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Worksheetsevolution
Total questions: 19
Worksheet time: 5hrs 45mins
When scientists discovered seafloor spreading they were able to explain how the plates move around the Earth's surface. Which statement below explains why this is an accepted theory?
It is a theory, because it is a statement about the relationship between the seafloor and the continents.
It is a theory, because several geologists have been able to predict that our continents will move back together in 100 years.
It is a theory, because it describes the exact movement and rate which the plates move around the earth.
It is a theory, because it explains why there is the formation of earthquakes and mountains in certain areas on Earth's surface,
In 1861 paleontologists announced that they had found a fossil, now known as, Archaeopteryx.
Archaeopteryx lived approximately 150 million years ago. Most experts believe that the
fossil belongs to a single species. Archaeopteryx seems to have more in common with other
small Mesozoic dinosaurs than with modern birds due their small size, broad wings, and
inferred ability to fly or glide.
Archaeopteryx shared the following features with the two different types of dinosaurs:
-jaws with sharp teeth
-three fingers with claws
-a long bony tail
-hyper extensible second toes ("killing claw")
-feathers (which also suggest warm-bloodedness) and various features of the skeleton
How can the Archaeopteryx fossils be used to support the theory of evolution?
They can demonstrate that animals from long ago are still alive today.
They show how organisms today share characteristics with fossilized species.
They give evidence to support the idea that organisms inherit the best traits from their
parents.
They indicate that evolution is a theory because scientists do not completely understand
the fossil record.
Our understanding of how Earth has changed overtime has changed as humans ability to use technology has improved. Below are different ways scientists have observed evidence for the theory of plate tectonics over time.
Continental boundaries showed evidence that they fit together and once formed a single landmass that separated and drifted apart.
Rocks of different ages show variable magnetic field direction.
Oceanic crust disappears into the mantle (sea floor spreading)
Why is it important to collect multiple scientific observations for plate tectonic theory?
Because scientists do not understand the theory of plate tectonics so it needs to be modified.
Because a theory needs a large body of evidence to support our understanding of natural events.
Because a theory must be supported with evidence from each scientist studying the natural event.
Because scientist should always add more evidence to existing theories so they cannot be disproved.
This is a process in which organisms gradually change over time.
Environment
Competition
Evolution
Fossils
What most likely caused the finches on the Galapagos Islands to have beaks that were different from the finches on the mainland?
There were different types of predators on the island.
There were different types of food available on the island.
The finches had no water to drink.
The finches on the mainland could not fly high enough.
This is an inherited trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.
Evolution
Population
Environment
Adaptation
Why would scientists use fossil records to help them determine the species of the unknown
primate?
To compare the evolution of its relatives.
To see if the fossil has the same mass as a jaw of other primates.
To determine if the fossil has the same number of teeth as a modern primate.
To identify evolutionary relationships between the unknown and known fossils.
This is a process by which organisms inherited advantageous traits that tend to reproduce more successfully than the other organisms do.
Artificial selection
Natural selection
Populations
Environment
Marley- I believe that the bone is from a dinosaur that flew because it was hollow.
Evelyn- I disagree. The bone is hollow due to the bone decomposing.
Manson- I partially agree with Marley. I believe that the bone is hollow because it is from an ancient bird.
Sheldon- Perhaps the bone is hollow because other organisms ate it.
What steps would a scientist most likely take following a debate to determine a scientific conclusion?
Compare the dinosaur fossil to dinosaur bones discovered by other scientists at a museum.
Reading a paper published by a professor at a university and base further decisions on the evidence found in that paper.
Pick an expert on fossils from the scientific community to conduct a study and decide which scientist came up with the best hypothesis about the fossil.
Share their discovery with other scientists around the world, to include their knowledge on fossils until confirmation is reached across the scientific community.
A well-tested concept that explains a wide range of observations is called a(an):
hypothesis
experiment
cause and effect
scientific theory
Over a long period of time the food supply for several birds on an isolated island has changed.
The original supply of insects, small tender seeds, and vegetation has shrunk while the supply
of tough, large, hard seeds has remained unchanged. Over time the populations of different
species of birds of the island changed with the changing food source. Which statement below
describes the species that was most likely successful after the change in their environment?
A species with small beaks.
A species who lays many eggs.
A species with high genetic variation.
A species that has not evolved before.
In the European large banded snail, shell color is genetic. Scientists who study these snails
found that snails with a lighter colored shell have a lower body temperature than those with a
darker color. Currently, the habitat of the large banded snail is warming due to climate change,
what statement explains how the wild large banded snail population will most likely respond to
climate change?
They will evolve into a new species without a protective shell.
Their shells will get lighter, because their environment will be hotter.
Their shells will get darker so they can absorb more energy from the sun.
