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TEST NAME: Evolution (COPY)
TEST ID: 355398
GRADE: 08
SUBJECT: Life and Physical Sciences
TEST CATEGORY: My Classroom
Evolution (COPY)
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Student: Class:
Date:
1. The ichthyornis was a type of bird that lived over 65 million years ago. It lived near the sea and hunted for fish
over the water. Fossils have been found in Kansas, many miles from the present­day ocean. Which cause of
extinction is most likely to be found in the fossil record along with ichthyornis fossils?
A.
changes in the environment
B.
diseases causing illness
C.
changes in the weather
D.
predator animals
2. In Peru, fossils of an unknown species of penguin were recently discovered. The species stood about 1.5
meters tall and is the third largest penguin known. The diagram shows the skull of a modern penguin in Peru
and the skull of the newly discovered species.
Which can most likely be inferred about the two penguin species from this fossil evidence?
A.
The penguins had different feeding styles.
B.
The penguins had adapted to similar climates.
C.
The fossil penguin had better nocturnal vision than the modern penguin.
D.
The modern penguin had more advanced social groups than the fossil penguin.
Evolution (COPY)
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3.
Through relative dating, a geologist finds a fossil that is approximately
10,000 years old. Which radioactive element would the geologist most
likely use to accurately calculate the fossil’s age?
A.
gallium­67 with a half­life of 78 hours
B.
carbon­14 with a half­life of 5,700 years
C.
plutonium­238 with a half­life of 88 years
D.
iodine­129 with a half­life of 16 million years
4.
Which describes the best use of carbon­14 in collecting geologic
evidence?
A.
to compare the decay of uranium to lead
B.
to date artifacts less than 50,000 years old
C.
to date sedimentary rock layers
D.
to identify index fossils
5.
Which is true about fossils?
A.
They are remains of organisms that lived on Earth.
B.
They are most often found in igneous rock formations.
C.
They are documentation of evolutionary changes in every organism
that has ever lived on Earth.
D.
They are found all over the southern hemisphere, but in very few
parts of the northern hemisphere.
6.
Which adaptation best allows organisms to adjust to the harsh winters of
the tundra?
A.
thick fur
B.
long ears
C.
large, glossy leaves
Evolution (COPY)
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A bird in a forest ecosystem has a sharper beak than many other birds.
Which best explains how this adaptation may help the bird survive? 7.
A.
It enables the bird to dig for water.
B.
It increases the likelihood for the bird to obtain food.
C.
It increases the likelihood of the bird finding a suitable mate.
D.
It enables the bird to sing louder than birds with shorter beaks.
Which would most likely cause an entire species to become extinct?
8.
A.
disease
B.
predators
C.
competition for food
D.
limited genetic variation
How are fossils compared to one another for biological classification?
9.
A.
by their size
B.
by their estimated life spans
C.
by the geographic locations where they are found
D.
by similarities and differences in their body structures
10.
Why is genetic variation within a species important for the survival of the
species?
A.
It will likely result in larger individuals in the species.
B.
It will likely result in the species becoming predators.
C.
It will likely result in more intelligent individuals in the species.
D.
It will likely result in individuals in the species being able to adapt to
their environment.
Evolution (COPY)
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11.
Which bird would be best adapted to eat the seeds from very hard
shells? A.
Geospiza magnirostris
B.
Geospiza fortis
C.
Geospiza parvula
D.
Certhidea olivacea
12.
A new predator has just moved into an area with a population of rabbits.
The rabbits with longer back legs have an advantage because they can
run faster. Which is an example of adaptation?
A.
The species of rabbits will become extinct due to stress.
B.
The rabbits with the shorter back legs will learn to hide.
C.
The future generations of rabbits will have longer legs.
13.
Which geological event is most likely to cause greater diversity in animal
populations?
A.
landmasses splitting apart
B.
landmasses coming together
C.
landmasses becoming larger
D.
landmasses sinking beneath the sea
Evolution (COPY)
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14.
Which most likely led to major changes in biological evolution? A.
separation of landmasses
B.
short time periods of drought conditions
C.
long time periods with no volcanic eruptions
D.
migration of animals from one area to another
15.
Fossils of land­dwelling mammals found in both Australia and southern
Asia were discovered to have body structures believed to have evolved
from a common ancestor. What does this evidence most likely suggest?
A.
These organisms were capable of swimming from one continent to the
other.
B.
Australia and Asia were once part of a larger continent.
C.
These organisms developed during the same time period.
16.
Which is an example of the forelimbs of humans and bats having the
same basic skeletal structure but derived from the same evolutionary
origin?
A.
cellular structures
B.
analogous structures
C.
homologous structures
17.
Evolution can best be described as which type of change?
A.
absolute change
B.
extreme change
C.
gradual change
18.
Which characteristic of organisms allows them to adapt to problems in
their environment?
A.
genetic variation
B.
genetic isolation
C.
genetic drift
Evolution (COPY)
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19.
Which adaptation has occurred due to genetic variation allowing some
species to seem invisible to predators?
A.
ability to make loud noises
B.
exceptional vision
C.
camouflage
20.
The feathers of a wild turkey allow it to blend into its habitat. Which
best describes this adaptation?
A.
mimicry
B.
predation
C.
camouflage
D.
learned behavior
Evolution (COPY)
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