Question 1

Why are fossils considered to be an incomplete record of evolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  The fossil record shows changes in kinds of organisms that lived on earth. 
B)  The fossil record shows that many animals are extinct. 
C)  The fossil record is biased for organisms that had hard shells and skeletons. 
D)  Fossils document how new organisms come from preexisting organisms. 
A)  The fossil record shows changes in kinds of organisms that lived on earth. 
B)  The fossil record shows that many animals are extinct. 
C)  The fossil record is biased for organisms that had hard shells and skeletons. 
D)  Fossils document how new organisms come from preexisting organisms.

Question 2

Which listing of geological periods is in the correct order, from oldest to most recent?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cambrian, Devonian, Permian, Cretaceous 
B)  Devonian, Cambrian, Permian, Cretaceous 
C)  Cambrian, Permian, Devonian, Cretaceous 
D)  Permian, Cambrian, Cretaceous, Devonian 
A)  Cambrian, Devonian, Permian, Cretaceous 
B)  Devonian, Cambrian, Permian, Cretaceous 
C)  Cambrian, Permian, Devonian, Cretaceous 
D)  Permian, Cambrian, Cretaceous, Devonian

Question 3

The oxygen revolution changed Earth's environment dramatically. Which of the following took advantage of the presence of free oxygen in the oceans and atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)  the evolution of cellular respiration, which used oxygen to help harvest energy from organic molecules 
B)  the persistence of some animal groups in anaerobic habitats 
C)  the evolution of photosynthetic pigments that protected early algae from the corrosive effects of oxygen 
D)  the evolution of chloroplasts after early protists incorporated photosynthetic cyanobacteria 
A)  the evolution of cellular respiration, which used oxygen to help harvest energy from organic molecules 
B)  the persistence of some animal groups in anaerobic habitats 
C)  the evolution of photosynthetic pigments that protected early algae from the corrosive effects of oxygen 
D)  the evolution of chloroplasts after early protists incorporated photosynthetic cyanobacteria

Question 4

The following question is based on the observation that several dozen different proteins comprise the prokaryotic flagellum and its attachment to the prokaryotic cell, producing a highly complex structure.
Certain proteins of the complex motor that drives bacterial flagella are modified versions of proteins that had previously belonged to plasma membrane pumps. This evidence supports the claim that ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  natural selection produces organs that will be needed in future environments 
B)  the motors of bacterial flagella must have originated in other organisms 
C)  natural selection can produce new structures by coupling together parts of other structures 
D)  bacteria that possess flagella must have lost the ability to pump certain chemicals across their plasma membranes 
A)  natural selection produces organs that will be needed in future environments 
B)  the motors of bacterial flagella must have originated in other organisms 
C)  natural selection can produce new structures by coupling together parts of other structures 
D)  bacteria that possess flagella must have lost the ability to pump certain chemicals across their plasma membranes

Question 5

How did the Cretaceous and Permian extinctions affect the numbers of prey organisms?

Accepted Answer

A)  After the Permian extinction, the numbers or prey organisms increased then leveled off. 
B)  After the Cretaceous extinction, the number of predators continuously increased. 
C)  The Permian predators removed all Cretaceous predators. 
D)  Predators and prey decreased in numbers. 
A)  After the Permian extinction, the numbers or prey organisms increased then leveled off. 
B)  After the Cretaceous extinction, the number of predators continuously increased. 
C)  The Permian predators removed all Cretaceous predators. 
D)  Predators and prey decreased in numbers.

Question 6

What is true of the fossil record of mammalian origins?

Accepted Answer

A)  It shows that mammals and birds evolved from the same kind of dinosaur. 
B)  It includes transitional forms with progressively specialized teeth. 
C)  It indicates that mammals and dinosaurs did not overlap in geologic time. 
D)  It includes a series that shows the gradual change of scales into fur. 
A)  It shows that mammals and birds evolved from the same kind of dinosaur. 
B)  It includes transitional forms with progressively specialized teeth. 
C)  It indicates that mammals and dinosaurs did not overlap in geologic time. 
D)  It includes a series that shows the gradual change of scales into fur.

Question 7

Adaptive radiations can be a direct consequence of three of the following four factors. Select the exception.

Accepted Answer

A)  vacant ecological niches 
B)  genetic drift 
C)  colonization of an isolated region that contains suitable habitat and few competitor species 
D)  evolutionary innovation 
A)  vacant ecological niches 
B)  genetic drift 
C)  colonization of an isolated region that contains suitable habitat and few competitor species 
D)  evolutionary innovation

Question 8

Which factor most likely caused animals and plants in India to differ greatly from species in nearby southeast Asia?

