Name: _____________________________________ Date: _______________ Period: _____
8th Grade Science
Mr. Vorstadt
Evolution Test A
_____1. The process by which unrelated organisms with similar environmental demands evolve
superficially similar structures is:
a. Natural selection
b. Homologous
c. Convergent evolution
d. Comparative anatomy
_____ 2. Structures (like molar teeth in vampire bats) which are homologous to important structures in
other organisms but serve no purpose in the organism being considered are:
a. Analogous
b. Mutations
c. Vestigial
d. Convergent
_____ 3. Boa constrictors have tiny pelvic girdles and leg bones within their bodies. Since these
structures are nonfunctional, they are called:
a. Vestigial b. Analogous c. Maladaptive
d. Homologue
_____ 4. Natural selection is:
a. Some live and some die in each generation
b. Only the largest and strongest survive
c. Random assortment of genes results in better characteristics in the following
generations
d. The best adapted individuals survive and reproduce, contributing the most to the next
generation
_____ 5. Which of these is best considered the raw material of evolution?
a. Non-random mating
b. Natural selection
c. Small populations with massive migrations
d. Mutation
_____ 6. The structures shown in the figure below are _____.
a. Vestigial
b. heterologous
c. homologous
d. analogous
_____7. What type of adaptation is shown in the figure below?
a. mimicry
b. camouflage
c. homologous structure
d. artificial selection
_____ 8. According to the theory of evolution, differences between species may be the result of
a. the disuse of body structures
b. the transmission of acquired characteristics
c. natural selection
d. mutagenic agents
_____ 9. The image below illustrates what evolutionary concept:
a. embryological similarities
b. variation among species
c. vestigial structures
d. homologous structures
_____ 10. Larmarke is to "Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics" as Darwin is to _____
a. divergence of related species
b. homologous structures
c. evolution by natural selection
d. speciation by common descent
_____ 11. Which one of the following is considered to be a human "vestigial" (ie. unused) structure:
a) appendix b) pelvis
c) chromosome
d) eyebrow
_____ 12. The deepest layers of the Earth contain fossils that are:
a) old and complex
b) old and simple
c) young and complex
d) young and simple
_____ 13.Which organism experienced a specific type of microevolution called Industrial Melanism?
a) peppered moth
b) horse
c) chimpanzee
d) sour melon
_____ 14. How old is the Earth?
a) 4 million years
b) 8 million years
c) 2 billion years
d) 4.5 billion years
_____ 15. Which gas was not present in large amounts in the early atmosphere of Earth?
a) ammonia b) water vapor
c) methane
d) oxygen
_____ 16. Microevolution can be defined as:
a) small-scale changes in an organism
c) small-scale changes in the planet
b) large-scale changes in an organism
d) large-scale changes in the planet
_____ 17. A study of the position and shape of the bones in the forelimbs of a flying squirrel, a bat,
and a beaver showed that the beaver and the flying squirrel appear to be most closely
related. This determination was most likely based on a study in the field of comparative
a) anatomy
b) biochemistry
c) embryology
d) cytology
_____18. Fossils would most likely be found in
a) amber that is over 8 billion years old
b) icebergs that are 500 billion years old
c) sedimentary rocks that are 500 million years old
d) volcanic rocks that are 50 million years old
_____19. The diagram below shows undisturbed sedimentary layer at the bottom of an ocean. The
fossils found in layer B resemble the fossils found in layer A. This similarity suggests
that
a) the fossils in layer B were formed before the fossils in layer A
b) modern forms of life may have evolved from earlier forms of life
c) vertebrate fossils are only found in sediments
d) the fossils in layer A must be more complex than those in layer B
_____ 20. The diagrams below represent stages in the embryonic development of four organisms. The
similarities in embryonic development shown in the diagram suggest that these organisms
a) are all members of the same species
b) all undergo external development
c) may have evolved from a common ancestor
d) have adaptations for the same environment as adults
_____ 21. Darwin's studies of finches on the Galapagos Islands suggest that the finches' differences in
beak structure were most directly due to
a) acquired characteristics in the parent finches
b) the size of the island where the finches live
c) mating behaviors of the different finch species
d) adaptations of the finches to different environments
_____ 22. Characteristics of a species that make its members better able to live and reproduce in their
environment are known as
a) abiotic factors
b) favorable factors
c) biotic adaptations
d)homologous structures
_____ 23. The diagram below represents undisturbed rock strata in a given region. A representative
fossil of an organism is illustrated in each layer. Which statement best describes a
relationship between these representative organisms?
a ) Organism A was probably more structurally
advanced than organism B and organism C.
b) Organism C probably gave rise to organism A
and organism B.
c) All of these organisms probably evolved at the
same time.
d) Organism A was probably more primitive than
organism B and organism C.
