Deck 11: Evidence of Evolution

Question 1

Aristotle's ideas on the natural world greatly influenced ____, who believed that the "great chain of being" extended from ____.

A)Asian beliefs; lifeless forms to humans
B)Hindu systems of thought; plants to spiritual beings
C)tribal beliefs; lifeless forms to spiritual beings
D)later European thinkers; plants to spiritual beings
E)Thomas Malthus' treatise on population; lifeless forms to mammals

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Biogeography is the study of the ____.

A)distribution of land masses
B)patterns in the geographical distribution of species
C)patterns of species dispersal
D)patterns of population demographics
E)the biodiversity of plant and animal species

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Individuals with adaptive traits tend to survive longer and produce more offspring, leading to ___ of the species.

A)extinction
B)descent
C)artificial selection
D)evolution
E)a decrease in fitness

Answer 3

D

Question 4

An unusual, worldwide formation of sedimentary rock called the K-Pg boundary sequence contains rare elements that are associated with a(n)____.

A)volcanic eruption
B)worldwide flood
C)Ice Age
D)asteroid impact
E)large earthquake

Question 5

The similar body shape and color of dolphins and sharks is an example of ____.

A)variations in master genes
B)homologous structures
C)anatomical homology
D)convergent evolution
E)divergent evolution

Question 6

What is an asteroid?

A)dust and small rock orbiting around the sun
B)a ball of ice with a tail
C)a small planet
D)a small sun with weak solar emissions
E)debris from a large planet

Question 7

____ is the degree of adaptation to a specific environment.

A)Fecundity
B)Fertility
C)Fitness
D)Adaptation
E)Natural selection

Question 8

____ is the study of body plans and structures.

A)Evolution
B)Biogeography
C)Comparative morphology
D)Comparative physiology
E)Natural history

Question 9

After studying the wildlife in the Amazon basin, ____ proposed the theory of natural selection.

A)Cuvier
B)Lyell
C)Lamarck
D)Aristotle
E)Wallace

Question 10

Lyell's theory of uniformity proposed that ____.

A)Earth was shaped by gradual, repetitive change
B)catastrophic geological events caused extinctions
C)geologic events that occurred to shape Earth no longer occur
D)all populations produce more offspring than their environment can support
E)natural selection drives evolutionary change

Question 11

Which radical idea did Cuvier propose based on his studies of Earth's history?

A)extinction of species
B)evolution of species
C)Earth as billions of years old
D)an unchanging Earth
E)static species composition

Question 12

According to ____, environmental pressures caused changes in body parts, which were directed by ____ and passed onto offspring.

A)Lyell; genetics
B)Lamarck; fluida
C)Darwin; genetics
D)Cuvier; lineages
E)Aristotle; fluida

Question 13

Which early naturalist is known for describing nature as a continuum of organization?

A)Darwin
B)Plato
C)Mendel
D)Galileo
E)Aristotle

Question 14

Lyell's ideas that gradual, everyday geologic processes had shaped Earth challenged the prevailing estimate of Earth's age at ____, because ____.

A)6 billion years old; only catastrophic geologic events could sculpt Earth's surface
B)600 million years old; species needed millions of years to evolve
C)600,000 years old; nobody had observed the evolution of species
D)60,000 years old; geologic processes quickly change landscapes on Earth's surface
E)6,000 years old; such slow geologic processes would take millions of years to sculpt Earth's surface

Question 15

An asteroid impact on Earth is often associated with the formation of ____.

A)large floods
B)erupting volcanoes
C)magnetized rock
D)fossils
E)shocked quartz

Question 16

Scientists have determined that this crater was created by a(n)____.

 

A)subsidence event
B)comet
C)asteroid
D)volcanic eruption
E)earthquake

Question 17

Darwin incorporated Malthus' idea that _____ into his theory of evolution.

A)humans have the capacity to produce more offspring than the environment can support
B)populations will always produce more individuals than the environment can support
C)humans will only produce the number of individuals that the environment can support
D)populations will never produce offspring in stressful environments
E)populations under environmental stress will become extinct

Question 18

A mass extinction, in which the dinosaurs disappeared from Earth, occurred approximately ____ years ago.

