A population of birds (Population A) on a remote, isolated island is studied to determine beak length. The resulting data are plotted in Figure 1.
Suppose that 200 years later, the beaks of the birds on the island were again measured (Population B). The data, when plotted, yielded a graph as in Figure 2.
What is the most likely reason for the difference in distribution of beak lengths between the data plotted in Figure 1 and the data plotted in Figure 2?
all birds with beaks of 30mm flew to a new island over the 200-year time span
birds with beaks of 30 mm were selected against
predators consumed birds with beaks of 40 mm
predators consumed birds with beaks of 20 mm
A population of birds (Population A) on a remote, isolated island is studied to determine beak length. The resulting data are plotted in Figure 1.
Suppose that 200 years later, the beaks of the birds on the island were again measured (Population B). The data, when plotted, yielded a graph as in Figure 2.
What is the average beak length (in cm) of the birds in Figure 1?
3 mm
30 mm
15 mm
5 mm
In which of the following types of societies would genetic drift have the least likelihood of causing rapid evolution?
a community of 40 members of a religious sect who have had nothing to do with their neighbors in Pennsylvania for 8 generations
China today
a band of 12 isolated humans living 70,000 years ago in Southern Africa
a pack of 8 wolves living in Yellowstone park
Which group would most likely have the greatest survival success during a long period of environmental changes?
one species of bird that nests only in sugar maple trees
a small population of rabbits living in a field of grass
a large population of red ants living in a forest
an endangered population of polar bears living near an iceberg
A flock of one species of birds arrives on a group of sparsely populated islands. With little or no competition, different species of birds evolve from the original species. Each species is adapted to a different available niche. This is an example of
graduated equilibrium
convergent evolution
divergent evolution
coevolution
According to most scientists, which sequence best represents the order of biological evolution on Earth?
B —> C —> A
C —> A —> B
B —> A —> C
A —> B —> C
What situation might develop in a population having some plants whose flowers open at midday and other plants whose flowers open late in the day?
geographic isolation
temporal isolation
genetic drift
behavioral isolation
The following data table shows the number of different amino acids in the beta hemoglobin chain of various organisms compared to the human beta chain.
To which of the following organisms are humans most closely related, based on hemoglobin amino acid sequence?
Mouse
Gibbon
Monkey
Chicken
Human hemoglobin and gorilla hemoglobin is even more closely related than the organisms shown above; they differ by only a single amino acid. Yet humans and gorillas are considered to be separate species. This is because
they are unable to interbreed
their hemoglobin chains differ by a single amino acid
they are the result of convergent evolution
human hemoglobin and gorilla hemoglobin have different functions
The Giant Anteater of South America, the Giant Armadillo of North America, the Giant Pangolin of Africa, and the Spiny Anteater of Oceania share many characteristics. They all eat ants, have long narrow snouts, few teeth, and large salivary glands, yet they do not share a common ancestor. This is an example of which of the following?
founder effect
genetic drift
adaptive radiation
convergent evolution
Modern sea star larvae resemble some primitive vertebrate larvae. This similarity may suggest that primitive vertebrates
share a common ancestor with sea stars.
belong to the same species as sea stars.
evolved before sea stars.
evolved from sea stars.
In 1910, a small town on the East Coast of the United States relied primarily on agriculture to support its economy. In the mid-1930s, a steel mill was built, and the economy shifted from being agriculturally supported to being industrially supported. The steel mill released a lot of smog and soot into the air, which collected on the bark of trees in a wooded area near the outskirts of town. Over a period of 10 years the bark gradually darkened, then maintained a constant dark color.
A variety of animals and insects lived in the wooded area. In particular, a certain species of moth served as the primary food source for a population of birds. The moths lay their eggs in the bark of the trees and, thus, must spend a fair amount of time sitting on the tree trunks. Table 1 presents data on the moth population.
If a seed from one of the trees was planted in an area far from the steel mill, what color would the bark of the tree be?
white, because the gene causing black bark was mutated due to environmental pollution
black, because the gene causing white bark was mutated due to environmental pollution
black, because the parent tree had black bark
white, because the black bark was an acquired characteristic and is therefore not passed on to the progeny
The wings of the moths and the wings of the birds are both used for flight; however, their underlying structures are very different. Moth wings and bird wings are thus classified as
analogous structures
homologous structures
vestigial structures
divergent structures
Birds track their prey visually, while bats rely on sonar to locate their food. If the bird population were replaced with a bat population in 1940, what would be the ratio of white moths to black moths?
80% white, 20% black
95% white, 5% black
20% white, 80% black
50% white, 50% black
What is the most likely explanation for the shift in the percentage of black moths in the population?
the white moths no longer blended with the color of the tree bark and, thus, were selected for
the white moths blended better with the color of the tree bark, and thus, were selected against
the black moths blended better with the color of the tree bark and, thus, were selected against
the black moths blended better with the color of the tree bark and, thus, were selected for
Which species is most closely related to species L? Base your answer using the diagram.
F
G
E
I
According to the Hardy-Weinberg principle, genetic equilibrium would be more likely in a population of mice if
mutation rates within the population rise.
there is frequent movement into and out of the population.
the population size rapidly decreases.
no natural selection takes place.
Based on the cladogram below, which statement must be true?
Species 3 and 4 are found in different ecosystems than Species 1 and 2.
Species 3 is more genetically similar to Species 4 than to the other species.
Species 1 and 2 cannot have traits in common with Species 3 and 4.
Species 1 has a less direct relationship to the common ancestor than the other species.
Situation 1: A species of moth is preyed on by bats. Over hundreds and hundreds of years, the moths develop a sophisticated pattern of flying when they hear the screech of a bat. This helps them escape danger. Other changes occur as well, and when an attempt is made to mate the current moth with its ancestor moth, no viable eggs are produced.
Situation 2: A species of frogs is living in a pond near an earthquake fault line. A sizable earthquake separates the frog population into two separate populations. After hundreds and hundreds of years, the two groups are unable to mate.
Another term used to describe what happened in Situation 2 is
stabilizing selection
survival of the fittest
convergent evolution
divergent evolution
Situation 1: A species of moth is preyed on by bats. Over hundreds and hundreds of years, the moths develop a sophisticated pattern of flying when they hear the screech of a bat. This helps them escape danger. Other changes occur as well, and when an attempt is made to mate the current moth with its ancestor moth, no viable eggs are produced.
Situation 2: A species of frogs is living in a pond near an earthquake fault line. A sizable earthquake separates the frog population into two separate populations. After hundreds and hundreds of years, the two groups are unable to mate.
A similarity between Situation 1 and Situation 2 is
genetic drift
behavioral isolation
reproductive isolation
geographic isolation
Situation 1: A species of moth is preyed on by bats. Over hundreds and hundreds of years, the moths develop a sophisticated pattern of flying when they hear the screech of a bat. This helps them escape danger. Other changes occur as well, and when an attempt is made to mate the current moth with its ancestor moth, no viable eggs are produced.
Situation 2: A species of frogs is living in a pond near an earthquake fault line. A sizable earthquake separates the frog population into two separate populations. After hundreds and hundreds of years, the two groups are unable to mate.
Another term used to describe what happened in Situation 1 is
divergent evolution
adaptive radiation
coevolution
convergent evolution
Situation 1: A species of moth is preyed on by bats. Over hundreds and hundreds of years, the moths develop a sophisticated pattern of flying when they hear the screech of a bat. This helps them escape danger. Other changes occur as well, and when an attempt is made to mate the current moth with its ancestor moth, no viable eggs are produced.
Situation 2: A species of frogs is living in a pond near an earthquake fault line. A sizable earthquake separates the frog population into two separate populations. After hundreds and hundreds of years, the two groups are unable to mate.
Consider Situation 2. Because the two groups of frogs are unable to mate, they are now considered to be different
population
organisms
community
species
A tree frog population lives in the canopy of a tropical rain forest. In this tree frog population, a mutation occurs that results in a new allele for skin coloration causing stripes on their legs. Which of the following factors has the greatest effect on whether leg stripes will become more common in the tree frog population?
if the new allele for stripes increases the survival of the tree frogs in their environment
if the new allele for stripes is dominant or recessive in the tree frog population
if the reproduction rate of the tree frog population remains constant over time
if enough food and water is available in the rain forest canopy for the tree frog population
A silkworm farmer’s entire population of silkworm larvae was infected with a deadly strain of bacteria. He treats the silkworms with an antibiotic spray that kills 99% of the bacteria. A month later, the silkworm farm is once again infected with the bacteria. The farmer treats the larvae with the antibiotic spray once more. This time only 50% of the bacteria are killed. Which statement best describes why the antibiotic is not as effective the second time?
