AP Biology Test Booklet

Unit 7 Name

1. In an experiment, 100 mice were released into a field to which no other mice had access. Immediately after
their release, a representative sample of mice was captured, their fur color was recorded, and they were
returned to the field. After twenty years, a representative sample of mice was captured and the distribution
of fur color was again recorded.

Which of the following could best explain the change in fur color distribution, as shown in the table above?

The allele for black fur color is unstable, and over twenty years most of the black fur alleles mutated to
A
become alleles for gray fur.

The field was primarily composed of light-colored soil and little vegetation, affording gray mice protection
B
from predators.

C Sexual selection led to increased mating frequency of black and brown versus gray and brown.

D The gray mice were harder to catch, and so were underrepresented in the twenty-year sample.

2. Some scientists claim that amphibians are currently experiencing a period of mass extinction.
Which of the following should be included in an alternative hypothesis that would best support this claim?

The current extinction rate of amphibians compared with the background rate of extinction as determined by
A
the fossil record

The extinction rate of amphibians in the century compared with the extinction rate of amphibians
B
during the century

The number of species of amphibians currently alive compared with the number of amphibian species
C
known to be extinct

The number of new amphibian species being discovered per year compared with the number of amphibian
D
species becoming extinct during the same time period

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3. A small number of lizards from a mainland population have been deposited on four isolated islands because
of the effects of a rare strong storm.
Which of the following best predicts the outcome of these lizards reproducing for many generations on the
islands?

A Courtship rituals specific to each island lizard species prevent the lizards from interbreeding.

B Speciation results from bottleneck events that happened before the ancestral species reached the islands.

The different species that currently exist are the result of hybridization between lizards from different
C
islands.

D The isolation prevents gene flow; thus, the lizards on different islands experience prezygotic isolation.

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is an organic molecule necessary for the health of plants and animals. The majority of
animals, including most mammals, synthesize ascorbic acid from organic precursors, but some primates are unable
to synthesize ascorbic acid and must instead acquire it from dietary sources, such as certain fruits and vegetables.

The L-gulonolactone oxidase (GULO) gene encodes an enzyme that catalyzes a required step in the biosynthesis of
ascorbic acid. Most mammals carry a functional copy of the GULO gene, but some primates carry only a GULO
pseudogene, which is a nonfunctional variant.

A comparison of GULO genes and GULO pseudogenes from different animals can provide insight into the
evolutionary relatedness of the animals. In Table I, selected members of some mammalian groups are listed, along
with an indication of their ability to synthesize ascorbic acid. Table II shows an alignment of amino acid coding
sequences from homologous regions of the GULO genes and GULO pseudogenes of the organisms listed in Table
I. Figure 1 represents the universal genetic code.

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4. Which of the following phylogenetic trees best illustrates (with the X) the point at which the mutation in the
GULO gene most likely occurred during the evolutionary history of these organisms?

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Unit 7

A biologist spent many years researching the rate of evolutionary change in the finch populations of a group of
islands. It was determined that the average beak size (both length and mass) of finches in a certain population
increased dramatically during an intense drought between 1981 and 1987. During the drought, there was a
reduction in the number of plants producing thin-walled seeds.

5. Which of the following procedures was most likely followed to determine the change in beak size?

A A few finches were trapped in 1981 and again in 1987, and their beak sizes were compared.

The beak size in fifteen finches was measured in 1987, and the beak size in the original finches was
B
determined by estimation.

C The beak size in a large number of finches was measured every year from 1981 to 1987.

D Finches were captured and bred in 1981, and the beak size of the offspring was measured.

6. Which of the following statements might best explain the increase in average beak size in the finch
population during the drought?

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A Finches with bigger beaks are better able to crack thick-walled seeds and produce more surviving offspring.

B Finches with bigger beaks can attack and kill finches with smaller beaks.

C Finches with bigger beaks possess more powerful flight muscles and are able to find more food.

D Finches that crack large seeds develop larger beaks over time.

7. Which of the following best describes the mechanism behind the change in beak size in the finch
population?

A The formation of two new finch species from a single parent species

A change in gene frequencies in the finch population due to selective pressure from the environmental
B
change

C A new allele appearing in the finch population as a result of mutation

D The achievement of dynamic equilibrium in the finch population as a result of homeostasis

8. The biologist discovered that from 1988 to 1993, the average beak size declined to pre-1981 levels. The
reversal in beak size from 1988 to 1993 was most likely related to which of the following events?

A A loss of food supply for the finches

B The end of the drought

C An increase in drought conditions

D An increase in predators consuming finches

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9. A current challenge for doctors involves the bacterial strain Clostridioides difficile, which no longer
responds to traditional antibiotic treatments.
Which of the following best explains why this particular strain of bacteria is resistant to antibiotic
treatment?

A Mutations creating new alleles occur more frequently in this species of bacteria than in other species.

B The bacteria have high genetic variability and high reproductive rates.

C Crossing over during meiosis increased genetic variability in the bacteria.

D The bacteria are able to recognize and destroy the antibiotics by breaking them down extracellularly.

10. Commercial bananas are grown as a monoculture, with all banana plants cloned from one original banana
plant. The commercial strains of bananas are seedless, so each new banana plant has to be manually planted
from a cutting of an existing banana root. In the 1950s, the Gros Michel banana strain, the dominant export
banana at that time, was destroyed by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum. A new Fusarium resistant variety,
the Cavendish banana, was developed and is currently the banana strain grown for export. Recently, a
Fusarium strain that successfully attacks the Cavendish strain has been documented.
Which of the following best provides reasoning supporting a method that would help protect commercial
banana crops from infection by pathogenic organisms such as Fusarium fungi?

The commercial banana strains should be exposed to -rays to encourage random mutations that will then
A
be passed to offspring, producing resistance to pathogenic organisms.

The Cavendish banana plants should be exposed to pathogenic organisms under controlled conditions, so the
B
plants can be encouraged to mutate and develop resistance to the pathogens.

The commercial banana strains should not be grown in monocultures, since many pathogenic organisms are
C
able to evolve rapidly in response to a single selective pressure.

Growing the Cavendish strain under different conditions will allow natural selection to produce the variation
D
needed to resist infection by pathogenic organisms.

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11.

The graph above shows the distribution of beak depth in a finch population that had been living on an island
under conditions of normal rainfall. During a subsequent drought, the small seeds normally eaten by the
finches were less available. Most of the available seeds were large seeds that could be eaten most easily by
finches with deep beaks. Which of the following graphs best predicts the distribution of beak depth in the
finch population after several years of drought?

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Unit 7

12. The bird, Parus major, is commonly found in man-made habitats. During the summer these birds primarily
feed on insects, and in the winter, when insects are scarce, they forage in gardens and bird feeders for seeds,
nuts, and berries. Recently, climate change has led to a decrease in food available from gardens, and
scientists have observed that the average beak length of the birds has increased.
Which of the following best explains the directional shift in beak length in these birds?

