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8th Grade Unit 1 Review

Total questions: 23

Worksheet time: 22mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is evolution?

a)

The loss of a species (a species dies out)

b)

The predation of one species on another species

c)

The change of traits in a species over time

d)

The conversion of a carnivore (meat eater) into a herbivore (plant eater)

2.

According to evolution, what happens to the frequency of traits in a population of species over time?

a)

The frequency of traits randomly changes

b)

The frequency of traits never changes

c)

The frequency of advantageous traits increases over time

d)

The frequency of advantageous traits decreases over time

3.

Which statement below best describes the rate of evolution?

a)

Evolution is always a slow process

b)

Evolution is usually a slow process, but it can occur quickly as well

c)

Evolution is usually a fast process, but it can occur slowly as well

d)

Evolution is always a fast process

4.

What is a common ancestor?

a)

A selective pressure that led the formation all the species on Earth

b)

An organism from which all organisms on Earth descended from

c)

An organism which all organisms on Earth strive to become

d)

An organism that lives on a different planet as well as Earth

5.

Which of the following is NOT a postulate of Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection?

a)

There is little to no variation among the individuals in a species

b)

Individuals compete with each other for resources

c)

Competition can lead to death of individuals

d)

Individuals who survive are more likely to reproduce and pass their traits to offspring

6.

What is an adaptation?

a)

A characteristic that an organism acquires during its life

b)

A favorable trait, which helps an organism survive

c)

An unfavorable trait, which is detrimental to the survival of an organism

d)

A characteristic that makes an organism “less fit”

7.

Which organisms are more likely to survive, reproduce and pass their traits to offspring?

a)

Organisms that are well-adapted to the environment

b)

Organisms that are not well-adapted to the environment

c)

Organisms that are less fit

d)

Organisms that reproduce very quickly

8.

What is a source of variation in a sexually reproducing species?

a)

Mutations

b)

Recombination

c)

Both mutations and recombination

d)

Neither of these

9.

Which of the following is a resource that organisms compete for?

a)

Water

b)

Space

c)

Mates

d)

All of the above

10.

Why do organisms compete with each other for resources?

a)

A. There is an unlimited supply of resources

b)

B. There is a limited supply of resources

c)

C. Organisms produce more offspring than can survive

d)

Both b and c

11.

Competition is important because:

a)

It improves the success of a species as a whole

b)

It makes an individual better adapted to the environment

c)

It ensures that there are enough resources for everyone in an environment

d)

It helps species reproduce

12.

Fossils are an important piece of evidence for evolution because:

a)

They show that organisms have changed over time on Earth

b)

They demonstrate that organisms have become more complex

c)

They suggest there are similarities between ancient organisms and present organisms, suggesting that all living things are somehow related

d)

All of the above

13.

Which structures do NOT imply evolutionary relationships?

a)

Homologous structures

b)

Analogous structures

c)

Vestigial structures

d)

All of the structures above imply evolutionary relationships

14.

Which structure implies “loss of function” or evolutionary divergence from a species with a past function (that is no longer needed)?

a)

Homologous structures

b)

Analogous structures

c)

Vestigial structures

d)

All of the above

15.

What can we learn about from fossils? What an organism looked light

a)

What an organism looked like

b)

How the organism moved around the environment

c)

What the organism ate

d)

All of the above

16.

What piece of information does the fossil record NOT tell us?

a)

It tells us about species that once lived but are now extinct

b)

It tells us about species that have existed for a long period of time

c)

It tells us about the emergence of species that have been on Earth for a short time

d)

It tells us about species that are likely to emerge in the future

17.

What is the strongest piece of evidence that supports evolution?

a)

The fossil record

b)

Embryology similarities

c)

Genetic similarities

d)

Anatomical similarities

18.

Changes in the sequence of nucleotides in a gene can cause:

a)

The gene to be transformed (thus altering a trait)

b)

The gene to be turned off (thus a trait is no longer expressed)

c)

A new to be created (thus causing the expression of a new trait)

d)

All of the above

19.

According to the phylogenetic tree, which species is most similar to species E?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

20.

According to the phylogenetic tree, which node is the most recent common ancestor to A and C?

a)

1

b)

2

c)

3

d)

4

21.

According to the phylogenetic tree, which organism has existed for the longest period of time?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

22.

Which of the following is NOT an example of artificial selection?

a)

Antibiotic resistant bacteria

b)

Seedless fruit

c)

Domesticated animals

d)

Breeding cows with high milk output

23.

Survival of the fittest is:

a)

Organisms that exercise and diet will best survive

b)

Organisms with advantageous ("better") traits are more likely to survive.

c)

Organisms that can run the fastest will survive

d)

Organisms unable to complete for resources will survive