MC	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

Which statement best describes the evolution of two species of frogs separated by a mountain range?

a. mutation

b. vestigal structures

c. geographical isolation

d camouflage

Correct Answer: c

MC	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

Scientists believe that the more primitive the fossils in deeper rock layers are older than those found in layers closer to the surface. Which of the following statements best explains how scientists can come to this conclusion?

a. Scientists assume that older fossils had more time in which to sink deeper into the sediments.

b. Scientists assume that in the past, layers of sediment were sequentially deposited on older layers using the same processes observed today.

c. Scientists assume that more primitive organisms lacked advanced means of locomotion in which to escape being buried in sediments and were therefore buried first.

d. Scientists assume that older, more primitive fossils were burrowing animals that dug deeper into the sediment layers.

Correct Answer: b

MC	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

At her school, Joyce wants to create a linear scale model of the geologic time line and she wants to make one million years equal to one meter. What problem will she encounter?

a. The Cenozoic era will be so small that it will be impossible to measure by methods available at school.

b. The time scale will be too long to fit in the classroom.

c. Some of the markers she uses to indicate the various eras will be bunched very close together so it will be difficult, but not impossible to see the various eras.

d. Precambrian time takes up about 95% of geologic time.

Correct Answer: b

MC	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

In the mountains of northern Utah, there are fossils of coral. One theory is that the area was once submerged under the ocean. What further evidence would support that theory?

a. geothermal activity

b. bleached snail shells

c. volcanic activity

d. fossilized shark teeth

e. metamorphic rocks

Correct Answer: d

MC	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

Which of the following statements presents the best evidence (in this list) that present species developed from earlier forms?

a. There are no anatomical similarities between species.

b. The fossil record has many gaps.

c. All species contain DNA.

d. AUG codes for methionine in all living things.

e. The fins of fish and flippers of whales perform the same function.

Correct Answer: d

MC	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

Which statement about science best describes why a biologist wouldnÕt be concerned about a single mutation in a population of mallard ducks?

a. Mallards are not threatened; their survival is not likely to depend on this mutation.

b. An animal can choose to adapt to an environmental condition.

c. Mutations are always beneficial.

d. A population in genetic equilibrium is not evolving.

e. Populations evolve, individuals donÕt.

Correct Answer: a

MC	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

Which of the following would be an example of a frameshift mutation?

a. The base guanine is changed to adenine.

b. A single base is deleted from DNA causing mRNA to be out of position by one base.

c. Homologous chromosomes fail to separate properly.

d. Part of a chromosome breaks out and is reinserted backwards.

e. Part of a chromatid breaks off and attaches to a sister chromatid.

Correct Answer: b

MC	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

The statement "Most fossils are found in marine sediments" is an example of

a. a theory

b. a law

c. a hypothesis

d. a fact

e. superstition

Correct Answer: d

MC	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

Match the terms in the right hand column with the definitions in the left-hand column. You may use a term once, more than once or not at all.

1. Thing that has actually happened or is true. a. Assumption

2. A conclusion arrived at through reasoning or through b. Conclusion

observed evidence. c. Evidence

3. A possible explanation to be tested, or a statement of d. Fact

probable cause to be tested. e. Hypothesis

4. An explanation that has been tested again and again f. Inference

by many scientists with similar results each time. g. Superstition

5. Information or fact that is used to prove something; data. h. Theory

6. Anything taken for granted.

Correct Answers:

1. d

2. f or b

3. e

4. h

5. c

6. a

MC	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

DarwinÕs and WallaceÕs observations led them each to develop a hypothesis to explain the evidences that they had observed. Over time, these hypotheses have been supported by scientists studying many different organisms. These many facts, inferences, and tested hypotheses make up the Theory of Evolution. Why is this known as the Theory of Evolution?

a. This is a hunch not supported by facts or valid observations.

b. It is supported by some experiments, but not by observations from nature.

c. It is well-substantiated by many experiments and observations.

d. Because Creationism does not support it.

Correct Answer: c

MC	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

During his travels, Darwin made numerous observations and collected evidence that led him to propose a revolutionary hypothesis about the way life changes over time. That hypothesis, now supported by a huge body of evidence, has become the theory of evolution. Which of the following is NOT evidence supporting the theory of evolution?

a. Traits acquired during a personÕs lifetime, such as straight teeth because of braces, will be passed on to offspring.

b. Mutations in DNA can cause changes that will become part of the gene pool of a population.

c. Mendelian genetic principles provide a mechanism for the continuation of traits in offspring.

d. Embryo develop in comparable orders and in similar patterns to produce tissues and organs in all vertebrates.

Correct Answer: a

MC	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

Which of the following unanswered questions about evolution CANNOT be validly asked or answered by science (now or in the future)?

a. Music written by Mozart is better than that written by Bach.

b. It is useless to wonder why organisms become extinct.

c. Is there biochemical evidence about Australian marsupials that supports the bone evidence in the fossil record?

d. Do more evidences of the evolution of flight in birds exist than are known today?