A Longer beaks allow the birds to better fend off predators.

B Longer beaks increase the fitness of the birds in wild habitats.

C Longer beaks allow the birds to better access seeds in bird feeders.

D Longer beaks decrease the fitness of the birds in wild habitats.

13. Which of the following pieces of evidence best supports the hypothesis that birds and crocodilians
(crocodiles and alligators) are more closely related to each other than they are to other organisms?

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A Modern birds and crocodilians utilize different niches within the same geographical region.

B Like turtles and snakes, modern birds and crocodilians build nests in which they lay shelled eggs.

C The skulls of birds and crocodilians have an opening that is absent in the skulls of other reptiles.

D Fossil evidence indicates that both modern birds and crocodilians originated during the Jurassic Period.

In eastern gray squirrels, Sciurus carolinensis, the allele for black fur is dominant to the allele for gray
14.
fur . In a particular population of gray squirrels, 64% have black fur and 36% have gray fur. A researcher
calculated the allelic frequencies to be and . Five years later, the researcher returned to the
location and determined the allelic frequencies within the squirrel population to be and .
Which of the following could best explain the increase in the frequency of the allele in the population
after five years?

A The frequency of the allele increased because it is the dominant allele.

B The frequency of the allele increased because squirrels with gray fur exhibited greater fitness.

C The frequency of the allele increased due to the selective pressures of the environment.

The frequency of the allele increased because black squirrels randomly mate with other eastern gray
D
squirrels.

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 AP Biology Test Booklet

Unit 7

15.

Blackcap birds (Sylvia atricapilla) migrate out of Germany before wintertime. Prior to the 1960s, all
members of a particular blackcap population flew to Spain, which had an abundant natural food source.
Now, some members of the same blackcap population fly to the United Kingdom, where food placed in
feeders by humans is abundant. The blackcaps return to the same forests in Germany to nest during the
breeding season.
Some blackcaps that migrate to the United Kingdom have become distinguishable by certain physical and
behavioral traits from blackcaps that migrate to Spain. Which of the following best predicts the effect on the
blackcap population if humans in the United Kingdom continue to place food in feeders during the winter?

The blackcaps that migrate to Spain will selectively mate with the blackcaps that migrate to the United
A
Kingdom, resulting in increased genetic variation in the blackcap population.

The blackcaps that migrate to the United Kingdom will become reproductively isolated from the blackcaps
B
that migrate to Spain, resulting in speciation in the blackcap population.

The blackcaps in Spain and the United Kingdom will migrate to other geographical locations in search of
C
potential mating partners, resulting in a smaller blackcap population in Germany.

The blackcaps will begin nesting at their wintering sites in Spain or the United Kingdom, resulting in a
D
larger blackcap population migrating back to Germany after the breeding season has ended.

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Unit 7

16. Paleoclimatic analysis has generated a claim that there is a possible correlation between an extinction event
around 29 million years ago that allowed grasslands to become abundant and the adaptive radiation of
several groups of butterflies.
Which of the following proposes the best alternative hypothesis for the claim?

Climate analysis conducted by sampling pollen preserved in amber shows an increase in grass pollen
A 29 million years ago, but there is no significant difference between speciation rate, as well as species
richness with regard to butterflies, before and after 29 million years ago.
Climate analysis conducted by sampling pollen preserved in amber shows an increase in grass pollen
B 29 million years ago, which indicates there was an increase in grasslands that correlates to an increase in
butterfly speciation during the same time period.
There is a correlation between the rapid and wide-ranging decrease in species richness of insects in general
C 29 million years ago and the increase in species richness and diversity among the butterfly population
during the same time period.

Evidence of rapid speciation among butterfly species 29 million years ago is evenly distributed among all
D
environments of that period.

17. Researchers observed selected internal structures of four different microscopic organisms as part of a larger
study on the divergence between eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Their observations are recorded in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Selected cellular structures in four organisms

Which organism would the researchers most likely predict to be the most distantly related to eukaryotes?

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A Organism I

B Organism II

C Organism III

D Organism IV

In humans, one allele of the gene, called , can result in a high tolerance of cholesterol.
18.
Cholesterol is a vital substance for humans but may lead to heart disease in an older adult with a history of
high cholesterol diets. High cholesterol diets are becoming more prevalent in the United States. Currently
only about 2% of humans carry the allele.
Which of the following states a valid null hypothesis about the future distribution of alleles in future
generations in the United States?

The allele was the result of chance mutations so it is not possible to predict how its frequency
A
will change in the future.

As high cholesterol diets become more common in the United States, individuals with the allele
B will have a better survival rate from heart disease than those without the allele, so the allele will increase in
frequency.

The low frequency of the allele indicates it is probably a recessive allele, so it will become less
C
frequent as the dominant allele becomes more frequent.

The variant protects an individual from a condition that is only common among humans beyond
D reproductive age, so the frequency of the allele will likely not change much in the future because it is not
influenced by natural selection.

19. Ciprofloxacin is given as an antibiotic to healthy livestock to promote efficient weight gain. Strains of the
bacterium Campylobacter jejuni naturally colonize the digestive tracts of livestock, and the C. jejuni can be
transferred to people through the handling and consumption of contaminated meat. People infected with C.
jejuni also are treated with ciprofloxacin.
Which of the following is the most likely consequence of adding ciprofloxacin to animal feed?

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Unit 7

Naturally occurring strains of C. jejuni will reproduce more rapidly in the digestive tracts of livestock,
A
reducing the risk of food-borne illnesses in people.

Ciprofloxacin-resistant strains of C. jejuni will have a selective advantage in the digestive tracts of livestock,
B
increasing the risk of serious infections in people.

Ciprofloxacin-sensitive strains of C. jejuni will be consumed in meat that contains a chemical that inhibits
C
bacterial growth, reducing the risk of food poisoning in people.

Actively growing strains of C. jejuni will metabolize the nutrients in meat produced by livestock operations,
D
increasing the risk of protein deficiencies in people.

The TAS2R38 gene encodes a receptor protein that influences the ability to taste bitterness. The gene has two
alleles: a dominant, wild-type allele that enables an individual (taster) to taste bitterness and a recessive, mutant
allele that interferes with the ability of an individual (nontaster) to taste bitterness. Three single nucleotide
mutations in the coding region of the TAS2R38 gene are associated with the nontaster allele. The nucleotides
present at the three positions are shown in the table below.

A cladogram representing the evolutionary relatedness of selected primates is shown below.

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Unit 7

20. In a sample of 2,400 people, 1,482 were found to have the dominant (taster) phenotype. Assuming that the
population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, approximately how many individuals in the sample are
expected to be heterozygous for TAS2R38?

