Question

Plants in "Mediterranean" ecosystems have similar adaptations for surviving hot dry summers and fire. Given that these ecosystems are presently found in southern Europe, California, Chile, South Africa, and southern Australia, which of the following best explains the origin of these adaptations?
(A) These adaptations likely arose in a common ancestor on Pangea, and continental drift later moved these drought- and fire-adapted plants to their present locations.

(B) These plants likely share a recent common ancestor and have been subjected to the same selective pressures.

(C) Although these plants likely do not share a recent common ancestor, they have been subjected to the same selective pressures.

Answer 1

Answer:

(C) Although these plants likely do not share a recent common ancestor, they have been subjected to the same selective pressures.

Explanation:

This is the statement that best explains why these plants would share these characteristics. These plants do not share a common ancestor, nor were they located close to each other at any point in history. Instead, the reason why these plants share characteristics is because they exist in environments that are similar. This means that the plants have been subjected to the same selective pressures, and thus developed the adaptations as a consequence of this.