Unit 7: Evolutionary History Review

1. What does this diagram show?

• A. All three species share a common ancestor, but the African elephant and Sumatran tiger are more closely related to each other than they are to the Norway rat.
• B. All three species share a common ancestor, but the Sumatran tiger and Norway rat are more closely related to each other than they are to the African elephant.
• C. The Sumatran tiger, African elephant, and Norway rat are not related and come from separate lines of evolutionary history.
• D. All three species share a common ancestor and are equally related to each other.

2. Comparing the embryos of different animals can show relationships that can’t be seen when comparing the fully formed animals. Why is this the case?

• A. Each embryo is unique; even embryos of animals of the same species are different in early development.
• B. When observing embryos, microscopes can be used to reveal more detail.
• C. Embryos can have parts that are no longer there in the fully formed animals.
• D. Fully formed animals are sometimes missing limbs or other body parts because of amputations

3. This living jumping spider and this fossil eurypterid both have body structures called chelicerae. Chelicerae are a body structure used for eating. What best explains why both species have chelicerae?

• A. It is impossible to say. Fossils are very old; therefore, we cannot make observations of the eurypterid’s ancestors, and we cannot explain its body structures.
• B. The jumping spider and eurypterid are different species, so they must not share an ancestor population. They inherited chelicerae from separate ancestor populations.
• C. All species have their own specific body structures, so it is a coincidence that this jumping spider and eurypterid each happen to have a chelicerae structure.
• D. The jumping spider and eurypterid both share the same ancestor population that had chelicerae. They inherited this structure from the ancestor population.

4. This living manta ray and this fossil shark both have a skeleton made of cartilage (which is softer than bone). What best explains why both species have a skeleton like this?

• A. The manta ray and shark are different species, so they must not share an ancestor population. They inherited cartilage skeletons from separate ancestor populations.
• B. The manta ray and shark both share the same ancestor population that had a cartilage skeleton. They inherited this structure from the ancestor population.
• C. All species have their own specific body structures, so it is a coincidence that the manta ray and shark each happen to have a cartilage skeleton structure.
• D. It is impossible to say. Fossils are very old; therefore, we cannot make observations of the shark’s ancestors, and we cannot explain its body structures.

5. What does the fossil record show us?

• A. The animals that ever existed on earth but are now extinct.
• B. The existence, change of life forms, diversity, and extinctions throughout the history of life on Earth
• C. How life forms changed throughout Earths history.
• D. It shows us all the different rock layers, how and when they formed.

6. The illustration compares the early and late development of embryos of a fish, a pig, and a human. What feature is present at the early development stage but present in only one animal at the late development stage?

• A. Eye
• B. Tail
• C. Gill Slits
• D. Spine

7.) The diagram provided here is a phylogenetic tree. It shows how groups of organisms are related through a shared evolutionary history. This tree shows traits that some of these vertebrates have evolved over time. Which letter represents body hair?

• A
• B
• C
• D

8. What is an index fossil?

• A. A fossil around for a short amount of geological time and is used for relative dating.
• B. A rare fossil that has never before been seen.
• C. A fossil that you can find anywhere on Earth and has been around forever like shark teeth.
• D. All dinosaur fossils are index fossils

9. Chimpanzees have many similarities to New World monkeys, but lack a tail. Evidence for an ancestral relationship between chimpanzees and New World monkeys comes from what observation of the embryonic development of these animals?

• A. At an early stage of development, chimpanzee embryos have tails.
• B. While their embryos start out similar in size, chimpanzees grow much larger.
• C. The tail of the embryo of a New World monkey is very small.
• D. The embryos of both animals develop in a period of a several months.

10. Which rock is older?

• A.
• B.
• C.
• D.