Chapter.23 Exam Questions – Systematics, Phylogenies, And - Biology 12e Complete Test Bank by Peter Raven. DOCX document preview.

Chapter.23 Exam Questions – Systematics, Phylogenies, And

Biology, 12e (Raven)

Chapter 23 Systematics, Phylogenies, and Comparative Biology

1) The biological specialty that deals with the grouping and naming of organisms is called taxonomy or ________.

2) The biological specialty that deals with the reconstruction and study of phylogenies is called ________.

3) The behavior of parental care exhibited by dinosaurs is thought to be ________ to this behavior in crocodiles and birds because phylogeny shows that these three groups share a common ancestor.

4) Saber teeth found in different groups of extinct carnivorous mammals are considered ________ structures, as the fossil record shows that saber teeth evolved independently among the groups.

5) Systematists often use DNA sequencing in ________, the study of the order of evolutionary events within a group sharing derived characters.

6) A ________ group consists of the most recent common ancestor and all of its descendants.

7) A ________ group consists of the most recent common ancestor and some of its descendants.

8) A ________ group does not contain the most recent common ancestor.

9) The principle of ________ favors the hypothesis that requires the fewest assumptions.

10) A derived character that is shared by all members of a clade is called a ________ of that clade.

11) Characteristics between the branch points of a cladogram that are shared by all organisms above the branch point and are not present in any below it are called

A) homologous characters.

B) homoplastic characters.

C) ancestral characters.

D) derived characters.

E) novel characters.

12) Characteristics that have arisen in organisms as a result of common evolutionary descent are said to be ________ characteristics.

A) homologous

B) homoplastic

C) adaptive

D) derived

E) ancestral

13) One day after a biology class four of your friends argue about the difference between phylogeny and systematics. Which friend is right?

A) Friend A states that systematics and phylogenies are really the same, one is more recent than the other, but basically they are the same.

B) Friend B says that systematics is the same as cladistics and cladistics is reconstructing clades, which ultimately lead to the development of phylogenies.

C) Friend C argues that systematics is the actual collecting and cataloguing of specimens into museums that can be used later by scientists to construct clades and phylogenies.

D) Friend D says that the way she remembers is that systematics is the reconstruction and study of phylogenies.

14) The evolutionary sequence in the development of a complex character can be best analyzed through

A) homoplasies.

B) phylogenetics.

C) taxonomy.

D) classification.

E) synapomorphies.

15) A phylogenetically-based taxonomy is important not only in creating a logical way to name organisms, but also in learning about ________ of organisms using information in related species. Check all that apply.

A) physiology

B) behavior

C) development

D) morphology

16) Choose the true statement about the morphological data in the chart shown below. The "1" in the box means the trait is present and the "0" indicates that the trait is absent.(Note: All of the characteristics across the top of the columns are considered "TRAITS" for purposes of reading the chart.).

 

TRAITS

 

 

 

 

 

ORGANISM

Jaws

Lungs

Amniotic Membrane

Hair

No Tail

Bipedal

Lamprey

0

0

0

0

0

0

Shark

1

0

0

0

0

0

Salamander

1

1

0

0

0

0

Lizard

1

1

1

0

0

0

Tiger

1

1

1

1

0

0

Gorilla

1

1

1

1

1

0

Human

1

1

1

1

1

1

 

A) All organisms in this chart share all of the derived characteristics.

B) Only the gorilla and humans share all of the derived characteristics.

C) The lamprey is the only outgroup since it has none of the derived characteristics.

D) The salamander and the tiger together are the outgroup because they only share two of the derived characteristics (jaws and lungs).

E) The shark is the outgroup since it only has one of the derived characteristics (jaws).

17) The study and reconstruction of phylogenies is

A) evolution.

B) systematics.

C) taxonomy.

D) taxidermy.

E) cladistics.

 

©McGraw-Hill Education

18) Based on the phylogeny shown, we can conclude that species 2 is most closely related to species

A) 1.

