Question 1

Which of the following is NOT an effect of mass extinctions on the diversity of life?

Accepted Answer

A)  Entire groups of organisms die off, changing the history of life on Earth. 
B)  Mutation rates in surviving organisms increase greatly. 
C)  Surviving species experience adaptive radiations. 
D)  Previously unimportant groups of organisms find new ecological and evolutionary opportunities. 
A)  Entire groups of organisms die off, changing the history of life on Earth. 
B)  Mutation rates in surviving organisms increase greatly. 
C)  Surviving species experience adaptive radiations. 
D)  Previously unimportant groups of organisms find new ecological and evolutionary opportunities.

Question 2

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 3

At which labeled point in the following graph are the first eukaryotes thought to have evolved?

Accepted Answer

A)  Point A 
B)  Point B 
C)  Point C 
D)  Point D 
A)  Point A 
B)  Point B 
C)  Point C 
D)  Point D

Question 4

If a gene from the coelacanth that drives the development of limbs in the coelacanth embryo was inserted into rats,what would the result likely be?

Accepted Answer

A)  It would likely drive the production of a lobed fin in the rat. 
B)  It would likely drive production of a limb that is a cross between a normal rat limb and a lobed fin. 
C)  It would likely drive the production of an almost normal rat limb. 
D)  It would likely drive the production of no limb in the rat embryo. 
A)  It would likely drive the production of a lobed fin in the rat. 
B)  It would likely drive production of a limb that is a cross between a normal rat limb and a lobed fin. 
C)  It would likely drive the production of an almost normal rat limb. 
D)  It would likely drive the production of no limb in the rat embryo.

Question 5

Among the first organisms to colonize land were descendants of ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Among the first organisms to colonize land...

Question 6

Fossils found closer to the surface are usually older than those buried deeper in the Earth's crust.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Continental drift has played a role in all of the following except ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  changing regional climate 
B)  extinctions 
C)  reduction of mutation rates in all organisms 
D)  promoting speciation 
A)  changing regional climate 
B)  extinctions 
C)  reduction of mutation rates in all organisms 
D)  promoting speciation

Question 8

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 9

Two organisms that are more closely related will generally possess more homologous traits than two organisms that are more distantly related.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

The lowest level of classification in the Linnaean hierarchy is the species.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

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

A trait that represents a reversion to an ancestral state is known as a(n)____________.

Accepted Answer

A)  vestigial trait 
B)  atavistic trait 
C)  ancestral characteristic 
D)  homeotypical characteristic 
A)  vestigial trait 
B)  atavistic trait 
C)  ancestral characteristic 
D)  homeotypical characteristic

Question 13

The genes that once encoded the development of the human tail may still be present in the human genome.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

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 15

Which of the following reflects the order of the Linnaean hierarchy from the highest-level (or most general)to the lowest-level (or most specific)taxon?

Accepted Answer

A)  domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, order, genus, species 
B)  species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, kingdom, domain 
C)  domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species 
D)  species, genus, phylum, class, order, family, kingdom, domain 
A)  domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, order, genus, species 
B)  species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, kingdom, domain 
C)  domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species 
D)  species, genus, phylum, class, order, family, kingdom, domain

Question 16

A particular homeotic gene,if it is present in an organism's genome,will be active in every cell in that organism's body.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The earliest forms of life evolved and lived in ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The earliest forms of life evolved and...

Question 18

The appearance of a tail on a human baby would be an example of an atavistic trait.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

Which of the following is an example of a human atavistic trait?

Accepted Answer

A)  humans born with tails 
B)  humans born with hairy pinnae 
C)  having a widow's peak 
D)  colorblindness 
A)  humans born with tails 
B)  humans born with hairy pinnae 
C)  having a widow's peak 
D)  colorblindness

Question 20

During the time of Pangaea,an ancestor of modern crocodiles inhabited the region marked by the star in this map (left in the following figure).   Where would you expect to find fossils of this animal today (the map on the right)?

Accepted Answer

A)  Northern Hemisphere 
B)  on every continent 
C)  Africa 
D)  Antarctica 
A)  Northern Hemisphere 
B)  on every continent 
C)  Africa 
D)  Antarctica

Exam 16: The Evolution of Biodiversity

Which of the following is NOT an effect of mass extinctions on the diversity of life?

The supercontinent Pangaea began to break up ___________.

At which labeled point in the following graph are the first eukaryotes thought to have evolved?

If a gene from the coelacanth that drives the development of limbs in the coelacanth embryo was inserted into rats,what would the result likely be?

Among the first organisms to colonize land were descendants of ____________________.

Fossils found closer to the surface are usually older than those buried deeper in the Earth's crust.

Continental drift has played a role in all of the following except ________.

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.

Two organisms that are more closely related will generally possess more homologous traits than two organisms that are more distantly related.

The lowest level of classification in the Linnaean hierarchy is the species.

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

A trait that represents a reversion to an ancestral state is known as a(n)____________.

The genes that once encoded the development of the human tail may still be present in the human genome.

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

Which of the following reflects the order of the Linnaean hierarchy from the highest-level (or most general)to the lowest-level (or most specific)taxon?

A particular homeotic gene,if it is present in an organism's genome,will be active in every cell in that organism's body.

The earliest forms of life evolved and lived in ____________________.

The appearance of a tail on a human baby would be an example of an atavistic trait.

Which of the following is an example of a human atavistic trait?

During the time of Pangaea,an ancestor of modern crocodiles inhabited the region marked by the star in this map (left in the following figure). Where would you expect to find fossils of this animal today (the map on the right)?

The Nature of Science and the Characteristics of Life

The Chemistry of Life

Cell Structure and Internal Compartments

Cell Membranes, Transport, and Communication

Energy, Metabolism, and Enzymes

Photo Synthesis and Cellular Respiration

Cell Division

Cancer and Human Health

Patterns of Inheritance

Chromosomes and Human Genetics

DNA and Genes

From Gene to Protein

DNA Technology

How Evolution Works

The Origin of Species

Biological Diversity, Bacteria, and Archaea

Protista, Plantae, and Fungi

Animalia

The Biosphere

Growth of Populations

Animal Behavior

Ecological Communities

Ecosystems

Global Change

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