Review for Evolution Test

Study Study Study

In humans, the pelvis and the femur, or thighbone, are involved in walking. In whales, the pelvis and femur shown in

examples of fossils.examples of natural variation.acquired traits.vestigial structures.

An adaptation is an inherited characteristic that can be

• physical or behavioral.

• physical or geographical.

• acquired during the organism’s lifetime.

• the result of artificial selection.

When a farmer breeds only his or her best livestock, the process

involved is

• natural selection.

• artificial variation.

• artificial selection.

• survival of the fittest.

Darwin’s theory of evolution suggests that

species change over time.

extinct species are not related to living species.

different species can interbreed.

animals that look alike are the most closely related.

The combined genetic information of all members of a

particular population is the population’s

• relative frequency.

• phenotype.

• gene pool.

• genotype.

A change in a sequence of DNA is called a

•recombination.

•single-gene trait.

•polygenic trait.

•mutation.

Natural selection acts directly on

•alleles.•phenotypes.•genes.•mutations.

The separation of populations by barriers such as rivers,

mountains, or bodies of water is called

• temporal isolation.

• behavioral isolation.

• geographic isolation.

• genetic equilibrium.

To compare the relative ages of fossils, scientists sometimes

use an easily recognized species called a(an)

• carbon fossil.• index fossil.• radioactive fossil.• sedimentary fossil.

Most fossils form in

• rusty water.

• sedimentary rock.

• volcanic rocks.

• the sap of ancient trees.

Sharks, dolphins, and penguins all have streamlined bodies and appendages that enable them to

move through water. These similarities are the result of

• coevolution.

• asexual reproduction.

• convergent evolution.

• adaptive radiation.

Examples of fossils include preserved

• eggs.

• body parts.

• footprints.

• all of the above

The length of time required for half of the radioactive atoms in

a sample to decay is its

•half-life.•radioactive date.•relative date.•period.

The first organisms on Earth were most like today’s

•bacteria.•multicellular organisms.•eukaryotes. •DNA molecules.

Darwin called the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce

in its environment

•diversity.

•adaptation.

• fitness.

•evolution.

Which part of a mammal’s brain contains a well-developed

cerebral cortex—the center of thinking?

• medulla oblongata• cerebrum• spinal cord• cerebellum

Having a thumb that can move against the other fingers makes

it possible for a primate to• hold objects firmly.• merge visual images.• display elaborate social behaviors.• judge the locations of tree

branches.

The earliest hominid that belonged to the same genus as modern humans was probably

• Homo habilis.

• Homo afarensis.

• Homo neanderthalensis.

• Homo ergaster.

Fossil evidence indicates that Australopithecus afarensis

• was primarily a meat-eater.

• had a large brain.

• was bipedal.

• appeared later than Homo ergaster.

The function of a placenta is to

• a. exchange materials between an embryo and its mother.

• b. store and process newly swallowed plant food.

• c. store urine until it is eliminated from the body.

• d. increase the volume of the chest cavity during breathing.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of most primates?

• opposable digits

• binocular vision

• a well-developed cerebrum

• a cloaca

Bipedal locomotion consists of

• swinging from branch to branch.

• using the tail to grasp branches during walking.

• moving the big toe against the other digits.

• walking on two feet.

Which statement is true of the Neanderthals?

• They evolved after the Cro-Magnons.

• They made stone tools.• They became extinct about 1

million years ago.• They replaced Homo sapiens in

Europe and the Middle East.

Which of the following was a characteristic of Homo habilis?

• using tools made of stone and bone

• producing cave paintings• having a skeleton similar to that of

a gorilla• burying their dead with elaborate

rituals

Hominids differ from other primates on the basis of all of

the following EXCEPT

• brain size.

• method of locomotion.

• method of reproduction.

• shape of the hip bones.

Figure 15–3

Inferring Scientists have never seen the ancient horses shown in Figure 15-3. What do you think was the main type of evidence that scientists used to prepare these diagrams?