A symbiotic relationship between the silkworm and the bacteria evolved, making the bacteria less susceptible to the antibiotics
The antibiotic was less effective the second time because the bacterial population already had developed the antibodies for the antibiotic
The bacteria developed a gene that helped them to be resistant to repeated treatments of antibiotics
The bacteria that survived reproduced, passing on their genes for antibiotic resistance to the next generation
Some whale species have pelvic and upper and lower limb bones as shown in the illustration below.
These bones are greatly reduced in size and do not appear to play a role in the whale’s motion. What is the most likely explanation for the presence of these bones in modern-day whales?
The bones are common anatomical structures inherited from a terrestrial ancestor
Modern whales use the pelvis and limb bones for purposes other than motion
All vertebrates have the same bones, but they are much smaller in organisms that don’t use them
Modern whales are beginning to evolve structures for walking on land as global warming threatens to dry up the oceans
There are two forms of the peppered moth ( Biston betularia), one dark in color and one light. Scientists observed that in the industrial area of Manchester, England, the originally prominent light form was replaced by the dark form between the years 1848 and 1895. At first, there were only light forms; later, the dark form comprised 98 percent of the total population.
A scientist explained this evolutionary change as follows: The moths rest on tree trunks during the day, and through their protective coloration avoid being seen and eaten by insectivorous birds. In the earlier years, before 1848, any dark form were conspicuous on the light-colored tree trunks and were easily found by birds. With the coming of many factories after 1848, tree trunks became blackened by the soot given off in chimney smoke. Then the dark forms of moths resembled the background more closely, while the light forms stood out and were easily seen, and eaten, by the birds.
Use the graphs shown to answer the following questions.
Which graph represents the moth population after the coming of the factories?
4
3
1
2
There are two forms of the peppered moth ( Biston betularia), one dark in color and one light. Scientists observed that in the industrial area of Manchester, England, the originally prominent light form was replaced by the dark form between the years 1848 and 1895. At first, there were only light forms; later, the dark form comprised 98 percent of the total population.
A scientist explained this evolutionary change as follows: The moths rest on tree trunks during the day, and through their protective coloration avoid being seen and eaten by insectivorous birds. In the earlier years, before 1848, any dark form were conspicuous on the light-colored tree trunks and were easily found by birds. With the coming of many factories after 1848, tree trunks became blackened by the soot given off in chimney smoke. Then the dark forms of moths resembled the background more closely, while the light forms stood out and were easily seen, and eaten, by the birds.
Use the graphs shown to answer the following questions.
Which graph represents the original populations of the peppered moth?
5
2
1
3
There are two forms of the peppered moth ( Biston betularia), one dark in color and one light. Scientists observed that in the industrial area of Manchester, England, the originally prominent light form was replaced by the dark form between the years 1848 and 1895. At first, there were only light forms; later, the dark form comprised 98 percent of the total population.
A scientist explained this evolutionary change as follows: The moths rest on tree trunks during the day, and through their protective coloration avoid being seen and eaten by insectivorous birds. In the earlier years, before 1848, any dark form were conspicuous on the light-colored tree trunks and were easily found by birds. With the coming of many factories after 1848, tree trunks became blackened by the soot given off in chimney smoke. Then the dark forms of moths resembled the background more closely, while the light forms stood out and were easily seen, and eaten, by the birds.
Use the graphs shown to answer the following questions.
What question would scientists need to answer in order to determine whether the two forms, light and dark, of the moth have become different species?
Do light moths fly more frequently during the day than the dark ones?
Do the dark moths fly more frequently during the day than the light ones?
Can the two forms interbreed?
Are the two forms the same size?
There are two forms of the peppered moth ( Biston betularia), one dark in color and one light. Scientists observed that in the industrial area of Manchester, England, the originally prominent light form was replaced by the dark form between the years 1848 and 1895. At first, there were only light forms; later, the dark form comprised 98 percent of the total population.
A scientist explained this evolutionary change as follows: The moths rest on tree trunks during the day, and through their protective coloration avoid being seen and eaten by insectivorous birds. In the earlier years, before 1848, any dark form were conspicuous on the light-colored tree trunks and were easily found by birds. With the coming of many factories after 1848, tree trunks became blackened by the soot given off in chimney smoke. Then the dark forms of moths resembled the background more closely, while the light forms stood out and were easily seen, and eaten, by the birds.
