Question 1

Which of the following best describes a monophyletic group in a phylogenetic tree?

Accepted Answer

A group that includes a common ancestor and all of its descendants.

Question 2

In a phylogenetic tree, which of the following would be considered a paraphyletic group?

Accepted Answer

A group that includes a common ancestor and only some of its descendants.

Question 3

Which of the following is an example of convergent evolution?

Accepted Answer

The development of wings in bats and birds for flight.

Question 4

Which of the following statements about molecular clocks is correct?

Accepted Answer

Molecular clocks are more reliable when significant proportions of mutations are not acted upon by natural selection.

Question 5

If you were constructing a phylogenetic tree of cats using cladistics, which of the following would be the best outgroup?

Accepted Answer

Wolf

Question 6

Which of the following taxa is represented as descending from the same common ancestor as Canidae in the provided phylogenetic tree?

Accepted Answer

Mustelidae

Question 7

Which of the following would increase the rate of heat exchange between an animal and its environment?

Accepted Answer

Sweat glands across the body surface

Question 8

Which of the following is a characteristic of nervous system signals compared to endocrine signals?

Accepted Answer

They travel quickly, allowing rapid transmission of signals.

Question 9

Which of the following is true about the exchange surfaces of multicellular animals?

Accepted Answer

They are composed of epithelial tissue.

Question 10

Which of the following best explains why penguins, seals, and tuna have similar body forms for rapid swimming?

Accepted Answer

They have all evolved a convergent evolutionary solution to reduce drag while swimming.

Question 11

Which of the following is problematic when constructing phylogenies that accurately reflect evolutionary history?

Accepted Answer

Polyphyletic taxa and paraphyletic taxa

Question 12

Which of the following would be the best candidate to serve as the outgroup for a clade whose common ancestor occurs at position 2 in a genetic relatedness figure?

Accepted Answer

An extinct species whose lineage diverged before position 2

Question 13

Which of the following is a real-world example of convergent evolution?

Accepted Answer

Antler-like structures in beetles and deer due to strong male-male competition

Question 14

Which of the following is true about the temperature-regulating center of vertebrate animals?

Accepted Answer

It is located in the hypothalamus.

Question 15

Which of the following would be required for a tissue to respond to growth hormone in mammals?

Accepted Answer

The presence of a growth hormone receptor on the responding tissue

Question 16

Which of the following would be the best group to study to resolve polytomies in the tree of life?

Accepted Answer

Red algae, green algae, and cyanobacteria

Question 17

Which of the following is a characteristic of all animals, whether large or small?

Accepted Answer

Most of their cells in contact with an aqueous medium

Question 18

Which of the following is the name of the epithelial cell surface that faces the outside of an organ (away from the exchange surface)?

Accepted Answer

Basal

Question 19

If a person were to travel to a time zone that was several hours ahead of their own, they may experience tiredness known as jet lag. Jet lag is due to a disruption of ________.

Accepted Answer

Circadian rhythm

Question 20

Which of the following equations best represents the relationship between body mass and metabolic rate in mammals?

Accepted Answer

$Metabolic\ Rate = a 	imes (Body\ Mass)^b$

Phylogenetics, Taxonomy, and Animal Form & Function: Study Notes

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards