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History of Earth & Change Over Time

Total questions: 24

Worksheet time: 14mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The age of a rock compared to the ages of other rocks.

a)

Relative age

b)

Absolute age

c)

Radioactive decay

2.

The geologic principle that states that in undisturbed horizontal layers of sedimentary rock, each layer is older than the layer above it and younger than the layer below it.

a)

Theory of Evolution

b)

Law of Superposition

c)

Natural selection

3.

The age of a rock given as the number of years since the rock formed.

a)

Absolute age

b)

Radioactive decay

c)

Relative age

4.

A group of similar organisms that can mate with each other and produce offspring that can also mate and reproduce

a)

Species

b)

Variation

c)

Evolution

d)

Adaptation

5.

The process by which organisms that are best adapted to the environment are most likely to survive and reproduce.

a)

Radioactive decay

b)

Natural selection

c)

Relative age

6.

Any difference between individuals of the same species.

a)

Variation

b)

Evolution

c)

Adaptation

7.

The independent variable is the ONE thing you ___________________

a)

change

b)

experiment with

c)

keep the same

d)

investigate

8.

What is a hypothesis?

a)

A hypothesis is the right answer to an experiment.

b)

A hypothesis is an educated guess, is supported with evidence.

c)

A hypothesis is the wrong answer to an experiment.

9.

The theory of evolution by natural selection means that what is changing over time?

a)

The inherited traits of a population.

b)

Hair color and eye color

c)

The acquired traits of a population.

d)

Attractive features.

10.

True or False: Evidence from the fossil record shows that species change gradually over time.

a)

True

b)

False

11.

Which layer is oldest?

a)

A

b)

G

c)

W

d)

Z

12.

When every organism of a species has died.

a)

Evolution

b)

Extinction

c)

Adaptation

13.

Charles Darwin’s observation that finches of different species on the Galápagos Islands have many similar physical characteristics supports the hypothesis that these finches.

a)

have the ability to interbreed.

b)

acquired traits through use and disuse.

c)

all eat the same type of food.

d)

descended from a common ancestor.

14.

Jean-Baptiste Lamarck proposed that organisms

a)

have an innate tendency toward complexity and perfection.

b)

inherit all of the adaptations they display.

c)

have an innate tendency to become simpler as time passes.

d)

belong to species that never change.

15.

Lamarck’s ideas about evolution include the concept that differences among the traits of organisms arise as a result of...

a)

continual increases in population size.

b)

an unchanging local environment.

c)

as they use or fail to use body structures.

d)

the natural variations already present within the population of organisms.

16.

According to Darwin’s theory of natural selection, individuals who survive are the ones best adapted for their environment. Their survival is due to the...

a)

possession of adaptations developed through use.

b)

lack of competition within the species.

c)

possession of inherited adaptations that maximize fitness.

d)

choices made by plant and animal breeders.

17.

The example of the peppered (brown) moths living near English industrial cities demonstrates that...

a)

A change in an environment can result in the evolution of species living there.

b)

The environment near these cities has always favored dark-colored moths.

c)

Evolution occurs so slowly that is it not possible to determine that it has happened in less than a million years

18.

Any variation that can help a species survive in a given environment is called...

a)

an adaptation

b)

a homologous structure

c)

a characteristic

d)

a vestigial structure

19.

When every organism of a species has died.

a)

Evolution

b)

Extinction

c)

Natural Selection

d)

Artificial Selection

20.

The long and sharp beak of a woodpecker is an example of:

a)

Natural Selection

b)

Selective Breeding

c)

Artificial Selection

21.

The different dog breeds are the result of...

a)

Artificial Selection

b)

Natural Selection

c)

Selective Mutation

22.

The theory of ‘common descent with modification’ states that all modern organisms

a)

can change in response to environmental change

b)

can be arranged in a linear order from “least evolved” to “most evolved”

c)

are descended from a single ancestral species

d)

Have not changed over time

23.

The fossil record provides evidence that...

a)

Fossils cannot be dated.

b)

All species were formed during Earth’s formation and have changed little since then.

c)

The fossilized species have no connection to today’s species.

d)

Older species gave rise to more-recent species.

24.

The theory of evolution by natural selection means that what is changing over time?

a)

The inherited traits of a population.

b)

Hair color and eye color.

c)

The acquired traits of a population.

d)

Attractive features.