Evolution EOC Questions

Darwin's observations of finches on the Galapagos Islands is a classic example used in the study of evolution. Through his observations, Darwin wondered about the changes in shape of bird beaks from island to island. One type of finch he called the cactus finch had longer, more pointed beaks than other finches he observed who primarily fed off the ground. Beaks of yet another type of finch were thinner and more pointed. What type of support do Darwin’s famous Galapagos Finches offer to the theory of evolution?

• A. comparative embryology

• B. molecular biology

• C. biogeography

• D. fossil records

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The diagram below shows undisturbed sedimentary strata at the bottom of the ocean. The fossils found in layer B resemble the fossils found in layer A. What does this similarity suggest?

• A. That invertebrate fossils are only found in sediments.

• B. That modern forms of life may have evolved from earlier forms of life.

• C. The fossils formed in layer B were formed before the fossils found in layer A.

• D. The fossils found in layer A must be more complex than those found in layer B

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The diagram shows different vertebrate embryos. Which conclusion is supported by the diagram?

• A. Pigs evolved from reptiles.

• B. Reptiles evolved from birds.

• C. These organisms occupy the same niche.

• D. These organisms share a common ancestor.

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Which of the following was NOT a part of Darwin's theory of evolution?

• A. the idea that organisms change over time

• B. the idea that organisms share common ancestors

• C. the idea that organisms best adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce

• D. the idea that organisms pass on acquired characteristics during their lifetime to offspring

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The yellow-bellied three-toed skink, a lizard species from Australia, can either lay eggs or give live birth. Skinks living near the mild coastal climates lay eggs, while skinks from the harsh mountain climates are now being observed to give live births. What evidence would future scientists look for to suggest that coastal skinks and mountain skinks have evolved into separate species?

• A. Mountain skinks will migrate to milder climates.

• B. Coastal skinks will give live birth more frequently.

• C. Coastal skinks will no longer mate with mountain skinks.

• D. Mountain skinks will outcompete coastal skinks to extinction.

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Which statement cannot be supported with evidence from fossil records?

• A. Fossils can provide evidence about the behaviors of organisms.

• B. Fossils can provide evidence about the creation of planet Earth.

• C. Fossils can provide evidence about the types of organisms that lived in the past.

• D. Fossils can provide evidence about ancient climates and environmental conditions.

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In order to determine the relationship between fossils, the ages of the fossils need to be determined. Which process will most accurately determine the ages of two similar fossils?

• A. by using seismic waves

• B. by using radioactive dating

• C. by comparing the two fossils to index fossils

• D. by looking at the geographic locations where the fossils were found

The diagram below shows the evolution of whales. Which statement regarding whale evolution is supported by the information in the diagram?

• A. Modern whales have larger bones in the hind legs.

• B. Whales evolved before animals with two pairs of legs.

• C. Ancient whales had larger brains than modern whales.

• D. Whales evolved from animals that had two pairs of legs.

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Charles Darwin traveled on the H.M.S. Beagle for 5 years as a naturalist, and he collected specimens and created sketches from each stop. Darwin's detailed description of the familiar characteristics between island and mainland species led him to conclude that island species evolved from mainland species. What scientific field of study currently supports Charles Darwin's assumptions about those species?

• A. botany

• B. biogeography

• C. herpetology

• D. paleontology

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The table shows information about different kinds of modified leaves. Which statement best explains how the information in the table supports the theory of evolution?

• A. The table provides evidence that some species are more fit than others.

• B. The table provides evidence that a single structure can develop diverse forms.

• C. The table provides evidence that a species has become more diverse over time.

• D. The table provides evidence that plant structures develop from similar embryos.

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