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AP Biology Phylogenies and the History of Life — practice questions

Explore 21 free Phylogenies and the History of Life questions in AP Biology Biology. Open each question or exercise to read its content, reference answers and available explanation.

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Phylogenies and the History of Life questions and exercises with answers

Showing questions 1–21 of 21.

The three domains that diverge from a single point on a rooted phylogenetic tree are Bacteria, Eukarya and:Read the answer and worked solution →The category directly below the domain in the classification hierarchy is the:Read the answer and worked solution →Referring to an organism by its genus and species, its two-word scientific name, is called:Read the answer and worked solution →A diagram showing evolutionary pathways and connections among organisms is a:Read the answer and worked solution →Cladograms are constructed by using which kind of trait to separate groups?Read the answer and worked solution →Features that overlap both in form and genetically, stemming from developmental similarities based on evolution, are:Read the answer and worked solution →Structures that look similar but do not share a developmental and evolutionary origin are called:Read the answer and worked solution →A group containing an ancestor and all of its descendants forms a clade, also called a:Read the answer and worked solution →Taxonomy is described as a tool whose purpose is to:Read the answer and worked solution →Phylogenetic trees are constructed from evidence drawn from:Read the answer and worked solution →Amniotic eggs are used as an example of a trait that marks out a:Read the answer and worked solution →Analogous structures mislead the unwary because similarity of form can arise without:Read the answer and worked solution →A shared trait is only useful for building a cladogram if it is:Read the answer and worked solution →The comparison of taxonomy to a grocery store's departments is meant to show that taxonomy is:Read the answer and worked solution →On a rooted phylogenetic tree, the three domains diverging from a single point implies they share:Read the answer and worked solution →Naming an organism by genus and species alone works because those two ranks are:Read the answer and worked solution →Stop on the right rankRead the answer and worked solution →Homologous or analogous?Read the answer and worked solution →Match each phylogeny termRead the answer and worked solution →True or false: phylogenyRead the answer and worked solution →Complete the classification ruleRead the answer and worked solution →

Worked practice questions

The three domains that diverge from a single point on a rooted phylogenetic tree are Bacteria, Eukarya and:

  1. Archaea
  2. Protista
  3. Animalia
  4. Plantae
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Correct answer: A. Archaea

1. The deepest split in the tree of life separates three groups. 2. The three domains are Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya. 3. They diverge from a single point and branch off on a rooted phylogenetic tree. 4. Animalia and Plantae are kingdoms sitting inside one of those domains. _Source: OpenStax Biology for AP(R) Courses (CC BY 4.0), Ch 20 'Phylogenies and the History of Life', sections 20.1-20.3_

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The category directly below the domain in the classification hierarchy is the:

  1. Genus
  2. Kingdom
  3. Phylum
  4. Family
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Correct answer: B. Kingdom

1. Classification nests each rank inside the one above it. 2. The three domains sit at the top of that nesting. 3. Within each domain is a second category called a kingdom. 4. Phylum, family and genus all sit further down the hierarchy. _Source: OpenStax Biology for AP(R) Courses (CC BY 4.0), Ch 20 'Phylogenies and the History of Life', sections 20.1-20.3_

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Referring to an organism by its genus and species, its two-word scientific name, is called:

  1. Phylogenetic mapping
  2. Morphological survey
  3. Binomial nomenclature
  4. Cladistic analysis
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Correct answer: C. Binomial nomenclature

1. Every named species carries a standard two-part label. 2. Scientists generally refer to an organism only by its genus and species. 3. That two-word scientific name is used in what is called binomial nomenclature. 4. Cladistics is a method of grouping rather than a naming convention. _Source: OpenStax Biology for AP(R) Courses (CC BY 4.0), Ch 20 'Phylogenies and the History of Life', sections 20.1-20.3_

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