Question 1

Which event would most likely result in the creation of large numbers of fossils?

Accepted Answer

A)  a drought 
B)  an earthquake 
C)  a fire 
D)  a volcano 
A)  a drought 
B)  an earthquake 
C)  a fire 
D)  a volcano

Question 2

Bat wings are homologous to the front legs of cats. What does the term homologous mean in this context?

Accepted Answer

A)  Both structures are used for the same purpose. 
B)  The common ancestor of bats and cats had limbs that functioned as wings. 
C)  The common ancestor of bats and cats had a limb with a bone structure similar to that found in cat legs and bat wings. 
D)  Bat wings are vestigial legs. 
A)  Both structures are used for the same purpose. 
B)  The common ancestor of bats and cats had limbs that functioned as wings. 
C)  The common ancestor of bats and cats had a limb with a bone structure similar to that found in cat legs and bat wings. 
D)  Bat wings are vestigial legs.

Question 3

Darwin observed that tortoises of the nearby islands, although slightly different, belonged to the same species. How might he have known they were the same species?

Accepted Answer

A)  He probably compared DNA sequence data from the different tortoises. 
B)  He probably compared the metabolism of the different tortoises and observed similar enzymes. 
C)  He may have heard that tortoises of different islands could mate with each other. 
D)  He may have moved one group of tortoises to a new island to observe accumulated changes. 
A)  He probably compared DNA sequence data from the different tortoises. 
B)  He probably compared the metabolism of the different tortoises and observed similar enzymes. 
C)  He may have heard that tortoises of different islands could mate with each other. 
D)  He may have moved one group of tortoises to a new island to observe accumulated changes.

Question 4

True or false: The common ancestor of all life must have had genes for all traits now present in animals today.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

How do scientists use the term theory?

Accepted Answer

A)  as a hypothesis that has not yet been tested 
B)  as a hypothesis that seems logical but cannot be tested because it's impractical to do so 
C)  as a set of findings that are supported by repeated testing 
D)  as ideas which are so obviously true that testing is not required 
A)  as a hypothesis that has not yet been tested 
B)  as a hypothesis that seems logical but cannot be tested because it's impractical to do so 
C)  as a set of findings that are supported by repeated testing 
D)  as ideas which are so obviously true that testing is not required

Question 6

Why were Darwin's ideas so widely accepted by scientists of his day?

Accepted Answer

A)  He published his book soon after he returned to England, and all his recollections were fresh in his mind. 
B)  Darwin's ideas fit well with what most people already understood about evolution. 
C)  Darwin presented extensive evidence from many areas of biology to support his ideas. 
D)  Darwin was from a rich and powerful family. 
A)  He published his book soon after he returned to England, and all his recollections were fresh in his mind. 
B)  Darwin's ideas fit well with what most people already understood about evolution. 
C)  Darwin presented extensive evidence from many areas of biology to support his ideas. 
D)  Darwin was from a rich and powerful family.

Question 7

What type of trait includes the tailbone found in humans and other primates without tails?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What type of trait includes the tailbone...

Question 8

Which observation was most influential to Charles Darwin?

Accepted Answer

A)  the wide variety of living things in South America 
B)  the difference between organisms of South America and organisms of Europe 
C)  the similarity between organisms of South America and organisms of Europe 
D)  the slight differences between organisms on nearby islands 
A)  the wide variety of living things in South America 
B)  the difference between organisms of South America and organisms of Europe 
C)  the similarity between organisms of South America and organisms of Europe 
D)  the slight differences between organisms on nearby islands

Question 9

You discover a primate fossil while on an expedition in Africa. Which part of the skeleton should be examined to classify this fossil as a human or a nonhuman primate?

Accepted Answer

A)  the hand bones 
B)  the base of the skull 
C)  the ribs 
D)  the backbone (vertebrae) 
A)  the hand bones 
B)  the base of the skull 
C)  the ribs 
D)  the backbone (vertebrae)

Question 10

What taxonomic group includes both humans and apes because of their strong degrees of similarity to each other?

Accepted Answer

A)  species 
B)  genus 
C)  subfamily 
D)  subspecies 
A)  species 
B)  genus 
C)  subfamily 
D)  subspecies

Question 11

Which observations of species distribution across Earth support the theory of common descent?

Accepted Answer

A)  All continents contain nearly identical organisms. 
B)  Each part of Earth contains life forms perfectly designed for that region. 
C)  One can see similarities in organisms that are found in close proximity, but each population has adaptations that suit the organisms to their particular habitat. 
D)  There are very few similarities among life forms on different tropical islands. 
A)  All continents contain nearly identical organisms. 
B)  Each part of Earth contains life forms perfectly designed for that region. 
C)  One can see similarities in organisms that are found in close proximity, but each population has adaptations that suit the organisms to their particular habitat. 
D)  There are very few similarities among life forms on different tropical islands.

Question 12

What was the original purpose of the voyage of the HMS Beagle?

