Original Project
Evolution and Natural Selection
Item EN046003: Cats, dogs, fish, and birds all share an ancient common ancestor.
Some animals, such as a cat and a dog, have many similarities. Others, such as a fish and a bird, have fewer similarities. What is TRUE about the ancestors of these animals?
- Cats and dogs share a common ancestor with each other, but fish and birds do not share a common ancestor with each other.
- Cats and dogs share a common ancestor with each other, and fish and birds share a common ancestor with each other, but cats and dogs do not share a common ancestor with fish and birds.
- Because cats, dogs, fish, and birds are separate species, none of them shares a common ancestor with any other.
- Cats, dogs, fish, and birds all share an ancient common ancestor.
- Distribution of Responses
- Students Responding Correctly
| Group | Correct | Total | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 268 | 1619 | 17% |
| Grades | |||
| 6–8 | 130 | 1056 | 12% |
| 9–12 | 138 | 563 | 25% |
| Gender | |||
| Male | 131 | 745 | 18% |
| Female | 123 | 822 | 15% |
| Primary Language | |||
| English | 239 | 1464 | 16% |
| Other | 20 | 106 | 19% |