A 741

B 918

C 1,133

D 1,482

21. Which of the following scientific questions will best help researchers determine when the nontaster allele
arose in the evolutionary history of the selected primates?

A How does the nontaster allele contribute to individual fitness?

B Does the nontaster allele exist in any nonhuman primate populations?

C What caused the mutations in the TAS2R38 gene?

D How do the mutations in the nontaster allele affect the structure of the resulting protein?

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Unit 7

22. Which of the following conclusions is supported by the data?

Humans and bonobos belong to the same genus because the nucleotide sequence of the TAS2R38 gene is the
A
same

Chimpanzees are equally related to humans and bonobos because all three groups possess variants of the
B
TAS2R38 gene.

Humans are more closely related to bonobos than to chimpanzees because the branch of the tree with
C
humans is closest to the branch of the tree with bonobos.

Bonobos are more closely related to humans than to gorillas because bonobos and humans share a more
D
recent common ancestor than bonobos and gorillas do.

23. Toxic substances often have a bitter taste that causes animals who try to eat such substances to spit them out
rather than swallow them. Additional data suggest that gorilla populations have a very low frequency of
nontasters. Which of the following best describes the likely evolution of the TAS2R38 locus in the gorilla
population?

A Gorillas who could taste bitter toxins were more likely to survive and reproduce than nontasters.

Gorillas who could taste bitter toxins became resistant to the toxins, so the taster gene was no longer under
B
selective pressure.

C Gorillas acquired the taster allele by horizontal gene transfer from chimpanzees.

D Gorillas who could taste bitter toxins could utilize food resources that nontasters could not.

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Unit 7

24. Students analyzed several photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms in the laboratory to determine their phylogenetic
relationships. The organisms were Spirogyra (a green alga), a moss, a spruce tree, and an apple tree. Table 1 compares
several characteristics in the organisms ( indicates the trait is present, indicates the trait is absent).
Table 1. Characteristics present in four photosynthetic species
Green Alga Moss Spruce Tree Apple Tree

Cell wall composed of cellulose

Vascular tissue

Roots

Seeds enclosed in fruit

Flagellated sperm cells

Which of the following rows of data listed in table 1 best supports the possibility of a common ancestor for
the organisms listed there?

A Vascular tissue

B Seeds enclosed in fruit

C Cell wall composed of cellulose

D Flagellated sperm cells

Two species of fish that live in extremely cold environments produce near-identical antifreeze glycoproteins, called .
25.
Scientists have determined the origins of the gene in both species. Selected characteristics of the two fish species are
provided in Table 1.
Table 1. Characteristics of two fish species producing nearly identical antifreeze glycoproteins
Fish Species Order Location Evolutionary origin of the Gene

Boreogadus saida Gadiformes Arctic No sequence identity with trypsinogen

Dissostichus mawsoni Perciformes Antarctic Pancreatic trypsinogen

Based on the information in Table 1, which of the following statements best describes the production of
nearly identical in these two species of fish?

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A The fish eat the same type of food, which resulted in the evolution of similar digestive proteins.

The fish live in environments with similar selective pressures, and those that produce are better
B
able to survive.

The Antarctic fish species evolved into a separate species after being geographically isolated from the Arctic
C
population because of commercial fishing.

D The production of similar was due to random splicing of exons in both species.

Female European corn borer moths (Ostrinia nubilalis) produce the sex pheromone tetradecenyl acetate
26.
( ), which attracts males of their species. can be produced in two forms, and ,
each with a different three-dimensional shape. Researchers have discovered two different strains of the
European corn borer moth living in the same area. Females of the strain produce primarily the form of
and females of the strain produce primarily the form of . Males of both strains
are more attracted to the form of produced by the females of the same strain.
Which of the following best predicts a long-term effect of the differences between the and strains?

The difference between the forms of the sex pheromone produced by and strains will act as
A
a prezygotic reproductive barrier leading to sympatric speciation.

The difference between the forms of the sex pheromone produced by and strains will act as
B
a postzygotic reproductive barrier, leading to allopatric speciation.

Since the and strains are both part of the same species, they will produce fertile offspring, leading to a
C
single strain that produces both forms of .

Since the and strains are found in the same geographic area, they will hybridize, leading to a single
D
strain that produces the dominant form of .

27.

The table above shows derived characters for selected organisms. Based on the information in the table,
which of the following cladograms best represents the evolutionary relationships among the organisms?

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28.

The table above shows the presence (+) or absence (-) of three different derived characters (vascular tissue,
seeds, and flowers) for several selected plant species. The cladogram below was created based on the
information in the table to represent groups of related species. The presence of the derived characters is
indicated with arrows.

Group IV of the cladogram most likely includes which of the following species?

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A P and S only

B Q and T only

C R and W only

D U and W only

29. One of the oldest known mammalian fossils belongs to a small furry species, Hadrocodium wui, that lived
195 million years ago. For the following 100 million years, only a small number of groups of mammalian
fossils are found in the fossil record. By 65 million years ago, the nonavian dinosaurs were extinct. By 55
million years ago, there were 130 mammal genera, including 4,000 different species that occupied a wide
variety of habitats.
Which of the following best describes the cause of the rapid increase in the number of mammalian species
between 65 and 55 million years ago?

It took over 100 million years for enough random mutations to occur in the genomes of early mammals to
A
provide the variation needed for the observed speciation.

It took over 100 million years for the early mammals to disperse over a wide enough geographic area to
B
allow allopatric speciation to occur.

After the dinosaur extinction, many ecological niches became available, leading to the adaptive radiation of
C
mammals.

After the dinosaur extinction, mammal population sizes increased, allowing species to become more easily
D
detectable in the fossil record.

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30. African elephants, Loxodonta africana, are often hunted illegally for their tusks. Both male and female
elephants have tusks, although the tusks are much larger in the males. Researchers have followed the
elephant population in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique for many years. Figure 1 shows the percent
of tuskless female elephants expected in wild populations throughout the species’ range, as well as the
percent of tuskless females that survived the hunting between 1977 and 1992 (those over 25 years old) and
the percent of female elephants born after 1992 without tusks in the park. The data are based on 200 known
female elephants in the park.

Figure 1. Comparison of the frequency of tuskless females by age cohort

Which of the following best describes the process responsible for the change in the percent of tuskless
female elephants in the Gorongosa National Park population shown in Figure 1 ?

A Human hunting of elephants with tusks between 1977 and 1992.

B Sexual selection for females without tusks between 1977 and 1992.

C Tusklessness in female elephants is a dominant trait that is only expressed in females.

After 1992, female elephants from neighboring populations merged, with the population in the park adding
D
more tuskless individuals to the population.

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31. Researchers studying the evolutionary relationships of three species of snails collected the data shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Comparison of selected characteristics of three snail species
Species A Species B Species C

Location of Fossils North America North America Europe

Shell Orientation Counterclockwise Counterclockwise Clockwise

Shell Composition Calcium Carbonate Calcium Carbonate Calcium Carbonate

Trophic Level Carnivore Carnivore Detritivore

Analysis

Which of the following data sets is most likely to provide reliable information about the evolutionary
relationships among these three snail species?

