AP Biology Practice Quiz: Phylogeny
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 16 questions to check your progress.
Question 1 of 16
All Questions (16)
A) Geographical distribution of species
B) Reproductive behaviors of species
C) Molecular sequence similarities
D) Ecological niche of each lineage
Correct Answer: C
The provided content explicitly states that phylogenetic trees can be constructed using morphological similarities and molecular sequence similarities.
A) A single species that has gone extinct
B) The most recent common ancestor of the descendant lineages
C) A trait that has been lost in all subsequent lineages
D) The point in time when a species first appeared in the fossil record
Correct Answer: B
The content specifies that nodes on phylogenetic trees and cladograms represent the most recent common ancestor of the lineages that branch from that point, illustrating a speciation event.
A) Phylogenetic trees use molecular data, while cladograms use morphological data.
B) Phylogenetic trees show the amount of change over time, while cladograms do not.
C) Phylogenetic trees represent hypotheses, while cladograms represent proven facts.
D) Phylogenetic trees show relationships of living species, while cladograms show relationships of fossils.
Correct Answer: B
The provided text directly states that 'Phylogenetic trees show the amount of change over time, whereas cladograms do not show a time scale.'
A) Because they are considered absolute and unchangeable facts of evolution.
B) Because they only depict relationships between species that are still living.
C) Because they are constantly revised based on new evidence that emerges.
D) Because they cannot be tested or falsified through scientific methods.
Correct Answer: C
The content states that phylogenetic trees and cladograms are 'dynamic hypotheses that are constantly revised based on new evidence,' meaning they are not static.
A) Traits present in all organisms being studied, including the common ancestor.
B) Traits that are gained or lost during evolution and are shared by descendant lineages.
C) Similarities in morphology that arise from convergent evolution.
D) Random mutations that do not affect an organism's phenotype or survival.
Correct Answer: B
The provided text specifies that 'Traits that are gained or lost during evolution, particularly shared derived characters, are used to construct phylogenetic trees and cladograms.'
A) exact population size of ancestral species.
B) geographical range of each species.
C) evolutionary relationships among lineages.
D) complete genetic code of a common ancestor.
Correct Answer: C
The content explains that phylogenetic trees and cladograms are used to 'infer evolutionary relatedness' and are 'hypotheses illustrating evolutionary relationships among lineages.'
A) Molecular sequence similarities
B) Morphological similarities from fossil species
C) Behavioral patterns inferred from fossils
D) Developmental similarities in modern species
Correct Answer: B
The content states that trees can be constructed using 'morphological similarities (from living or fossil species).' Using fossilized skeletons fits this description.
A) the level of physical similarity between organisms.
B) the flow of energy through an ecosystem.
C) the sequence of speciation events.
D) the geographic location of different species.
Correct Answer: C
The content states that trees 'can illustrate speciation events, with nodes representing the most recent common ancestor of descendant lineages.' The branching pattern is a map of these events.
A) ignore the new DNA evidence because the original tree is already established.
B) revise the phylogenetic tree to reflect the new evidence.
C) conclude that molecular data is not useful for inferring relationships.
D) create a new, separate tree for that one species and leave the original unchanged.
Correct Answer: B
This reflects the principle that phylogenetic trees are 'dynamic hypotheses that are constantly revised based on new evidence.' The correct response is to update the hypothesis.
A) It is a definitive and unchangeable record of evolutionary history.
B) It is a testable hypothesis subject to change with new data.
C) It is a model based on speculation that cannot be supported by evidence.
D) It is an exact timeline showing the date of every speciation event.
Correct Answer: B
The content explicitly describes phylogenetic trees and cladograms as 'testable hypotheses illustrating evolutionary relationships' that are 'constantly revised based on new evidence.'
A) determine the exact age of a living organism.
B) predict the future evolution of a species.
C) clone extinct species from the fossil record.
D) infer an evolutionary relationship and construct a cladogram.
Correct Answer: D
The provided text states that trees can be constructed using 'morphological similarities (from living or fossil species) and molecular sequence similarities' to infer evolutionary relationships.
A) are positioned next to each other at the tips of the diagram.
B) share the most recent common ancestor.
C) have the fewest shared derived characters.
D) are both extinct and found in the same rock layer.
Correct Answer: B
Evolutionary relatedness is determined by how recently two lineages shared a common ancestor. The node closest to the tips for any two species represents their most recent common ancestor.
A) shared derived character.
B) random mutational event.
C) failure of the fossil record.
D) trait common to all vertebrates.
Correct Answer: A
The content specifies that 'Traits that are gained or lost during evolution, particularly shared derived characters, are used to construct phylogenetic trees.' The loss of a trait is a type of shared derived character.
A) phylogenetic tree.
B) fossil record.
C) cladogram.
D) karyotype.
Correct Answer: C
The key information is that the diagram does not show a time scale. The provided content distinguishes between phylogenetic trees, which 'show the amount of change over time,' and cladograms, which 'do not show a time scale.'
A) A mass extinction
B) A speciation event
C) A genetic mutation in an individual
D) A period of evolutionary stasis
Correct Answer: B
The content clearly states that 'Phylogenetic trees and cladograms can illustrate speciation events, with nodes representing the most recent common ancestor of descendant lineages.'
A) Phylogeny uses only molecular data to create fixed, unchanging diagrams of speciation.
B) Phylogeny creates testable hypotheses about evolutionary relationships using shared derived characters from morphological or molecular evidence.
C) Cladograms are superior to phylogenetic trees because they use fossil evidence to establish an exact timeline of evolution.
D) The main goal of phylogeny is to prove common ancestry using only the traits gained, not lost, during evolution.
Correct Answer: B
This option correctly combines multiple concepts from the text: that trees are 'testable hypotheses,' they illustrate 'evolutionary relationships,' they are built using 'shared derived characters' (which can be gained or lost), and the evidence can be 'morphological' or 'molecular.'