Taxonomy & Evolution Review

Having a standard taxonomic system benefits the scientific community by allowing scientists

from all over the world to do which of the following?

• Have a common system for the classification of locations containing fossils

• Use a similar system to classify the impact of removing species from ecosystems

• Have a common understanding in the classification of organisms

• Understand how other scientists classify predator–prey relationships

Some organisms have genes that improve their ability to survive and reproduce. If the genes

also help their offspring survive and reproduce, then which of the following will most likely

increase?

• The frequency of the genes in one individual

• The frequency of the genes in the population

• The number of genes in one chromosome

• The number of genes in the species

The concept of gene flow is demonstrated when a cow is driven off from its herd, joins

another herd, and reproduces. When the cow contributes to the gene pool of the new herd,

which of these most likely increases?

• Natural selection

• Genetic variation

• Environmental fitness

• Reproductive mutations

Scientists can determine relatedness among organisms by comparing partial amino acid

sequences. The table shows four partial amino acid sequences from four organisms.Which organism is the LEAST related to the other three organisms?

• Organism 1

• Organism 2

• Organism 3

• Organism 4

A student used a microscope to study four members of the phylum Ciliophora. Members of

this phylum move when propelled by hundreds of tiny cilia.Although these organisms belong to the same phylum, they are classified as different —

• families

• species

• kingdoms

• orders

The diagram shows light- and dark-colored beetles that live on a tree.Which result is most likely to occur to the beetle population due to predation over time?

• The number of light-colored beetles in the population will increase.

• There will be more dark-colored beetles than light-colored beetles.

• The number of light-colored beetles will decrease.

• The dark-colored beetles will move to a different type of tree.

The relationships among different orders of millipedes are shown in the cladogram.Based on this cladogram, which statement best describes relationships among millipede

orders?

• Stemmiulida is more closely related to Merocheta than Penicillata is to Merocheta.

• Spirostreptida is more closely related to Glomerida than Sphaerotheriida is to Glomerida.

• Polyzoniida is more closely related to Glomeridesmida than Sphaerotheriida is to

  Glomeridesmida.

• Merocheta is more closely related to Glomeridesmida than Glomerida is to

  Glomeridesmida.

A prey population consists of individuals with a variety of running speeds. The adaptation that allows some of these animals to run fast would be an example of natural selection if it helps them —

• survive and undergo mutations in their DNA

• lower the mortality rates of the population

• produce offspring that run at average speeds

• reproduce and increase the frequency of their genes in the population

The concept of gene flow is demonstrated when a cow is driven off from its herd, joins

another herd, and reproduces. When the cow contributes to the gene pool of the new herd,

which of these most likely increases?

• Natural selection

• Genetic variation

• Environmental fitness

• Reproductive mutations

Why do we use the system of taxonomy for classifying organisms?

• to classify animals based on their fur color

• to organize organisms based on their ability to reproduce

• classify organisms based on their height

• to avoid confusion and have the same name for an animal