Practice Quiz 3.1 - Diversity of Life

Scientists have found evidence that several million years ago a gene regulating jaw muscles mutated and may have led to the more graceful human jaw we see today. The diagram below shows the skulls of 3 hominid species. Which statement most closely explains the link between jaw size and hominid evolution?

• The jaws of hominids evolved to be smaller and less protruding over time.

• The jaws of hominids evolved to be larger and more protruding over time.

• The jaws of hominids changed over time due to a change in brain size.

• There appears to be no change in the jaws of hominids over time.

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In an evolutionary classification scheme, species within one genus should

• have identical genes.

• not be similar in appearance.

• be more similar to each other than they are to other species outside of that genus.

• be limited to species that can interbreed.

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Humans and chimps are presently classified in the same category as all of the following levels except:

• class

• genus

• kingdom

• order

Which of the following would have the least number of organisms?

• Kingdom

• Class

• Family

• Order

For a research project, you are looking at pond samples to identify different organisms and look at their populations. The table below shows 4 of the organisms that you have found and need to identify. Which of the organisms above would be in Kingdom Plantae?

• 3

• 2

• 1 and 2

• 1 and 3

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Which characteristic of the skulls in the pic shown most impacts the ability of modern humans to develop language and the manufacturing of tools?

• Larger oral cavity.

• Longer arms.

• Decreased teeth size (canines and molars).

• Increased brain cavity size.

A cladogram of 5 species is shown. Based on the cladogram, the ancestral species most likely had:

• a vertebral column.

• a vertebral column and hair.

• sharp teeth and retractable claws.

• an ability to purr.

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The cladogram shows the evolutionary relationships among some mammals, based on homologous structures. Which statement is supported by this cladogram?

• Hippopotamuses are more closely related to cows than to javelinas.

• Toothed whales are more closely related to mouse deer than to hippopotamuses.

• Javelinas and pigs are more closely related than baleen whales and toothed whales.

• Cows and mouse deer are more closely related than javelinas and pigs.

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Some scientists propose that the kingdom Protista should be broken up into several kingdoms. Which of these statements accurately supports this idea?

• Protista evolved before any other kingdom.

• Protists are all very similar and easy to confuse.

• Protista contains genetically diverse organisms that do not fit into the other kingdoms.

• Protists are the simplest eukaryotes, but the most numerous organisms on Earth.

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Which organism on the cladogram is most closely related to the rodents/rabbits?

• Primates

• Sharks

• Birds

• Crocodiles

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