Evolution Biology EOC

Charles Darwin traveled to the Galapagos Islands and studied a variety of species including tortoises, finches, and mockingbirds. Which type of evidence was he NOT able to use to form and support his theory?

• DNA (Biochemistry) evidence

• Comparative Anatomy

• Biogeography (where organisms live)

• Fossil evidence

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Darwin's observations of finches on the Galapagos Islands is a classic example used in the study of evolution. Through his observations, Darwin wondered about the changes in shape of bird beaks from island to island. One type of finch he called the cactus finch had longer, more pointed beaks than other finches he observed who primarily fed off the ground. Beaks of yet another type of finch were thinner and more pointed. What type of support do Darwin’s famous Galapagos Finches offer to the theory of evolution?

• comparative embryology

• molecular biology

• biogeography

• fossil records

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The diagram below shows undisturbed sedimentary strata at the bottom of the ocean. The fossils found in layer B resemble the fossils found in layer A. What does this similarity suggest?

• That invertebrate fossils are only found in sediments.

• That modern forms of life may have evolved from earlier forms of life.

• The fossils formed in layer B were formed before the fossils found in layer A.

• The fossils found in layer A must be more complex than those found in layer B

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The diagram shows different vertebrate embryos. Which conclusion is supported by the diagram?

• Pigs evolved from reptiles.

• Reptiles evolved from birds.

• These organisms occupy the same niche.

• These organisms share a common ancestor.

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Which of the following was NOT a part of Darwin's theory of evolution?

• A. the idea that organisms change over time

• B. the idea that organisms share common ancestors

• C. the idea that organisms best adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce

• D. the idea that organisms pass on acquired characteristics during their lifetime to offspring

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The yellow-bellied three-toed skink, a lizard species from Australia, can either lay eggs or give live birth. Skinks living near the mild coastal climates lay eggs, while skinks from the harsh mountain climates are now being observed to give live births. What evidence would future scientists look for to suggest that coastal skinks and mountain skinks have evolved into separate species?

• A. Mountain skinks will migrate to milder climates.

• B. Coastal skinks will give live birth more frequently.

• C. Coastal skinks will no longer mate with mountain skinks.

• D. Mountain skinks will outcompete coastal skinks to extinction.

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The diagram below shows the evolution of whales. Which statement regarding whale evolution is supported by the information in the diagram?

• Modern whales have larger bones in the hind legs.

• Whales evolved before animals with two pairs of legs.

• Ancient whales had larger brains than modern whales.

• Whales evolved from animals that had two pairs of legs.

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The table shows information about different kinds of modified leaves. Which statement best explains how the information in the table supports the theory of evolution?

• A. The table provides evidence that some species are more fit than others.

• B. The table provides evidence that a single structure can develop diverse forms.

• C. The table provides evidence that a species has become more diverse over time.

• D. The table provides evidence that plant structures develop from similar embryos.

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Fossils of canines were found on opposite sides of a mountain range. The fossils are from species that are similar but not identical. These fossils were very similar, although the climates and regions were extremely different on each side of the range. These fossils provide evidence for the theory of evolution. What does the similarity of the fossils exemplify?

• coevolution

• biogeography

• vestigial structures

• analogous structures

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When Charles Darwin explored the Galapagos Islands off the coast of South America, he noticed that each island was home to a different species of giant tortoise, recognizable by the shape of its shell. This observation was a key piece of evidence upon which he based his theory of evolution. Which statement best explains this phenomenon?

• A. The different species of giant tortoise were dispersed randomly on each island as a result of genetic drift.

• B. The different species of giant tortoise were a product of Lamarkian evolution and developed adaptations as a result.

• C. The different species of giant tortoise were descended from South American giant tortoises with developed adaptations.

• D. The different species of giant tortoise were originally located on the mainland with specific physical traits for particular

• habitats.

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