A)​6500
B)​65,000
C)​650,000
D)65,000,000
E)650,000,000

Question 19

The accepted explanation for the disappearance of the dinosaurs is _____.

A)the result of an asteroid impact
B)the loss of food sources
C)competition by mammals
D)gas emissions from volcanoes
E)giant tsunamis caused by earthquakes

Question 20

The discovery of identical plant and animal fossils by Alfred Wegener in 1915 on either side of the Atlantic Ocean is evidence of ____.

A)analogous structures
B)catastrophism
C)plate tectonics
D)comparative morphology
E)the great chain of being

Question 21

Finding an abundance of iridium in the K-Pg boundary sequence worldwide pointed to evidence that this layer was of ____ origin.

A)carbon
B)organic
C)geologically recent
D)prehistoric
E)extraterrestrial

Question 22

Fossils older than ____ cannot be dated by their ¹⁴C content because ____.

A)60,000 years; most of the ¹⁴C has decayed by this time
B)12,000 years; half of the ¹⁴C has decayed by this time
C)6,000 years; older fossils do not contain carbon
D)2,000 years; most of the ¹⁴C has decayed by this time
E)500 years; half of the ¹⁴C has decayed by this time

Question 23

When a certain form of a trait increases the fitness of the individual, this allele will tend to ____ over time.

A)affect the function of vestigial structures
B)lead to extinction of the population
C)be eliminated from the population
D)decrease in frequency in the population
E)increase in frequency in the population

Question 24

In geological terms, a sudden, violent application of extreme pressure can be detected by the presence of ____.

A)sand
B)zircon
C)lead
D)carbon
E)tektite

Question 25

Typically, where would the oldest fossils be found?

A)superficial layer of the Earth
B)deep layer of the Earth
C)on the ocean floor
D)in lake beds
E)on mountaintops

Question 26

The method that indicates the age of a substance by measuring the relative content of a radioisotope and its daughter elements is called ____ dating.

A)fossil
B)radiometric
C)isotope
D)zircon
E)uranium

Question 27

Fossil evidence of ____ would be found in the deepest layers of Earth.

A)dinosaur
B)monkeys
C)frogs
D)bacteria
E)human

Question 28

In his voyage around the world in the Beagle , what observation did Darwin make about animals?

A)Animals in similar climate zones were similar regardless of where they lived.
B)Animals isolated on islands were unlike those living on nearby mainlands.
C)Animals living closer together appeared more closely related to each other than to animals living further away.
D)Fossils of animals showed characteristics that were unlike any surviving species.
E)There appeared to be no genetic connections between any of the animals he observed.

Question 29

¹⁴ C is a radioisotope of carbon that decays into ____.

A)potassium
B)oxygen
C)carbon dioxide
D)nitrogen
E)sulfur

Question 30

Which type of fossil is considered a trace fossil?

A)footprint
B)shell
C)seeds
D)teeth
E)spores

Question 31

Darwin was inspired by ____ ideas on the geologic history of Earth, which allowed him to better understand the geology of the regions he would visit on his journey aboard the Beagle .

A)Lyell's
B)Cuvier's
C)Aristotle's
D)Paley's
E)Lamarck's

Question 32

Which factor influences radioactive decay?

A)time
B)temperature
C)pressure
D)moisture
E)chemical bonding

Question 33

The time it takes for half of the atoms in a radioisotope sample to decay is called the ____.

A)decay time
B)half-life
C)isotopic life
D)release time
E)denature time

Question 34

How do exposed layers of sedimentary rock in the Grand Canyon reveal clues about the geologic time scale?

A)The chemical composition of each layer indicates the conditions on Earth when the layer was deposited.
B)Fossils of soft-bodied animals are prevalent in sedimentary rock.
C)Radiometric dating using ¹⁴C of fossils in each layer can accurately predict their age up one million years ago.
D)The chemical composition of each layer can be determined by radiometric dating.
E)The oldest fossils are found near the surface, while the most recent fossils are found at deeper layers.

Question 35

Fossilization most often occurs through the geologic process(es)of ____.

