Evolutionary History Problems

This fossil turtle and this living hawk both have a structure in their neck called the atlas bone. What best explains why both species have an atlas bone?

• The turtle and hawk are different species, so they must not share an ancestor population. They inherited their atlas bone structure from separate ancestor populations

• The turtle and hawk both share the same ancestor population that had an atlas bone. They inherited this structure from the ancestor population.

• It is impossible to say. Fossils are very old; therefore, we cannot make observations of the turtle’s ancestors, and we cannot explain its body structures.

• All species have their own specific body structures, so it is a coincidence that this turtle and hawk each happen to have the atlas bone structure.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

This ctenophore, this sea cucumber, and this cuttlefish have similarities and differences in their body structures. What does the information about these structures tell you about the ancestors of these species?

• All three species share an ancestor population, but the sea cucumber and the cuttlefish share a more recent ancestor population. This is why they share the intestine structure.

• None share an ancestor population because different species cannot share an ancestor population. It is a coincidence that these species have some of the same body structures.

• Sea cucumbers and cuttlefish share an ancestor population, but they must not share an ancestor with the ctenophore because ctenophores don’t have the intestine structure.

• We cannot make observations of ancestor populations from the past. It is impossible to explain ancestors with only the information about the body structures of different species.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What does this diagram show?

• All three species share a common ancestor, but the African elephant and Sumatran tiger are more closely related to each other than they are to the Norway rat.

• All three species share a common ancestor, but the Sumatran tiger and Norway rat are more closely related to each other than they are to the African elephant.

• The Sumatran tiger, African elephant, and Norway rat are not related and come from separate lines of evolutionary history.

• All three species share a common ancestor and are equally related to each other.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What does this diagram show?

• All three species share a common ancestor, but the bold jumping spider and common octopus are more closely related to each other than they are to the Bombay locust.

• All three species share a common ancestor, but the bold jumping spider and Bombay locust are more closely related to each other than they are to the common octopus.

• The three species are not related and come from separate lines of evolutionary history.

• All three species share a common ancestor and are equally related to one another.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The body structures for a population of chimpanzees were stable for a long time. Then, their body structures changed, making the chimpanzees stronger. Why did this happen?

• Organisms naturally become stronger over time.

• It is impossible to say without more information.

• The chimpanzee population wanted to be stronger.

• Their environment must have changed.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Which 2 species would complete the "More Closely Related" part of this model the best? (Your choices are Lizard, Pig, and Rat.)

• pig and lizard because they both have 4 legs

• pig and lizard because they evolved from a common vertebrate ancestor

• pig and rat because they both have 4 legs

• pig and rat because they evolved from a common mammal ancestor

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The diagram provided here is an evolutionary tree. It shows how groups of organisms are related through a shared evolutionary history. Which of the following provides the best evidence that can be used to create this diagram?

• The habitats in which the animals live

• Competition between organisms for resources

• Similarities and differences in body structures

• Observations of interactions in the wild

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Whales, which live in the water, have hips. These structures are important for carrying the weight of animals that walk on land. Finding this body part in animals that don’t walk on land is best explained how?

• Whales have evolved this structure because it might be useful in the future.

• Whales are able to interbreed with other animals that have hips.

• Whales have a diet that includes other animals that have this structure.

• Whales share a common ancestor with animals that walk on land.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

The diagram provided here is an evolutionary tree. It shows how groups of organisms are related through a shared evolutionary history. The nodes on the diagram show the shared characteristics that link the related groups of animals. Two of the nodes are labeled with the correct characteristics. Which of the nodes should be labeled “body hair”?

• Node A

• Node B

• Node C

• Node D

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

In the front limb diagram, what does the shared structures indicate about the evolutionary relationships among the organisms?

• They are not related because they use them for different purposes.

• They have evolved from a common ancestor.

• There is no way of knowing if these organisms are related just by looking at their bones.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2