Name Class Date

4.1 – Darwin’s Theory of Evolution

1. On the map below find and label the Galápagos Islands.

For Questions #2–4, complete each statement by writing the correct word or words.
Refer to the map on the previous page as needed.
2. Darwin spent most of his time exploring the continent of South America; he did not visit
North America , Asia , or Antartica .
3. During Darwin’s time, geologists were suggesting that Earth was ancient and changed
over time .
4. Darwin’s work offers insight into the living world by showing organisms are constantly
Changing or evolving .

Observations Aboard the Beagle

Use the drawings of the tortoises to answer Questions #5 and 6.

Isabela Island tortoise Hood Island tortoise

5. What important information about the Galápagos Islands tortoises did Darwin learn?
Darwin learned that the shell shape of a tortoise could be used to identify the
island it inhabited.
6. Given its body structure, which tortoise above would require a habitat where food is easy
to reach?
Because the Isabela Island tortoise has a short neck that restricts the movement
of its head, it would require a habitat where food is easy to reach.
1
7. Complete the graphic organizer by listing three ways that species vary. For each pattern of
biodiversity, list an example that Darwin observed.

Species

Locally Globally Over Time

Galapagos Rheas and Glyptodonts

Tortoises ostriches and armadillos

8. When Darwin returned to England, he learned that the small brown birds he observed on
the Galápagos Islands were all finches. They resembled South American finches. What
hypothesis does this observation support?
The birds are descended from South American ancestors that traveled to the
Galapagos Islands. The species have changed over time as they adapted to
particular niches on each island.

2
4.2 – Evidence of evolution

Artificial Selection
5. How do humans affect artificial selection? What role does nature play?
Darwin stated that nature provides the variation among organisms, and humans
select and breed for the variations they find useful or appealing

6. What is another name for artificial selection?

Selective breeding
7. Describe how you could use artificial selection to breed pigeons with large beaks.
Find pigeons that naturally have larger than normal beaks. Mate these pigeons.
Repeat this process over several generations until you achieve the desired beak size.

Evolution by Natural Selection

1. What does the phrase struggle for existence mean?
It means that members of a population compete regularly to obtain food, living
space, and other necessities of life
2. Why is camouflage considered an adaptation?
Camouflage is a heritable trait that can help an organism avoid predation and
thereby increases the chances for survival.
3. How does an animal’s level of fitness relate to its chances of survival and reproduction?
The higher an animal’s level of fitness in its particular environment, the better
its chances for survival and reproduction.

For Questions #4–6, write True if the statement is true. If the statement is false, change
the underlined word or words to make the statement true.
F - inherited 4. Natural selection acts on acquired traits.
True 5. Any inherited characteristic that increases an organism’s chance of
survival is considered an adaptation.
F - fitness 6. Natural selection is the ability of an individual to survive and reproduce
in its specific environment.
3
Common Descent
For Questions# 8–13, complete each statement by writing the correct word or words.
8. Natural selection depends on the ability of organisms to reproduce , which means to
leave descendants.
9. Every organism alive today descended from ancestors who survived and
reproduced.
10. Over many generations, adaptation could cause successful species to evolve into
new species.
11. Common descent suggests that all species, living and extinct, are related .
12. The principle that living species descend, with changes, from other species over time is
referred to as descent with modification .
13. The fossil record provides physical evidence of descent with modification over long
periods of time.

Biogeography
For Questions #1–3, complete each statement by writing the correct word or words.
1. Biogeographers study where organisms live now and where they and their ancestors
lived in the past.
2. When individuals from a mainland bird population immigrate to various islands, natural
selection may result in__ closely related , but different, island species.
3. Distantly related organisms may be similar if they live in similar environments .

4. What explains the distribution of finch species on the Galápagos Islands?

The finch species had descended with modification from a common mainland
ancestor.
5. What explains the existence of similar but unrelated species?
Such species evolved features in common because they were exposed to similar
pressures of natural selection.

4
Comparing Anatomy and Embryology
6. Complete the table about types of anatomical structures.

Types of Anatomical Structures

Structure Type Description Example

Homologous Structures that are shared by related Mammalian leg
structures species and that have been inherited and amphibian
from a common ancestor leg

Analogous Body parts that share common function, but Wing of a bee and
structure not structure wing of a bird

Vestigial structure Body parts in animals that are so reduced Hipbones in

in size that they are just vestiges, or traces, dolphins
of homologous structures in other species

For Questions #7–11, match the structure with the correct type. A structure type may be
used

Anatomical Structure B 11. snake tongue and dog nose

A 7. bat wing and mouse arm
A 8. reptile foot and bird foot
B 9. dolphin fin and fish tail
C 10. eyes on a blind cave fish

5
12. Is the human arm homologous or analogous to a bat’s wing?
________Homologous___________________________________

Structure Type
A. homologous structure
B. analogous structure
C. vestigial structure

6
Genetics and Molecular Biology
For Questions #16–22, complete each statement by writing the correct word or words.
16. The science of genetics provides molecular evidence that supports evolutionary
theory.
17. All living cells use DNA and RNA to code heritable information.
18. The universal genetic code is used by almost all organisms to direct protein synthesis .
19. Proteins that are homologous share extensive structural and chemical similarities.
20. Cytochrome c is a protein used for cellular respiration in almost every living cell.
21. Relatively minor changes in an organism’s genome can produce major changes in an
organism’s structure .

23. VISUAL ANALOGY

The art shows how finch beaks are similar to certain kinds of hand tools. Suppose a finch fed
on insects that burrowed into small holes on tree trunks. What type of tool do you think this
finch’s beak would resemble? Explain your answer.

Sample answer: The finch’s beak might resemble a very thin probe that can reach
into a small hole and skewer or grasp the insect.

7
Apply the Big idea
24. Complete the concept map.

Evidence for
Evolution

includes

The The fossil Similarities in The universal Experiments

geographic record anatomical genetic code that verify
distribution structures and and natural
of living embryological homologous selection
species development proteins and occurs in
genes nature

Evidence of Evolution:
1. Fossil Record

2. Comparative Anatomy:
a. Homologous structures
b. Analogous structures
c. Vestigial structures

3. Comparative Embryology

4. Biochemistry Evidence of Evolution:

a. DNA evidence
b. Protein evidence

5. Adaptations:
a. Fitness
b. Camouflage
c. Mimicry
d. Antimicrobial resistance

8
Chapter Vocabulary Review
Match the term with its definition.
Term Definition
A 1. evolution A. Change over time
C 2. fossil B. Inherited characteristic that increases an
G 3. fitness organism’s chance of survival

B 4. adaptation C. Preserved remains of an ancient organism

D 5. natural selection D. The process by which organisms with variations

most suited to their environment survive and
F 6. homologous structures leave more offspring than others
E 7. vestigial structures E. Small structures with little or no function
F. Structures that develop from the same embryonic
tissues but have different mature forms
G. Ability of an individual to survive and reproduce
in a specific environment

9
The study of where organisms live now and where they and their ancestors lived in the past.

The use of selective breeding to produce organisms with certain desirable traits

Body parts that share common function, but not structure.

Homologous structures. These limbs evolved from the front limbs of a common ancestor. If
these animals had different origins, they would probably not share so many common
structures.

10