Accepted Answer

A)  The climates of the two regions are similar. 
B)  India is in the process of separating from the rest of Asia. 
C)  Life in India was wiped out by ancient volcanic eruptions. 
D)  India was a separate continent until 45 million years ago. 
A)  The climates of the two regions are similar. 
B)  India is in the process of separating from the rest of Asia. 
C)  Life in India was wiped out by ancient volcanic eruptions. 
D)  India was a separate continent until 45 million years ago.

Question 9

Hawaii is the most southeastern of the seven largest islands and is also closest to the seafloor spreading center from which the Pacific plate originates, which lies about 5,600 km farther to the southeast. Assuming equal sedimentation rates, what should be the location of the thickest sediment layer and thus the area with the greatest diversity of fossils above the oceanic crust?

Accepted Answer

A)  between the island of Hawaii and the seafloor spreading center 
B)  around the base of the island of Hawaii 
C)  around the base of Kauai, the oldest of the large Hawaiian islands 
D)  where the islands are most concentrated (highest number of islands per unit surface area) 
A)  between the island of Hawaii and the seafloor spreading center 
B)  around the base of the island of Hawaii 
C)  around the base of Kauai, the oldest of the large Hawaiian islands 
D)  where the islands are most concentrated (highest number of islands per unit surface area)

Question 10

The duplication of homeotic (Hox)genes has been significant in the evolution of animals because it ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  permitted the evolution of novel forms 
B)  caused the extinction of major groups 
C)  reduced morphological diversity into simpler forms of life 
D)  allowed animals to survive on significantly fewer calories 
A)  permitted the evolution of novel forms 
B)  caused the extinction of major groups 
C)  reduced morphological diversity into simpler forms of life 
D)  allowed animals to survive on significantly fewer calories

Question 11

If one organ is an exaptation of another organ, then these two organs ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  are homologous 
B)  are undergoing convergent evolution 
C)  are found in the same species 
D)  have the same function 
A)  are homologous 
B)  are undergoing convergent evolution 
C)  are found in the same species 
D)  have the same function

Question 12

An early consequence of the release of oxygen gas by plant and bacterial photosynthesis was to ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  change the atmosphere from oxidizing to reducing 
B)  make it easier to maintain reduced molecules 
C)  cause iron in ocean water and terrestrial rocks to rust (oxidize) 
D)  prevent the formation of an ozone layer 
A)  change the atmosphere from oxidizing to reducing 
B)  make it easier to maintain reduced molecules 
C)  cause iron in ocean water and terrestrial rocks to rust (oxidize) 
D)  prevent the formation of an ozone layer

Question 13

Which period had the greatest increase in the number of extant species?

Accepted Answer

A)  Paleozoic 
B)  Mesozoic 
C)  Cenozoic 
D)  Permian 
A)  Paleozoic 
B)  Mesozoic 
C)  Cenozoic 
D)  Permian

Question 14

What major innovations of the three radiations was associated with defying gravity to facilitate life on land?

Accepted Answer

A)  stems 
B)  waxy covering 
C)  insect pollination 
D)  new sources of food 
A)  stems 
B)  waxy covering 
C)  insect pollination 
D)  new sources of food

Question 15

If a fossil is encased in a stratum of sedimentary rock without any strata of volcanic rock (for example, lava or ash)nearby, then it should be ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  easy to determine the absolute age of the fossil, because the radioisotopes in the sediments will not have been "reset" by the heat of the igneous rocks 
B)  easy to determine the absolute age of the fossil, because the igneous rocks will not have physically obstructed the deposition of sediment of a single age next to the fossil 
C)  difficult to determine the absolute age of the fossil, because the "marker fossils" common to igneous rock will be absent 
D)  difficult to determine the absolute age of the fossil, because radiometric dating of sedimentary rock is less accurate than that of igneous rock 
A)  easy to determine the absolute age of the fossil, because the radioisotopes in the sediments will not have been "reset" by the heat of the igneous rocks 
B)  easy to determine the absolute age of the fossil, because the igneous rocks will not have physically obstructed the deposition of sediment of a single age next to the fossil 
C)  difficult to determine the absolute age of the fossil, because the "marker fossils" common to igneous rock will be absent 
D)  difficult to determine the absolute age of the fossil, because radiometric dating of sedimentary rock is less accurate than that of igneous rock

