EVOLUTION JEOPARDY

August 2014

Extinction occurs when the environment changes and (1) a species can reproduce successfully (2) an individual has adaptive characteristics insufficient to allow survival (3) all members of a species are no longer living (4) one individual produces some offspring that evolve into a new species

According to the theory of biological evolution, most present-day species of organisms (1) developed from similar, smaller prehistoric organisms (2) have always existed in the form they have today (3) developed from fossils of the other organisms (4) descended from earlier, different species of organisms

In a sexually reproducing species, evolution could occur as a result of (1) modification of genes in body cells (2) modification of genes in sex cells (3) increased reproduction among individuals with identical chromosomes (4) recombination of genes in cells reproducing by mitosis

In a sexually reproducing species, evolution could occur as a result of (1) modification of genes in body cells (2) modification of genes in sex cells (3) increased reproduction among individuals with identical chromosomes (4) recombination of genes in cells reproducing by mitosis

The diagram below represents a variety of fossil types, which can be found in many rocks. These fossils can be best used to provide information that could be used in a study of (1) Evolutionary relationships (2) dynamic equilibrium (3) selective breeding (4) cell specialization

January 2014 and 2015

Natural selection and its evolutionary consequences provide a scientific explanation for (1) the fossil record of ancient life-forms (2) predictions about the rate of global warming (3) the amount of precipitation in a rain forest (4) the amount of soil used to grow certain crops

Mother rattlesnakes care for and protect their young. Baby rattlesnakes find safety in the coils of their mothers. Female snakes stay together for the first few weeks after giving birth. This gathering of female rattlesnakes provides a safe environment for newborn rattlers. This is an example of which type of adaptation? (1) structural (3) molecular (2) nutritional (4) behavioral

Evidence that best supports the theory of biological evolution was obtained from the (1) investigation of environmental niches (2) study of fossil records (3) comparison of the number of cells in organisms (4) analysis of food chains and food webs

Some evolutionary pathways are represented in the diagram below. An inference that can be made from information in the diagram is that (1) species E evolved from species G (2) species A was probably much larger than all the other species (3) species C is a direct descendant of species I (4) species J is adapted to the existing environment

June 2009 and 2013

The Galapagos pink land iguana, Conolophus marthae (C. marthae), is native to only one of the Galapagos Islands. Its entire range is currently limited to Wolf Volcano on Isabella Island. The iguana was first discovered on this island in Genetic studies of the animal began sometime later, and it was identified as a species separate from other iguana populations on the Galapagos in Its population might have been as high as 100 in 1986, but now there might be as few as 10 of the animals left alive. Other evidence indicates that this species could have diverged from another line of iguanas about 5.7 million years ago. After that, the other line of iguanas diverged into two other species, C. pallidus and C. subcristatus. In the future, the current population of about ten pink land iguanas will probably (1) migrate to new islands in the Galapagos in order to survive (2) soon become extinct, because they have little genetic diversity (3) undergo evolution by natural selection and survive (4) soon become extinct, because they have too much genetic diversity

The Galapagos pink land iguana, Conolophus marthae (C. marthae), is native to onlyone of the Galapagos Islands. Its entire range is currently limited to Wolf Volcano on Isabella Island. The iguana was first discovered on this island in Genetic studies of the animal began sometime later, and it was identified as a species separate from other iguana populations on the Galapagos in Its population might have been as high as 100 in 1986, but now there might be as few as 10 of the animals left alive. Other evidence indicates that this species could have diverged from another line of iguanas about 5.7 million years ago. After that, the other line of iguanas diverged into two other species, C. pallidus and C. subcristatus. One likely reason for the existence of these pink land iguanas today is that their ancestors (1) had the same variations as other iguanas but, after a long period of changing environmental conditions, mutated to the pink form when the environment eventually stabilized (2) had variations not present in other iguanas that allowed them to live in a particular environment more successfully than the other iguanas (3) lived on several other islands long ago, but migrated to Isabella Island around 1980 to have the environment to themselves, without predators to harm them (4) found that they were less visible to predators if they made themselves pink to blend in with the plants growing around them

The kit fox and red fox species are closely related. The kit fox lives in the desert, while the red fox inhabits forests. Ear size and fur color are two differences that can be observed between the species. An illustration of these two species is shown below. Which statement best explains how the differences between these two species came about? (1) Different adaptations developed because the kit fox preferred hotter environments than the red fox. (2) As the foxes adapted to different environments, differences in appearance evolved. (3) The foxes evolved differently to prevent overpopulation of the forest habitat. (4) The foxes evolved differently because their ancestors were trying to avoid competition.

Which species in the chart below is most likely to have the fastest rate of evolution? (1) A (2) B (3) C (4) D

Some evolutionary pathways are represented in the diagram below. An inference that can be made from information in the diagram is that (1) many of the descendants of organism B became extinct (2) organism B was probably much larger than any of the other organisms represented (3) most of the descendants of organism B successfully adapted to their environment and have survived to the present time (4) the letters above organism B represent members of a single large population with much biodiversity