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8th Grade Benchmark Exam 2 2019

Total questions: 46

Worksheet time: 4hrs 38mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The fossil record shows fossils in a particular group of rocks that give information about how and when those rocks formed. The fossil record is also a set of all fossils together that can be used to tell the history of the earth.


Which of the following is best supported by the fossil record?

a)

It shows an overwhelming mass of species that ever lived are now extinct

b)

It shows an overwhelming mass of species that lived during the present time

c)

It shows that atmospheric conditions must be ideal to fossilizing plants and animal species

d)

It shows that only a few amount of species have become extinct over the last 3 billion years

2.

For a recessive trait to appear in an offspring, the offspring must receive?

a)

The offspring must have 2 recessives alleles - one from each parent

b)

The offspring must have 1 recessives from only one parent

c)

The offspring must have 1 dominant and 1 recessive allele from the parents

d)

The offspring must have 2 dominant alleles - one from each parent

3.

Examine the list.


  1. Skin disease because of excessive exposure to sunlight.
  2. Ability to play basketball because of practicing on a team.
  3. Haire baldness because of family history of baldness.
  4. Preference for Rock music because parents favorite type of music is rock.
  5. Long eyelashes because of dominant alleles on a gene.


Which characteristics in the list are inherited?

a)

1 and 3

b)

1 and 5

c)

2 and 4

d)

3 and 5

4.

How does the process of meiosis influence the formation of the zygote, the sale that is formed from the union of 2 sex cells?

a)

Meiosis create sex cells each with half the chromosomes that will be transferred to the zygote

b)

Meiosis removes the need for DN a replication, allowing for quicker formation of the zygote

c)

Meiosis ensures that the genetic information from the parent sales remains the same in the zygote

d)

Meiosis removes mutated DNA from the six sales prior to the formation of the zygote

5.

What processes transform a sedimentary rock directly into a metamorphic rock?

a)

Erosion and deposition of sediment

b)

Rapid cooling and crystallizing on earths surface

c)

Compaction and cementation in earths oceans

d)

Extreme heat and pressure

6.

A particular mountain stream is home to a population of salamanders that are red in color. In the past year, a second population of salamanders that are dark blue in color moved into the same stream. Scientist researching the stream have recently discovered Young salamanders that are red with dark blue patches on their bodies.


What can a scientist conclude from the evidence?

a)

The salamanders are suffering from a bacterial disease

b)

The salamanders are on the verge of becoming extinct

c)

The salamanders undergo asexual reproduction

d)

The salamanders undergo sexual reproduction

7.

A region experiences a very explosive volcanic eruption from a single volcano. What change will likely occur In the region immediately after the eruption that would impact organisms survival?

a)

An earthquake will occur due to lava flows along the plate boundary

b)

Plant eating animals will thrive due to fertile soil formed from volcanic ash

c)

The humidity of the region will increase due to more water evaporating

d)

The daytime temperature of the region will decrease due to blocking on wit The daytime temperature of the region will decrease due to blocking of sunlight

8.

What is a function of genes found in an organism?

a)

Genes code For traits present in an organism and can be passed onto the organisms offspring

b)

Genes code for traits present and an organism and cannot be passed on to the organisms offspring

c)

Genes Code for traits that can be inherited by organisms that reproduce asexually but not those that reproduce sexually

d)

Genes Code for traits that can be inherited by organisms that reproduce sexually but not those that reproduce asexually

9.

A fertilized egg receives 50% of its chromosomes from a sperm and 50% from the egg. Which process ensures that the sperm and egg contain only 50% of the chromosomes of an organism?

a)

Fertilization

b)

Meiosis

c)

Mitosis

d)

Mutation

10.

Which statement correctly describes a difference between asexual and sexual reproduction?

a)

A sexually reproducing organisms do not have DNA, while sexually reproducing organisms have DNA

b)

A sexually reproduce offspring have less variety in their genetic information than sexually reproduce to offspring

c)

Asexually reproduced offspring had the same amount of genetic information as the parent, while sexually reproduced offspring have half as much genetic information as the parent.

d)

Asexual reproduction in organisms takes longer than sexual reproduction due to the time required to find a mate

11.

In 1862, Charles Darwin proposed that orchids are colorful to attract insects for cross pollination. Which statement likes his hypothesis with a principle of natural selection?

a)

Cross pollination between orchids eliminates mutations

b)

Cross pollination between orchids may produce offspring with more desirable traits

c)

Cross pollination keep the genetic composition is the same in all orchids

d)

Cross pollination produces more offspring than self pollinating orchids

12.

