Quiz 6

A bird's wing and a dragonfly's wing both have the same function, but their underlying structures are very different. These structures are a result of...

• Speciation

• Divergent Evolution

• Convergent Evolution

• Common Ancestry

Which statement about the members of a population that live long enough to reproduce is consistent with the theory of natural selection?

• They are the ones that are best adapted to survive in their environment

• They transmit characteristics acquired by use and disuse to their offspring

• They will pass on unfavorable changes in the species

• They tend to produce fewer offspring than others in the population

The limbs of several organisms are shown in the illustrations provided.

Scientists sometimes compare the limbs of these organisms to look for evidence of common ancestry. 

These limbs provide evidence of common ancestry because they...

• are parts of mammals

• are the same size

• perform the same function

• have the same basic structure

A genetic mutation causes a snake to have brown skin. After many generations, most of the snake population has the brown skin mutation.

Which of the following most likely caused this change?

• Snakes with the brown skin mutation are able to survive and reproduce more successfully than snakes without it.

• The same mutation occurred in other snakes in response to environmental conditions.

• The other snakes changed their colors to mimic the brown snake.

• All the snakes in the area were infected with the mutation.

In their early embryonic stages, fish, birds, and reptiles look very similar.

As these embryos develop, cell differentiation and growth make the differences between the organisms obvious.  What conclusion can be reached from studying the similarities between the embryos during their early stages?

• Fish, birds, and reptiles all arose from a common ancient ancestor.

• The embryos of fish, birds, and reptiles become more curved in shape as they develop.

• Fish, birds, and reptiles can combine and evolve into a new species.

• The embryos of fish, birds, and reptiles are present in all organisms.

This is the scientist who developed the modern Theory of Evolution: 

• Charles Darwin

• Jean Baptiste Lamarck

• Albert Einstein

• Neil deGrasse TysonC

Genetic variation can aid in the survival of species when the environment changes.

Which of the following is the best example of an organism with a genetic variation that could improve survival chances over time?

• A mouse that has learned to avoid mousetraps

• A wasp that is infected with parasites

• An ant that is resistant to pesticide

• A cactus that has no spines

Horseshoe crabs are one of the world's oldest species and are estimated to be older than dinosaurs, at least  300 million years old. Despite changes in land masses and oceans during Earth's history, horseshoe crabs have survived, and they look the same today as they did millions of years ago.

Horseshoe crabs are an example of evolutionary stasis, an extended period of geologic time during which a species shows little or no change. What is the greatest effect of evolutionary stasis of the horseshoe crab on the theory of evolution?

• Evolutionary stasis of the horseshoe crab strongly supports the theory of evolution in that organisms withstand changes in their environment.

• Evolutionary stasis of the horseshoe crab strongly supports the theory of evolution in that horseshoe crabs evolved from modern day crabs.

• Evolutionary stasis of the horseshoe crab challenges the theory of evolution in that no fossils of horseshoe crabs have been discovered.

• Evolutionary stasis of the horseshoe crab supports the theory of evolution in that organisms that are well adapted to their environment experience little pressure to change.

A cladogram is shown. All the animals to the right of the hagfish would have the common characteristic of.

• Lungs

• Jaws

• Nails or Claws

• All of these are correct

In a population of beetles, the body colors of individual beetles range from light to dark. The graph shows the distribution of body colors in the current population.

A species of ivy invades the beetles’ current habitat and becomes the dominant form of vegetation. The color of the ivy’s leaves is similar to the beetles’ average color.

Considering selective pressure on the beetles from predatory birds, which type of natural selection will most likely occur in this situation?

• Stabilizing

• Disruptive

• Directional toward dark body color

• Directional toward light body color