Question 1

Radioactive decay is influenced solely by ____.

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

​Carbon isotope dating is useful in studying the history of life because ____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​the ratio of 14C to 12C in living organisms changed at key geological events 
B) ​12C decays at a set rate based on a set time scale 
C) ​14C is incorporated into fossil remains only 
D) ​carbon is only incorporated into living organisms 
E) carbon is lost uniformly once an organism dies 
A) ​the ratio of 14C to 12C in living organisms changed at key geological events 
B) ​12C decays at a set rate based on a set time scale 
C) ​14C is incorporated into fossil remains only 
D) ​carbon is only incorporated into living organisms 
E) carbon is lost uniformly once an organism dies

Question 3

Naturalists were puzzled when they observed body parts with no apparent function. This observation led them to question which traditional theory?

Accepted Answer

A) evolution by natural selection 
B) environmental trait selection 
C) the great chain of being 
D) competition from limited resources 
E) survival of the fittest 
A) evolution by natural selection 
B) environmental trait selection 
C) the great chain of being 
D) competition from limited resources 
E) survival of the fittest

Question 4

Match the description with the correct term.
-where the advancing edge of one plate plows under an adjacent plate and buckles it

Accepted Answer

A) fault 
B) trench 
C) ridge 
D) hot spot 
E) plate tectonics 
A) fault 
B) trench 
C) ridge 
D) hot spot 
E) plate tectonics

Question 5

Zircon crystals form from volcanic rock. The age of zircon crystals can be precisely measured. What, exactly, is measured in zircon crystals that allows dating of the volcanic rock?

Accepted Answer

Zircon consists mainly of ordered arrays

Question 6

The age of fossils can be determined by radiometric dating. Match the following terms with the best descriptions. Note that all options may not be used.
-This isotope decays.

Accepted Answer

A) 12C 
B) 14C 
C) 5730 years 
D) 14C to 12C ratio 
E) half-life
F)decay 
A) 12C 
B) 14C 
C) 5730 years 
D) 14C to 12C ratio 
E) half-life
F)decay

Question 7

Radiometric dating of the most ancient fossils involves ____.

Accepted Answer

A) dating volcanic rocks above and below the fossil-containing layer of sedimentary rock 
B) calculating the ratio of 14C to 12C in a sample of the fossil 
C) counting the rings of trees found with the fossils 
D) comparison of unknown fossils with fossils of known age 
E) transmission of radio waves through the fossil 
A) dating volcanic rocks above and below the fossil-containing layer of sedimentary rock 
B) calculating the ratio of 14C to 12C in a sample of the fossil 
C) counting the rings of trees found with the fossils 
D) comparison of unknown fossils with fossils of known age 
E) transmission of radio waves through the fossil

Question 8

Which naturalist proposed that many species that once existed are now extinct?

Accepted Answer

A) Cuvier 
B) Lamarck 
C) Darwin 
D) Malthus 
E) Wallace 
A) Cuvier 
B) Lamarck 
C) Darwin 
D) Malthus 
E) Wallace

Question 9

What is natural selection?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection means that the phenoty

Question 10

Match the statements with one of the geologic times listed below.
-extinction event at end led to demise of dinosaurs

Accepted Answer

A) Carboniferous 
B) Cretaceous 
C) Ordovician 
D) Pleistocene 
E) Triassic 
A) Carboniferous 
B) Cretaceous 
C) Ordovician 
D) Pleistocene 
E) Triassic

Question 11

According to Darwin, natural selection is based on the ____ found in populations.

Accepted Answer

A) acquired characters 
B) variations 
C) weakest members 
D) noncompetitors 
E) similarities 
A) acquired characters 
B) variations 
C) weakest members 
D) noncompetitors 
E) similarities

Question 12

​When examining the fossil record, organisms most closely related to living species will be found ____.

Accepted Answer

A) ​in the topmost layers 
B) ​in the lowest layers 
C) ​on the Earth's exposed surface 
D) ​as trace fossils only 
E) ​on shorelines 
A) ​in the topmost layers 
B) ​in the lowest layers 
C) ​on the Earth's exposed surface 
D) ​as trace fossils only 
E) ​on shorelines

Question 13

A naturalist is studying morphological patterns that are shared between species in two temperate rainforests that are located on different continents. This is an example of which field of study?

Accepted Answer

A) biomorphology 
B) comparative ecology 
C) biological geology 
D) comparative geography 
E) biogeography 
A) biomorphology 
B) comparative ecology 
C) biological geology 
D) comparative geography 
E) biogeography

Question 14

Fossils found in the lowest geological strata are generally the most ____.

Accepted Answer

A) advanced 
B) complex 
C) primitive 
D) widespread 
E) specialized 
A) advanced 
B) complex 
C) primitive 
D) widespread 
E) specialized

Question 15

Which habitat is most likely to be rich in fossils?

Accepted Answer

A) eroding hillsides 
B) deserts 
C) polar ice caps 
D) bed of former shallow sea 
E) rocky plateau 
A) eroding hillsides 
B) deserts 
C) polar ice caps 
D) bed of former shallow sea 
E) rocky plateau

Question 16

The fossil record is incomplete because ____.

