Answer:
a. Homologous characteristics form a nested pattern
True
Homologous characteristics are used as a basis for building phylogenetic trees. They are similar characteristics among living beings because they were inherited from a common ancestor.
Explanation:
b. False
The evolutionary tree is ever-changing as new discoveries such as fossils and advances in genetic engineering research bring new lineages and new evolutionary relationships that can alter the tree.
c. False
Being close to each other in the tree does not necessarily mean that they are closely related
d. False
An evolutionary tree is built from the evolutionary history of species. Species are positioned in different branches that evolved from a common ancestor (branch point) through a series of modification events. At each branch point of the tree is the most recent common ancestor shared by all descendant species. When "new" features arise in organisms we can build their path of descent from their common ancestor.