Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo
Biology for AP® Courses

Critical Thinking Questions

Biology for AP® CoursesCritical Thinking Questions

20 .
Describe how organisms are classified in the taxonomic classification system.
  1. The taxonomic classification system uses a hierarchical model to organize living organisms. At each sublevel, the organisms are more similar.
  2. The taxonomic classification system uses a hierarchical model to organize living organisms. At each sublevel, the number of organisms increases.
  3. The categories in the taxonomic classification system are organized from smaller, more specific categories to larger categories.
  4. In the hierarchal model for the taxonomic classification system, from the point of origin, the groups become less specific.
21 .
What is the correct way to format a two-word scientific name?
  1. Italicize both words. Both words are lower case.
  2. Italicize both words. The first word should be capitalized. The second word should be lower case.
  3. Italicize both words. Capitalize both words.
  4. Underline both words. Capitalize both words.
22 .
(credit: modification of work by Li Yu, et al./BMC Evolutionary Biology)

One of the phylogenetic trees proposed for bears (family Ursidae) is shown in the image.

What are the two oldest species in this family according to this tree?

  1. The brown bear (grizzly) and the polar bear.
  2. The Asian and American black bears.
  3. The sun ber and the sloth bear.
  4. The spectacled bear and the giant pands.
23 .
How does a phylogenetic tree relate to the passing of time?
  1. A phylogenetic tree relates to the passing of time because species branch off from each other at regular time intervals.
  2. A phylogenetic tree is not related to the passing of time because speciation is based on geographic changes.
  3. The phylogenetic tree only shows the order in which things took place.
  4. A phylogenetic tree relates to the passing of time when the diagram also shows how long ago the divergence from the common ancestor occurred.
24.

Judeo-Christian religious texts explain that the Earth and all the organisms on Earth were created in seven days. Why is this not a valid scientific hypothesis?

25 .
Scientists use the cladistics system to organize what?
  1. homologous traits
  2. homoplasies
  3. analogous traits
  4. monophyletic groups
26 .
Describe how a clade relates to monophyletic group.
  1. Clades vary in size depending on the number of branches.
  2. All the organisms within a clade stem from a single point on the phylogenetic tree.
  3. A clade shows branches that do not share a single point.
  4. A clade shows groups that diverge at a different branch point.
27 .
Scientists apply the concept of maximum parsimony to do what?
  1. describe phylogenies accurately
  2. eliminate analogous traits
  3. identify mutations to DNA codes
  4. locate homoplasies
28.

You discover a new species of animal in the rainforest. What characteristics could you use to distinguish this organism from the other organisms in the same clade based on Figure 20.11?

29.

Based on the phylogenetic tree below, is the Jungle cat likely closer related to a tiger or a cougar? Why?

A phylogenetic tree diagram showing the evolution from carnivora to the domestic cat and its relation to other felidae species. The Jungle cat is separated from the Cougar by two nodes on the tree. The Jungle cat is separated from the tiger by five nodes on the tree.
Figure 20.19
30 .
Two cultures of bacteria are separated by a filter that blocks the movement of cells but allows free exchange of anything smaller than a bacterial cell. On one side of the filter, a sample of penicillin-resistant cells in culture broth is added. On the second side of the filter, a culture of penicillin-sensitive cells in culture is added. After 24 hours, resistant cells appear on the side with the cells sensitive to penicillin. Evaluate these findings to answer the following: Which three genetic mechanisms can account for the appearance of the penicillin-resistant cells on the other side of the filter?
  1. transformation, transduction, and conjugation
  2. transformation, transduction, and mutation
  3. transformation, conjugation, and mutation
  4. transduction, conjugation, and mutation
Order a print copy

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/biology-ap-courses/pages/1-introduction
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/biology-ap-courses/pages/1-introduction
Citation information

© Jan 8, 2024 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.