Evolution & Ecology

Humans and chimpanzees share a common ancestor that lived in the distant past.

Based on this information, which of the following statements is most likely true?

• Humans and chimpanzees have shared anatomical features that they inherited from their common ancestor.

• The common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees was a chimpanzee.

• Humans and chimpanzees are not evolutionarily related because their common ancestor existed too far in the past.

Which of the following methods would be best for determining the evolutionary relationships among a group of species?

• comparing only the embryological features of the species

• examining each species’ lineage in the fossil record individually without comparing the lineages to each other

• comparing the DNA sequences and anatomical features of the species

Which of the following best describes how molecular data can provide evidence of evolutionary relationships?

• Species with fewer similarities in their nucleotide sequences are likely more closely related.

• Species with more similarities in their DNA sequences are likely more closely related.

• Species with more similarities in their amino acid sequences are likely less closely related.

A scientist claims that cheetahs are more closely related to wolves than to sharks because, unlike sharks, both cheetahs and wolves have fur, four-chambered hearts, and specialized teeth.

Which of the following types of evidence is the scientist’s claim based on?

• molecular evidence

• embryological evidence

•  anatomical evidence

• fossil evidence

Which of the following methods would be best for determining the evolutionary relationships among a group of species?

• comparing only the anatomical features of the species

• examining each species’ lineage in the fossil record individually without comparing the lineages to each other

• comparing the embryological anatomy and DNA sequences of the species

The following diagram shows three tetrapods: a salamander, a frog, and a lizard.

Which of the following statements best supports the claim that salamanders are more closely related to frogs than to lizards?

• Salamanders and lizards use their hind legs to walk, and frogs use their hind legs to jump.

• Salamanders and frogs have moist skin, while lizards have dry scales.

• Salamanders and frogs have four limbs, and so do lizards.

The evolutionary tree below shows relationships among multiple eukaryotes. Certain traits are labeled on the lineage in which they evolved.

Based on the tree, which group of organisms most likely has egg shells?

• reptiles

• fish

• primates

• amphibians

Comparing the bones pictured in this diagram can provide evidence to support which of the following conclusions?

• The humerus bone evolved separately in many different lines of animals.

• The size and position of various bones indicates how highly evolved an animal is.

• Fossil evidence of bones provides the strongest evidence for evolution.

• Humans, lions, and birds evolved from a common ancestor.

Which of the following is not a line of evidence supported by empirical evidence?

• How similar DNA is among organisms

•  Length of the organism's life

• Where fossils are found

• How similar the organisms were as embryos

Natural selection occurs when which of the following conditions are met?

• Individual organisms depend on each other to obtain available resources

• Habitat and nutrient resources in an area are plentiful over a long period of time

• The conditions in an ecosystem support a wide range of living organisms

• Variations between individual organisms lead to differential survival chances