Question 1

Which of the following is not documented by the fossil record?

Accepted Answer

A)  Some organisms that lived in the past are unlike living organisms we see today. 
B)  Some organisms that once lived on Earth have disappeared. 
C)  The species living today are the same as the species that lived in the distant past. 
D)  Over time life has evolved. 
A)  Some organisms that lived in the past are unlike living organisms we see today. 
B)  Some organisms that once lived on Earth have disappeared. 
C)  The species living today are the same as the species that lived in the distant past. 
D)  Over time life has evolved.

Question 2

The Cambrian explosion

Accepted Answer

A)  caused a lack of air in Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  was caused by an increase in volcanic activity. 
C)  was volcanic in nature. 
D)  increased the diversity of animal life on Earth. 
A)  caused a lack of air in Earth's atmosphere. 
B)  was caused by an increase in volcanic activity. 
C)  was volcanic in nature. 
D)  increased the diversity of animal life on Earth.

Question 3

Which of the following is not a difference between living mammals and living reptiles?

Accepted Answer

A)  method of movement 
B)  classification as animals 
C)  tooth features 
D)  jaw structure 
A)  method of movement 
B)  classification as animals 
C)  tooth features 
D)  jaw structure

Question 4

Studies of ____________ focus on understanding the origin of groups of organisms (like genera, family, etc.) rather than the changes that occur at the population level.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Studies of ____________ focus on understanding the...

Question 5

Once a species becomes dominant on Earth, it will remain dominant until it becomes extinct.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Which of the following does not lead to adaptive radiation?

Accepted Answer

A)  mass extinction 
B)  adaptations that allow an organism to utilize its environment in new ways 
C)  high levels of competition between populations 
D)  a low amount of gene flow between populations 
A)  mass extinction 
B)  adaptations that allow an organism to utilize its environment in new ways 
C)  high levels of competition between populations 
D)  a low amount of gene flow between populations

Question 7

The fossil record

Accepted Answer

A)  is supported by DNA analysis of living organisms. 
B)  has not been supported by DNA analysis of living organisms. 
C)  contains only mineralized specimens. 
D)  cannot be used to document organisms that arose after the Cambrian explosion. 
A)  is supported by DNA analysis of living organisms. 
B)  has not been supported by DNA analysis of living organisms. 
C)  contains only mineralized specimens. 
D)  cannot be used to document organisms that arose after the Cambrian explosion.

Question 8

Mammals branched out to evolve many new species after the extinction of the _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Mammals branched out to evolve many new...

Question 9

The low number of species that live in Antarctica today is a result of

Accepted Answer

A)  a worldwide mass extinction. 
B)  a climate change caused by continental drift. 
C)  an evolutionary radiation. 
D)  volcanic action. 
A)  a worldwide mass extinction. 
B)  a climate change caused by continental drift. 
C)  an evolutionary radiation. 
D)  volcanic action.

Question 10

The most recent mass extinction, which occurred during the Cretaceous period, may have been caused by

Accepted Answer

A)  extra heat from the sun. 
B)  the pull of the moon on Earth. 
C)  the dinosaurs. 
D)  an asteroid hitting Earth. 
A)  extra heat from the sun. 
B)  the pull of the moon on Earth. 
C)  the dinosaurs. 
D)  an asteroid hitting Earth.

Question 11

The supercontinent Pangaea began to break up

Accepted Answer

A)  before there were any dinosaurs. 
B)  after terrestrial organisms had evolved. 
C)  before the existence of land plants. 
D)  before photosynthesis began producing oxygen. 
A)  before there were any dinosaurs. 
B)  after terrestrial organisms had evolved. 
C)  before the existence of land plants. 
D)  before photosynthesis began producing oxygen.

Question 12

Why isn't the fossil record complete?

Accepted Answer

The remains of organisms (or fossils) fo

Question 13

Using Uranium-235, a ______________ with a half-life of 700 million years, allows scientists to determine the approximate age of a fossil.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Using Uranium-235, a ______________ with a half-life...

Question 14

Adaptive _______ is the diversification of groups of organisms to form new species and higher taxonomic groups. It can occur after a mass extinction or at other times.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Adaptive _______ is the diversification of groups...

Question 15

Which of the following was not necessary for plants to develop in order to adapt to life on land?

