?

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

In the photograph , two fish are displaying a behavior commonly observed among pairs of rabbitfish. While one has its head down feeding on coral, the other remains upright, alert for predators.

This behavior continues to be present in the rabbitfish population because

• this behavior was learned by observing other fish species

• both fish could not fit into the small spaces in the coral

• this behavior increases their chance of survival

• the fish species needed to become alert to survive

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Base your answer to the question on the information and diagram below and on your knowledge of biology. The diagram represents the evolutionary relationships among many organisms.

Three species with the most similar traits are most likely

• F, I , G

• D, H, J

• B, D, G

• F, A, J

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Base your answers to the questions on the diagram that shows variations in the beaks of finches in the Galapagos Islands and on your knowledge of biology.

Which row correctly pairs a finch species with its primary nutritional role and bill type?

• cactus finch --> probing bill--> carnivore

• medium ground finch --> grasping bill --> herbivore

• large tree finch --> crushing bill --> herbivore

• warbler finch --> probing bill --> carnivore

Base your answer to the question on the information below and on your knowledge of biology.

Unique populations of giant tortoises live in the Galapagos Islands. This is the same group of islands where Darwin studied his famous finches. It is thought that the original ancestors of today’s giant tortoises came from the mainland of South America. These animals left and drifted in the ocean to the islands where they began to live, reproduce, and evolve. Each of the islands has a different habitat. Each species varies in shell shape and body structure. Information about two of these species of giant tortoises and their habitats is found in the table below.

When the saddle-backed tortoises extend their long necks out of the shell, they are unprotected from attack. Scientists hypothesize that during the evolution of this tortoise, they had few predators. Which statement best supports this hypothesis?

• Competition between the predators and the tortoises would have resulted in a greater number of long necked tortoises.

• The number of predators was greater than the number of tortoises.

• Saddle-backed tortoises were not a part of the food chain.

• Predators would have killed the tortoises with long necks, leaving more tortoises with shorter necks.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-4