Pearson Test: Darwin's Theory of Evolution

Edwin is studying a population of rabbits in the neighborhood that surrounds his home. He observes a variety of fur colors among the rabbits, including gray, white, and brown. The rabbit fur also has a variety of markings, including spots and bands. Edwin argues that natural selection will occur on the rabbit population. It will result in a change in the distribution of fur colors and markings. Which observation would provide the STRONGEST evidence in support of Edwin's argument?

A new predator tends to hunt more white rabbits than gray or brown rabbits.

The wings of ostriches are examples of vestigial structures. The wings provide evidence for which of these evolutionary relationships?

An ancestor of ostriches had useful wings.

DeMarco is comparing the bodies of a typical bird and winged insect, as shown in the diagram. DeMarco researches a variety of evidence about birds and insects. He concludes that birds and insects are very distant relatives, yet they still have a common ancestor. Which two statements provide the STRONGEST evidence for DeMarco's conclusion? Select two answer choices.

Both birds and insects use DNA and RNA to transmit genetic information. Both birds and insects use the same genetic code.

A population of male and female goats is stranded on a large island. The goats differ from one another in several ways, including fur color, ear shape, and preferred food. A scientist predicts that the average ear shape of the goats will change gradually over time. According to Darwin's ideas about evolution and natural selection, the accuracy of the prediction depends on which of these conditions?

Certain ear shapes help the goats survive and reproduce on the island.

Scientists before Darwin had proposed that living things could change over time. Why was Darwin's theory of evolution more powerful and useful than the proposals of the other scientists?

Darwin explained the mechanism by which evolution occurred.

Giraffes, camels, and horses share some traits, although they vary in other traits. Which statement accurately describes the evolution of these species?

Each species descended from an ancient common ancestor.

Artificial selection has produced a wide variety of crop plants, livestock, and pets. Which characteristic of artificial selection makes it different from natural selection?

Humans, not the environment, select which organisms survive and reproduce.

On his visit to the Galapagos Islands, Darwin observed a variety of similar birds that lived either on the ground or in trees. Later, experts classified these birds as finches. Darwin had identified 14 distinct finch species, each different from one another and different from finch species that lived on the mainland. The diagram shows four of the Galapagos finches, each of which has a different type of beak. The insets compare the beaks to a type of wrench or cutting tool. According to Darwin, how do the processes of natural selection and descent with modification help to explain the variety among the Galapagos finches?

I just explained that they descended with these modifications so they had the ability to get the food they needed on their islands. Natural selection happened and overtime and the finches on certain islands developed their own type of beak to get certain types of food.

On his visit to the Galapagos Islands, Darwin observed a variety of similar birds that lived either on the ground or in trees. Later, experts classified these birds as finches. Darwin had identified 14 distinct finch species, each different from one another and different from finch species that lived on the mainland. The diagram shows four of the Galapagos finches, each of which has a different type of beak. The insets compare the beaks to a type of wrench or cutting tool. A scientist suggests that the first finch species to arrive on the Galapagos Islands was an insect-eating finch, similar to the modern warbler finch (Certhidea olivacea). If the scientist's suggestion is correct, then which of the four finches shown in the diagram could have evolved from the first finch species? Select all of the answers that apply.

I put Ground and Platyspiza but I got 2/4 points so it's up to you guys on this one.

Raphael runs a computer simulation of a population of beetles in a garden ecosystem. The simulation begins with 300 beetles, divided equally among red, tan, and brown variants, and with equal numbers of males and females. The simulation assumes that female beetles each lay 50 eggs in each reproduction cycle, and that individual beetles live for at most 2 reproductive cycles. The table shows the numbers of each beetle variant over 7 reproduction cycles. Only adult beetles are counted. The simulation is able to model the natural selection of a beetle population for which of these reasons? Select all of the answers that apply.

Missed, I put A & B

Raphael runs a computer simulation of a population of beetles in a garden ecosystem. The simulation begins with 300 beetles, divided equally among red, tan, and brown variants, and with equal numbers of males and females. The simulation assumes that female beetles each lay 50 eggs in each reproduction cycle, and that individual beetles live for at most 2 reproductive cycles. The table shows the numbers of each beetle variant over 7 reproduction cycles. Only adult beetles are counted. Which conclusions about the simulated beetle population does the data support? Select two answer choices.