Use the graphs shown to answer the following questions.
The rural area of Dorset, England, has no factories, and the tree trunks are light in color. In a scientific study, equal numbers of the dark and light forms of the moth were released into the area. Which graph represents the percentages of the surviving moths?
5
2
1
3
Common baboons live on the savanna in breeding groups called troops. While females tend to stay with the troop, younger or less dominant males may leave to join a neighboring troop. Which of these is a likely outcome of movement by young males?
Gene flow occurs between populations.
Intermediate phenotypes increase in the species.
Allele frequencies suddenly change.
Relative genotypic frequencies reach a constant state.
Researchers studying populations of lizards from the genus Gallotia on the Canary Islands compared the protein cytochrome b in different populations. The table shows the number of differences in the cytochrome b protein between different populations.
Which conclusion about the relatedness of the lizards do these data support?
G. galloti eisentrauti and G. galloti palmae are the most closely related.
G. galloti eisentrauti and G. galloti galloti are the least closely related.
G. atlantica and G. stehlini are the least closely related.
G. simonyi and G. bravoana are the most closely related.
The table shows the survival rate of two types of beetles in the same environment over a period of three years.
Which statement about the beetles in this environment is best supported by the data?
Brown beetles have a shorter life cycle than green beetles have.
Green beetles are more fit for the environment than brown beetles are.
Brown beetles undergo a greater number of unfavorable mutations than green beetles do.
Green beetles have a greater gene frequency among their population than brown beetles have.
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration both involve the use and release of gases. Which statement correctly identifies the role of gases in the two processes?
Cellular respiration uses carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, while photosynthesis uses oxygen and releases carbon dioxide.
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration both use oxygen and release carbon dioxide.
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration both use carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
Cellular respiration uses oxygen and releases carbon dioxide, while photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide and releases oxygen.
Cetaceans are whales and their relatives. The diagram shows some fossils of cetaceans.
Which statement provides the best evidence that Ambulocetus natans is an ancestor of Basilosaurus isis?
The youngest fossil is larger than the older fossils.
Similar nitrogenous bases are found in the DNA of each fossil.
Homologous structures occur in each fossil.
The fossils were found in different locations.
The classifications of four trees are shown in the table.
Which two trees are the most closely related?
Lodgepole pine and Japanese maple
Taiwan beech and Taiwan catkin yew
Taiwan catkin yew and lodgepole pine
Japanese maple and Taiwan beech
Scientists can determine relatedness among organisms by comparing partial amino acid sequences. The table shows four partial amino acid sequences from four organisms.
Which organism is the LEAST related to the other three organisms?
Organism 2
Organism 3
Organism 4
Organism 1
A student used a microscope to study four members of the phylum Ciliophora. Members of this phylum move when propelled by hundreds of tiny cilia.
Although these organisms belong to the same phylum, they are classified as different —
kingdoms
species
families
orders
A sequence of a DNA template strand is shown.
3’ TCC AAT GGC TTA TTT GCA 5’
Which of these is the correct amino acid chain produced from the DNA template strand?
Which list correctly identifies characteristics that protists share with animals?
Students are given data from an investigation that identified some of the chemical elements present in four different samples.
Which sample was most likely DNA?
Sample 2
Sample 4
Sample 3
Sample 1
Adaptations that result from natural selection are expected to increase the fitness of an organism. In terms of natural selection, which of the following best describes fitness?
Being able to escape from predators
Being among the strongest organisms in a population
Being able to survive long enough to reach the adult stage
Being able to survive, find a mate, and produce offspring
The relationships among different orders of millipedes are shown in the cladogram.
Based on this cladogram, which statement best describes relationships among millipede orders?
Spirostreptida is more closely related to Glomerida than Sphaerotheriida is to Glomerida.
Polyzoniida is more closely related to Glomeridesmida than Sphaerotheriida is to Glomeridesmida.
Stemmiulida is more closely related to Merocheta than Penicillata is to Merocheta.
Merocheta is more closely related to Glomeridesmida than Glomerida is to Glomeridesmida.
The diagram shows a dichotomous key and a picture of a fruit.
According to the key, the fruit comes from which species of tree?