Question 1

The development of an upright stance in human ancestors is thought to be linked to

Accepted Answer

A) a switch from life in water to life on land. 
B) the loss of tool-carrying ability. 
C) a switch from life in the trees to life on the ground. 
D) the loss of a pronounced heel and arch in the foot. 
A) a switch from life in water to life on land. 
B) the loss of tool-carrying ability. 
C) a switch from life in the trees to life on the ground. 
D) the loss of a pronounced heel and arch in the foot.

Question 2

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 3

Recent evidence contradicts ____________________ law, which states that once a trait is lost in a species, it never comes back.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Recent evidence contradicts ____________________ law, which states...

Question 4

The Cambrian explosion resulted in the evolution of more than 17,000 species of an animal known as the trilobite. The shear number of trilobite fossils found in modern times suggests that trilobites were very abundant, perhaps the rulers of the seas. Today, no living descendants of this group exist. What happened?

Accepted Answer

A) Because trilobites evolved before the first mass extinction, it is possible that any of the five mass extinctions could have wiped out the entire group. 
B) In order to disappear from the planet entirely, trilobites must have undergone the process of adaptive radiation. 
C) It is unlikely that trilobites could have survived the increase in atmospheric oxygen once the process of photosynthesis had evolved. 
D) Being so plentiful, trilobites must have been the major food source for terrestrial dinosaurs. The extinction of the trilobite may have caused the mass extinction of dinosaurs. 
A) Because trilobites evolved before the first mass extinction, it is possible that any of the five mass extinctions could have wiped out the entire group. 
B) In order to disappear from the planet entirely, trilobites must have undergone the process of adaptive radiation. 
C) It is unlikely that trilobites could have survived the increase in atmospheric oxygen once the process of photosynthesis had evolved. 
D) Being so plentiful, trilobites must have been the major food source for terrestrial dinosaurs. The extinction of the trilobite may have caused the mass extinction of dinosaurs.

Question 5

Ninety-five percent of marine invertebrate species went extinct during the ____________________ mass extinction

Accepted Answer

The answer of Ninety-five percent of marine invertebrate species went...

Question 6

The oxygen necessary to support much of life on Earth is a waste product of an important adaptation, the process of ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The oxygen necessary to support much of...

Question 7

Based on the evolutionary tree in the figure below, Homo sapiens sapiens and Homo erectus both evolved from Homo habilis.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

The appearance of eukaryotes may have been delayed until more _____ accumulated in Earth's atmosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) oxygen 
B) nitrogen 
C) carbon 
D) sulfur 
A) oxygen 
B) nitrogen 
C) carbon 
D) sulfur

Question 9

The first single-celled organisms arose 3.5 ____________________ years ago.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The first single-celled organisms arose 3.5 ____________________...

Question 10

The first mammals

Accepted Answer

A) were probably most active during the day. 
B) were the size of modern horses and elephants. 
C) had large eye sockets. 
D) underwent rapid adaptive radiation during the "reign" of the dinosaurs. 
A) were probably most active during the day. 
B) were the size of modern horses and elephants. 
C) had large eye sockets. 
D) underwent rapid adaptive radiation during the "reign" of the dinosaurs.

Question 11

Why might many new species form in the aftermath of a mass extinction?

Accepted Answer

A) Gene flow among the remaining species would be increased, giving rise to many new genetic recombinations. 
B) Changed environments and reduced competition would provide opportunities for new adaptations. 
C) New environments would increase mutation rates. 
D) Populations of remaining species would expand rapidly and reduce geographic isolation. 
A) Gene flow among the remaining species would be increased, giving rise to many new genetic recombinations. 
B) Changed environments and reduced competition would provide opportunities for new adaptations. 
C) New environments would increase mutation rates. 
D) Populations of remaining species would expand rapidly and reduce geographic isolation.

Question 12

Which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

A) Genetic studies are not useful in constructing hominid evolutionary trees. 
B) Breeding did not occur between various populations of Homo. 
C) Only one species of hominid has inhabited Earth at any given time. 
D) Different species of hominids probably coexisted on Earth at various times. 
A) Genetic studies are not useful in constructing hominid evolutionary trees. 
B) Breeding did not occur between various populations of Homo. 
C) Only one species of hominid has inhabited Earth at any given time. 
D) Different species of hominids probably coexisted on Earth at various times.

