Evolution Pretest

Darwin's studies of finches on the Galapagos Island suggests that the finches' differences in beak structure were most directly due to:

• acquired characteristics in the parent finches

• the size of the island where the finches live.

• mating behaviors of the different finch species

• geographic isolation and adaptations of the finches to different environments 

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which of the following is true about natural selection?

• a population of organisms of the same species are all alike

• organisms posses genetic characteristics that sometimes make no difference on their lives

• organisms choose characteristics that help them adapt to their environment

• only those organisms that survive the environmental change pass on their traits to the next generation 

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NGSS.MS-LS4-4

A large population of bluejays living in the mountains is separated by the formation of a desert.  After millions of years, the populations of bluejays would most likely...

• become exstinct

• diverge into two new species 

• evolve into cats

• become two very small populations of the same species. 

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

The diagram shows a comparison of base sequences in the DNA of some organisms to those of a human.  According to this diagram, humans and gorillas last shared a common ancestor how many million of years?

• 5 million years ago

• 8 million years ago

• 15 million years ago

• the present 

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which of the following is a key piece of evidence for human evolution?

• Ancient cave paintings

• Stone tools

• Fossilised human bones

• Old maps

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which of the following is NOT a unique trait that evolved in humans?

• Bipedalism

• A large cranium

• Canine Teeth

• Use of tools

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Humans evolved from chimpanzees

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Humans did not evolve from chimpanzees, but rather share a common ancestor with them. Therefore, the statement is False.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which of the following correctly summarizes the physical changes that early humans went through over the past million years or so?

• Brain size increased as jaw size decreased

• Brain size decreased as jaw size increased

• Bipedalism increased as use of tools increased

• Bipedalism decreased as the use of tools increased

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The diagram below represent stages in the embryonic development of four organisms.  The similarities in embryonic development shown in the diagram suggests that these oranisms 

• all undergo external development

• have adaptations for the same enviroment

• are all members of the same species

• may have evolved from a common ancestor 

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

Characteristics of a species that make its members better able to live and reproduce in their environment are known as

• abiotic factors

• biotic factors

• homologous structures

• favorable adaptations. 

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NGSS.MS-LS4-4