A Shell composition and shell orientation

B Trophic level and analysis

C Location of fossils and shell orientation

D Shell composition and location of fossils

A scientist is attempting to provide support for the hypothesis that was the first genetic material.
32.
Which of the following would be a workable alternate hypothesis?

, like , is a carrier of genetic information and contains the nitrogen bases adenine, guanine, and
A
cytosine.

can be observed to self-replicate without the assistance of proteins, while always requires
B
protein-based enzymes to replicate.

exists in both single-stranded and double-stranded configurations; however, it is less stable compared
C
with .

D Transfer and ribosomal are products of transcription, but they are not translated as is .

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33. Scientists investigated the role that beak depth plays in the ability of one species of seed-eating finch to
reproduce. The scientists calculated the average beak depth of finches in mating pairs and then observed
whether or not the pairs produced at least one offspring that survived to the next season. The data are
represented in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Beak depth and offspring survival in a species of finch

Based on the data in Figure 1, which of the following best describes the concept illustrated?

A Parental pairs with a specific beak depth had the highest reproductive fitness.

B Parental pairs with a specific beak depth ate the most nutritious seeds.

C Finches with a certain beak depth rarely find mates.

D Increasing average beak depth results in increasing finch fitness.

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34. Researchers examined the ability of cultures of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa to adapt to the
antibiotics ceftazidime and avibactam when they are administered together. The researchers grew four
replicate cultures in growth medium with no antibiotics added (control) and four additional replicate
cultures in the same growth medium with added ceftazidime and avibactam. At the conclusion of the
experiment, samples of the replicates exposed to the antibiotics were removed and their genomes were
sequenced. All of the antibiotic-resistant mutants were missing three genes ( , , ). It is
known that one of these three genes makes wild-type P. aeruginosa susceptible to the two antibiotics.
However, the researchers do not know which gene it is.
Which of the following experiments would specifically determine which gene is responsible for
ceftazidime-avibactam sensitivity in P. aeruginosa ?

Clone the three deleted genes from a wild-type P. aeruginosa strain, and insert these sequences into the
A
mutant bacterial strains to restore sensitivity to ceftazidime-avibactam.

Delete genes that are homologous to the three deleted genes in other bacterial species, and determine if
B
doing so also confers ceftazidime-avibactam resistance in those bacteria.

Perform gene knockout (targeted mutation) of either the , , or gene on separate

C cultures of the wild-type P. aeruginosa. For each individual mutant, determine whether or not ceftazidime-
avibactam resistance has occurred.
Perform gene knockout (targeted mutation) of both the and genes of the wild-type P.
D aeruginosa in a single culture, and then determine if ceftazidime-avibactam resistance has occurred in the
mutant strain.

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35. Over many years of a breeding program, a zoo has an established population of foxes that is well adapted
for living in captivity. A representative sample of wild foxes from the neighboring forest was used to start
the zoo population. A study was conducted to compare the behavior of the zoo fox population with the wild
fox population in the neighboring forest. The behaviors of equal numbers of foxes from each population
were assessed. Each fox’s behavior was scored on a continuum from docile to aggressive based on its
interaction with a trained behaviorist. The data is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Aggressive behavior in zoo and wild fox populations

The phenotypic variation in behavior between the two populations can best be described as resulting from

A sexual selection

B natural selection

C artificial selection

D genetic drift

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36. Finch beak depth was measured before and after a severe drought in 1977. The averaged results are shown
in Figure 1. After the drought, there were fewer seeds available for the finches to eat and the seeds that did
remain were larger and harder to crack open. Researchers claim that when large, hard seeds are the
predominate food source, the average beak depth of these finches tends to increase in subsequent
generations.

Figure 1. Finch beak depth before and after the 1977 drought
Using the evidence provided, which of the following best justifies the researchers' claim?

Finch beak depth increased after the drought because the overall numbers of finches decreased, reducing
A
competition for resources.

Finch beak depth increased as a consequence of selective pressure after the drought because the remaining
B
seeds were larger and harder.

Finch beak depth increased after the drought due to intraspecific competition since finches with deeper
C
beaks attract more mates.

Finch beak depth increased after the drought due to increased predation since finches with deeper beaks can
D
fight off predators more effectively.

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37. While there is only one species of Galápagos Island tortoise, there are several subspecies. Larger islands
with more wet highlands have lush vegetation near the ground. Tortoises there tend to have high-domed
shells and shorter necks, which restrict upward head movement. They also have shorter limbs. They are the
heaviest and largest of the subspecies.
Smaller, drier islands are inhabited by tortoises with longer necks and limbs and with shells that are elevated
above the neck, which allow them to browse taller vegetation.
Based on the information given, which of the following is a plausible explanation for the ancestry of the
tortoise subspecies?

The subspecies share a recent common ancestor whose neck length, shell shape, and leg length were
A
intermediate between the two subspecies.

The tortoises with shorter legs and necks were most easily preyed on as young animals by the rats that were
B
introduced, so they survived only on a few islands.

C Random mutations coupled with the inheritance of acquired characteristics resulted in distinct subspecies.

Individuals with different adaptations in shell shape and leg length best exploited the food resources and left
D
more surviving offspring on each island.

Researchers investigated the habitat preferences of two species of garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis and
Thamnophis atratus. To create a choice chamber, the researchers built a meshed enclosure and positioned one end
of the enclosure at the edge of a small pond. Zone I of the enclosure was located in the water, whereas zone IV of
the enclosure was located 2–3 meters away from the water, as represented in the figure below. Snakes inside the
enclosure were able to move freely between zones.

In a series of experiments, the researchers introduced a single snake into zone IV of the enclosure at 7:00 A.M. The
researchers recorded the location of the snake at six time points throughout the day. In a related experiment, the
researchers introduced two snakes, one of each species, into the enclosure at the same time and observed the

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location of each of the two snakes at the same six time points as before. The researchers repeated both the one-
snake and two-snake experiments using different individual snakes of each species. The results are presented in the
table.

38. Both species of garter snakes prey on the California newt, Taricha torosa, a small amphibian that produces a
potent neurotoxin (TTX) in its skin. However, neither species of garter snake is affected by TTX. The
resistance to TTX is associated with mutations in the SCN4A gene. Which of the following best supports a
claim that TTX resistance arose independently in T. atratus and T. sirtalis ?

A The stomach contents in fossils of both species include the remains of food items that contained TTX.

B Both species of snakes possess the SCN4A gene.

C The two species of snakes have different genetic mutations in the SCN4A gene.

D T. atratus and T. sirtalis are sister species that share many of the same morphological features.

