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STAAR BIOLOGY - EVOLUTION (big adaptive set)

Total questions: 60

Worksheet time: 3hrs 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Why do we use the system of taxonomy for classifying organisms?

a)

to classify animals based on their fur color

b)

to organize organisms based on their ability to reproduce

c)

classify organisms based on their height

d)

to avoid confusion and have the same name for an animal

2.

The scientific name of an organism contains which two levels?

a)

phylum and species

b)

domain and kingdom

c)

genus and species

d)

order and domain

3.

Two animals in which of the following groups would be the most closely related to each other?

a)

domain

b)

species

c)

genus

d)

order

4.

Two animals in which of the following groups would be the least related to eachother?

a)

class

b)

order

c)

domain

d)

species

5.

Animals in different species cannot do what with each other?

a)

fight eachother

b)

eat eachother

c)

growl at eachother

d)

reproduce successfully

6.

What are homologous structures?

a)

different ATP synthesis mechanisms

b)

DNA similarities

c)

different bone structures

d)

similar bone structures in different species (evidence of common ancestor)

7.

Two animals that are closely related would demonstrate which of the following?

a)

low amounts of their DNA sequence in common

b)

high amounts of their DNA sequence in common

c)

similar methods of flying

d)

the same type of habitat

8.

Cows and horses both have hooves on their feet. Which of the following conclusions could be made?

a)

cows descended from a fish

b)

cows and horses can reproduce with each other successfully

c)

cows and horses are in the same species

d)

cows and horses share a common ancestor

9.

Kangaroos and koalas are marsupials that carry their offspring in a pouch. Which of the following conclusions could be made about these two species?

a)

kangaroos descended from birds

b)

kangaroos and koalas share a common ancestor

c)

female kangaroos can successfully mate with male koalas

d)

koalas have the exact same DNA sequence as kangaroos

10.

What is an adaptation?

a)

a trait that you can acquire in your lifetime to help you survive

b)

an inherited trait that helps you survive and reproduce

c)

a trait that disappears when you are 15 years old

d)

When an animal changes and tries to adapt

11.

Which of the following best describes evolution?

a)

spermocytes disfigure and destroy their spermotaphores

b)

individual animals change over time

c)

individual animals try really hard to grow wings and adapt

d)

populations change over time, not individuals

12.

Which of the following can be concluded from the fossil record of horse relatives?

a)

horses cannot reproduce successfully with other mammals

b)

horses evolved to dominate the aquatic ecosystem

c)

evolution is a slow and gradual process that takes a long time

d)

evolution occurs extremely rapidly in all species

13.

If a scientist is trying to prove two animals share a common ancestor, what is the best piece of evidence they could use?

a)

biological records showing they both had the same predator

b)

fossils being discovered in the same location

c)

fossils showing they both had teeth

d)

similar nitrogen base sequences of DNA in both animals

14.

Which of the following will happen to the giraffe population in a few years?

a)

the genes for long necks will increase in frequency

b)

the genes for short necks will increase in frequency

c)

the short neck giraffes will start trying to grow longer necks

d)

the long neck genes will disappear from the population

15.

This is an example of which of the following?

a)

active transport

b)

natural seleciton

c)

homologous structures

d)

common ancestry

16.

Which giraffe is more fit for the environment?

a)

the dead one

b)

the tree

c)

short neck

d)

long neck

17.

Which of the following levels would indicate the closest relationship? (similar DNA)

a)

kingdom

b)

order

c)

genus

d)

phylum

18.

The scientific name for an animal consists of:

a)

order and class

b)

domain and phylum

c)

species and kingdom

d)

genus and species

19.

The scientific name for the buffalo is Syncerus caffer. What is the species name for the buffalo?

a)

caffer

b)

syncerus

c)

buffalo

20.

The concept of gene flow is demonstrated when a cow is driven off from its herd, joinsanother herd, and reproduces. When the cow contributes to the gene pool of the new herd, which of these most likely increases?

a)

Natural selection

b)

Genetic variation

c)

Environmental fitness

d)

Reproductive mutations

21.

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?

a)

The frequency of the genes in one individual

b)

The frequency of the genes in the population

c)

The number of genes in one chromosome

d)

The number of genes in the species

22.