A layer of igneous rock is located between layers of sedimentary rock in a region. What can scientists infer about the history of the region from the existence of the igneous rock layer?

a)

The region experienced a drought

b)

The region experienced a severely cold winter

c)

And earthquake occurred

d)

A volcanic eruption occurred

13.

Geologic activity on an island physically separate a population of animals into two populations. Many generations later, when the two populations are no longer separated, they do not enter breed. What was the result of natural selection during this period of separation?

a)

A decrease in variation

b)

A decrease in diversification

c)

An increase in extinction

d)

An increase in speciation

14.

Western coral snakes have a striped color pattern and are poisonous. Arizona mountain king snakes look like western coral snakes but are not poisonous. The color pattern of the Arizona mountain king snake is an example of?

a)

Camouflage

b)

Mimicry

c)

Mutualism

d)

Courtship behaviors

15.

Which statement about fossils could be used as evidence that evolution by natural selection has been in effect for millions of years?

a)

Fossils found in higher layers of rock are older than those found in lower layers

b)

Fossils found in lower layers of rock are more complex than those found in higher layers

c)

Fossils of current species have been found throughout rock layers that are billions of years old

d)

Fossils of species that no longer exist but our ancestors of current species have been found in rock layers

16.

Which of the following is a source of genetic variation within a species?

a)

Cloning

b)

Mutation

c)

Selective breeding

d)

Natural selection

17.

Which of the following best illustrates natural selection?

a)

An organisms with favorable genetic variations will tend to survive and breed successfully

b)

A population monopolizes all of the resources in its habitat, forcing other species to migrate

c)

A community whose members work together utilizes all existing resources in migratory routes

d)

The largest organisms in a species receive the only breeding opportunities

18.
a)

Human arm and bat wing

b)

insect leg and human leg

c)

bird wing and insect wing

d)

lizard claw and bird beak

19.
a)

They grow at the same rate

b)

they live in the same environment

c)

they live for the same length of time

d)

they evolved from a common ancestor

20.

The diagram shows the fossils in two different sections of rock found on opposite sides of a canyon. Which layer in rock section one is approximately the same age as layer X in rock section two?

a)

layer 1

b)

layer 2

c)

layer 3

d)

layer 4

21.
a)

Rock Type 1: Sedimentary

Rock Type 2: Metamorphic

Rock Type 3: Igneous

b)

Rock Type 1: Sedimentary

Rock Type 2: Igneous

Rock Type 3: Metamorphic

c)

Rock Type 1: Metamorphic

Rock Type 2: Igneous

Rock Type 3: Sedimentary

d)

Rock Type 1: Igneous

Rock Type 2: Metamorphic

Rock Type 3: Sedimentary

22.

Which processes lead directly to the formation of Igneous Rock?

a)

weathering and erosion

b)

compaction and cementation

c)

heat and pressure

d)

melting and solidification (cooling)

23.

What is a disadvantage for organisms that reproduce asexually rather than sexually?

a)

The offspring receive less genetic material.

b)

The offspring take more time to grow and develop.

c)

The offspring resemble the parent, which makes it difficult to distinguish them from each other.

d)

The offspring are genetically identical to each other, which reduces their ability to adapt to any changes in the environment.

24.

What is a potential long-term impact of the continual selective breeding of livestock such as cattle?

a)

The population of livestock will increase beyond the capacity of farms.

b)

Farmers will be able to have a wide variety of different types of livestock on a farm.

c)

There will be more food available as a result of a high population of livestock.

d)

The biodiversity of livestock will decrease, making the population less resistant to diseases.

25.

Which characteristic best supports that an offspring is produced by sexual reproduction and not asexual reproduction?

a)

The offspring has the same number of chromosomes as its mother and father.

b)

The offspring has the same need for energy resources as its mother and father.

c)

The offspring has different DNA than its mother and father.

d)

The offspring is smaller in size than its mother and father.

26.

In pea plants, purple flowers are dominant over white flowers. A plant that is homozygous for purple flowers is crossed with a plant homozygous for white flowers.

Which Punnett square represents the outcome of this cross?

a)
b)
c)
d)
27.

What is an advantage that asexual reproduction has over sexual reproduction?

a)

Asexual reproduction creates offspring at a faster rate.

b)

Asexual reproduction results in genetic diversity among offspring.

c)

Asexual reproduction results in offspring that are larger in size than the parent.

d)

Asexual reproduction allows offspring to be more adaptable to the environment.

28.
a)

The turtle is more advanced than the chicken

b)

The chicken has more offspring than the turtle

c)

The turtle and the chicken are similar as adults

d)

The chicken and the turtle share a common ancestor

29.
a)

interbred with other species

b)

inherited some advantageous variations

c)

found new places on the island to live

d)

been attacked by more predators

30.

