Science Evolution Summative Prep

Which concept is not part of the theory of evolution?

Changes occurs according to the needs of an individual organism to survive.

The fossil record supports which of the following descriptions of the evolution of life on Earth?

Complex organisms evolved from more simple organisms.

The bones in the forelimbs of three mammals are shown below.

Developed from the same earlier species.

A researcher found shark fossils on top of a mountain. This evidence suggests which of the following about this region?

It was once covered by an ocean.

Which statement best helps explain how these different structures could arise from a common precursor?

Mutations in the genes regulating limb development led to gradual changes in structure, which provided a selective advantage to the organisms.

Which statement represents the major concept of the biological theory of evolution?

Present-day organisms on Earth developed from earlier, distinctly different organisms.

Scientists compared fossil remains of a species that lived 5,000 years ago with members of the same species living today. Scientists concluded that this species that changed very little over the entire time period. Which statement best accounts for this lack of change?

The environment did not change significantly and those offspring expressing new characteristics did not survive.

A scientist observes several different fossils in a rock layer. Based on this observation, which is the best conclusion?

The fossils formed about the same time as the rock layer in which they were formed.

Vestigial structures such as hip bones in whales and appendixes in humans, are those that have little or no function for the organism. What is the most likely reason for this loss of function over time?

The structure was not highly beneficial to the organism.

The fossilized jawbones in the diagram above show the changes in organisms over time. According to the diagrams, which of the following is likely conclusion?

These fossils provide evidence that evolution occurs over long periods of time.

The presence of these bones in the baleen whale and extinct whale provides evidence of which of the following?

Whales evolved from four-legged animals.

The 14 varieties of finches are most likely the result of

biological evolution

The fossil record of ancient life forms provides scientific evidence of

evolutionary changes.

Differences in the bone arrangements support the hypothesis that these organisms

have adaptations to survive in different environments.

The presence of some similar structures in all vertebrates suggests that these vertebrates

may have an evolutionary relationship.

The theory of biological evolution includes the concept that

species of organisms found on Earth today have adaptations not always found in earlier species.

Evidence that best supports the theory of biological evolution was obtained from the

study of fossil records.