Science Assessment ~ Topics ~ Interdependence in Ecosystems ~ Item IE038007 ~ Student Performance

Lions and cheetahs are living in the same national park in Africa. They both eat antelope that are in the park. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

The lions compete with other lions, the cheetahs compete with other cheetahs, but the lions and cheetahs do not compete with each other for the antelope.
The lions do not compete with other lions, the cheetahs do not compete with other cheetahs, and the lions and cheetahs do not compete with each other for the antelope.
The lions compete with other lions, the cheetahs compete with other cheetahs, and the lions and cheetahs compete with each other for the antelope.
The lions do not compete with other lions, the cheetahs do not compete with other cheetahs, but the lions and cheetahs compete with each other for the antelope.

Distribution of responses
Answer Choice		Overall	Grades		Gender		Primary Language
		n = 2885	6–8 n = 1620	9–12 n = 1257	Male n = 1369	Female n = 1465	English n = 2539	Other n = 271
A.	The lions compete with other lions, the cheetahs compete with other cheetahs, but the lions and cheetahs do not compete with each other for the antelope.	9%	10%	7%	9%	9%	9%	10%
B.	The lions do not compete with other lions, the cheetahs do not compete with other cheetahs, and the lions and cheetahs do not compete with each other for the antelope.	8%	8%	8%	9%	7%	8%	11%
C.	The lions compete with other lions, the cheetahs compete with other cheetahs, and the lions and cheetahs compete with each other for the antelope.	68%	65%	72%	66%	70%	69%	62%
D.	The lions do not compete with other lions, the cheetahs do not compete with other cheetahs, but the lions and cheetahs compete with each other for the antelope.	15%	17%	13%	16%	15%	15%	17%

Science Assessment

Item IE038007: Organisms of the same species (lions or cheetahs) and organisms of different species (lions vs. cheetahs) compete for resources.