They will go extinct as they are unable to adapt to their changing environment.
Which of the following tables correctly compares scientific theory to a scientific law?
Scientific Theory- Holds under any condition, Summary of repeated experimentation, Can only be used to describe a natural event.
Scientific Law- Has some exceptions, Foundation for future experimentation, Can be used to explain observations about a natural event.
Scientific Theory- Broad explanation of a natural event, Holds under all circumstances, Combination of a group of unrelated natural events
Scientific Law- Description of a natural event, Holds under any circumstance, Statement about specific relationships in the natural world
Scientific Theory- Middle step of scientific theory, Does not need evidence, Can be established by a single scientist.
Scientific Law- Final step of scientific process, Needs detailed evidence, Needs broad approval by many scientists.
Scientific Theory- Broad explanation of phenomena an event, Needs broad approval by many scientists, Needs replicated evidence as support
Scientific Law- Detailed description of an event, Can be established by a single scientist, Needs repeated evidence as support
In middle school, Alexis has learned about the law of gravitational attraction which states every
object is attracted to every other object with a force that is determined by their mass and
distance. She also learned about the atomic theory which states that all matter is made up of
tiny indivisible particles (atoms). Why is one considered a law while the other is identified as a
theory?
There is plenty of experimental evidence for how gravity affects an object, so it becomes a
law, but there is little experimental evidence for atoms, so it remains a theory.
All scientists accept gravity's affect on objects as a true concept, and there is no debate
about its existence or how it works, so that makes it a law. There is still debate and
controversy about the atom, and not all scientists accept the idea of the structure of an
atom and its behavior, so it remains a theory.
Gravity can be explained with a mathematical formula and has been proven with repeated
successful testing, so it is a law. There are no mathematical formulas that deals with the
atom, and few tests have been successful in gaining understanding of the atom, so it
remains a theory.
The law of gravitation attraction describes what happens in nature, appears to be without
exception and is supported by repeated successful testing, so it is a law. The atomic
theory is an accepted general principle that combines current knowledge to explain a
natural phenomenon, so it is labeled a theory.
A type of freshwater fish is found in caves and other
underground habitats across Mexico and the southern part of the United States. Both the surface and cave fish belong to the same species, but unlike the cave fish, the surface fish has eyes and is described as having a shiny silvery color.
Which of the following would best explain why the cavefish population is able to survive in caves without eyes?
Cave fish population has survived in caves without eyes because it is an adaptation to the
environment.
A cave fish produced offspring after having lost its eyes in an injury and changed the
population overtime.
The surface was too bright and predators were catching them, so they adapted to be
transparent in color.
Cave fish were too far away from sunlight, causing problems in their development and
changing their appearance.
Marley- I believe that the bone is from a dinosaur that flew because it was hollow.
Evelyn- I disagree. The bone is hollow due to the bone decomposing.
Manson- I partially agree with Marley. I believe that the bone is hollow because it is from an ancient bird.
Sheldon- Perhaps the bone is hollow because other organisms ate it.
Which of the following statements would best help Marley with her scientific explanation?
have shared my thoughts with other scientists and they seem to agree with my explanation.
Based on my knowledge and experience at the National History museum and the age of this bone, I would argue that it belonged to a flying dinosaur.
After reviewing our results, comparing it to the research that has been conducted by other paleontologists, the evidence supports the possibility of that the bone belonged to a flying dinosaur.
In my observation, I noticed that the bone was hollow. I remember learning in college that birds have hollow bones, and considering the age of the bone I believe that the fossil belong to a flying dinosaur.
A fossil of an extinct dinosaur is found and the anatomy of the fossil shows similarities to that of a bird. What could this mean?
This is purely by chance and isn't significant
The extinct dinosaur and modern bird share a common ancestor
All dinosaurs evolved into birds and that's why there aren't any dinosaurs alive today
Dinosaurs choose to fly, and evolved into birds to escape predation and capture food
Different wild cats from the family Felidae are found in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas. They have adapted to a variety of habitats like forests, deserts, wetlands and
mountains.
Which statement below best explains how evolution by natural selection influenced the variation of the cat family - Felidae?
Different traits evolved in each species in order to adapt to the environment where they
live.
Members of Felidae do not share common ancestors so each species has their own
unique traits.
Cats have largely been unaffected by evolution because they are bred and influenced by
humans.
Different adaptations observed in Felidae are not significant enough to be influenced by
natural selection.
Which of the following statements best explains why genetic variation is important to the
survival of a population?
Genetic variation decreases gene flow in the population.
Genetic variation decrease the likelihood of genetic mutation.
Genetic variation increases the size of animals so that more offspring will be produced.
Genetic variation increases the likelihood of an allele being present that is best suited for
the environment.