Question 16

A genetic change that caused a certain Hox gene to be expressed along the tip of a vertebrate limb bud instead of farther back helped make possible the evolution of the tetrapod limb. This type of change is illustrative of ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the influence of environment on development 
B)  paedomorphosis 
C)  a change in a developmental gene or its regulation that altered the spatial organization of body parts 
D)  heterochrony 
A)  the influence of environment on development 
B)  paedomorphosis 
C)  a change in a developmental gene or its regulation that altered the spatial organization of body parts 
D)  heterochrony

Question 17

The existence of evolutionary trends, such as increasing body sizes among horse species, is evidence that ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  a larger volume-to-surface area ratio is adaptive in many mammals 
B)  evolution generally progresses toward some goal 
C)  evolution tends toward increased complexity or increased size 
D)  in particular environments, similar adaptations can be beneficial to more than one species 
A)  a larger volume-to-surface area ratio is adaptive in many mammals 
B)  evolution generally progresses toward some goal 
C)  evolution tends toward increased complexity or increased size 
D)  in particular environments, similar adaptations can be beneficial to more than one species

Question 18

Upon being formed, oceanic islands, such as the Hawaiian Islands, should feature what characteristic, leading to which phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

A)  mass extinctions, leading to bottleneck effect 
B)  major evolutionary innovations, leading to rafting to nearby continents 
C)  a variety of empty ecological niches, leading to adaptive radiation 
D)  adaptive radiation, leading to founder effect 
A)  mass extinctions, leading to bottleneck effect 
B)  major evolutionary innovations, leading to rafting to nearby continents 
C)  a variety of empty ecological niches, leading to adaptive radiation 
D)  adaptive radiation, leading to founder effect

Question 19

Which of the following is a limit of evolution that results in exaptations?

Accepted Answer

A)  Natural selection and sexual selection can work at cross purposes to each other. 
B)  Evolution is limited by historical constraints. 
C)  Adaptations are often compromises. 
D)  Chance events affect the evolutionary history of populations in environments that can change unpredictably. 
A)  Natural selection and sexual selection can work at cross purposes to each other. 
B)  Evolution is limited by historical constraints. 
C)  Adaptations are often compromises. 
D)  Chance events affect the evolutionary history of populations in environments that can change unpredictably.

Exam 25: The History of Life on Earth

Why are fossils considered to be an incomplete record of evolution?

Which listing of geological periods is in the correct order, from oldest to most recent?

The oxygen revolution changed Earth's environment dramatically. Which of the following took advantage of the presence of free oxygen in the oceans and atmosphere?

How did the Cretaceous and Permian extinctions affect the numbers of prey organisms?

What is true of the fossil record of mammalian origins?

Adaptive radiations can be a direct consequence of three of the following four factors. Select the exception.

Which factor most likely caused animals and plants in India to differ greatly from species in nearby southeast Asia?

The duplication of homeotic (Hox)genes has been significant in the evolution of animals because it ________.

If one organ is an exaptation of another organ, then these two organs ________.

An early consequence of the release of oxygen gas by plant and bacterial photosynthesis was to ________.

Which period had the greatest increase in the number of extant species?

What major innovations of the three radiations was associated with defying gravity to facilitate life on land?

If a fossil is encased in a stratum of sedimentary rock without any strata of volcanic rock (for example, lava or ash)nearby, then it should be ________.

A genetic change that caused a certain Hox gene to be expressed along the tip of a vertebrate limb bud instead of farther back helped make possible the evolution of the tetrapod limb. This type of change is illustrative of ________.

The existence of evolutionary trends, such as increasing body sizes among horse species, is evidence that ________.

Upon being formed, oceanic islands, such as the Hawaiian Islands, should feature what characteristic, leading to which phenomenon?

Which of the following is a limit of evolution that results in exaptations?

Evolution, the Themes of Biology, and Scientific Inquiry

The Chemical Context of Life

Water and Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Structure and Function

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

Cell Communication

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Viruses

DNA Tools and Biotechnology

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent with Modification: A Darwinian View of Life

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

Phylogeny and the Tree of Life

Bacteria and Archaea

Protists

Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land

Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants

Fungi

An Overview of Animal Diversity

An Introduction to Invertebrates

The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

Vascular Plant Structure, Growth, and Development

Resource Acquisition and Transport in Vascular Plants

Soil and Plant Nutrition

Angiosperm Reproduction and Biotechnology

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Basic Principles of Animal Form and Function

Animal Nutrition

Circulation and Gas Exchange

The Immune System

Osmoregulation and Excretion

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Animal Reproduction

Animal Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Nervous Systems

Sensory and Motor Mechanisms

Animal Behavior

An Introduction to Ecology and the Biosphere

Population Ecology

Community Ecology

Ecosystems and Restoration Ecology

Conservation Biology and Global Change

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