_____ 24. In the diagram below B, C, and D represent organisms that exist in the present time and
show a striking similarity to each other in their bone structure. In the diagram, letter A most
likely represents
a) homologous structures
b) a common ancestor
c) an acquired characteristic
d) geographic distribution
_____ 25. Which area of biology compares and attempts to explain the structural changes that have
taken place in living things over millions of years, as well as those changes occurring
today? a) classification b) reproduction
c) physiology
d) evolution
_____ 26. Two organisms are closely related and are thought to share a similar evolutionary history. If
this assumption is correct, these organisms most likely have
a) no structural differences
b) few biochemical similarities
c) identical chromosome mutations
d) similar embryological development
_____ 27. According to most scientists, which two organisms are most closely related?
a) F& E
b) I & B
c) B& J
d) A& B
_____ 28. The study of the similarities and differences in the cell structures of organism is known as
a) embryology b) cytology c) biochemistry d) paleontology
_____ 29. The long term changes that occur in different organisms known as
a) microevolution b) macroevolution
c) genetic mutations
d) cross breeding
_____ 30. According to Charles Darwin, one factor that affects the evolution of a species is
a) variation due to genetic mutations
b) rapid fossil formation
c) survival of the fittest
d) exposure to radiation
_____ 31. The first life-forms to appear on Earth were most likely
a) anaerobic heterotrophy
b) complex multicellular organisms
c) aerobic autotrophy
d) simple multicellular organisms
Base your answers to questions 32 and 33 on the diagram below and on your knowledge
of biology. Letters A through J represent different species of organisms. The vertical distances
between the dotted lines represent long periods of time in which major environmental changes
occurred.
_____ 32 . Which species was the first to become extinct? a) E
b) J
c) C
d) D
_____ 33. Which species appears to have been most successful in surviving changes in the
environment over time? a) A b) B c) C d) D
Base your answers to questions 34 and 35 on the diagram appearing on the next page and on your
knowledge of biology. The diagram shows an interpretation of relationships based on evolutionary
theory. The letters represent different species.
_____ 34. Explain why species B and C are more closely related than species A and C are.
a)
b)
c)
d)
B and C have a common ancestor in F
B and C are more complex
A and C have a common ancestor in H
They are not more related
_____ 35. The diagram indicates that a common ancestor for species C and E is species
a) F b) G c) H d) K
_____ 36. What is the most probable reason for the increase in the percentage of variety A in the
population of the species shown in the graph below?
a) There is no chance for variety A to mate with variety B.
b) There is no genetic difference between variety A and variety B.
c) Variety A is less fit to survive than variety B is.
d) Variety A has some adaptive advantage that variety B does not have.
______ 37. Which statement concerning the first appearance of the organisms over the time period
represented in the chart above is most likely correct?
a) Life on Earth has remained the same.
b) Life on Earth has changed from primitive organisms to more complex organisms.
c) Life on Earth began with complex organisms and changed to more complex organisms.
d) Life on Earth has changed rapidly.
_____ 38 . The diagram below shows the evolution of some different species of flowers.
Which statement about the species is correct?
a) Species A, B, C, and D came from different ancestors
b) Species C evolved from species B.
c) Species A, B, and C can interbreed successfully.
d) Species A became extinct.
_____39. Geographic isolation of a small population from the main group may contribute to the
development of new species. This new species is most likely to happed if members of the
geographically isolated population, compared to members of the main group, have
a) an inability to survive environmental conditions
b) the ability to resist genetic mutations
c) different environmental factors acting on them
d) the same initial gene frequencies
_____40. Distinct species of birds living on two different islands have similar characteristics which
indicate common ancestry. The differences that have evolved to make these species distinct
have resulted in
a) the inheritance of acquired traits
b) frequent interbreeding
c) the elimination of variations
d) reproductive isolation
MATCHING
_____ 41. Some remnant of an organism that proves its existence
_____ 42. Can be used to determine the precise age of fossils
_____ 43. Comparing specific body structures in organisms
_____ 44. Comparing similarities in proteins, enzymes and
nucleic acids
1) Absolute Dating
2) Atrophy
3) Comparative anatomy
4) Biochemistry
_____ 45. Structure decreases in mass with disuse
5) Fossil
_____ 46. Structure increases in mass with use
6) Geographic isolation
_____ 47. Organisms produce more offspring than can possibly
survive
7) Hypertrophy
_____ 48. A population is divided by a natural barrier
8) Autotrophs
_____ 49. Adaptations some animals use as protection from
predators
9) Overproduction
_____ 50. Organisms that can make own food from sunlight
10) Mimicry