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WorksheetsClassification & Evolution EOC Questions
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 47mins
In the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), implantation of embryos after breeding is delayed. The deer breed in July or August but do not give birth until the following May or June. From summer to late December, the embryo rests in a state of dormancy as a 30-cell blastocyst. In late December or early January, the embryo sends a signal that causes the female to release hormones, allowing the embryo to continue to develop normally. Why is delayed implantation an advantageous adaptation for the European roe deer?
Delayed implantation allows the mother to continue to breed with other males.
Without delayed implantation, the females would not be able to carry a pregnancy to full term.
Delayed implantation enables the female to give birth to more fawns each year.
Without delayed implantation, the fawns would be born in the winter when food is scarce and the weather is harsh.
Frogs and toads belong to the order Anura. The smallest organism in this order is about 7 millimeters long, while the largest member is about 30 centimeters long. Which of these lists best describes this order?
A student wants to use the Venn diagram below to show the characteristics of two kingdoms of organisms. The characteristics that the two kingdoms share will be listed in the shaded area where the circles intersect. Which of these is a characteristic that the student should list in the shaded part of the diagram?
heterotrophic
prokaryote
mobile
multicellular
Two populations of mice living in the same forest are separated by a large water-filled ditch. After a rainstorm, flooding brings several mice from one population to the other population. When the mice from the first population reproduce with members of the second population, which of the following will likely occur?
All the offspring will die as a result of reproductive mutations.
The offspring will be forced to leave the second population.
The offspring will be genetically identical to their parent from the first population.
The offspring in the second population will have greater genetic variety.
An analysis of DNA and RNA sequences can be used to classify organisms. A dendrogram, such as the one shown below, is based on molecular data. It can be used to represent evolutionary relationships within a group of organisms that are hypothesized to have descended from a common ancestor. Which statement is best supported by the information in this dendrogram?
Lesser pandas are more genetically similar to giant pandas than they are to raccoons.
Brown bears are more genetically similar to giant pandas than they are to sun bears.
Lesser pandas are more genetically similar to raccoons than they are to giant pandas.
The bear species are all more genetically similar to dogs than they are to giant pandas.
Adult mountain lions (Puma concolor) are almost 2 meters long. They have a black spot over each eye. The common names used throughout the United States for this species are listed below. Why is it best for scientists to use the name from the standardized taxonomic system?
The standardized name differentiates mountain lions and pumas.
The standardized name is less descriptive of the animal that has been observed.
Communication with other scientists about mountain lions will be reduced.
All scientists will be using one name for mountain lions.
A cladogram is shown below. All the animals to the right of the hagfish would have the common characteristic of —
fur
claws or nails
lungs
jaws
This diagram of the fossil record represents changes in mollusks over millions of years. How can the pattern of change in the fossil record best be explained?
The mollusks were well adapted to their stable environment. A large, sudden change occurred in their environment. After the change the mollusks with the bigger shells were better adapted for the new environment.
The mollusks were well adapted to their stable environment. The mollusks hybridized with a smaller species of mollusk. A new species of mollusk with a bigger shell resulted.
The mollusks were not well adapted to their environment. The length of the mollusks’ shells changed gradually over time. The mollusks in the original population that had small shells died over a period of many years.
The mollusks were well adapted to their environment. Humans introduced a new species of mollusk that was not adapted to this environment. The introduced mollusk outcompeted the native mollusk species.
Three species of lizards of the genus Gallotia are found on the Canary Islands, a chain of seven volcanic islands off the west coast of Africa. The easternmost island, Lanzarote, is the oldest, while the westernmost island, El Hierro, is the youngest. The distribution of lizard species is shown on the map below. Which statement about the ancestry of the lizards from the genus Gallotia is best supported by this information?
The common ancestor of the lizards first colonized the island of El Hierro.
The ancestors of each species came from different continents at different times.
The common ancestor of the lizards probably came from Africa.
The ancestors of each species evolved in Spain and were brought to the islands at the same time.
The survival of a species depends on its ability to adapt to changes in the environment. A species must be capable of surviving and reproducing despite changes to food sources, climate, or threats from predators. Which statement correctly describes a way that mutations increase the likelihood that a species will survive in a changing environment?
