LS4.2 Common Ancestor TCAP Review

Based on the data in the table, which two species are most closely related?

• Crocodile and Bird

• Frog and Crocodile

• Tuna and Whale

• Whale and Shark

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

How does comparing the anatomies of living species with those from the fossil record help biologists to understand life on Earth better?

• It helps reconstruct the evolutionary history of various species

• It helps determine the habitat most suitable for various species.

• It helps predict the time when various species will become extinct.

• It helps modify various species for future environmental conditions.

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What can be inferred about the Archaeopteryx?

• The Archaeopteryx may have been an ancestor of modern-day birds.

• The Archaeopteryx could not fly very high.

• The Archaeopteryx was an omnivorous animal.

• The Archaeopteryx used to build its nest in trees.

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Scientists believe that the Archaeopteryx is an ancestor of modern-day birds. How can the relationship between the Archaeopteryx and modern-day birds be established?

• by studying the geologic conditions modern-day birds experience and the geologic conditions that existed during the time that the Archaeopteryx lived on Earth

• by studying the fossils of modern-day birds and the animals that lived at the same time as the Archaeopteryx

• by studying the anatomical similarities between modern-day birds and the fossils of the Archaeopteryx

• by studying the climatic conditions modern-day birds experience and the climatic conditions that existed during the time that the Archaeopteryx lived on Earth

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The image shows the skeletal structures of a human arm and whale flipper. Comparing the images, a student infers that both humans and whales evolved from a common ancestor. What evidence does the image provide to support the student’s conclusion?

• The shape of bones in both skeletal structures is similar.

• The length of bones in both skeletal structures is the same.

• The function of bones in both skeletal structures is the same.

• The arrangement of bones in both skeletal structures is similar.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which animals listed are the most alike?

• snail, snake, and cat

• cat, parrot, and rhinoceros

• rhinoceros, parrot, and cockroach

• bear, cat, and prawn

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Use the image that shows the forelimbs of four different animals to answer the question. The image shows labeled bones (humerus, radius, ulna, carpals, metacarpals, phalanges) in the forelimbs of a human, cat, whale, and bat. How can the similarities among the animals best be described?

• homologous structures

• analogous structures

• embryological structures

• vestigial structures

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What evolutionary relationship do these organisms share?

• They originated in the same geographical region.

• They have similar methods of locomotion.

• They have similar feeding methods.

• They share a common ancestry.

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NGSS.MS-LS4-2

A scientist organizes a collection of four existing lizards into an evolutionary tree to show changes over time from a fossil of an extinct lizard. Which lizards can the scientist argue are most closely related?

• lizards 1 and 4

• lizards 1 and 2

• lizards 2 and 3

• lizards 2 and 4

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Which statement accurately describes a relationship between the organisms shown in the cladogram?

• Snakes are most closely related to crocodiles.

• Birds are most closely related to dinosaurs.

• Large mammals have evolved from turtles.

• Turtles have evolved from crocodiles.

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