Question 13

In the figure below, the arrows on the map indicate a hypothesis regarding the movement of modern human populations throughout the world.  
In 2004, a set of human tools dated to 50,000 years old was found at the location of the star on the map (the southeast United States). If the age of these tools is correct, which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

A) This discovery disproves the out-of-Africa hypothesis. 
B) This discovery confirms the multiregional hypothesis. 
C) This discovery suggests that modern humans evolved in North America rather than Africa. 
D) This discovery suggests that the human colonization occurred at a much faster rate than previously hypothesized by scientists. 
A) This discovery disproves the out-of-Africa hypothesis. 
B) This discovery confirms the multiregional hypothesis. 
C) This discovery suggests that modern humans evolved in North America rather than Africa. 
D) This discovery suggests that the human colonization occurred at a much faster rate than previously hypothesized by scientists.

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

The first eukaryotes evolved approximately _____ years ago.

Accepted Answer

A) 200,000 
B) 200 million 
C) 2 billion 
D) 2 trillion 
A) 200,000 
B) 200 million 
C) 2 billion 
D) 2 trillion

Question 16

Examine the diagrammatic representation below of the multiregional hypothesis for the origin of modern humans. If this hypothesis is valid, what allowed all three hominid groups to develop into one species despite their different geographical locations?

Accepted Answer

A) gene flow 
B) genetic drift 
C) adaptive radiation 
D) plate tectonics 
A) gene flow 
B) genetic drift 
C) adaptive radiation 
D) plate tectonics

Question 17

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 18

Measuring the amount of the radioisotope ¹⁴C in a fossil that is assumed to be over 70,000 years is a good way to determine the age of the fossil.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Which of the following is a characteristic of hominids but not of other primates?

Accepted Answer

A) bipedal walking 
B) five fingers 
C) flexible elbow and shoulder joints 
D) large brain compared to body size 
A) bipedal walking 
B) five fingers 
C) flexible elbow and shoulder joints 
D) large brain compared to body size

Question 20

According to the multiregional hypothesis,

Accepted Answer

A) Home erectus evolved into modern humans in Africa and then migrated all over the world. 
B) Home erectus migrated throughout the world and then evolved into modern humans. 
C) Isolated populations of Home erectus and Homo habilis evolved separately into modern humans. 
D) Different populations of Homo erectus migrated back to Africa and became a single population that evolved into modern humans. 
A) Home erectus evolved into modern humans in Africa and then migrated all over the world. 
B) Home erectus migrated throughout the world and then evolved into modern humans. 
C) Isolated populations of Home erectus and Homo habilis evolved separately into modern humans. 
D) Different populations of Homo erectus migrated back to Africa and became a single population that evolved into modern humans.

Exam 20: The Evolutionary History of Life

The development of an upright stance in human ancestors is thought to be linked to

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

Recent evidence contradicts ____________________ law, which states that once a trait is lost in a species, it never comes back.

Ninety-five percent of marine invertebrate species went extinct during the ____________________ mass extinction

The oxygen necessary to support much of life on Earth is a waste product of an important adaptation, the process of ____________________.

Based on the evolutionary tree in the figure below, Homo sapiens sapiens and Homo erectus both evolved from Homo habilis.

The appearance of eukaryotes may have been delayed until more _____ accumulated in Earth's atmosphere.

The first single-celled organisms arose 3.5 ____________________ years ago.

The first mammals

Why might many new species form in the aftermath of a mass extinction?

Which of the following is true?

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.

The first eukaryotes evolved approximately _____ years ago.

Examine the diagrammatic representation below of the multiregional hypothesis for the origin of modern humans. If this hypothesis is valid, what allowed all three hominid groups to develop into one species despite their different geographical locations?

The supercontinent Pangaea began to break up

Measuring the amount of the radioisotope ¹⁴C in a fossil that is assumed to be over 70,000 years is a good way to determine the age of the fossil.

Which of the following is a characteristic of hominids but not of other primates?

According to the multiregional hypothesis,

The Nature of Science and the Characteristics of Life

Biological Diversity, Bacteria, and Archaea

Protista, Plantae, and Fungi

Animalia

The Chemistry of Life

Cell Structure and Internal Compartments

Cell Membranes, Transport, and Communication

Energy, Metabolism, and Enzymes

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

Cell Division

Stem Cells, Cancer, and Human Health

Patterns of Inheritance

Chromosomes and Human Genetics

Dna and Genes

From Gene to Protein

Dna Technology

How Evolution Works

Evolution of Populations

Speciation and the Origins of Biological Diversity

The Biosphere

Growth of Populations

Ecological Communities

Ecosystems

Global Change

Internal Organization and Homeostasis

Nutrition and Digestion

Circulation and Gas Exchange

Animal Hormones

Nervous and Sensory Systems

Skeletons, Muscles, and Movement

Defenses Against Disease

Reproduction and Development

Animal Behavior

Plant Structure, Nutrition, and Transport

Plant Growth and Reproduction

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