Final answer:
A phylogenetic tree illustrates the evolutionary relationships among species and shows the sequence of evolutionary events over time, not necessarily the specific durations unless time is explicitly marked on the tree.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question of how a phylogenetic tree relates to the passing of time is d) It shows the sequence of evolutionary events over time. Phylogenetic trees illustrate the evolutionary relationships among various species and indicate the order in which various events occurred in the history of life. It is crucial to understand that the branches themselves, unless explicitly labeled, do not denote the length of time but only show the sequence of these events. However, when a phylogenetic tree includes a timeline or other indicators of time, it can show how long ago species diverged from common ancestors.
A phylogenetic tree helps us visualize how groups of organisms are related to each other and can represent a range of evolutionary connections, not just typifying extinct species or geographic speciation events. Critical thinking about these trees may also involve understanding major evolutionary events within a lineage and how phylogenetic relationships reflect shared common ancestors in the past.