Accepted Answer

A)  to add to the general knowledge of the animals and plants on Earth 
B)  to gather physical evidence in support of the theory of evolution 
C)  to chart the coast and harbors of South America 
D)  to do experiments to test Lamarck's view of inheritance of acquired characteristics 
A)  to add to the general knowledge of the animals and plants on Earth 
B)  to gather physical evidence in support of the theory of evolution 
C)  to chart the coast and harbors of South America 
D)  to do experiments to test Lamarck's view of inheritance of acquired characteristics

Question 13

True or false: When comparing different families of animals, you would expect gene-coding for proteins that perform basic cell functions to show much higher homology than gene-coding for proteins involved in coordinating organ systems.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Why would the DNA of cats and dogs be much more similar than the DNA of cats and hamsters?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cats and dogs have lived together with humans for a longer time and have become more similar. 
B)  Cats and dogs have a more recent common ancestor than the common ancestor of cats and hamsters. 
C)  The ancestors of cats and the ancestors of dogs evolved in similar environments. 
D)  Cats and dogs have fewer offspring during their lifetime than hamsters, so their DNA changes less rapidly. 
A)  Cats and dogs have lived together with humans for a longer time and have become more similar. 
B)  Cats and dogs have a more recent common ancestor than the common ancestor of cats and hamsters. 
C)  The ancestors of cats and the ancestors of dogs evolved in similar environments. 
D)  Cats and dogs have fewer offspring during their lifetime than hamsters, so their DNA changes less rapidly.

Question 15

Why is common descent considered a scientific theory?

Accepted Answer

A)  There is overwhelming evidence to support it from many areas of biology. 
B)  Scientists are reasonably sure it's true, but there's little evidence to support it. 
C)  It's an idea from more than 100 years ago and thus is not a modern idea. 
D)  It's the only idea about life on Earth that can be tested by observation of the material universe. 
A)  There is overwhelming evidence to support it from many areas of biology. 
B)  Scientists are reasonably sure it's true, but there's little evidence to support it. 
C)  It's an idea from more than 100 years ago and thus is not a modern idea. 
D)  It's the only idea about life on Earth that can be tested by observation of the material universe.

Question 16

What type of evidence for the theory of common descent would include the presence of goose bumps in humans?

Accepted Answer

A)  vestigial structures 
B)  homologous structures 
C)  shared developmental pathways 
D)  DNA similarity 
A)  vestigial structures 
B)  homologous structures 
C)  shared developmental pathways 
D)  DNA similarity

Question 17

Which piece of evidence would allow you to reject the hypothesis of separate types?

Accepted Answer

A)  fossil evidence showing that organisms have been on Earth for billions of years 
B)  similarity of physical structures among species 
C)  universality of DNA to all life 
D)  fossil evidence that species have changed over time 
A)  fossil evidence showing that organisms have been on Earth for billions of years 
B)  similarity of physical structures among species 
C)  universality of DNA to all life 
D)  fossil evidence that species have changed over time

Question 18

How did the geologist Charles Lyell influence Darwin?

Accepted Answer

A)  He provided evidence that Earth was really only about 10,000 years old. 
B)  He suggested that slow, gradual changes shaped the features of Earth. 
C)  He proposed a theory about how small islands were formed. 
D)  He charted the currents found off the Pacific coast of South America. 
A)  He provided evidence that Earth was really only about 10,000 years old. 
B)  He suggested that slow, gradual changes shaped the features of Earth. 
C)  He proposed a theory about how small islands were formed. 
D)  He charted the currents found off the Pacific coast of South America.

Question 19

True or false: Special creation could be considered a scientific hypothesis, but no one has ever tested it using scientific means.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

You discover a butterfly that has some similarity to members of the species Faunis canens, but it also has a few important differences. What taxonomic level would best describe your new discovery?

Accepted Answer

A)  order 
B)  family 
C)  species 
D)  genus 
A)  order 
B)  family 
C)  species 
D)  genus

Exam 10: Where Did We Come From the Evidence for Evolution

Which event would most likely result in the creation of large numbers of fossils?

Bat wings are homologous to the front legs of cats. What does the term homologous mean in this context?

Darwin observed that tortoises of the nearby islands, although slightly different, belonged to the same species. How might he have known they were the same species?

True or false: The common ancestor of all life must have had genes for all traits now present in animals today.

How do scientists use the term theory?

Why were Darwin's ideas so widely accepted by scientists of his day?

What type of trait includes the tailbone found in humans and other primates without tails?

Which observation was most influential to Charles Darwin?

You discover a primate fossil while on an expedition in Africa. Which part of the skeleton should be examined to classify this fossil as a human or a nonhuman primate?

What taxonomic group includes both humans and apes because of their strong degrees of similarity to each other?

Which observations of species distribution across Earth support the theory of common descent?

What was the original purpose of the voyage of the HMS Beagle?

True or false: When comparing different families of animals, you would expect gene-coding for proteins that perform basic cell functions to show much higher homology than gene-coding for proteins involved in coordinating organ systems.

Why would the DNA of cats and dogs be much more similar than the DNA of cats and hamsters?

Why is common descent considered a scientific theory?

What type of evidence for the theory of common descent would include the presence of goose bumps in humans?

Which piece of evidence would allow you to reject the hypothesis of separate types?

How did the geologist Charles Lyell influence Darwin?

True or false: Special creation could be considered a scientific hypothesis, but no one has ever tested it using scientific means.

You discover a butterfly that has some similarity to members of the species Faunis canens, but it also has a few important differences. What taxonomic level would best describe your new discovery?

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