A)dehydration
B)dissolution
C)melting and lithification
D)dissolution and lithification
E)sedimentation and compaction

Question 36

Based on the structural similarity of vertebrate limbs, we can conclude that these structures are examples of ____.

A)biogeography
B)mutations in master genes
C)analogous structures
D)morphological convergence
E)morphological divergence

Question 37

The accumulating data from biogeography, comparative morphology, and fossil discoveries led early naturalists to propose that species ____.

A)helped sculpt Earth's surface by foraging activities
B)are all evolutionarily related
C)had changed over time
D)never went extinct
E)were created in a perfect state

Question 38

After the publication of On the Origin of Species , the idea of evolution was generally accepted. What part of Darwin's theory of evolution, however, was fiercely debated?

A)natural selection
B)environmental change
C)gradual change
D)the old age of the Earth
E)limited resources

Question 39

Darwin's observation of vastly different species living in similar island environments led him to conclude that each population had arisen separately from existing species on these islands, since the geographic isolation prevented migration of species from the mainlands. This scenario is an example of ____.

A)biogeography
B)plate tectonics
C)comparative morphology
D)morphological convergence
E)homologous structures

Question 40

Which observation led Darwin to propose that the glyptodont is related to the armadillo?

A)Both species lived in the same region at the same time.
B)Both species went extinct at the same time.
C)Both species are adapted for marine life.
D)Both species have helmets, bony shells, and unusual bony plates.
E)Each species is found in different regions of the world.

Question 41

The radioactive decay of an isotope can be best compared to a ____.

A)clock
B)radio
C)mp3 player
D)metronome
E)microwave oven

Question 42

How are fossils older than 60,000 years dated?

A)directly dating the fossil with ¹⁴C
B)directly dating the fossil with uranium 238
C)dating rock formations below the fossil only
D)dating rock formations above the fossil only
E)dating rock formations above and below the fossil

Question 43

The discovery of immense ridges and trenches stretching thousands of kilometers across the seafloor in the 1950's led to acceptance of the theory of ____.

A)magnetic poles
B)creationism
C)evolution
D)natural selection
E)plate tectonics

Question 44

The super continent _____ included the landmasses that are currently found in the southern hemisphere.

A)Antarctica
B)Pangea
C)Eurasia
D)Caprica
E)Gondwana

Question 45

Of the following, which is the oldest event?

A)origin of fungi
B)appearance of land tetrapods
C)formation of Pangea
D)age of dinosaurs
E)appearance of whales

Question 46

The genomes of closely related species are more similar than distantly related species because _____.

A)the less time since the species diverged, the more lethal DNA mutations will accumulate
B)the more time since the species diverged, the more neutral DNA mutations will accumulate
C)the less time since the species diverged, the more neutral DNA mutations will accumulate
D)the  more time since the species converged, the fewer adaptive DNA mutations will accumulate
E)all organisms will accumulate lethal DNA mutations at the same rate

Question 47

What is the correct order of land mass formation starting with the oldest and moving towards the most recent?

A)Pangea  Gondwana  Earth's crust
B)Earth's crust  Pangea  Gondwana
C)Earth's crust  Gondwana  Pangea
D)Gondwana  Earth's crust  Pangea
E)Pangea  Earth's crust  Gondwana

Question 48

To determine the dietary habits of dinosaurs, their _____ can be analyzed for the presence of undigested plant material or bones.

A)coprolites
B)eggs
C)fossilized body parts
D)footprints
E)soft body parts

Question 49

Which condition favors fossilization?

A)death in a dry area
B)rapid decomposition
C)a cartilaginous skeleton
D)a bony skeleton
E)death in an active geologic area

Question 50

The theory of continental movement is called ____.

A)plate tectonics
B)plate drift
C)seismology
D)fault line movement
E)sea floor spreading

Question 51

If the 14C to 12C ratio present in a fossil is 25% of that in living organism, how many years have passed since this fossilized organism died?

A)1,432
B)2,865
C)5,730
D)11,460
E)17,190

Question 52

The Kaibab limestone layer of sedimentary rock is the closest to Earth's surface; therefore ____.