Missed, I put D & E

The diagram describes a proposed evolutionary relationship among three ancient species, all of which were relatives of modern whales. The diagram supports which of these conclusions about the three ancient species?

Missed, its not C

Darwin developed and proposed the Theory of Evolution during the 1800s. Since that time, due in part to advances in technology, scientists have expanded their knowledge and ideas about biological systems. Which statement describes an example of evidence acquired in the past 100 years and its relationship to the Theory of Evolution?

New evidence from molecular biology provides overwhelming support that all life evolved from a single ancestor.

John states the following claim. "Biogeography provides evidence for the theory of evolution." To support this claim, which evidence would be MOST useful for John to cite?

Polar bears and grizzly bears are similar in many ways, but are adapted to live in different regions.

Charles Darwin applied a wide variety of observations to help him develop his ideas about evolution. Which general statement describes several of the observations that Darwin made and considered, and later incorporated into his Theory of Evolution?

Species on islands tend to resemble mainland species, yet differ from them in many ways.

Raphael runs a computer simulation of a population of beetles in a garden ecosystem. The simulation begins with 300 beetles, divided equally among red, tan, and brown variants, and with equal numbers of males and females. The simulation assumes that female beetles each lay 50 eggs in each reproduction cycle, and that individual beetles live for at most 2 reproductive cycles. The table shows the numbers of each beetle variant over 7 reproduction cycles. Only adult beetles are counted. Propose a condition or parameter of the simulation that could explain the trends in the populations of red, tan, and brown beetles. Did the condition stay the same throughout the simulation, or did it change? Explain your answer.

Teacher is grading.. I said something about the color of what was in the garden. The beetles had the ability to blend in and that's why so many of one color were able to survive.

Darwin collected and studied a variety of fossils. The fossils provided clues to ancient organisms. As Darwin concluded, how did ancient organisms compare to modern species?

The ancient organisms were similar to modern species, but differed in several ways.

A scientist argues that the hair of mammals and the feathers of birds are analogous structures. If the scientist is correct, what is the evolutionary relationship between hair and feathers?

The evolution of hair in mammals occurred independently of the evolution of feathers in birds.

On his visit to the Galapagos Islands, Darwin observed a variety of similar birds that lived either on the ground or in trees. Later, experts classified these birds as finches. Darwin had identified 14 distinct finch species, each different from one another and different from finch species that lived on the mainland. The diagram shows four of the Galapagos finches, each of which has a different type of beak. The insets compare the beaks to a type of tool. According to Darwin's theory of evolution, each beak shape is the result of the process of natural selection. Which statement is MOST USEFUL for explaining why different beak shapes evolved in each of the four finch species?

The food supply selected for beak shape as the finch species descended from a common ancestor.

The adaptations of a pelican include its long, pouch-like beak. Why is the beak of the pelican an example of an adaptation?

The shape and structure of the beak are inherited and help the pelican survive in its environment.

DeMarco is comparing the bodies of a typical bird and winged insect, as shown in the diagram. DeMarco is constructing an argument that the wings of the bird and insect are analogous structures. Which statement provides the STRONGEST evidence for this argument?

The two types of wings grow and develop from different embryonic tissues.

The wing of a bird and the front limb of a mammal have a similar number and arrangement of bones. Which evolutionary relationship explains these similarities?

The wing and front limb are homologous structures; each evolved from a common ancestor.

DeMarco is comparing the bodies of a typical bird and winged insect, as shown in the diagram. A scientist from before Darwin's time might have argued against the conclusion that the bird and insect shared a common ancestor. Here is a statement this scientist might have made: "Earth is only a few thousand years old. For this reason, evolution would have needed to act very quickly for both birds and insects to arise from the same ancestor. No one has observed evolutionary processes in action, even at a slow rate." Construct a counter-argument to the scientist's statement.

This question, this one right here. I might lose it.

The diagram describes a proposed evolutionary relationship among three ancient species, all of which were relatives of modern whales. What evidence would MOST STRONGLY support the evolutionary relationship described in the diagram?

a comparison of the fossil skeletons of the species

A variety of plants and animals live in a meadow ecosystem. According to Darwin's ideas about evolution, which of these meadow organisms has the greatest fitness?

a female mouse that has many offspring