Evolution Quiz Review Guide

  1. Until recently, the myrtle warbler and the Audubon’s warbler were thought to be separate species of birds because the males have very different appearances. Which of the following observations most likely led to the reclassification of these warblers as one species?
  2. In the deserts of the southwestern United States, rock formations made from lava flows are found scattered across the sand. The rock pocket mouse, which has dark fur, lives on the black lava rocks. The Apache pocket mouse, which has light fur, lives on the tan sand. Which of the following statements best explains how these two types of mice could have evolved from a common ancestor?
  3. The bones that make up the forelimbs of monkeys, cats, whales, and birds are similar. Which of the following statements best supports the evolutionary relationship of these animals?
  4. A population is separated into two groups by a geographic barrier. Over time, enough differences develop between the two groups that they do not interbreed when reunited. Which of the following terms best describes the process that has occurred?

Antibiotic resistance can vary within a population of bacteria. The diagram represents the changes in a population of bacteria as a result of exposure to an antibiotic over time.

  1. The changes in the population are most likely the result of which of the following?
  1. Which of the following statements gives the most likely explanation for the presence of two very similar species of squirrels living on opposite sides of the Grand Canyon?
  2. In humans, the appendix is small and is not needed for digestion. In rabbits, the appendix is well developed and is used in the digestion of plant fibers. Which of the following provides the best scientific explanation for the presence of the appendix in both humans and rabbits?
  3. Which of the following is NOT a component of Evolution by Natural Selection?
  4. The two main sources of genetic variation are

  1. Dutch elm disease is a fungal infection of elm trees that usually results in death. The disease has killed millions of North American elm trees that were not resistant to the fungus. Scientists have bred resistant elms by crossing North American species with Asian species that show resistance.

Which of the following best describes how natural selection would promote resistant elm populations once the resistance genes from the Asian species were successfully introduced?

OPEN RESPONSE (Only 2 of the 4 questions will be on the test).

  1. Male peafowl, called peacocks, have long, colorful tail feathers. Among peacocks there is variation in the size, brightness, and pattern of the tail. Scientists observed the mating success of two groups of peacocks. The graph below shows the scientists’ data.
  1. Explain what the data show about the advantage of longer, more colorful tails for peacocks.
  2. Identify one disadvantage that longer, more colorful tails have for peacocks.
  3. Explain in detail how the longer, more colorful tails evolved in peacocks despite causing disadvantages for the males.
  1. The graph below relates the number of gray squirrels in a small population to their coat colors.

This squirrel population has been separated from other squirrel populations by a new highway
and several construction sites. The main predators of these squirrels are cats and hawks.

  1. Assume that dark gray squirrels are very visible in this new environment. What is likely tohappen to the distribution of coat color in this squirrel population over several generations? Sketch a graph in your Student Answer Booklet to show the predicted distribution, and explainyour answer.
  2. Assume that dark gray squirrels are very visible on the ground, and light gray squirrels arevery visible in the trees. Explain what is likely to happen to the distribution of coat colorin the squirrel population over several generations. You may sketch a graph in your StudentAnswer Booklet as part of your explanation.
  1. A student is studying four beetles, pictured below. Three of the beetles belong to the same genus, and one does not.
  1. Identify whetherHippodamia convergensandHippodamia variegatacan mate and produce fertile offspring. Explain your answer.
  2. Which of the beetles must belong to the same family? Explain your answer.
  3. Describetwotypes of evidence, other than mating and producing fertile offspring, that scientists can use to determine taxonomic classification and relationships among insects. Explain how each type of evidence is used.
  1. An elephant shrew and a shrew are pictured below.

For many years, scientists had classified elephant shrews in the same family as shrews. In the 1990s, however, scientists gathered evidence for the evolutionary tree below and reclassified elephant shrews into a different family from shrews.

  1. Describe themost likelyreason why scientists originally classified elephant shrews with shrews.
  2. Using the evolutionary tree, identify the groups to which elephant shrews are most closely related.
  3. Identify and explain the evidence scientistsmost likelyused to build the evolutionary tree and reclassify elephant shrews.
  4. Identifyoneother type of evidence that scientists use to determine evolutionary relationships and build evolutionary trees.