STAAR Biology

What are homologous structures?

• different ATP synthesis mechanisms

• DNA similarities

• different bone structures

• similar bone structures in different species (evidence of common ancestor)

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

Kangaroos and koalas are marsupials that carry their offspring in a pouch. Which of the following conclusions could be made about these two species?

• kangaroos descended from birds

• kangaroos and koalas share a common ancestor

• female kangaroos can successfully mate with male koalas

• koalas have the exact same DNA sequence as kangaroos

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

Which of the following best describes evolution?

• spermocytes disfigure and destroy their spermotaphores

• individual animals change over time

• individual animals try really hard to grow wings and adapt

• populations change over time, not individuals

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Which of the following can be concluded from the fossil record of horse relatives?

• horses cannot reproduce successfully with other mammals

• horses evolved to dominate the aquatic ecosystem

• evolution is a slow and gradual process that takes a long time

• evolution occurs extremely rapidly in all species

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

If a scientist is trying to prove two animals share a common ancestor, what is the best piece of evidence they could use?

• biological records showing they both had the same predator

• fossils being discovered in the same location

• fossils showing they both had teeth

• similar nitrogen base sequences of DNA in both animals

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2

NGSS.MS-LS4-3

Which of the following will happen to the giraffe population in a few years?

• the genes for long necks will increase in frequency

• the genes for short necks will increase in frequency

• the short neck giraffes will start trying to grow longer necks

• the long neck genes will disappear from the population

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

What does fitness mean in biology?

• the ability to starve successfully and die

• the ability to reproduce asexually

• the ability to get killed

• the ability to survive and reproduce

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-4

Why do we use the system of taxonomy for classifying organisms?

• to classify animals based on their fur color

• to organize organisms based on their ability to reproduce

• classify organisms based on their height

• to avoid confusion and have the same name for an animal

The scientific name of an organism contains which two levels?

• phylum and species

• domain and kingdom

• genus and species

• order and domain

Two animals in which of the following groups would be the most closely related to each other?

• domain

• species

• genus

• order

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-2