Question

1) A taxon is usually a group that includes a single common ancestor and all of its descendants. Most taxa, therefore, are called _____ groups.

A	non-monophyletic

B	monophyletic

C

basal

D

unevolved

2) In a phylogenetic tree, a node or branching point represents ___.

A	the amount of genetic difference between species

B	the fossil species

C	a splitting of one lineage into two lineages (i.e., a speciation event)

3) Which popular taxon includes all scaled land vertebrates but is not monophyletic because birds, the descendants of some reptiles are not included in the group?

A

ostriches

B	amphibians

C

pigeons

D

mammals

E

reptiles

4) A phylogenetic tree is a _________.

A	detailed timeline of a species' evolutionary history

B	hypothesis about the evolutionary history of a species

C	factual representation of the evolutionary history of a species

D	a reconstruction of time based upon the geologic record

5) A scientific ______ is an explanation supported by a large body of observations and experimentation.

A

theory

B

confusion

C	hypothesis

D	observation