39. Gaucher disease type 1 ( ) is a recessive genetic disease that affects 1 in 900 individuals in a particular
population. is caused by a mutation in the enzyme glucocerebrosidase.
Assuming the population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, calculate the frequency of the wild-type
(nonmutant) allele for the enzyme glucocerebrosidase.

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A 0.001

B 0.033

C 0.967

D 0.999

40. Experimental evidence shows that the process of glycolysis is present and virtually identical in organisms
from all three domains, Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya. Which of the following hypotheses could be best
supported by this evidence?

A All organisms carry out glycolysis in mitochondria.

Glycolysis is a universal energy-releasing process and therefore suggests a common ancestor for all forms of
B
life.

Across the three domains, all organisms depend solely on the process of anaerobic respiration for ATP
C
production.

The presence of glycolysis as an energy releasing process in all organisms suggests that convergent
D
evolution occurred.

41. Evolutionary biologists have observed variation in the average age and size of mature individuals in a
population of small freshwater guppies. Guppies found in pools with pike cichlids— a predator fish that
preys primarily on larger guppies—reproduce at a young age and are small at maturity. Guppies found in
pools with killifish —a different predator fish that preys primarily on smaller guppies—reproduce at an
older age and are larger at maturity.
Which of the following predicts the most likely outcome of moving a population of guppies from a pool
with pike cichlids to a pool with killifish?

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The introduced guppy population will remain phenotypically similar to the original population because the
A
killifish will not recognize them as prey.

Because the introduced population was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, successive generations in the new
B
population will continue to display the same allele frequencies as the original population.

After many generations, the offspring of the introduced guppies will mature at an older age and larger size
C
because of selective pressure from the new predator.

Within two or three generations, the introduced guppies will become extinct because the killifish prefer the
D
juveniles.

42. Which of the following statements best explains how a condition of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium results in
a population that exhibits stable allele frequencies (i.e., a nonevolving population) ?

A Large populations are not subject to natural selection.

B Random mating prevents gene flow from changing allele frequencies.

C Without migration or mutation, new alleles cannot be introduced to the population.

D In the absence of selection, allele frequencies in a population will not change.

43. Dr. Robert Hazen has worked to develop a hypothesis that explains the origin of life on Earth. His work has
focused on hydrothermal vents, which are cracks in the ocean floor. Water heated by molten rock beneath
the crust escapes from these vents at very high temperatures, producing hot, high‑pressure environments at
the vents on the ocean floor.
In order to provide evidence that these vents may be areas where life originated, which of the following
states a null hypothesis Hazen might have used to begin his research?

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Organic molecules were transported to the hydrothermal vents via a meteorite, thereby seeding them with
A
precursors for more complex molecules.

The temperatures and pressures found in hydrothermal vents resemble conditions described in currently
B
accepted origins of life hypotheses.

Organic waste sinking to the ocean floor would have used the unique hot water environment as an energy
C
source to begin manufacturing food.

Chemosynthetic organisms can best develop in the hydrothermal environment, manufacturing nutrients for
D
other living things to feed on.

44. In a long‑term study of a population of gray squirrels, researchers observed that most of the squirrels had
gray fur. However, there were some individuals in the population with white fur (albino). Genetic analysis
revealed that the albino condition is expressed by individuals who are homozygous recessive . Over a
ten-year period, the average frequency of albino squirrels in the population was 0.18. If the population is
assumed to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the average frequency of the dominant allele is closest to
which of the following?

A 0.42

B 0.50

C 0.58

D 0.75

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45. In a large, isolated population of an insect species, a specific gene locus has one dominant allele and
one recessive allele . The genotype frequencies of the gene were collected for ten generations, as shown
in Table 1.
Table 1. Genotypic frequencies over ten generations in an insect species

Generation 1 0.47 0.43 0.10

Generation 5 0.32 0.60 0.08

Generation 10 0.20 0.75 0.05

Which of the following could best account for the change in genotypic frequencies over the
ten generations?

Because the allele is unstable, over the course of the study most of the alleles mutated to become
A
alleles.

The population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, which allows for changes in genotypic frequencies every
B
generation.

C The population is not exhibiting random mating between individuals.

D The population is becoming extinct because the allele is disappearing.

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46. In a hypothetical population of beetles, there is a wide variety of color, matching the range of coloration of
the tree trunks on which the beetles hide from predators. The graphs below illustrate four possible changes
to the beetle population as a result of a change in the environment due to pollution that darkened the tree
trunks.

Which of the following includes the most likely change in the coloration of the beetle population after
pollution and a correct rationale for the change?

The coloration range shifted toward more light-colored beetles, as in diagram I. The pollution helped the
A
predators find the darkened tree trunks.

The coloration in the population split into two extremes, as in diagram II. Both the lighter-colored and the
B
darker-colored beetles were able to hide on the darker tree trunks.

The coloration range became narrower, as in diagram III. The predators selected beetles at the color
C
extremes.

The coloration in the population shifted toward more darker-colored beetles, as in diagram IV. The lighter
D
colored beetles were found more easily by the predators than were the darker-colored beetles.

47. Many scientists claim that the synthesis of the first organic molecules from inorganic precursors was
possible because of the highly reducing atmosphere found on primitive Earth.
Which of the following is an appropriate null hypothesis that could be used when investigating the claim?

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A The level of atmospheric oxygen on modern Earth is significantly higher than on primitive Earth.

B Organic molecules were transported to primitive Earth by a meteorite or other celestial event.

The synthesis of organic molecules from inorganic molecules is possible under current atmospheric oxygen
C
levels as well as those found on primitive Earth.

The absence of a significant quantity of atmospheric oxygen is required for the synthesis of organic
D
molecules from inorganic precursors.

48. Lobe-finned fishes were present in the oceans of the world approximately 400 million years ago. The first
tetrapods (vertebrates that had limbs and could move on land) date to about 365 million years ago. One
hypothesis states that early tetrapods evolved from lobe-finned fishes. Which of the following is the best
plan for testing the hypothesis?

A Determining the number of fins found on lobe-finned fishes from different geographical locations

B Measuring the proportion of radioisotopes found in fossils of early tetrapods

C Comparing the arrangements of bones in the fins of lobe-finned fishes and limbs of the earliest tetrapods

D Sequencing DNA isolated from fossils of lobe-finned fishes to determine the size of the genome

49. Low doses of antibiotics are often added to livestock feed to increase production. Studies have shown that
bacterial populations constantly exposed to the sublethal doses can evolve resistance to the antibiotics. A
research group claimed that when a population of bacteria are constantly exposed to sublethal doses of
streptomycin, their fitness declines due to the increased energy requirements for survival in the presence of
the antibiotic. For subsequent studies, the researchers wish to determine whether adding a low, sublethal
dose of an additional antibiotic causes further decline in the fitness of the bacteria.
Which of the following best represents the next step the researchers should take with respect to experimental
design?

