Definitions and Basics
What is a vestigial structure?
A body part that once had a function in ancestors but lost it over time.
What tiny bone do whales still have from their land-dwelling ancestors?
A) Rib bone B) Pelvic bone C) Finger bone D) Skull bone
Pelvic bone
Who is the scientist known as the “father of evolution”?
A) Isaac Newton B) Albert Einstein C) Charles Darwin D) Gregor Mendel
Charles Darwin
What are goosebumps a leftover reaction from?
A) Nervous system failure B) Raising fur to stay warm or look bigger C) Stretching skin D) Fear of cold
Raising fur to stay warm or look bigger
What is the process where species change over generations called?
A) Mutation B) Evolution C) Extinction D) Migration
Evolution
What field of science compares body structures across species?
Comparative anatomy
What body part do humans have that’s a leftover from animals with tails?
A) Tailbone (coccyx) B) Spine C) Ribs D) Kneecap
Tailbone (coccyx)
What year was On the Origin of Species published?
A) 1759 B) 1859 C) 1959 D) 2009
1859
Why can some people wiggle their ears?
A) Hidden talent B) Leftover ear-moving muscles from ancestors C) Brain trick D) Training
Leftover ear-moving muscles from ancestors
What happens when a trait is no longer needed for survival?
A) It becomes extinct immediately B) It shrinks or disappears over time C) It grows stronger D) It moves to another species
It shrinks or disappears over time
What theory explains that species change gradually over time from common ancestors?
Descent with modification.
Ostriches can’t fly, but they still have wings. What do they use them for?
A) Flying B) Balance and courtship displays C) Digging holes D) Making shade
Balance and courtship displays
Darwin used the appendix and whale pelvis as examples of what kind of structures?
A) Vestigial structures B) Fossils C) Organs D) Bones
Vesitigial structures
Why do humans have wisdom teeth?
A) Decoration B) Chewing tough plants and raw food C) Speech help D) Vitamin storage
Chewing tough plants and raw food
What type of mutation changes a structure without affecting survival?
A) Dangerous mutation B) Neutral mutation C) Lethal mutation D) Active mutation
Neutral mutation
What two evolutionary mechanisms can cause vestigial structures to form?
Natural selection and genetic drift.
What small organ in the human body used to help digest plants in ancient ancestors?
A) Liver B) Appendix C) Heart D) Kidney
Appendix
What phrase did Darwin use to describe species changing from ancestors over time?
A) Evolution explosion B) Descent with modification C) Animal adaptation D) Natural selection remix
Descent with modification
What does the human tailbone prove about our evolutionary history?
A) We have strong spines B) We share ancestors with animals that had tails C) We evolved faster D) It’s for sitting support
We share ancestors with animals that had tails
What process causes random changes in traits from generation to generation?
A) Adaptation B) Migration C) Genetic drift D) Mutation storm
Genetic drift
Why do vestigial structures still exist if they’re no longer useful?
They don’t harm survival, so evolution hasn’t removed them completely.
Which cave-dwelling animal lost its eyesight over generations because it lives in darkness?
A) Bat B) Cave fish C) Mole D) Salamander
Cave fish
What group of islands inspired much of Darwin’s thinking on evolution?
A) Fiji Islands B) Hawaiian Islands C) Galápagos Islands D) Bahamas
Galápagos Islands
What does having vestigial muscles mean about our evolution?
A) We need them more than ever B) They help us grow C) We’ve evolved to not need them anymore D) They control our bones
We’ve evolved to not need them anymore
Why are vestigial structures important evidence for evolution?
A) They show fashion trends B) They prove shared ancestry and change over time C) They make animals slower D) They’re random accidents
They prove shared ancestry and change over time