Amplify Evolutionary History Chapter 2

What body structure did the second scientist use to determine that the first scientist had misidentified the fossil?

• The second scientist looked at the fossil’s front legs and determined that the animal probably walked on its front legs, which cats don’t do.

• The second scientist looked at the fossil’s hind legs and determined that the animal probably walked on its hind legs, which cats don’t do.

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The Whale and Human are descendants of a common ancestor population.

• True

• False

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Species inherit body structures from ___________.

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If two living species have some of the same body structures, this means that they are __________ of a common ancestor population.

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A shared structure is

• a body structure in two or more species that features the same parts (for example, the same bones)

• sharing a common ancestor population

• a group of the same type of organism living in the same area

• an organism’s arm, leg, or wing

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What is the significance of the Cambrian Explosion in the fossil record?

• It marks the extinction of the dinosaurs.

• It represents a period of rapid evolutionary diversification.

• It indicates the first appearance of human ancestors.

• It shows the transition from aquatic to terrestrial life.

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The evidence "The Mystery Fossil was pregnant. If it survived, it would have had a live birth" refutes:

• Claim 1: The Mystery Fossil belongs with the whales, in the Whale (Cetacea) exhibit.

• Claim 2: The Mystery Fossil belongs with the wolves, in the Carnivore (Carnivora) exhibit.

• Claim 3: The Mystery Fossil belongs with the crocodiles, in the Reptile (Reptilia) exhibit.

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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.

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This fossil bird and this living salamander both have tails. However, they have different tail structures. The bird has a very short tail made of just one bone that helps it have a light skeleton for flying. The salamander has a long tail with many bones that helps it balance while it runs. What most likely explains why both the bird and salamander have tails and why the tails are different?

• The salamander and bird both inherited tails from a shared ancestor population, but this population separated into different environments. In each environment, different types of tails evolved, which helped the populations survive.

• It is impossible to explain the body structures of different species. The way that structures change over time is very complex, and no one has ever observed these changes occurring.

• The bird and salamander are different species, so they do not share an ancestor population. These species had separate ancestor populations, and each evolved a tail that helps it survive in its environment.  

• All species have their own specific body structures, so it is a coincidence that the bird and salamander happen to have different types of tails.

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This bandicoot, this sea lion, and this zebra have similarities and differences in their body structures. What does the information about these structures tell you about the ancestors of these species?

• Sea lions and zebras share the same ancestor population, but they must not share an ancestor with bandicoots because sea lions and zebras do not have a pouch for their babies.

• None share an ancestor population because different species cannot share an ancestor population. It is a coincidence that these species have some of the same body structures.

• All three species share an ancestor population, but sea lions and zebras share a more recent ancestor population. This is why neither shares the pouch structure for their babies.

• We cannot make observations of ancestor populations from the past. It is impossible to explain ancestors with only the information about the body structures of different species.

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