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Twenty Questions
Evolution, Adaptation, &
Fossils
Twenty Questions
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1. Which is an adaptation that makes it
possible for the animal to survive in a
cold climate?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Tail on a lizard
Scales on a fish
Stripes on a tiger
Fur on a bear
2. The color of a snowshoe rabbit
changes from brown to white as winter
approaches. How does this adaptation
help this rabbit?
a.
b.
c.
d.
It makes food easier to find in winter
It camouflages the rabbit from predators
It allows the rabbit to sneak up on its prey
It keeps the rabbit cool in summer and
warm in winter
3. An animal that has thick fur, webbed
flippers, and blubber would probably
live in
a.
b.
c.
d.
The Arctic Ocean
The Amazon rainforest
A large freshwater lake
The Mojave desert in California
4. Certain species of orchids have
flowers that look like female bees.
This provides an advantage to the
orchids by
a.
b.
c.
d.
Helping to trap moisture
Attracting male bees to transfer pollen
Discouraging flies from landing on the
flowers
Attracting birds that eat the flowers
5. A species of rabbit that is found in
hot desert environments has longer
ears than other rabbits. How are long
ears an advantage to desert rabbits?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Long ears help the rabbit to hear
rattlesnakes better.
Blood flowing in long, thin ears is a cooling
mechanism
The rabbit uses its long ears to signal other
rabbits of danger
Long ears help rabbits locate mates in the
desert.
6. The theory of evolution is based
upon what general principle?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Individuals must adapt to environmental
changes
Mutations generally produce stronger
organisms
The most fit organisms survive to reproduce
All organisms will eventually adapt to
changes.
7. Which adaptation allows giraffes to
feed on a diet of leaves from treetops?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Type of skin covering
Body structure
Sense of smell
Visual ability
8. The way a plant or animal species
adjusts to the environment is knows as
a.
b.
c.
d.
Variation
Behavior
Adaptation
Existence
9. The praying mantis has few predators. Yet it is
adapted to look just like the twigs and small
branches where it is usually found. This adaptation
helps the praying mantis to survive by…
a.
b.
c.
d.
Hiding it from other predators looking for the
same food
Hiding it while it waits for its prey
Keeping its body at the same temperature
as its environment
Allowing it to avoid others of its own kind
10. All of the following behaviors are
adaptations characteristic of desert
animals EXCEPT
a.
b.
c.
d.
Being active only at night
Swallowing their prey whole
Getting water by eating plants
Staying buried during the day
11. In terms of the theory of natural
selection, which explains why giraffes
have come to have such long necks?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Stretching to get food in high trees made their
necks longer, and this trait was passed to offspring
Giraffes prefer other giraffes that have long necks
as their mates
Giraffe food contains hormones that cause their
vertebrae to lengthen
Giraffes born with the longest necks stayed alive
when food was scarce and passed this trait on to
their offspring.
12. Adaptation refers to gradual
changes in a group of organisms that
are necessary for a species to survive.
Adaptation is a result of
a.
b.
c.
d.
Inheritable differences
Homeostasis
Inbreeding
Extinction
13. The night hawk is a bird that, when roosting,
stays parallel to the branch it is on. Its color and
spotting is much like the tree branch it rests on.
This adaptation is an example of…
a.
b.
c.
d.
Mimicry
Survival of the fittest
Protective coloration
Selective predation
14. Fossils of animals the size of goats were dated
at 5 million years old. Similarly, fossils of larger
animals were dated at 3 million years old. Both
animals were similar in body structure to today’s
horses. Using these data, which inference can
scientists make?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The animals were probably ancestors of
today’s horses
The animals had no relationship to one
another
Today’s horses and these animals probably
lived together at some time in the past.
Today’s horses are faster than these
animals were
15. Animal fossils are more plentiful
than plant fossils because animals
contain
a.
b.
c.
d.
Hard parts such as bones, teeth, and shells
Soft parts such as flesh and hair
Large amounts of water
Small amounts of chemicals
16. Some fossils are shaped like the
clams that are alive today. This tells us
that
a.
b.
c.
d.
Clams turn into fossils very quickly
Other living things can look like clams
Clams became extinct, and then new ones
grew
Clams have been on earth for a very long
time
17. Giant fossil ferns have been found
in Canada. Which conclusion can be
drawn from this discovery?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Canada once had a much warmer climate
Giant dragonflies once lived among the ferns
Canada was once covered by an ancient sea
Dinosaurs once lived in Canada
18. Geologists learn what organisms
were like in the past by studying…
a.
b.
c.
d.
Minerals
Water
Fossils
atmosphere
19. A population of mosquitoes is sprayed with a
new insecticide. Most of the mosquitoes are killed
but a few survive. In the next generation, the
spraying continues, but still more mosquitoes hatch
that are unaffected by the insecticide. Which of the
following best explains these results?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The insecticide caused a mutation in the genes of
immune mosquitoes
The mosquitoes learned how to fight the insecticide
A few mosquitoes in the first population were
immune and passed this trait to their offspring
The insecticide caused the mosquitoes to develop
an immune response that was inherited.
20. Five hundred grasshoppers of one species were
sprayed with a new insecticide. Twenty-four hours
later nearly all the grasshoppers were dead. A few,
however, survived. This outcome illustrates which
one of Darwin’s key ideas?
a.
b.
c.
d.
There are variations among individuals
within species.
Grasshoppers like new environments
All living things come from pre-existing
living things
New species develop from survivors.