Free Printable Evolutionary History Test

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Evolutionary History Test - Fogarty

Total questions: 22

Worksheet time: 11mins

Name

Class

Date

This fossil snake and this living rat both have a structure in their skull called the quadrate bone. What best explains why both species have a quadrate bone?

They inherited the quadrate bone structure from separate ancestor populations.

It is a coincidence that the snake and rat each happen to have the quadrate bone structure.

The snake and rat both share the same ancestor population that had a quadrate bone. They inherited this structure from the ancestor population.

This fossil bird and this living salamander both have tails. However, they appear to look different. What most likely explains why both the bird and salamander have tails and why the tails are different?

The salamander and bird both inherited tails from a shared ancestor population, but this population separated into different environments. In each environment, different types of tails evolved, which helped the populations survive.

These species had separate ancestor populations, and each evolved a tail that helps it survive in its environment.

All species have their own specific body structures, so it is a coincidence that the bird and salamander happen to have different types of tails.

This bandicoot, this sea lion, and this zebra have similarities and differences in their body structures. What does the information about these structures tell you about the ancestors of these species?

Sea lions and zebras share the same ancestor population, but they must not share an ancestor with bandicoots.

None share an ancestor population because different species cannot share an ancestor population.

All three species share an ancestor population, but sea lions and zebras share a more recent ancestor population. This is why neither shares the pouch structure for their babies.

What does this diagram show?

All three species share a common ancestor, but the African elephant and Sumatran tiger are more closely related to each other than they are to the Norway rat.

All three species share a common ancestor, but the Sumatran tiger and Norway rat are more closely related to each other than they are to the African elephant.

All three species share a common ancestor and are equally related to each other.

This living jumping grasshopper and this fossil eurypterid both have body structures called chelicerae. Chelicerae are a body structure used for eating. What best explains why both species have chelicerae?

They inherited chelicerae from separate ancestor populations.

It is a coincidence that this jumping grass hopper and eurypterid each happen to have a chelicerae structure.

The jumping grass hopper and eurypterid both share the same ancestor population that had chelicerae. They inherited this structure from the ancestor population.

This sea anemone and this ctenophore both have tentacles, which are body structures that help them catch food. What most likely explains why both species have tentacles and why the tentacles are different?

Sea anemone and ctenophore both inherited tentacles from a shared ancestor population, but this population separated into different environments. In each environment, different types of tentacles evolved, which helped the populations survive.

This sea anemone and ctenophore are different species, so they do not share an ancestor population. These species had separate ancestor populations, and each evolved tentacles that help it survive in its environment

All species have their own specific body structures, so it is a coincidence that the sea anemone and ctenophore happen to have different types of tentacles.

This red-eared slider, this greater flamingo, and this siamang have similarities and differences in their body structures. What does the information about these structures tell you about the ancestors of these species?

The red-eared slider and the greater flamingo share an ancestor population, but they must not share an ancestor with the siamang.

All three species share an ancestor population, but the red-eared slider and the greater flamingo share a more recent ancestor population. This is why they share the egg-laying structure.

It is a coincidence that these species have some of the same body structures. There is no common ancestor.

The body structures for a population of green herons (a species of bird that lives near water) were stable for a long time. Then, their body structures changed to make the green herons taller. Why did this happen?

It is impossible to say without more information.

The green heron population wanted to be taller.

Their environment must have changed.

This living manta ray and this fossil shark both have a skeleton made of cartilage (which is softer than bone). What best explains why both species have a skeleton like this?

They inherited cartilage skeletons from separate ancestor populations.

The manta ray and shark both share the same ancestor population that had a cartilage skeleton. They inherited this structure from the ancestor population.

It is a coincidence that the manta ray and shark each happen to have a cartilage skeleton structure.

10.

This octopus and this surf clam both have a body structure called a mantle, which covers their soft bodies. What most likely explains why both the octopus and surf clam have mantles and why the mantles are different?

It is a coincidence that the octopus and surf clam each happen to have mantle structures that are different.

The octopus and surf clam are different species, so they do not share an ancestor population. These species had separate ancestor populations, and each evolved a mantle that helps it survive in its environment.

The octopus and surf clam both inherited the mantle structure from a shared ancestor population, but this population separated into different environments. In each environment, different types of mantle evolved, which helped the populations survive.

11.

This echidna, this natterjack toad, and this blue tang have similarities and differences in their body structures. What does the information about these structures tell you about the ancestors of these species?

None share an ancestor population because different species cannot share an ancestor population. It is a coincidence that these species have some of the same body structures.

All three species share an ancestor population, but echidnas and natterjack toads share a more recent ancestor population. This is why they share the neck-bone structure.

Echidnas and natterjack toads share an ancestor population, but they must not share an ancestor with the blue tang because blue tangs have no neck bones.

12.

This living sea star and fossil sea urchin both have body structures that are formed along five lines. What best explains why both species have this five-lined body structure?

They must have inherited this five-lined body structure from separate ancestor populations.

The sea star and sea urchin both share the same ancestor population that had a five-lined body structure. They inherited this structure from the ancestor population.

It is a coincidence that this sea star and sea urchin each have this specific type of five-lined body structure.

13.

This tortoise and this moray eel both have jaws that help them grab food. What most likely explains why both have jaws and why the jaws are different?

It is a coincidence that this tortoise and moray eel each happen to have jaws that are different.

Tortoises and moray eels are different species, so they do not share an ancestor population. These species had separate ancestor populations, and each evolved jaws that help it survive in its environment.

Tortoises and moray eels both inherited jaws from a shared ancestor population, but this population separated into different environments. In each environment, different types of jaws evolved that help the populations survive.

14.

The body structures for a population of chimpanzees were stable for a long time. Then, their body structures changed, making the chimpanzees stronger. Why did this happen?

It is impossible to say without more information.

The chimpanzee population wanted to be stronger.

Their environment must have changed.

15.

The South American rainforest has continued to be a stable environment for a long period of time. What would be the best way to describe the animals in their environment?

The body structures of the animals living in the rainforest will become very different.

The body structures of the animals living in the rainforest will continue to stay similar.

There is not enough information about the rainforest's climate.

16.

Refer to the evolutionary tree below. What term should replace the question mark?

Descendent Species

Common Ancestor Population

Organism

17.

Which organisms might lead you to believe that this model is incorrect?

A and G

B and C

F and D

18.

Which species is the least closely related to Species D?

Species A

Species F

Species C

19.

Suppose a certain species of speckled moth lives in a forest of white trees. Some of the moths are white in color, and some are black. What do you expect to happen to the populations of the white and the black moths over time?

The black moth population will increase and the white moth population will decrease.

The white moth population will increase and the black moth population will decrease.

Both populations will increase over time.

20.

Select the best option to fill in for Species B that has the adaptive traits for a Swamp environment.

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

21.

Which option shows the correct order of events in the process of speciation?

An ancestor population lives in a stable environment. Two descendant species look very different, but have similar structures. The population gets separated. Two descendant species look very similar but have small differences.

An ancestor population lives in a stable environment. The population gets separated. Two descendant species look very similar but have small differences. Two descendant species look very different but have similar structures.

Two descendant species look very similar but have small differences. An ancestor population lives in an stable environment. The population gets separated. Two descendant species look very different, but have similar structures.

22.

Which of the following structures are shared between the following fossils?

Front limb

Backbone

Back limb

All of them

100 %

Evolutionary History Test - Fogarty

Total questions: 22

Worksheet time: 11mins

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