10A

Test

The table (below) shows the survival rate of two types of beetles in the same environment over a period of three years.

Which statements about the beetles in this environment is best supported by the data?

Select TWO correct answers:

10B - 2019 Q42

White-tailed deer are seasonal breeders. Female white-tailed deer begin their reproductive cycle in the fall. Rising testosterone levels in male white-tailed deer cause them to start their breeding season around the same time. Offspring are born the following spring and summer.

What is the most likely explanation for white-tailed deer having a seasonal breeding cycle instead of a monthly breeding cycle like many domesticated animals?

10B - 2024 Q34

The bar graph shows the average break depth (distance from the top of the beak to the bottom) of a population of finches. The data were collected in 1976 and 1978, after a drought occurred in 19777 in the area.

Which factor BEST describes the change in this population of finches?

10B - 2023 Q 39

The figure shows fossilized and living stalk-eyed flies from the family Diopsidae. In fossils, the eye spans of the flies are much smaller than those of living flies.

Which question would BEST help determine whether the change in eye span in stalk-eyed flies influenced by natural selection?

10C - 2023 Q20

The salamanders of the genus Ambystoma in northeastern North America are an entirely female population that reproduces asexually through the process of cloning. However, they have developed a way of inserting DNA from other species of salamanders into their own DNA.

How has DNA from other salamander species helped these Ambystoma salamanders survive environmental changes over the past 6 million years?

10C - 2022 Q49 (readiness + picture added)

Test

Most animals avoid eating monarch butterflies due to their bad taste. Viceroy butterflies look very similar to monarchs.

Which of these best explains how the viceroy butterfly benefits from looking like the monarch butterfly?

10C readiness 2019 Q1 (phrased as is - picture added)

Test (remove picture!! use pic as support)

A new predator of rabbits has been introduced within an ecosystem. This new predator runs faster than the native predators of rabbits.

Which statement describes what will most likely occur in the rabbit population due to the introduction of the new predator?

*Use parenthesis for language support

10C readiness - 2019 Q16

Test

The aye-aye lemur is a mammal that feeds mostly on insect larvae that live inside trees. The aye-aye lemur has a specialized middle finger that is long and thin. The aye-aye lemur moves along a tree branch and taps the branch with its specialized finger.

When the aye-aye lemur hears a difference in echo, it will tear open the bark with its teeth until the insect tunnel is exposed (visible). The aye-aye lemur then uses its specialized finger to reach the insect larvae and remove it to eat it.

Which selective pressure most likely resulted in the development of the aye-aye lemur's special adaptation?

10C (readiness)

Test

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?

10D - 2023 - Q40

The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) population had declined to approximately 20 to 30 individuals as a result of habitat loss and hunting. Many of the panthers had genetic mutations due to inbreeding that affected their ability to reproduce and survive. Female Texas (Puma concolor stanleyana) pumas were introduced into Florida to mate with the endangered population of panthers. Hybrid panthers had more genetic variation and reproductive success than the Florida panthers.

Which table best represents the mechanism of evolution and the effect on the gene pool of the Florida population?

10D STAAR 2019 Q22 - phrased as is

Conservational biologists studying cheetah populations have determined that the lack of genetic diversity among the cheetahs is due to genetic drift.

Which statement explains the most likely consequence of having a low genetic diversity on the cheetah population?

9A 2022 Q41

A phylogenetic tree based on genetic similarities is shown.

Which numbered location on the phylogenetic tree identifies characteristics shared by species B, C, and D?

9A 2024 Q19

Cytochrome C is a protein that is found in the mitochondria of all aerobic eukaryotic cells. The gene sequence for cytochrome c has been mapped and analyzed for thousands of species. The table shows the percentage of the cytochrome c amino-acid sequence that different species have in common.

Which list is ordered from the species most closely related to the mouse to the species least closely related to the mouse?

9A STAAR 2019 - Q47

Test

This cladogram shows the evolutionary relationships among some mammals based on homologous structures.

