STAAR REVIEW-B.7(A-B)-Evolution

Which discovery would challenge the validity of this cladogram?

• A large aquatic vascular plant about 200 million years old

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

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

• A fossil of a fern more than 450 million years old

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The diagram of the fossil record represents changes in mollusks over millions of years.

How can the pattern of change in this 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 mullusks' shells changed gradually over time. The molusks 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 outcompted the native mollusk species.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The graph shows the number of taxa of reptiles whose fossilized tracks have been found.

Which statement is best supported by these data?

• Competition for food and shelter among reptile species was very low during the Triassic period.

• A great extinction occured during the Jurassic period

• Environmental conditions for speciation were most favorable for reptiles during the Permian period

• Reptiles adapted to a terrestrial environment during the Cretaceous period

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

When multiple transitional fossils are found in many rock layers, they provide evidence of-

• Seasonal variation in the diet of a species

• Gradual change of a species over time

• DNA functioning of the genetic material of an organism

• An unchanging environment

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Genome maps provide the DNA sequence of chromosomes. Some scientists have compared the genome maps of hedgehogs and sloths. What do these genome maps allow the scientists to determine?

• The color patterns of the offspring of each species

• How much the size ranges of the two species differ

• The methods of protein synthesis that each species uses

• How closely related the two species are to each other

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Based on the cladogram the ancestral species most likely had-

• A vertebral column

• A vertebral column and hair

• Sharp teeth and retractable claws

• The abily to purr

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Researchers analyzed a gene of different bat species to determine relatedness. A phylogenetic tree of their results is shown.

Based on the tree, which set of bat species is least related?

• Ptenochirus minor and Megaerops niphanae

• Cynopterus sphinx and Megaerops niphanae

• Chironax melanocephalus and Dyacopterus spadiceus

• Otopteropus cartilagonodus and Ptenochirus jagori

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Scientist can determine relatedness among species by comparing partial amino acid sequences. The table shows four partial sequences from four different organisms.

Which organisms is the LEAST related to the other three?

• Organism 1

• Organism 2

• Organism 3

• Organism 4

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The opossum, which is native to North America, and the Kangaroo, which is native to Australia, are both marsupials.

The fact that both of these mammals incubate their young in a pouch provides evidence that they-

• belong to the same species

• must range great distances to eat

• have very similar skeletal structures

• are descended from a common ancestor

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The limbs of several organisms are shown in the illustration. Scientist sometimes compare the limbs of these organisms to look for evidence of common ancestry.

These limbs provide evidence of common ancestry because they-

• have the same basic structure

• perform the same function

• are the same size

• are parts of mammals

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2