Question 1

Ideally, taxonomic classification
A) reflects evolutionary relationships
B) is based on the presence of acquired characteristics
C) is always based solely on between-species behavioral similarities
D) reflects the current geographic distribution of species
E) is only applicable to nonhuman species

Accepted Answer

Taxonomic classification is based on evolutionary relationships, including similarities in morphology, genetics, and behavior. Acquired characteristics may play a role in phylogenetics, but are not the sole basis of classification. Behavioral similarities may be considered, but are not the only factor, as genetic data and other traits are also important. Taxonomic classification applies to all living organisms, including humans.

Question 2

Unlike a cladogram, a phylogenetic tree
A) includes the dimension of time
B) does not suggest ancestral-descendant relationships
C) is one-dimensional
D) are used by physical anthropologists to identify and assess the utility of traits
E) are used by physical anthropologists to make testable hypotheses regarding relationships between groups of organisms

Accepted Answer

Phylogenetic trees include the dimension of time by showing how different species evolved and diverged from their common ancestors over time. Cladograms, on the other hand, only show the relationships between different species without considering the time aspect.

Question 3

What is the evolutionary process that produces analogous structures called?
A) speciation
B) homology
C) homoplasy
D) founder effect
E) evolutionary systematics

Accepted Answer

The process that produces analogous structures is called homoplasy. Homology refers to structures that share a common evolutionary origin, while speciation refers to the formation of new species. The founder effect is a genetic phenomenon that occurs when a small group of individuals establishes a new population. Evolutionary systematics is an approach to classification that emphasizes the evolutionary history of organisms.

Question 4

Vertebrates include all of the following except
A) birds
B) insects
C) amphibians
D) mammals
E) fishes

Accepted Answer

Insects are not vertebrates, as they lack a backbone or spinal column.

Question 5

Structural similarities shared by species that are acquired by descent from a common ancestor are
A) analogies
B) homologies
C) acquired
D) uncommon
E) uninformative of evolutionary relationships

Accepted Answer

Structural similarities acquired by descent from a common ancestor are called homologies. Analogies are similarities that arise through convergent evolution, whereas acquired and uncommon are not appropriate terms to describe homologies. The fact that species share homologous structures is informative of their evolutionary relationships.

Question 6

Structural similarities shared by a wide array of distantly related species that are inherited from a remote ancestor, such as the number of bones in the forelimb, are termed
A) specialized
B) ancestral primitive)
C) adaptive radiations
D) analogies
E) derived modified)

Accepted Answer

Structural similarities inherited from a remote ancestor are known as ancestral or primitive traits. These traits are found in a wide array of distantly related species and are not necessarily adaptive for their current function. The other choices do not fit this description - specialized traits are unique adaptations for a specific function, adaptive radiations refer to the diversification of a species to fill multiple ecological niches, analogies are structural similarities that arise due to convergent evolution, and derived traits are novel traits that have evolved more recently in a lineage.

Question 7

A hypothesis regarding ancestor-descendant relationships that includes a time scale is called a
A) cladogram
B) phylogenetic tree
C) phylogram tree
D) hypogram tree
E) hypoplastic tree

Accepted Answer

A phylogenetic tree is a diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among organisms. It includes a time scale, showing how species have diverged from common ancestors over time.

Question 8

Grouping contemporaneous species into genera
A) is never a subjective process
B) can be facilitated by identifying which species can interbreed and produce live, though not necessarily fertile, hybrid offspring
C) is always easy and accurate
D) is problematic and therefore not a common practice of physical anthropologists
E) requires similarities between species in one genus and species of another genus.

Accepted Answer

Grouping contemporaneous species into genera can be facilitated by identifying which species can interbreed and produce live, though not necessarily fertile, hybrid offspring. This is known as the biological species concept.

Question 9

In grouping organisms together in a cladistic classification, the most important characteristics are those that are
A) ancestral
B) shared derived modified)
C) shared primitive
D) analogous
E) homologous

Accepted Answer

Shared derived characteristics (also called synapomorphies) are the most important for grouping organisms together in a cladistic classification because they indicate shared evolutionary history and suggest common ancestry. Ancestral characteristics (also called plesiomorphies) may be shared by many different groups and do not provide as much information about evolutionary relationships. Shared primitive characteristics (also called symplesiomorphies) are useful for identifying the group of organisms but do not provide much information about their evolutionary relationships. Analogous characteristics are similar in function but do not necessarily indicate a common ancestor. Homologous characteristics are similar in structure but may not always indicate a shared evolutionary history.

Question 10

When assessing evolutionary relationships, one approach is to focus on derived modified) characteristics. What is this approach called?
A) taxonomy
B) phylogeny
C) classification
D) cladistics
E) homoplasy

Accepted Answer

The approach of focusing on derived, or modified, characteristics is called cladistics. This involves constructing a family tree-like diagram called a cladogram, which shows the evolutionary relationships between different species based on their shared derived characteristics. This approach emphasizes evolutionary relationships rather than just surface similarities or differences.

Question 11

Morphological variation between individuals within a species
A) may be the product of male/female morphological differences
B) is called interspecific variation
C) is of no concern to anthropologists
D) is unimportant when interpreting the fossil record
E) produces large numbers of identical individuals

Accepted Answer

Morphological variation within a species can be due to differences between males and females, as they often have different physical features or structures. This is known as sexual dimorphism.