Accepted Answer

A) only aquatic organisms were preserved as fossils 
B) organisms tend to decay before becoming fossilized 
C) invertebrates are preferentially preserved over vertebrates 
D) geological processes help to preserve some, but not all, fossils 
E) organisms that were widely distributed generated fewer fossils 
A) only aquatic organisms were preserved as fossils 
B) organisms tend to decay before becoming fossilized 
C) invertebrates are preferentially preserved over vertebrates 
D) geological processes help to preserve some, but not all, fossils 
E) organisms that were widely distributed generated fewer fossils

Question 17

Match the description with the correct term.
-where molten rock ruptures a tectonic plate

Accepted Answer

A) fault 
B) trench 
C) ridge 
D) hot spot 
E) plate tectonics 
A) fault 
B) trench 
C) ridge 
D) hot spot 
E) plate tectonics

Question 18

While in the Galapagos Islands, Darwin noticed that finches had developed unique traits that suited them to their particular island habitat. This is an example of a(n) ____.

Accepted Answer

A) artificially selected trait 
B) acquired trait 
C) analogous structure 
D) adaptive trait 
E) homologous structure 
A) artificially selected trait 
B) acquired trait 
C) analogous structure 
D) adaptive trait 
E) homologous structure

Question 19

​Most major groups of animals had appeared on Earth by the ____ period.

Accepted Answer

A) ​Triassic 
B) ​Carboniferous 
C) ​Cambrian 
D) ​Devonian 
E) ​Cretaceous 
A) ​Triassic 
B) ​Carboniferous 
C) ​Cambrian 
D) ​Devonian 
E) ​Cretaceous

Question 20

On his voyage, Darwin observed similarities between fossils of the extinct armored glyptodonts and modern armadillos. This observation led him to reason that ____.

Accepted Answer

A) glyptodons became extinct at the same time as the dinosaurs 
B) evolution occurred primarily by artificial selection 
C) the current landscape of the Earth was sculpted over millions of years 
D) glyptodons were ancient relatives of armadillos 
E) acquired traits are passed from parents to offspring 
A) glyptodons became extinct at the same time as the dinosaurs 
B) evolution occurred primarily by artificial selection 
C) the current landscape of the Earth was sculpted over millions of years 
D) glyptodons were ancient relatives of armadillos 
E) acquired traits are passed from parents to offspring

Exam 16: Evidence of Evolution

Radioactive decay is influenced solely by ____.

​Carbon isotope dating is useful in studying the history of life because ____.

Naturalists were puzzled when they observed body parts with no apparent function. This observation led them to question which traditional theory?

Match the description with the correct term. -where the advancing edge of one plate plows under an adjacent plate and buckles it

Zircon crystals form from volcanic rock. The age of zircon crystals can be precisely measured. What, exactly, is measured in zircon crystals that allows dating of the volcanic rock?

The age of fossils can be determined by radiometric dating. Match the following terms with the best descriptions. Note that all options may not be used. -This isotope decays.

Radiometric dating of the most ancient fossils involves ____.

Which naturalist proposed that many species that once existed are now extinct?

What is natural selection?

Match the statements with one of the geologic times listed below. -extinction event at end led to demise of dinosaurs

According to Darwin, natural selection is based on the ____ found in populations.

​When examining the fossil record, organisms most closely related to living species will be found ____.

A naturalist is studying morphological patterns that are shared between species in two temperate rainforests that are located on different continents. This is an example of which field of study?

Fossils found in the lowest geological strata are generally the most ____.

Which habitat is most likely to be rich in fossils?

The fossil record is incomplete because ____.

Match the description with the correct term. -where molten rock ruptures a tectonic plate

While in the Galapagos Islands, Darwin noticed that finches had developed unique traits that suited them to their particular island habitat. This is an example of a(n) ____.

​Most major groups of animals had appeared on Earth by the ____ period.

On his voyage, Darwin observed similarities between fossils of the extinct armored glyptodonts and modern armadillos. This observation led him to reason that ____.

The Science of Biology

Lifes Chemical Basis

Molecules of Life

Cell Structure

Ground Rules of Metabolism

Where It Starts-Photosynthesis

Releasing Chemical Energy

DNA Structure and Function

From DNA to Protein

Control of Gene Expression

How Cells Reproduce

Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction

Patterns in Inherited Traits

Human Inheritance

Biotechnology

Processes of Evolution

Lifes Origin and Early Evolution

Viruses, Bacteria, and Archaea

The Protists

Plant Evolution

Fungi

Animals I: Major Invertebrate Groups

Animals Ii: the Chordates

Plant Tissues

Plant Nutrition and Transport

Plant Reproduction and Development

Animal Tissues and Organ Systems

Neural Control

Sensory Perception

Endocrine Control

Structural Support and Movement

Circulation

Immunity

Respiration

Digestion and Human Nutrition

Maintaining the Internal Environment

Reproduction and Development

Animal Behavior

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecosystems

The Biosphere

Human Effects on the Biosphere

Filters

Carbon isotope dating is useful in studying the history of life because ____.

When examining the fossil record, organisms most closely related to living species will be found ____.

Most major groups of animals had appeared on Earth by the ____ period.