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Group 1: high dose of streptomycin low dose of additional antibiotic

A
Group 2: low dose of streptomycin high dose of additional antibiotic

Group 1: low dose of streptomycin no dose of additional antibiotic

B
Group 2: low dose of streptomycin low dose of additional antibiotic

Group 1: no dose of streptomycin no dose of additional antibiotic

C
Group 2: low dose of streptomycin low dose of additional antibiotic

Group 1: low dose of streptomycin low dose of additional antibiotic

D
Group 2: high dose of streptomycin high dose of additional antibiotic

50. Malaria is caused by several different species of Plasmodium, a protozoan parasite. Plasmodium resistance
to the common drugs used to treat malaria has increased in recent years.

In a scientific study, Plasmodium samples were analyzed in blood drawn from a large number of infected
patients before drug treatment and subsequently from the subset of infected patients with drug-resistant
Plasmodium. DNA sequences of four different Plasmodium genes thought to be involved in resistance were
compared between samples from patients with drug-sensitive Plasmodium and patients with drug-resistant
Plasmodium.

Which of the following best supports the hypothesis that preexisting mutations confer drug resistance?

Drug resistance can sometimes be reversed by simultaneous treatment with a drug that inhibits the drug-
A
pumping mechanism of Plasmodium.

Some of the mutations that occur most frequently in samples from patients treated with antimalarial drugs
B
are detectable in Plasmodium samples collected prior to use of antimalarial drugs.

C Continued use of the same antimalarial drugs leads to increased Plasmodium resistance.

The same mechanism of drug resistance in Plasmodia isolated from separate populations of patients resulted
D
from an accumulation of new genetic mutations.

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51. Hemoglobin is a highly conserved protein used by all mammals to transport oxygen. Table 1 was
constructed by comparing the amino acid sequence in the hemoglobin molecules from five different
mammal species.
Table 1. Hemoglobin amino acid differences among five different mammal species
Speci Specie Specie Specie Species
es 1 s2 s3 s4 5
Species 1 – 21 11 13 5

Species 2 – 18 17 20

Species 3 – 3 10

Species 4 – 12

Species 5 –
Which of the following best describes the importance of the number of amino acid differences
indicated in Table 1 ?

A They reflect the different environments where the organisms were captured.

B They reflect the number of base pair changes in the .

C They reflect random changes due to translation errors.

D They reflect the number of oxygen molecules each hemoglobin molecule carries.

52. Scientists want to determine whether the rapid economic growth in China between 1950 and 2000 caused a mass extinction of animal species during that time period.
A mass extinction event is considered to occur when the rate of species extinction far exceeds the background extinction rate. The scientists collected data on the
number of extinctions of selected vertebrate species in China between 1950 and 2000, as shown in Table 1. Extinction rates were ascertained by measuring the
average percent of species lost .
Table 1. The average percent of extinctions of 252 protected vertebrate species in 2,365 counties in China from 1950 to 2000.
Mammals Birds Amphibians and Reptiles Background Rate

Average
Which of the following is the null hypothesis most relevant for evaluating the data in Table 1 ?

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There is no significant difference between the extinction rate of animals between 1950 and 2000 in China
A
and the background extinction rate.

There is no significant difference between the extinction rates of mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles
B
in China.

There is a significant difference between the extinction rate for mammals in China and the background
C
extinction rate for mammals.

Because of climate change, habitat loss, pollution, and excessive exploitation of resources, China
D
experienced a mass extinction event between 1950 and 2000.

53. MRSA is the acronym for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Many of the strains of the common
bacterium are also resistant to other antibiotics in use today. The resistance is linked to a collection of genes
carried on plasmids that are passed from one bacterium to another by conjugation. Suppose a newly
discovered, chemically different antibiotic is used in place of methicillin. Which of the following would be
the most likely effect on Staphylococcus aureus antibiotic resistance?

The gene for methicillin resistance, no longer needed, would disappear entirely from Staphylococcus aureus
A
populations within a few generations.

Transmission of the methicillin-resistance plasmid by conjugation would increase among the

B
Staphylococcus aureus population as the genes would confer resistance to the new antibiotic.

Transmission of the methicillin-resistance plasmid would gradually decrease but the plasmid would not
C
entirely disappear from the Staphylococcus aureus population.

Transmission of the methicillin-resistance plasmid by conjugation would increase among the

D Staphylococcus aureus population due to destruction of bacteria without the plasmid through use of the new
antibiotic.

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54.

A researcher released large numbers of moths into different environments in an attempt to better understand
a mechanism of evolution. The moths were released in four trials as described in the table above. Each of
the released moths had a small mark on the underside of a wing for identification. After an appropriate
amount of time, the researcher recaptured as many of the released moths as possible. Data from the
experiment are included in the table above. Which of the following claims is best supported by the data?

Light-colored moths were more likely to be recaptured in the polluted environment than in the unpolluted
A
environment, suggesting an increased chance of reproductive success.

Dark-colored moths were more likely to be recaptured in the polluted environment than in the unpolluted
B
environment, suggesting an increased chance of reproductive success.

Light-colored moths were less likely to be recaptured in the polluted environment than in the unpolluted
C
environment, suggesting an increased chance of reproductive success.

Dark-colored moths were less likely to be recaptured in the polluted environment than in the unpolluted
D
environment, suggesting an increased chance of reproductive success.

55. Five new species of bacteria were discovered in Antarctic ice core samples. The nucleotide (base) sequences
of rRNA subunits were determined for the new species. The table below shows the number of nucleotide
differences between the species.

Which of the following phylogenetic trees is most consistent with the data?

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Researchers were modeling the effects of repeated cycles of isolation with occasional interbreeding among five
hypothetical fish species (species A, B, C, D, and E) found in two separate lakes (lakes and ) that are
occasionally joined by flooding, as shown in Figure 1. The research team indicated that species A would be
considered to be the single common ancestor of species B, C, D, and E.

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Figure 1. Current locations of populations of fish species A, B, C, D, and E

56. Which of the following mechanisms could most likely account for the origin of species in Lake ?

A Allopatric speciation

B Directional selection

C Stabilizing selection

D Sympatric speciation

Which of the following data could best support the claim that species B arose from a speciation event in
57.
Lake ?

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A All of the fish species occupy the same niches in their respective lakes.

analysis shows fewer differences between species A and species B in Lake than between species B
B
and the populations in Lake .

C Species A and species B have similar body shapes due to convergent evolution in their habitats.

Individuals of species A from Lake can mate and produce viable offspring with individuals of species A
D
from Lake .

58. Which of the following statements best supports the claim that organisms share fundamental processes as a
result of evolution?

A All organisms that are introduced into new environments have the capacity to fill vacant ecological roles.

All organisms have the ability to utilize oxygen to harness energy from the chemical breakdown of organic
B
compounds.