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?

a)

Arthropods of the same FAMILY

b)

Arthropods of the same CLASS

c)

Arthropods of the same GENUS

d)

Arthropods of the same SPECIES

23.

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 —

a)

survive and undergo mutations in their DNA

b)

lower the mortality rates of the population

c)

produce offspring that run at average speeds

d)

reproduce and increase the frequency of their genes in the population

24.

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?

a)

Organism 1

b)

Organism 2

c)

Organism 3

d)

Organism 4

25.

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 —

a)

families

b)

species

c)

kingdoms

d)

orders

26.

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?

a)

The number of light-colored beetles in the population will increase.

b)

There will be more dark-colored beetles than light-colored beetles.

c)

The number of light-colored beetles will decrease.

d)

The dark-colored beetles will move to a different type of tree.

27.

The relationships among different orders of millipedes are shown in the cladogram.Based on this cladogram, which statement best describes relationships among millipede

orders?

a)

Stemmiulida is more closely related to Merocheta than Penicillata is to Merocheta.

b)

Spirostreptida is more closely related to Glomerida than Sphaerotheriida is to Glomerida.

c)

Polyzoniida is more closely related to Glomeridesmida than Sphaerotheriida is to

Glomeridesmida.

d)

Merocheta is more closely related to Glomeridesmida than Glomerida is to

Glomeridesmida.

28.
A harmless scarlet king snake and a venomous eastern coral snake have similar band patterns, as shown below. For the scarlet king snake, the adaptation of having a banding pattern like the eastern coral snake’s is known as mimicry.

The outcome of this adaptation in the scarlet king snake is to —
a)
make it easier for the scarlet king snake to attract prey
b)
make it easier for the scarlet king snake to interbreed with the other snake
c)
allow the scarlet king snake to blend in with its environment
d)
protect the scarlet king snake from predators
29.
Plants have developed many methods of seed dispersal. The table below shows seeds of two different plants.

How has the seed dispersal method developed by these plants given them a reproductive advantage?
a)
The method ensures that offspring will be dispersed and reduces competition for resources.
b)
The method reduces the chance that herbivores will consume the seeds.
c)
The method lengthens the life cycle of each of these plants.
d)
The method reduces the plants’ need for water and other nutrients.
30.
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?
a)
The frequency of the genes in one individual
b)
The frequency of the genes in the population
c)
The number of genes in one chromosome
d)
The number of genes in the species
31.
The cladogram shows the evolution of land plants as indicated by fossil records.

Which discovery would challenge the validity of this cladogram?
a)
A large aquatic vascular plant about 200 million years old
b)
A species of algae that has existed for less than one million years
c)
A moss species that has existed for less than 380 million years
d)
A fossil of a fern more than 425 million years old
32.
Genetic variation can aid in the survival of species when the environment changes. Which of the following is the best example of an organism with a genetic variation that could improve survival chances over time?
a)
An ant that is resistant to pesticide
b)
A wasp that is infected with parasites
c)
A cactus that has no spines
d)
A mouse that has learned to avoid mousetraps
33.
Which condition is essential for natural selection to result in a new species?
a)
Unlimited resources
b)
An inherited variation
c)
A static environment
d)
A long life span
34.
After examining the fossil record, scientists have determined that scorpions today are much smaller than their extinct ancestors. For example, Jaekelopterus rhenaniae, a giant scorpion species that lived 255 million to 460 million years ago, was 2.5 meters long. Which of the following conclusions is supported by this information?
a)
Scorpions living today have increased their numbers since they first appeared.
b)
Scorpions in the fossil record are smaller than their descendants are.
c)
Scorpions have changed as a result of natural selection.
d)
Scorpions do not appear in their original state in the fossil record.
35.
Survival of the Fittest and Evolution were proposed by what scientist?
a)
Charles Darwin
b)
Albert Einstein
c)
Steven Hawking
d)
Isaac Newton
36.
Behavioral changes of individuals of a species that allow for better survival. (Acquired traits)
a)
Variation
b)
Adaptation
c)
Behavior
d)
Environment
37.
The theory of evolution by natural selection means that what is changing over time?
a)
The inherited traits of a population.
b)
The acquired traits of a population.
c)
Hair color and eye color
d)
Attractive features.
38.
Why are advantageous traits more likely to be passed onto offspring?
a)
Because they are more likely to survive and reproduce.
b)
Because they come from dominant alleles.
c)
Because they come from recessive alleles.
d)
Because the trait is an acquired phenotype.
39.