Which statement is supported by this cladogram?

9A

TEST CER

Scientists can determine relatedness among organisms by comparing partial amino acid sequences. The table (below) shows five partial amino acid sequences from five different organisms.

Which organism is most closely related to the horse? Provide evidence to support your claim.

9A STAAR 2021 - Q13

A cladogram of five species is shown.

Based on the cladogram, the ancestral species most likely had —

9B (similar to STAAR 2023 Q27)

Two scientists studied patterns of evolution in the fossil record. Many species they analyzed showed periods of slow changes interrupted by a period of rapid change.

This pattern of periods of slow change interrupted by periods of rapid change with few, if any transitional fossils, best describes the theory of-

9B (2019 Q12 gradualism)

The diagram (below) shows data on the evolution of adult horses.

The data in the diagram is evidence that...

Key vocab terms for 10A/B/C

Quiz

Match the term to the correct definition:

10A - 2019 Q33

Male guppies found in areas without predators are more colorful than the ones found in locations with large predator populations. A population of adult guppies originating from an area with a large number of predators is transferred to a nearby area with few predators.

Which of these is most likely to happen over a few generations?

10A STAAR 2021 Q4

Laveran, was this one not moved?

Farmers spray pesticides (poison) on their plants to protect the plants from being eaten by insects.

Some individual insects have a genetic mutation that makes them resistant to the poison in the pesticides. This means that the resistant insects survive while the others die.

Which statement best describes how only a few resistant individuals resulted in the pesticide becoming ineffective (stopped it from working).

The bar graph shows the average neck length in a population of giraffes. The data were collected in 1980 and 1983, after a wildfire occurred in 1982 in the area.

Which factor BEST describes the change in this population of giraffes?

10B quiz (analyze graphs / data tables for allele frequencies of phenotypes)

The table shows the survival rate of two types of rabbits in the same environment over a period of four years.

Which statement about the rabbits in this environment is best supported by the data?

10B - Quiz

Which of the following best describes natural selection?

10B STAAR 2022 Q11 (phrasing same, gif added)

Blue flying fish live in the upper layers of the ocean. Blue flying fish have enlarged pectoral fins that enable them to glide for 400 meters above the ocean surface and appear to fly.

Which statement best describes how natural selection led to enlarged pectoral fins in blue flying fish?

10B (STAAR 2021 Q40) image added, same phrasing

The giant octopus lays 20,000 to 100,000 eggs. After hatching, most octopuses become prey to larger marine organisms, and less than 5% will reach adulthood.

One benefit of the giant octopus laying many eggs is to __________________________.

10C STAAR 2022 Q13 phrased as is

Green anoles are lizards that can change their skin color rapidly in response to various stimuli. This adaptation is the result of --

10C

Quiz

Nudibranchs are marine worms that do not have shells. Many of these worms release a foul-tasting poison when threatened. The bright coloration of the nudibranchs warns predators to avoid them.

Based on this information, how has adaptation through natural selection allowed nudibranchs to be successful without a shell?

10C - 2024 Q45

During the Industrial Revolution in England, burning coal increased the soot level in the air, and the soot darkened the tree bark. As a result, the population of dark-colored peppered moths significantly increased.

Which statement describes the MOST LIKELY reason why the population of dark-colored peppered moths increased?

Staphylococcus aureus is a species of bacteria that is highly resistant to antibiotic drugs. While these bacteria typically replicate asexually through a process known as binary fission, they can also acquire new genes by incorporating plasmids (circular segments of DNA) from other bacteria in their environment. Certain bacteria contain plasmids that carry genes that provide resistance to antibiotics.

How does the ability to exchange DNA with other bacteria help Staphylococcus aureus survive in changing environments?

10D STAAR 2024 Q33

As part of a wildlife conservation program, researches take a small population of wolves and relocate them to an island. After several generations, researchers analyze the genomes of the wolves in the population and determine that there is little genetic variation in the population.

Which evolutionary mechanism BEST explains the low level of genetic variation of these wolves?