B) 3.

C) 4.

D) 5.

E) 1 or 3 (can't tell).

19) Based on the phylogeny shown, the outgroup would be species

A) 1.

B) 2.

C) 3.

D) 4.

E) 5.

20) Based on the phylogeny shown, the group of species including (2-5) can best be described as a

A) clade.

B) paraphyletic group.

C) polyphyletic group.

D) cladogram.

E) synapomorphy

21) Derived character states shared by clade members are called

A) ancestral traits.

B) homoplasies.

C) synapomorphies.

D) plesiomorphies.

E) symplesiomorphies.

22) The following are steps used to construct a cladogram that best reflects the evolutionary relationships of a group of species. Which step involves deciding which tree is most likely to have occurred, based on the fewest character state changes?

A) Polarize the characters.

B) Establish the character states.

C) Gather data on characters to be used.

D) Apply the principle of parsimony.

E) Select an outgroup.

23) Character states shared by the ancestor or outgroup of a clade are called

A) derived traits.

B) homoplasies.

C) synapomorphies.

D) plesiomorphies.

E) symplesiomorphies.

24) Select all of the following that can result in homoplasies.

A) convergent evolution

B) evolutionary reversals

C) divergent evolution

D) shared ancestry

25) Birds, snakes, lizards, turtles, and crocodiles are all thought to share a common ancestor and several homologous traits. Assuming that this is true, these groups of animals and their common ancestor would represent

A) a polyphyletic group.

B) a monophyletic group.

C) homoplastic convergence.

D) an outgroup.

E) a species cluster.

26) Select the true statements describing why cladistics may not always be the best method for reconstructing phylogenies based on data from the DNA genome.

A) The rate of evolution of the DNA genome is rapid.

B) The assumptions of the principle of parsimony are not always met.

C) Homoplasy often dominates the data sets.

D) The number of character states for DNA is large.

27) Evidence suggests that the crocodiles are more closely related to the birds than the turtles and snakes. If so, then including crocodiles, but not birds, in the Class Reptilia would make the Class Reptilia

A) a monophyletic group.

B) a paraphyletic group.

C) a polyphyletic group.

D) parsimonious.

E) not homologous.

 

TRAIT

 

 

 

 

SPECIES

A

B

C

D

E

1

1

1

0

1

1

2

1

1

0

1

0

3

1

1

1

0

0

4

1

0

0

0

0

5

1

1

1

0

0

6

1

1

0

1

1

28) The table shows the distribution of traits (A-E) in six extant species (1-6). A "0" indicates the ancestral condition, while "1" indicates the derived condition. Which trait is least informative of phylogenetic relationships within the group?

A) A

B) B

C) C

D) D

E) E

29) The table shows the distribution of traits (A-E) in six extant species (1-6). A "0" indicates the ancestral condition, while "1" indicates the derived condition. Based on this data, which species would be considered the outgroup?

A) 1

B) 2

C) 3

D) 4

E) 5

  

©McGraw-Hill Education

30) Consider the cladogram shown. Which pair of species shares the greatest number of derived characters (synapomorphies)?

A) 4 and 2

B) 5 and 4

C) 6 and 1

D) 6 and 2

E) 5 and 2

31) Consider the cladogram shown. Based on this cladogram, which species has the greatest number of ancestral character states?

A) 1

B) 2

C) 3

D) 4

E) 5

 

TRAIT

 

 

 

 

SPECIES

A

B

C

D

E

1

1

0

0

0

0

2

1

1

1

1

1

3

1

1

1

1

1

4

1

1

1

1

0

5

1

1

1

0

0

6

1

1

0

0

0

 

32) The table shows the distribution of traits (A-E) in six extant species (1-6). A "0" indicates the ancestral condition, while a "1" indicates the derived condition. Which trait is represented by the greatest number of plesiomorphies?