Question 12

What is the term for the ordering of organisms into categories, such as orders or families?
A) evolution
B) classification
C) parallelism
D) analogy
E) generalization

Accepted Answer

The term for the ordering of organisms into categories such as orders or families is classification. Evolution refers to the process of change over time, parallelism and analogy refer to similarities between organisms, and generalization refers to a broad statement or concept that applies to many different situations.

Question 13

What are structural similarities between species that are based on common function and not on common evolutionary descent called?
A) acquired
B) generalized
C) non-adaptive
D) analogies
E) homologies

Accepted Answer

Structural similarities based on common function and not on common evolutionary descent are called analogies. Analogous structures evolve independently in different organisms to serve the same function. This is different from homologous structures which have a similar evolutionary origin, even if they may have different functions.

Question 14

Continental drift
A) had no real impact on the evolutionary history of vertebrates
B) never occurred
C) is the movement of the continents on the Earth's surface
D) ceased to occur several million years ago
E) occurs only in the Old World

Accepted Answer

Continental drift is the movement of the continents on the Earth's surface, as they slowly move over the tectonic plates. This movement has had a significant impact on the geographical and geological history of the planet, including the distribution of landmasses and the formation of mountains and ocean basins.

Question 15

A genus may be defined as a group of
A) individuals who interbreed but who are reproductively isolated from other such groups
B) closely related species
C) one or more species that do not differ from each other in basic ways
D) members of the same species
E) individuals more closely related to individuals of another species in another genus

Accepted Answer

The answer of A genus may be defined as a...

Question 16

Assigning fossil remains to a particular primate species
A) is an uncomplicated process
B) requires splitting samples into as many species as possible
C) requires making comparisons to well-known living species of primates
D) can be accomplished only if the species is sexually dimorphic
E) requires not making comparisons to well-known living species of primates

Accepted Answer

Assigning fossil remains to a particular primate species requires making comparisons to well-known living species of primates. This is because the skeletal structures of living primates and fossil primates are very similar, and comparing them can reveal similarities and differences that can help identify the species of the fossil remains. Additionally, knowing the characteristics of living primates can help scientists make educated guesses about the behavior and lifestyle of fossil primates.

Question 17

What is the term for traits that reflect specific evolutionary lineages and can be informative of evolutionary relationships?
A) ancestral primitive)
B) acquired
C) derived modified)
D) convergent characters
E) analogies

Accepted Answer

Derived traits, also known as modified traits, are those that have evolved in a specific evolutionary lineage and can provide information about evolutionary relationships. Ancestral traits are those that are inherited from a common ancestor and may not necessarily reflect current evolutionary relationships. Acquired traits are not necessarily informative about evolutionary relationships. Convergent characters and analogies are not specific to a particular evolutionary lineage and can result from convergent evolution.

Question 18

Speciation can occur as a result of all of the following except
A) geographic isolation
B) natural selection acting on populations
C) ecological separation
D) lack of differences in habitats
E) limited gene exchange

Accepted Answer

Lack of differences in habitats would not provide a barrier for reproductive isolation and therefore would not lead to speciation. The other choices all contribute to the potential for speciation to occur.

Question 19

Which two primary schools of classification are discussed in the text?
A) generalized and specialized
B) organic and inorganic
C) evolutionary systematics and cladistics
D) cladistics and non-cladistics
E) ancestral and derived modified)

Accepted Answer

The text discusses two primary schools of classification: evolutionary systematics and cladistics.

Question 20

Animals with a nerve cord along the back and gill slits during some developmental stage are called which of the following?
A) insects
B) invertebrates
C) chordates
D) metazoans
E) underdeveloped

Accepted Answer

Animals with a nerve cord along the back and gill slits during some developmental stage are characteristic features of chordates. Insects are a diverse group of invertebrates, but they do not have a nerve cord along their back and gill slits. Invertebrates simply means animals without a backbone. Metazoans are multicellular animals, but the presence of a nerve cord and gill slits is not a defining characteristic for this group. Underdeveloped is not a scientific term used for classifying animals.

Quiz 5: Processes of Macroevolution

Ideally, taxonomic classification

Unlike a cladogram, a phylogenetic tree

What is the evolutionary process that produces analogous structures called?

Vertebrates include all of the following except

Structural similarities shared by species that are acquired by descent from a common ancestor are

Structural similarities shared by a wide array of distantly related species that are inherited from a remote ancestor, such as the number of bones in the forelimb, are termed

A hypothesis regarding ancestor-descendant relationships that includes a time scale is called a

Grouping contemporaneous species into genera

In grouping organisms together in a cladistic classification, the most important characteristics are those that are

When assessing evolutionary relationships, one approach is to focus on derived modified) characteristics. What is this approach called?

Morphological variation between individuals within a species

What is the term for the ordering of organisms into categories, such as orders or families?

What are structural similarities between species that are based on common function and not on common evolutionary descent called?

Continental drift

A genus may be defined as a group of

Assigning fossil remains to a particular primate species

What is the term for traits that reflect specific evolutionary lineages and can be informative of evolutionary relationships?

Speciation can occur as a result of all of the following except

Which two primary schools of classification are discussed in the text?

Animals with a nerve cord along the back and gill slits during some developmental stage are called which of the following?