10D

Quiz

Common baboons live on the same 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?

10B - 2023 Q 39

The figure shows fossilized and living stalk-eyed flies from the family Diopsidae. In fossils, the eye spans of the flies are much smaller than those of living flies.

Which question would BEST help determine whether the change in eye span in stalk-eyed flies influenced by natural selection?

9A Readiness (fossil record)

Quiz

If "X" indicates the location of a fossil, select the layer in which you would find its most recent common ancestor on the diagram below.

9A

quiz

If two organisms look similar through embryological development, then which of the following must be TRUE?

9A

quiz

"Cetaceans" are whales and their relatives. The diagram below shows some fossils of cetaceans.

Which statement provides the best evidence that "Ambulocetus natans" is an ancestor of "Basilosaurus isis"?

9A - 2023 Q36

During early stages of development, dolphin embryos begin to develop hind limbs. By the time dolphin fetuses are fully developed, the hind limbs have disappeared.

Which statement best describes the early development and then disappearance of the hind limbs in dolphins?

9A Quiz!

(similar to 9A 2022 Q41 used for test)

Select the common ancestor for Arthropoda and Platyhelminthes on the diagram below:

9A - USE FOR QUIZ

READ THIS: Researchers studying populations of lizards from the genus Gallotia on the Canary Islands compared the protein "cytochrome b" (a really important protein that you need to survive) in different populations.

The table (below) shows the number of similarities in the cytochrome b protein between different populations.

Which conclusion about the relatedness of the lizards is supported by this data?

9A Quiz question (higher rigor)

- STAAR ??? (no longer aligned? or not pulled because of year? regardless, supports were added to answer choices for comparisons)

An analysis of DNA and RNA sequences can be used to classify organisms. A dendrogram, such as the one shown below, is based on molecular data. It can be used to represent evolutionary relationships within a group of organisms that are hypothesized to have descended from a common ancestor.

Which statement is best supported by the information in this dendrogram?

9A - STAAR ??? changed to hotspot rather than multiple choice

use for quiz!! writing response for practice in exit ticket?

Scientists can determine relatedness among organisms by comparing partial amino acid sequences. The table (below) shows four partial amino acid sequences from four different organisms.

Which organism is the LEAST related to the other three organisms?

Select your answer on the diagram below:

9A - STAAR ???regardless, underlined terms use for language supports if using for test in SchoolCity)

Quiz

The opossum, which is native to North America, and the kangaroo, which is native to Australia, are marsupials.

The fact that both of these mammals incubate (keep warm) their immature offspring in a pouch provides evidence that they...

9A readiness STAAR ??? (no longer aligned? regardless picture added --> fossil record + DNA)

In 2010, scientists excavated (to dig with a shovel) a skull fossil that provides evidence of a newly discovered species of big cat.

Based on the evidence, scientists hypothesized that big cats branched off from smaller wild cats about 6 million years ago.

Which evidence best supports the hypothesis that big cats and smaller wild cats share a common ancestor?

9A - 2021 Q44

Researchers analyzed a mitochondrial gene of different bat species to determine relatedness. A cladogram of their results is shown.

Based on the cladogram, which set of bat species is the least related?

9A - STAAR ???

Quiz - find new picture :)

The limbs of several different organisms are shown in the illustration below. Scientists sometimes compare the limbs of these organisms to look for evidence of common ancestry.

These limbs provide evidence of common ancestry, because they...

9B - 2023 Q 28

Certain species of the coral-like sea organisms called bryozoans first appeared about 140 million years ago. They remained unchanged for the first 40 million years and then suddenly experienced rapid genetic change.

Which process would BEST account for the pattern of evolution of bryozoans?

9B

Quiz

The graph below shows the number of taxa (species) of reptiles whose fossilized tracks have been found.

Which statement is best supported by these data?

9B - STAAR 2022 - Q39

Two scientists studied patterns of evolution in the fossil record. Many species they analyzed showed periods of slow changes interrupted by a period of rapid change.