A)it contains fossils of extinct species only
B)it contains the greatest density of fossils
C)it is part of the K-Pg boundary sequence
D)it is the oldest layer
E)it is the youngest layer

Question 53

The supercontinent that once contained all of Earth's land masses is known as _____.
Caprica

A)Pangea
B)Pandora
C)Gondwana
D)Laurasia
E)Caprica

Question 54

Which event occurred first?

A)evolution of vascular plants
B)evolution of modern humans
C)oxygen accumulation in the Earth's atmosphere
D)evolution of prokaryotes
E)evolution of reptiles

Question 55

Missing links in the fossil record prevent scientists from determining evolutionary lineages until _____ are discovered.

A)marine fossils
B)homologous structures in related organisms
C)partial fossils
D)fossils showing intermediate body forms
E)coprolites of related organisms

Question 56

All vertebrate embryos have _____ at some point during embryonic development, indicating a common evolutionary ancestor.

A)analogous structures
B)four limb buds, a tail, and somites
C)two  limb buds and a tail
D)a backbone and four limb buds
E)back vertebrae, two limb buds, a tail and somites

Question 57

Hind leg bones in whales are an example of ____ structures.

A)vestigial
B)analogous
C)homologous
D)adaptive
E)fossilized

Question 58

Bat wings, human forearms, elephant legs, and cat forelimbs are collectively referred to as _____.

A)analogous structures
B)homologous structures
C)vestigial structures
D)homozygous structures
E)heterozygous structures

Question 59

Which types of fossils are we most likely to find?

A)fossils of animals that were victims of predators 
B)fossils of flowers that produce a single seed
C)jellyfish fossils
D)fossilized mushrooms spores
E)fossils of animals that lived on steep slopes

Question 60

Zircon crystals that form in molten magma are easily dated because they initially contain ____.

A)no lead
B)no uranium
C)uranium but no lead
D)lead but no uranium
E)both lead and uranium

Question 62

Cactus spines are modified leaves adapted for dry climates, while the leaves of the Venus fly trap plant are adapted to capture insects. These structures are therefore ____.

A)analogous
B)homologous
C)recessive
D)homozygous
E)morphogenic

Question 63

Which genes guide the formation of specific body parts during embryonic development?

A)homeotic
B)homologous
C)recessive
D)dominant
E)homozygotic

Question 67

The study of the body structures of the ostrich, emu and rhea shown here is an example of  ____.

A)morphological divergence
B)comparative morphology
C)anatomical convergence
D)biogeography
E)radiometric dating

Question 69

Morphological divergence ____.

A)is the change in body form from that of a common ancestor
B)is the change in body form to resemble that of an ancestor
C)implies no change in body form over time
D)does not occur in related species
E)only occurs in unrelated species

Question 72

Studies of mitochondrial DNA among maternally related individuals allow recent____ to be identified.

A)mutations
B)genomes
C)master genes
D)amino acid sequences
E)lineages

Question 73

Variations in the timing of master gene expression during embryonic development in vertebrates is responsible for ____.

A)mitochondrial DNA expression
B)protein synthesis
C)differences in adult body form
D)development of vestigial structures
E)brain development

Question 75

An example of morphological divergence is the wing of a bat and the ____.

A)hand of a human
B)foot of a human
C)femur of an elephant
D)femur of a human
E)leg of a chicken

Question 76

Master genes that affect development tend to be highly ____; therefore, similarities in patterns of embryonic development reflect shared ancestry that can be evolutionarily ancient.

A)homologous
B)degraded
C)conserved
D)mutated
E)related

Question 77

Similar structures that have evolved independently in different lineages that do not share common ancestry are called ____.

A)analogous structures
B)homologous structures
C)vestigial structures
D)convergent structures
E)divergent structures

Question 80

Comparisons between the cytochrome b protein sequence in the honeycreeper versus the deer mouse and the Gough Island finch reveals eighteen and four amino acid differences, respectively. Therefore, _____.

A)the honeycreeper is more closely related to the deer mouse
B)the honeycreeper and the Gough Island finch are the same species
C)the honeycreeper is more closely related to the Gough Island finch
D)no DNA mutations have occurred during the evolution of the honeycreeper
E)the DNA sequences of all three species are identical