A) A

B) B

C) C

D) D

E) E

33) The table shows the distribution of traits (A-E) in six extant species (1-6). A "0" indicates the ancestral condition, while a "1" indicates the derived condition. Based on this data, which pair of species diverged most recently?

A) 1 and 4

B) 2 and 3

C) 2 and 4

D) 6 and 4

E) 6 and 5

  

©McGraw-Hill Education

34) Consider the cladogram shown. Which pair of species shares the greatest number of derived characters (synapomorphies)?

A) 1 and 4

B) 2 and 3

C) 2 and 4

D) 6 and 4

E) 6 and 5

35) Consider the cladogram shown. If we designate species 1 as the outgroup, which species has the greatest number of ancestral character states (pleisiomorphies)?

A) 2

B) 3

C) 4

D) 5

E) 6

 

TRAIT

 

 

 

 

SPECIES

A

B

C

D

E

1

0

1

1

1

1

2

0

0

1

1

1

3

1

0

1

0

1

4

0

1

1

1

1

5

0

0

0

0

1

6

1

0

1

0

1

 

36) The table shows the distribution of traits (A-E) in six extant species (1-6). A "0" indicates the ancestral condition, and a "1" indicates the derived condition. Which trait is least informative of phylogenetic relationships within the group?

A) A

B) B

C) C

D) D

E) E

37) The table shows the distribution of traits (A-E) in six extant species (1-6). A "0" indicates the ancestral condition, and a "1" indicates the derived condition. Which species would you designate as the outgroup?

A) 1

B) 4

C) 2

D) 3

E) 5

38) The table shows the distribution of traits (A-E) in six extant species (1-6). A "0" indicates the ancestral condition, and a "1" indicates the derived condition. Which pair of species shares the greatest number of derived characters (synapomorphies)?

A) 1 and 4

B) 6 and 3

C) 6 and 1

D) 5 and 6

E) 5 and 1

39) The table shows the distribution of traits (A-E) in six extant species (1-6). A "0" indicates the ancestral condition, and a "1" indicates the derived condition. Which species has the greatest number of ancestral character states (pleisiomorphies)?

A) 1

B) 2

C) 3

D) 4

E) 5

 

TRAIT

 

 

 

 

SPECIES

A

B

C

D

E

1

1

1

0

1

1

2

1

0

0

1

0

3

1

0

0

1

1

4

1

1

1

1

1

5

1

1

1

1

1

6

0

0

0

1

0

 

40) The table shows the distribution of traits (A-E) in six extant species (1-6). A "0" indicates the ancestral condition, and a "1" indicates the derived condition. Which trait is least informative of phylogenetic relationships within the group?

A) A

B) B

C) C

D) D

E) E

41) The table shows the distribution of traits (A-E) in six extant species (1-6). A "0" indicates the ancestral condition, and a "1" indicates the derived condition. Which species would you designate as the outgroup?

A) 1

B) 2

C) 3

D) 4

E) 5

F) 6

42) The table shows the distribution of traits (A-E) in six extant species (1-6). A "0" indicates the ancestral condition, and a "1" indicates the derived condition. Which pair of species shares the greatest number of derived characters (synapomorphies)?

A) 4 and 5

B) 2 and 4

C) 1 and 4

D) 3 and 4

E) 2 and 5

43) The table shows the distribution of traits (A-E) in six extant species (1-6). A "0" indicates the ancestral condition, and a "1" indicates the derived condition. Which species has the greatest number of ancestral character states (pleisiomorphies)?

A) 1

B) 2

C) 3

D) 4

E) 5

F) 6

 

TRAIT

 

 

 

 

SPECIES

A

B

C

D

E

1

0

0

1

0

0

2

1

0

1

0

1

3

1

0

1

0

1

4

1

1

1

0

0

5

1

1

1

1

0

6

1

1

1

1

0

 

44) The table shows the distribution of traits (A-E) in six extant species (1-6). A "0" indicates the ancestral condition, and a "1" indicates the derived condition. Which trait is least informative of phylogenetic relationships within the group?