Correct Answer: a

MC	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

Which of the following meanings of "theory" best fits the meaning scientists use when they refer to "Cell Theory" or "Theory of Evolution"?

a. Possible but untested ideas.

b. An idea someone has about how or when or why something happens.

c. An impractical idea.

d. A fact or bit of evidence available to explain something.

e. A set of tested positions, explanations and concepts that explain known data and predict an additional phenomena.

Correct Answer: e

MC	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

At one time, people believed that life spontaneously arose regularly from non-living things. For example, many people believed that spoiled meat produced living maggots. Why was spontaneous generation considered to be an adequate explanation back then but is no longer accepted as a valid theory today?

a. In the past the best data available supported the idea, but today the scientific community has collected other data.

b. The current theory of the origin of life has now been proven.

c. In science, theories do not last more than 100 years; they are replaced because they get old.

d. Spontaneous generation was disproved by a famous scientist named Louis Pasteur.

Correct Answer: a 

MC	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

The statement "The age of the universe is about 13.7 billion years old" is an example of

a. a theory

b. a law

c. an observation

d. a fact

e. superstition

Correct Answer: a

MC	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

The statement "dinosaur fossils are found in rock containing many plant fossils" is an example of

a. a theory

b. an observation

c. an assumption

d. a law

e. superstition

Correct Answer: b

MC	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

Your teacher assigns you to do library research to explain one way the fossil record demonstrates diversity of life. Which topic below would be the most useful and relevant to look up at the library for this assignment?

a. Historic drift of the tectonic plates

b. Chemistry of fossil formation

c. Evolutionary lineage of a group of related mammals

d. Effect of the last ice age on fossil quality

e. Size of ocean during certain geologic eras

Correct Answer: c

I	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

Refer to the diagram.

Level 1	Level 2	Level 3
Many specimens of two different species of fish Ferns Palm fronds Aquatic turtle shells Eel grass	A few fragments of the same two species of fish found in Level 1 Snail shells Turtle shells (same species as Level 1) Eel grass	Many specimens of the same two species of fish found in Level 1 Ferns

1. Which layer is probably the oldest?

a. Level 1

b. Level 2

c. Level 3

d. Level 4

2. Based on the fossil record, what can one conclude about this region?

a. It was a desert.

b. It was a high, mountainous region.

c. It was a rainforest.

d. It was a lowland region with water.

3. In level 2, which one of the following populations could be expected to be the most abundant and numerous?

a. Palm trees

b. Eel grass

c. Fishes

d. Turtles

Correct Answers:

1. a

2. d

3. b

I	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

1. What appears to be the most recent group of animals to have come into existence?

a. Reptiles.

b. Mammals

c. Birds

d. Bony fishes

2. If the number of kinds of organisms in a group is a measure of successful adaptation, which group of fishes appear to have been the most successful?

a. Armored fish

b. Bony fish

c. Cartilaginous fish

d. Each group is equally successful

3. If the above criteria are used, which group appears to have been the least successful?

a. Bony fish

b. Reptiles

c. Birds

d. Amphibians

4. Which group of animals best shows the idea that variety probably diminishes before the group becomes extinct?

a. Amphibians

b. Armored fishes

c. Birds

d. Mammals

Correct Answers:

1. c

2. c

3. d

4. b

I	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

Use the data table to answer the subsequent seven questions.

DNA Sequences
Number	Human	Gorilla	Chimp	Common Ancestor
1	A	A	A	A
2	A	A	A	A
3	T	T	T	T
4	G	T	G	T
5	A	G	T	G
6	G	C	A	C
7	C	A	C	A
8	T	A	T	T
9	C	C	C	T
10	C	C	C	C
11	A	A	G	A
12	T	T	A	A
13	T	T	T	A
14	G	G	G	G
15	T	T	T	T

1. Compare the human DNA sequence with the other three by circling the bases that are different than the human sequence in each of the other three sequences.

2. Using your comparisons, determine which of the other three sequences is most similar to the human sequence.

3. Compare the common ancestor DNA sequence with the other three by circling the bases that are different from the common ancestor IN A DIFFERENT COLOR.

4. Using your comparisons, determine which of the other three sequences is most similar to the common ancestor sequence.

5. Which of the following patterns of evolution is best supported by these ideas?

6. Write a short explanation that supports your choice of evolutionary patterns above.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Which of the following would NOT help a scientist to get the selected evolutionary pattern published?

a. Repeat the data analysis again.

b. Analyze the longer DNA sequences and more of them.

c. Debate the results with other scientists whose conclusions disagree.

d. Present the data for the fifteen sequences as representative of the entire DNA sequence.

e. Share your results with other scientists at a science conference.

Correct Answers:

1 & 3. Circles indicate the differences between humans and others. Squares indicate the differences between common ancestors and others.

