Question 1

Which of the following is NOT one of the four derived traits that define the phylum Chordata?

Accepted Answer

Presence of a ventral solid nerve cord

Question 2

A biologist discovers a marine animal with a notochord, pharyngeal slits, and a dorsal hollow nerve cord as an adult, but it lacks a vertebral column. Which group does this animal most likely belong to?

Accepted Answer

Cephalochordata

Question 3

Which adaptation is most directly responsible for the ability of birds to achieve powered flight?

Accepted Answer

Lightweight, hollow bones and a keeled sternum

Question 4

Which of the following best explains why mammals excrete urea instead of ammonia or uric acid?

Accepted Answer

Urea is less toxic than ammonia and requires less water to excrete than ammonia, but less energy to produce than uric acid.

Question 5

A fish species is observed to have a heart with two chambers and blood that passes through the heart only once during each complete circuit of the body. Which type of circulatory system does this fish possess?

Accepted Answer

Single circulation

Question 6

Which of the following is a key difference between the respiratory systems of amphibians and mammals?

Accepted Answer

Amphibians use positive pressure breathing, while mammals use negative pressure breathing.

Question 7

Which of the following best describes the evolutionary significance of the amniotic egg?

Accepted Answer

It allowed vertebrates to reproduce away from water by providing a self-contained aquatic environment for the embryo.

Question 8

Which of the following taxa is characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, placoid scales, and internal fertilization?

Accepted Answer

Chondrichthyes

Question 9

A mammal that lays eggs, has a cloaca, and lacks nipples is best classified as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Monotreme

Question 10

Which of the following statements about the transition from aquatic to terrestrial life in vertebrates is correct?

Accepted Answer

The development of limbs with digits and lungs were key adaptations for terrestrial life.

Question 11

Which of the following best explains the function of the crop and gizzard in the avian digestive system?

Accepted Answer

The crop stores food, while the gizzard grinds food using ingested stones.

Question 12

Which of the following is a unique adaptation found in mammals that is directly related to nourishing their young?

Accepted Answer

Mammary glands

Question 13

A researcher is studying a vertebrate with a four-chambered heart, feathers, and a beak. Which class does this animal belong to?

Accepted Answer

Aves (birds)

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the function of the notochord in chordates?

Accepted Answer

It provides structural support and serves as a scaffold for the development of the vertebral column.

Question 15

Which of the following is a correct comparison between external and internal fertilization?

Accepted Answer

External fertilization typically requires an aquatic environment, while internal fertilization can occur in terrestrial environments.

Question 16

Which of the following is a key difference between marsupial and placental mammals?

Accepted Answer

Marsupials give birth to underdeveloped young that complete development in a pouch, while placental mammals have a longer gestation period with development inside the uterus.

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the function of counter-current exchange in fish gills?

Accepted Answer

It maximizes oxygen uptake by maintaining a gradient where water always has a higher oxygen concentration than blood.

Question 18

Which of the following is a correct statement about the evolution of the vertebrate heart?

Accepted Answer

The transition from a two-chambered to a four-chambered heart improved the separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.

Question 19

Which of the following is a function of differentiated teeth in mammals?

Accepted Answer

They allow mammals to process a variety of foods by specializing in cutting, tearing, and grinding.

Question 20

A population of reptiles is found to excrete nitrogenous waste primarily as uric acid. What is the main advantage of this adaptation in their environment?

Accepted Answer

Uric acid is relatively non-toxic and can be excreted with minimal water loss, which is advantageous in arid environments.

Phylum Chordata: Structure, Function, and Evolutionary Adaptations

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