Concepts of Biology Chapter 12: Evolution & the Diversity of Life Test

Why is there a need for a comprehensive classification system in biology?

• A) To confuse students with complex terminology.
• B) To make it difficult for scientists to communicate.
• C) To organize and understand the vast diversity of life on Earth.
• D) To limit scientific exploration and discovery.

Which of the following is NOT one of the hierarchical levels in the Linnaean taxonomic classification system?

• A) Genus
• B) Romaine
• C) Phylum
• D) Order

What is binomial nomenclature?

• A) A method for classifying organisms based on their habitat.
• B) A system for naming species using two words: genus and species.
• C) A technique for identifying organisms using DNA analysis.
• D) A process for creating new scientific names for discovered species

What does it mean for a phylogenetic tree to be rooted?

• A) It has many branches.
• B) It includes only extinct species.
• C) It has a single ancestral taxon at the base.
• D) It is drawn upside down.

Which of the following is a limitation of phylogenetic trees?

• A) They accurately reflect the similarity of closely related organisms.
• B) They represent the duration between evolutionary events.
• C) They show branch lengths corresponding to time passed.
• D) They don't reflect adaptations to similar environments.

What do branch points represent in a phylogenetic tree?

• A) Locations where organisms evolved independently.
• B) Points where species became extinct.
• C) Where lineages diverged into distinct new ones.
• D) Where species merged into a common ancestor.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What often leads to updates in taxonomic classifications?

• A) Changes in climate.
• B) Advances in technology, such as genetic analysis.
• C) Political pressure.
• D) Personal preferences of taxonomists.

What do sister taxa share in a phylogenetic tree?

• A) They share no common ancestor.
• B) They evolved from each other.
• C) They share a common ancestor but didn't evolve from one another.
• D) They represent the same species.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What do major structural differences in molecules such as ribosomes and membranes reflect?

• A) Differences in habitat.
• B) Fundamental divisions in life between the three domains.
• C) The age of the organism.
• D) Evolutionary convergence.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What do branch lengths on a phylogenetic tree represent?

• A) Time passed.
• B) The number of species in a lineage.
• C) The number of evolutionary changes.
• D) The size of the organisms.