Ch 6 Life Science: Changes Over Time Test

1. The gradual change in a species over time is called...

Mutation

Evolution

Migration

Variation

2. Which term refers to a species that no longer has any living members?

Molded

Fossilized.

Extinct.

Petrified.

3. A species is a group of similar organisms that...

Can mate with each other and produce fertile offspring.

Can live together on an island.

Can migrate to an island from the mainland.

All have exactly the same traits.

4. If two organisms look very similar during their early stages of development, this is evidence that the organisms...

Are not related.

Evolved from different ancestors.

Have exactly the same DNA.

Evolved from a common ancestor.

5. A branching tree is...

A diagram showing how scientists think different groups of organisms are related.

A species of tree that is not closely related to other tree species.

A drawing that shows where different animals live in a tree.

A homologous structure that many plants have.

6. What did Darwin observe about finches in the Galapagos Islands?

Their feathers were adapted to match their environment.

Their beaks were adaptations related to the foods the finches ate.

They had identical phenotypes in all locations.

They had identical genotypes in all locations.

7. Which term refers to the process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce?

Natural selection

Overproduction

Competition

Variation

8. Darwin concluded that organisms on the Galapagos Islands..

Had changed over time.

Had remained the same.

Were the result of selective breeding.

Had no variations.

9. Which theory proposes that species evolve during short periods of rapid change?

Gradualism

Evolution

Absolute dating

Punctuated equilibria

10. Differences between members of the same species are called...

Predators

Selections

Traits

Variations

11. Which term refers to a species creating more offspring than can possibly survive?

Natural selection

Overproduction

Evolution

Variation

12. What are fossils?

Molds and casts of organisms that live today.

Drawings of ancient animals and other organisms.

Footprints or burrows of small animals that live today.

The preserved remains or traces of organisms that lived in the past.

13. Which term refers to similar structures that related species have inherited from a common ancestor?

DNA sequences

Developmental organisms

Homologous structures

Punctuated equilibria

14. A trait that helps an organism survive and reproduce is called a(n)...

Mutation

Selection

Adaptation

Variation

15. Why do scientists think related species have similar body structures and development patterns?

The species inherited many of the same genes from each other.

The species inherited many of the same proteins from each other.

The species inherited all of the same genes from a common ancestor.

The species inherited many of the same genes from a common ancestor.

16. What theory proposes that evolution occurs steadily in tiny changes over long periods of time?

Gradualism

Relative dating

Natural selection

Punctuated equilibria

17. Which of the following is most likely to become preserved as a fossil?

A leaf

A worm

A jellyfish

A clam shell

18. Which of these is one of the main ways that new species forms?

Cross-breeding occurs within the species.

A group is separated from the rest of the species.

Competition occurs between members of the species.

Mutations occur in the alleles of members of the species.

19. How does natural selection lead to evolution?

Stronger offspring kill weaker members of the species.

Helpful variations accumulate among surviving members of the species.

Overproduction provides food fro stronger members of the species.

Environmental changes favor weaker members of the species.

20. Scientists combine evidence from fossils, body structures, early development, DNA and protein structures to ...

Determine what bones an animal has in its forelimbs.

Determine the evolutionary relationships among species.

Decide which fossils are older than others.

Determine whether an organism will have gills during its early development.

21. Which evidence suggests that the ancestors of whales once walked on land?

Scientists have found fossils of whale like creatures that had legs.

Whales perform walking motions as they swim.

Whales have similar DNA to elephants.

Whales breathe through lungs.

22. What theory agrees with fossil records that show no intermediate forms for long periods of time?

Gradualism

Natural selection

Evolution

Punctuated equilibria

23. What is the role of genes in evolution?

Only genes can be acted on by natural selection.

Parents with recessive genes die from overproduction.

The genes of most surviving parents have only dominant alleles.

Only traits that are controlled by genes can be acted on my natural selection.

24. What did Darwin infer from his observations of organisms in South America and the Galapagos Islands?

The organisms on the Galapagos Islands were virtually identical to mainland organisms.

A small number of different plant and animal species had come to the mainland from the Galapagos Islands.

The organisms on the Galapagos Islands were completely unrelated to mainland organisms.

A small number of different plant and animal species had come to the Galapagos Islands from the mainland.

25. How long is Precambrian Time in Geologic Time Scale?

4 million years

4.6 million years

4 billion years

4.6 billion years