Evolution

Lucy is the nickname given to the partial fossil skeleton of a female Australopithecus afarensis discovered in Ethiopia in 1974. A. afarensis had long, strong arms with curved fingers, an ape-like face, and a braincase between 400-500 cubic centimeters. Dated to approximately 3 million years ago, Lucy's skeleton shows evidence of bipedal (upright) locomotion. Which statement best describes the importance of Lucy to scientists' understanding of hominid evolution?

• A. Lucy provides evidence that bipedalism evolved before brain size increased.
• B. Lucy provides evidence that bipedalism evolved after arm strength decreased.
• C. Lucy provides evidence that bipedalism evolved at the same time brain size decreased.
• D. Lucy provides evidence that bipedalism evolved at the same time arm strength
• increased.

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Studies of the basic mechanisms of co-evolution suggest that changes in one species may sometimes lead to changes in another species. Which of these is NOT an example of co-evolution?

• A. butterflies changing migration patterns due to a rapid change in weather conditions
• B. parasites developing new ways of invasion when the host develops resistance to them
• C. hummingbirds developing longer beaks when the plants they use for nectar develop deeper flowers
• D. herbivores developing stronger chewing mechanisms when the grasses they feed on become thicker

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Which statement is NOT an example of biogeographical evidence used to support the theory of evolution?

• A. Marsupial mammal species are found almost exclusively on the island of Australia.
• B. Identical extinct plant species' fossils have been found in both Africa and South America.
• C. Many bird species undertake seasonal migration from North America to Central America.
• D. Very different species inhabit the Arctic and the Antarctic regions, despite similar climates.

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A group of scientists examine the skeletal evidence below. What conclusion can be drawn from the diagram to support the theory of evolution?

• A. Gorillas remained quadrepedal to move around the canopies of trees while man became bipedal to live in grasslands to hunt and carry food.
• B. Man evolved from gorillas which evolved from chimpanzees.
• C. Orangutans have a larger jaw size than chimpanzees allowing them to have a more carnivorous diet.
• D. Gibbons are most closely related to man because of similarities in their skeletal structure.

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The diagram below shows a segment of the amino acid sequence from the hemoglobin protein from several organisms. What conclusion can you draw from the information in the chart?

• A. The gorilla and human are the most closely related organisms with the fewest differences in their amino acid sequences.
• B. The monkey and the gorilla are the most closely related organisms with the fewest differences in their amino acid sequences.
• C. The human and horse are the most distantly related organisms with the greatest differences in their amino acid sequences.
• D. The horse and kangaroo are the most distantly related organisms with the greatest differences in their amino acid sequences.
• Option 8

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The chart shows the number of amino acid differences in hemoglobin proteins between humans and several organisms. Which organism on the chart shares its most recent ancestor with humans?

• A. dog
• B. mouse
• C. frog
• D. bird

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"Lucy" is a fossil of the hominid species Australopithecus afarensis. Scientists believe Lucy walked upright and may be an ancestor of the Homo species. Which activity would most likely provide the best direct information that Lucy is an ancestor to later hominid species?

• A. comparing Lucy's bone structure to that of other hominid species
• B. determining the age of Lucy's bones using radioactive dating methods
• C. comparing Lucy's limb structure to those of other vertebrate species
• D. determining if Lucy lived in large groups of other hominid species or lived independently

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The drawings below show two fossil whale skulls and a modern whale skull. Which statement best explains how these skulls provide evidence for the theory of evolution?

• A. Isolated organisms grow slowly.
• B. Species change gradually over time.
• C. Only the largest organisms survive.
• D. Traits are acquired by species that swim.

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In 1666, Nicholas Steno determined that triangular stones were fossilized teeth from sharks that lived long ago. By comparing the fossilized teeth with those of a modern shark, which could Steno conclude?

• A. Sharks used to live on land.
• B. Sharks used to live in warmer waters than they do today.
• C. Sharks that lived in the past were similar to sharks that live today.
• D. Shark behavior used to be radically different than shark behavior today.

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Which piece of evidence best supports the scientific theory of evolution?

• A. Species with structures that carry out similar functions share a common ancestor.
• B. Species living in similar types of island habitats share a common ancestor.
• C. Species that resemble similar types of fossils share a common ancestor.
• D. Species that have similar DNA sequences share a common ancestor

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