Both plants and animals of many sorts show remarkable changes in form,

Question

Both plants and animals of many sorts show remarkable changes in form, structure, growth habits, and even mode of reproduction in becoming adapted to a different climatic environment, type of food supply, or mode of living. This divergence in response to evolution is commonly expressed by altering the form and function of some part or parts of the organism, the original identity of which is clearly discernible. For example, the creeping foot of the snail is seen in related marine pteropods to be modified into a flapping organ useful for swimming, and is changed into prehensile arms that bear suctorial disks in the squids and other cephalopods. The limbs of various mammals are modified according to several different modes of life—for swift running (cursorial) as in the horse and antelope; for swinging in trees (arboreal) as in the monkeys; for digging (fossorial) as in the moles and gophers; for flying (volant) as in the bats; for swimming (aquatic) as in the seals, whales, and dolphins; and for other adaptations. The structures or organs that show main change in connection with this adaptive divergence are commonly identified readily as homologous, in spite of great alterations. Thus, the finger and wrist bones of a bat and whale, for instance, have virtually nothing in common except that they are definitely equivalent elements of the mammalian limb.    1 
 1. The author provides information that would answer which of the following questions?

Select all that apply.

A. What factors can cause change in organisms?
B. What is the theory of evolution?
C. How are horses’ legs related to seals’ flippers?

2  
 2. Which of the following words could best be substituted for the boldfaced word homologous without substantially changing the author’s meaning?

A. altered
B. mammalian
C. corresponding
D. divergent
E. tactile

Sajjad1994 · Answer

OE

1. The author provides information that would answer which of the following questions?

Select all that apply.

The passage’s opening sentence lists factors that may cause plants and animals to change or adapt. These factors include changes in the climate or in the sort of food supply available. Thus, the author provides information to answer the question  “What factors can cause change in organisms?” Choice A  is correct.

Although the passage mentions the word evolution, it fails to provide information that would serve to answer the question  “What is the theory of evolution?”   Choice B  is incorrect.

The passage also answers the question of how horses’ legs are related to seals’ flippers. Although adaptive divergence has caused them to look very different and to serve very different functions, they are definitely related as  “equivalent elements of the mammalian limb.” Choice C  also is correct.

Pay particular attention to the instruction  “Select all that apply.”  One, two, or three answers may be correct. 
 
  Answer: A,C

Sajjad1994 · Answer

OE

2. Which of the following words could best be substituted for the boldfaced word homologous without substantially changing the author’s meaning?

The term homologous, as used in biology, means similar in position, structure, and evolutionary origin but not necessarily in function. In spite of great alterations, the structures or organs are equivalent elements; they correspond to one another. 
 
  Answer: C

Both plants and animals of many sorts show remarkable changes in form,

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