A) A

B) B

C) C

D) D

E) E

45) The table shows the distribution of traits (A-E) in six extant species (1-6). A "0" indicates the ancestral condition, and a "1" indicates the derived condition. Which pair of species shares the fewest number of derived characters (synapomorphies)?

A) 1 and 6

B) 1 and 4

C) 4 and 6

D) 2 and 3

E) 6 and 3

 

 ©McGraw-Hill Education

46) Consider the cladogram shown. Which pair of species shares the greatest number of derived characters (synapomorphies)?

A) 1 and 3

B) 6 and 4

C) 6 and 5

D) 2 and 3

E) 6 and 3

47) Consider the cladogram shown. Based on this cladogram, which species has the greatest number of ancestral character states (pleisiomorphies)?

A) 1

B) 2

C) 3

D) 4

E) 5

F) 6

48) A group is considered monophyletic if

A) all members of the group share a common ancestor that is included in the group.

B) not all descendants of the common ancestor are included.

C) all members share homoplastic traits.

D) the group does not contain the most recent common ancestor.

E) it is the most parsimonious grouping.

49) A group is considered paraphyletic if

A) all members of the group share a common ancestor.

B) not all descendants of the common ancestor are included.

C) the common ancestor of the group is not included in the group.

D) the group does not contain the most recent common ancestor.

E) it is the most parsimonious grouping.

50) A group is considered polyphyletic if

A) all members of the group share a common ancestor.

B) not all descendants of the common ancestor are included.

C) all members share homoplastic traits.

D) the group does not contain the most recent common ancestor.

E) it is the most parsimonious grouping.

51) Choose the true statements about molecular clocks.

A) All molecular clocks tick at the same rate.

B) Molecular clocks can be calibrated using fossil evidence.

C) The rate of a molecular clock for a given DNA character might vary depending on how constrained the character is by natural selection.

D) Ultimately, all molecular clocks depend on the rate of DNA mutation and DNA repair mechanisms.

52) The phylogenetic species concept (PSC) declares that a group is a species if it

A) is reproductively isolated from other species.

B) has evolved one or more of its own derived characters.

C) looks different than other species.

D) is allopatric.

E) has no synapomorphies.

53) Parental care in dinosaurs, crocodiles, and birds is an example of

A) homoplasy caused by convergence.

B) homoplasy caused by common descent.

C) homoplasy caused by evolutionary reversal.

D) homology caused by convergence.

E) homology caused by common descent.

54) The evolution of saber teeth in a number of groups of extinct carnivorous mammals is an example of

A) homoplasy caused by convergence.

B) homoplasy caused by common descent.

C) homoplasy caused by evolutionary reversal.

D) homology caused by convergence.

E) homology caused by common descent.

55) The evolution of conducting tubes (sieve tubes) in land plants and brown algae is an example of

A) homoplasy caused by convergence.

B) homoplasy caused by common descent.

C) homoplasy caused by evolutionary reversal.

D) homology caused by convergence.

E) homology caused by common descent.

56) Choose the true statements about the evolution of complex characters, such as powered flight.

A) Phylogenetic analysis using cladistics can help reveal the sequence leading to the evolution of a complex character.

B) Usually a single mutation in one gene leads to the simultaneous appearance of the complex character.

C) Often the initial stage in the evolution of a complex character was an adaptation to some unrelated selection pressure.

D) The intermediate stages in the evolution of a complex character had no fitness advantage.

57) Choose the true statements about the evolution of larval dispersal in marine snails.

A) The evolution of non-dispersing snails is likely to hinder speciation.

B) Clades of non-dispersing snails are less species rich than those of dispersing snails.

C) Loss of structures in the transition from dispersing to non-dispersing may inhibit evolutionary reversal.

D) Possession of dispersing larvae is the ancestral state in snails.

