Evidence of Evolution

In a biology class, Ava and Nora were discussing about different structures in organisms. Ava suggested similar structures with different functions, like the wings of bats and the arms of humans, show that organisms share a common ancestry. Nora agreed and said this concept is known as what?

• vestigial structures

• homologous structures

• adaptive radiation

• fossil

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Aria, Ava, and Maya found a fossil during their field trip. How does this fossil provide evidence that evolution has happened on Earth?

• The fossil shows how the sizes of certain animals has changed drastically over millions of years

• The fossil shows that some species have gone extinct

• The fossil shows how life forms present today are different than those from the past

• The fossil, found in different sedimentary rock layers, provides evidence for how the environment has changed over time

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Mia, Ethan, and Daniel are studying the embryonic stages of two different species of frogs.

Which of the following can be determined by observing the embryos shown in their textbook diagrams?

• The frogs share a common ancestry.

• The frogs belong to the same genus.

• The frogs are native to the same geographic areas.

• The frogs will grow into anatomically similar adults.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

Abigail, Aiden, and Liam were studying biology and noticed that humans, birds, whales, and lizards all have similar arm bones. They started discussing the reason for this. What conclusion did they likely reach?

• The function of these bones is the same in all animals

• They live in similar environments

• They have a common ancestor

• All organisms resemble humans

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

James, Luna, and Abigail are studying biology and they come across the term 'Vestigial structures'. How would you explain this term to them?

• Structures that perform a similar function but are not similar in origin

• Remnants of once-important structures that have slowly lost all or most of their function, like the appendix in humans

• Features found in different organisms that share structural similarities but may have very different functions

• Preserved remains of an organism

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NGSS.HS-LS4-5

Scarlett, Kai, and Maya are building a sandcastle. They are adding layers of sand one on top of the other. Which layer of the sandcastle is the youngest?

• The first layer

• The second layer

• The third layer

• The fourth layer

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NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

Nora observed different types of birds in her backyard over several years. She noticed that certain species of birds were no longer present, while new species had started appearing. What is this phenomenon called?

• Embryonic 

• Natural selection 

• Mimicry 

• Evolution 

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NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Charlotte found a bird with wings that have the same function as a bat's wings, but are structurally different. What is this an example of?

• Homologous structure

• Analogous structure

• Vestigial organs

• Functional adaption

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

James, Elijah, and Grace are studying the embryos of various organisms like chickens, frogs, and humans. They notice similarities in the development stages of these embryos. This study, which could indicate a common ancestor, is known as what?

• natural selection

• embryology

• speciation

• evolution

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

Avery, William, and Scarlett are studying the skeleton of a whale in their biology class. They notice some bones in the whale's hind region. Which statement best describes these bones?

• William suggests that the bones are analogous structures to the fins of living fish.

• Avery believes that the bones are vestigial structures that had a function in an ancestor.

• Scarlett thinks that the bones are homologous structures to the wings of butterflies.

• They all consider the possibility that the bones are fossil structures from an extinct ancestor.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2