Understanding Evolution and the Fossil Record

What does the theory of evolution suggest about individuals within a species?

• They do not change over time.

• They show a wide degree of variation.

• They are always perfectly adapted to their environment.

• They are all identical.

What is the fossil record?

• A collection of living animals and plants.

• A study of the number and placement of fossils within certain types and areas of rock.

• A record of all the species that have ever existed.

• A list of all the extinct species.

Who are paleontologists?

• Scientists who study fossils.

• Scientists who study the weather.

• Scientists who study plants.

• Scientists who study living animals.

How do paleontologists use fossils to understand evolution?

• By analyzing the DNA of living species.

• By observing the environment.

• By studying the behavior of living animals.

• By comparing fossilized body structures and tracts of movement.

What did the discovery of a 370 million year old fossilized fish with a hand-like fin suggest?

• A transition from sea to land.

• A transition from air to land.

• A transition from land to sea.

• A transition from land to air.

When did early mammals emerge according to transitional reptile fossils?

• About 100 million years ago.

• About 500 million years ago.

• About 50 million years ago.

• About 245 million years ago.

What is one of the main challenges in tracing the lineage of species using fossil records?

• The abundance of transitional fossils.

• The lack of transitional fossils.

• The rapid formation of fossils.

• The uniformity of fossil records.

Why is the formation of fossils considered a rare event?

• Because most species do not die.

• Because specific conditions are required for fossilization.

• Because fossils are easily destroyed.

• Because fossils are only found in certain areas.

The American lobster (Homarus americanus) is most closely related to which of the following organisms?

• Cape lobster (Homarinus capensis)

• Common lobster (Homarus gammarus)

• Patagonian lobsterette (Thymops birsteini)

• Scarlett clawed lobster (Nephropsis atlantica)

Why do monkeys have long arms and tails?

• to hug each other
• to wrap around them to stay warm
• to swing quickly from tree branches
• to high-five each other