Biological Evolution

Take a look at the layers of earth and the fossils in each layer, in the image below. The fossils show us that life forms changed in an area. Compare the oldest life forms to the newest. What comment can you make about the change in the environment?

• The environment changed from underwater to land.

• There was no change in the environment.

• The environment changed from saltwater to freshwater.

• The environment changed from land to saltwater.

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Geologists discovered fossil evidence of mesohippus, an ancestor of the modern horse. Mesohippus lived in North America about 40 million years ago. Mesohippus was about two feet tall, ran on hooves with three toes, and had large, grinding teeth. What statement is BEST supported by the fossil evidence?

• Horses migrated from South America to North America.

• Horses have evolved over the last 40 million years.

• Modern-day horses share a common ancestor with all mammals.

• Ancient horses were once carnivores.

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The diagram shows the leg bones of a (Left -> Right): Orangutan, dog, pig, cow, tapir, and horse. Most of the animals have the same bones, although some are shaped differently and placed in different positions. What does this suggest about mammals?

• The mammals are evolving to become more and more like one another.

• That they share a common ancestor.

• That the shape of the bones has less to do with the environment pressures on the animal and more to do with what their relatives are.

• That they all continue to use these structures for the same exact purpose.

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Which of the following are examples of evidence for evolution?

• 
  Fossils and Cellular Structure

• Genetics/DNA

• 
  Biological Structures

• All of the Above

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What is speciation?

• the ending or extinction of a single species

• the process of a single species changing gradually over time

• a single species has homologous structures with another species

• a process of some members of the species evolving into a separate species

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Which of the following is the collection of life's remains found in sedimentary rock?

• natural selection

• homologous structures

• Charles Darwin

• the fossil record

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a branched diagram that shows the relationships among organisms, including common ancestors

• Fossil Record

• Biological Evolution

• Cladogram

• Common Ancestor

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In 2007, a group of scientists developed a new hypothesis suggesting that whales may be related what what type of creature?

• Hippo

• Cow

• Dolphin

• Deer-like creature

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The fossil image is of a trilobite. Trilobites lived in the ancient seas and the fossil was found in the sea floor. Compare the fossil to the four modern-day animals also pictured. Based on physical evidence, the trilobite is probably a direct ancestor of what animal?

• Pillbug (roly-poly)

• Locust

• Roundworm

• Scallop

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A fossil of an extinct dinosaur is found and the anatomy of the fossil shows similarities to that of a bird. What could this mean?

• This is purely by chance and isn't significant

• The extinct dinosaur and modern bird share a common ancestor

• All dinosaurs evolved into birds and that's why there aren't any dinosaurs alive today

• Dinosaurs choose to fly, and evolved into birds to escape predation and capture food

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