Common Ancestors

Based on the diagram, the Brown Bear shares a more recent common ancestor with ____.

• Polar bear

• American black bear

• Asian Black Bear

• Sun Bear

• Panda Bear

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Based on the diagram, the salamander shares a more recent common ancestor with _____ because they have the most similarities.

• fish

• tortoise

• chicken

• human

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NGSS.MS-LS4-3

Which animal living today is LEAST closely related to dinosaurs?

• birds

• crocodilians

• lizards and snakes

• dinosaurs

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

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

• A

• B

• C

• D

• E

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The diagram provided is a phylogenetic tree. It shows how groups of organisms are related through a shared evolutionary history. The fossil's remains of a creature that is the common ancestor of amphibians, primates, rodents, crocodiles, and birds is discovered. This fossil represents an organism represented by which labeled location on the diagram?

• A

• B

• C

• D

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Evolutionary theory predicts that related organisms will share similarities that are derived from common ancestors. Which of the following CANNOT be concluded from the fossil evidence?

• The chronological sequence in which different organisms first appeared.

• Evidence of every species that has ever existed

• Links between groups leading to various modern species

• Relation through common descent from older organisms

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NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Lily is comparing the bones of the forelimbs (wing or arm) of three animals. An illustration of the three is shown. Even though birds and bats both have wings, the skeletal structure is more similar between bats and humans. What is the most reasonable conclusion that can be drawn from these observations?

• Birds and bats are closely related to each other, while humans are unrelated to both.

• The common ancestor of birds and bats must have had wings and flown.

• Humans live in habitats very different from the habitats of both birds and bats.

• Humans and bats share a closer evolutionary history with each other than with birds.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The phylogenetic tree is one tool used to show how varying species may have evolved over time. A phylogenetic tree diagram is provided. A fossil that shares a common ancestor with birds and crocodiles, but not primates, would belong in which labeled location on the diagram?

• A

• B

• C

• D

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Anatomical similarities and differences between various organisms allow us to reconstruct and infer evolutionary history and descent. The bones of the forelimbs (wing or arm) of three animals are shown in the illustration. Which of the following is NOT a reasonable conclusion that can be drawn from the similarities and differences found in this illustration?

• Birds, bats, and humans have bones and structures that allow them to function.

• Different structures allow for different functions.

• Humans live in habitats that are very different from that of birds and bats.

• Humans and bats share a closer evolutionary history with each other than with birds.

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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 would lead us to predict what finding in the fossil record?

• Hips in ancient animals that always lived in water

• Land-dwelling animals that don't have hips

• A form of whale that lacked this structure

• An ancestor of whales that walked on land

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2