E) Cladistics shows that there are more instances of the transition from dispersing to non-dispersing larvae than the reverse.

58) The figure shows a cladogram of direct development versus development of a larval stage. Choose the true statements about the evolution of development in limpets.

A) Loss of structures in the transition from a larval stage to direct development prohibits evolutionary reversal.

B) Direct development has evolved multiple times.

C) Evolution always proceeds parsimoniously.

D) Possession of a larval stage is the ancestral state in limpets.

59) The figure shows the evolutionary diversification of the largest clade of herbivorous beetles with the group of plants on which they specialize. Choose the true statements about the evolution of species richness in herbivorous beetles.

A) Feeding on conifers evolved earlier than feeding on angiosperms.

B) Feeding on cycads evolved earlier than feeding on angiosperms.

C) Diversification of the angiosperms may have led to diversification of herbivorous beetles.

D) The multiple, independent evolution of herbivory in beetles is closely linked to their great species richness.

60) The figure shows the evolution of HIV and SIV. Choose the true statements about the evolution of HIV (Select all that apply).

A) All strains of HIV are included within clades with SIV strains.

B) A strain of HIV is never more closely related to another strain of HIV than it is to a SIV strain.

C) Humans acquired different subtypes of HIV from different primate hosts.

D) HIV-1 group O is more closely related to SIV-chimpanzee than SIV-gorilla.

E) All strains of SIV are included within clades with HIV strains.

©McGraw-Hill Education

61) Based on the phylogeny shown, which species is not a tree but has seeds?

A) Psaronius

B) ginkgo

C) fern

D) rose

E) oak

F) pine

62) Based on the phylogeny shown, which characteristic is homoplastic?

A) tree

B) needles

C) flowers

D) seeds

63) Assume that the ancestor of this phylogeny had vascular tissue and chlorophyll. If this is true, which answer lists all key traits of a ginkgo?

A) vascular tissue, needles, tree, and chlorophyll

B) tree and seeds

C) seeds, tree, vascular tissue, and chlorophyll

D) needles, tree, and seeds

64) Based on the phylogeny shown, indicate the groups that are monophyletic (Select all that apply).

A) rose and oak

B) pine, ginkgo, oak, and rose

C) fern, pine, and ginkgo

D) Psaronius, fern, pine, ginkgo, oak, and rose

65) Based on the phylogeny shown, choose the true statement about evolutionary relationships.

A) Ginkgo is more closely related to oak than rose.

B) Oak is equally related to rose and pine.

C) Fern is more closely related to pine than to rose.

D) Fern is equally related to ginkgo and oak.

 ©McGraw-Hill Education

66) Based on the phylogeny shown, choose the true statements about evolutionary relationships (Select all that apply).

A) A snake is more closely related to a newt than to a mouse.

B) A newt is equally related to a snake and a chimp.

C) A mouse is more closely related to a chimp than to a snake.

D) A salamander is more closely related to a mouse than to a chimp.

67) Indicate the phylogenies that show the same relationship as the phylogeny above (Select all that apply).

A)

©McGraw-Hill Education

B)

©McGraw-Hill Education

C)

©McGraw-Hill Education

D)

©McGraw-Hill Education

©McGraw-Hill Education

68) A frog should be added to the phylogeny above at point

A) A.

B) B.

C) C. 

D) D. 

E) E.

69) The common ancestor shared by mouse and gorilla is at point ________ on the phylogeny shown.

A) A

B) B

C) C

D) D

E) E

70) Phenotypic similarity does not always reflect evolutionary relationships due to

A) variation in rates of evolutionary change among species.

B) homoplasy.

C) convergent evolution.

D) outgrouping.

Document Information

Document Type:
DOCX
Chapter Number:
23
Created Date:
Aug 21, 2025
Chapter Name:
Chapter 23 Systematics, Phylogenies, And Comparative Biology
Author:
Peter Raven

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