Common Assessment Study Guide

What is the purpose of a dichotomous key?

• to find a common ancestor
• to show the evolution of organisms
• to show relationships between organisms
• to identify organisms

When using a dichotomous key to identify organisms, what do we look at?

• physical features
• weather patterns
• environment
• diet

A dichotomous key for trees is provided. Hikers found a tree that has large brown cones and single sharp needles. What species of tree have the hikers found?

• Juniper
• Pine
• Spruce
• Fir

A dichotomous key for insects is given. To what order does an insect with two pairs of scaly wings belong?

• Coleoptera
• Heteroptera
• Diptera
• Lepidoptera

An illustration and a dichotomous key are given. What is the correct classification for this organism?

• Class Insecta
• Order Amblygygi
• Order Araneae
• Order Scorpiones

What theory proposes that organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce?

• Acquired Characteristics

• Embryology

• Survival of the Smartest

• Natural Selection

The fur of the snowshoe rabbit changes to a lighter color in the winter. This allows the rabbit to blend in with its surroundings. This change is an example of:

• Adaptation

• Extinction

• Competition

• Succession

Due to genetic inheritance, members of a species can be slightly different from another in their traits. This is known as...

• Variation

• Overproduction

• Competition

• Evolution

The finches on the Galapagos island were similar in form except for variations of their beaks. Darwin observed that these variations were useful for:

• Attracting a mate.

• Gathering food.

• Defending territory.

• Building nests.

Where the better adapted organisms survive to pass traits along to offspring.

• Evolution
• Natural Selection
• Extinction
• Artifical Selection