Question 1

The most recent evidence clarifying the relationship between modern humans and Neanderthals comes from analysis of

Accepted Answer

A)  skeletal structure. 
B)  the types of tools that were made by Neanderthals. 
C)  Neanderthal artwork and burial rites. 
D)  Neanderthal mitochondrial DNA. 
A)  skeletal structure. 
B)  the types of tools that were made by Neanderthals. 
C)  Neanderthal artwork and burial rites. 
D)  Neanderthal mitochondrial DNA.

Question 2

Neanderthals are best described as

Accepted Answer

A)  direct ancestors to modern humans. 
B)  direct ancestors to modern Europeans but not to other human populations. 
C)  a localized form or subspecies of Homo sapiens that was well adapted to living in caves and carrying clubs. 
D)  a hominin that colonized Europe independently of Homo sapiens and that interbred with modern humans. 
A)  direct ancestors to modern humans. 
B)  direct ancestors to modern Europeans but not to other human populations. 
C)  a localized form or subspecies of Homo sapiens that was well adapted to living in caves and carrying clubs. 
D)  a hominin that colonized Europe independently of Homo sapiens and that interbred with modern humans.

Question 3

________ spend almost all of their time on the ground, instead of in trees.

Accepted Answer

A)  Gorillas 
B)  Orangutans 
C)  Gibbons 
D)  Chimpanzees 
A)  Gorillas 
B)  Orangutans 
C)  Gibbons 
D)  Chimpanzees

Question 4

Human skin color likely represents a locally adapted compromise between

Accepted Answer

A)  the need to block UV radiation that causes cancer and the need to absorb sunlight for heat. 
B)  the need to block UV radiation that destroys folate and the need to synthesize vitamin D. 
C)  the need to block UV radiation that destroys folate and the need to absorb sunlight for heat. 
D)  the need to blend in with the environment and the need to absorb sunlight for heat. 
A)  the need to block UV radiation that causes cancer and the need to absorb sunlight for heat. 
B)  the need to block UV radiation that destroys folate and the need to synthesize vitamin D. 
C)  the need to block UV radiation that destroys folate and the need to absorb sunlight for heat. 
D)  the need to blend in with the environment and the need to absorb sunlight for heat.

Question 5

Complete the analogy: ________ are to vertebrate evolution as ________ are to plant evolution.

Accepted Answer

A)  Lungs; stomata 
B)  Amniotic eggs; seeds 
C)  Limbs; flowers 
D)  Opposable thumbs; hyphae 
A)  Lungs; stomata 
B)  Amniotic eggs; seeds 
C)  Limbs; flowers 
D)  Opposable thumbs; hyphae

Question 6

Based on Acanthostega fossils, scientists now believe that the earliest tetrapods were

Accepted Answer

A)  fully terrestrial. 
B)  amphibians that used their limbs to drag themselves over the land from one water hole to another. 
C)  fish that used their limbs to raise themselves out of the water to get gulps of air for oxygen. 
D)  reptiles that resembled crocodiles. 
A)  fully terrestrial. 
B)  amphibians that used their limbs to drag themselves over the land from one water hole to another. 
C)  fish that used their limbs to raise themselves out of the water to get gulps of air for oxygen. 
D)  reptiles that resembled crocodiles.

Question 7

Of all of the chordate groups, why are there only two amniote groups (reptilia and mammalia)?

Accepted Answer

A)  Amniotes are the only chordate group that has successfully survived the transition to land. 
B)  The other craniate groups had brains that were not developed enough to allow the organisms to develop tool-building survival skills. 
C)  The vertebral columns of the other vertebrates were not strong enough to survive the transition to land. 
D)  The other jawed vertebrates were not able to obtain enough food to survive the transition to land. 
A)  Amniotes are the only chordate group that has successfully survived the transition to land. 
B)  The other craniate groups had brains that were not developed enough to allow the organisms to develop tool-building survival skills. 
C)  The vertebral columns of the other vertebrates were not strong enough to survive the transition to land. 
D)  The other jawed vertebrates were not able to obtain enough food to survive the transition to land.

Question 8

Which extinct hominin first appeared about 1.9 million years ago and had a larger brain than Homo habilis, its immediate predecessor?