The diagram shows data on the evolution of horses. The data in the diagram is evidence that -

a)

a new species of horse suddenly appeared

b)

horses slowly developed over time

c)

horses have similar stages of rapid embryological development

d)

horses have a common ancestry with other hooved animals

40.

The graph shows the number of taxa of reptiles whose fossilized tracks have been found. Which statement is best supported by these data?

a)

competition for food and shelter among reptile species was very low during the Triassic period

b)

a great extinction occurred during the Jurassic period

c)

environmental conditions for speciation were most favorable for reptiles during the Permian period

d)

reptiles adapted to a terrestrial environment during the Cretaceous period

41.

Which layer contains the oldest fossil?

a)

Layer 1

b)

Layer 2

c)

Layer 3

d)

Layer 4

42.
The traits of an organism are passed to its offspring on small coded strands of DNA material called
a)
meiosis
b)
recessive traits
c)
genes
d)
heredity
43.
Genetic drift is change in the allele frequency of a population due to...
a)
random chance
b)
natural selection
c)
non-random mating (sexual selection)
d)
artificial selection
44.
This mechanism of evolution occurs when populations migrate.
a)
Extinction
b)
Gene flow
c)
Genetic drift
d)
Natural Selection
45.
What is the name of the process in which the most favorable traits are passed onto the next generation?
a)
Genetic drift
b)
Gene pool
c)
Gene flow
d)
Natural selection
46.
What is this an example of?
a)
diversity of species
b)
variation
c)
vestigial structures
d)
DNA studies
47.

What process leads to a new species and often begins by a portion of a population become physically or geographically isolated?

a)

Speciation

b)

Selective breeding

c)

genetic change

d)

resistance

48.
Mutations are important because they bring about
a)
death of the organism in which they develop
b)
genetic variation needed for a population to evolve
c)
benefits for the individual, not for the population
d)
Hardey-Weinberg equilibrium within a population
49.
What is the study of the distribution of organisms around the world?
a)
geology
b)
biogeography
c)
paleontology
d)
geography
50.
The differences among a species, like different bird beaks, are called
a)
genes.
b)
variations.
c)
traits.
d)
theories.
51.
Organisms with the most beneficial traits will survive.  This is commonly known as
a)
theory of evolution.
b)
variations.
c)
survival of the fittest.
d)
ecosystems.
52.
Which of the following is NOT an example of natural selection? 
a)
People selectively breeding hamsters.
b)
Insect populations developing resistance to certain pesticides.
c)
Bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics.
d)
Male birds of certain species developing colorful feathers to attract female mates.
53.
What characteristic did Darwin observe about the finches on the Galapagos Islands?
a)
Their feathers 
b)
Genotypes 
c)
Their beaks
d)
Their body sizes
54.
When an organism completely dies out, it is called.....
a)
Adaption
b)
Extinction
c)
Fossilization
d)
Mutation
55.
Two organisms that are closely related would have
a)
very similar DNA sequence
b)
exactly the same DNA sequences
c)
no proteins in common
d)
completely different DNA sequence
56.
In natural selection, the selective agent is the
a)
humans
b)
mutations
c)
breeders
d)
environment
57.
Mutations are important because they bring about
a)
death of the organism in which they develop
b)
genetic variation needed for a population to evolve
c)
benefits for the individual, not for the population
d)
Hardey-Weinberg equilibrium within a population
58.

Which rock layer contains the newest fossils?

a)
F
b)
E
c)
B
d)
C
59.
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.
60.

Images of the embryo and adult stages of three different organisms are shown.


Which of the following is the best conclusion that can be drawn from this evidence?

a)

Having similar embryos indicates that these organisms eat the same types of food.

b)

Having similar embryos indicates that these organisms live in a similar environment.

c)

Having similar embryos indicates that these organisms share a recent common ancestor.

d)

Having similar embryos indicates that a certain protein controls how many legs the adult organisms will have.

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