Science Assessment ~ Items ~ EN046003

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.

Details
Performance
NGSS

Topic: Evolution and Natural Selection
Correct Answer: D
Misconceptions

Distribution of Responses

Chart showing distrubtion of responses for Item EN046003

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%

View data table

NRC Framework: LS4.A Biological evolution, the process by which all living things have evolved over many generations from shared ancestors, explains both the unity and the diversity of species.

Science Assessment

Item EN046003: Cats, dogs, fish, and birds all share an ancient common ancestor.