7th Grade 4.1.2 Quiz - Jennifer Istre | Library

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Species can change over time and adapt to their environment.

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What is a common ancestor?

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The Galapagos Islands are where Charles Darwin:

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Adaptations that help an organism survive appear quickly.

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A population of beetles changing from yellow to brown and surviving better is an example of __________.

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What does this sequence illustrate?

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_______ involves the reproduction of organisms best suited to their environment in greater numbers than the reproduction of less well-suited organisms.

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Although Darwin did not know about genes, he could see that animals of the same species who had slight variations that helped them to survive longer could produce more offspring than animals who were not as well equipped. Which of the following could be an example of a variation that would help a group of animals survive?

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The medium ground finch is a seed-eating bird species that lives on a tiny volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean. Scientists measured the beak size of the adult birds on the island twice in the same year—before and after six months of no rain. The birds that survived the dry period reproduced and had offspring. Scientists returned the next year and measured the beak size of the surviving offspring. All of the birds the scientists measured were adults. The graph shows the scientists’ results.
Some of the seeds that medium ground finches eat are soft, small, and easy to eat. Other seeds are large, hard, and difficult to break open.

Using complete sentences, explain why the beak size pattern changed in the offspring population after six months of no rain. Provide evidence to support your answer.

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When visiting the different islands, Darwin noticed that the beaks of the finches found on different islands were different, even though they all had a common ancestor. Using a complete sentence, explain why the beaks were different.