All organisms share a genetic code organized into triplet codons, making it possible for one organism to
C
express a gene from another organism.

All organisms possess structures such as chloroplasts and mitochondria within their cells that reflect past
D
symbiotic relationships between prokaryotic precursors.

59. Which of the following questions about the origin of life on Earth is most scientifically testable?

A Why were the earliest life-forms created using only twenty amino acids?

B Did life originate to make the universe a better place?

C Was catalytic RNA used by ancient organisms as a stepping stone to acquire protein enzymes?

D Can simple organic molecules form spontaneously in an oxygen-free atmosphere?

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60.

Based on morphological characteristics, the phylogenetic tree above has been developed for species I, II, III,
and IV. DNA sequencing has recently been completed for a particular gene found in all four species. The
sequencing will provide additional information for answering which of the following questions?

A Is species I the common ancestor of species II and III?

B Does species I contain the greatest number of vestigial structures?

C Are species III and IV the most closely related?

D Should the positions of species III and IV be reversed?

61. Humans vary in their ability to taste the bitter chemical compound phenylthiocarbamide ( ). The taster
phenotype is dominant to the nontaster phenotype. Researchers tested the taster phenotype of
individuals from an isolated population. In the sample, 780 individuals were able to taste and 70
individuals were not able to taste .
Assuming the population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, what is the frequency of the non-taster allele?

A 0.08

B 0.29

C 0.41

D 0.71

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62. Figure 1 compares two models of speciation, A and B.

Figure 1. A comparison of two speciation models

Which of the following best explains how the ecological conditions are likely to be different in the two
models?

In model A the ecological conditions remain unchanged for long periods of time and then change
A
drastically; in model B the ecological conditions change drastically from generation to generation.

In model A the ecological conditions remain unchanged; in model B the ecological conditions change
B
gradually over long periods of time.

In model A the ecological conditions are changing drastically from generation to generation; in model B the
C
ecological conditions remain unchanged.

In model A the ecological conditions change gradually over a long period of time; in model B the ecological
D
conditions remain unchanged for long periods of time and then change drastically.

63. In the “RNA world” model for the origin of life, the first protocells (probionts) relied on RNA, not DNA,
for information storage and transmission. Which of the following could best be considered evidence in
support of the RNA world model?

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A DNA is more stable than is RNA.

B Some RNA molecules in contemporary cells have catalytic function.

C RNA is so complex in both structure and function that it must have preceded DNA.

D RNA has secondary structure whereas DNA does not.

64. Rock pocket mice live in the deserts of the American southwest. Ancestral pocket mice all had light-colored
coats that blended in with the region’s rocks and sandy soil, keeping the mice hidden from predatory owls.
About 1.7 million years ago, a series of volcanic eruptions spewed out wide trails of black lava into the
middle of rock pocket mouse territory. Currently there are two color morphs of rock pocket mice: light-
colored mice that are typically found in habitats with sandy soil, and dark-colored mice that are typically
found in habitats with dark-colored lava rocks.
Which of the following best justifies the claim that alleles that may be adaptive in one type of environment
can be deleterious in another because of different selective pressures?

Light- and dark-colored mice survive in many environments because they are able to avoid predation by
A
moving into tunnels.

Light-colored mice are more likely to survive than dark-colored mice in habitats with lava rocks and sandy
B
soil.

Light-colored mice are significantly more susceptible to predation by owls in habitats with lava rocks than
C
in habitats with sandy soil.

Dark-colored mice are more likely to survive than light-colored mice in habitats with lava rocks and sandy
D
soil.

Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogenic bacterium that can infect a wide range of host species, including humans. S.
aureus has a particular protein that binds with hemoglobin from the host organism. Hemoglobin is the iron-
containing protein used to transport oxygen in the blood. Since iron is important for growth, S. aureus have evolved
the ability to absorb the iron from the host's hemoglobin.

Different S. aureus strains preferentially infect different hosts and have different amino acid sequences at their
hemoglobin-binding domains (Table 1; letters indicate different amino acids). In an experiment, different S. aureus

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strains were mixed with hemoglobin from macaque monkeys and their binding ability was measured (Figure 1).
The differences in amino acid sequences contributed to the differential binding abilities observed.

Table 1. Selected amino acid sequences and preferred host for four strains of S. aureus

S. aureus Strain Amino Acid Sequence Host Species

1 QQFYHYARS Species A

2 RQAYHYART Species B

3 QQAYHYART Macaque

4 RQAAHYQLT Species C

Figure 1. Macaque hemoglobin binding ability of different strains of S. aureus

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65. Which of the following processes is most consistent with the differences in the amino acid sequences listed
in Table 1 ?

A Each host transcribes and translates this gene differently.

B S. aureus develops a mutualistic relationship with each host species.

C Changes in amino acid sequence are unrelated to protein function.

D Each strain is best adapted to a specific host species.

66. Which of the following experiments would be most appropriate to determine whether populations of S.
aureus are continuously adapting in order to obtain iron from hosts more effectively?

Grow S. aureus in media with macaque hemoglobin and abundant free iron. Record bacterial growth over
A
time and compare it to growth of the original population.

Culture S. aureus bacteria with hemoglobin from a mixture of host species. Then transfer the bacteria to
B
media with a known effective antibiotic and record bacterial growth.

C Sequence the genes of different S. aureus strains and construct a cladogram representing their relatedness.

Culture S. aureus bacteria with hemoglobin from a novel host species as the only source of iron for many
D generations, then compare protein structure from bacteria in this culture with bacteria from the original
culture.

67. Students observed the distribution of different color phenotypes in northern ravine salamanders (Plethodon electromorphus) before and after a
spring flood. The data are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Observed number of salamanders by phenotype before and after a spring flood
Salamander Distribution before the Flood ( ) Salamander Distribution after the Flood ( )

Black phenotype 13 7

Dark-brown phenotype 25 14

Light-brown phenotype 6 3
Which of the following is an appropriate null hypothesis regarding the phenotypic frequencies of this population of
salamanders before and after the flood?

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More black salamanders survived because they could better hide from predators on the dark muddy soil, so
A
the frequency of the black phenotype significantly increased in the population after the flood.

Fewer light-brown salamanders survived because they had a reduced chance of finding mates due to the
B
high water levels, so the frequency of the light-brown phenotype in the population decreased after the flood.

More dark-brown salamanders migrated to a new, drier area because of the flood and fewer of them
C remained in the original habitat, so the frequency of dark-brown salamander significantly decreased in the
population after the flood.

The proportions of black, dark-brown, and light-brown salamanders before and after the flood are not
D
significantly different, and any observed differences are due to random chance.

