wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

NEW

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Biology EOC Evolution

Total questions: 25

Worksheet time: 25mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

A scientist studying the evolution of a species of sea scallop wrote the following description of its evolution:


“The fossil record shows several periods of rapid speciation. Each period spans several thousand years. The speciation periods are separated by hundreds of thousands of years where no changes were observed. During the short speciation periods, many different species evolved rapidly.”

The scientist concludes that the evidence supports one form of evolutionary change. Which form is BEST supported by the evidence cited?

a)

gradualism

b)

coevolution

c)

convergent evolution

d)

punctuated equilibrium

2.

Which cellular organelle is thought to have evolved from a prokaryote that was able to use oxygen?

a)

chloroplast

b)

Golgi apparatus

c)

mitochondrion

d)

ribosome

3.

Which statement provides evidence that mitochondria MOST likely evolved when a primitive eukaryotic cell engulfed a prokaryotic bacteria?

a)

Both mitochondria and bacteria have a circular DNA molecule.

b)

Both mitochondria and bacteria have the same type of ribosomes.

c)

Both mitochondria and bacteria have a double-membrane nucleus.

d)

Both mitochondria and bacteria have the same amount of cytoplasm.

4.

According to the fossil record, when did episodes of rapid speciation commonly take place?

a)

while Earth’s continents were joined

b)

while Earth’s habitats were stable

c)

before major climatic changes

d)

following mass extinctions

5.

What is the term used to describe the movement of alleles between populations?

a)

Genetic drift

b)

Gene flow

c)

Natural selection

d)

Mutation

6.

Which statement BEST explains why evolution is classified as a theory?

a)

It is a set of hypotheses supported by scientific findings.

b)

It has been proved by valid scientific experiments.

c)

It explains observations more simply than other available models.

d)

It is accepted by a majority of scientists working in relevant fields,

7.

The discovery of a fossilized animal with teeth, a long bony tail, and feathered wings helped to establish which evolutionary sequence?

a)

rodents to bats

b)

reptiles to birds

c)

aquatic organisms to land-based organisms

d)

invertebrates to flying organisms

8.

Fossil records indicate that species changes generally

a)

stop when a species forms.

b)

speed up with stable conditions.

c)

take place over many generations.

d)

are independent of the environment.

9.

According to the endosymbiotic theory, the outer membrane of the chloroplast originated from which organelle?

a)

the lysosome of an engulfed prokaryotic cell

b)

the chloroplast of an engulfed prokaryotic cell

c)

the cell membrane of an eukaryotic host cell

d)

the chloroplast of an eukaryotic host cell

10.

Rhinoceroses and horses are related. They have very similar digestive systems and an odd number of toes on their feet. Horses have one toe, and rhinoceroses have three. These facts BEST support which claim?

a)

Horses and rhinoceroses share a common ancestor.

b)

Horses and rhinoceroses are genetically identical.

c)

Horses are the ancestors of modern rhinoceroses.

d)

Horses have descended from modern rhinoceroses.

11.

All dogs have the common ancestor, the wolf. This is an example of -

a)

divergent evolution

b)

convergent evolution

12.

Which of the following is an example of a vestigial structure?

a)

the wings of a red-tailed hawk

b)

the hind limbs of a house cat

c)

the fins of sharks

d)

the wings of an ostrich

13.

Some organisms that share a common ancestor have features that have different functions, but similar structures. These are known as

a)

vestigial structures

b)

analogous structures

c)

homologous structures

d)

fossil structures

14.

Two organisms that are closely related would have

a)

very similar DNA sequences

b)

exactly the same DNA sequences

c)

no proteins in common

d)

completely different DNA sequences

15.

The hind leg bones in a whale are examples of

a)

homologous structures

b)

analogous structures

c)

fossils

d)

vestigial structures

16.

Darwin’s finches is an example of this type of evolution.

a)

Divergent

b)

Coevolution

c)

Convergent

d)

Artificial

17.

Wings of a bat and wings of an insect are examples of this...

a)

Homologous Structure

b)

Analogous Structure

c)

Vestigial Structure

d)

None of the above

18.

What does it mean when organisms share a common ancestor?

a)

They evolved from one species that lived in the past

b)

They are the same species

c)

The organisms have exactly the same traits

d)

The organisms are very different from one another

19.

If an organism has a vestigial structure, that structure likely once had a function in a(n)

a)

close relative

b)

early ancestor

c)

unrelated organism

d)

embryological stage

20.

Evolution is a THEORY and is subject to change if new evidence is found.

a)

True

b)

False

21.

Using the CLADOGRAM, which letters represent the closest in evolution?

a)

A and B

b)

B and E

c)

C and D

d)

C and E

22.

Which of the following best describes the concept of natural selection?

a)

A) The random change in allele frequencies in a population.

b)

B) The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

c)

C) The movement of genes from one population to another.

d)

D) The formation of new species from existing species.

23.

What evidence supports the theory of evolution by common descent?

a)

A) The presence of vestigial structures in organisms.

b)

B) The occurrence of genetic drift in small populations.

c)

C) The existence of analogous structures in different species.

d)

D) The process of artificial selection in agriculture.

24.

Which experiment would best demonstrate the principle of adaptive radiation?

a)

A) Observing the beak variations in finches on the Galápagos Islands.

b)

B) Measuring the growth rate of bacteria in different nutrient media.

c)

C) Comparing the DNA sequences of different mammalian species.

d)

D) Studying the migration patterns of birds across continents.

25.

How does the fossil record provide evidence for evolution?

a)

A) It shows that all species have remained unchanged over time.

b)

B) It reveals the existence of transitional forms between different groups of organisms.

c)

C) It indicates that all life forms appeared simultaneously.

d)

D) It demonstrates that genetic mutations occur at a constant rate.