Mutations are a source of variation in the species.
Mutations are the cause of disease in the species.
Mutations are not harmful when they occur in somatic cells of the species.
Mutations are always passed on to subsequent generations of the species.
The green frog (Lithobates clamitans clamitans) is found in many parts of the United States. The table contains some information about this frog. Why does the ability to lay 1,000 to 5,000 eggs increase the fitness of the species L. clamitans clamitans?
It increases opportunities for offspring to compete for limited resources.
It increases the probability that some offspring will survive long enough to reproduce.
It increases the probability that moving water will promote gene flow from one population to another.
It increases the chance of the recombination of alleles, leading to genetic drift in the population.
Bactrian camels, dromedaries, llamas, and alpacas are all members of the same taxonomic family, Camelidae. Members of this family all have two toes, no hooves, true canine teeth, and a split upper lip. The family Camelidae originated in North America. The physical features of animals in this family and the family’s geographical origin provide evidence that all these animals —
live in the same type of ecosystem
have slowly evolved to become herbivores
have a common ancestor
exchanged DNA at some point in the past
While visiting a national park, a student encounters an unfamiliar organism in a damp area near a body of water. The student notes that the organism is about 10 cm long, has four legs, and has a tail. The organism is black with small white spots on its smooth, moist skin. It also appears to
Reptilia
Amphibia
Mammalia
Insecta
A prey population consists of individuals with a variety of running speeds. The adaptation that allows some of these animals to run fast would be an example of natural selection if it helps them —
survive and undergo mutations in their DNA
lower the mortality rates of the population
produce offspring that run at average speeds
reproduce and increase the frequency of their genes in the population
The quiver tree grows in desert areas in southern Africa. In recent decades average temperatures have been rising in southern Africa. Scientists predict that this warming trend will continue. Quiver trees in the hottest parts of their range near the equator are dying, but quiver trees at high elevations or in parts of the range that are farther from the equator are growing and reproducing. Which of these best explains what is happening to the quiver tree population in southern Africa?
Individual quiver trees are unable to adjust to the rising temperatures, and only those in cooler parts of the range will survive.
The quiver tree species is unable to survive rising temperatures throughout its range. The species is likely to undergo rapid extinction.
Individual quiver trees can quickly adapt to rising temperatures. Individual trees will change their method of seed dispersal in cooler parts of the range.
The quiver tree species will survive by producing offspring suited for warmer temperatures.
Five general characteristics of organisms in kingdoms Plantae or Fungi are listed in the box. Which table correctly lists the characteristics of the organisms in the two kingdoms?
This dichotomous key can be used to identify some conifers. Based on the key, which of these best describes the leaves and cones of the longleaf pine?
Needle-like straight leaves that are mostly over 25 cm long and found in clusters of three; no thorns on cones
Flattened and scale-like leaves that are mostly over 25 cm long; soft and leathery cones
Needle-like straight leaves with a length of 25 cm that are mostly found in clusters of five; thorny cones
Leaves with a length of 25 cm that are found in clusters of more than five; no thorns on cones
In 2010, scientists excavated a skull fossil that provides evidence of a newly discovered species of big cat. Based on the evidence, scientists hypothesize that big cats branched off from smaller wild cats about 6 million years ago. Which of these resources did the scientists most likely rely on to form their hypothesis?
A food web showing feeding relationships of organisms where the fossil skull was found
Population and migration data for small wild cats living in the ecosystem where the skull was found
The fossil record and DNA comparisons of big cats and small cats
The historical record of interactions between different species of big cats
Scientists around the world use a standardized taxonomic system. Why would scientists want to use a taxonomic system that is standardized?
In order to avoid confusion with the identification of organisms
Because Linnaeus established the system
So that Latin names can be applied for a practical purpose
In order to place organisms in different groups
Nudibranchs are marine gastropods that lack shells. Many of these gastropods retain the foul-tasting poisons of their prey and secrete them when threatened. The bright coloration of the nudibranchs warns predators to avoid them. Based on this information, how has adaptation allowed marine gastropods to be successful without a shell?
They find enough food as they move through the marine environment.
They blend in with their environment to hide from their predators.
They are not attacked by most predators and are able to reproduce successfully.
They have bright colors that attract a mate.
