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WorksheetsEvolution and Taxonomy STAAR
Total questions: 13
Worksheet time: 7mins
Having a standard taxonomic system benefits the scientific community by allowing scientists
from all over the world to do which of the following?
Have a common system for the classification of locations containing fossils
Use a similar system to classify the impact of removing species from ecosystems
Have a common understanding in the classification of organisms
Understand how other scientists classify predator–prey relationships
Some organisms have genes that improve their ability to survive and reproduce. If the genes
also help their offspring survive and reproduce, then which of the following will most likely
increase?
The frequency of the genes in one individual
The frequency of the genes in the population
The number of genes in one chromosome
The number of genes in the species
The concept of gene flow is demonstrated when a cow is driven off from its herd, joins
another herd, and reproduces. When the cow contributes to the gene pool of the new herd,
which of these most likely increases?
Natural selection
Genetic variation
Environmental fitness
Reproductive mutations
Zoogeographic regions are characterized by the presence of specific groups of animals. These
regions are determined by the taxonomic or phylogenetic relationships of animals. The map
shows the zoogeographic regions proposed by the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace in 1876.The similarities of organisms in which two areas numbered above provide the best evidence
for common ancestry between the organisms in both locations?
1 and 2
3 and 4
5 and 6
7 and 8
Arthropods are joint-legged animals. Spiders, crabs, pill bugs, centipedes, and millipedes
are examples of the many types of arthropods. Which of these arthropods are most closely
related?
Arthropods of the same family
Arthropods of the same class
Arthropods of the same genus
Arthropods of the same species
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
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
Scientists can determine relatedness among organisms by comparing partial amino acid
sequences. The table shows four partial amino acid sequences from four organisms.Which organism is the LEAST related to the other three organisms?
Organism 1
Organism 2
Organism 3
Organism 4
A student used a microscope to study four members of the phylum Ciliophora. Members of
this phylum move when propelled by hundreds of tiny cilia.Although these organisms belong to the same phylum, they are classified as different —
families
species
kingdoms
orders
The gray squirrel, Eastern fox squirrel, and red squirrel are all different species of squirrels.
Why is having a scientific name for each species of an organism important?
To prevent existing named organisms from having their names changed as they become
extinct
To keep the classification system from being altered as new organisms are discovered
To allow organisms to be placed in many classification levels at the same time
To standardize the naming and organization of organisms to avoid confusion
The diagram shows light- and dark-colored beetles that live on a tree.Which result is most likely to occur to the beetle population due to predation over time?
The number of light-colored beetles in the population will increase.
There will be more dark-colored beetles than light-colored beetles.
The number of light-colored beetles will decrease.
The dark-colored beetles will move to a different type of tree.
Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould researched the lenses of the eyes of fossil trilobites of
different species. In 1972 they published a paper in which they described the tendency of a
species to remain the same until a sudden change in the environment causes a new related
species to appear.
Which hypothesis was most challenged by the work of Eldredge and Gould?
Redi’s hypothesis that spontaneous generation does not occur
Haeckel’s hypothesis that embryological development mimics the evolution of species
Wallace’s hypothesis that geography affects the distribution of species
Darwin’s hypothesis that the development of species is a slow, gradual process
The relationships among different orders of millipedes are shown in the cladogram.Based on this cladogram, which statement best describes relationships among millipede
orders?
Stemmiulida is more closely related to Merocheta than Penicillata is to Merocheta.
Spirostreptida is more closely related to Glomerida than Sphaerotheriida is to Glomerida.
Polyzoniida is more closely related to Glomeridesmida than Sphaerotheriida is to
Glomeridesmida.
Merocheta is more closely related to Glomeridesmida than Glomerida is to
Glomeridesmida.
