Diversity and Evolution of Living Organisms

How does the fossil record show that life diversified over millions of years?

• changes in plant structures

• through natural selection

• adaptations in marine and terrestrial organisms

• introduction of new species

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What evidence does the fossil record provide?

• changes in the environment

• little change in the diversity of life forms in Earth's history

• a great diversity in the life forms in Earth's history

• a connection among life forms living today

• no connection among life forms living today

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What evidence supports the fossil record showing environmental changes in Earth's history?

• rock strata lacking any fossils

• marine fossils on dry land

• tropical plant fossils on Antarctica

• all of these are correct

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Where, in theory, did life first begin?

• on land

• in volcanoes

• in oceans

• in Sheldon's mind

Which is the strongest evidence supporting the claim organisms are related?

• differences in appearance

• similarities in behavior

• similar bone structures

• differences in bone structures

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Why did mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds survive the mass extinction at the end of the Mesozoic era?

• They adapted to the environmental changes.

• They moved away from the harmful effects.

• They changed their behaviors.

• They moved to a new environment.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Which best supports the evidence of diversity of life on Earth?

• selection of the best traits

• natural selection

• fossil record

• selective breeding

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

What is a vestigial structure?

• A structure that has origins in a common ancestor, but has evolved to perform the same functions

• A structure that has origins in a common ancestor, but has evolved to perform different functions

• A structure that makes an organism better suited to a habitat

• A structure that has lost its function but is still part of the organism

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which of the following is evidence of a common ancestor?

• Vestigial structures

• Fossil record

• Similarities in the embryo

• All of these

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

The structures of the front flipper of a whale and the forearm of a wolf have similar bone structure and derive from a common ancestor. This is an example of __________.

• analogous structures

• homologous structures

• vestigial structures

• None of these

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2