Evolution and Ecology
The fur of the snowshoe rabbit changes to a
lighter color in the winter. This allows the rabbit
to blend in with its surroundings. This change is
an example of
(1) extinction
(2) competition
(3) biological adaptation
(4) ecological succession
Which factor would most likely limit the number
of mice living in an area?
(1) plentiful resources
(2) more predators
(3) stable climate
(4) less competition
Animals may fight, make threatening sounds,
and act aggressively toward members of the
same species. These behaviors usually occur as
the result of
(1) competition
(3) decomposition
(2) conservation (4) pollution
The diagram shows how modern types of flowers
developed from early types of flowers over the last
75 million years.
Which process is represented in this diagram?
(1) evolution (3) selective breeding
(2) photosynthesis (4) ecological succession
What is the most likely reason why these early flowers
gradually changed to many different types of
flowers over time?
(1) The flowers’ traits were genetically engineered.
(2) The environments of the flowers stayed the same.
(3) The genetic material of the flowers stayed the
same.
(4) The flowers adapted to environmental conditions.
When the environment changes more
quickly than a species can adapt, the
species may become
(1)extinct
(2) diverse
(3) dominant
(4) overpopulated
Over time, organisms evolve from a common
ancestor. Which process best explains why they now
have different characteristics?
(1) extinction
(2) asexual reproduction
(3) metabolism
(4) biological adaptation
The diagram below shows a cross section of a portion
of Earth’s crust that has not been overturned. Letters
A, B, C, and D represent sedimentary rock layers that
contain fossils.
Which rock layer contains the oldest fossils?
(1) A
(3) C
(2) B
(4) D
The sequence below occurs over a long period of
geologic time.
The sequence shows the steps involved in the
formation of
(1) an element
(3) a fault
(2) an igneous rock (4) a fossil
Which event is the best example of
competition between species in a pond
environment?
(1) dragonflies landing on lily pads
(2) frogs and toads eating flies
(3) lizards and snakes lying in the sun
(4) hawks eating mice
Feathers, wings, and the hollow bones of
birds are examples of
(1) adaptations for flight
(2) responses to stimuli
(3) unnecessary body parts
(4) reproductive structures
Which group of organisms can show
significant trait changes in the shortest
period of time?
(1) bacteria
(3) fish
(2) birds
(4) reptiles
Although change in multicellular species usually
takes thousands of years, some species of
bacteria undergo major changes in just a few
years. One reason for this difference is that
these bacteria
(1) are microscopic
(2) do not contain DNA
(3) reproduce very quickly
(4) cause infectious diseases
The beak structures of different species of finches are
different The differences in the birds’ beaks show how
the birds
(1) compete for the same food in their community
(2) require different amounts of food for survival
(3) store food for the winter months
(4) are adapted to get food from different sources
Some microorganisms cause human disease.
Other microorganisms are used in making
cheese, yogurt, and bread. Based on this
information, the relationship between humans
and microorganisms can be
(1) beneficial, only
(2) harmful, only
(3) beneficial or harmful
The diagram below shows a food chain.
Which organisms in this food chain are herbivores?
(1) green plants
(3) birds
(2) caterpillars
(4) snakes
The diagram below
shows a food web for
a community.
Which organisms in
the diagram are
carnivores?
(1) rabbits and birds
(2) grasshoppers and
mice
(3) carrots and
grasses
(4) foxes and owls
The diagram below shows several different organisms
found in an area.
The worms in the diagram represent
(1) a community (3) a habitat
(2) an ecosystem (4) a population
Different species of carnivorous animals
that share the same habitat in an
ecosystem may
(1) become decomposers
(2) compete for food
(3) produce their own food
(4) mate with each other
What is the nutrient source for some
fungi?
(1)sunlight
(2) carbon dioxide
(3) oxygen
(4) dead organisms
In which organisms could evolution occur
most rapidly?
(1) humans
(2) birds
(3) fish
(4) bacteria
Grasses, shrubs, and trees are called
producers because they make
(1)water
(2) minerals
(3) carbon dioxide
(4) food
The diagram below shows how a plant community
changed over 300 years.
Which process caused the gradual changes shown in
this plant community?
(1) urban growth
(3) environmental pollution
(2) global warming (4) ecological succession
Organisms that consume wastes to obtain
the nutrients they need to survive are
classified as
(1) decomposers
(3) predators
(2) herbivores
(4) producers
Pesticides and fertilizers can help farmers
to produce more crops. However, overuse
of these chemicals can result in
(1) ecological succession
(2) material recycling
(3) environmental pollution
(4) selective breeding
How do decomposers obtain their food?
(1) hunting and killing prey for food
(2) changing carbon dioxide and water into
food
(3) absorbing food from dead organisms
(4) producing food from oxygen and
sunlight
The diagrams below show changes in a natural
community over a period of 200 years.
Which process is illustrated in the diagrams?
(1)ozone depletion
(2) recycling resources
(3) global warming
(4) ecological succession
The diagram below shows a sequence of environmental
changes in an area over a long period of time.
Which statement best describes the changes shown in
the diagram?
(1) Over time, one natural area is replaced by another.
(2) Over time, the number of fish increases.
(3) The environment goes through seasonal changes.
(4) Precipitation follows cloud formation.
Which order of succession of natural
communities would most likely occur in
New York State?
(1) grasses → trees → bushes
(2) trees → bushes → grasses
(3) bushes → grasses → trees
(4) grasses → bushes → trees
How do decomposers obtain their food?
(1) hunting and killing prey for food
(2) changing carbon dioxide and water into food
(3) absorbing food from dead organisms
(4) producing food from oxygen and sunlight
Living things are classified as producers or
consumers according to
(1) their speed of movement
(2) the size of their communities
(3) how they obtain food
(4) how they reproduce