Common Ancestor

Based on the diagram, what letter represents the common ancestor shared by Pterosaurs and Birds

• A

• B

• C

• D

• E

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What does this diagram show?

• 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.

• 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.

• The Sumatran tiger, African elephant, and Norway rat are not related and come from separate lines of evolutionary history.

• All three species share a common ancestor and are equally related to each other.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Whales, which live in the water, have hips. These structures are important for carrying the weight of animals that walk on land. Finding this body part in animals that don’t walk on land is best explained how?

• Whales have evolved this structure because it might be useful in the future.

• Whales are able to interbreed with other animals that have hips.

• Whales have a diet that includes other animals that have this structure.

• Whales share a common ancestor with animals that walk on land.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

In the front limb diagram, what does the shared structures indicate about the evolutionary relationships among the organisms?

• They are not related because they use them for different purposes.

• They have evolved from a common ancestor.

• There is no way of knowing if these organisms are related just by looking at their bones.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The embryos of two different organisms are observed to have similar features. What is the most reasonable conclusion that can be drawn from this observation?

• The organisms will share these same features as adults.

• These organisms will have the same role in the same habitat.

• These organisms will take the same amount of time to develop.

• These organisms are related by a shared common ancestor.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

This fossil snake and this living rat both have a structure in their skull called the quadrate bone. What best explains why both species have a quadrate bone?

• The snake and rat are different species, so they must not be related. They inherited the quadrate bone structure from separate ancestor populations.

• All species have their own specific body structures, so it is a coincidence that the snake and rat each happen to have the quadrate bone structure.

• The snake and rat both share the same ancestor population that had a quadrate bone. They inherited this structure from the ancestor population.

• It is impossible to say. Fossils are very old; therefore, we cannot make observations of the snake’s ancestors, and we cannot explain its body structures.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Humans, birds, whales, and lizards all have similar arm bones. What is the reason for this?

• They may have a common ancestor.

• They live in similar environments.

• Function is the same in all animals.

• All organisms resemble humans.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which organism is more closely related to the lizard?

• hagfish

• chimp

• perch

• salamander

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Structures that are inherited from a common ancestor are homologous.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Identify the Common Ancestors of a Fruit Fly an Earthworm.

Answer explanation

To find the Common Ancestors, follow the lines from the organisms down the cladogram until the lines meet. Choose every point the lines meet until you get to the bottom of the cladogram.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3