Accepted Answer

A)  Homo ergaster 
B)  Homo neanderthalensis 
C)  Homo sapiens 
D)  Australopithecus 
A)  Homo ergaster 
B)  Homo neanderthalensis 
C)  Homo sapiens 
D)  Australopithecus

Question 9

Which adaptations allowed reptiles to complete their life cycles on land?

Accepted Answer

A)  lungs 
B)  ectothermic metabolism 
C)  an amniotic egg 
D)  four legs 
A)  lungs 
B)  ectothermic metabolism 
C)  an amniotic egg 
D)  four legs

Question 10

Source: Parra, E. J., Kittles, R. A., & Shriver, M. D. (2004). Implications of correlations between skin color and genetic ancestry for biomedical research. Nature Genetics, 36, S54-S60.
-The graphs shown indicate the range of melanin amounts in populations from four different geographic regions. Of these populations, population D is likely most adapted for

Accepted Answer

A)  having enough vitamin D to produce strong bones. 
B)  being protected against skin cancer. 
C)  preventing the breakdown of folate (folic acid). 
D)  having very active melanin-producing cells. 
A)  having enough vitamin D to produce strong bones. 
B)  being protected against skin cancer. 
C)  preventing the breakdown of folate (folic acid). 
D)  having very active melanin-producing cells.

Question 11

Which would a shark not be able to detect with its lateral line system?

Accepted Answer

A)  schools of fish 
B)  mobile predators 
C)  stationary objects 
D)  sand on the bottom of the ocean floor 
A)  schools of fish 
B)  mobile predators 
C)  stationary objects 
D)  sand on the bottom of the ocean floor

Question 12

-The main difference between the earliest evolved tetrapods and the most recently evolved tetrapods is that

Accepted Answer

A)  later tetrapods have larger brains. 
B)  later tetrapods produce milk to feed their young. 
C)  early tetrapods lack legs. 
D)  early tetrapods lack a vertebral column. 
A)  later tetrapods have larger brains. 
B)  later tetrapods produce milk to feed their young. 
C)  early tetrapods lack legs. 
D)  early tetrapods lack a vertebral column.

Question 13

Hominin fossil footprints that are obviously bipedal date to about ________ years ago.

Accepted Answer

A)  50,000 
B)  100,000 
C)  3.6 million 
D)  12 million 
A)  50,000 
B)  100,000 
C)  3.6 million 
D)  12 million

Question 14

-According to this figure, which species lived concurrently with Homo ergaster?

Accepted Answer

A)  Australopithecus anamensis 
B)  Australopithecus africanus 
C)  Paranthropus boisei 
D)  Homo sapiens 
A)  Australopithecus anamensis 
B)  Australopithecus africanus 
C)  Paranthropus boisei 
D)  Homo sapiens

Question 15

Which is characteristic of all vertebrates?

Accepted Answer

A)  a skull and a backbone consisting of vertebrae 
B)  a calcified (hard) skeleton and four legs 
C)  a hinged jaw 
D)  lungs or lung derivatives 
A)  a skull and a backbone consisting of vertebrae 
B)  a calcified (hard) skeleton and four legs 
C)  a hinged jaw 
D)  lungs or lung derivatives

Question 16

Light skin is most adaptive in northern latitudes because

Accepted Answer

A)  dark skin allows folate destruction when UV radiation is less. 
B)  the greater UV radiation in northern latitudes destroys vitamin D. 
C)  increased melanin causes an increase in the risk of melanoma. 
D)  light skin in northern latitudes allows adequate folate for fetal development. 
A)  dark skin allows folate destruction when UV radiation is less. 
B)  the greater UV radiation in northern latitudes destroys vitamin D. 
C)  increased melanin causes an increase in the risk of melanoma. 
D)  light skin in northern latitudes allows adequate folate for fetal development.

Question 17

Which statement is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Sharks have a skeleton made of bone, while ray-finned fishes have flexible skeletons made of cartilage. 
B)  Ray-finned fishes have a skeleton made of bone, while sharks have flexible skeletons made of cartilage. 
C)  Sharks have a series of rod-shaped bones in their muscular pectoral and pelvic fins, while lobe-fins have flexible skeletons made of cartilage. 
A)  Sharks have a skeleton made of bone, while ray-finned fishes have flexible skeletons made of cartilage. 
B)  Ray-finned fishes have a skeleton made of bone, while sharks have flexible skeletons made of cartilage. 
C)  Sharks have a series of rod-shaped bones in their muscular pectoral and pelvic fins, while lobe-fins have flexible skeletons made of cartilage.