This pattern of periods of slow change interrupted by periods of rapid change with few, if any transitional fossils, best describes the theory of-

Scientists were constructing an evolutionary timeline of scorpions. The oldest species is Parioscorpio venator, which lived 437 million years ago and had a body length of 2.0 m (about 6.5 ft). Modern-day scorpions, such as Serradigitus wupatkiensis, are much small than their ancestors and are only 2.0 - 2.5 cm long. However, scientists have noted that the overall body structure of scorpions has remained about the same for the past 430 million years.

Which of the following conclusions is supported by this information?

9A

Test review

Scientists can determine relatedness among organisms by comparing partial amino acid sequences. The table (below) shows four partial amino acid sequences from four different organisms.

Which TWO organisms are most closely related?

10A - Practice / quiz review

The diagram shows light- and dark-colored beetles that live on a tree.

(1) Which population has the higher fitness, and (2) what will happen to that population over time?

Look at the image carefully. Then enter your answer and explanation in the box provided.

10B - TES REVIEW

Natural selection is based on the idea that adaptations will increase the fitness of an organism.

Which of the following terms would BEST describes what it means to be “fit”?

Select TWO correct answers:

exit ticket

"Basilosaurus isis" is a relative to modern-day whales that went extinct approximately 34 million years ago. This organism grew up to 50 feet in length and had the remnents (remains) of a pelvic (hip) bone and hind (rear) leg bones, as shown in the image below.

Structures that no longer serve the purpose that they were meant to serve are known as...

MUST INCLUDE ON TEST REVIEW!!!!!!

A zoologist recorded the following information regarding breeding habits of the Kiwi bird:

The Great Spotted Kiwi can only lay a single egg once per year. While the female Kiwi reproductive cycle lasts from July through February, breeding season (when Kiwis lay their egg) is typically in January. The male kiwi then incubates the egg until it hatches in April or May.

Based on the information in the charts, what is the most likely explanation for the Great Spotted Kiwi to lay their eggs in January instead of any other month?

Scientists have observed that two closely related species of antelope squirrels live on opposite sides of the Grand Canyon: Harris's Antelope Squirrel and the White-Tailed Antelope Squirrel. These squirrels are believed to have descended from a common ancestor.

• Are these two squirrels able to reproduce with each other?

• What type of speciation has occurred?

Think about the questions carefully. Then enter your answer and your explanation in the box provided.

Bactrian camals, dromedaries, llamas, and alpacas are all members of the same taxonomic family, Camelidae. Members of this family all have two toes, no hooves, true canine teeth, and a split upper lip. The family Camelidae originated in North America.

The physical features of animals in this family and the family's geographical origin provide evidence that all of these animals...

About 10,000 years ago, towards the end of the last ice age, the frozen land bridge that connected North America and Asia melted as the Earth became warmer. This separated the populations of many animal species in North America from the populations located in Asia.

Which of these best explains what happened to the populations of organisms in North America and Asia over time?

REMOVE TO TEST REVIEW

10B (over reproduction - similar to 2021 Q40 on quiz)

Test

Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) live within sea anemones in warm bodies of water. The table contains some information about this fish.

Why does the ability to lay 100 to 1,500 eggs every 10 to 14 days increase the fitness of the species Amphiprion ocellaris?

REMOVE TO TEST REVIEW

10C - STAAR 2021 Q15

The Mexican long-nosed bat roosts in Big Bend National Park in West Texas. The bat feeds on nectar and pollen and hovers while it feeds. Additionally, its tongue can extend up to eight centimeters. The features of Mexican long-nosed bats are evidence of natural selection because the features are adaptations that —

10 A/C (readiness)

Over time, Natural Selection caused a change in the moth population mentioned in the question above.

Which of the following most likely occurred as the result of Natural Selection?

(similar to 2022 Q43 for 10D)

When the cross-pollination of these flowers contributes to the gene pool of the population, which of these most likely increases?

10D

Quiz

As a result of this change in population,