Accepted Answer

A)  photosynthesis 
B)  roots 
C)  waterproofing 
D)  transport mechanisms within stems 
A)  photosynthesis 
B)  roots 
C)  waterproofing 
D)  transport mechanisms within stems

Question 16

Following each of Earth's five mass extinction the diversity of life on Earth has _______ [increased or decreased?] over time.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Following each of Earth's five mass extinction...

Question 17

Dinosaurs lived on Pangaea

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Mass extinctions cause the loss of many species, no matter how well adapted those species were before the extinction. Why might previous adaptations not help a species survive a mass extinction?

Accepted Answer

A)  The rapid environmental changes that cause mass extinctions do not leave the organisms time to adapt. 
B)  Ongoing continental drift allows more species to interbreed, which lowers the genetic variability available for adaptation. 
C)  Adaptive radiations are stronger than adaptations. 
D)  Well-adapted organisms will not be affected by mass extinction; these are the groups that will survive. 
A)  The rapid environmental changes that cause mass extinctions do not leave the organisms time to adapt. 
B)  Ongoing continental drift allows more species to interbreed, which lowers the genetic variability available for adaptation. 
C)  Adaptive radiations are stronger than adaptations. 
D)  Well-adapted organisms will not be affected by mass extinction; these are the groups that will survive.

Question 19

The first vertebrates to colonize land were

Accepted Answer

A)  birds. 
B)  mammals. 
C)  amphibians. 
D)  reptiles. 
A)  birds. 
B)  mammals. 
C)  amphibians. 
D)  reptiles.

Question 20

Which of the following would not play a role in macroevolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  mass extinctions 
B)  mutation in a liver cell 
C)  continental drift 
D)  climate change 
A)  mass extinctions 
B)  mutation in a liver cell 
C)  continental drift 
D)  climate change

Exam 19: The Evolutionary History of Life

Which of the following is not documented by the fossil record?

The Cambrian explosion

Which of the following is not a difference between living mammals and living reptiles?

Studies of ____________ focus on understanding the origin of groups of organisms (like genera, family, etc.) rather than the changes that occur at the population level.

Once a species becomes dominant on Earth, it will remain dominant until it becomes extinct.

Which of the following does not lead to adaptive radiation?

The fossil record

Mammals branched out to evolve many new species after the extinction of the _______.

The low number of species that live in Antarctica today is a result of

The most recent mass extinction, which occurred during the Cretaceous period, may have been caused by

The supercontinent Pangaea began to break up

Why isn't the fossil record complete?

Using Uranium-235, a ______________ with a half-life of 700 million years, allows scientists to determine the approximate age of a fossil.

Adaptive _______ is the diversification of groups of organisms to form new species and higher taxonomic groups. It can occur after a mass extinction or at other times.

Which of the following was not necessary for plants to develop in order to adapt to life on land?

Following each of Earth's five mass extinction the diversity of life on Earth has _______ [increased or decreased?] over time.

Dinosaurs lived on Pangaea

Mass extinctions cause the loss of many species, no matter how well adapted those species were before the extinction. Why might previous adaptations not help a species survive a mass extinction?

The first vertebrates to colonize land were

Which of the following would not play a role in macroevolution?

The Nature of Science and the Characteristics of Life

Organizing the Diversity of Life

Major Groups of Living Organisms

Chemical Building Blocks

Cell Structure and Internal Compartments

Cell Membranes, Transport, and Communication

Energy and Enzymes

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Cell Division

Patterns of Inheritance

Chromosomes and Human Genetics

DNA

From Gene to Protein

Control of Gene Expression

DNA Technology

How Evolution Works

Evolution of Populations

Adaptation and Speciation

Maintaining the Internal Environment

Animal Nutrition and Digestion

Gas Exchange

The Circulatory System

Animal Hormones

The Nervous System

Sensing the Environment

Skeletons, Muscles, and Movement

Defenses against Disease

Reproduction and Development

Animal Behavior

Plant Structure, Nutrition, and Transport

Plant Growth and Reproduction

The Biosphere

Growth of Populations

Interactions among Organisms

Communities of Organisms

Ecosystems

Global Change

Biodiversity and People

Cancer: Cell Division Out of Control

Harnessing the Human Genome

Humans and Evolution

Smoking--Beyond Lung Cancer

Feeding a Hungry Planet

Building a Sustainable Society

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