Question 18

Which statement best describes how flight and feathers are related in the evolution of birds?

Accepted Answer

A)  The first flying birds did not have feathers, which evolved later. 
B)  Feathers and flight evolved at the same time. 
C)  The first feathered ancestors to birds did not fly but may have used their feathers for insulation and display. 
D)  Feathers are soft and do not leave fossils or fossil traces, so it is unknown which organisms first had feathers. 
A)  The first flying birds did not have feathers, which evolved later. 
B)  Feathers and flight evolved at the same time. 
C)  The first feathered ancestors to birds did not fly but may have used their feathers for insulation and display. 
D)  Feathers are soft and do not leave fossils or fossil traces, so it is unknown which organisms first had feathers.

Question 19

The hominin group includes

Accepted Answer

A)  Homo sapiens only. 
B)  Homo sapiens and several extinct human relatives. 
C)  humans and all other apes. 
D)  all anthropoids. 
A)  Homo sapiens only. 
B)  Homo sapiens and several extinct human relatives. 
C)  humans and all other apes. 
D)  all anthropoids.

Question 20

Compared to other primates, anthropoids have

Accepted Answer

A)  a decreased reliance upon vision. 
B)  a stronger reliance upon smell. 
C)  a fully opposable thumb. 
D)  smaller total body size in most cases. 
A)  a decreased reliance upon vision. 
B)  a stronger reliance upon smell. 
C)  a fully opposable thumb. 
D)  smaller total body size in most cases.

Exam 19: The Evolution of Vertebrate Diversity

The most recent evidence clarifying the relationship between modern humans and Neanderthals comes from analysis of

Neanderthals are best described as

________ spend almost all of their time on the ground, instead of in trees.

Human skin color likely represents a locally adapted compromise between

Complete the analogy: ________ are to vertebrate evolution as ________ are to plant evolution.

Based on Acanthostega fossils, scientists now believe that the earliest tetrapods were

Of all of the chordate groups, why are there only two amniote groups (reptilia and mammalia)?

Which extinct hominin first appeared about 1.9 million years ago and had a larger brain than Homo habilis, its immediate predecessor?

Which adaptations allowed reptiles to complete their life cycles on land?

Which would a shark not be able to detect with its lateral line system?

-The main difference between the earliest evolved tetrapods and the most recently evolved tetrapods is that

Hominin fossil footprints that are obviously bipedal date to about ________ years ago.

-According to this figure, which species lived concurrently with Homo ergaster?

Which is characteristic of all vertebrates?

Light skin is most adaptive in northern latitudes because

Which statement is true?

Which statement best describes how flight and feathers are related in the evolution of birds?

The hominin group includes

Compared to other primates, anthropoids have

Biology: Exploring Life

The Chemical Basis of Life

The Molecules of Cells

A Tour of the Cell

The Working Cell

How Cells Harvest Chemical Energy

Photosynthesis: Using Light to Make Food

The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and Inheritance

Patterns of Inheritance

Molecular Biology of the Gene

How Genes Are Controlled

DNA Technology and Genomics

How Populations Evolve

The Origin of Species

Tracing Evolutionary History

Microbial Life: Prokaryotes and Protists

The Evolution of Plant and Fungal Diversity

The Evolution of Invertebrate Diversity

Unifying Concepts of Animal Structure and Function

Nutrition and Digestion

Gas Exchange

Circulation

The Immune System

Control of Body Temperature and Water Balance

Hormones and the Endocrine System

Reproduction and Embryonic Development

Nervous Systems

The Senses

How Animals Move

Plant Structure, Growth, and Reproduction

Plant Nutrition and Transport

Control Systems in Plants

The Biosphere: an Introduction to Earths Diverse Environments

Behavioral Adaptations to the Environment

Population Ecology

Communities and Ecosystems

Conservation Biology

Filters

Complete the analogy: are to vertebrate evolution as are to plant evolution.