2. Human and chimp are closest.

4. Common ancestor and gorilla are closest.

5. b

7. d

I	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

Use the following chart to answer the questions below:

1. What was the best evidence used to construct this history of plants?

a. DNA analysis

b. present living samples

c. corresponding history of animals

d. fossil evidence

2. According to the chart, which is the oldest type of plant?

a. Bryophyta

b. Multicellular algae

c. Anthophyta

d. Pterophyta

3. What was the first epoch where all phyla of plants were present?

a. Triassic

b. Devonian

c. Jurassic

d. Pleistocene

4. Study the chart and predict where the first animals appeared. Explain reasons for your predictions.

Correct Answers:

1. d

2. b

3. c

4. Answers will vary. (Anything that shows some thought and that recognizes animals are not likely to precede plants.)

I	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

A customer presents a store clerk with a closed bag he has filled. The customer states, "This type of orange sells for 20 cents a pound." The clerk places the bag, unopened, on the scales and announces, "That will be 43 cents, please." The customer pays without hesitation and leaves the store.

(An assumption is something one takes for granted without getting facts to support it.) Use the following key to answer the subsequent 5 questions:

1. The scales were in good working order and registered price and weight correctly.

a. An assumption made by the customer.

b. An assumption made by the clerk.

c. An assumption made by both the customer and the clerk.

d. Not an assumption in this situation.

2. The clerk read the scales correctly.

a. An assumption made by the customer.

b. An assumption made by the clerk.

c. An assumption made by both the customer and the clerk.

d. Not an assumption in this situation.

3. The other person is an honest person.

a. An assumption made by the customer.

b. An assumption made by the clerk.

c. An assumption made by both the customer and the clerk.

d. Not an assumption in this situation.

4. There are oranges in the closed bag.

a. An assumption made by the customer.

b. An assumption made by the clerk.

c. An assumption made by both the customer and the clerk.

d. Not an assumption in this situation.

5. Oranges are produced by plants.

a. An assumption made by the customer.

b. An assumption made by the clerk.

c. An assumption made by both the customer and the clerk.

d. Not an assumption in this situation.

Correct Answers:

1. c

2. a

3. c

4. b

5. d

E	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

Which would you predict to be more similar to each other? The DNA codes of a humpback whale and a shark, or the DNA codes of a ostrich and a duck? Explain why.

Correct Answer: The DNA codes of the ostrich and the duck are likely to be more closely comparable. They are both birds, and share many structural similarities. The shark and the humpback belong in completely different phyla. The shark belongs in the fish classes and the whale is an air breathing mammal.

Scoring Guide:

accurate = 40%

complete = 40%

well written = 20%

E	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

Explain how two honest, trained scientists could disagree in their interpretation of something they both observed or something that is happening.

Sample Answer:

Interpretations and conclusions are influenced by the scientists' prior knowledge, experience, theoretical perspective and point of view.

E	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

There are several assumptions used by scientists as they decide how old rocks and fossils are. List two of them and explain what each means.

Sample Answer:

SUPERPOSITION: This assumption says that unless rock layers have been disturbed the youngest layer is always on top.

UNIFORMITARIANISM: This assumption says that processes of rock formation and change are the same today as in the past.

CROSS CUTTING RELATIONSHIPS: A vein of igneous rock that cuts through another stratum is the younger.

CONDITIONS: This assumption says that the conditions that existed anciently are comparable to conditions today.

E	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

Justify the argument that populations rather than individuals evolve.

Answer Key:

Evolution is the change of the frequency of alleles within the gene pool. For an individual to change that allele frequency it would take several generations of rapid reproduction for that to occur. Mutations occur with regularity in individuals but it takes a long time for those changes to be passed on and affect the allele frequency.

Scoring Guide:

Full Credit: The answer indicates a strong relationship between evolution and changes in the frequency of alleles in the gene pool.

Partial Credit: The answer does not fully indicate that a relationship exists between changes in the frequency of alleles in a gene pool and the process of evolution.

No Credit: The answer show no relationship between evolution and the change in the frequency of alleles in a gene pool.

E	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

Explain the difference between an inference and a hypothesis. Give an example of each.

Correct Answer:

A hypothesis is a possible explanation of something worded so that we can collect data and find out if our explanation fits the evidence. A hypothesis tries to explain what will cause something to happen. An inference is an explanation of what has happened that is based upon data or observations that we have already collected. Examples may vary.

P	Biology	Standard: 05
Objective: 02. Cite evidence for changes in populations over time and use concepts of evolution to explain these changes.
ILO:

A. Give a survey to 10 individuals using the statements below. In the chart, record the answers given.

B. Summarize the results of each statement in the form of a graph.

C. Prepare a defense of the statement on which the most people disagree.

Statement	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	No Opinion	Agree	Strongly Agree
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

STATEMENTS:

1. Evolution includes the idea that humans and ages evolved from a common ancestor.

2. Evolution is a theory based on observable evidence.

3. Evolution explains how present life forms originated.

4. Evolution is supported by the fossil record.

5. Evolution is important to the study of Biology.

Scoring Guide:

4 - Results summarized in graph form; each statement disputed using scientific facts.

3 - Results summarized but not graphed; statements explained adequately using scientific evidence.

2 - Results not summarized, but statements explained.

1 - Results not summarized, statements explained but not scientifically.