WorksheetsScientific Knowledge & Evolution
Total questions: 50
Worksheet time: 2hrs 40mins
This makes an organism more suited to its environment
Birds are eating all the green beetles. Because the brown beetles are surviving they reproduce more and make more brown beetles. This is called ___________
Artificial Selection
The Theory of the Origin of Species
Natural Selection
Mutation
Scientists believe horses evolved over a period of 50 million years. How did they change?
They became much larger
Their toes eventually were replaced by a hoof
Their environment changed from a forest to a grassland environment
All of the above
What most likely caused the finches on the Galapagos Islands to have beaks that were different from the finches living on the South American mainland?
They were different types of food available on the island.
The finches on the islands had to drink salt water.
There were different types of predators living on the island.
The finches on the mainland built different types of nests.
The pictures below show fossils of the pakicetus and aetiocetus, ancestors of the modern gray whale. What do the placement of the nostrils show? (click on the image to make it bigger)
evidence that they evolved over time from an earlier species adapting physical characteristics to what was best suited for their environment
evidence that the species lived in different areas of Earth at the same time which required different physical characteristics to suit their environments
evidence that they did not change over time and the physical characteristics of the species remained the same
evidence that the species migrated to environments that were best suited for their physical characteristics
The longnose butterfly fish has a dark spot near its tail that looks like an eye. Its "eyespot" makes predators think they are attacking the head rather than the tail. Why does the longnose butterfly fish have an evolutionary advantage over other fish?
It is more effective at finding mates than other fish.
It is more effective at catching shrimp and worms than other fish.
It is likely to produce more offspring that survive to maturity.
It uses less energy to swim than other fish.
A scientist described two modern-day species as sharing a common ancestor. What does it mean when two species share a common ancestor?
It means that the two species are actually the same species
It means that one of the species evolved from other species
It means that both species evolved from one species that lived in the past.
Joe tells Gabby his theory about why sea turtles nest on the beach instead of in the ocean. He says, “The turtle eggs would sink to the bottom of the ocean, and the baby turtle would drown. I know this because my uncle is a fisherman, and he told me this information. Gabby tells Joe that his theory is not scientific. Why does Joe’s idea not meet the requirements to be a scientific theory?
Joe’s idea is already a scientific law.
Joe’s idea is not supported by scientific evidence.
Joe’s idea is a good guess that can be tested by experiments.
Joe and his uncle are not scientists.
In 1897, Joseph Thomson discovered that atoms contained electrons. He proposed a change in the atomic theory of that time, and the theory was modified because of his discovery. Since Thomson’s discovery, atomic theory has been further modified. What is the best explanation for why scientific theories are modified?
Theories more than ten years old are usually out of date.
Scientists want to prove that the work of other scientists is wrong.
New evidence that supports a change prompts scientists to modify earlier theories.
So much information is available today that it is harder to focus research and disprove theories.
The law of universal gravitation states that both mass and distance of objects affect the gravitational force between them. Gravitational force increases as the mass of the objects increase. Gravitational force decreases as distance between the objects increases. Why are these statements considered scientific law, and not scientific theory?
The statements tell what happens, and not why it happens.
The statements involve mass and distance measurements.
The statements explain the attractive force between two objects.
The statements predict what will happen under certain conditions.
Lilly was trying to explain to her friend the difference between a theory and a law in science. She used the theory of plate tectonics and the law of superposition as examples. Lilli explained the difference by using non-scientific language. Which statement could Lilly use to correctly describe the difference between a theory and a law in science?
A theory describes a natural event, while a law explains it.
A theory explains a natural event, while a law predicts it.
A theory explains a natural event, while a law describes it.
A theory predicts a natural event, while a law explains it.
Which of these explains how a natural phenomenon works or happens?
theory
law
Which of these describes a natural phenomenon or relationship that always occurs under specific conditions
theory
law
Which of these can be represented mathematically and provide no explanation why a phenomenon occurs?
theory
law
Scientists create both scientific theories and scientific laws as they make observations and conduct experiments about the natural world. Which of the following statements most accurately compares the difference between scientific theories and scientific laws
science laws are based on evidence while science theories are not
science theories involve only biology, while laws involve all types of science
science theories involve mathematical equations, while science laws are based on observations
science theories are ideas that explain natural events, while science laws predict what will happen in a natural event.
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.
(hint: Newton)
Hypothesis
Theory
Law
True or False. Theories change because new technology improves our ability to observe the natural world.
True
False
Force = mass x gravity
Hypothesis
Theory
Law
All the measurements and data scientists gather in support of a scientific explanation.
empirical evidence
explains
evidence
Select ALL that both theories and laws have in common.
Based on empirical evidence
Supported by a large amount of data
Revised or updated with new evidence
Happens under very specific conditions in nature
At one point in time, many people thought disease was caused by fate or by incorrect behavior. Following the invention of the microscope, bacteria were discovered. After this, a new theory of what causes disease arose that was known as the germ theory. Why was the original theory modified?
It quickly became obvious that germs cause disease.
The person who invented the microscope became ill.
New evidence prompted revision to the original ideas.
The original theory was modified due to heavy political influence.
Species with ______variation are ______likely to survive.
more, less
less, less
less, more
more, more
Differences in DNA between individuals or populations
Environmental Variation
Genetic Variation
Adaptive Feature
Genetic Engineering
Why is genetic variation important for natural selection?
It ensures that all members of a species are identical.
It provides a mechanism for species to become extinct.
It provides the raw material for evolution, allowing populations to adapt to changing environments.
It decreases the survival rate of a species.
What is natural selection?
The process by which individuals with beneficial traits produce more offspring, leading to changes in the traits of living organisms over time.
The ability of an organism to change its color in response to environmental changes.
A random process that results in the survival of the fittest individuals.
The process by which individuals acquire traits through use and disuse.
How does adaptation affect a species' survival?
It decreases a species' ability to survive and reproduce.
It has no effect on a species' survival.
It increases a species' ability to survive and reproduce in its environment.
It only affects a species' coloration and patterns.
What process is being shown in this image?
Variation
Natural Selection
Selective Breeding
Homeostasis
Changes in inherited characteristics can cause a species to change into a new one. This change over time is called?
Graduation
Selective Breeding
Revolution
Evolution
Four pieces of evidence collected by scientists are listed. How did the scientists most likely use these pieces of evidence?
to support the cell theory
to support the theory of evolution
to explain the process of DNA replication
to explain the process of genetic mutations
The picture below shows a mole rat, a mammal that lives underground, that still has eyes but is blind. The presence of useless eyes on a mole rat is evidence of which scientific theory?
the theory of cells
the theory of relativity
the theory of evolution
the theory of superposition
The pictures below show the forelimbs of six different organisms. Using this picture, which statement is correct?
These forelimbs have similar bones, indicating that the organisms all have the same diet.
These forelimbs have similar bones, indicating that the organisms all live in the same habitat.
These forelimbs have similar bones, indicating that the organisms share a common ancestor.
These forelimbs have similar bones, indicating that the organisms' evolution happened quickly.
The picture below shows the teeth and bones of a horse and several horse like organisms.
Do these fossils support the theory of evolution?
no, because they do not show a pattern of change since these horse like organisms all look distinctively different
yes, because all of these horse like organisms contain the simplest and most primitive type of cells, indicating that they are related
yes, because they suggest that the feet and teeth of the horse like organisms adapted to changing environments and available food sources
no, because all mammals have teeth, bones, hair, and the ability to move from place to place