68. Table 1 shows a trend of increasing milk yield for cows. Part of the increase in milk production can be
attributed to improved nutrition and health protocols for dairy cows.
Table 1. Average milk production per cow (in kilograms per cow per year)
Year Average Annual Milk Production( )

1924 2,300

1937 2,300

1950 2,600

1963 3,400

1976 4,800

1989 6,400

2002 8,400

2015 10,000
Based on the information provided, which of the following best describes the source of the
rapid increase in milk production from 1976 to 2015 ?

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A From the 1970s to the early 2000s, dairy cows were not used for beef production.

Starting in the 1970s, farmers increased the selective breeding of cows and bulls for offspring that produced
B
more milk.

C Reproduction rates in cows and bulls increased significantly in the 1970s.

D Cows were healthier after the 1970s, so they lived longer and produced more milk during their lifetime.

69. Figure 1 illustrates a process that occurs in a certain group of organisms.

Figure 1. Model of spliceosome activity

Which of the following best predicts the importance of this process?

This process is common to all members of Eukarya and allows noncoding regions of to be removed
A
so that proteins with the correct amino acid sequence are produced.

This process is common to all members of Archaea and allows these organisms to survive harsh
B
environments.

C This process is common to all organisms and is a conserved repair mechanism.

D This process is common to vertebrates and allows the production of large and complicated proteins.

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70. By discharging electric sparks into a laboratory chamber atmosphere that consisted of water vapor,
hydrogen gas, methane, and ammonia, Stanley Miller obtained data that showed that a number of organic
molecules, including many amino acids, could be synthesized. Miller was attempting to model early Earth
conditions as understood in the 1950s. The results of Miller’s experiments best support which of the
following hypotheses?

A The molecules essential to life today did not exist at the time Earth was first formed.

The molecules essential to life today could not have been carried to the primordial Earth by a comet or
B
meteorite.

C The molecules essential to life today could have formed under early Earth conditions.

The molecules essential to life today were initially self-replicating proteins that were synthesized
D
approximately four billion years ago.

The three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is a small fish found in both marine and freshwater
environments. Marine stickleback populations consist mostly of individuals with pronounced pelvic spines, as
shown in Figure 1. Individuals in freshwater stickleback populations, on the other hand, typically have reduced
pelvic spines, as shown in Figure 2.

As represented in Figure 1 and Figure 2, the phenotypic difference between marine and freshwater sticklebacks
involves Pitx1, a gene that influences the formation of the jaw, pituitary gland, and pelvic spine. Enhancer
sequences upstream of the Pitx1 genetic locus regulate expression of the Pitx1 gene at the appropriate times and in
the appropriate tissues during development. Previous studies have found that a mutation in the hindlimb enhancer
interferes with the formation of a pronounced pelvic spine.

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71. Which of the following describes a possible selective mechanism to explain why freshwater sticklebacks
typically have reduced pelvic spines?

A Reduced pelvic spines increase the likelihood of escaping predators in freshwater environments.

Reduced pelvic spines expand the range of foods that can be used as sources of energy in freshwater
B
environments.

Reduced pelvic spines result in males becoming effectively invisible to potential mating partners in
C
freshwater environments.

Reduced pelvic spines allow individual fish to pass through narrow waterways on their way to marine
D
environments.

Stickleback fish are found in both marine and freshwater habitats. The marine fish have no scales but have
hardened, armorlike plates along their sides. The plates are thought to protect sticklebacks from certain predators.

In the late 1980s, sticklebacks from a marine population colonized Loberg Lake, a freshwater lake in Alaska.
Starting in 1990, researchers sampled fish from the lake every four years and recorded the armor-plate phenotypes
of the male sticklebacks in each sample. The armor-plate phenotypes were categorized as either complete (plates
extending from head to tail), partial (plates extending from head to abdomen), or low (a few plates near the head
only). The results are shown in the table below.

ARMOR-PLATE VARIATION IN THE STICKLEBACK POPULATION OF LOBERG LAKE

Percent of Males in the Sample with Each Armor-Plate Phenotype

Year Low Partial Complete

1990 1% 2% 97%
1994 45% 14% 41%
1998 58% 16% 26%
2002 76% 15% 9%
2006 90% 6% 4%

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72. Which of the following graphs best represents the type of selection most likely operating in the stickleback
population of Loberg Lake?

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73. Which of the following best explains the changes in the phenotype frequencies of the stickleback population
in Loberg Lake?

A Predation in the marine environment is different from predation in Loberg Lake.

B Marine predators and sticklebacks both colonized Loberg Lake.

C Sticklebacks with the partial armor-plate phenotype have the highest rate of reproduction and survival.

D The population of sticklebacks in Loberg Lake is subject to genetic drift.

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74. Climate change is disrupting the length of winter in various ecosystems, resulting in less snowfall and
milder winters. Scientists in Finland have been observing the tawny owl, a fairly large owl species that is
commonly found in woodlands across much of Europe and Asia. Typically, the feathers of the upper body
are either brown ( ) or gray ( ). Scientists studying tawny owls in Finland have found that the
percentage of tawny owls that have brown feathers has increased over the past 28 years.
Which of the following best explains why the brown-feathered phenotype in tawny owls has increased over
the past 28 years?

Since the brown genotype is dominant, it will eventually eliminate the recessive gray genotype from the
A
population.

B Darker feather color in tawny owls makes them less visible to predators as they sit in the trees.

C With milder winters, the advantage of gray feathers that blend into a snowy environment has decreased.

D The directional selection toward a darker phenotype is random and likely due to a bottleneck event.

75. The California newt, Taricha torosa, lives in the coastal areas around Los Angeles. Which of the following
is a valid null hypothesis relating fitness to survival of a bottleneck event in a coastal area where a small,
isolated population of California newts resides?

Only those salamanders with the lowest evolutionary fitness will be eliminated by the bottleneck effect,
A
lowering the allelic frequencies of their traits.

Only those salamanders with the highest evolutionary fitness will survive the bottleneck event, raising the
B
allelic frequencies of their traits.

Surviving the bottleneck event will be random, so any change in the allelic frequencies of the salamander
C
population is not attributed to fitness.

Surviving the bottleneck event will be random, so there will be no changes to the allelic frequencies due to
D
the bottleneck event.

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76. Transposable elements are significant features in the genomes of almost all eukaryotic organisms. The
accumulation of these elements in various species can help determine their relatedness. Table 1 indicates the
presence ( ) or absence ( ) of 5 segments of that have been moved by transposition (transposons) in
6 primate species.
Table 1. Presence or absence of 5 transposons in primate species
Species 1 2 3 4 5

Human

Bonobo

Chimpanzee

Gorilla

Orangutan

Gibbon
Which of the following best predicts how phylogenetic relationships might be revised if
transposon 1 was not found in chimpanzees?

A Bonobos would be more closely related to humans than to chimpanzees.

B Chimpanzees would be more closely related to humans than to bonobos.

C Orangutans would be more closely related to humans than to chimpanzees.

D Chimpanzees would be more closely related to gibbons than to gorillas.

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