A female parent snail with a striped shell and a male parent with no stripes produce five offspring, as shown.

a)

In sexual reproduction, only the male parent passes genes to the offspring.

b)

In sexual reproduction, only the female parent passes genes to the offspring.

c)

In sexual reproduction, offspring inherit genes from both parents, and each offspring has a new combination of traits.

d)

In sexual reproduction, the male parent passes its genes to male offspring, and the female parent passes its genes to female offspring.

31.
a)

Genes are made up of chromosomes.

b)

Chromosomes contain a single gene.

c)

Centromeres hold instructions for how to make proteins.

d)

Genes are present on chromosomes and control traits in an individual.

32.
a)

Mitosis causes a cell to undergo uncontrolled division.

b)

Mitosis produces new cells that are identical to the parent cell.

c)

Mitosis allows a cell to divide into four cells each with double the size of the parent cell.

d)

Mitosis ensures that each newly produced cell has more genetic material than the parent cell.

33.
a)

statement 1

b)

statement 2

c)

statement 3

d)

statement 4

34.
a)

25%

b)

50%

c)

75%

d)

100%

35.

Researchers create a biosensor by genetically engineering bacteria to glow when it detects DNT, a substance that forms from TNT, a common chemical found in explosives. What is a beneficial application of the biosensor?

a)

It helps reduce the use of TNT as an explosive for mining.

b)

It helps increase the output energy of explosives used for mining.

c)

It helps clear explosive landmines buried in old battlefields.

d)

It helps reduce soil pollution from explosives

36.
a)

Both daughter cells will have identical genetic material to the parent cell.

b)

Cell division will result in two daughter cells that rely on each other for survival.

c)

Each daughter cell will have more genetic material than the parent cell.

d)

Cell division will result in two daughter cells that are different from each other.

37.

Which statement best describes DNA’s relationship to a gene and chromosome?

a)

A gene contains several chromosomes, and chromosomes are made from DNA.

b)

A gene is a short section of DNA, and a chromosome is made from DNA.

c)

DNA is made of chromosomes, and a gene contains DNA.

d)

DNA is coiled into a chromosome, and a gene holds the chromosome together.

38.
a)

meiosis

b)

metabolism

c)

mitosis

d)

mutation

39.
a)

Each offspring receives at least one dominant allele.

b)

Each offspring receives at least one recessive allele.

c)

Each offspring has alleles that are linked to each other.

d)

Each offspring has an equal chance to inherit allele H or h from its mother.

40.
a)

Yellow pods are a recessive trait.

b)

Yellow pods are a dominant trait.

c)

Yellow pods are a shared trait.

d)

Yellow pods are a mutated trait.

41.
What does heterozygous mean?
a)
An organism that has the same genes for a trait (TT or tt)
b)
An organism that has different genes for a trait (Tt)
c)
When neither gene is fully dominant; offspring is a mixture of both
d)
the different forms of a trait (hair color--> brown, blonde, red
42.
What is a phenotype?
a)
The expression of a trait; what you see.
b)
refers to the genetic makeup of an individual
c)
An organism that has the same genes for a trait (ex. TT or tt)
d)
the passing of traits from parent to offspring
43.

Which type of rock would you most likely find fossils?

a)

Magma and Metamorphic rock

b)

Igneous Rock

c)

Sediments and Sedimentary rock

44.

The fossil record shows fossils in a particular group of rocks that give information about how and when those rocks formed. The fossil record is also a set of all fossils together that can be used to tell the history of the earth.


Which of the following is best supported by the fossil record?

a)

It shows an overwhelming mass of species that lived during the present time

b)

It shows that atmospheric conditions must be ideal for the fossilizing of plant and animal species

c)

It shows all 5 of the major mass extinctions in Earth's history

d)

It shows that only a few amount of species have become extinct over the last 3 billion years

45.

Which of the following is the most reasonable conclusion when fossils of these different types of organisms are found in the same layers of rock?

a)

Crinoids were prey for trilobites

b)

Crinoids were ancestors of trilobites

c)

Crinoids and trilobites has similar behaviors

d)

Crinoids and trilobites lived during the same time

46.

A major climate climate drop in an area can affect several species plants. Which of the following could occur in the plant species when being comparing the climate change before and after the change? (select all that apply).

a)

The plants will have more genetic variation after the climate change

b)

The plants will have less genetic variation after the climate change

c)

The plants will be more resistant to colder climate after the climate change

d)

The plants will be less resistant to colder climate after the climate change