Evolution of Life on Earth Quiz

What was the significance of the Cambrian explosion to the evolution of life on Earth?

• rapid diversification

• mass extinction

• eruption of multiple volcanoes

• no fossils survived and little is known

Natural selection is the process by which

• species adapt to their environment

• organisms with beneficial traits reproduce more than others

• the strongest animals survive

• random mutations occur in organisms

While the shark and dolphin are similar in appearance, they evolved independently. This is an example of

• Cladistics

• Phonetics

• convergent evolution

• divergent evolution

What term is used to describe a diagram that illustrates the evolutionary relationships between different species?

A crucial argument made by promoters of biodiversity conservation is that there are many undiscovered ________ that have potential value to humans and that are primarily located in areas being subjected to habitat destruction.

• rocks

• waterfalls

• habitats

• species

The extinction of species

• is a problem limited to the tropics

• has been accelerated by the activities of people

• is a problem only where topsoil and groundwater are limited

• no longer occurs because humans have found ways to prevent the occurrence

Echinoderms, like starfish, are the only group that shows both of the following characteristics.

• invertebrates and protostome

• invertebrates and deuterostome

• vertebrate and protostome

• vertebrate and deuterostome

Refer to the illustration above. The organism labeled “B” in the diagram exhibits which type of symmetry?

• Exhibits radial symmetry

• Is bilaterally symmetrical

• is asymmetrical

• has reverse symmetry

Sponges, Cnidarians, and Ctenophores: Sponges

• Are nonsymmetrical

• Lack of organization into tissues and organs

• possess cells that are capable of recognizing other sponges

• all of the above

Many cnidarians have two distinct life stages called

• the gametophyte and the sporophyte

• egg and adult

• the polyp and the medusa

• egg and larva