EVOLUTION REVIEW QUESTIONS
NAME_____________________________________
clade
a group of organisms classified together on the basis of homologous features traced
to a common ancestor.
The diagram below is a cladogram. It is used to show the relationships
between different species. Time runs from bottom to top; earlier (older)
organisms are at the bottom. Study the cladogram.
1. Which of these conclusions can you reach after studying this cladogram?
A.
The species at point A is more ancient than the species at point B.
B.
Point B represents the common ancestor of ferns, conifers, and flowering plants.
C.
The common ancestor of all of the groups of plants except mosses is
represented by point C.
D.
The closest relatives of mosses are the flowering plants and the most distant
relatives of the mosses are the ferns.
WHICH LETTER DID YOU PICK?__________ Why?_________________________
____________________________________________________________________.
2. At which point (A, B, or C) is there a common ancestor to Mosses, Ferns, and all
other plants? ___________
3. Which type of plant is a more recent clade, Ferns or Flowering plants?
write your answer ________________________________________________
The diagram below shows a model of the proposed relationships among some groups
of mammals.
4. How many million years ago (mya) did pigs branch off from other mammals?
5. When did killer whales branch off from other whales?
6.
A.
B.
C.
D.
bison
camel
hippopotamus
pig
7. A scientist described two modern-day species as sharing a common ancestor. What
does it mean when two species share a common ancestor?
A.
B.
C.
D.
It means that the two species are actually the same species.
It means that one of the species evolved from other species.
It means that both species evolved from one species that lived in the past.
It means that the two species share all the same traits.
8. Snakes have traces of leg-like structures that are not used for movement. Which of
the following could you infer from this evidence?
A.
Snakes do not have ancestors.
B.
Snakes are developing legs.
C.
Snakes share a common ancestor with animals that have legs.
D.
Snakes and animals that have legs are part of the same species.
9. Darwin’s FOUR PARTS OF NATURAL SELECTION [Complete This Table]
Variation
H… (write the word here)
O…
S…